True Crime Down Under

Today’s episode is two cases in one, both cases are listeners requests, and finally both cases have not exactly been solved. These are the cases of Phoebe Handsjuk and Simone Strobel. Both girls died in horrific circumstances, one declared a suicide and the other an unsolved murder. Our first case is that of Phoebe, who plunged to her death, 12 stories down a garbage chute of an apartment building. Our second case is of Simone, a German backpacker who went missing only to be found in long grass not far from where she was last sighted.               Phoebe Handsjuk                                                                Phoebe and her partner Antony                    Simone Strobel                                                                       Simone and Tobias                           Last scene footage of Simone                                         Crime scene of where Simone's body was found

This is an interesting case, in that two murders differ with two entirely different methods of murder that were eventually tracked down to one perpetrator. In late 1994 the Northern Beaches of NSW was rocked by two grisly murders, but it took months before the two crimes were linked and a year before chargers were laid. This is the case of the horrific murders of Stephen Dempsey and Eddy Bahmad at the hands of Richard Leonard.                      Stephen Dempsey                                                  Eddy Bahmad                      Richard Leonard                                                  Richard Leonard and Denise Shipley                     Search for Stephen's body parts                                          Stephen's boot and sunglasses found   Deep Creek Reserve 

Today’s episode is a request by a listener because she doubts the guilt of the man that was accused and convicted of the murder, and she is just one of many that have the same view. So, we are going to cover the case and delve into the rights and wrongs of the investigation and ask the question of is the real perpetrator behind bars. This is a case of a British tourist who disappeared in a remote area in the Northern Territory of Australia in July, 2001. His body, to this day has never been found. This is the case of 28-year-old Peter Falconio, and the conviction of Bradley Murdoch for his murder.               Peter Falconio and Joanne Lees                                            Peter and Joanne in the Combi Van                Bradley Murdock                                                                  Crime scene                   Peter and Joanne's van                                                        Van found in bush land   Joanne's shirt in which Murdocks DNA was found

Today’s case is another Bonus Episode, where we travel to England. We are going to delve into the life and the actions of a man that should have been and was regarded as someone that had taken the Hippocratic Oath in which they swear to do no harm. Yes, this is about a Medical Doctor, more importantly a GP. This quiet local doctor in the village of Hyde spent years not caring as is expected of doctors, but in killing his patients. Quietly and with great care not to be detected, this Doctor murdered his patients, he was found guilty of 15 murders, but there is much evidence that the number of deaths was much higher. And when I say much higher I mean MUCH higher with 270 deaths, under his care that are deemed suspicious. This is the case of Harold Shipman or as some of the media has named him, Dr Death.   Some of Shipman's victims                     Harold Shipman                                   Shipman leaving court                                                      Shipman family portrait taken January 1997   Shipman's Surgery  

This case is a little different in that it has a big twist to it. And all true crime enthusiasts love a good twist in a case, and today we give you one. The media has named this case the Frankston Serial Killer as the crimes occurred in and around the suburb of Frankston in Melbourne Victoria. And now to the twist, during imprisonment Paul Denyer the perpetrator, began to identify as a transgender woman and began to be known as Paula Denyer. Although she was refused permission by prison authorities to wear makeup, receive sex reassignment surgery or legally change her name. As Paul Denyer he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 30 years for the murders of 3 women aged 17, 18 and 22 who were violently stabbed and slashed to death and another 41-year-old woman was violently assaulted and considered herself lucky to escape with her life.                 Paul Denyer                                                                          Paul Denyer at time of arrest                               Elizabeth Stevens                                                          Debra Ann Fream                              Natalie Russell                                                             Crime Scene Fence  

