His mother finished her shift at the education centre and went home to check on a friend. Neither woman survived the night. Their families waited 47 years for an arrest.
Suzanne Armstrong, 28, and Susan Bartlett, 27, were stabbed to death in their Collingwood home on Easey Street in Melbourne, Australia, in January 1977. In September 2024, nearly five decades later, a man was finally arrested in connection with the killings.
The Night of the Murders
Armstrong and Bartlett, old high school friends from country Victoria, had shared the rented house at 147 Easey Street for just ten weeks. On the evening of January 10, 1977, Bartlett's brother and his girlfriend visited for dinner and left around 9 p.m. Police believe both women were killed later that same night.
Discovery Three Days Later
Neighbors first noticed something was wrong when they found the women's puppy wandering the street. Over the following days, they heard Armstrong's 16-month-old son, Gregory, crying inside the house. On January 13, neighbors finally entered through the back door and found both women dead in the hallway, along with Gregory, unharmed but distressed and dehydrated, in his cot. Investigators believe Armstrong was sexually assaulted and stabbed in her bedroom, and that Bartlett was killed after going to investigate the disturbance.
Decades Without Answers
A team of 16 detectives investigated at the time, but the case went cold within months despite an initial $50,000 reward. The investigation was formally reopened in 2011 under detective Ron Iddles, and in January 2017, on the murders' 40th anniversary, Victoria Police offered a $1 million reward for information leading to a conviction. Investigators said they had roughly 130 persons of interest over the years, with DNA testing used to progressively rule people out.
An Arrest in Rome
On September 19, 2024, a 65-year-old dual Australian-Greek citizen, Perikilis "Perry" Kouroumblis, was arrested at an airport in Rome in connection with the murders. Investigators noted Kouroumblis had attended the same school where Susan Bartlett worked as an arts and crafts teacher. He was extradited to Australia and arrived in Melbourne on December 3, 2024.
Where the Case Stands Now
Kouroumblis appeared in court in December 2024 and returned for a committal hearing beginning October 29, 2025, spanning six days of witness testimony. As of the most recent reporting, the case remains before the courts and has not concluded. Victoria's police chief commissioner, Shane Patton, said following the 2024 arrest that he hoped it would finally bring the Armstrong and Bartlett families the answers they'd waited decades for.
Gregory's Life Since
Gregory Armstrong was adopted and raised in Queensland by his mother's younger sister, Gayle, who has continued advocating publicly for the case to be solved. Gregory later reconnected with his biological father and has maintained a relationship with him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has anyone been convicted in the Easey Street murders?
Not yet. A suspect, Perry Kouroumblis, was arrested in 2024 and extradited to Australia, and his case was undergoing a committal hearing as of late 2025, but no trial verdict has been reached.
What happened to Suzanne Armstrong's son, Gregory?
He was found unharmed in his cot three days after the murders and was later raised by his aunt in Queensland. He has since reconnected with his biological father.
Is there still a reward for information?
Yes, up to $1 million, offered by Victoria Police since 2017.