Get to Know Paul Denyer’s Parents: Maureen Denyer and Anthony Denyer

Paul Charles Denyer was born on April 14, 1972, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Of British descent, he was the son of Maureen Denyer and Anthony Denyer, who had emigrated from London to Australia in 1965.

Paul was the third of six children, with an older brother, David Denyer—born in the UK—another brother, Stephen Denyer, and three younger siblings whose names remain undisclosed. There is no confirmed information about his religious beliefs or affiliations.

The Denyer family initially settled in Campbelltown, New South Wales, before moving to Victoria in 1981 following Anthony’s employment at The Steak Place in South Oakleigh. Paul enrolled at Northvale Primary School, where he experienced bullying due to his size and struggled both socially and academically.

His early years were marred by troubling behavior: at age 10, he reportedly killed the family cat; at 13, he stole a car; and by 15, he had assaulted a peer. These acts, coupled with a pattern of emotional instability, foreshadowed the violent path he would later take.

Maureen and Anthony Denyer—parents of the man who would become known as the Frankston Serial Killer—have remained mainly private figures, rarely speaking publicly about their son’s crimes. However, their story sheds light on the family dynamics behind one of Australia’s most notorious criminal cases.

Maureen Denyer

Maureen Denyer, born in the United Kingdom, met and married Anthony Denyer in London during the early 1960s. Together, they made the significant decision to immigrate to Australia in 1965, seeking new opportunities.

Settling first in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Maureen became the mother of six children, with Paul Charles Denyer being her third, born on April 14, 1972. As a mother, Maureen was attuned to her children’s needs, but Paul’s early struggles were evident.

She recalled a lighthearted family story about Paul rolling off a bench as an infant and hitting his head, which was often jokingly cited to explain his peculiarities. However, more troubling signs emerged, such as Paul’s violent behavior toward animals, including killing the family cat at age 10, which hinted at deeper issues.

Maureen’s life was profoundly altered by Paul’s 1993 crimes, which involved the murders of three young women in Frankston, Victoria. As the mother of a serial killer, she faced public scrutiny and emotional turmoil.

Limited information exists about her professional life, and her public recognition stems primarily from her connection to Paul. Following her divorce from Anthony during Paul’s teenage years, Maureen navigated the challenges of single parenthood while grappling with her son’s disturbing behavior.

Her estimated net worth, speculated to be around $250,000, remains unverified, and she has largely stayed out of the public eye in recent years, leaving her current circumstances private.

Anthony Denyer

Anthony Denyer, also born in the UK, married Maureen in London before the couple immigrated to Australia in 1965. Initially settling in Campbelltown, Anthony worked to support his growing family.

In 1981, he took a managerial position at The Steak Place in South Oakleigh, Victoria, prompting the family’s relocation from New South Wales to Victoria. This move was a significant turning point, as it disrupted the family’s stability, particularly for Paul, who struggled to adapt to his new environment at Northvale Primary School, where he faced bullying and social challenges.

Like Maureen, Anthony’s life was deeply affected by Paul’s crimes. The divorce from Maureen, which occurred around Paul’s adolescence, added complexity to his role as a father. Anthony’s career at The Steak Place provided financial stability, but details about his life post-divorce and after Paul’s arrest in 1993 are scarce.

The public narrative around Anthony focuses on his role as Paul’s father, with little information available about his personal or professional life in the years following the crimes. The enduring stigma of his son’s actions likely shaped his later years, though he has remained out of the public spotlight.