Today’s episode is of the case of a man that, as evidence shows, may have got away with murder. But not just A murder but of his whole family. He murdered his pregnant wife and their 3 children and tried to stage the murders as a murder suicide by the hands of his wife by attempting to push the car over a cliff. But his plan backfired, and he went on the run and has not been sighted for nearly 49 years.   Crawford Family Victims                      Elmer Crawford at time of murders                                       Crawford aged picture                       Crime Scene - Crawford family home                                 Vehicle used to dispose of family   Car seen hanging off the cliff    

Today’s case is in South Australia, not far from the Victorian Border in the town of Mount Gambier. A loving mother is lured to her death by her own son, tortured and killed by her partner, and her body dumped with the help of another of her son’s. This woman’s life, up to the moment she was killed, was filled with violence, greed and control from her partner, and when she finally said enough was enough she was brutally murdered. This is the tragic case of the murder of Glenys Heyward by her partner Neil Heyward and her son’s Matthew and Thomas.                               Glenys Heyward                                                                                Glenys and Neil Heyward                               Matthew Heyward                                               Thomas Heyward                    Police search for body on farm                                           Forensic search at crime scene                      Wheelie Bin used to transport body                                   Crowbar found in grave next to body

This episode is not the case of a serial killer but the making of one, the beginning of what could have been the story of a female serial killer in Australia. In this case a young woman who for years had dreamed of committing murder and become an infamous serial killer.  She befriends another woman to help bring her dreams to realization. And as always, there is a victim, and in this case an 18-year-old young man who was impressionable and diagnosed with Asperger’s who was lured into the home of a murderer.     Victim: Aaron Sweetman                              Jemma Lilley                                                                      Trudi Lenon                   Lilley and Lenon shopping for murder items                   Lilley's knife collection                  The Killing Room                                                                  Aaron's burial site.  

***BONUS EPISODE*** In this bonus episode we travel to England where we delve into the murder of a mother at the hands of her own son. This is not just a crime of anger, nor of greed, for this young boy planned this murder for a long time after watching a few episodes of the British soap opera, Coronation Street in which there was a story line of a man that murders someone with a hammer, and to cover up the crime they burn down the building in which the murder occurred. For this, the crime is often referred to as the Coronation Street Killer.                                 Daniel Bartlam                                                                Jackie Bartlam                        Crime scene, house on fire                                                         The house the next morning of the murder                        Crime scene: the bed in which the fire was started               Daniel at time of arrest and the hammer used in the murder Simon, Jackie's partner at the time of her death.

In this episode we will question if this case is indeed a true serial killer case. So many twists and turns and yet unanswered questions for the families of victims. For this perpetrator took his own life leaving little clues in to whom his victims where. He went unpunished for at least two of his murders although was the prime suspect for both women’s deaths. If his confession he wrote before his death is truthful, then there is at least one more victim that police are still trying to investigate and find. And if his confession is indeed truthful, then Richard Dorrough joins the infamous listing as one of Australia’s many serial killers.                                      Richard Dorrough                                                    Crime Stoppers map showing when and where Dorrough has been.   Victim 2: Rachael Campbell

In this episode we will discuss the disappearance and presumed murder of Bob Chappell in which he went missing on Australia Day, 26th of January 2006 from his luxury Yacht the Four Winds that was moored in Sandy Bay, Hobart, Tasmania. His partner of 20 years, Susan Neill-Fraser was arrested and convicted of his murder and is at this time serving a 23-year sentence in Risdon Women’s prison in Hobart, Tasmania. Please listen to the end to get the update to this case.                                 Sue and Bob                                                                                           Bob on the Yacht ABC                                                                                                           The Mercury                                     Sue, taken lunch time of Australia Day                                         Sue and family on day after                              The Four Winds                                                                                   The Yacht sinking - police on board Tasmanian Times                            Map of the crime scene                                                                  The Four Winds Dinghy                                                                                Evidence of cut hose                                                                       The red jacket found

