Motive & Method
Motive & Method is an expert-led Australian true crime podcast. Join Dr Xanthe Mallett and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro as they unpack what really makes the offenders behind some of history’s most notorious cases tick, and also react and unpack crimes as they hit the headlines. You will also hear from victim survivors, investigators and advocates for change analysing motive, and method.
Episodes
Mr Rent-A-Kill: The Underworld Hitman Who Disappeared
For years, Christopher Flannery AKA 'Mr Rent-a-Kill' was the man Australian mobsters hired to make people disappear - until he became a target and vanished into thin air himself.In 1985, after becoming a volatile liability who simply knew too much about corrupt police and syndicate bosses, the feared assassin vanished without a trace. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe sit down with former detec
‘Falsely Convicted’ with Neil Mercer: True Stories of Injustice in Australia
From unvetted science to coerced confessions, catastrophic failures in Australia's justice system have stolen decades from innocent people for crimes they didn't commit. In this episode Xanthe and Tim sit down with Walkley Award-winning investigative journalist Neil Mercer to discuss his new book, Falsely Convicted. Mercer details how the Australian criminal justice system has catastrophicall
Port Arthur: The Massacre That Changed Australia
The Port Arthur massacre remains the deadliest mass shooting in Australian history - a tragedy that shattered lives and transformed the country’s gun laws.On a quiet Sunday afternoon in April 1996, 35 people were killed and dozens more wounded when a gunman opened fire at the tourist site and continued on an hours-long deadly rampage. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe discuss how the events of
Terror In The Outback: Can Peter Falconio’s Body Be Found?
On a remote highway Peter Falconio vanished forever - His murder became every outback travellers worst nightmare.25 years after one of Australia’s most infamous murders, the case is back in the spotlight with the release of never-before-seen police footage and investigation photos. In this episode, Xanthe and Tim retrace the events of that terrifying night and discuss the forensic evidence t
10. Painful Patterns: Inside The Grafton Hearing with Tim & Xanthe
At the second hearing of the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into unsolved missing and murdered cases, Tim and Xanthe examine three more cases that expose troubling similarities in the experiences of families searching for answers. They discuss the unsolved murder of 16-year-old Lee Ellen Stace, the disappearance of Kylee-Ann Schaffer and the long-running mystery of Bronwyn Winfield, whose case has beco
9. Andrew Inglis: The First Love Who Never Came Home
A teenager climbed into his red Datsun and drove off into the rain on Boxing Day 1985. He was never seen again.Nearly 40 years later, what happened to 18-year-old Andrew Inglis remains a mystery. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe are joined by Andrew’s then-girlfriend, Joanne Greensill, who shares the heartbreak of losing her first love. Although she doesn't believe he met with foul play,
The Thailand Suitcase Murder: An Australian Charged
A 17-year-old disappeared in Thailand after meeting an Australian man. Less than a day later her body was found inside a suitcase abandoned near railway tracks. In this episode Tim and Xanthe examine the evidence authorities allege they have against Australian man Simon Peter Carman, and how they say they tracked him through an extensive network of CCTV. Carman denies intentionally killing th
