John Tzellaidis

A Greek laborer's outback dream turns into a nightmare when he vanishes after a big payday, only to be found executed a month later, leaving a trail of mysterious bank withdrawals and a shadowy figure known only as 'George the moneyman'.

John Tzellaidis, a 41-year-old Greek-born laborer, had been in Australia for 14 years, seeking his fortune. In March 1978, he arrived in the booming mining town of Dampier, Western Australia, and quickly found work as a trade's assistant, living in a construction camp. After a few months, he decided to move on, collecting a final pay of $600 before being dropped off at the Dampier Shopping Centre on June 29, 1978. This was the last time he was seen by anyone who knew him.

In the days that followed, Tzellaidis was spotted around the shopping center and local hotels. On July 4, 1978, he was seen in the company of an unknown man, described as being in his mid-40s, with a thin build and dark, scruffy hair. Witnesses, who knew this man as 'George the moneyman,' noted his heavy Greek accent and confident, well-dressed appearance. It is believed that Tzellaidis and this mysterious man left Dampier together in a brown HR Holden utility, possibly heading towards Tom Price to look for work.

A month later, on August 7, 1978, John Tzellaidis's body was discovered in bushland at Seven Mile Creek, about six kilometers from Karratha. He had been shot in the head and was believed to have been dead for about a month. There was no identification on his body, only a worn white metal ring on his left little finger. In a sinister twist, money had been withdrawn from his bank account in Port Hedland, Darwin, and even as far as Hughenden in Queensland, long after he was last seen alive. The identity of 'George the moneyman' and the person or persons responsible for John Tzellaidis's murder remain unknown.