Cold Case Files: Patricia ‘Susi’ Schmidt
Cold Case Files: Patricia ‘Susi’ Schmidt
At 2 a.m. onSaturday, December 18, 1971, Patricia ‘Susi’ Schmidt finished a double shift atthe Darlington Burger King on the corner of South Road and Marion Road.Susi went outside to wait for her dad to pick her up. According to the CanberraTimes newspaper of 1971, Susi was a 16-year-old girl who had taken a jobat Burger King to save money so she could buy Christmas presents.Driving from their Seacliff home, Mr Schmidt ran 10 minutes late and never sawhis daughter alive again.
4 daysbefore her murder, Susi had worked the night shift at Burger King. She toldher girlfriend that after she finished her shift, she had started walking homewhen an older man, probably in his 30s, with a flash car, pulled over and askedif she needed a lift. Susi had accepted the lift and made it home safely toSeacliff.
Susi’s bodywas found dumped near Adams Street, at Hallet Cove, she had been raped andstrangled.Traces of weathered pink and white paint were found on her body. There werealso traces of nickel and nickel-silver on her body, which led police tobelieve at the time, she may have been in an engraver or key cutter workshop.Susi’s kangaroo skin purse was never found.
Darlington Burger King Adrienne Peele photoInDecember 2021, marking 50 years since Susi’s murder, South Australian Policereleased a news article via ABC News that 8 listed key points about the case:
Gold, brass, nickel, and other metal filings from key cutting. Microscopic particles from a shoe repair business. Welding slag (by-product left from the welding process). Particles of electrical waste from Phillips Industries (at Henley Beach at the time). Iridescent blue paint from a 1971 blue Holden Monaro. Small paint flakes — pink on one side and white on the other. Missing necklet with "Susi" engraved on the back. DNA from unknown men.
Policebelieve there may have been more than one person involved in Susi’s abduction, rape,and murder. The culprits, they believe, would be in their 60s today, if stillalive. There is a reward of up to $1 million foranyone who provides information that leads to the apprehension and convictionof the person or people responsible for Susi's death.
Anyonewith information about her murder is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000 or report online at https://crimestopperssa.com.au/ .You can report anonymously.
Researchedand written by Allen Tiller © 2024.
‘Remembering Burger Kingin Adelaide,’ The Advertiser, (2023), (RememberingBurger King in Adelaide | The Advertiser (adelaidenow.com.au).
'Murdered', The Canberra Times, (20 December1971), p. 3.
Rebecca Opie, ‘DNAbreakthrough and eight clues could solve 1971 murder of Seacliff teen SusiSchmidt,’ ABC News, DNAbreakthrough and eight clues could solve 1971 murder of Seacliff teen SusiSchmidt - ABC News
Meagan Dillion, ‘The 45-year-old murder of PatriciaSchmidt will head across the Tasman Sea as SA Police remain determined to solvethe mystery,’ The Advertiser, (2016).
'Murdered', The Canberra Times, (20 December1971), p. 3.; Nigel Hunt, ‘The cold case files – unsolved SA murdersreopened,’ Sunday Mail, (2025), Thecold case files — unsolved SA murders reopened | The Advertiser(adelaidenow.com.au).
Hunt, ‘The cold case files,’Sunday Mail, (2025).; Opie, ‘DNA breakthrough,’ ABC News.
