New development after cold case disappearance of Paddy Moriarty was brought back to life by Netflix
No charges will be laid in the disappearance of a man who vanished without a trace from a small outback town almost seven years ago.
Irish-born Paddy Moriarty, 70, and his red kelpie cross Kellie were last seen leaving the Pink Panther Hotel in Larrimah, Northern Territory, on December 16, 2017.
Mr Moriarty, who was involved in a row with his nearest neighbours, was heading towards his home, 280 meters from the pub.
At the time of his disappearance, only twelve people lived in the town, while the population has since fallen to just seven.
Interest in the case was reignited after HBO made a documentary called ‘Last Stop Larrimah’ – which was shown on Netflix in 2023.
In a major update on the cold case, the Northern Territory Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) announced on Wednesday that he will not lay charges.
No charges will be laid in the disappearance and suspected death of Paddy Moriarty, the Northern Territory Director of Public Prosecutions announced on Wednesday
Paddy Moriarty, 70, and his red kelpie cross Kellie were last seen leaving the Pink Panther Hotel in the Northern Territory town of Larrimah on the afternoon of December 16, 2017.
“The DPP has determined that there is insufficient evidence to bring charges against anyone in connection with the disappearance of Paddy Moriarty,” the report said.
“No further comment will be made by the DPP at this time.”
In April 2022, NT coroner Greg Cavanagh referred the suspected death to the DPP after determining Mr Moriarty’s disappearance was likely the result of criminal offences.
Cavanagh said Moriarty’s death ‘could not be determined’.
“In my view, Paddy was murdered in the context of and probably as a result of the ongoing feud he had with his immediate neighbours,” his findings said.
‘He probably died on the evening of December 16, 2017.’
Following the announcement this week, NT Police said they would continue to investigate the death with a $250,000 reward for information offered.
Police immediately suspected foul play when Mr Moriarty disappeared and within two weeks installed recording equipment in the home of local man Owen Laurie.
In 2022, an inquest heard alleged recordings from Mr Laurie’s home in Larrimah.
“F***ing killed Paddy, hit him over the head,” a voice was heard saying.
‘Hit him in the damn nostrils with my claw hammer’ and ‘I killed old Paddy… I hit him in the damn head and killed the bastard… hit him’.
Mr Laurie denied the voice was his.
He had worked as a caretaker and gardener for Frances Hodgetts and lived on her property where she ran Fran’s Teahouse, across the street from Moriarty’s house.
Police immediately suspected foul play when Mr Moriarty (pictured) disappeared
Mr Moriarty, who was embroiled in a row with his nearest neighbors in the town, was on his way to his home 280 meters from his local pub (pictured) when he disappeared.
In a major update on the cold case, the Northern Territory’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) announced on Wednesday that he would not lay charges
Ms Hodgetts, who has since left Larrimah, allegedly had a long-standing feud with Moriarty, who she suspected of repeatedly poisoning her plants, the inquest heard.
The inquest heard she warned Moriarty, saying: ‘If anyone touches my garden it will be the first murder in Larrimah.’
The cold case inspired the Netflix documentary Last Stop, the TV show Last Stop Larrimah and the award-winning podcast Lost in Larrimah.
Mr Moriarty’s house sold at auction on May 7 for $32,000.
The derelict fibro house in Larrimah, located on the Stuart Highway 498km south of Darwin and 999km north of Alice Springs, was sold as is.
Auctioneer Daniel Harris had hoped the connection to the infamous cold case would spark an unlikely bidding war, but there was little interest.
It was eventually sold to a couple from South Australia who bid over the phone.
Mr. Moriarty’s disappearance from such a small community sparked wild rumors of murder and a gruesome end.
Stories of him ending up in local handmade pies, or in the belly of Sneaky Sam, the crocodile who lives in the Pink Panther, have been swirling around the mystery.