True Crime Conversations

In May 2019, 25-year-old Courtney Herron was murdered after a night out in Melbourne’s CBD. What happened next would ignite national outrage and raise disturbing questions about justice in Australia. In this episode, Courtney’s father, John Herron, speaks about the daughter he loved deeply, her generosity, humour, and instinctive kindness, and the night she crossed paths with the man who killed her. He lays bare the failures he witnessed inside the justice and mental health systems, and explains why, as both a grieving father and a lawyer, he believes Courtney was denied justice. You can read more from John Herron in his writing for Mamamia, including his powerful open letter about Courtney’s death, here. CREDITS Guest: John Herron Host: Gemma Bath Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Jacob Round GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The case of Jodi Arias, the woman who murdered her former lover, Travis Alexander, in 2008, captivated audiences around the world. When the trial began in 2013, media coverage intensified, driven by a disturbing question: what could compel a young, attractive woman to kill so violently? To shoot, stab, and nearly decapitate a man she claimed to have loved? These are just some of the questions journalist Briana Whitney set out to explore in her True Crime Arizona documentary, Obsessed: Unravelling Jodi Arias. Whitney has even been in direct contact with Arias herself, who continues to blog and exchange emails from inside her prison cell. Watch Obsessed: Unravelling Jodi Arias here. CREDITS Guest: Briana Whitney Host: Gemma Bath Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Jacob Round GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two 15-year-olds vanish after heading to a disco in Wollongong. An 18-year-old Belgian backpacker disappears after a night out in Byron Bay. A 20-year-old Navy recruit vanishes from a casino lobby in a matter of minutes. These are just a few of Australia’s missing persons cases you may never have heard of. Each year, more than 56,000 people are reported missing across the country. Most are found. But over 2,500 remain missing long-term, their names and stories slowly fading from public memory. Nicole Morris, Director of the Australian Missing Persons Register and author of Vanished and Missing, refuses to let them be forgotten. Find the Australian Missing Persons Register here. Find Nicole's books here. CREDITS Guest: Nicole Morris Host: Gemma Bath Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Jacob Round GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We’re giving away a Your Reformer Pilates bed (worth $3,400) Subscribe to enter We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who would try to hire a hitman to kill an innocent young girl? In early 2021, Riley ended a relationship with a man she had been in a year-long online relationship with after she alleges he assaulted her. Despite the breakup, he continued to message her relentlessly. Instead of backing down, Scott escalated his feelings of anger, turning to the dark web. He paid $19,000 AUD to hire a hitman to kill her. The reality of the plot became clear when police knocked on the door of Riley’s family home. It was her mother, Jamie Elder, who answered, learning that someone had tried to arrange her daughter’s murder. Jamie is now Riley’s advocate, fighting for justice while the man accused of orchestrating the hit walks free. You can follow Jamie on TikTok and support her advocacy here. CREDITS Guest: Jamie Elder Host: Gemma Bath Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Jacob Round GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 7, 1971, at a remote farmhouse 40 kilometres south of Adelaide, Clifford Bartholomew killed 10 people. His wife, his seven children, his sister-in-law and her 19-month-old son. He shot them all dead. He was sentenced to death, but because of changes to the law, he wasn’t killed. Instead, he was re-sentenced to life in prison and managed to serve just eight years before being released on parole. He changed his name, his identity and created an entirely new family who knew nothing about his previous life or his crimes… until now. THE END BITS Subscribe to Mamamia CREDITS Guests: Craig Cook & Allen Arthur Host: Gemma Bath Producer: Tahli Blackman Audio Producer: Jacob Round GET IN TOUCH Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP. Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a summer evening in January 1983, 10-year-old Louise Bell went missing from her bedroom in Adelaide's Hackham West. It was a case that horrified Australia, as every parent's worst nightmare became reality for the Bell family. How could a young girl tucked up in her bed in a safe, suburban neighbourhood just go missing in the middle of the night? It would take 30 years, and advances in DNA technology, to find out who was responsible for the disappearance of Louise Bell. Supporting audio supplied by ABC South Australia. CREDITS Guest: Candice Prosser Host: Gemma Bath Executive Producer: Gia Moylan Audio Producer: Scott Stronach GET IN TOUCH: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1992, career criminal Peter Gibb met prison guard Heather Parker while serving a 12-year sentence at the Melbourne Remand Centre. Heather claimed she didn’t notice Peter at first, but she quickly became smitten, and their relationship developed from flirtatious to physical. When their affair was exposed, Heather was immediately transferred, with communication between the two forbidden. But they couldn’t be stopped, and with the help of another inmate acting as their middleman, the pair hatched a plan to break Peter out of prison. Their escape sparked one of Australia's largest criminal pursuits and saw Heather and Peter dubbed Australia’s Bonnie and Clyde. THE END BITS Subscribe to Mamamia CREDITS Guest: Megan Norris Host: Claire Murphy Executive Producer: Gia Moylan Assistant Producer: Tahli Blackman Audio Producer: Scott Stronach GET IN TOUCH: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brenden Abbott, known as The Postcard Bandit, is one of Australia’s most notorious bank robbers and prison escapees. He's the guy who developed the “drop-in heist,” hiding in a bank’s ceiling overnight and dropping down as staff opened the vault. Abbott continued a crime spree across Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland, robbing banks and avoiding police. Reports claimed he sent postcards to authorities while on the run, earning his infamous nickname. Today, he remains in Casuarina Prison, having spent more time in solitary confinement than most inmates and serving longer than many murderers. In this episode, we spoke to his son, James, and retired officer, Glen Porter, about whether it’s time for Abbott to finally be released. You can watch the BINGE series, RUN, here and The Postcard Bandit from January 7 only on BINGE. SURVEY Want to win a $1,000 gift card in just 3 minutes? Fill out this short survey to help True Crime Conversations gather more information on what content you want to hear from us! CREDITS Guests: James Abbott and Glen Porter Host: Claire Murphy Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Jacob Round GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On New Year’s Day 1993, Perth woman Michelle Steck, 24, packed her bags and left her abusive four-year relationship with her violent partner’s words ringing in her ears. “You’re going to pay for your actions for a very long time,” spat Kevin East, 34. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For nearly half a century, Australia was engaged in a shameful and shocking practice that would tear babies from the arms of their mothers, sometimes before they ever even laid eyes on their precious little faces. Today, Amelia Oberhart shares with us the journey of her discoveries about her mother’s life before she was born in her podcast, Secrets We Keep, Shame, Lies and Family…and in the process of unveiling her own story, found the buried stories of women whose numbers will shock you. THE END BITS Subscribe to Mamamia CREDITS Guest: Amelia Oberhardt You can listen to her podcast Secrets We Keep here. Host: Claire Murphy Executive Producer: Gia Moylan Audio Producer: Scott Stronach GET IN TOUCH: Check out our TikTok here. Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Killick is one of Australia's most infamous criminals. Why? Because in 1999, he escaped from Sydney’s Silverwater Correctional Complex on a helicopter. Killick was on remand for armed robbery, and his girlfriend at the time, Lucy Dudko, hijacked a helicopter, landed it in the prison, and flew him out. In this episode, we speak with John Killick himself about his life of crimes, his days of reform now and that fateful day when he was broken out of prison on a helicopter. You can read The Last Escape by John Killick, here and Mark Dapin's book, Prison Break, here. CREDITS Guest: John Killick & Mark Dapin Host: Claire Murphy Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Jacob Round GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On March 17, 2015, 17-year-old Masa Vukotic left her Doncaster home for an evening walk through her local park, a routine she had followed countless times. That night, her boyfriend, Timothy Draper, did not receive a goodnight text from Masa. By morning, police were at his door