The family of Lina Marciano, an Adelaide teenager murdered in a classroom in 1978, is grappling with the heart-wrenching news that the prime suspect has died without facing justice. Lina’s sister, Teresa Kellett, recalls the tragic day of March 1, 1978, when Lina left their Wayville home on her blue and white Honda motorcycle for dancing lessons at Nailsworth Primary School.
After a tense three-day search, Lina’s body was discovered in a rubbish tip at Dry Creek, leading to a post-mortem examination that revealed evidence of a horrific crime, including binding, gagging, strangulation, stabbing, and blunt force trauma. Detective Allen Arthur described the case as one of the most brutal he had seen, labelling it an “overkill situation,” while Teresa characterised it as “horrible” and “brutal.” Investigators suspect that Lina was abducted from the school grounds and killed in a classroom.
A potential breakthrough came when a school cleaner identified a suspect and contacted the police. However, she was subsequently attacked by an unknown assailant who threatened her to keep silent. Although the police interviewed the suspect and collected his DNA, there wasn’t enough evidence to file charges.
With the suspect’s recent death, hopes for closure have been dashed. “That was our last line of hope, and he’s gone,” Teresa lamented, as any insight he may have held has been lost. The family now faces the painful reality of living with unresolved grief and unanswered questions.