Today’s episode is of the murder of Rachelle Yeo who was stalked, beaten and stabbed to death by her ex-lover Paul Mulvihill. This is a case of “If I can’t have you then no one can” where a well-known married sports star has an affair with a young woman whom he met at his work place, and when she ended the affair, he stalked her and then took her life. This is a twist on Domestic Violence where a man that is always in control, and controlling, loses his hold, and a young beautiful woman paid the price with her life.                   Rachelle Yeo ABC                Rachelle Yeo and Paul Mulvihill                                         Paul Mulvihill ABC Mulivihill leaving for murder Mulvihill returning to hotel after murder

This is the case of 19-year-old Kim Barry, who was brutally murdered, decapitated, mutilated and dumped in the bushland at Jamberoo Mountain Lookout, and this case is considered as one of Australia’s most sensational murder cases. The perpetrator of this horrendous crime, Graham Potter, is considered Australia’s most wanted man.  For after serving only 15 years for the brutal murder, and released, Potter is now wanted for major drug charges and conspiracy to murder and has been at large since 2010. Kim Barry Dailymail Graham Potter The apartment crime scene                                               Graham Potter at time of release                                  Graham Potter in 2010 16 years after Kim's murder

***BONUS*** This Bonus Episode is a case that occurred in America and has tweaked my interest for many years and so would like to share with our listeners. On May 5th, 1993 three 8-year-old boys were murdered, hog tied and dumped in a body of water in West Memphis, in an area called Robin Hood Hills. Three teenagers were convicted of their murders, but their convictions had, and continue to divide many of their guilt. Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch and Michael Moore should never be forgotten, but did the legal system honor these three 8-year-old boys?  Was justice served? Victims: Michael Moore, Stevie Branch & Christopher Byers                             Crime Scene where the boys bodies were found                         Overview of crime scene                              Bike recovered from Bayou on Pipe Bridge                                  View of Pipe Bridge Convicted teenagers: Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley & Jason Baldwin Jessie, Damien and Jason after leaving prison                   Stevie Branch's Parents                             Christopher Byers Parents Michael Moore's Parents   ****************

This case, the murder of Anita Cobby, has been described as one of Australia’s worst crimes, what the perpetrators did to a beautiful young woman in the hours before they brutally murdered her is beyond belief. Five young men abducted a young woman as she walked home from a train station, they brutally sexually assaulted and sadistically murdered her and then just dumped her body in a farm’s cow paddock where she was found two days after her murder. This is the 1986 murder of Anita Cobby.                       Anita Cobby                                                      Anita with husband John Cobby   The five perpetrators Garry Murphy, Mick Murdock, John Travers, Michael Murphy and Leslie Murphy                             Garry Murphy showing police the murder site                          Mick Murdock showing police abduction Site   Les and Garry Murphy show police the area in which they burnt their clothes after the murder.

In today’s case we will discuss the 2004 murders of Anna Sharpe and her 20-month-old daughter Gracie, who were killed by Anna’s husband John, by repeatedly firing a spear gun into their heads until they were dead. He also dismembered his wife’s body, with a chain saw, and then disposed of her body and that of his daughter in land fill.  Anna Sharpe, at the time of her murder was 4 months pregnant.           Victims: Anna and Gracie Sharpe                              Anna, John and Gracie         John Sharpe at media release Herald Sun

This case of the Beaumont Children is often called the case that took the innocence of Australia and remains one of Australia’s most infamous cold cases. Jane, 9, Arnna 7 and 4-year-old Grant waved goodbye to their mother on Australia Day 1966 as they journeyed to the local beach and never returned home again. In this episode we discuss the day of their disappearance, the investigation and the suspects of the case. For over 5 decades this mystery has cast a dark shadow over Australia.                    Jane, 9, Arna,7 and Grant4 ABC                    Jim and Nancy Beaumont                                                       Nancy and Jim Searching The News The sketch of the suspect seen with the Children on the day they went missing   The dig for the bodies 2018 Perth Now

