True Crime Conversations
True Crime Conversations explores the world's most notorious crimes by speaking to the people who know the most about them. Hosted by Gemma Bath.
Episodes
The Overnight Daycare ‘House Of Horror’
For years, parents trusted David Tuck to care for their children at Bluemoor Family Day Care in Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast. Decades later, the full extent of his abuse is still emerging, with Tuck now believed to have more than 55 victims across multiple states. He died in 2001 before police could bring him to justice. In this episode, survivors Laura-Jane and Hailey share their stor
UPDATE: The Long Island Serial Killer Finally Learns His Fate
Rex Heuermann, known as the Long Island Serial Killer in the Gilgo Beach murders, has now been sentenced to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to the deaths of eight women. Host of the Unraveled podcast, Alexis Linkletter, was in court for Heuermann's plea hearing and gives us an update on what the courtroom felt like, how Heuermann reacted to his sentence and where this sto
A Families’ Fight For Answers After A Death In Paradise
When 40-year-old Australian hotel manager Jason Rigby was found stabbed to death in his luxury Fijian resort apartment, local authorities instantly ruled it a suicide. His devastated Gold Coast family refused to accept the narrative, launching their own relentless hunt for answers. After hiring a private investigator, they exposed critical gaps in the initial police investigation, including a myst
The Woman Tasked With Fixing Australia's Most Controversial Police Force
We don't often have politicians on True Crime Conversations. But when a domestic violence incident is reported to police every three minutes, the people making the laws and setting policy have a critical role to play. NSW Police and Counter-Terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley joins Gemma Bath for a rare conversation about the state's response to domestic and family violence. From the results of Opera
The Three Mums Who Teamed Up To Solve Their Children’s Crimes
When three adult children vanish or turn up murdered back-to-back in Bakersfield, California, their heartbroken mothers refuse to wait for answers. Banding together to form a fierce, unstoppable sisterhood, they launch their own rogue investigation, uncovering a dark underworld of ghost guns, addiction, and fraud. But just as their amateur detective work forces a breakthrough, a devastating plot t
Inside The Hidden Network Of Men Drugging And Raping Their Wives
In 2024, the world learned the name Gisele Pelicot. Between 2011 and 2020, she was drugged and raped in her home in France by her husband, Dominique, and dozens of other men while she was unconscious. In a landmark trial, the then-72-year-old Gisele waived her right to anonymity as evidence revealed at least 200 rapes, many of them filmed. Dominique recruited men through a sex chat website, giving
UPDATE: Inside The ‘Dezi Freeman’ Inquest & The New Courtroom Revelations
Just over a week after we covered the murders of Victorian police officers Vadim De Waart-Hottart and Neal Thompson, we've learned more information about the case from the Coronial Inquest Hearing. Desmond Filby, 'Dezi Freeman', was shot dead following a seven-month manhunt, and this week, the Victorian Coroner’s Court heard the opening of two inquests. 7NEWS reporter Rochelle Brown explains
After 34 Years We Finally Know Who Killed The Yoghurt Shop Girls
In 1991, a fire at an Austin yoghurt shop led firefighters to a scene so horrific it would haunt them forever: four teenage girls murdered in one of Texas’ most shocking crimes. The Yoghurt Shop Murders became a case that devastated families, traumatised a city, and remained unsolved for more than three decades. Now, thanks to advances in DNA technology, investigators believe they’ve f
How Cop Killer 'Dezi Freeman' Became Australia’s Most Wanted Fugitive
In August 2025, two Victoria Police officers were shot and killed while executing a search warrant at a regional Victorian property linked to Desmond Filby, also known as Dezi Freeman. A third officer was injured, and Filby vanished into the bush, triggering a seven-month manhunt that gripped the nation. The case began with a child abuse investigation and ended in March 2026, when police foun
Inside The World Of A Crime Scene Cleaner
What happens after police leave a crime scene? For six years, Donna Nayler was the person called in to deal with what remained. Wearing full protective gear, she cleaned some of the country’s most confronting scenes, from murders and domestic violence cases to homes where bodies had gone undiscovered for weeks. Donna reveals the harsh realities that come with a job few people ever think abou