8. Narelle Cox: If Not Milat, Then Who?
Could an anonymous truck driver hold the key to solving this 50-year-old cold case?In this episode Tim & Xanthe sit down with Karen Cox, the sister of Narelle Cox, who vanished in 1977 while hitchhiking from Grafton to Noosa. She was just 21 years old and left a note saying she was visiting a friend for the weekend, but she never arrived and she never came home. Karen shares the devastating im
7. Marion Barter Pt. 2 - The Citizen Sleuth Who Found What Police Missed
No badge, no warrant and no official powers - yet she uncovered vital evidence in the search for missing schoolteacher Marion Barter.In this episode, we speak with citizen sleuth and social worker Joni Condos, whose relentless research from her own living room uncovered crucial evidence in the mysterious disappearance of Marion Barter. Joni reveals how she traced hidden identities, unearthed
6. The Mysterious Disappearance of Marion Barter
She secretly changed her name. Hundreds of thousands of dollars disappeared from her bank account. A convicted conman was questioned for days at a coronial inquest, yet nearly three decades later, no one knows what happened to Marion Barter.In this episode, Tim & Xanthe are joined by Marion’s daughter Sally Leydon. She reveals the extraordinary twists in her mother’s disappearance,
Chopper Read: Australia’s ‘Celebrity’ Criminal
How a notorious criminal became a pop culture legend.Tim & Xanthe unpack the violent life and complicated mythology of Mark Brandon ‘Chopper’ Read - the underworld figure immortalised in film, television, and true crime folklore. From prison violence and gangland crime to media fame and the cult success of 'Chopper', we examine how a brutal criminal transformed himself into a
A Family Vanished: The 'Nannup Cult' Mystery
In 2007, four people vanished from a remote town in Western Australia - leaving behind an abandoned home, a cryptic note and a trail of unanswered questions. At the centre of the mystery was a self-styled spiritual leader, who had built an online doomsday cult. Over the past 20 years, as desperate family, police and coroners examined theories ranging from suicide pacts to staged disappearances, th
Bonus: Behind The Scenes With MP Jeremy Buckingham
In this bonus episode, Tim and Xanthe sit down with MP Jeremy Buckingham, the driving force behind the parliamentary inquiry examining some of Australia’s most notorious unsolved murders and missing persons cases. Buckingham reveals what sparked his decade-long push for answers, the systemic failures families say have left them abandoned and why he believes these cases deserve fresh scr
5. Cheryl Grimmer: A Confession Ignored- A Child Killer Never Caught
A three-year-old disappears. A teenager confesses. Yet more than five decades later, Cheryl Grimmer’s family is still fighting for justice.Cheryl Grimmer vanished from a beach change room in 1970, and despite a detailed confession decades later, no one has ever been held accountable for her murder. In this powerful interview, Cheryl’s brothers, Paul Grimmer and Ricki Nash, share the de
4. Keren Rowland: Was She Ivan Milat's First Victim?
What if Ivan Milat’s first victim was killed more than two decades before the backpacker murders?Keren Rowland was 5 months pregnant when she was brutally murdered and hidden in a pine forest in 1971. In this episode, Tim & Xanthe sit down with Keren's brother Steve Rowland and former UK detective Hugh Hughes.They detail years of fighting for answers, alleging police ignored crucial lead
3. Kevin Docherty: 47 Years Searching For Answers
A twin brother's 47-year fight for answers, suspicious letters and a new witness who may hold the key to where Kay Docherty is buried.In this episode, Kevin Docherty shares the heartbreaking story of his sister Kay Docherty, who vanished alongside her friend Toni Cavanagh in 1979. Nearly five decades on, Kevin recalls the night they disappeared, the suspicious letters sent to their families days l
2. Ivan Milat's 11 Other Victims?
Families demand answers - police under scrutiny - and a revelation that could reshape the Milat case.At the first hearing into dozens of Australia’s unsolved murders and missing persons cases, police revealed a previously unheard list of potential additional victims linked to Ivan Milat. In this episode, forensic scientist and criminologist Dr Xanthe Weston and criminal psychologist Tim Wats
1. Australia's Killer Secrets: Milat, Murders & Missing
What if the full story behind Australia's most notorious serial killer Ivan Milat has never been told?In episode one of this special series of Motive&Method, forensic scientist Dr Xanthe Weston and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro break down the unsolved missing & murdered cases being re-examined in a landmark parliamentary inquiry.Tim & Xanthe have been working for years, alongs
Introducing: Australia's Killer Secrets
What if the full story behind Australia's most notorious serial killer Ivan Milat has never been told? And what if more recent cases point to a copycat killer - or worse?In this special series of Motive&Method, forensic scientist Dr Xanthe Weston and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro take you inside a landmark parliamentary inquiry examining dozens of unsolved murders and disappearances.F
Is There A Byron Bay Serial Killer?
