Peter Scully

Peter Scully lived in the suburb of Narre Warren in Melbourne with his wife and two children prior to fleeing to Manila in the Philippines in 2011, before he could be charged with his involvement in a property scheme that cost investors over {{AUD|2.68}} million. According to his own statement, he was sexually abused by a Catholic priest in Victoria when he grew up. Prior to leaving Melbourne, he operated an unlicensed online escort service, which offered his Filipina partner as a sex worker. Scully ran a real estate scheme called "The Key Result" where low credit and low income earners who wouldn't usually qualify for a home loan paid above-market rent for a home owned by an investor, with the expectation that they would acquire the title after five years. The Key Result scheme went into liquidation in 2005 owing $2.6m.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-02 |title=Our $500,000 bill for accused pedophile Peter Scully |url=https://archive.today/20180402103413/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/our-500000-bill-for-accused-pedophile-peter-scully/news-story/0594a96ed7a8e907ac838005c793c2c9 |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=archive.vn}} An investigation by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission from 2009 found that Scully was involved in 117 fraud and deception offenses relating to real estate scams.

From the island of Mindanao, Scully built up and headed a lucrative international child sexual abuse ring that offered pay-per-view video streams on the dark web of children being sexually abused and tortured. Among the victims who had their ordeals recorded and sold over the internet, was a five-year-old who was raped and tortured by Scully and two female accomplices.{{Cite web |last= Sutton |first= Candace |date= 23 September 2016 |title= Australian child molester Peter Scully faces death penalty in Philippines |url= http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/australian-child-molester-peter-scully-faces-death-penalty-in-philippines/news-story/f15a28a8b971d95f815b5f6105814ff9 |website= news.com.au |access-date= 11 July 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170706100407/http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/australian-child-molester-peter-scully-faces-death-penalty-in-philippines/news-story/f15a28a8b971d95f815b5f6105814ff9 |archive-date= 6 July 2017 |url-status= live}}

Victims were procured by Scully with promises to impoverished parents of work or education, or were solicited by his two Filipina girlfriends, Carme Ann Alvarez and Liezyl Margallo Castaña,{{Cite web|last= Murdoch |first= Lindsay |date= 20 September 2016 |title= Death penalty call for accused Australian child sex predator Peter Scully in Philippines |url= http://www.smh.com.au/world/death-penalty-call-for-accused-australian-child-sex-predator-peter-scully-in-philippines-20160920-grk65r.html |work= The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date= 11 July 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170703135944/http://www.smh.com.au/world/death-penalty-call-for-accused-australian-child-sex-predator-peter-scully-in-philippines-20160920-grk65r.html |archive-date= 3 July 2017 |url-status= live}} and other female acquaintances such as Maria Dorothea Chi y Chia.{{Cite web |last= Mendoza |first= Greanne |date= 17 February 2017 |title= Another suspect linked to Australian sex fiend arrested |url= http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/17/17/another-suspect-linked-to-australian-sex-fiend-arrested |website= ABS-CBN News |access-date= 11 July 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170629104700/http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/17/17/another-suspect-linked-to-australian-sex-fiend-arrested |archive-date= 29 June 2017 |url-status= live}} Both Alvarez and Margallo also abused children in Scully's videos. One example is in Daisy's Destruction that has been found being promoted on YouTube, showing an infant being hung upside down, tortured, and sexually abused, by an 18-year-old female.{{Cite web |last= Brown |first= Tara |author-link= Tara Brown |title= Catching a monster: The global manhunt for alleged paedophile Peter Gerard Scully |url= http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/03/16/02/19/tracking-the-australian-man-allegedly-responsible-for-horrific-child-sexual-abuse |website= 9news.com.au |access-date= 11 July 2017 |date= 16 March 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170709164025/http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/03/16/02/19/tracking-the-australian-man-allegedly-responsible-for-horrific-child-sexual-abuse |archive-date= 9 July 2017 |url-status= live}}{{Cite web |last1= Alipon |first1= Joworski |last2= Andrade |first2= Angelo |date= 27 January 2017 |title= Filipina behind brutal 'Daisy' sex videos arrested |url= http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/27/17/filipina-behind-brutal-daisy-sex-videos-arrested |website= ABS-CBN News |access-date= 11 July 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170625165632/http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/27/17/filipina-behind-brutal-daisy-sex-videos-arrested |archive-date= 25 June 2017 |url-status= live}}

In 2016, prosecutors alleged that Scully and a girlfriend coaxed two teenage girls to come to Scully's house with the promise of food. Scully was alleged to have given the girls alcohol and forced them to perform sex acts between them, a scene the photographer filmed. The prosecutor alleged that when the girls tried to escape, Scully forced them to dig graves in the basement of the house and threatened that he would bury them there. After five days, the girls were released by Alvarez, who began feeling remorse after coming home to see the two in pet collars and reported what had happened.