In this episode we will tell of the case of the Bega Schoolgirl Murders. On October 6th 1997, two young  schoolgirls were abducted near Bega in New South Wales, sexually assaulted many times until they were brutally murdered and dumped in rural Victoria. The perpetrators were two men, who were at the time of these murders, on bail for a previous brutal sexual attack on a 19-year-old woman. We will also delve into the intense investigation that bought these perpetrators to justice.           Lauren Barry 14-year-old and 16-year-old Lauren                                         Leslie Camilleri                                                                  Lindsay Beckett    

This episode is that of the murder of a family of 3 in a small country town in South Australia. The Rowe Family, Andrew, Rose and their 16 year-old daughter Chantelle were each stabbed up to 50 times by a 20 year-old youth, Jason Downie, in their home in Kapunda in 2010. Was this a case of passion, or obsession?                                         Andrew & Rose Rowe and Daughter Chantelle                                 Christopher Rowe - son and brother Daily Mail                                                                                                   The Advertiser                                      Rowe Family Home                                                                                  Rowe home, crime scene                                                           Jason Downie                                                                                          Downie day after murders at memorial Daily Mail                                                                                                  ABC      

This is our first of many Bonus Episodes that we will be presenting for your listening pleasure. We can’t have Christmas without a Christmas story, and today’s episode is just that! In this case we will tell the ‘festive’ story of The Ortega Family, who on Christmas eve 2008 in Los Angeles California, were having a family gathering of 25 people when they were interrupted by a knock at the door.  One of the party goers was a little 8-year-old girl who opens the front door to Father Christmas carrying a large gift.  But what was behind that gift was what nightmares are made of, in fact what was inside that large gift is also a nightmare waiting to happen. On that night, 9 people died by the hand of a boogie man dressed as Santa.                             Bruce and Sylvia Pardo                                                                   Katrina at 17.  The little girl that answered door and was shot Los Angeles Times           Crime Scene photo's on Christmas Day Crime Scene Christmas Eve    

In this episode we tell the very sad story of a little Australian girl, 10-year-old Zahra Baker, and how a callous woman who was supposed to protect her, murdered her, dismembered her body and scattered the body parts. We will travel from Wagga Wagga in Australia where Zahra was born, to North Carolina in America, where she was murdered. This story is full of lies and deceptions, but in the end, justice was server for little Zahra.  Or was it?                                 10-year-old Zarah Baker Daily Mail                               Eliza Baker - Step Mother                                                Adam Baker - Zahra's father NBC News                                                                            Daily mail             Emily Dietrch - Zahra's biological mother                    The house where Zahra was murdered Daily Advertiser                                                                   The Australian      

This case is a story of lust and greed and ends with a gruesome murder. It is a case of a contract killing that goes wrong. This was an evil plan that was hatched by an equally evil woman. Although this murder is sad in that a good woman and mother of 3 is now dead, it is also a case in which the perpetrators and the planning of the murder seems to be a scene from the movie Dumb and Dumber. This is the case of the murder of Carolyn Matthews, and the convictions of 3 perpetrators, one of which was her own husband Kevin Matthews.                                                             Carolyn Matthews                                                                                                         Carolyn and Kevin Matthews wedding day The News                                                                                                                          The News                                                        Kevin Matthews outside court                                                                                   Michelle Burgess, Kevin in the background The Advertiser                                                                                                                 Herald Sun                                                        Michelle Burgess fronts up to court                                                                         Carolyn's Funeral - Kevin in front as pallbearer  The Advertiser                                                                                                                 The Advertiser                                              

This is the case of the disturbing murder and cover up of 12-year-old Tiahleigh Palmer that occurred in October 2015. Tiahleigh was, at the time of her murder, in foster care with the Thorburn family on their isolated rural property near Brisbane. Instead of being placed. in what to the outside world was a perfect foster family, Tiahleigh was thrust into a house of horrors. She was sexually abused by the family’s teenage son and then murdered by her foster father. This case tells of lies, control and cover up by the family and the loss of an innocent 12-year-old girl.            Tiahleigh Palmer - 12 years-old ABC Tiahleigh's mother - Cindy Palmer ABC              Rick Thornburn at time of arrest                                     Julene Thornburn ABC Trent Thornburn ABC Thornburn Isolated property where the murder occurred Daily Mail The search for Tiahleigh Courier Mail Rick Thornburn, carrying Tiahleigh's Coffin at her funeral The News     .