Mysterious disappearances, unsolved deaths & terrifying stories - Is a killer stalking Byron Bay? And could there be more than one?In 2019, 18-year-old Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez vanished after a night out in Byron Bay and was never seen again. Since then, the disturbing death of Jackson Stacker and the mysterious cases of Hugo Palmer and Erwan Ferrieux, among others, have become part of a
A Horrific Crime In Campbelltown: Australia's DV Crisis
A mother & two young boys killed allegedly at the hands of their father - This tradegy has once again left an entire country asking how this keeps happening. The alleged murders in Campbelltown, Sydney have been described as among the most confronting domestic violence scenes seasoned investigators have encountered. Police allege the accused may have been inspired by another shocking fami
Youth Crime & 'Crimefluencing': Clicks, Clout & Coercion
Crimes for clicks, shares and online status - In this episode, Tim and Xanthe unpack the dangerous new phenomenon “crimefluencing”. Australia’s top cop recently highlighted this “new and disturbing front in traditional gender-based violence” - with young people being drawn into online networks that encourage everything from petty offending to serious violence an
Breakthrough: Body Found In Search for Jayden Penno-Tompsett
In December 2017, two young men took off on a drug-fuelled roadtrip to spend New Year's Eve in Cairns. One made it to the party - the other was never seen again. Now a shocking development could see this case finally solved. In the final episode of this special series for Outback Murder Highway, investigative journalist Amelia Oberhardt dissects the mysterious disappearance of 22-year-old Jay
The Wrong Man? Who Killed Leanne Holland
More than three decades after 12-year-old Leanne Holland was murdered in Ipswich, her case remains one of Australia’s most controversial unsolved killings. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe speak with former police officer turned private investigator Graeme Crowley, whose relentless investigation helped trigger a new coronial inquiry into the case. They unpack the disappearance and murder of L
![Bonus: Mark Jones [Extended Interview]](https://www.omnycontent.com/d/clips/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/599e036d-9f0e-47ce-b09a-b19a01862d1e/432faef9-6b45-4663-8cbb-b441004e6b66/image.jpg?t=1777957698&size=Large)
Bonus: Mark Jones [Extended Interview]
Mark Jones’ little brother Tony was hitchhiking to meet their other brother in 1982 when he made a final phone call back home & was never heard from again. In this extended interview from the documentary series Outback Murder Highway, Mark shares his disappointment in the police investigation. He is confident someone has more information about what happened to his brother, and is hopeful
Outback Murder Highway: The Disappearance Of Tony Jones
In the early '80s a young hitchhiker vanished off the Flinders Highway - despite a mysterious tip-off in the mail, a killer’s confession, and growing rumours around one outback town, the truth remains hidden. In this third episode for Outback Murder Highway, Tim, Xanthe and investigative journalist Amelia Oberhardt unpack the unsolved disappearance of 20-year-old Tony Jones who was on
![Bonus: John Twaddle [Extended Interview]](https://www.omnycontent.com/d/clips/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/599e036d-9f0e-47ce-b09a-b19a01862d1e/3151413b-7ca9-4fbe-87fa-b43c0187d324/image.jpg?t=1777594543&size=Large)
Bonus: John Twaddle [Extended Interview]
John Twaddle thought he knew who murdered his brother Gordon, but the person he had suspected has been ruled out by police on multiple occasions. Almost 50 years after Gordon was found dead off Queensland’s Flinders Highway, alongside his girlfriend Karen and mate Tim, their families are no closer to the truth. In this extended interview from the documentary series Outback Murder
Outback Murder Highway: Triple Murder At Spear Creek
In October 1978 three bodies are found at Spear Creek in remote outback Queensland - each has a single rifle shot to the head. Decades later a prime suspect is ruled out but did witnesses identify another man? In this special episode for Outback Murder Highway, Tim and Xanthe are joined again by investigative journalist Amelia Oberhardt to unpack the documentary investigation into the unsolved mur
![Bonus: David Cunningham [Extended Interview]](https://www.omnycontent.com/d/clips/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/599e036d-9f0e-47ce-b09a-b19a01862d1e/d4550a3c-4bb1-4e15-9394-b42f0005f89e/image.jpg?t=1776385735&size=Large)