UPDATE: The New Search For The Australia's Missing Family Cult
WA Police have acknowledged that earlier searches in the investigation into the Nannup Four were conducted in the wrong location. Retired detective Barry McIntosh, who has long pushed for answers in the case, believes the corrected coordinates point to a more accurate search area near Northcliffe, where clothing and the reported smell of human remains were allegedly detected after the group disapp
Katie Never Thought Her Partner Was Violent Until He Killed Her
29-year-old Katie Haley arrived home on a Friday night in March 2018 after a long shift at a Melbourne tavern. Her partner Shane had been messaging throughout the day, calls, accusations, jealousy, and control that had continued for hours... After reaching her limit, Katie stands up and starts packing a bag. She tells him the relationship is over. She’s leaving with their daughter. But she n
Part 2: Nina Funnell Has A New Fight. This One Will Shock You
This is Part 2 of Nina Funnell’s story. You can listen to Part 1 here. Nina Funnell survived a violent assault as a young woman, fighting off her attacker and escaping to call the police. Although he was never found, the experience became a turning point. Within weeks, she chose to speak publicly, challenging stigma, victim-blaming, and the silence surrounding violence against women. Since t
Part 1: Nina Funnell Has A New Fight. This One Will Shock You
Find Part 2 of this conversation with Nina Funnell here. Nina Funnell survived a violent assault as a young woman, fighting off her attacker and escaping to call the police. Although he was never found, the experience became a turning point. Within weeks, she chose to speak publicly, challenging stigma, victim-blaming, and the silence surrounding violence against women. Since then, Nina has
The Young Mum Who Disappeared In The Blue Mountains
In January 1993, 20-year-old Tracey Valesini appeared at the Campbelltown Courthouse in Sydney for a legal matter. She was last seen sitting inside the courtroom that day. After that moment, Tracey was never heard from again. More than 30 years later, there is still no definitive answer about what happened to the young mother or where her remains may be. But the case has never truly gone cold. Jou
How Natascha Kampusch Survived Eight Years In Captivity
On March 2, 1998, 10-year-old Austrian girl Natascha Kampusch disappeared on her way to school. What followed was 3,096 days in captivity, hidden inside a soundproof cellar, cut off from the outside world and shaped by fear, control, and a deeply complex psychological dynamic with her captor. Journalist Rahni Sadler spent a lot of time getting to know Natascha, interviewing her in 2011 and a
Joe’s Chilling Escape From The 'Forgotten' Bali Bombing
On October 1, 2005, terror struck Bali when three suicide bombings ripped through crowded restaurants in Jimbaran Bay and Kuta, killing 20 people and injuring more than 100. Among those caught in the blasts was 20-year-old Newcastle local Joe Frost. Thrown face-down into the sand, ears ringing and legs burning, Joe survived - but others at his table were killed or left with life-changing injuries.
Inside The Minds Of Australia’s Worst Female Killers
Katherine Knight, Sarah Makin, Caroline Grills, Catherine Birnie, Helen Moore, and Rachel Pfitzner are among the most notorious female killers in Australian history. But what compels a woman to take a life, whether it’s someone close to her or, more rarely, a stranger? Dr Xanthe Weston, a criminal psychologist, has long been driven by this very question. Drawing on years of research into cas
The Podcast Uncovering The New Victims Of Serial Killer Christopher Wilder
In 1984, Terry Ferguson was approached in a busy Florida mall by a charming photographer with an Australian accent. He promised her stardom; instead, she became a victim of Christopher Wilder, the notorious "Beauty Queen Killer." While Wilder’s confirmed body count sits around 11, new evidence suggests a much darker reality: a trail of over 30 victims stretching from Australia to America.&nb
The Australian Family Cult That Vanished Overnight
In 2007, a family of three and their friend vanished from their secluded home in Nannup, Western Australia, leaving only a cryptic note claiming they had moved to Brazil. They never arrived. As investigators delved into the lives of Chantelle McDougall, her partner Simon Cadwell, their daughter Leela, and friend Tony Popic, they uncovered a web of doomsday prepping and cult-like spiritual beliefs.
