EPISODE · Jan 19, 2026 · 30 MIN
William MacDonald: The Sydney Mutilator
from Criminal, Interrupted · host Sophie Imogen
In the early 1960s, Sydney was a vibrant city, unaware that a predator was moving quietly through its streets. Between 1961 and 1962, five men would fall victim to a killer whose brutality shocked Australia and left investigators scrambling for answers. His name was William Macdonald, an English migrant who blended into the city by day and hunted its most vulnerable by night.Known later as “The Mutilator", Macdonald became one of Australia’s earliest recognised serial killers, targeting men he lured with alcohol before attacking them with sudden, frenzied violence. His crimes unfolded across familiar Sydney locations, Darlinghurst, Moore Park, the Domain, turning ordinary public spaces into scenes of horror.In today’s episode, we explore the life and crimes of William Macdonald, a killer whose brutality left a lasting mark on Australia.Australia’s Most Feared Serial Killer William MacDonaldCORONERS COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES - William MacDonaldMurders Most Foul - William MacDonald “The Mutilator,” Sydney’s Most Disturbed Serial Killer.The Daily Telegraph - The Mutilator dead at 90: William MacDonald, who cut off victims’ genitalia, was NSW’s longest-serving prisonerThe Serial Killer Podcast - William MacDonald | William The Mutilator MacDonald - Part 1 & 2
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