Bio

John Raymond Travers was born on February 27, 1967, in Australia. He was the oldest of eight children in his family. Travers grew up in Mount Druitt, a suburb of Blacktown near Sydney. At that time, Mount Druitt had a high rate of unemployment.

His early life faced many challenges. Travers was caught using marijuana when he was just 13 years old. By the age of 14, he had started drinking alcohol heavily. He developed a reputation for being very violent and often carried a knife. Throughout his teenage years, he was involved in various criminal activities. Police and courts frequently reprimanded him, but his parents struggled to control his behavior.

Travers was expelled from high school during Year 10. He was disruptive in class and had trouble fitting in. After leaving school, he had very few jobs. Instead of working, he preferred claiming unemployment benefits. His mother eventually decided to send him to Boys Town, a juvenile detention center, as she found him difficult to manage.

In 1981, his father left the family. This left Travers in a position of responsibility at a young age. He found it hard to support his family. To provide food, he would steal animals from nearby households, including chickens and ducks.

As time went on, Travers' mother became ill, and he and his siblings were placed with foster families while she was in the hospital. Even as a child, Travers showed signs of cruelty, which is often associated with troubled individuals. At that time, he was known to harm animals. He also had a teardrop tattoo under his left eye, which is a distinctive mark he carried.

Murder Story

On February 2, 1986, Anita Lorraine Cobby was walking home in Blacktown, New South Wales, after meeting friends for dinner. Around 10 p.m., she was approached by five men in a stolen car. They forcibly dragged her into the vehicle.

The attackers threatened her and demanded she undress, but Anita refused, pleading for them to let her go. They punched her and then drove to a remote area. There, they assaulted and beat her. Anita was reported missing the next day by her family when she did not return home.

As the days passed, authorities found her body in a secluded paddock. Anita’s death was marked by severe injuries and considerable blood loss. The discovery of a Russian wedding ring helped identify her. The media widely reported on the case, causing public outrage and a demand for justice.

Police began to investigate and offered a reward for information. They recreated Anita's last known movements in hopes of jogging the memories of witnesses. Through various tips, the police gathered evidence related to Travers and his accomplices.

On February 21, 1986, police arrested John Travers, Michael Murdoch, and the Murphy brothers. Investigations revealed that Travers had a history of violence. During police questioning, a woman connected to Travers came forward with information, leading to a recorded confession from him.

All five men accused of Anita's murder were charged and had extensive prior criminal records. Their trial began on March 16, 1987. Before it started, Travers pled guilty. The trial for the others lasted several weeks, where they argued they had less involvement.

On June 10, 1987, all five men were found guilty. They received life sentences without the possibility of parole on June 16, 1987. The brutal nature of Anita's murder shocked the public and led to conversations about crime and punishment in Australia.