1989: The Granny Killer Survivor Whose Broken Memory Sent Police the Wrong Way

John Wayne Glover, later known as the Granny Killer, followed 86-year-old Doris Cox along Spit Road in Sydney‘s Mosman to her retirement village in 1989, then dragged her into a secluded stairwell and smashed her face into a brick wall.

Cox survived, one of the few to live through an attack that would later be linked to a string of killings targeting elderly women. But she had Alzheimer’s, and her account of the assault was so confused that detectives were steered toward hunting a much younger suspect, a misdirection that bought Glover more time before he was finally caught.

In memory note on paper held in wrinkled hands under dramatic light
In memory note on paper held in wrinkled hands under dramatic light

⬅ See all events from 18 October

Spread the word on your favourite platform!
On This Day in True Crime History

Subscribe to Dark Stories

True crime stories, dark history and tour news, straight to your inbox.