Australian True Crime

The Wettenhall Family murders rocked the small community of Barrabool in Victoria. The revelations that came to light in the aftermath however, reflected the sad state of affairs for so many living in regional Australia. Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content. Show notes for Episode 123: Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily Webb With thanks to Neal Drinnan and Bob Perry. Like us on Facebook ​ Follow us on Instagram or Twitter Support us on Patreon Purchase The Devil’s Grip in our Bookshop Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Spotify If you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Thank you for listening!

From Far North Queensland's Cape York comes the terrifying story of the Strubers of Palmerville Station who terrorised gold prospectors for years until they eventually turned to bloody murder. No, this story isn't from the 19th century, this is the story of the murder of Bruce Schuler in 2012.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 122:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Robert Reid.Like us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonPurchase Murder on the River of Gold in our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

Dr Karen Owen designed the treatment program for sex offenders used by Corrections Victoria. She helps us understand what’s in store for Cardinal George Pell now that he’s leaving the Melbourne Assessment Prison and heading for more long term accommodation.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 121:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Dr Karen Owen, Forensic and Clinical Psychologist and international expert on sex offenders.Like us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

Bradley John Murdoch isn't a good man, but did he murder Peter Falconio? That's the question posed by inimitable True Crime author Robin Bowles in her book DEAD CENTRE and she joins us to explain her exhaustive investigations. Most shocking of all, is the lack of evidence of any crime having been committed. Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content. Show notes for Episode 120: Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily Webb With thanks to Robin Bowles. More about xx. Like us on Facebook ​ Follow us on Instagram or Twitter Support us on Patreon Visit our Bookshop Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Spotify If you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Thank you for listening!

Karen MacKenzie and her three children were murdered in their Western Australian home in 1993. For her sister Evalyn, the nightmare never ends. She joins us to explain the many ways in which it’s impacted on her life and continues to do so, every day.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 119:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Evalyn Clow.Like us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyFor help: Lifeline 13 11 14If you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

The pain of living with loss and injustice. An extraordinarily intimate kitchen table conversation between the family of Bree Jones who died of a drug overdose at the age of 16, at a party in 1995. No one has ever been held responsible for her death despite the best efforts of her family, investigators and the NSW Coroner. Her sister and parents recorded their own episode of Australian True Crime.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 117:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Summa, Maree and Wayne Jones Visit the Bree Jones Memorial Page.Like us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

Bob and June Meredith were living a simple but idyllic life with their teenage children in Albury in 1996, until a chance encounter with a stranger tore it apart. They join us to tell us about the murder of their daughter Kim. Later in the episode, former homicide detective and lead investigator Belinda Neil joins us to talk about how Kim’s murder investigation changed her life.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 116:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Bob Meredith, June Meredith and Belinda Neil.Like us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonPurchase Under Siege in our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

One man’s mysterious disappearance has become a decade-long tragedy for two Tasmanian women, from different sides of the tracks. Author Robin Bowles has developed a close friendship with one of the women and joins us to talk about her new book on the case.Show notes for Episode 115:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Robin BowelsRobin's book "Death on the Derwent" is available in our bookshop https://australiantruecrimepodcast.com/bookshop/Like us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

It's easy to forget it takes a lot of courage to write stories about bad guys week after week. Andrew Rule has irritated some of the baddest in the business and every so often it gets a little bit scary. Andrew joined Meshel and Emily live on stage recently at Melbourne's Chapel off Chapel to talk about a case involving many twists and turns, and one of the scariest times in his reporting career.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 114:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Andrew RuleAndrew is a senior writer at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/andrew-ruleAndrew's podcast is https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/sunday-herald-sun-podcast-series-life-and-crimes-with-andrew-rule/news-story/c9212d37357eae04fa655646870f7067This episode was recorded live at https://chapeloffchapel.com.au/Like us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Margaret Harrod and her twin brother Michael both dedicated their lives to God, she as a nun and he as a priest. Their family was the envy of their Catholic community, but there were many secrets inside their home and eventually Margaret found the courage and the faith to call every one of them out. It continues to be a traumatic journey. Margaret's book, co written with journalist Sue Smethurst is called "Blood on the Rosary". Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content. Show notes for Episode 113: Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily Webb With thanks to Margaret Harrod Like us on Facebook ​ Follow us on Instagram or Twitter Support us on Patreon Purchase Blood on the Rosary in our Bookshop Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Spotify If you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

In 1981, a psychopathic New Zealand teenager came very close to assassinating Queen Elizabeth. Embarrassed police not only covered it up but sent him away to Australia, a free man. Why haven't we seen that on the Crown? Former high-ranking New Zealand Detective, now Gold Coast retiree Tom Lewis tried to tell the world and was driven out of his homeland. He and his granddaughter Maria join us to tell the incredible story that's now the subject of a major corruption investigation in New Zealand.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 112:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Tom and Maria LewisLike us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonTom Lewis' book Cover Ups and Cop Outs is not currently available.Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Belinda Neil was settling in on her first day in the homicide squad when she took a phone call that would change the course of her career. An unassuming suburban mother and two of her three teenage children had been brutally murdered. Later that day Belinda and her colleagues would attend the most traumatising crime scene of their careers. One of her colleagues left the police force that day, never to return. This is the case of the De Gruchy family murders. Former Detective Belinda Neil talks us through the investigation.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 111:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Belinda NeilBelinda is on the board of http://fearless.org.au/Like us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonPurchase Under Siege in our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

