Real Crime with Adam Shand

In this episode of Real Crime, Adam Shand speaks with former Victoria Police officer and intelligence specialist David Bartlett, the founder of the Safer Places Network—an ambitious new system aiming to transform how CCTV is used in Australia. From the Jill Meagher investigation to missing persons, aggravated burglaries and retail crime, Adam and David break down how one camera can make or break a case—and why it still takes police up to 85 hours to obtain critical footage. David reveals the technological gap between law enforcement and the private sector, the privacy debates that stall progress and the surprising willingness of everyday Australians to voluntarily join a nationwide camera network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, we revisit one of the most violent eras in Victoria’s history through the eyes of former detective and firearms instructor Alex Christich. From the Mad Max manhunt to the Russell Street bombing and the Wall Street police murders, Christich recounts the days when Victoria Police faced armed robbers, escapees and killers who weren’t afraid to shoot it out with the cops. Together, Adam and Alex explore how policing has changed—from the raw, us-versus-them mentality of the 1980s to today’s bureaucratic and politically constrained force—and what’s been lost along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, investigative journalist Adam Shand revisits the extraordinary criminal career of Bertram Douglas “Bertie” Kidd — safe-breaker, armed robber, race fixer and serial corruptor of police who may also have been a killer. After attending Kidd’s funeral, Adam sits down with former New South Wales detective Phil Short, one of the officers who finally brought the notorious underworld figure down. Together, they trace the investigation that ended Kidd’s decades-long run — from corrupt cops and missing witnesses in the 1970s to the chaotic 1997 Brisbane factory robbery that sealed his fate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Adam Shand speaks with retired Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Kos, one of the original investigators behind Operation Afghan — a daring undercover sting targeting Italian organised crime in Griffith during the 1990s. Peter lifts the lid on the truth behind the famous infiltration of the Griffith Mafia. From the early days of the drug squad and the rise of Antonio Romeo to undercover art dealers, fake identities and multimillion-dollar stings that pushed the limits of the law, Peter Kos reveals how the operation unfolded.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Adam Shand speaks with retired detective Ray Lambie, who joined the NSW Armed Robbery Squad at the height of the so-called “golden era.” Lambie shares stories from the front line — high-stakes takedowns, corrupt cops, close calls and the adrenaline rush of chasing Australia’s most dangerous men. Together, they explore how policing changed, why the banks resisted reform and how the myth of the Aussie outlaw continues to shape our view of crime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1969, 20-year-old Lucille Butterworth vanished from a bus stop near Hobart, Tasmania. For decades, her disappearance remained one of Australia’s most haunting cold cases. In this episode, Adam Shand speaks with former detective constable Cary Mark Millhouse, who helped reopen the investigation and uncover the truth buried in old police files and forgotten confessions. Through meticulous detective work, Millhouse and his colleagues linked Lucille’s disappearance to convicted killer Jeffrey Charles Hunt — a man who confessed to the crime multiple times, yet never faced trial. Together, Adam and Cary revisit the evidence, the failures of early police work and the heartbreak of a family still waiting for justice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, we explore the case of Gary Lewer — a former Mr. Australia, world bodybuilding champion and long-time Melbourne identity who now finds himself detained in an immigration facility and facing deportation to a country he hasn’t lived in since childhood. Lewer insists he’s no criminal mastermind but the victim of a vendetta — a web of untested allegations and police dossiers that have never seen the inside of a courtroom. Adam unpacks the evidence, the politics, and the human cost of a system that allows punishment without trial.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, families across New South Wales have waited for answers — hundreds of unsolved murders and disappearances, too many to dismiss as coincidence. In this episode, Adam speaks with Jeremy Buckingham, NSW Member of Parliament, who has pushed through a parliamentary inquiry into the state’s cold cases — and the possible serial killers who may have operated undetected for decades. Buckingham reveals why he believes the system failed victims and their families, the chilling evidence linking Ivan Milat to dozens more murders and why justice has been delayed for so long. From the mystery of Cheryl Grimmer’s abduction to the chilling connections across the Southern Highlands, Newcastle, and the North Coast, this episode exposes the scale of indifference, incompetence and silence that may have hidden the truth for half a century.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this confronting episode of Real Crime, Adam Shand sits down with one of Australia’s most reviled offenders — Peter Vaitos, the man once known as The Silver Gun Rap*st. For the first time in more than 40 years, Vaitos speaks publicly, joined by his daughter Stacey, who has chosen to stand by him in the hope of revealing new information about one of Victoria’s most enduring mysteries — the Frankston–Tynong murders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Adam Shand speaks with Adelaide lawyer Andrew Carpenter, a man described as “the most hated by Australian child sex offenders.” Carpenter has dedicated his career to pursuing justice for survivors of child sexual abuse—specifically, by closing a shocking legal loophole that allows convicted pedophiles to hide their wealth in superannuation, beyond the reach of their victims. Together, Adam and Andrew unpack how this injustice has persisted despite bipartisan promises to fix it, and why successive governments continue to protect offenders’ financial interests over those of their victims. Carpenter shares chilling examples—from corrupt magistrates to corporate predators—illustrating how the system fails survivors while taxpayers foot the bill.