The Family Friend No One Suspected
Her life changed forever when her five-year-old daughter, Rose, bravely spoke up about a trusted family friend sexually assaulting her. That moment led Michelle to discover that both of her daughters had endured abuse for years, and it marked the start of the family’s journey toward justice and healing. In this episode, Michelle shares how she and her daughters, Pippa and Rose, navigat
How Jemma Lilley's Fascination With Serial Killers Turned Deadly
Some women dream of launching a career before 25. Some dream of owning their first home. Jemma Lilley had a different goal: she wanted to kill someone before her 25th birthday, but she knew she couldn't do it alone. Obsessed with serial killers and violent fantasy, Lilley set her sights on turning desire into reality. She found an accomplice in Trudi Lenon, an impressionable single mother wh
The Husband Who Played Grieving Widower After Killing His Wife
In June 2016, Karen Ristevski vanished from her home. Her husband, Borce, told their daughter she had gone for a walk and never returned. For months, police and family searched in vain. Then, in February 2017, hikers stumbled upon her skeletal remains in a quiet nature reserve. Police pieced together CCTV footage and phone records, leading to Borce’s arrest. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter
Darryl Used To Be A Violent Man. Now He Stops Them.
Darryl Gardiner grew up in a home ruled by unimaginable violence... and it almost destroyed him. Witnessing and experiencing abuse from a terrifyingly young age, he followed the same path, becoming a violent man himself. But Darryl broke the cycle. Now a father, clinician, and founder of programs helping men and women escape abuse, Darryl shares a raw, unflinching story of accountability, redempti
Trenny Gibson Went On A School Trip And Never Came Home
In October 1976, 16-year-old Trenny Gibson boarded a school bus in Knoxville, Tennessee, expecting a routine day. Instead, her horticulture class was taken on a rainy hike into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park without warning. Unprepared and uneasy, Trenny borrowed a jacket from a fellow student. By mid-afternoon, she was gone. One moment she was on the trail, the next she had vanished. Nea
The Brutal Melbourne Killer Who Never Went To Prison
In May 2019, 25-year-old Courtney Herron was murdered after a night out in Melbourne’s CBD. What happened next would ignite national outrage and raise disturbing questions about justice in Australia. In this episode, Courtney’s father, John Herron, speaks about the daughter he loved deeply, her generosity, humour, and instinctive kindness, and the night she crossed paths with the man w
The Deadly Obsession That Drove Jodi Arias To Murder Her Lover
The case of Jodi Arias, the woman who murdered her former lover, Travis Alexander, in 2008, captivated audiences around the world. When the trial began in 2013, media coverage intensified, driven by a disturbing question: what could compel a young, attractive woman to kill so violently? To shoot, stab, and nearly decapitate a man she claimed to have loved? These are just some of the questions jour
The Missing Australians You’ve Never Heard Of
Two 15-year-olds vanish after heading to a disco in Wollongong. An 18-year-old Belgian backpacker disappears after a night out in Byron Bay. A 20-year-old Navy recruit vanishes from a casino lobby in a matter of minutes. These are just a few of Australia’s missing persons cases you may never have heard of. Each year, more than 56,000 people are reported missing across the country. Most are f
What Happens When Your Ex Hires A Hitman To Have You Killed
Who would try to hire a hitman to kill an innocent young girl? In early 2021, Riley ended a relationship with a man she had been in a year-long online relationship with after she alleges he assaulted her. Despite the breakup, he continued to message her relentlessly. Instead of backing down, Scott escalated his feelings of anger, turning to the dark web. He paid $19,000 AUD to hire a h
He Killed His Entire Family, Then Walked Free To Start Another
On September 7, 1971, at a remote farmhouse 40 kilometres south of Adelaide, Clifford Bartholomew killed 10 people. His wife, his seven children, his sister-in-law and her 19-month-old son. He shot them all dead. He was sentenced to death, but because of changes to the law, he wasn’t killed. Instead, he was re-sentenced to life in prison and managed to serve just eight years before being rel