In this episode we will discuss the 2007 abduction, rape and murder of 15-year-old Adelaide school girl Carly Ryan. Carly was the first victim in Australia to be murdered by an online predator and her mother Sonya, campaigned to change the laws and, after 6 years, in 2017, Carly’s Law was finally passed.  Authorities could now prosecute people lying about their age to minors online. We will also discuss how Sonya also started the Carly Ryan Foundation, which to this day she continues to create awareness and educate children and parents to the dangers using the internet and has started the non-profit charity to promote internet safety. In honor of her daughter, she fights, so that no other child would become a victim to the multiple pedophiles that use the internet to lure young children. Carly Ryan Herald Sun Sonya, Carly's mother The Advertiser Port Elliot - Beach Crime Scene The Advertiser Car Park above the Crime Scene - Port Elliot ABC   ....

This case has been described as the most horrific in Western Australian history and could be described as one of the worst family massacre’s in Australian history. A young mother, Karen, and her three children, Daniel, 16, Amara 7 and Katrina 5, were murdered by an axe welding monster, William Patrick Mitchell on February 21st, 1993. But what is most disturbing, are the horrifying actions of what occurred post mortem that is met with disgust still today.  In fact, many of the details have a court order that they are never to be released to the public because of the horrific actions performed on the bodies, pre and post mortem. We must warn listeners that the content of this podcast is extremely disturbing, and we advise caution to some listeners. Karen McKenzie The News Daniel McKenzie - aged 16 The News Amara and Katrina The News The McKenzie Family The isolated Farm house - crime scene Perth Now William Patrick Mitchell ABC Mitchell with investigator viewing the axe Perth Now  

 In this episode we will discuss the case of the Karlie and Khandalyce Pearce-Stevenson murders, and the arrest and conviction of their killer, Daniel Holdom. The 20-year-old mother and her 2 year old daughter were murdered days apart, and their bodies were discovered 5 years apart, and over 1,000 kms away from each other. Khandalyce was discovered in a suitcase on the side of the road in South Australia and her mother in the Belango State Forest in New South Wales. Karlie and Khandalyce. ABC Daniel Holdom ABC Suitcase and clothing found with Khandalyce's Body CNN.com The quilt, found with Khandalyce's remains and helped to identify her. News.com.au Belango State Forest, where the remains of Karlie were found. News.com.au

This episode is the second half of the case of Allison Baden Clay.  We spoke in the first half of how Allison and Gerard met, and we investigated the messy tangled lies that led to Allison’s murder and how her body was discovered dumped under a bridge 14 kms away from her home. 10 days after her husband Gerard reported her missing. Now we will discuss the investigation of Allison’s murder and the arrest and trial of Gerard. Again, there are twists and turns. Scene of where Allison's body was discovered. Brisbane Times Retrieval of Allison's Body at Kholo Creek Websleuths Scratches on Gerard's face. Brisbane Times Toni McHugh - Gerards Lover News.com.au Allison's Parents - Geoffrey and Priscilla Dickie Courier Mail Gerard's parents - Nigel and Elaine Baden Clay Daily Mail A more recent picture of The Dickie's and Allison's 2 eldest girls, Sarah and Hannah Gladstone Observer

