Serial killer ‘victim’ back from dead, Aussies stumped

But last week, crown prosecutor Paul Rutledge arose a week into Fraser’s trial to drop a bombshell. ‘‘Your honour, I am pleased to inform the court that Fraser is not guilty of the murder of Natasha Ann Ryan. Natasha Ryan is alive,’’ he said.

Ryan was found hiding in a house rented by her boyfriend at the time of her disappearance, 27-year-old milkman Scott Black, after an anonymous written tip-off, probably from Ryan herself. The house was just 2 km from her mother’s house.

The raid on Black’s house ended five years of self-imposed house detention for Ryan who only went outside a few times and would hide in a cupboard for up to six hours when visitors came. The teenager told police she stayed hidden because ‘‘the lie had become too big’’.

Ryan has not yet told anyone why she ran away, with the media speculating she was pregnant at the time. A police spokesperson refused to say whether Ryan would face charges for attempting to pervert the course of justice or if Black would face charges for blocking police work or child stealing.

Ryan’s father, Robert, has cried with joy, despair and confusion since he heard his daughter was alive. ‘‘I’m totally mixed up, I really am,’’ he said.

The media frenzy to reach Ryan and snare the story of the girl-back-from-the-dead has been frenetic. Publicist Max Markson won the race, announcing Kerry Packer’s Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd which owns Nine Network television and the Australian Women’s Weekly magazine, had won the rights to interview Ryan and her family.

The price? A reported A$200,000 ($122,000) — while police have estimated the search for Ryan cost up to A$500,000. (Reuters)