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 <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/the-lost-boy/id1746641389?ign-itscg=80085&ign-itsct=pod_shw_stuff409_thelostboy620">Apple Podcasts</a>, or <a href="https://listen.stuff.co.nz/subscribe">Click Here</a> 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 <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

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

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 <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/the-lost-boy/id1746641389?ign-itscg=80085&amp;ign-itsct=pod_shw_stuff409_thelostboy620" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Podcasts</a>, or <a href="https://listen.stuff.co.nz/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click Here</a> 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 <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Episode four - The case for being dead

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.
Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to produce, which is why we’re asking you to subscribe to The Lost Boy. Subscribe to Stuff Extra on Apple podcasts, or  by Clicking here. You'll get exclusive ad-free access to the remaining episodes instantly, for about the price of a cup of coffee, and in doing so you'll be supporting our gutsy, independent journalism.﻿
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
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.

Society & Culture

Documentary

True Crime

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. Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to produce, which is why we’re asking you to subscribe to The Lost Boy. Subscribe to Stuff Extra on Apple podcasts, or by Clicking here. You'll get exclusive ad-free access to the remaining episodes instantly, for about the price of a cup of coffee, and in doing so you'll be supporting our gutsy, independent journalism.﻿ 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 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.
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.
Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to produce, which is why we’re asking you to subscribe to The Lost Boy. Subscribe to Stuff Extra on Apple podcasts, or  by Clicking here. You'll get exclusive ad-free access to the remaining episodes instantly, for about the price of a cup of coffee, and in doing so you'll be supporting our gutsy, independent journalism.﻿
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
Warning: The Lost Boy&nbsp;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.

Share Episode four - The case for being dead

Sign up to save your podcasts

Episode four - The case for being dead

Episode four - The case for being dead

More shows like The Lost Boy

Australian True Crime

SUPERFAD

Heavy Metal

Unravel

The District

True Crime Conversations

Out of My Mind

A Moment In Crime

One Hot Minute

First Rung: Reno 101

Once a Panther

GUILT

Tell Me About It: Women. Talk.

The Commune

The Podium

Simon Bridges: Generally Famous

True Story

Jo vs Cancer

The Trial

The Human Race

The Good Sex Project

Our Little Edey – The Eden Westbrook Story

DELVE

Tova

The Missing Campers Trial

Big Stuff Quiz

Bronwyn

My Sister The Murderer

The Truth About Amy

Witness: William Tyrrell

Just Married: The Anthea Bradshaw Mystery

Missing Niamh

Paddy Gower’s TFN - The F#$%ing News

Catching Lisa's Killer