The Adelaide Schoolgirl Abducted From Her Bed Without A Trace
On a summer evening in January 1983, 10-year-old Louise Bell went missing from her bedroom in Adelaide's Hackham West. It was a case that horrified Australia, as every parent's worst nightmare became reality for the Bell family. How could a young girl tucked up in her bed in a safe, suburban neighbourhood just go missing in the middle of the night? It would take 30 years, and advances
The Prison Guard Who Fell In Love With An Inmate
In 1992, career criminal Peter Gibb met prison guard Heather Parker while serving a 12-year sentence at the Melbourne Remand Centre. Heather claimed she didn’t notice Peter at first, but she quickly became smitten, and their relationship developed from flirtatious to physical. When their affair was exposed, Heather was immediately transferred, with communication between the two forbidden. Bu
Should My Father Be Free? The Son of Australia's Most Notorious Bank Robber Speaks
Brenden Abbott, known as The Postcard Bandit, is one of Australia’s most notorious bank robbers and prison escapees. He's the guy who developed the “drop-in heist,” hiding in a bank’s ceiling overnight and dropping down as staff opened the vault. Abbott continued a crime spree across Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland, robbing banks and avoiding p
Michelle Steck Found Her Ex Hiding In The Roof, Weeks Later Her Daughter Was Dead
On New Year’s Day 1993, Perth woman Michelle Steck, 24, packed her bags and left her abusive four-year relationship with her violent partner’s words ringing in her ears. “You’re going to pay for your actions for a very long time,” spat Kevin East, 34. Listen to the full story, with writer Megan Norris, at the link here. THE END BITS Subscribe to Mamamia If you h
Australia's Dark History Of Forced Adoptions
For nearly half a century, Australia was engaged in a shameful and shocking practice that would tear babies from the arms of their mothers, sometimes before they ever even laid eyes on their precious little faces. Today, Amelia Oberhart shares with us the journey of her discoveries about her mother’s life before she was born in her podcast, Secrets We Keep, Shame, Lies and Family&helli
The Russian Woman Who Hijacked A Helicopter To Free Her Aussie Lover
John Killick is one of Australia's most infamous criminals. Why? Because in 1999, he escaped from Sydney’s Silverwater Correctional Complex on a helicopter. Killick was on remand for armed robbery, and his girlfriend at the time, Lucy Dudko, hijacked a helicopter, landed it in the prison, and flew him out. In this episode, we speak with John Killick himself about his life of crim
The Murder Of Australian Schoolgirl Masa Vukotic
On March 17, 2015, 17-year-old Masa Vukotic left her Doncaster home for an evening walk through her local park, a routine she had followed countless times. That night, her boyfriend, Timothy Draper, did not receive a goodnight text from Masa. By morning, police were at his door with devastating news: Masa had been brutally stabbed 49 times in Koonung Creek Linear Reserve, her screams having been h
The Man Who Wouldn’t Die: Inside The Nine Lives Of Untouchable Iron Mike
“Iron Mike” Malloy survived not one, not two, but more than nine attempts on his life before he finally met his end. Malloy became the target of a group of acquaintances later dubbed the “Murder Trust,” who conspired to kill him for insurance money. What followed remains one of the most astonishing strings of failed murder attempts in history. The conspirators served him co
Inside The Kidnapping Where 26 Kids Were Buried Alive
On July 15, 1976, a school bus carrying 26 children and their beloved driver, Ed Ray, left Chowchilla, California, after a hot day at summer school and never made it home. Blocked by a mysterious white van, the bus was hijacked by armed, masked men and driven into a hidden slough, where the victims were transferred into dark, soundproofed vans. Over the next 16 hours, they would endure an ordeal t
Australia’s Forgotten Teens: The Vanishing Of Elaine Johnson & Kerry Joel
If two teenage girls went missing today, would police just assume they’d run away from home? That assumption is why two Australian teenagers, Elaine Johnson and Kerry Anne Joel, have never been found. Elaine was 16, Kerry was 17, living a carefree 80s life in The Shire, south of Sydney. The girls were seen hitchhiking on the Princes Highway, but by the weekend, they were gone. No calls. No s
