Disclaimer: This article tackles distressing topics such as abuse and death. Reader discretion is advised.

The dark chapters of Australia's criminal history are filled with names that evoke fear and sorrow.

One of the most chilling cases in Australia's history has just closed for good.


Rodney Francis Cameron, also known as Rodney Mallard, died in a Sydney hospital.

Cameron, dubbed the 'Lonely Hearts Killer', left behind a legacy of brutality that haunted communities across NSW and Victoria.

Cameron's life of crime was a stark reminder of the evil that can lurk within.

His story was not just one of a serial killer but a tale of a man who exploited the vulnerabilities of those seeking love.


He ensnared one of his victims through a matchmaking competition on the radio.

Maria Goellner became one of his victims after he lured her to the Sky Rider Motor Inn at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.

Cameron later bashed and strangled the 44-year-old Goellner to death.

However, Maria's murder was not the beginning of Cameron's reign of terror.


Cameron had an extensive criminal record prior to murdering Goellner.

His psychopathic tendencies manifested early in life, as he attempted to strangle a ten-year-old girl and two other women later on.

His life spiralled into a vortex of alcohol and drug abuse, which included experimenting with hallucinogenic chemicals and Satanism.

In 1974, he sexually abused and murdered Florence Edith Jackson, a 49-year-old nurse in Katoomba.

Cameron previously turned to Jackson for support after losing his job.

After fleeing the Blue Mountains, Cameron's path of destruction continued as he crossed into Victoria.

He picked up and murdered 19-year-old hitchhiker Francesco Ciliberto.

Authorities later on captured Cameron after he abducted a mother and daughter in Queensland.


His confessions and convictions led to prison sentences in both NSW and Victoria, totalling 16 years behind bars.

Despite his incarceration, Cameron's story took another grim turn when he confessed to a third murder while in prison.

He also murdered an elderly war widow, Sarah McKenzie, who was found with over 30 stab wounds in her Milsons Point home in 1974.

However, he was never tried for her murder.

Cameron's health declined in recent years as he battled cancer.

Cameron also spent his final days in palliative care at the Prince of Wales Hospital.

While his death may bring an end to his physical presence, the memories of his heinous acts continue to linger in Australian history for years.

Cameron's crimes were recounted in an episode of Foxtel's Crime Investigation Australia in 2009.

Watched the full episode here:

The episode came with detailed reenactments and interviews with key figures, including the brother of one of the murder victims.

The program highlighted Cameron's early psychopathic tendencies and his descent into a life marked by violence and depravity.

For the families of the victims, his death may bring some closure, but the scars left by his crimes are indelible.

The 'Lonely Hearts Killer' may have taken his last breath, but the cautionary tale of his life remains.
We invite our readers to share their thoughts and reflections on this case and the broader issues it raises about crime, punishment, and the human condition.