Scully operated a secret dark web child sexual abuse website known as "No Limits Fun" ("NLF"). Scully produced his now notorious film, Daisy's Destruction, which he commercially sold and distributed on his site for up to US$10,000. It features the torture and rape of three girls, including an 18 month old infant, by Scully and two Filipina women. Urged on by Scully, some of the most severe physical abuse was carried out on the children by one of his girlfriends, then 19-year-old Liezyl Margallo, who was formerly trafficked as a child.

Prior to the video gaining attention by the general public, Scully broadcast Daisy's Destruction privately on a pay-per-view basis.{{cite web |last1=Daly |date=19 February 2018 |first1=Max |title=Inside the Repulsive World of 'Hurtcore', the Worst Crimes Imaginable |url=https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/59kye3/the-repulsive-world-of-hurtcore-the-worst-crimes-imaginable |website=Vice |access-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231045831/https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/59kye3/the-repulsive-world-of-hurtcore-the-worst-crimes-imaginable |archive-date=31 December 2019 |url-status=live}} Due to the graphic content, it quickly garnered attention of law enforcement and media. The Dutch National Child Exploitation Team was the first to open an investigation with the goal of locating the victims. Subsequently, an international manhunt for those responsible for the video's production was launched. Scully was tracked in Malaybalay City and arrested on 20 February 2015. Investigators had six warrants for his arrest,{{Cite episode |title= Catching a Monster |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEiC7PrS0jg |series= 60 Minutes |first= Tara |last= Brown |network= Nine News |year= 2015 |publication-date=27 August 2020 |access-date= 10 July 2023 |via=YouTube|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116083754/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEiC7PrS0jg |archive-date=16 November 2020 |url-status= live}} all relating to the abduction and sexual abuse of two cousins. While they searched for Scully in the Philippines, investigators tracked down the three primary victims in Daisy's Destruction. Liza (victim 1) was found to be alive as was Daisy (victim 2) who had lasting physical injuries from her severe mistreatment. According to Margallo, Scully recorded himself in a video with Cindy (victim 3), in which he raped and tortured her, then made her dig her own grave before strangling her to death with a rope.

Among those who acquired and publicized the film were one of the biggest-ever purveyors of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), Scully's fellow Australian Matthew David Graham, better known by his online pseudonym Lux. Apprehended at age 22, Graham ran a series of "hurtcore" child sexual abuse sites.{{Cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/lux-captured-the-simple-error-that-brought-down-the-worlds-worst-hurtcore-paedophile-20160513-goum54.html | last1=Johnston | first1=Chris |date=14 May 2016 |title=Lux captured: The simple error that brought down the world's worst hurtcore paedophile|access-date=31 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831184554/http://www.smh.com.au/national/lux-captured-the-simple-error-that-brought-down-the-worlds-worst-hurtcore-paedophile-20160513-goum54.html |archive-date=31 August 2017 |url-status=live | work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}{{Cite web |last= Dunn |first= Matthew |date= 20 February 2016 |title= FBI describe dark net paedophile kingpin as one of the most prolific child sex offenders ever |url= http://www.news.com.au/technology/online/censorship/fbi-describe-dark-net-paedophile-kingpin-as-one-of-the-most-prolific-child-sex-offenders-ever/news-story/eb468fcdb238a09883a1a6fe3b69d0a2 |website= news.com.au |access-date= 11 July 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170715234936/http://www.news.com.au/technology/online/censorship/fbi-describe-dark-net-paedophile-kingpin-as-one-of-the-most-prolific-child-sex-offenders-ever/news-story/eb468fcdb238a09883a1a6fe3b69d0a2 |archive-date= 15 July 2017 |url-status= live}} Graham claimed that he had published the video on his own website "in the name of freedom". Years later, in 2021, Daisy's Destruction resurged after it was found in the possession of American reality television star Josh Duggar.{{cite web|last1=Klasfeld|first1=Adam|title=Josh Duggar Tries to Dismiss Child Porn Charges on Grounds That Trump's Homeland Security Leaders Were Unlawfully Appointed|url=https://lawandcrime.com/celebrity/josh-duggar-tries-to-dismiss-child-porn-charges-on-grounds-that-trumps-homeland-security-leaders-were-unlawfully-appointed/|website=Law & Crime|date=August 20, 2021|access-date=21 May 2023|archive-date=3 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603021529/https://lawandcrime.com/celebrity/josh-duggar-tries-to-dismiss-child-porn-charges-on-grounds-that-trumps-homeland-security-leaders-were-unlawfully-appointed/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Klasfeld|first1=Adam|title=Feds Say They Found a Toddler Rape Video on Josh Duggar's Computer. Here's the 'Horrendous' Story of the 'World's Worst Pedophile' Who Made It.|url=https://lawandcrime.com/objections-podcast/feds-say-they-found-a-toddler-rape-video-on-josh-duggars-computer-heres-the-horrendous-story-of-the-worlds-worst-pedophile-who-made-it/|website=Law & Crime|date=June 22, 2021|access-date=21 May 2023|archive-date=21 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521041545/https://lawandcrime.com/objections-podcast/feds-say-they-found-a-toddler-rape-video-on-josh-duggars-computer-heres-the-horrendous-story-of-the-worlds-worst-pedophile-who-made-it/|url-status=live}}