with devastating news: Masa had been brutally stabbed 49 times in Koonung Creek Linear Reserve, her screams having been heard by neighbours who called emergency services. The man responsible, Sean Price—a previous offender out on bail—would go on to continue a spree of violence before eventually surrendering to police. You can listen to Michael's podcast with The Age, Diagnosing Murder, here. SURVEY Want to win a $1,000 gift card in just 3 minutes? Fill out this short survey to help True Crime Conversations gather more information on what content you want to hear from us! CREDITS Guest: Michael Bachelard Host: Claire Murphy Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Tina Matolov GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Iron Mike” Malloy survived not one, not two, but more than nine attempts on his life before he finally met his end. Malloy became the target of a group of acquaintances later dubbed the “Murder Trust,” who conspired to kill him for insurance money. What followed remains one of the most astonishing strings of failed murder attempts in history. The conspirators served him cocktails laced with poison, swapped in antifreeze, turpentine, and even rat poison—none of which seemed to affect him at all. When that failed, they tried abandoning him in a snowbank to freeze, and later even staged a taxi hit-and-run. Each time, Malloy recovered, defying their plans and cementing his status as a near-mythic figure in true-crime lore. Writer Riley Knight has chronicled the story of Mike Malloy along with some of history’s other strangest deaths. Some true crime, others simply unbelievable. You can read his book, History's Strangest Deaths, here and listen to his podcast, Half-Arsed History, here. SURVEY Want to win a $1,000 gift card in just 3 minutes? Fill out this short survey to help True Crime Conversations gather more information on what content you want to hear from us! CREDITS Guest: Riley Knight Host: Claire Murphy Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Tina Matalov GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 15, 1976, a school bus carrying 26 children and their beloved driver, Ed Ray, left Chowchilla, California, after a hot day at summer school and never made it home. Blocked by a mysterious white van, the bus was hijacked by armed, masked men and driven into a hidden slough, where the victims were transferred into dark, soundproofed vans. Over the next 16 hours, they would endure an ordeal that left lasting scars: being buried alive. In this episode, we speak to Fox News Senior Correspondent Claudia Cowan, host of Nightmare in Chowchilla, to unpack the chilling ransom plot and its surprising perpetrators. You can listen to the podcast Nightmare in Chowchilla: The School Bus Kidnapping here. SURVEY Want to win a $1,000 gift card in just 3 minutes? Fill out this short survey to help True Crime Conversations gather more information on what content you want to hear from us! CREDITS Guest: Claudia Cowan Host: Claire Murphy Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Tina Matalov GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If two teenage girls went missing today, would police just assume they’d run away from home? That assumption is why two Australian teenagers, Elaine Johnson and Kerry Anne Joel, have never been found. Elaine was 16, Kerry was 17, living a carefree 80s life in The Shire, south of Sydney. The girls were seen hitchhiking on the Princes Highway, but by the weekend, they were gone. No calls. No sightings. Years later, the families uncovered police oversights, lost documents, and a cold case that never should’ve gone cold. Journalist and podcast host Kate Kachor is retracing Elaine’s final days, hoping someone out there finally comes forward. You can listen to Kate's podcast Out from the Cold: Searching for Elaine, here. SURVEY Want to win a $1,000 gift card in just 3 minutes? Fill out this short survey to help True Crime Conversations gather more information on what content you want to hear from us! CREDITS Guest: Kate Kachor Host: Claire Murphy Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Tina Matalov GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sixteen-year-old Timothy “Jack” McCoy spent Christmas 1971 with his relatives in Michigan, leaving on January 2, 1972, to return home to Nebraska. After arriving in Chicago for a bus connection, he met a man who offered him food and a tour of the city. Timothy accepted, but he would never be seen alive again. Fourteen years later, his family learned he had been the first known victim of John Wayne Gacy, the infamous “Killer Clown.” Through the accounts of survivors and families, The Devil in Disguise series