Bonus: David Cunningham [Extended Interview]
For over fifty years, David Cunningham has been searching for the truth about his sister Anita, who vanished while hitchhiking Queensland’s notorious Flinders Highway in 1972. While her friend Robin was tragically found murdered, Anita’s fate remains one of the Outback's most enduring and haunting mysteries. In this powerful, extended interview from the documentary series Outback
Outback Murder Highway: The Sensible Creek Killings
Two 18-year-old girls disappeared on the Flinders Highway in 1972. One was found murdered, the other has never been found. In this first episode of our special series for Outback Murder Highway, Tim & Xanthe are joined by investigative journalist Amelia Oberhardt to dissect the unsolved case of Anita Cunningham and Robin Hoinville-Bartram. Could police have missed crucial evidence all those ye
Introducing: Outback Murder Highway
One Australian highway - 11 people dead or missingIn this special series, criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro and forensic criminologist, Dr Xanthe Weston are unpacking four major cases under investigation in the exclusive new television documentary series Outback Murder Highway. In each episode, Tim & Xanthe are joined by investigative journalist Amelia Oberhardt to dissect the histor
Ted Bundy Bonus Episode: DNA Breakthrough In Serial Killer Case
Breaking news on notorious serial killer Ted Bundy decades after his execution - A DNA breakthrough has linked Ted Bundy to another cold case murder, proving his story may not be as closed as once believed. In this bonus episode, Xanthe and Tim unpack the breakthrough and what it reveals about the enduring power of forensic science. Also, how rapid advances in DNA technology are cracking lon
Catching Peter Foster & Finding A Missing Baby: Ken Gamble (Part 2)
A dramatic arrest on a Queensland beach and a years-long search for a missing baby - it’s not all cybercrime for private investigator Ken Gamble! In part two of our conversation, Ken takes us inside his pursuit of Australia’s most notorious conman, Peter Foster. Plus, how he got dragged into a major case of a missing baby in the United States - and unravelled the mother's c
Hunting Scammers with Private Investigator Ken Gamble (Part 1)
He’s helped bring down international fraud rings, recover millions for victims and hunt some of the world’s most notorious con artists - including serial swindler Peter Foster. In part 1 of Tim & Xanthe’s conversation with private investigator Ken Gamble, Ken talks overnight mafia stakeouts, unmasking one of the world’s first major online ticket scammers and busting &ls
A Not So Perfect Murder: The Kouri Richins Case
Her husband died. She wrote a book about grief. Then she was charged with his murder.The Kouri Richins case is one of the most talked about recent criminal trials. While she was giving interviews spruiking the book she wrote to help her children cope with the loss of their father, investigators were uncovering drug deals, secret debts, an affair and a sinister murder plot. In this episode, T
He Got Away With Murder - Where Is 'Mr Cruel' Now?
He was one of Australia's most feared predators - and he was never caught. In this episode, Tim & Xanthe revisit the terrifying crimes of Mr Cruel, the masked offender who stalked Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, targeting young girls, in the late 1980s. Tim worked alongside Victoria Police at the time, profiling the serial rapist as the attacks grew more brazen, escalating from calculated h
Cult On Trial: Who Are The Zizians?
Six deaths, multiple states and a high-IQ cult at the centre of it all. In this episode Xanthe and Tim unravel the bizarre and deeply unsettling case of 'The Zizians', whose alleged victims include a border patrol agent and one member's own parents. So how and why did a group of highly intelligent Silicon Valley overachievers spiral into violence? It's a twisted web authorities are still trying to
The Killer Babysitter: Living Free & Babysitting Again
She killed three babies and tried to murder two others. How is Australia's worst female serial killer now living in anonymity within close proximity to young children?An investigation by A Current Affair reporter Erin Ramsay has thrust the case of Helen Patricia Moore, the so-called killer babysitter, back into the spotlight. Despite serving less than fourteen years for murdering babies in her car
Lucy Letby: Is History Repeating?