 This is part one of a two-part podcast. In this episode we will explain the background of both victim and perpetrator to try to understand the circumstances that surround this case. What makes, what seems a loving husband and father, murder his loving wife and mother of his 3 children, dump her body and then report her missing. This is the case of the disappearance and murder of Allison Baden Clay and the arrest and conviction of her husband Gerard.   Allison Baydon Clay Courier Mail Gerard Baydon Clay The News Daily Baydon Clay home - back yard Daily Mail      

Katherine Knight became the first Australian woman to be jailed for life without the possibility of parole. She was a violent woman, especially with her partners.  We hear of domestic abuse against women, but this case, the domestic violence is towards her male partners. The case was so violent and disturbing that photos of the crime scene have been locked away and never to be seen by the public.  Even the media did not completely report on the disturbing details of this case.  Knight viciously stabbed to death her partner John Price, then skinned and dismantled his body and cook the body parts in which she planned to feed to his children. It is at this stage that we must warn listeners that the content of this podcast is extremely disturbing.     Katherine Knight Mediamagazine.gr John Price rebelcircus.com   John and Katherine The Advertiser John Price's home where crime occurred Photo: Darren Paterman   Crime Scene - Front hall news.com.au

In this podcast we will discuss one of the oldest unsolved murders in Australia, commonly known only as the Wanda Beach Murders. Were we will talk about the disappearance and murders of 15-year-old girls, Marianne Schmidt and Christine Sharrock.  We will delve into the life and death of Christopher Wilder who is still to this day the prime suspect for the girl’s murder.  He went on to become a serial killer in the USA and was known as the beauty queen killer and, if he were arrested for the murders at Wanda Beach back in 1965, ten other women could have been saved from being brutally murdered, that we know of.  Murdered girls Marianne Schmidt and Christine Sharrock mamia.com.au  Bodies found in the sand dunes at Wanda Beach news.com.au  Christopher Wilder, The Beauty Queen Killer and suspect for the Wanda Beach Murders pinterest.ca     .

 Following on from our last podcast of Filicide, where we talked about parents who kill their children, this podcast will turn around that notion of family homicide and talk about Parricide. Parricide is the act in which children kill one or both parents and/or siblings or other family members. We will delve into the motivation of such murders and will again talk about cases in which parents are killed by their own child. Are these killers psychopaths or is there other reasons for these horrific crimes?   Warning: Some of the content of this podcast listeners may find disturbing. Mathew De Gruchy and insert, family snapshot Mathew Wales King Margaret and Paul King Sef Gonzales, singing at the funeral of his parents and sister.

This podcast is a little different, in which we will discuss about a range of murders by family members that have occurred within Australia.  Filicide, where a parent will kill one of more of their children. We will also compare the differences in which a father may murder and when a mother murders their children. Were they any red flags of concern before the deaths?  How can we, as a society, come together to understand the stresses and help to decrease the numbers of innocent children that are murdered by their parents every year?   Warning: Some of the content of this podcast listeners may find disturbing.   Yazmina and insert of her Farther Ramazan Acar Robert Farquharson and his three children, Jai(10), Tyler(7) and Bailey(2)

Martin John Bryant is an Australian man who is known for murdering 35 people and injuring 23 others in the Port Arthur massacre, one of the world's deadliest shooting sprees in Port Arthur, Tasmania between the 28th and 29th of April 1996.  He is currently serving 35 life sentences plus 1,035 years without parole.  As a response to the spree killing, Australian State and Territory governments place extensive restrictions on all firearms, including handguns, semi-automatic rifles, repeating shotguns and high-capacity rifle magazines. Martin John Bryant Map showing where the cottage was and the Cafe, where most of the murders occurred. Picture shows the Broad Arrow Cafe.

Our first podcast is about the abduction and murder of 10 year old Louise Bell on the 5th of January 1983, taken from her bedroom in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. It took investigators over 30 years to bring the perpetrator to justice.  Louise Bell's body has never been found. Picture of Louise Bell Dieter Pfennig Bedroom Window of Louise's Bedroom at front of house Showing bedroom setup. Louise's bed is on the right.