A 23-year-old man was found dead and mauled on the grounds of a distinctive rural property in Sydney's southwest, with locals identifying the cause as a pack of guard dogs. The property, known as 'Saturn's Rings' or 'The Universal Power House' in Eschol Park near Campbelltown, was reportedly protected by up to five Belgian Malinois dogs, breeds commonly used by military and police K-9 units.
The man's body was discovered around noon last Wednesday, showing injuries consistent with a dog attack. He may have been there since the previous day. A 53-year-old man with minor hand injuries was also found at the scene. Council rangers were later deployed to tranquilize and remove the dogs from the premises.
Locals stated that the property's isolated location on a hilltop meant anyone approaching would have had to do so intentionally. "It is set back a fair way and to go up there they would have had to know someone or gone looking for something," said Steve Best, a local equipment supplier. "The dogs are guard dogs and they are on the property to protect the property."
A neighbor explained that the owners needed to protect the property from vandals. The property was founded by Stefan Dzwonnik, a Polish immigrant who envisioned it as a center for a global movement aimed at a better life on Earth, called the Universal Power World Society. Construction of the house, modeled after Saturn's rings, began in 1969 and continued into the 1980s.
While the property appeared to have been vacant for years, one resident noted it had recently been "filled in" with occupation-suitable features. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that the man's presence at the property remains unclear and is a key line of inquiry, particularly whether he was an intruder. The dogs were reportedly euthanized after being removed. Police have not yet confirmed the identity of the deceased man.