Is this another case of wrongful conviction like Kathleen Folbigg?In this episode, we revisit the case of Lucy Letby, as fresh legal developments continue to reshape how the evidence is being examined. With new inquests announced and ongoing legal processes underway, questions are being raised about expert testimony, systemic failures and whether earlier conclusions still stand. Tim & Xan
What Happened To Gus Lamont?
The disappearance of four-year-old Gus Lamont has become one of the most troubling and fast-moving investigations in the country. The case that began as a desperate search in remote South Australia has since shifted into a major crime investigation. This episode, Tim & Xanthe discuss the key developments and turning points, and what detectives are saying now about their direction and their sus
Julian Ingram: Wanted For Murder
At the time this episode is released, Julian Ingram is one of the most wanted men in Australia. A major manhunt was launched in regional NSW after Ingram allegedly shot and killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend, her new partner and her aunt before fleeing the scene. As revelations emerge of his criminal history and recent release on bail, serious questions are being asked about risk assessme
Sydney’s Baby Farming Murders
When the remains of an infant were uncovered in a Sydney backyard, it was just the start of a dark and twisted scandal that shocked colonial Australia. As police uncovered over a dozen more infant remains, the secret world of Sarah and John Makin’s baby-farming operation came into view. In this episode we’re joined by author of ‘The Baby Farmers’, Dr Annie Cossens, to disse
The Most Isolated Prisoner In The World
Robert Maudsley has spent more than 40 years in near solitary confinement, caged in a bespoke glass cell. Also branded ‘Britain’s Most Dangerous Criminal’ and labelled ‘Hannibal The Cannibal’, his story has been shaped as much by myth as by fact. In this episode, we unpack Maudsley’s troubled upbringing, his violent criminal history and the extraordinary lengths
Taken In The Night: The Eloise Worledge Mystery
Fifty years after eight-year-old Eloise Worledge vanished from her bedroom, the case is back in the spotlight with a $1 million reward announced for answers. In this episode, we speak with Eloise’s aunt, Margie Thomas, who has spent decades refusing to let her niece be forgotten. She takes us inside the night Eloise disappeared, the investigation that stalled and the toll of living with unan
Files Unsealed: The Last Woman Executed in Australia
In 1951, Jean Lee was the last woman executed in Australia. 75 years after her execution, the case has been thrust back into the spotlight with the release of never-before-seen court documents. Lee was convicted of murder alongside two men - despite ongoing debate about her true role in the crime. In this episode, Tim & Xanthe unpack the crime, the controversial police investigation and the le
Cold Cases Cracked Open In 2025
As we step into the new year, this episode turns the spotlight to some of the meaningful progress made in major Australian cold cases in 2025. After decades of unanswered questions, several long-standing cases saw significant breakthroughs, new evidence and even arrests. Tim & Xanthe revisit just some of the many cases that were cracked back open last year, offering long-awaited progress for f
Year in Crime: Cases That Defined 2025
In this special end-of-year episode, Xanthe and Tim look back on Australia’s biggest and most unsettling cases of 2025. From the trial that gripped the nation, to some of the lesser publicised but equally disturbing cases, they unpack the investigations that shaped public conversation and debate. Plus, the cases we should keep watching as we head into 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener f
REPLAY: 2025 Fan Favourite - Inside Snowtown with Gordon Drage
Catch up on one of our most-listened episodes in 2025. Forensic investigator Gordon Drage lifted the lid on Australia’s most horrific serial killings - the infamous Snowtown ‘bodies in the barrels' case. 26 years on, he still remembers every detail of the day they made the gruesome discovery in that bank vault. Now retired, Drage is a passionate advocate for mental health support withi
HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Bizarre, Brazen & Baffling Cases of 2025
In this special holiday episode, Tim & Xanthe step away from the dark and disturbing and turn to some of the more unusual crime stories of the year - the bizarre, brazen and baffling! They’re putting each other to the test, in a series of games, to examine the stranger side of human behaviour.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