The Killer Clown Used Magic Tricks To Lure His Victims
Sixteen-year-old Timothy “Jack” McCoy spent Christmas 1971 with his relatives in Michigan, leaving on January 2, 1972, to return home to Nebraska. After arriving in Chicago for a bus connection, he met a man who offered him food and a tour of the city. Timothy accepted, but he would never be seen alive again. Fourteen years later, his family learned he had been the first known victim o
Who Killed John Furlan? The Car Bombing Case Australia Forgot
On the morning of August 3rd, 1998, Melbourne businessman John Furlan followed his usual routine: coffee, newspaper, and off to work at his Coburg auto salvage yard. But at 8:45 AM, his white Subaru Liberty exploded on Lorenson Street, a blast so powerful it was felt five kilometres away. Windows shattered, cars burned, yet Furlan was the only fatality. Police soon confirmed it wasn’t a gas
Once Called "Australia's Worst Female Serial Killer." Kathleen Folbigg Sets The Record Straight
She was once called "Australia’s worst female serial killer." Kathleen Folbigg spent 20 years imprisoned for the deaths of her four children, convicted by a flawed system. In 2023, science proved she was innocent, leading to an immediate pardon and release. In this deeply personal interview, Kathleen speaks about the trauma of her long ordeal and the bittersweet reality of her freedom. She r
The Real Story Of Ed Gein: The Original Psycho
On September 8, 1960, Psycho shocked cinema audiences with a level of psychological horror never seen before. But Psycho wasn’t pure fiction. It was inspired by the gruesome true story of Ed Gein, the real-life Butcher of Plainfield. When police raided Gein’s Wisconsin farmhouse in 1957, they uncovered a macabre scene: human remains crafted into lampshades, furniture, and clothing. The
The Double Life Of Dennis Rader: The BTK Killer
On January 15, 1974, 15-year-old Charlie Otero and his siblings came home in Wichita, Kansas, to find their family murdered - the first known victims of the BTK killer: Bind, Torture, Kill. Dennis Rader, a father, church leader, and city worker, hid in plain sight while terrorising a community for decades. After years of taunting the police, he was finally caught in 2005. His daughter, Kerri Rawso
Unmasking Chopper Read: The Infamous Australian Criminal
Part criminal, part storyteller, and part myth. Mark “Chopper” Read is one of Australia’s most polarising figures. Today, we dive into the life and legacy of the man behind the legend. From a violent childhood and years in Pentridge Prison to bestselling books, stage shows, and the iconic film portrayal by Eric Bana, Chopper’s story is as chaotic as it is captiva
We Take You Inside The New Amanda Knox Series And Real-Life Case
On a summer night in Italy in 2007, the brutal murder of Meredith Kercher shocked the world. Her American flatmate Amanda Knox, and her new boyfriend Raffaele, were instantly thrust into an international legal saga that spanned years. For the first time ever, True Crime Conversations host Claire Murphy joins The Spill's Laura Brodnik for a can't-miss crossover that dissects the new Disney+ series,
"I Was Held In A Soundproof Bunker By My Stalker": Samantha Stites Speaks Out
In October 2022, Samantha Stites was kidnapped and assaulted by a man who had stalked her for over a decade. After breaking into her Michigan home, he restrained her and took her to a soundproof bunker he had built inside a storage unit, where she was held captive for nearly 15 hours. Despite a previous protection order, the man’s harassment had only escalated over the years. His stalk
Inside The Mind Of Australia's Youngest Killer
What drives a teenager to become a killer? In 2001, three-year-old Courtney Morley-Clarke was put to bed on a hot summer night on the NSW Central Coast. By morning, her bed was empty, the screen door wide open, and her nightie lay on the ground. Police soon discovered Courtney hadn’t wandered off, she was abducted and murdered by her 13-year-old neighbour, Australia’s youngest convicte
Inside The Cecil Hotel: Dark Truths Behind Elisa Lam's Elevator Video
On a February morning in 2013, guests at the infamous Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles complained of brown, foul-tasting water. What the maintenance team discovered on the rooftop would spark a global internet frenzy - the body of 21-year-old Elisa Lam inside the hotel's water tank. In the days leading up to her disappearance, Elisa was captured on the hotel’s elevator CCTV behaving erratically. T
