True Crime South Africa

PODCAST | The serial crimes of Richard Nyauza — a groundbreaking investigation

14 January 2022 - 15:11 By Nicole Engelbrecht
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The SAPS investigative psychology unit (IPU) was asked to help track down Richard Nyauza, who murdered 16 people. Stock photo.
The SAPS investigative psychology unit (IPU) was asked to help track down Richard Nyauza, who murdered 16 people. Stock photo.
Image: 123RF/LAKHESIS

In 2002, the bodies of five unidentified women were discovered in a quarry in the Pretoria area. Their murders would remain unsolved for four years until, in 2006, the killer returned. As the toll reached 16 victims, the SAPS’ investigative psychology unit (IPU) was asked to help find and arrest the perpetrator.

At the conclusion of an investigation that highlighted the unique attributes of South African serial killers and eventually ended in a legal precedent being set around linkage analysis evidence, Richard Nyauza would receive 16 life sentences.

In episode 69 of True Crime South Africa, we dive into the fascinating investigative tools used by the "quarry murders" task team and try to understand why 11 of these victims remain unidentified to this day.

Listen to the tale here: 

For more episodes, click here.

Community Intervention Centre (24-hour trauma helpline): 082-821-3447

Join the conversation on Twitter at #TrueCrimeSA

E-mail the show: wordsmith195@gmail.com


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