Chilling Google search before Sydney massacre suspect stabbed to death

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By Jasmine Kazlauskas, Heath Parkes-Hupton and Sarah Keoghan, News.com.au

Mass murderer Joel Couch Googled knives and “how to kill” before stabbing six people to death in Bondi Westfield on Saturday.

Police said Couch suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and had an “obsession with murder” and an “obsession with knives,” according to the report. Recent happenings Crime Editor Simon Bouda.

“Initially, everyone thought this was a man who had schizophrenia, was insane, had words in his head,” Bouda explained on Monday night’s show. ACA.

“Today we learned that investigators were able to download data from his mobile phone, which shows he was obsessed with murder.

“He was also attached to a knife. This shows that it was not a sudden attack. He had thoughts of killing beforehand, which is very frightening. .”

When asked if Couch had been “searching for murder” on his cell phone, Bouda replied, “Yes, I understand that.”

Couch was also claimed to have been seen at two other Westfield shopping centers around Sydney, Penrith and Parramatta, and investigators believe Couch may have also carried out attacks at these shopping centers. This raises the question of whether or not this was the case.

“I have heard that in recent weeks he has been seen in Westfield, Penrith and Parramatta,” Bouda continued.

“What was going on in his mind? Was he looking at other places he thought were better suited to what he wanted to do? Did he just visit?

“You know what? But it happened very quickly.”

Bouda also said that before delivering the fatal blow, Couch walked up behind the two victims and did not speak to or look at them.

“The first woman was queuing to buy a coffee when the man came up behind her and stabbed her in the back,” crime editor Simon Bouda said.

“He stabbed another woman in the back and he didn’t even look at them.

On Monday, Couch’s father speculated that Couch targeted women because he wanted a girlfriend and was “frustrated.”

How did the family know their son was a murderer?

When Couch’s family saw footage of the massacre on TV, they reportedly believed it was their son and called authorities.

Mr Couch’s parents are said to be supporting the police officer who used a knife to kill six people and seriously injure 12 others at Westfield Bondi Junction before shooting him dead.

Speaking in Brisbane, Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Roger Rowe said the 40-year-old had been in contact with police over the past four years due to mental health issues, but had no criminal record.

His family cooperated with police, telling them that Couch, who grew up in Queensland, had lived a drifting life and had intermittent contact with police.

“This is a difficult time to tell anyone that you have lost your son,” said Assistant Secretary of State Lowe.

“Their first thought to us was to express their concern for the families and victims of these crimes.

“And especially how they feel about the police officers who had to act so bravely.”

Couch’s family reported that their son had been sleeping in their car and at a backpacker hostel.

Assistant Commissioner Lowe said Queensland Police last had contact with Couch in December, but there was no indication so far that the man was capable of such a horrific act. He emphasized that there was no such thing.

“He has not been charged, arrested or prosecuted for any offense in Queensland and has no record of being subject to a domestic violence order in court.”

The murderer’s father dies

On Monday, Couch’s parents said they were deeply troubled by their son’s actions.

His father, Andrew Couch, heartbreakingly told the media that he was a “beautiful” boy and that he “let himself down” when he went off his medication.

Mr. Couch spoke of his pain and heartache for families who have lost loved ones.

“I’m so sorry. My heart hurts for you,” Ms Couch said outside her home in Rockville, near Toowoomba.

“This is so terrible that I can’t even explain it.

“I’m just shocked. I love my son.”

Couch said her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 17 years old, and decided to get off his medication as he felt better.

“When I found out that my son had a mental illness, I became his servant. I became his servant because I loved him,” he said.

“He let himself down and was feeling so good that he stopped taking his medication, but then he left for Brisbane.

“You have no idea how beautiful this boy was. I couldn’t help it, I did everything I could to help my son.

“Sorry, there is nothing I can do or say to bring the dead back to life.

“I love the monster. To you he is a monster, but to me he was a very sick boy.”

Asked why she thought her son targeted women during the assault, Ms Couch said she understood why NSW Police believed that was his son’s motive.

