Motive & Method

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 long-cold cases here in Australia and driving fresh arrests. From infamous killers to unknown offenders, this episode explores how science is reshaping investigations and what secrets might still be waiting to surface. You can watch our full video episodes on Youtube - click here!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 conflicting claims of murder and adoption. You can watch our full video episodes on Youtube - click here!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ‘boiler rooms’ in the Philippines that were stealing millions from Aussie mums and dads.  Part two is out next week - 8th April, 2026. You can watch our full video episodes on Youtube - click here!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, Tim & Xanthe discuss how a story of grief unravelled into a murder motivated by greed.  You can watch our full video episodes on Youtube - click here!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 home invasions and kidnappings to the murder of 13-year-old Karmein Chan. More than thirty years on, the mystery remains: how did one of Australia’s most methodical offenders get away with it - and could Mr Cruel still be out there? You can watch our full video episodes on Youtube - click here!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 untangle, with seven cult members currently behind bars awaiting trial. You can watch our full episodes now on Youtube: click here!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 care, Moore rebuilt her life under a new identity - and was babysitting again.Plus, a chilling new claim from her own brother raises the possibility she got away with another murder. Erin Ramsay joins us to reveal what she uncovered and the alarming failures meant to protect children. You can watch A Current Affair stories here:  on Youtube or 9Now  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 & Xanthe unpack what’s changed, what’s still contested and why this case remains far from settled.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 suspect. It's a case still unfolding with updates released literally as we record this episode, so by the time you're listening, the story may have already changed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 assessment, firearm access and systemic failures. We break down what is known so far - and why this case is resonating far beyond one small community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 dissect what really happened and how baby farming thrived in an era when young women and unmarried mothers had nowhere to turn - and society looked the other way. Find more information on Dr Annie Cossins' books at the links below:The Baby FarmersFemale Criminality: Infanticide, Moral Panics and the Female Body    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 to isolate and contain him. It’s a case that raises countless legal and ethical questions around  how far a society can go in the name of safety… and what that means for human dignity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 unanswered questions. If someone knows the truth, this conversation is a reminder that it’s never too late to come forward. Anyone with information about the disappearance of Eloise Worledge is urged to contact crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 legal twists that sealed her fate. It’s a case that forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about justice, gender and whether the right person paid the ultimate price.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 families who have been waiting years for answers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 for privacy information.

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 within emergency services, sharing his powerful insights on the profound impact such cases have on those who serve.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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 renowned global expert on modern slavery and human trafficking. From forced labor to exploitation and coercion, Matt uncovers the dark reality of modern slavery and what we can do to fight it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 warning signs that can be missed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Cairns to India. Together, they unpack the international manhunt that culminated in Rajwinder Singh’s recent conviction and life sentence, and exactly what it took to finally bring this case to an end.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 killers and the chilling parallels of their crimes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 analyses the disturbing psychology that turns caregivers into killers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Diagnosing Murder hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 finally caught up nearly a decade later.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 his crimes. In this episode, we’re joined by Walkley Award-winning journalist and author Estelle Blackburn, whose relentless investigation exposed the injustice and changed Australian criminal history forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 mind behind the madness and the real monster who changed horror forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 earned herself the chilling nickname ‘The Giggling Granny’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 shares his unique insight into the mind of a man who build his life on lies.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Focus: Killer Charm’ -  takes us inside this twisted case and the love quadrangle that turned deadly.And we ask the question; how does someone manipulate others to murder?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 uncovering the disturbing truth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Patterson’s future.  Follow ‘The Mushroom Trial: Say Grace’ podcast here  Watch Revealed: 'Death Cap Murders' on Stan here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 to chilling case studies, he dissects what really sets these individuals apart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.com/listener for privacy information.

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 these changes. They ask; what is real, what is reliable and what is just?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 three years on, the killer has been sentenced and family and friends are speaking for the first time in a new documentary series ‘One Night In Idaho’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“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’ podcast here Watch the full police interview on 9 News hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.