Case 91
Carly Ryan
*** Warning: This case involves a child victim ***
In 2006, Myspace was the biggest social media platform in the world, surpassing Google as the most visited website. Like many teenagers, 14-year-old Carly Ryan turned to the internet to interact with friends and meet new people. It wasn’t long before she struck up a friendship with 18-year-old Brandon Kane, who went by the username ‘KuruptKoala.’
Carly was instantly smitten with the Texan-born musician who now lived in Melbourne, an eight-hour drive from her home in the Adelaide Hills. He was everything she’d dreamed of in a boyfriend – a dark and mysterious bad boy with a soft, emotional edge like the rock stars she admired. As Carly’s fifteenth birthday party approached, she didn’t hesitate for a moment to invite Brandon to make the interstate trip.
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research & writing – Elsha McGill
Additional writing – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
SPECIAL THANKS:
We would like to add a special thanks credit for Karina Natt and The Carly Ryan Foundation for the help in the creation of this episode.
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
WEBSITE:
APP:
THREAD app – free to download
ARTICLES:
Murdered Carly and mystery man – News.com.au
Carly Ryan seduced and murdered by father and son using fake cyberspace alter-ego named Brandon, court told – The Daily Telegraph
Carly Ryan’s final hours – The Advertiser
Sonya found a paedophile in her daughter’s bed, weeks before her death – MamaMia
Extraordinary scenes at start of Carly Ryan murder trial – The Advertiser
‘Stepdad’ denies sex interest in dead teen – Herald Sun
Identity of Carly Ryan’s killer to remain a secret – Perth Now
Face of Carly Ryan’s killer Garry Francis Newman revealed – Herald Sun
Teen acquitted of Carly Ryan murder ‘deserves second chance’, court hears – The Advertiser
Murderer of Carly Ryan loses challenge against life sentence – The Advertiser
My little girl was killed by an internet predator – Australian Woman’s Weekly
“My daughter was murdered by an online predator. The laws NEED to change” – Kidspot
Mother of murdered teen Carly Ryan still fighting online predators – The Sydney Morning Herald
Ten years after a violent sadist lured Carly Ryan, 15, to her death with a cruel trick her mother wants to warn others – News.com.au
Sonya Ryan: A patchwork quilt hung in Parliament in Carly’s name signifies 10-year wait to strengthen laws against online killers – The Advertiser
ADDITIONAL SOURCES:
SA Branch Newsletter – Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society
Honor Roll: Sonya Ryan – Australian of the Year Awards
VIDEOS:
Carly’s Law: preventing online child predators – The Feed
Carly Ryan’s Story – Studio 10
Online Grooming Case Study: Carly’s Story – ThinkUKnowAUS
Improving Online Safety with Sonya Ryan – Know The Risk
Sonya Ryan – South Australian of the Year 2013
IMAGES:
Carly Ryan Murder Investigation Gallery – Herald Sun