The 15,000 servicemen at Camp Pell were lined up by the Melbourne police so that witnesses could try to identify the murderer. 24 year old Edward Joseph Leonski of the 52nd Signal Battalion was eventually identified by the uncle of one of Leonski's victims who had managed to escape his attack. Leonski was then also identified by Private Seymour who had seen him covered in mud near Camp Pell on the night of the third murder. Leonski eventually confessed to the crimes. Full story here: Eddie Leonski - Melbourne's "Brownout Strangler" Leonski was Court Marshalled by an American military court in a hall in Russell Street, Melbourne. He was sentenced to death by hanging. General Douglas MacArthur confirmed the sentence on 4 November 1942. Leonski was hung at Pentridge Prison on 9 November 1942. Leonski was buried 3 times in two segregated sites in Springvale Cemetery. In May 1945, his remains were recovered and he was buried in an USAF Cemetery in Ipswich just west of Brisbane. In 1947, it was decided that all Americans buried in Australia would be relocated to American soils. Leonski's remains were unearthed again and sent to America where they stayed in an Army mausoleum for 6 months. They were then transferred to an Army Distribution Center for another 9 months.Eddie Leonski was buried in his final resting place on 14 April 1949 in the Schofield Barracks Post Cemetery, Plot 9, Row B, Grave 8.