REPLAY: Xanthe's 2025 Top Episode - The Horrors of Human Trafficking Networks
If you're a new listener or haven't heard this episode, this is Xanthe's 2025 "must listen" episode from February. While many think human trafficking it’s a distant issue, it’s happening closer than we realise - in neighborhoods, cities, and countries around the world, including Australia. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe speak to Matt Friedman - a leading, internationally ren
BONDI TERROR ATTACK: A Forensic Perspective with Dr Nathan Brooks
In the wake of the deadly Bondi terror attack, Tim and Xanthe are joined by Forensic Psychologist Dr Nathan Brooks - a leading expert in ‘lone actor’ violence and mass casualty attacks. Together, they explore what we know so far and why grounding public understanding in verified facts matter. Dr Brooks cuts through speculation and shares his expertise around offenders, methods and warn
Toyah Cordingley & The International Manhunt To Catch Her Killer
A young woman murdered, a suspect who vanished overseas and a seven-year pursuit of justice that spanned continents. This episode revisits the killing of 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley - murdered on a quiet Queensland beach in 2018 - and the extraordinary international effort to track down her killer. Tim & Xanthe are joined by Nine News reporter Lily Greer, who followed the case from Cair
A Poisonous Legacy: One Family, Two Killers
In 1920 Alexander Newland Lee murdered his wife and three of his children. His method? Poison. It would later be uncovered he was the nephew of infamous serial killer Martha Needle - AKA ‘The Richmond Poisoner’.Author Dr Samantha Battams - who has written on both cases - sits down with Tim & Xanthe to share her insight into the disturbing threads linking these two generations of ki
Murderous Medics: When Caretakers Become Killers
Around the world disturbing cases have emerged from behind the walls of hospitals and aged care homes of nurses and healthcare workers using their caregiving role as a cover for murder. This episode explores how these killers manipulate trust, vulnerability and medical authority to hide their crimes in plain sight. Tim and Xanthe delve into the darkest side of professions built on compassion, and
Diagnosis On Trial: Are Innocent Parents Being Jailed?
Have innocent mums and dads been jailed for a crime they never committed? That’s the question at the crux of a major new investigation into Shaken Baby Syndrome. In this episode, investigative journalist and host of the podcast ‘Diagnosing Murder’, Michael Bachelard joins us to dissect the science, flaws and potential miscarriages of justice he’s uncovered. Listen to Diagno
The Toolbox Murders
It was a crime so merciless it shook even the most seasoned detectives and it all started with one photo. In January 2016, Cory Breton and Iuliana Triscaru were lured to a unit in south-east Queensland where they were tortured, locked inside a metal toolbox and dumped into a lagoon. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe unpack the motivations behind the so-called 'Toolbox Murders' and how justice finall
A Perth Serial Killer & The Innocent Men Jailed For His Crimes
It took one determined journalist to uncover the shocking truth behind this Australian serial killer. In the 1960s, Perth was gripped by fear as a string of random murders and attacks left police and the public baffled - until the arrest of Eric Edgar Cooke, a seemingly ordinary family man hiding a violent double life. But even after Cooke’s capture, two innocent men remained behind bars for
Ed Gein: The Making Of A Monster
The world's attention has been gripped by the story of Ed Gein thanks to a confronting and disturbing new Netflix series. When police entered his Wisconsin farmhouse in 1957, they uncovered a scene so grotesque it redefined horror itself. Gein's crimes inspired cinema's darkest characters, from Psycho's Norman Bates to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre's 'Leatherface'. This episode delves into the
'The Giggling Granny' Serial Killer
Nanny Doss looked like a sweet and kind grandmother - but behind her smile hid a serial killer. For nearly three decades, Nannie Doss left a trail of death through small-town America. Among her 11 victims - four husbands and her own children and grandchildren. This episode, Tim and Xanthe take us back in time to unravel the twisted life and crimes of Nannie Doss, whose disturbing confessions earne
