Australian Police have used a controversial tactic known as the 'Mr Big' technique to elicit confessions from some of the country's worst killers. Perhaps the most famous being child murderer, Brett Peter Cowan. 

Please visit Danielmorcombe.com.au and learn about the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. 

Daniel’s parents, Denise and Bruce launched the foundation to provide personal child safety education to children and young people to prevent abuse and promote lifelong health and wellbeing. They support educators, parents and carers through the provision of resources and education and also directly support young victim-survivors of crime.

This episode references child sex abuse. If you or someone you know needs assistance, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A long standing theory, but one ballistics supports, at least in the mind of some of those who worked the case, is that Ivan Milat didn't act alone and that there were multiple shooters at several of his crime scenes. 

Host Kathryn Fox sits down with one of Australia's most respected forensic experts, Gerard Dutton to understand why some think there was more than one shooter, and how specific ballistic evidence supports this. 

If you or anyone you know needs help:

• Lifeline (Crisis support and suicide prevention) 13 11 14
• 1800 Respect (National sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line) 1800 737 732
• Men's Referral Service (National counselling, information and referral service for men looking to change their behaviour) 1300 766 491
• Full Stop Australia (National violence and abuse trauma counselling and recovery Service) 1800 385 578

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kris Illingsworth is a former New South Wales detective who later trained with the FBI in behavioral threat assessment. In this episode of Crime Insiders | Detectives, Kris takes Brent Sanders behind the scenes at two of Australia's most notorious crimes...

When a woman is murdered in the remote community of Norfolk Island, everyone on the island becomes a suspect.

And in the sleepy NSW town of Wee Waa, a brutal sexual assault on an elderly woman is solved with the help of criminal profiling.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A knife-wielding attacker, a city in chaos, and a chase imprinted in the minds of Sydneysiders.

On August 13, 2019, Mert Ney unleashed a brutal stabbing rampage through Sydney’s CBD—murdering Michaela Dunn and terrorising onlookers before being taken down by fearless bystanders wielding chairs and a milk crate.

When police searched Ney, what they found raised even more disturbing questions.

Step inside the courtroom as we uncover the shocking details of the judgement of R v Ney.

Got a case you want us to cover? Let us know via Instagram or TikTok. 

This episode references men's violence against women, suicidal ideation, and violent crime. If you or someone you know needs assistance, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group of bikies converged on Sydney airport. Within minutes, one was dead and others injured. It was an incident that set off one of the world's most intense and effective gang operations, and led to a plethora of law changes and high profile convictions. 

Deborah Wallace is a titan of NSW Police. Retiring in 2019 after 36 years in the force, she became known across Australia as 'The Gangbuster', after successful operations in the intense region of Cabramatta, and then the aforementioned Strike Force Raptor. 

The beginning of her career though was much more abstract. She was involved in one of Australia's most horrific cases. The rape and murder of Anita Cobby in 1986.

Understand the impact of that case on Deb, and Australia as a whole as Brent Sanders steps through the career of one of Australia's most decorated police officers. 

If you or anyone you know needs help:

• Lifeline (Crisis support and suicide prevention) 13 11 14
• 1800 Respect (National sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line) 1800 737 732
• Men's Referral Service (National counselling, information and referral service for men looking to change their behaviour) 1300 766 491
• Full Stop Australia (National violence and abuse trauma counselling and recovery Service) 1800 385 578

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DNA has become the gold standard in forensic investigation. As its use is increasing, so is our understanding of its limitations.  

Jae Gerhard is the principal forensic scientist at Independent Forensic Services. Starting out as a forensic scientist at the Australian Federal Police in 2002, Jae is an expert in body fluid detection, bloodstain pattern analysis, and DNA analysis and interpretation. 

In this episode of Crime Insiders Forensics, Kathryn Fox asks Jae to take us through the process of DNA collection. How accurate it is? How is it processed? And how useful is it for evidence? Jae also tells us about Stain 91, a blood stain pattern that played a part in helping to solve one of Australia's most renowned murder investigations - the Lin Family Murders.

If you're interested in DNA and it's role in forensics, check out Secrets We Keep: Should I Spit?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two young girls shot dead in a town of less than 1000 people. With local law enforcement stumped, they turned to the renowned FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit for answers.

Julia Cowley is a retired FBI criminal profiler with a twist - she's a forensic scientist too.

In this episode with Kathryn Fox, hear about Julia's very first assignment with the BAU, where her unique dual skillset provided insight into the motivations and behavioral traits of an offender who could commit such a crime - ultimately resulting in the conviction of the man responsible for 'The Weleetka Murders'.

This episode contains references to violence against women and children, for support, dial 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lindt Cafe siege is one of Australia’s most infamous crimes.  A terrorist took ten customers and eight employees hostage back in December 2014. 

The Sydney siege resulted in a 16-hour standoff, ending when officers from the NSW Police Tactical Operations Unit – or the TOU - stormed the cafe. 

In this episode of Crime Insiders | Detectives, Brent Sanders sits down with Ben Besant, the police officer who led the police operation storming the cafe. 

A warning: this episode contains descriptions of extreme violence and suicidal ideation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Without the internet, police were unable to track offender behaviour, and heavily relied on the testimony of victim-survivors. 

These interviews were crucial, and required care and empathy, as one misstep, and evidence could be lost and a victim survivor left unheard. 

Former detective Andrew Patterson was part of a special task force investigating paedophiles in Perth, and was the one who spoke to hundreds of victim-survivors... One morning, he received information about a sexual predator, and descriptions of an underground chamber with shiny chrome walls. He and his team set about investigating the offender, and finding survivors.

Andrew sat down with host Brent Sanders to explain this case, and others from his impressive career. 

If you or anyone you know needs help:

• Lifeline (Crisis support and suicide prevention) 13 11 14
• 1800 Respect (National sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line) 1800 737 732
• Men's Referral Service (National counselling, information and referral service for men looking to change their behaviour) 1300 766 491
• Full Stop Australia (National violence and abuse trauma counselling and recovery Service) 1800 385 578

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What secrets do documents hide—and how are they uncovered?   From forged wills to counterfeit passports, the world of document examination is a high-stakes game of detection and deception. 

No one knows this better than Justin Watt, a forensic document examiner with the Department of Home Affairs.  

In this episode of Crime Insiders | Forensics, hosted by Kathy Fox, Justin unravels how clues invisible to the naked eye busted a serial bank robber, what your handwriting can and can’t reveal about you, and what it takes to fake a passport. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.