Guide Note
Azaria Chamberlain was a nine week old Australian baby who disappeared on a family camping trip in the Northern Territory of Australia at Ayres Rock. This would be the last place Azaria was seen alive before her clothing was recovered at a dingo lair indicating that she may have been taken by a dingo.
The Disapperance
Azaria's parents reported that she was taken by a dingo while sleeping in her bassinette on the night of August 17, 1980. Several hundred people that night did form a human chain in search of Azaria, but she was no where to be found.
The Case of Azaria
The case of Azaria Chamberlain had captured the attention of the Australian public for more than two decades. The father, Michael Chamberlain, was convicted as an accessory after the fact and given a suspended sentence. The mother, Lindy Chamberlain, was instead tried and convicted of Azaria's murder on October 29, 1982 when an incised wound around the neck of Azaria's jumpsuit was discovered and blood in the car; indicating the theory of the mother had cut Azaria's throat. A few years later, she would be released from prison on compassionate grounds and exonerated of all charges. The Azaria case was officially unsolved, and the report of a dingo attack is generally accepted in Australia since dingo attacks are common.
New Evidence
Many years later, a new twist in the Azaria case came about when a man claimed that he had seen the dead child, Azaria, in a dingo's mouth and had shot the dingo; then, he retrieved the body and disposed of it. He was questioned and he was asked to take a liar-detector test about it. He would pass the test, but his story of the incident was not accepted by many people, including the parents of Azaria, to be the actual truth behind what really happened to Azaria.
Remembering Azaria
The Azaria Chamberlain story was made into a TV movie, a featured film, a TV miniseries and an opera; not to leave out the numerous books about the case.
Mahalo Suggests
Please see the pages for Australia Vacation, Australia Tours, Australia Restaurants, and Australia hotels.
Fast Facts
- Fullname: Azaria Chantel Loren Chamberlain
- Father: Michael Chamberlain
- Mother: Lindy Chamberlain
- Brothers: Aidan and Reagan
- Disappearance: in Australia on family camping trip at Ayers Rock
- Death: Reportedly eaten by dingoes
- The Chamberlain Trial: September 13 through October 29, 1982
- Lindy Chamberlain Found Quilty: sentenced to life imprisonment for having murdered Azaria
- Lindy Chamberlain Released from Prison: On February 7, 1986
- The Movie: A Cry in the Dark (also called Evil Angels) came out in November 1988
- Lindy Chamberlain Compensation: In 1992, Lindy Chamberlain was paid $1.3 million compensation for wrongful imprisonment
- Final Remarks: On December 13, 1995, the cause of Azaria's death could not be determined
