A manhunt has been launched for Spotswood ghoul Tristan Hearne accused of stealing human skulls

A ghoul branded with the marks of Satan is being hunted by police after he failed to turn up for a court hearing over allegations he desecrated two grave sites. 

Spotswood man Tristan Hearne, 40, was to face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday over claims he stole the skulls of two people from Footscray General Cemetery between January 27 and February 1.

The crime sent shockwaves across Melbourne amid claims the thefts were linked to satanic rituals. 

Victoria Police vehemently denied the claims at the time, suggesting the grave robberies were likely committed by a thrillseeker. 

Police prosecutors requested the Magistrate David Langton order an immediate warrant for Hearne’s arrest due to the shocking nature of the allegations. 

They were granted it on the spot, sparking a police manhunt that will aim to bring the alleged grave robber before the court.  

Daily Mail Australia revealed in June Hearne’s fingers are branded with both The Leviathan Cross – known commonly as the cross of Satan – and the Sigil of Lucifer. 

Officers had revealed a number of items were allegedly left at the sites by Hearne, including a crucifix, candles and notes to Satan. 

‘At this stage there is nothing to suggest satanic rituals or links,’ police told Daily Mail Australia on February 3. 

Hearne’s Facebook page, which remains open to the public, makes for disturbing viewing. 

Images shared online by the alleged ghoul include various photos taken from within Melbourne cemeteries. 

One image shows what appears to be someone dressed-up as the Grim Reaper beside local tombstones. 

Hearne appears to hold specific regard for Kew’s Boroondara General Cemetery, sharing multiple images of graves in May 2020.

Other images include artwork depicting devils, demons and vampires. 

A photo of Shakespeare’s Hamlet featuring a human skull is captioned: ‘This above all: to thine own self be true’.

Hearne’s Facebook page reveals the ghoul’s long love of all things supernatural. 

Among his childhood favourites was a book titled ‘Usborne Guide to the Supernatural World’ and ‘The World of the Unknown Ghosts’.

An old school photo shows vampire teeth protruding from his mouth. 

Hearne proudly pictures his elaborate arm tattoos, which are branded with a detailed portrait of American serial killer John Wayne Gacy dressed as a clown. 

Gacy raped, tortured, and murdered at least 33 young men and boys and regularly performed at children’s hospitals and charitable events as ‘Pogo the Clown’ or ‘Patches the Clown’. 

The bizarre thefts allegedly carried out by Hearne caused fear across Melbourne, with each of his targets seemingly picked at random. 

A passer-by walking through the site had made the gruesome discovery. 

Renowned criminologist Xanthe Mallett said at the time she was stumped as to why the rare event had occurred. 

‘I haven’t seen a precedent where graves have been robbed for anything other than past times – grave robbing used to be when bodies were being taken and provided for anatomical reasons – but we’re talking hundreds of years ago,’ she said. 

Police allege Hearne raided two mausoleums, with a third broken into but nothing was stolen. 

Hearne was charged with six offences including two counts of removing body parts from the corpse of a human being, exhuming or removing human remains from place of interment and criminal damage. 

The Herald Sun reported one human skull was found inside his bedroom, while another was buried in a garden bed outside his rental property. 

The removal of body parts from a grave carries a maximum penalty of five years behind bars.