James Spyridon Vlassakis was born on December 24, 1979, in Australia. He lived a troubled childhood, marked by instability and trauma. In his late teens, he lived with his mother, Elizabeth Harvey, and younger half-brother, Troy Youde. At some point in the 1990s, the family moved in with John Justin Bunting, a man who would later be identified as the ringleader of one of the most infamous serial killing groups in Australian history.

Vlassakis’s relationship with Bunting was complex. As a teenager, he was heavily influenced by Bunting’s dominating personality. Over time, he was groomed and manipulated into accepting Bunting’s views, particularly his hatred of individuals perceived as pedophiles, homosexuals, or "weak." 

James Vlassakis’s descent into murder began with psychological manipulation by John Bunting, the charismatic and controlling leader of a small group of killers who believed they were purging society of "undesirables." Between 1997 and 1999, Bunting and his followers committed a series of brutal murders in South Australia, later dubbed the "Snowtown Murders" or "Bodies-in-Barrels" case.

Vlassakis’s first known participation in the killings occurred in April 1998, when he helped murder Gavin Porter, a friend and fellow drug user. Porter, who had schizophrenia, was strangled in his sleep and his body later sealed in a barrel. This act marked the beginning of Vlassakis's direct involvement in Bunting’s killings.

Later that year, in September 1998, Vlassakis assisted in the torture and murder of Frederick Brooks, the teenage son of Jodie Elliott, a woman close to Bunting. Brooks was subjected to extreme torture, including the insertion of lit sparklers and electric shocks. He was also forced to record financial information before being killed.

In November 1998, Bunting and Wagner informed Vlassakis they intended to murder his half-brother Troy Youde, who Vlassakis had earlier accused of sexually abusing him. Instead of intervening, Vlassakis joined in the killing. Youde was handcuffed, dragged from his bed, and tortured before being strangled. His death was also recorded for identity theft purposes.

Vlassakis’s final known victim was David Johnson, his stepbrother, whom he lured to a disused bank in Snowtown under the pretense of buying a computer. There, Bunting and Wagner overpowered Johnson, who was later strangled. His body was dismembered, and a piece of his flesh was allegedly cooked and eaten by Bunting and Wagner. Johnson was the only victim to be killed in Snowtown itself.

Throughout the murders, Vlassakis not only assisted in physical violence but also participated in post-murder identity theft — helping the group steal victims’ social security payments and access their bank accounts. In total, the group collected nearly AUD $100,000 from these frauds.

After his arrest on May 26, 1999, Vlassakis initially remained silent but later agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. His confession, recorded over multiple sessions, provided prosecutors with a chilling, detailed account of the murders and helped secure life sentences for the group’s leaders.

In 2002, he was sentenced to four consecutive life terms with a non-parole period of 26 years. He served most of his sentence in solitary confinement, under protection due to the notoriety of his crimes and role as a state witness.

In August 2025, James Vlassakis was granted parole. His release was controversial, reopening wounds for the families of victims. Authorities had 60 days to appeal the parole decision. As of the latest reports, he resides in South Australia under strict parole conditions.