Scully faced a total of 75 charges and, according to German television news channel n-tv, was alleged to have sexually abused 75 children.{{Cite web|last=NACHRICHTEN|first=n-tv|title=Philippinen wollen Todesstrafe - vor allem für Einen|url=https://www.n-tv.de/der_tag/Philippinen-wollen-Todesstrafe-vor-allem-fuer-Einen-article18713666.html|access-date=2020-08-08|website=n-tv.de|language=de|archive-date=22 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222191501/https://www.n-tv.de/der_tag/Philippinen-wollen-Todesstrafe-vor-allem-fuer-Einen-article18713666.html|url-status=live}} He was on trial with others who assisted in the production of his pornography, including four men: German Christian Rouche, Filipinos Alexander Lao and Althea Chia, and Brazilian Haniel Caetano de Oliveira.{{Cite web |last= Reformina |first= Ina |date= 6 March 2015 |title= Australian behind 'Daisy' sex videos charged |url= http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/03/06/15/australian-behind-daisy-sex-videos-charged |website= ABS-CBN News |access-date= 11 July 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170715014858/http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/03/06/15/australian-behind-daisy-sex-videos-charged |archive-date= 15 July 2017 |url-status= live}}{{Cite web |last1= Rocha |first1= Alex |last2= Idaló |first2= Eduardo |date= 21 December 2015 |title= Médico de Uberaba admite pedofilia e se diz doente, segundo PF |url= http://g1.globo.com/minas-gerais/triangulo-mineiro/noticia/2015/12/medico-de-uberaba-admite-relacao-com-pedofilia-e-se-diz-doente-diz-pf.html |language= pt |website= g1.globo.com |access-date= 11 July 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170803085241/http://g1.globo.com/minas-gerais/triangulo-mineiro/noticia/2015/12/medico-de-uberaba-admite-relacao-com-pedofilia-e-se-diz-doente-diz-pf.html |archive-date= 3 August 2017 |url-status= live}} Margaret Akullo, then-Project Coordinator for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and an expert on child abuse investigations,[https://www.unodc.org/documents/southeastasiaandpacific/2014/11/vac/Speakers_Facilitators_Trainers_BIO_3-5_Nov_2014.pdf Regional Training Workshop on Responding to Violence against Children in Contact with the Justice System] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510200257/https://www.unodc.org/documents/southeastasiaandpacific/2014/11/vac/Speakers_Facilitators_Trainers_BIO_3-5_Nov_2014.pdf |date=10 May 2017}}. 3–5 November 2014 conference at United Nations Conference Center, Bangkok, Thailand. described the case as "horrific" and the worst she had ever heard of. His crimes were deemed so severe that some prosecutors supported the reintroduction of the death penalty as punishment for Scully, despite capital punishment being abolished in the Philippines since 2006.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4694718/philippines-death-penalty-congress/|title=Philippine House Votes to Reimpose the Death Penalty|first=Joseph|last=Hincks|date=7 March 2017|magazine=Time|access-date=16 April 2021|archive-date=15 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015134639/http://time.com/4694718/philippines-death-penalty-congress/|url-status=live}}

In a March 2015 interview with Tara Brown on 60 Minutes, Scully said that he was writing a tell-all journal in prison where he would reflect on his motivations for raping young children.{{Cite web|last=Partland|first=Grace Cantal-Albasin, Lindsay Murdoch and Lily|date=2015-03-15|title=Peter Gerard Scully interview reveals plans to tell all|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/peter-gerard-scully-interview-reveals-plans-to-tell-all-20150315-144tgd.html|access-date=2020-12-13|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|archive-date=26 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426150702/https://www.smh.com.au/national/peter-gerard-scully-interview-reveals-plans-to-tell-all-20150315-144tgd.html|url-status=live}}

