On Tuesday, a 32-year old mystery over Azaria Chamberlain’s death in the outback of Australia was ended. The case split the country by national opinion and attracted headlines around the world.
A coroner found that a dingo was the one responsible for killing the young infant. The finding by the coroner ends a three-decade plus legal fight to find justice by the infants parents Michael and Lindy Chamberlain. Lindy had been originally jailed for more than three years for the death of her daughter until she was cleared.
Michael Chamberlain said the battle was terrifying, and at times bitter, but now is a time for healing and putting the family daughter’s spirit to rest. In August of 1980, the infant disappeared from the tent the family had been camping in near Uluru, which was previously known by the name Ayers Rock, a huge tourist attraction in central Australia.
Azaria’s body was never located after that day. Both parents have maintained from the beginning that the baby was taken out of the tent by a dingo, a wild dog native to Australia. Lindy Chamberlain said she and her husband were relieved that the decision had finally been made to end the long saga.
The case received huge media attention and was made into a film titled A Cry in the Dark, and starred Meryl Streep as Mrs. Chamberlain.
Elizabeth Morris, the Coroner found evidence in the case proved the baby was taken by a dingo and ruled the 9-week old baby’s death was by attack and taken by a dingo. Morris then offered condolences to the family, which included the parents and a son.
