Hannah Mcguire: Father of killer Lachlan Young sent chilling text to son days before he murdered ex-girlfriend

WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS.Even the father of Hannah McGuire’s ruthless killer recognised his son’s brutal behaviour, sending him a harsh text before he murdered his ex-girlfriend.

Lachlan Young murdered Hannah McGuire in Sebastopol, Victoria in April 2024. She was strangled and then her body was burnt by Young.

He shoved her body into the footwell of her Mitsubishi Triton, drove it to remote bushland in nearby Scarsdale and set the vehicle alight.

Years before he strangled his estranged girlfriend, Hannah McGuire, and set her body on fire to erase evidence, Young was already deeply involved in wrongdoing. When he eventually confessed to his horrific crime, he still denied responsibility, placing blame on his father during the court proceedings.

Yet, despite Tony Young’s own troubled past with the law, even he knew where to draw the line. Just three weeks before the murder, Tony sent his son a blunt warning to grow up and treat Hannah properly.

Tony was so disgusted by his son’s cruel treatment of the beloved teacher’s aide, he threatened to “knock some sense into him,” Daily Mail has revealed.

“Start acting like you are responsible and care about Hannah instead of treating her like s*** every weekend,” his father texted.

“You want to have a crack? Come down and I will sort you out.”

Instead, the cowardly 23-year-old Lachlan vented his frustrations on Hannah the very next day, assaulting her.

On Tuesday, Young was sentenced to 28 years in jail, with a minimum of 22 years and four months before he can be considered for parole.

For Hannah’s grieving parents, Debbie and Glenn, the sentence was likely the best outcome from a justice system often criticised as broken.

They disliked Young from the start, not because of his appearance or rough upbringing, but because of who he was. Though desperate to part ways, Hannah’s compassionate nature made her try to make the relationship work.

They had bought a house together, but Hannah eventually grew fed up with the stormy relationship and sought to end it, agreeing to meet him one last time.

Young used that meeting as the moment to murder her.

What followed has been extensively reported in brutal detail: Young stuffed Hannah’s body into her car, drove to a bush area, and set it alight. He then tried to cover up the crime, sending messages to Hannah’s mother pretending to be her.

Young had been the subject of multiple intervention orders, which he repeatedly violated with little consequence. One order meant to protect Hannah had only recently expired when he killed her, and a fresh order had just been issued.

He was also out on bail for other alleged offences when the murder took place.

Hannah confided to police that she was “terrified” of Young.

When his deceit unravelled, Young blamed his upbringing for his poor choices.

His father was known to be a heavy drinker with a volatile temper, the court heard.

Lachlan had abused drugs most of his life, beginning with cannabis at just 13, then cocaine, speed, and ecstasy by 18.

By age 20, he was regularly using up to 1.5 grams of methamphetamine weekly, sometimes three grams, while heavily drinking as well. He had also been physically fighting with his father since around age 14.

He met Hannah in late 2021, and by early 2022 she had moved into his parents’ home. Hannah worked alongside Young’s sister as a teacher’s aide.

Observers quickly noticed Hannah was being mistreated.

The couple had bought a home together, but Hannah ultimately wanted out due to the toxic relationship, although she agreed for one last meeting.

It was eight days into his trial before Young finally admitted he murdered Hannah McGuire on April 5, 2024 in a home they owned together at Sebastopol, 120km northwest of Melbourne.

As he left the scene, Young used Ms McGuire’s phone to send messages to her mother Debbie, claiming she was going to take her life.

He then transferred $2000 from Ms McGuire’s bank account to her mother and $5000 to himself.

Lachlan Young, 23, ignored a packed Ballarat courtroom, instead staring straight ahead as Victorian Supreme Court Justice James Elliott sentenced him last week.

Young’s steps to deflect blame and stage the victim’s murder as a suicide were cold and calculated, Justice Elliott said.

“They were utterly disrespectful to the memory of Hannah McGuire,” the judge said.

Hannah’s parents Debbie and Glenn were among the more than 80 people in the courtroom who turned and looked at Young as his 28-year jail term was announced.

There were gasps of “yes” but Young, dressed in all black, stared straight ahead at the judge.

Outside court, Debbie McGuire told reporters she was relieved her daughter’s killer had finally been sentenced.

“While nothing can bring back what we’ve lost or erase the pain we continue to carry, today’s outcome is an important step in our journey towards healing,” she said.

“We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our family, friends and the community for their unwavering support over the past 19 months.

“We could not have made it through without any of you.”

With time served, Young will be eligible for parole in August 2046 in his mid-40s.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

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Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491

with AAP