On June 11 1993, residents of the Melbourne suburb of Frankston were rattled by the murder of 18-year-old Elizabeth Stevens.

On her way home from the library, she was viscously murdered. Despite the shock, police treated it as an isolated incident.

But on July 8, mother Deborah Fream was also killed.

It became apparent something a lot more sinister was going on. There was a violent, sadistic killer at large and no one knew when they would strike again.

Until July 30, when young Natalie Russell’s body was found on the side of the road.

When police finally caught up with 21-year-old killer Paula Denyer (born Paul Charles Denyer), the killing spree was finally brought to an end.

25 years on, fear has once again washed over Frankston as Denyer is eligible for parole in just five years.

True-crime author Vikki Petraitis has rereleased The Frankston Murders: 25 Years On to mark 25 years since the deaths of these young women.

Vikki tells Deborah Knight how she stumbled across the case.

“I lived in the area and I was doing ridealongs with the Frankston Police for another book.

“I think I was really well-placed to be the author of this book.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview