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Serial Killer Sought in Australia After 7th Skeleton Found

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Associated Press

The discovery of seven skeletons in a rugged forest known as Executioner’s Drop has set off the biggest hunt for a killer in Australian history.

All seven victims are believed to have been young hitchhikers; the first two were reported missing three years ago. The investigation was stepped up Thursday when police found two bodies, believed to be those of German backpackers, half a mile from where the remains of German tourist Simone Schmidl were discovered three days before.

“I think it would be fair to say that given we now have seven bodies . . . we do have a serial killer,” Police Supt. Clive Small, head of the investigation, said Thursday.

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More than 100 police are involved in the search, which began in 1990 after Deborah Everist and James Gibson, both 19, were reported missing in Victoria state.

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