Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton biography

Synopsis

Early Life

Born Alice Lynne Murchinson on March 2, 1948, in Whakatane, on the North Island of New Zealand. In 1949 Lindy moved to Victoria, Australia with her family. Her father was a pastor, and the family often moved to attend new churches.

On November 18, 1969, Lindy married Michael Leigh Chamberlain, also a pastor, and like her born in New Zealand. For the first five years of their marriage they lived in Tasmania, where Lindy had their first child, Aidan. After receiving her dressmaking and tailoring certificate at a technical college, the family moved to northern Queensland where Lindy specialized in making wedding dresses. She spent her free time involving herself in the church and fulfilling her responsibilities as the pastor's wife. On April 16, 1976, their second son, Reagan, was born. After moving yet again to Mt. Isa, Lindy finally gave birth to a baby girl on June 11, 1980. Wanting all of her children to have names with strong meanings, she choose the name Azaria, meaning "Blessed of God."

Azaria's Disappearance

Lindy made headlines in 1980, after the mysterious disappearance of 9-week-old daughter Azaria. On August 17, 1980, Azaria went missing from the family’s camping ground while they were on holiday near Ayers Rock, in the Northern Territory of Australia. The night she disappeared, Lindy claimed to have heard a cry and immediately ran outside to see a dingo coming out of the tent. Dingo tracks, along with Azaria's blood, were found around and inside the tent. After reporting the incident, a massive search was organized. Police found numerous dingo tracks and her torn-up clothing, but the body was never found.

Investigation

In December of 1980, a coroner proved that a dingo had in fact taken the child, however the Supreme Court rejected the findings of the initial inquest. After speculation that the found clothing was interfered with by "person or persons unknown," a second inquest was ordered. After further investigation and the collection of more evidence, Lindy was tried for murder. On October 29, 1982, Lindy, who at the time was pregnant with fourth daughter Kahlia, was found guilty of 1st Degree Murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Her husband Michael was also charged as an accessory after the fact. On November 17, 1982, Lindy's daughter, Kahlia, was born in custody and eventually sent to live with foster parents.

In February of 1986, new evidence emerged when police found Azaria's missing matinee jacket, a significant item of clothing that supported the Chamberlain's defense case.