SERIAL KILLER: "The Backpacker Murderer" Ivan Milat Pt. 1
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How did Ivan Milat’s chaotic childhood shape his early fascination with weapons and violence?
Hi listeners, it's Vanessa. Are you the type to fall down an internet rabbit hole and not come up for hours? You'll love Crimes of Reddit, a new Crime House original with Sabrina Diana Roga and Alexis Linkletter. Every week, one host brings real true crime stories from Reddit while the other reacts completely blind. No prep, no spoilers, then they swab. It's the feeling of sending your group chat a thread at 2 a.m. that starts with, you have to see this. Except Sabrina and Alexis are in the chat with you. Follow Crimes of Reddit on Apple Podcasts and Spotify or subscribe at Crimes of Reddit Pod on YouTube.
This is Crime House. Growing up, most of us got into a little trouble at one point or another. Maybe you stayed out too late, snuck out of the house, or pushed the limits to see just how much you could get away with before someone noticed. Eventually, most of us grow up and learn that actions have consequences and that boundaries exist for a reason. But not everyone comes to see it that way. Ivan Millette never learned that lesson. Rules meant nothing to him, and consequences rarely stuck. By the 1960s and 70s, he wasn't just committing crimes, he was learning how to offend, hide, and walk away. Over time, that pattern would escalate into something far darker. Until Ivan became one of Australia's most terrifying killings.
Killers.
The human mind is powerful. It shapes how we think, feel, love, and hate. But sometimes it drives people to commit the unthinkable. This is Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, a Crime House Original. I'm Vanessa Richardson.
And I'm forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Ingalls. Every Monday and Thursday, we uncover the darkest minds in history, analyzing what makes a killer.
Crime House exists because of listeners like you. Want even more? Join Crime House Plus and get both parts of every story dropped on the same Monday, completely ad-free. No waiting three days for part two, plus Crime House bonus episodes every month. To join, go to CrimehousePlus.com or if you listen on Apple Podcasts, tap Try Free at the top of the serial killers and murderous minds page. Before we get started, be advised this episode contains descriptions of violence against animals and sexual violence against women. So please listen with care. Today we begin our deep dive on Ivan Millette, not Millette, as is commonly pronounced, but however you say his name, he's a killer whose violence didn't come out of nowhere, but grew from years of recklessness and defiance.
We'll trace Ivan's early life in a chaotic, crowded home where boundaries barely existed, and follow how a fearless boy who ran from consequences grew into one of Australia's. Australia's most notorious killers.
As Vanessa goes through the story, I'll be talking about things like how early exposure to weapons and chaos can distort a child's sense of danger, what it means when violence begins as fun, and whether that can ever be rewired, and how Ivan avoided real consequences for serious crimes, and why each escape seemed to embolden him.
And as always, we'll be asking the question, what makes a killer? Before the Great Outdoors became the backdrop for Ivan Millette's crimes, it was his playground. Ivan Robert Marco Millette was born on December 27, 1944, in New South Wales, Australia. From the beginning, Ivan grew up in a home that was crowded, loud, and constantly in motion. He was the fifth of 14 children born to his parents, Stephen and Margaret. And the Mulette kids were impossible to contain.
What does social‑learning theory tell us about the impact of growing up around guns and abuse?
Stephen worked long hours doing physically demanding labor to support the family. While he was away, Margaret did her best to raise her children with structure. They were sent to Catholic schools, where they were expected to follow rules, keep their grades up, and be disciplined if they didn't. School offered the children a sense of routine that their home sometimes lacked. Eventually, Stephen and Margaret knew they had to make a change. Despite how hard Stephen worked, they had 14 mouths to feed, they were barely getting by.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
How did Ivan Milat’s chaotic childhood shape his early fascination with weapons and violence?
0:01–4:20
2
What does social‑learning theory tell us about the impact of growing up around guns and abuse?
4:20–11:37
3
Why is animal cruelty considered a warning sign for future violent behavior?
11:37–18:35
4
How did Milat’s teenage robberies, assaults, and the alleged taxi‑driver shooting reinforce his belief that he could evade consequences?
18:35–24:13
5
What motivated Milat to stage a fake suicide and disappear after his 1971 arrest?
24:13–31:17
6
How did Milat’s road‑work job give him access to isolated highways and vulnerable hitchhikers?
31:17–37:35
7
What led to Milat’s eventual capture, trial, and acquittal despite overwhelming evidence?
37:35–45:51
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from Serial Killers & Murderous Minds
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Liz Golyar: Obsession, Stalking, and Murder Pt. 2
Liz Golyar: Obsession, Stalking, and Murder Pt. 1
SERIAL KILLER: "The Backpacker Murderer" Ivan Milat Pt. 2
Campus Crimes: The Murder of Patrick Dennehy
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