In October 2015, a fire severely damaged the evidence room containing Scully's computer logs and videos, destroying key evidence.{{Cite web |last= Murdoch |first= Lindsay |date= 31 January 2017 |title= Alleged child abuser Peter Scully 'may still be masterminding porn network' |url= http://www.smh.com.au/world/alleged-child-abuser-peter-scully-may-still-be-masterminding-porn-network-20170131-gu25sw.html |access-date= 11 July 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170626031311/http://www.smh.com.au/world/alleged-child-abuser-peter-scully-may-still-be-masterminding-porn-network-20170131-gu25sw.html |archive-date= 26 June 2017 |url-status= live | work= The Sydney Morning Herald}} On 13 June 2018, Scully and his girlfriend Alvarez were sentenced to life in prison.{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2018/06/14/infamous-pedophile-smiles-as-he-gets-life-in-prison/|title=Infamous pedophile smiles as he gets life in prison|work=New York Post|last=Sutton|first=Candance|date=June 14, 2018|access-date=25 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217165504/https://nypost.com/2018/06/14/infamous-pedophile-smiles-as-he-gets-life-in-prison/|archive-date=17 February 2020|url-status=live}} Judge Jose Escobido also ordered Scully and Alvarez to pay 5 million PHP (almost 87,000 USD) to the victims.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-08 |title=Australian pedophile Peter Scully gets jail sentence of 129 years more |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/pedophile-peter-scully-jail-sentence/ |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117160050/https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/pedophile-peter-scully-jail-sentence/ |url-status=live}}

Both Scully and his sister complained about the conditions in the jail Scully is held in.

In November 2022, he received a second conviction and was sentenced to an additional 129 years in prison.{{Cite web |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=2022-11-09 |title=Australian man jailed for 129 years in child sexual abuse case in Philippines |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/09/peter-gerard-scully-australian-man-jailed-for-129-years-child-sex-abuse-case-philippines |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117160050/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/09/peter-gerard-scully-australian-man-jailed-for-129-years-child-sex-abuse-case-philippines |url-status=live}} Margallo was sentenced to 126 years, and two accomplices, Alexander Lao and Maria Dorothea Chia, were given a 9-year sentence each.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-09 |title=Australian, cohorts convicted of trafficking |url=https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/09/australian-cohorts-convicted-of-trafficking/ |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=Manila Bulletin |language=en-US |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117164116/https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/09/australian-cohorts-convicted-of-trafficking/ |url-status=live}} In total, there have been 60 cases filed against Scully.

• Child pornography in the Philippines
• Hurtcore
• Snuff film
• List of serial rapists

{{reflist}}

• {{cite news |author1=Lindsay Murdoch |author2=Chris Vedelago |date=1 March 2015 |title=Peter Gerard Scully made Philippines children dig own grave: victims |newspaper=The Age |publisher=Fairfax Media |url=http://www.theage.com.au/world/peter-gerard-scully-made-philippines-children-dig-own-grave-victims-20150301-13rtke.html |access-date=11 June 2015}}
• {{cite news |author1=Lindsay Murdoch |author2=Tammy Mills |date=6 March 2015 |title=Execution calls for Melbourne man Peter Gerard Scully accused of depraved acts in the Philippines |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/execution-calls-for-melbourne-man-peter-gerard-scully-accused-of-depraved-acts--in-the-philippines-20150305-13vodd.html |access-date=11 June 2015}}
• {{cite news |last=Escalante |first=Shirley |date=10 March 2015 |title=Australian man Gerard Peter Scully formally charged with murder, child sexual abuse in the Philippines |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-07/australian-man-charged-with-murder-11yo-girl-in-philippines/6287794 |website=ABC News Online |agency=AFP |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612085654/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-07/australian-man-charged-with-murder-11yo-girl-in-philippines/6287794 |archive-date=12 June 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=11 June 2015}}
• {{cite news |last=Davey |first=Melissa |date=2 June 2015 |title=Philippines police to mount strong case against accused Australian paedophile |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/02/philippines-police-to-mount-strong-case-against-accused-australian-paedophile |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=11 June 2015}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scully, Peter}}

Category:1963 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Australian criminals

Category:Australian expatriates in the Philippines

Category:Australian male criminals

Category:Australian people convicted of child sexual abuse

Category:Australian people convicted of rape

Category:Australian people imprisoned abroad

Category:Child sexual abuse in the Philippines

Category:Crime in Oceania

Category:Criminals from Melbourne

Category:Dark web

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Category:People charged with murder

Category:Australian people convicted of child pornography offences

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Sexual violence in Oceania

Category:People from Narre Warren

Category:Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by the Philippines

Category:Australian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment

Category:Foreign nationals imprisoned in the Philippines