"My Daughter Fell Victim To An Online Catfish"
When police raided the home of 48-year-old Garry Francis Newman in March 2007, they found him sitting in his lounge room, chatting online with a 14-year-old girl. She thought she was speaking to “Brandon,” a teenage American boy. In reality, Brandon was a carefully crafted fake identity Newman had used to lure girls online. Police would later uncover nearly 200 such identities. One of
Barry & Honey Sherman: Bodies Found Posed By The Pool
You don’t expect to find two billionaires posed like mannequins by their own pool. But on December 15, 2017, realtor Elise Stern did just that when she entered Barry and Honey Sherman’s Toronto mansion. Honey was traveling, and Barry was at work, so Elise knew the couple wouldn’t be home. As she showed potential buyers through the house, Elise pointed out quirky features, i
Sally Leydon Spent 30 Years Searching For Her Missing Mother
On October 19, 1997, Sally Leydon called her brother Owen to ask if their mum, Marion Barter—who was on a year-long trip overseas—had phoned for his birthday. When Owen said no, Sally felt uneasy. Marion never missed birthdays. She’d last heard from her mum in August, calling from the UK. But it was the '90s—no constant contact, no photo trail. Marion had vanished. Someone
The Honeymoon Drowning That Turned A Groom Into A Murder Suspect
In October 2003, newlyweds Gabe and Tina Watson travelled from Alabama to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef for their dream honeymoon. Just 11 days after their wedding, the couple prepared to dive the SS Yongala shipwreck, one of the world’s most famous dive sites. But within minutes of entering the water, Tina was pulled to the surface unconscious. Despite desperate attempts to save her,
The Idaho Four College Murders
What began as a typical game day celebration for University of Idaho students would end in unimaginable horror on Saturday, November 12, 2022. Xana Kernodle, a marketing junior, spent the day with friends, including her boyfriend Ethan Chapin and housemates Dylan, Bethany, Kaylee and Maddie at their shared home on 1122 King Road. After parties and celebrations, the group returned home in the
UPDATE: Snowtown Murderer James Vlassakis Has Been Granted Parole
In May 1999, two detectives followed a trail of suspicious missing persons cases to an old, red-brick bank in Snowtown, South Australia. As they head inside, they head straight for the bank’s vault where they find six large plastic barrels containing human remains. They also find handcuffs, knives, a saw, boxes of disposable gloves and bottles of hydrochloric acid. They’d c
The Day Three Children Disappeared In Broad Daylight, Without A Trace
On a scorching summer day in Adelaide, January 26, 1966, the Beaumont children—Jane, Arnna and Grant—left for Glenelg Beach and never came home. In a crowd of hundreds, they vanished without a trace, no evidence at all. Nearly 60 years on, the mystery still grips Australia, it's the cold case that can't go cold. Joining us are author Stuart Mullins and former detective Bill Hayes
For Years, Karlie’s Murderers Convinced Her Family She Was Still Alive
When two-year-old Khandalyce Pearce vanished, police were baffled that her mother, Karlie, hadn’t reported her missing. What no one realised was that Karlie Pearce-Stevenson had already been murdered years earlier, her remains discovered in Belanglo State Forest in 2010—eight years before Khandalyce’s name would make national headlines. The true shock came from th
Lisa McVey: In Her Own Words, On Surviving A Serial Killer
Lisa McVey’s story is one of unimaginable pain and extraordinary power. At 17, after surviving years of abuse, she was kidnapped and assaulted for 26 hours by a serial killer. But Lisa didn’t just survive; she outsmarted him. Blindfolded, she memorised her surroundings, manipulated his trust, and left clues that led to his arrest. In this episode, we explore how Lisa turned trauma into
Lisa McVey: Inside The Minds Behind The Viral Film 'Believe Me'
At just 17, Lisa McVey was abducted by a dangerous man in Tampa, Florida. Over 26 long hours, despite unimaginable fear, Lisa stayed remarkably calm and sharp, leaving behind crucial clues that would help law enforcement catch a serial killer. Filmmakers Jim Donovan and Jeff Vanderwal brought Lisa’s powerful story to the screen in Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey. Working closel