From humble beginnings in suburban Melbourne to reincarnation as Jesus Christ, a cohort of devoted, well-heeled followers and an enviable real estate portfolio, Anne Hamilton Byrne who died in a nursing home last week really was the quintessential 20th Century cult leader. The only thing more shocking than the abuse she inflicted on dozens of children in her care throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, is how various Governmental authorities approved of her guardianship over them in the first place.This interview with journalist Chris Johnston, who created the book and documentary THE FAMILY with Rosie Jones.   The companion interview with former detective Lex De Man, whom you'll hear a lot about in this interview, was recorded the day after Anne's death. Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content. Show notes for Episode 110: Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily Webb With thanks to Chris Johnston author of THE FAMILY Like us on Facebook ​ Follow us on Instagram or Twitter Support us on Patreon Visit our Bookshop Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Spotify If you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Thank you for listening!

When former Detective Lex De Man received a text reading simply, "The Witch is Dead!" he knew exactly what it meant. Since attending a school fire in the small Victorian town of Monbulk in 1987, Lex's life has been consumed with trying to bring about some justice for the people whose childhood's were stolen by Anne.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 109:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Lex De ManListen to previous episode on ‘The Family’, Episode 41 with Chris Johnston https://australiantruecrimepodcast.com/notorious-cult-the-family-with-chris-johnston/Like us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

Homicide Detective Charlie Bezzina received a phone call about a man who'd been punched outside a popular St Kilda pub during an altercation with a bouncer. The man was clinging to life, but the prognosis wasn't good. The caller said there was one more detail Charlie needed to know, the victim was International Cricket legend and television commentator David Hookes.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 108:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Charlie BezzinaLike us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

Charlie Bezzina was lead investigator on the Frankston Serial Killer Case in which Carmel and Brian's daughter Natalie was the final victim. In this episode Charlie talks us through the investigation.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 107:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Charlie BezzinaTo support Carmel and Brian please donate to: https://www.gofundme.com/keeptherussellsinfrankstonLike us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonPurchase The Frankston Murders 25 Years On in our Bookshop Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

The Frankston Serial Killer took their 17-year-old daughter Natalie in 1993, and Carmel and Brian have lived through many more challenges since then. Now they're looking at eviction from their home of 30 years and they're very reluctantly asking for help.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 106:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Carmel and Brian RussellTo support Carmel and Brian please donate to: https://www.gofundme.com/keeptherussellsinfrankstonLike us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonPurchase The Frankston Murders 25 Years On in our Bookshop Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

Emily is joined by Sandra Charlton, the cousin of Vicki Arnold. Vicki was the woman accused of murdering her best friend Julie-Anne Leahey before killing herself in this week's episode of Australian True Crime. Sandra tells us what it's like to be thrust into the spotlight of a homicide investigation, and to have to clear a beloved relative's name.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 105:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Sandra CharltonLike us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

BFFs to the end, Vicki and Julie-Anne died together on a lonely track in Far North QLD in 1991. The police quickly ruled it a murder suicide but the families, the community, the Australian public and relentless local journalist Robert Reid refused to give up on the many inconsistencies in the case, and the brutal death scene. Reid joins us to guide us through the many twists and turns of Vicki and Julie-Anne's case.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 104:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Robert ReidLike us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

Jack Charles, known respectfully and affectionately as Uncle Jack Charles is a survivor who has much to tell about life, starting from the impact of being one of the Stolen Generation; Indigenous children forcibly removed from their families as a result of various government policies. Uncle Jack's life has traversed orphanages, prison, addiction, recovery, art, theatre, activism, advocacy… he is a survivor. We speak with Jack about his incredible life and he delves into deep issues of society, all the while maintaining his indisputable charm. Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 103:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Uncle Jack CharlesMore about Bastardy the documentaryLike us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

The “Milat family insider” quoted extensively in Australian media this week is actually our friend Amanda Howard, from the "Monsters Who Murder" podcast. She gives us an update and an insight into her work, as well as a prediction as to whether we can expect a death bed confession.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 102:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Amanda HowardLike us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

How did the remains of toddler Khandalyce Pearce-Stevenson end up in a suitcase by the side of a highway in South Australia? How did her mother Karlie’s remains end up over a thousand kilometres away in the notorious Belanglo State Forest. How did detectives solve this heinous crime and reunite them seven years after their brutal deaths? Journalist Ava Benny-Morrison joins us to talk about her book The Lost Girls which fills in the terrible details. Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content. Show notes for Episode 101: Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily Webb With thanks to Ava Benny-Morrison author of The Lost Girls Like us on Facebook ​or visit our Facebook page for more information about this week's livestream Follow us on Instagram or Twitter Support us on Patreon Purchase The Lost Girls in our Bookshop Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Spotify If you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Thank you for listening!