One ordinary day almost a decade ago, John Beckenridge abducted his stepson, Mike, from school and vanished. Police investigated for four years, but with no proof of what happened, asked a court to make sense of the crime. That court heard dozens of hours of evidence, and tried to determine how a marriage breakdown became a manhunt and then a mystery. As well as a kidnapping, the story includes cryptic phone messages, a car plunging from an 80-metre cliff and allegations of secret bank accounts, criminal accomplices and illegal border crossings. We'll take you inside the courtroom as two opposing theories are put to the test. Are John and Mike alive or dead? From Stuff Audio, New Zealand’s leader in true crime podcasts, and The Press newspaper, this is the story of a calculating man with a dark past, the 11-year-old boy he controlled and the distraught mother left behind. CREDITS Scripted, hosted and produced by Michael Wright and Shannon Redstall Sound design, audio editing and mixing by John Ropiha Visual design: Aaron Wood Producer: Jen Black Executive producer: Chris Reed Special thanks to Kamala Hayman and Wei Shao from The Press; Laura Heathcote, Elmo Johnstone, and Matt Slaughter Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources, which is why we’re asking you to subscribe to The Lost Boy. Click here to get exclusive ad-free access to the remaining episodes instantly, for the price of a cup of coffee, and in doing so you'll be supporting our gutsy, independent journalism. Warning: The Lost Boy podcast contains strong language, content that may be distressing and references to self-harm and suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, call or text 1737 for free assistance, 24 hours a day.
Michael Wright checks in with some exciting news about the Beckenridge case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Michael Wright, Co-host of The Lost Boy, joins Gemma Bath on True Crime Conversations to discuss The Lost Boy podcast and the disappearance of Mike Zhao-Beckenridge and John Beckenridge. Follow True Crime Conversations on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Mamamia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fiona and her new partner are convinced John and Mike are still alive. A private investigator uncovers new leads, including an international eye-witness, as he makes the case that John went to incredible lengths to fake their deaths and flee the country. Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to produce, which is why we'd love you to support our work by becoming a subscriber! You can subscribe to Stuff Extra directly in Apple Podcasts, or Click Here to listen on other platforms. Warning: The Lost Boy podcast contains strong language, content that may be distressing and references to self-harm and suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, call or text 1737 for free assistance, 24 hours a day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In 1987, a Swedish helicopter pilot meets a Danish nurse in Greenland. They move to Australia and have two children but their relationship deteriorates and the pilot disappears. Who is he, and what does he have to do with the disappearance of John and Mike? Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to produce, which is why we'd love you to support our work by becoming a subscriber! You can subscribe to Stuff Extra directly in Apple Podcasts, or Click Here to listen on other platforms. Warning: The Lost Boy podcast contains strong language, content that may be distressing and references to self-harm and suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, call or text 1737 for free assistance, 24 hours a day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
At the foot of high cliffs on a remote and wind-lashed edge of New Zealand, expert divers discover the wreckage of John Beckenridge's car. Washed-up nearby is Mike's favourite soft toy. Police have little doubt they were in the car when it plunged into the sea. Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to produce, which is why we'd love you to support our work by becoming a subscriber! You can subscribe to Stuff Extra directly in Apple Podcasts, or Click Here to listen on other platforms. Warning: The Lost Boy podcast contains strong language, content that may be distressing and references to self-harm and suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, call or text 1737 for free assistance, 24 hours a day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Police intensify their search as concerns about the wellbeing of John and Mike grow. The discovery of a swiftly abandoned campsite and a string of troubling text messages provide crucial leads. Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to produce, which is why we're asking you to subscribe to Stuff Extra. To support our gutsy independent journalism and access ad-free episodes, you can subscribe to Stuff Extra directly in Apple Podcasts. Just hit “Subscribe” on the show page. You can also Subscribe on Spotify , or Click Here to listen on other platforms. Warning: The Lost Boy podcast contains strong language, content that may be distressing and references to self-harm and suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, call or text 1737 for free assistance, 24 hours a day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On Easter Monday 2021, police were called to the home of a successful professional couple in the affluent Auckland suburb of Remuera. They found the body of Pauline Hanna. In his emergency call, her husband, Philip Polkinghorne, said she killed herself. Sixteen months later he was charged with her murder. As this podcast is released, he's currently on trial at the High Court in Auckland. Stuff's groundbreaking series returns to take you inside the Polkinghorne trial: Hear the witnesses, follow the evidence, wait for the verdict.
Warning: The Lost Boy podcast contains strong language, content that may be distressing and references to self-harm and suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, call or text 1737 for free assistance, 24 hours a day. Separated by a court, John and Mike assign each other code names as they swap secret messages. With Mike's frustrations about his new life growing, John plots his next, shocking move. Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to make, which is why we're asking you to subscribe to The Lost Boy. Click here to get exclusive ad-free access to the remaining episodes instantly, for the price of a cup of coffee, and in doing so you'll be supporting our gutsy, independent journalism.
Warning: The Lost Boy podcast contains strong language, content that may be distressing and references to self-harm and suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, call or text 1737 for free assistance, 24 hours a day. When Fiona Lu leaves her husband - and a relationship that began in war-torn Afghanistan - she has to leave her son too. Her departure prompts a furious note on a calendar and kickstarts a bitter custody dispute. Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to make, which is why we're asking you to subscribe to The Lost Boy. Click here to get exclusive ad-free access to the remaining episodes instantly, for the price of a cup of coffee, and in doing so you'll be supporting our gutsy, independent journalism.
Warning: The Lost Boy podcast contains strong language, content that may be distressing and references to self-harm and suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, call or text 1737 for free assistance, 24 hours a day. One ordinary day almost a decade ago, John Beckenridge abducted his stepson, Mike, from school and vanished. With no proof of what happened, police asked a court to make sense of the crime. That court heard dozens of hours of evidence, and tried to determine how a marriage breakdown became a manhunt and then a mystery. As well as a kidnapping, the story includes cryptic phone messages, a car plunging from an 80-metre cliff and allegations of secret bank accounts, criminal accomplices and illegal border crossings. We'll take you inside the courtroom as two opposing theories are put to the test. Are John and Mike alive or dead? From Stuff Audio, New Zealand's leader in true crime podcasts, and The Press newspaper, this is the story of a calculating man with a dark past, the 11-year-old boy he controlled and the distraught mother left behind. Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to make, which is why we're asking you to subscribe to The Lost Boy. Click here to get exclusive ad-free access to the remaining episodes instantly, for the price of a cup of coffee, and in doing so you'll be supporting our gutsy, independent journalism.
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