“He wanted a girlfriend, but he didn’t have any social skills and was just mad,” Couch said.

Couch’s mother, Michele, said her son’s behavior was “very out of line” despite his struggles with mental health.

“I’m really sorry for what my son did,” Couch said.

“I don’t know why he did that, but it was very out of character.

“He was a loving, well-loved child who had been under the care of doctors for about 18 years. He was taking the medication well, so I asked the doctor to reduce (the dose).

“He did that over the years.”

Couch said she didn’t think her son was aware of what he was doing during his violent outburst.

“It’s a nightmare for parents of children with mental illness to have something like this happen,” she said.

“If he was in his right mind, he would be completely devastated by what he did.

“He was obviously insane. He had somehow fallen into a psychosis and lost touch with reality.”

killer’s social media posts

Just six days before the horrific incident, Mr Couch posted on social media that he was looking for a surfing buddy at Bondi Beach.

For years, Couch often posted to Facebook hobby groups seeking tips for friendships and activities like astrophotography.

In December 2020, in a post that now has dark undertones, he wrote on his Outdoor Adventures page asking members if they would like to join him for a photo session.

“Hello, I’m looking for a group of people who shoot guns, including handguns. We can meet, chat and get to know each other,” the 40-year-old wrote.

“If you can help, please DM me! By the way, I live in Brisbane.”

New South Wales Police say Couch acted alone and had mental health issues, and are currently denying any links to terrorist ideology.

The man who was captured on harrowing footage running around the center holding a knife and wearing a green and gold kangaroo jersey is believed to have suffered from schizophrenia.

On Sunday, police visited Mr Couch’s childhood home in Toowoomba and a neighbor told media they had seen Joel and described him as “disturbed”.

“It’s a spin-out. He could have done it here,” the man was quoted as saying. daily telegraph.

“They seem like a nice family with a nice house, but he had schizophrenia when he was growing up.”

One woman told news.com.au that she met Couch on the dating app Badoo and they dated briefly in 2019.

She said they were both from Toowoomba and met when she had just turned 18.

The woman said he was older than he originally stated in his relationship profile, but was “kind and gentle.”

Six people (five women and one man) died on Saturday, and 12 remained in the hospital Sunday morning.

Ms Couch’s social media profiles suggest she grew up in the Toowoomba area and lived in Brisbane before spending several months in Sydney.

According to his Facebook page, he worked as an English tutor at an online educational institution.

After Couch’s identity became public, many of his posts were flooded with angry comments.

On January 5, he wrote on the Australian Backpackers page that he was looking for rideshare arrangements and accommodation in Sydney.

“Hello, I live in Sydney and I’m looking for someone to ride share with me, pay for the fuel and stay with me in interesting places near Sydney,” he said. “Please let me know if you are interested!”

Two days later, he wrote to the Amateur Astronomy and Astrophotography page asking if he could join us on an upcoming trip.

“Hello, I live in Sydney. I’m looking for someone to learn astrophotography with me in a dark sky location. Can someone help me?”

One man said he would plan a trip if the weather was nice.

On February 6, Mr Couch reviewed a day trip to Palm Beach, a beautiful spot on Sydney’s northern beaches.

“This is a beautiful place. The beaches are absolutely stunning, perfect for surfing and snorkeling (sic). And the nearby hikes were great with great views!” he said. “It’s perfect for everything I think of, even just a picnic.”

He also toured a cafe in Chippendale on February 26, and then on April 3 wrote to a group looking for candidates for a “language exchange” with Swedish speakers.

“I’m fluent in English, so if you’re interested, I can teach you that instead of Swedish.”

Last week, Couch wrote to Beginner Surfing and Adventure (Sydney) as one of his final posts before Saturday’s stabbing.

“Hello, I’m surfing in Bondi this afternoon and I was wondering if anyone would like to meet up to surf there.”

New South Wales Police said Couch was known to local state authorities and multiple authorities were investigating his motive.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.