Russell Manser, a former career criminal who spent 23 years behind bars before turning his life around and becoming a TikTok star, passed away on Saturday night. The cause of his death has not been revealed.
Early Life and Incarceration
Manser’s early life was marked by addiction and crime, leading him to spend time in some of Australia’s toughest prisons during the 1980s and ’90s.
He was first imprisoned at the age of 17 at Long Bay jail, where he was housed with some of the nation’s worst sex offenders and became a victim of sexual abuse. He also claimed he was forcibly injected with heroin several times, which led to dependence issues.
Transformation and Advocacy
After spending 23 years in prison, Manser turned his life around and became a champion for others. He founded the charity Voice of a Survivor, becoming committed to being a champion for other victims of abuse.
He entered the spotlight during the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse and spoke about how healing it had been for him to speak up.
Russell Manser Obituary
| Name | Russell Manser |
| Profession | TikTok Star, Advocate |
| Date of Death | Not specified (est: March 2024) |
| Cause of Death | Not revealed |
| Legacy | Founder of Voice of a Survivor, Social Media Influence |
Social Media Influence
In his later years, Manser amassed a huge following on social media through his podcast The Stick, on which he interviewed a number of big-name guests.
His videos often centered around the importance of speaking about mental health, especially in men, as well as his experience of life on the wrong side of the tracks.
Tributes and Legacy
Manser’s friends and family shared their tributes via social media — including his son, Ky, who posted a photo of the two of them together. Manser’s leadership, dedication, and guidance will be deeply missed. His light and passion towards helping survivors like himself will never be forgotten. A true story of redemption.
Career
Russell Manser was a notorious bank robber who turned his life around to become a TikTok star and advocate for abuse survivors. He committed five bank robberies within just a few months. Despite his criminal past, he was regarded by his peers as a “gentleman” bank robber, being polite and professional during his heists. However, he acknowledged the trauma and damage he caused to others.
After spending 23 years in prison, Manser transformed his life. He founded the charity Voice of a Survivor and became an advocate for other victims of abuse. He gained a large following on social media, where he often spoke about mental health and his experiences.
Prison Life
Manser spent 23 years of his life in prisons in New South Wales, Queensland, and the Northern Territory. His prison life began when he was just 17 years old, at Long Bay jail. There, he was housed with some of the nation’s worst sex offenders and became a victim of sexual abuse. He also claimed he was forcibly injected with heroin several times, which led to dependence issues.
During his time in prison, Manser was subjected to further sexual abuse and was offered far heavier drugs than he had abused before. He became a drug addict, completely dependent on heroin.
Criminal Records
Manser’s criminal career began when he was just 15 years old. He stole a car and ended up in a police chase, which led to his arrest and placement into a correctional facility called Daruk Boys Home. After being released from Daruk, Manser continued down a criminal path, seeking out luxury cars.
After being arrested for stealing a Porsche in Sydney’s Whale Beach, a judge sentenced him to 12 months in one of Australia’s harshest adult prisons. Once out of Long Bay, he needed to fund his addiction and so he began robbing banks. Eventually, he ended up back at Long Bay Jail where he entered into a three-month programme called the Special Care Unit with the intention of rehabilitating repeat offenders.