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than fifty years after three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer vanished from Fairy Meadow Beach, her brother Ricki is still fighting for justice. In this episode, Adam Shand speaks with Ricki Nash about the heartbreaking failures that have kept Cheryl’s case unsolved — from a detailed 1971 confession ruled inadmissible, to decades of police inaction and bureaucratic stonewalling. Together, they examine the shocking gaps in the original investigation, new witnesses ignored by authorities and the renewed push for a fresh inquest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, we sit down with Steve Van Aperen — Australia’s leading polygraph examiner, widely known as the “Human Lie Detector.” After 15 years in the police force, Steve built a career uncovering deception in homicide investigations, cold cases and even everyday disputes. Adam and Steve explore the power and limits of polygraphs, the rise of new lie-detection technologies and the psychology of interrogation. Along the way, they revisit infamous cases like the Beaumont children disappearance and the chilling murder of Bonnie Clarke, while asking: how much should we really trust lie detection in the pursuit of justice?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, we sit down with former Victoria Police inspector Pat Boyle, one of Australia’s foremost experts on street gangs. Nearly two decades ago, Boyle warned of the rising tide of youth gang culture in Melbourne — a problem many dismissed at the time. Drawing on his frontline experience, international research and a groundbreaking master’s thesis, Boyle reveals how denial, political correctness, and under-resourcing left police ill-equipped to deal with the violent gang landscape we face today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this gripping episode, Adam is joined by forensic archaeologist Dr. Louise Steding to revisit the unsolved 1953 murder of 14-year-old Shirley Collins. Shirley disappeared on her way to a birthday party in Melbourne, only to be found brutally murdered days later at Mount Martha. Despite intensive police work, the case went cold—until Louise’s meticulous research uncovered overlooked evidence and a compelling new suspect. Together, Adam and Louise retrace the crime, challenge unreliable witness accounts and explore how modern forensic science might finally solve this haunting mystery. Read Dr Lousie Steding's Book "Inconceivable Malice: Profiling the Killer of Shirley Cooper" here: Amazon  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a simple arrest spiralled into years of harassment, retired detective Peter Kos found himself battling more than just the lawbreakers — he was battling the legal system itself. In this episode of Real Crime, Peter shares how he became the target of a relentless group of so-called “sovereign citizens” who flooded him with threats, false accusations and legal stunts designed to intimidate and exhaust. From stalking charges to private prosecutions and civil suits, Peter reveals the toll this six-year ordeal took on him, and why he believes the system needs urgent reform to stop these vexatious agitators from weaponising the courts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten years ago, Dan Saunders walked into an ATM and stumbled onto one of the strangest financial loopholes in Australian history. What started as a late-night discovery turned into millions of dollars, wild nights, global headlines and ultimately—prison time. In this conversation, journalist Adam Shand reconnects with Saunders a decade on to uncover the real story behind the myth. Was it fate? Addiction? A love of risk? Together they pull apart the legend of the “ATM glitch” to reveal the truth about gambling, temptation, the justice system and the lasting consequences of chasing excitement at all costs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, Adam speaks with Fleur, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who has spent decades fighting to be heard. Abused by her stepfather and dismissed by police in the 1980s, Fleur is still seeking justice as her elderly abuser lives freely. She shares her story of trauma, resilience, and determination, while Adam asks why authorities continue to delay action. A confronting but essential conversation about truth, survival, and the urgent need for justice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this gripping episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, award-winning journalist John Ferguson of The Australian takes us inside one of the most shocking murder cases in recent Australian history — the Erin Patterson “mushroom lunch” killings. From the first police raid to the courtroom revelations, Ferguson shares how he broke the story that went global, what the jury didn’t hear and the chilling details of Patterson’s lies, motives and downfall. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, renowned forensic pathologist Dr. David Ranson takes us inside the world of crime scenes, cold cases and the science that helps solve them. From the myths of the “perfect murder” to the reality of domestic violence cases, Ranson reveals how forensic pathology uncovers not just causes of death, but the human stories behind them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we sit down with former Special Operations Group officer George Hateley—the man who introduced the taser to Australia. George unpacks decades of frontline experience, from lethal armed robberies to confronting some of Australia’s most dangerous criminals. He addresses the controversy around tasers, the Claire Nowland case and the public misconceptions about non-lethal force. