The Poisoned Wife
The Poisoned Wife is a true-crime podcast from The Australian, hosted by Hedley Thomas and Karina Berger. It investigates the unsolved 1986 murder of Rosslyn McQueen, a 30-year-old pregnant mother who was poisoned with strychnine in her home in country Victoria while her toddler was nearby. Her husband Ray told officials she had terminal cancer, but she did not, and suicide seemed unlikely. The series also features retired private investigator Rex Bakes, who worked for the husband's defence team and now seeks justice for Ros. Subscribers to The Australian get early access to episodes and additional resources.
Episodes
Episode 3: Contradictions
Homicide squad detectives rush from Melbourne to Bendigo. They hit the ground running, questioning Donna and Ray within days of one another. Detectives identify contradictions in their accounts, including when Ray denies kissing Donna before Ros's death. Ray suggests that his neighbour Vin, who found Ros's body, might have been the source of the strychnine that killed Ros. Ros's mother plea
Episode 2: False Trail
Documents from the brief of evidence reveal that when police ask Ray McQueen whether he has any idea why his wife died at the kitchen table, he tells them “Yes, she’s had cancer”. Police decide there are no suspicious circumstances, but her general practitioner refuses to provide a death certificate. Almost three months later, toxicology tests show strychnine killed Rosslyn
Episode 1: The Suitcase
A cold case murder by strychnine poisoning of a pregnant mother of one is revived when a suitcase filled with documents is sent to the newsroom by a retired private investigator. Secrets and lies surrounding the death of Rosslyn McQueen in a small rural community four decades ago spill out of the suitcase and trigger a new investigation into this unsolved homicide. And a vulnerable teenager
Introducing The Poisoned Wife
Who killed Rosslyn McQueen? Join Hedley Thomas, Karina Berger and retired private eye Rex Bakes as they mine dark secrets in Victoria’s gold-rush country. The mysterious 1986 death by poisoning of a 30-year-old mum and her unborn baby has become one of Australia’s most intriguing cold cases. Subscribers hear episodes first at Apple Podcasts, thepoisonedwife.com and The Australian
