Lindsey Robert Rose was born as Lindsey Robert Lehman on May 2, 1955, in North Sydney, New South Wales. His mother, separated from his father before his birth, later remarried—leading Rose to take his stepfather’s surname. He grew up in Sydney’s western suburbs, trained as a fitter and turner, and joined the NSW Ambulance Service in 1976. He was among the first to respond to the tragic Granville Train Disaster in 1977.

By 1979, Rose pivoted careers and became a licensed private investigator—a role that would soon give way to a darker path. His criminal activity began shortly thereafter and spiraled into a decade of brutal killings.

Rose walked into Edward “Bill” Cavanagh’s home in Hoxton Park and shot him dead as alleged revenge for the beating of a friend. He also killed Cavanagh’s girlfriend, Carmelita Lee, so she wouldn't witness the crime. Cavanagh was believed to have ties with Calabrian Mafia figures, including drug kingpin Robert Trimbole.

During a burglary attempt at the home of businessman William “Bill” Graf, Rose was surprised by Graf’s de facto partner, Reynette Holford. He fatally stabbed her using a screwdriver and a vegetable knife, then tied her body—but fled before police arrived.

Rose shot and killed Fatma Ozonal, then fatally shot and stabbed Kerrie Pang at Pang’s massage parlour in Gladesville. Mark Lewis arranged the contract, motivated by relationship issues and Pang’s line of work; Ozonal was not part of the plan and died simply for being there. Ronald Waters, who helped Rose access the building, was later convicted as an accessory after the fact. Lewis received a life sentence (plus 18 years), and Waters earned periodic detention.

Rose wasn’t initially a suspect. In 1996, a corrupt cop (an associate) blabbed to NSW detectives that Rose had boasted about murders. Rose fled, crossing the country from Sydney to Adelaide under his birth name. He hid for 40 weeks—until his mugshot aired on TV on April 9, 1997. The next day, police arrested him as he arrived for work. 

On June 18, 1998, Rose pleaded guilty to five murders in the NSW Supreme Court. His lawyer was high‑profile barrister Stuart Littlemore QC. On September 3, 1998, he received five consecutive life sentences with no chance of parole.

He later pleaded guilty to additional crimes—ranging from kidnapping and armed robbery to conspiracy and drug supply—and received extra terms totaling 39 years. Notably, on January 1, 1983, Rose was involved in a high‑profile hijack of a cigarette-laden semi-trailer and held drivers hostage.

Rose was among the first prisoners placed in Goulburn Gaol’s High Risk Management Unit in 2001. Reports in the mid-2000s indicate he opposed the conversion of inmates to Islam and even wrote letters trying to curb such conversions. He also complained about poor educational opportunities within the unit.