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mother’s worst fear. A predator’s near miss. A miracle.In this harrowing episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, Janet and Alyce Fogarty recount the terrifying day in 1991 when 3-year-old Alyce wandered into the path of one of Australia’s most dangerous child predators, Christopher Crowther. With exclusive insights from crime researcher Eamonn Gunning, this is a chilling tale of luck, trauma, justice denied—and the lingering scars left behind. Listener discretion is advised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 60 years on, the Beaumont children case continues to haunt Australia. In this episode Adam Shand speaks with investigators Bill Hayes and Stuart Mullins, whose relentless search has unearthed disturbing new claims and chilling details about Adelaide businessman Harry Phipps. From grave-sized holes and suspect pound notes to fresh forensic digs and survivor testimony, this is a story of secrets, silence and one family’s desperate fight for justice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Adam Shand speaks with Ken Mutton, the son of Geoffrey Mutton, the mastermind behind one of Australia’s most infamous forgeries—the 1966 $10 note scandal. They explore the family’s struggles, the high-stakes games with corrupt cops, and how this criminal operation led to the creation of Australia’s world-first plastic currency.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, we reconnect with Tom Mackie — a founding member of the Descendants Motorcycle Club, who speaks candidly from inside immigration detention. Tom reflects on the club’s rebellious beginnings, brushes with the law and eventual transformation into a family-centered, motorcycle-racing brotherhood. He discusses the controversial anti-association laws, his High Court battle for civil liberties, and the crushing reality of facing deportation after more than 50 years in Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, Adam sits down with veteran barrister Philip Dunn KC to unpack the verdict in one of Australia's most shocking criminal trials: the mushroom lunch murders. Erin Patterson has been found guilty of killing her former in-laws and attempting to murder a fourth guest using deadly mushrooms. But behind the headlines lies a web of circumstantial evidence, unanswered questions, and courtroom drama. Philip shares expert insights into the trial’s key moments, the risks of calling a defendant to the stand, and the dangerous role of public perception in high-profile cases.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Real Crime, Adam Shand is joined by former detective Tina Kemp to revisit one of Australia's most baffling unsolved murders — the 1998 car bombing of John Furlan. They unpack the cast of shady characters, including a dodgy car dealer with mafia ties, a confessor with a dark past, and a bomb maker who may still be out there. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doug Morgan, one half of the infamous After Dark Bandit duo, reflects on his life of crime, the impact of his father's criminal legacy, and the journey towards redemption. He shares insights into the thrill of armed robbery, the consequences of his actions, and the fractured relationship with his twin brother, Peter. After serving time in prison, Doug has dedicated his life to mentoring at-risk youth, hoping to deter them from making the same mistakes he didSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode features Kellie Carter-Bell  who bravely shares her harrowing journey through domestic abuse, addiction, and the heartbreaking loss of her sisters. Discover the power of resilience as Kelly recounts her transformation from victimhood to becoming a fierce advocate for women facing domestic violence. Tune in for raw, honest conversations that illuminate the realities of survival and the importance of seeking help in a world filled with challenges."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ed Toller scammed nearly $1.8 million from unsuspecting investors—not to fund a lavish life, but to feed a gambling addiction he couldn’t control. In this raw and revealing episode, Ed sits down with Adam Shand to unpack the real cost of compulsive betting, the lies that spiraled out of control, and the prison sentence that changed everything. It’s not just a story about crime—it’s a story about denial, addiction, and redemption in the gambling capital of the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

George Xynas, known as the King of Sunshine, shares his harrowing journey from a troubled youth in Melbourne's gangland to a life of redemption. Xynas recounts his early experiences in a crime-ridden environment, the allure of money and power, and the violent realities of street life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Real Crime, Adam Shand interviews David Cunningham, brother of Anita Cunningham, who went missing in 1972. The conversation delves into the details of Anita's life, the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, and the ongoing quest for answers. David shares insights into the investigation, the role of police, and the importance of closure for families of missing persons. The discussion highlights new leads, witness accounts, and the impact of police performance on the case, as well as the emotional toll of not having closure.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investigative journalist Adam Shand takes listeners into his world of real crime, honed from forty years of covering Australia's biggest law and order stories. These are the firsthand stories of the cops, robbers, and victims who lived them.  Listen to episode 1, Monday, 2nd June. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.