Twenty-seven-year-old Melinda Freeman was a devoted mother to her nine-month-old son, Brent, and came from a close-knit family. Described as a doting parent with aspirations to build a career in the beauty industry, she was in the prime of her life. On the day of her murder, Melinda and her husband, Craig Freeman, attended a family reunion to celebrate her sister’s return from overseas. The couple returned to their Yea Road home around four p.m., and Melinda prepared dinner for the family. Later that evening, Craig took Brent to a card game in Kinglake, leaving Melinda alone to study for her beauty course.
This decision to give Melinda quiet time to focus on her studies set the stage for the tragic events that followed. Between approximately seven thirty p.m. and eleven thirty p.m., an unknown assailant entered the Freeman home, where Melinda was fatally assaulted. When Craig returned, he found the front door open and the house in disarray, with items like a video recorder and appliances missing, suggesting a possible burglary. Melinda’s body was discovered on the upstairs hallway landing, having been bashed to death.
Victoria Police’s Homicide Squad launched a significant investigation, but despite interviewing hundreds of individuals, the case has remained unsolved. The apparent ransacking of the home raised suspicions, with Detective Inspector Dean Thomas later noting that the burglary may have been staged. The lack of a clear motive and the inability to reconstruct Melinda’s final movements have been persistent obstacles. Police have been unable to determine why Melinda was targeted or what transpired in the hours leading up to her death.
Craig Freeman, Melinda’s husband, has remained a person of interest, though no charges have been filed. A 1997 coroner’s inquest revealed that Craig had been having an affair with a close friend of Melinda’s at the time of her death. Despite family suspicions, Coroner Jacinta Heffey delivered an open finding, stating there was insufficient evidence to support claims that Craig was responsible, dismissing them as “impressions, conjecture, and speculation.”
In 2018, an anonymous tip provided fresh hope, but it did not lead to a breakthrough. Detective Inspector Thomas emphasized the importance of this tip and urged the informant to come forward again, believing that even seemingly insignificant details could be critical. The absence of concrete evidence has kept the case open, with police maintaining an open mind about other potential suspects.
In February 2022, Victoria Police announced a $1 million reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of those responsible for Melinda’s murder.
Crime Immemorial 