Cold Case Files: Patricia ‘Susi’ Schmidt

 

At 2 a.m. on Saturday, December 18, 1971, Patricia ‘Susi’ Schmidt finished a double shift at the Darlington Burger King on the corner of South Road and Marion Road.[1] Susi went outside to wait for her dad to pick her up. According to the Canberra Times newspaper of 1971, Susi was a 16-year-old girl who had taken a job at Burger King to save money so she could buy Christmas presents.[2] Driving from their Seacliff home, Mr Schmidt ran 10 minutes late and never saw his daughter alive again.[3]

4 days before her murder, Susi had worked the night shift at Burger King. She told her girlfriend that after she finished her shift, she had started walking home when an older man, probably in his 30s, with a flash car, pulled over and asked if she needed a lift. Susi had accepted the lift and made it home safely to Seacliff. [4]

Susi’s body was found dumped near Adams Street, at Hallet Cove, she had been raped and strangled.[5] Traces of weathered pink and white paint were found on her body. There were also traces of nickel and nickel-silver on her body, which led police to believe 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 photo

In December 2021, marking 50 years since Susi’s murder, South Australian Police released 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.

 

Police believe 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 still alive. There is a reward of up to $1 million for anyone who provides information that leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or people responsible for Susi's death.[6]

Anyone with information about her murder is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at https://crimestopperssa.com.au/ . You can report anonymously.

 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2024.

---

[1] ‘Remembering Burger King in Adelaide,’ The Advertiser, (2023),  (Remembering Burger King in Adelaide | The Advertiser (adelaidenow.com.au).

[2] 'Murdered', The Canberra Times, (20 December 1971), p. 3.

[3] Rebecca Opie, ‘DNA breakthrough and eight clues could solve 1971 murder of Seacliff teen Susi Schmidt,’ ABC News, DNA breakthrough and eight clues could solve 1971 murder of Seacliff teen Susi Schmidt - ABC News

[4] Meagan Dillion, ‘The 45-year-old murder of Patricia Schmidt will head across the Tasman Sea as SA Police remain determined to solve the mystery,’ The Advertiser, (2016).

[5] 'Murdered', The Canberra Times, (20 December 1971), p. 3.; Nigel Hunt, ‘The cold case files – unsolved SA murders reopened,’ Sunday Mail, (2025), The cold case files — unsolved SA murders reopened | The Advertiser (adelaidenow.com.au).

[6] Hunt, ‘The cold case files,’ Sunday Mail, (2025).; Opie, ‘DNA breakthrough,’ ABC News.

 ANDREW MORDOWICZ – Cold Case 1996

 At 3:47am on Sunday the 29th of September 1996, Yellow Taxis received a request call for a 4:30am pickup from Klemzig to Adelaide. It was unusual for someone to want to be travelling into the city at this time of the morning as most of the clubs were starting to close.^[1]
43-year-old taxi driver, Andrew Mordowicz hit the little red button that accepts the fare on the taxi CB radio and headed to Klemzig.
 

Mordowicz arrived at Fife Street, Klemzig, a quiet cul-de-sac, only to discover number 79 didn’t exist. He spoke briefly to the dispatch officer over the radio, then decided to go knock on the door of number 78.

 Moments later neighbours were woken by the sounds of gunshots. The neighbours investigated and found Mordowicz lying in the driveway with two gunshot wounds. An ambulance was called, and Mordowicz was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he died a short time later.

 

 Police investigators never found the suspect, the gun or a motive. Mordowicz’s coin dispenser was still in his taxi, untouched. He also had cash in his wallet, so robbery does not seem like the motive. In a 2019 interview with the ABC, Detective Sergeant Ann Schaefer stated, “It appears to be a robbery gone wrong, but we keep an open mind and we can't rule out the possibility that Andrew was deliberately targeted."^[2]

 

If you know something about this case, police are still investigating. There is a reward of up to $200,000 for anyone who provides information that leads to a conviction for this crime. You can contact Crime Stoppers on 1 800 333 000 or email at Sapol.Coldcase@police.sa.gov.au

---

[1] Can You Help Solve the Murder of Taxi Driver Andrew Mordowicz?, Crime Stoppers, (2019), https://crimestopperssa.com.au/media-releases/can-you-help-solve-the-murder-of-taxi-driver-andrew-mordowicz/

[2] Taxi driver shot dead in Adelaide driveway was lured, police say, but motive remains unclear, ABC News, (2019). https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-26/taxi-driver-cold-case-killing-remains-a-mystery/11150618