Bradley Murdoch Takes Peter Falconio’s Whereabouts To His Grave
Bradley John Murdoch was convicted of Falconio’s murder in December 2005 and sentenced to life in prison. Now, there’s been a significant development. Murdoch died of throat cancer on July 15, 2025, at the age of 67. He had been diagnosed with the terminal illness in 2019 and was released from Alice Springs Correctional Centre last month to receive palliative care at Alice Springs Hosp
The Killer Who Livestreamed His Mass Shooting On Facebook
On March 15, 2019, New Zealand was shattered by a terrorist attack unlike any in its history. Fifty-one worshippers were murdered and dozens more wounded when a gunman opened fire inside two mosques in Christchurch, livestreaming his rampage to the world. We speak with journalist Joey Watson, creator of Secrets We Keep: Lone Actor, who traces the radicalisation of the attacker, from online echo ch
Australia's Black Widow: The Story Of Dulcie Markham
Dulcie Markham has been called Australia’s most beautiful bad woman. Underworld figures describe her as "Black Widow," like the spider known for sometimes killing its mate. A key figure in the underworld gangs of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, Dulcie used her Hollywood good looks, rosy pink lips and whip-smart mind to manipulate the most evil of mobsters. Author and historian Leigh Straw jo
"The Moment I Realised The Man I Loved Was A Serial Romance Scammer"
When Heather let “Jace” into her Toronto condo to fix a kitchen cabinet, she had no idea she was opening the door to one of Canada’s most prolific romance scammers. Charming, confident, and seemingly genuine, Jason Porter, using yet another alias, had already conned dozens of women across the country. But this time, he picked the wrong target. In this episode, Claire Murphy
Kidnapped, Abused & Held In A Pig Shed: The Shocking Case of Davine Arckens
When 24-year-old Belgian backpacker Davine Arckens reached out to a man on Gumtree about working on his farm, she was excited. The 88 days of labour would mean she could stay in Australia on a tourist visa for an extra year. She couldn’t wait to spend more time in a country she thought was safe and full of nice people. When Davine met the man, it didn’t take long for her to realise she
The Gonzales Family Murders
At just 20 years old, Sef Gonzales murdered his entire family, his father Teodoro, mother Mary Loiva, and 18-year-old sister Clodine, in their Sydney home in 2001. Struggling with an identity crisis, failing his medical exams, and facing rejection from his parents, who planned to disown him and cut off his inheritance, Sef devised a chilling plan. He brutally killed them and tried to stage the sce
The Former Miss Australia Who Was Convicted Of Drug Dealing
Felicia Djamirze has lived many lives—counsellor, women’s justice advocate, three-time Miss Australia titleholder, and convicted drug dealer. Raised in a tough Sydney neighbourhood where crime and addiction were part of daily life, Felicia grew up believing survival was the best she could hope for. When her looks opened doors, she stepped through, even when they led into dangerous terr
Karen Read Found Not Guilty In Viral Murder Trial
Ever since the mysterious death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe on a snowy night in 2022, the town where he died has been deeply divided. Was he killed in a house full of law enforcement and the crime covered up, or did his girlfriend, Karen Read, strike him with her car and leave him to die? The high-profile case gripped true crime fans worldwide, especially after Read claimed she was
Lauren Had No Idea She Married A Monster, Until She Learned the Truth
In 2015, Lauren Trevan’s husband was interviewed by police about messages he had sent to a teenage girl. He claimed they were harmless. They weren’t. As the investigation unfolded, Lauren learned the full extent of his actions — and how much had been hidden. At the same time, she was navigating a controlling and emotionally abusive relationship herself. In this episode, Claire Mu
We Finally Know The Motive Behind Australia’s Deadliest Mass Shooting
Nearly 30 years have passed since the Port Arthur massacre — one of the darkest and most devastating events in Australia's history. On April 28, 1996, a lone gunman, Martin Bryant, carried out the country’s deadliest mass shooting, killing 35 people and injuring 23 others in and around the historic Port Arthur site in Tasmania. For decades, the question of why he did it has haunted sur