Career Criminal & Master Conman: The Extraordinary Life Of Carl Synnerdahl
From child thief to infamous bank robber to master conman, Carl Synnerdahl’s life became a Hollywood script. Carl's story is one of deception, charm and sheer audacity - pulling one of the most brazen ruses Australia has seen, fooling doctors, guards and the courts into thinking he was blind. Tim got to know Carl while working as a psychologist inside Parramatta jail. This episode he s
Manipulated Into Murder: The Woodchipper Killers
It looked like a tragic accident until detectives unravelled the truth of a gruesome plot - a murder by woodchipper. Three arrests were made, but the mastermind behind Bruce Saunders' death wasn’t even there. Sharon Graham had charmed and manipulated the men around her to kill for her. In this episode journalist Tara Cassidy - host of the award-winning podcast ‘Crime in Focu
The Hoddle Street Massacre: Inside The Mind Of Julian Knight
In 1987, Tim Watson-Munro was called in to assess one of Australia’s most notorious mass murderers - Julian Knight. He’d just opened fire in the middle of Melbourne's Hoddle Street, killing seven people and injuring 19 more. In this episode, Tim shares his rare and intimate insight into this case. Plus, the surprising message Knight gave Tim during a prison visit years later.See omnyst
The Highschool Catfish
This episode, Tim and Xanthe dive into the world of 'catfishing' and explore a truly shocking catfish saga in the United States that’s been unravelled in a new Netflix documentary. When a teenage couple were viciously and relentlessly cyberbullied and tormented, suspicion spread through their school and chaos engulfed the small town. The FBI joined the hunt for the catfish, eventually uncove
Mushroom Murders: A Life Sentence for Erin Patterson
A stunning conclusion of one of Australia’s most notorious trials - Erin Patterson has been sentenced to 33 years non-parole. The sentencing itself was brief but packed with impact, leaving many shocked. Joining us are Penelope and Erin, hosts of the 'The Mushroom Trial: Say Grace' podcast, to unpack Justice Beale’s words, the courtroom reactions and what this sentence means for
The Rise of Lone Actors with Dr Nathan Brooks
What drives lone actors to carry out mass casualty attacks? And could understanding them be the key to preventing the next tragedy? This week, Forensic Psychologist Dr Nathan Brooks joins Tim & Xanthe to unpack the research in his new book - ‘Mass Casualty: The Rise of Lone Actors’ - exposing surprising truths behind their motives and methods. From hidden warning signs t
Dezi Freeman: The Porepunkah Police Shootings
On the day this episode is released, the hunt is continuing for self-described sovereign citizen, Dezi Freeman, wanted over the shooting deaths of two police officers in Porepunkah. Tim and Xanthe are joined by one of the country's leading experts on radicalism and extremism - Dr Josh Roose - to unpack the rise of the sovereign citizen movement and the threat it poses in Australia.See omnystudio.c
AI Clones: The Future of ‘Artificial’ Evidence
Just months after a world-first AI clone gave a victim impact statement in court, another victim of crime has been re-created to answer questions from beyond the grave. With the use of artificial intelligence on the rise in our justice system, our courtrooms are entering unchartered territory. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe discuss how criminal and legal experts around the world are adapting to t
The University of Idaho Murders
When four young university students were found brutally stabbed to death in Idaho, with no clear motive and scarce leads, the case became one of the most talked about crimes in America and online. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe unpack the shocking University of Idaho murders, the history and motivations of the killer and the dangerous role social media played as the investigation unfolded.Nearly
Mushroom Trial Update: Erin Patterson’s Police Interview
“Lies, deception and an extreme lack of remorse”. In this special bonus episode, Xanthe and Tim dissect Erin Patterson’s newly released police interview for the ‘The Mushroom Trial: Say Grace’ podcast. They share their expert insights with Nine Reporter Penelope Liersch and The Age Crime & Justice Reporter Erin Pearson. Follow ‘The Mushroom Trial: Say Grace&
Ashlea Hansen: Cracking Open A Cold Case Murder