uncovers Gacy’s horrifying legacy and the failures that allowed his killing spree to continue for years. You can watch Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy here. SURVEY Want to win a $1,000 gift card in just 3 minutes? Fill out this short survey to help True Crime Conversations gather more information on what content you want to hear from us! CREDITS Guest: Patrick Macmanus Host: Claire Murphy Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Tina Matalov GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the morning of August 3rd, 1998, Melbourne businessman John Furlan followed his usual routine: coffee, newspaper, and off to work at his Coburg auto salvage yard. But at 8:45 AM, his white Subaru Liberty exploded on Lorenson Street, a blast so powerful it was felt five kilometres away. Windows shattered, cars burned, yet Furlan was the only fatality. Police soon confirmed it wasn’t a gas explosion... it was a car bomb. But who planted it, and why? Crime journalist Adam Shand speaks about the unsolved car bombing of John Furlan, its links to Melbourne’s underworld, and whether his death foreshadowed the Gangland Wars that gripped Victoria for years to come. You can watch The Hunters here and find Adam's podcast, Real Crime, here. SURVEY Want to win a $1,000 gift card in just 3 minutes? Fill out this short survey to help True Crime Conversations gather more information on what content you want to hear from us! CREDITS Guest: Adam Shand Host: Claire Murphy Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Jacob Round GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was once called "Australia’s worst female serial killer." Kathleen Folbigg spent 20 years imprisoned for the deaths of her four children, convicted by a flawed system. In 2023, science proved she was innocent, leading to an immediate pardon and release. In this deeply personal interview, Kathleen speaks about the trauma of her long ordeal and the bittersweet reality of her freedom. She reveals what it was like to be suddenly released, the pain of seeing her private diaries weaponised, and the enduring grief of belonging to the "unfortunate club of the childless mum." This is a powerful, raw conversation about survival and the lifelong consequences of a devastating miscarriage of justice. You can find out more about Kathleen and Tracy Chapman's book, Inside Out, here. CREDITS Guest: Kathleen Folbigg Host: Claire Murphy Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Jacob Round GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 8, 1960, Psycho shocked cinema audiences with a level of psychological horror never seen before. But Psycho wasn’t pure fiction. It was inspired by the gruesome true story of Ed Gein, the real-life Butcher of Plainfield. When police raided Gein’s Wisconsin farmhouse in 1957, they uncovered a macabre scene: human remains crafted into lampshades, furniture, and clothing. These discoveries stunned the nation and sparked a media frenzy that would influence generations of horror storytelling. In this episode of True Crime Conversations, host Claire Murphy speaks with acclaimed true crime author Harold Schechter, whose book remains the definitive account of Ed Gein’s crimes. Following the Netflix release of Monsters: The Ed Gein Story from Ryan Murphy, Schechter reflects on how Gein’s legacy has been interpreted, and sometimes distorted, by Hollywood. You can find out more about Harold's book Deviant: The Shocking True Story of Ed Gein, The Original Psycho here. CREDITS Guest: Harold Schechter Host: Claire Murphy Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Engineer: Carl Step/Abe’s Audio GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On January 15, 1974, 15-year-old Charlie Otero and his siblings came home in Wichita, Kansas, to find their family murdered — the first known victims of the BTK killer: Bind, Torture, Kill. Dennis Rader, a father, church leader, and city worker, hid in plain sight while terrorising a community for decades. After years of taunting the police, he was finally caught in 2005. His daughter, Kerri Rawson, later shared her story. In the new Netflix documentary My Father the BTK Killer, director Skye Borgman explores Kerri’s journey. She also directed Unknown Number, about Kendra Licari — the mother who anonymously harassed her own daughter online for nearly a year. Skye joins us to talk about both disturbing true crime stories. Watch My Father, the BTK Killer here and Unknown Number: The High School Catfish here. CREDITS Guest: Skye Borgman Host: Claire Murphy Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Producer: Jacob Round GET IN TOUCH Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.