The Woman Who Tricked 50 Doulas Into Believing She Was Pregnant
Kaitlyn Braun spun an elaborate web of lies, convincing over 50 doulas she was pregnant after a traumatic assault. Her deception confused and shattered trust in the doula community, leaving many unsure if they could continue their work. Journalist Sarah Treleaven spent over eighteen months investigating Kaitlyn’s unusual story and the motives behind it. She brought these stories to life in h
How A Broken Law Sent Kathleen Folbigg To Prison
After 20 years in prison, Kathleen Folbig, once labelled Australia’s worst female serial killer, was released in just 56 minutes. New genetic evidence cleared her of killing her four children, flipping one of the country’s most infamous cases on its head. Kathleen’s story is one of loss and a justice system that got it badly wrong. But her fight isn't over. In this episode,
Hundreds Were Forced To Witness The Death Of Agnes Magnúsdóttir
She was young, poor, and alone in a harsh, unforgiving Icelandic landscape — and then she was sentenced to die. In 1830, Agnes Magnúsdóttir became the last person executed in Iceland, beheaded by axe for the murder of a powerful man. Nearly 200 years later, her story still lingers. Was she a cold-blooded killer, or a woman trapped by circumstance? In this episode, we speak to a
William Tyrrell: Is This The Breakthrough We've Been Waiting For?
He was three years old, dressed in a Spider-Man suit, playing in his foster grandmother’s yard — and then he was gone. Nearly a decade later, the disappearance of William Tyrrell remains one of Australia’s most haunting mysteries. For years, this case has been clouded in secrecy. With a high number of registered sex offenders living in the area where William vanished, investigato
Kat Torres: The Influencer Convicted Of Human Trafficking
Kat Torres had it all—famous friends, a jet-setting modelling career and a social media feed that painted the picture of a woman who had truly made it. But behind the flawless photos and inspirational captions lurked a far darker reality. Torres wasn’t just living the influencer dream; she was building something far more dangerous. What began as a pursuit of fame spiralled i
Tortured & Brainwashed: How Ben Shenton Survived Australia’s Most Disturbing Cult
At just 18 months old, Ben Shenton was handed over to a woman who claimed she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. That woman was Anne Hamilton-Byrne, the leader of a secretive doomsday cult called The Family. For 14 years, Ben lived cut off from the outside world—beaten, starved, drugged, and taught to stay “unseen, unheard, unknown.” The cult twisted Christianity into a tool
"I Had to Kill Him": The Woman Who Survived Dirty John
"Dirty John" Meehan, a serial con artist and violent criminal, was Terra Newell's stepfather. He had married her mother and spent years manipulating and abusing her until she finally left him. Enraged by her departure, he sought revenge. One day, after finishing her shift at work, Terra was walking to her car when John suddenly grabbed her from behind, wrapping his arm around her waist and trying
Meet Heston Russell: The Veteran Falsely Accused Of War Crimes
Heston Russell has lived a life most of us couldn’t imagine. A former special forces commander, he’s been shot at, dropped out of helicopters, and led troops through the chaos of Afghanistan and Iraq. But it wasn’t until he came home that he faced his toughest fight yet — not against an enemy overseas, but against his own country. Heston and his men were accused of war crim
Escaping One Of Australia's Most Secretive Cults [re-release]
Laura McConnell grew up in a fundamentalist sect with no name. Along with no official title, the group also claims to have no registration around the world, no formal hierarchy, and no official places of worship. According to Laura, it's this secrecy and denial that has allowed abuse to flourish within the community. She joins us today to expose what she witnessed and experienced inside the group
The Podcast Host Who Solved A Murder When Police Couldn't
In 1993, a teenage girl vanished on her way to school in a quiet town in Ontario, Canada. That morning, she’d argued with her mother, Mary Ann—nothing serious, just one of those everyday fights about going to school. It would be the last time they ever spoke. Her name was Christine Harron. She never made it to class. The case went cold for years—until filmmaker and podcast host D
