Richard Kelvin

Who is Bevan Spencer Von Einem?

Bevan Spencer von Einem was born on May 29, 1946, and lived in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. At the age of seven, Bevan was raped by his father’s drinking buddy. When his father found out, he did nothing. Up until his conviction, Bevan worked as an accountant at Pipeline Supplies of Australia in Regency park, South Australia. In 1984 he was convicted for the murder of 15-year-old Adelaide teenager Richard Kelvin and is serving life in prison. 

The Murder of Richard Kelvin

Richard Dallas Kelvin was born on December 1, 1967, and was the son of Rob Kelvin. Rob Kelvin was a long-time television news presenter for the Adelaide, South Australia station NSW 9.

On June 5, 1983, at around 6 pm, Bevan Spencer Von Einem and other unknown individuals abducted 15-year-old Richard Kelvin from North Adelaide Street, just 60 meters from his home. Richard had just finished hanging out with a friend and was now returning home for dinner. Several North Adelaide witnesses reported hearing a cry for help, car doors slamming, and a loud car speeding away. Richard Kelvin was then tortured, raped, and held captive for five weeks by Bevan Spencer Von Einem. After five weeks, he was murdered, and his body was dumped on an airstrip near One Tree Hill in the Adelaide Hills area. His body was found in clothes on July 24, 1983.

An autopsy revealed that Richard had died from massive blood loss due to an anal injury, likely caused by a blunt object with a tapered neck, such as a beer bottle. Richard also suffered bruising and injuries on his head and back, likely caused by blows. Analysis of his bloodstream showed traces of alcohol and five hypnotic drugs. The five hypnotic drugs found in his system were Mandrax, Noctec, Amytal, Valium, and Rohypnol.

At the time, the sale and use of Mandrax were regulated by the Central Board of Health, which gave police somewhere to start. The police searched through the prescriptions for that drug. During the search, the police found a prescription for Mandrax issued to Bevan von Einem. This name was already familiar to them as he had been previously questioned over sexual assault.

Bevan von Einem is Questioned

Four days after Richard’s body was discovered, the police questioned Bevan Spencer Von Einem about the murder. Initially, Bevan claimed he had not seen Richard and was in bed with the flu on the night of the abduction. Upon searching Bevan’s home, police discovered a bottle of Mandrax and a bottle of Noctec. The police also collected hair and blood samples from Bevan. Finally, they believed they had found their prime suspect.

Forensic investigators were able to match the hair sample taken from Bevan with the hair found on Richard’s body. Forensic investigators also determined that Richard Kelvin was killed between July 8 and 11, 1983.

Bevan Von Einem Stands Trial for The Murder of Richard Kelvin

Bevan’s trial began on October 15, 1984, in the Supreme Court Building of South Australia. Bevan pleaded not guilty to a jury of 12 people. Nevertheless, Bevan von Einem was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to life in prison at the Yatala Labour Prison with eligibility for parole after 24 years. Michael Atkinson, the Attorney-General of South Australia, immediately appealed this, and on March 29, 1985, Bevan’s non-parole period was increased to 36 years, a record for the state at that time. However, South Australian Premier Mike Rann had vowed to enforce new legislation to ensure Bevan would never leave prison alive.

Bevan von Einem remains in prison and is unlikely ever to leave. In 2007 he was transferred to Port Agusta Prison, South Australia, where he remains today. Now 73 years old and with Type 2 diabetes, he has recently been moved into the old age unit.

Other Murders

Although only convicted of the murder of Richard Kelvin, it is believed that Bevan Spencer Von Einem may be responsible for four more unsolved murders. Bevan was the ring leader of a group called The Family. It is reported that The Family would drug and rape young male hitchhikers. The young men were usually abused overnight and then released the next day.

Other suspected victims include 17-year-old Alan Barnes, whose body was found on the banks of a reservoir north of Adelaide a week after he disappeared. 25-year-old Neil Muir was found in two separate garbage bags on the banks of the Port River in Osborne. 14-year-old Peter Stogneff, whose skeletal remains were found on Middle Beach 10 months after he went missing. 18-year-old Mark Langley, whose body was discovered in Summertown nine days after he went away. To this day, Bevan Spencer Von Einem denies any involvement in these additional murders and claims that the murder of Richard was actually Richards’s fault.

The Murder of Alan Barnes and Mark Langley

In 1989 Bevan Spencer Von Einem was charged with the murders of Alan Barnes and Mark Langley based on similar evidence between the cases and the murder of Richard Kelvin. Unfortunately, the cases did not make it to trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who is Bevan Spencer Von Eniem?

A. Bevan is a convicted child murderer and suspected serial killer from Adelaide, South Australia. He was convicted in 1984 for the murder of Richard Kelvin after hair and blood samples were taken. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility for parole after 36 years.

Q. Is Bevan von Eniem responsible for the disappearance of 9-year-old Jane Beaumont, Anna Beaumont, and Grant Beaumont?

A. Despite one of the biggest police investigations in Australian History, the Beaumont children were never found, and their disappearance remains a mystery. Testimony was given during Bevan’s trial alleged that he was involved in the disappearance of Jane, Anna, and Grant Beaumont, but no evidence or conclusions have been discovered.