The 2001 murder case of Rachelle Childs has been cracked back open in the new investigative podcast ‘ Dear Rachelle’. Host and journalist Ashlea Hansen joins Tim and Xanthe on this week’s episode to take us inside her 18-month long investigation. Ashlea reveals the unexpected twists and turns of the podcast, including new leads and heartbreaking revelations. See omnystudio.c
Kerry Tucker: Finding Purpose in Prison
From forging cheques to finding purpose, this week’s guest shares her incredible story of redemption. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe sit down with Kerry Tucker, a woman once jailed for a serious fraud of millions of dollars. Kerry opens up about her time in prison, revealing how her sentence became the turning point of her life. She is now an author and playwright, a leading advocate
Inside Snowtown: The Cop Who Found The Bodies in the Barrels
He’s the cop who lifted the lid on Australia’s most horrific serial killings. In this episode, retired forensic investigator, Gordon Drage, takes us behind the scenes of the infamous Snowtown ‘bodies in the barrels' case. 26 years on, he still remembers every detail of the day they made the gruesome discovery in that bank vault. Now retired, Drage is a passionate advocate for men
Love Behind Bars: Pen Pals to Prison Romance
They say you can't help who you fall for... So is it truly possible to fall head over heels in love with a criminal? From the infamous courtroom "groupies" of serial killers like Ted Bundy and Richard Ramirez, to women who become pen pals with inmates and eventually marry them, this episode of Motive & Method delves into the perplexing phenomenon of "hybristophilia" – or, more simply, lo
Life Undercover with Keith Banks
What if the most dangerous criminal you ever hunted was… you? In this episode, Tim and Xanthe pull back the curtain on the astonishing double life of Keith Banks, an undercover operative who didn't just infiltrate criminal organizations – he became them. From high-stakes drug deals to the shadowy underworlds few ever glimpse, Banks navigated a labyrinth of deception where a single wro
BONUS EPISODE: Mushroom Murder Motive with Gary Jubelin
In this bonus episode, the host of I Catch Killers, Gary Jubelin and Dr. Xanthe Mallett unpack the trial which has kept everyone talking. From the mismatched plates and crocodile tears to the myriad of lies and months of planning, these experts break down every detail of the Erin Patterson case. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
GUILTY: Unpacking The Erin Patterson Verdict
She's been dubbed the 'Mushroom Cook' by many, but now, Erin Patterson is a convicted triple murderer. The 50-year-old has been found guilty by the jury of murdering three relatives, and attempting to murder another, at a family lunch in 2023 where she served beef Wellington which contained death-cap mushrooms. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe unpack the verdict of this case with co-hosts of
Kids Who Kill
Australia’s youngest convicted murderer was just 13 years old. In this chilling episode, Xanthe and Tim delve into the disturbing reality of children who kill, exploring cases of offenders as young as eight years old. The discussion grapples with the complex legal and ethical question of what age a child should be held criminally responsible. And, should young murderers be given a new identi
Cassie Sainsbury: Groomed or Guilty?
Xanthe and Tim unpack the twisted tale of Cassie Sainsbury aka “Cocaine Cassie” and her claims of coercion and grooming by organised crime. Was she a naive pawn, or a willing player in an international drug smuggling ring? This episode challenges our perceptions of guilt, redemption and who deserves a second chance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dr. Nathan Brooks: Inside the Mind of a Stalker
Tim and Xanthe are joined by forensic psychologist Dr. Nathan Brooks to delve into the psychology of stalking - a crime fueled by obsession, control, and dangerous delusion. Together, they break down the distinct types of stalkers and the terrifying tactics they use. From fixation to predation, this episode uncovers how far some will go to possess what they can't have.See omnystudio.com/listener f
Female Serial Killers: From Poisoners to Predators
They’re rare, often overlooked, and shrouded in myth - but female serial killers are as deadly as they are complex. In this episode, Xanthe and Tim unravel the motives and methods of these women who kill, exploring what sets them apart from their male counterparts. From poisoners to predators, their motivations defy the stereotypes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
