The case of Leongatha's Erin Patterson, who was recently convicted of murdering three relatives with a deadly mushroom meal, captured headlines around the world. But did you know an even more prodigious killer lived in the same small Victorian farming community in the 1930s?

Join Leongatha journalist Matt Dunn and special guests, including author Katherine Kovacic and former Victoria Police detective Narelle Fraser, as they unearth the chilling story of serial killer Arnold Sodeman on 'Sodeman: The Schoolgirl Strangler'.

In this episode, we delve into the unsettling murder of 12-year-old Ethel Belshaw, whose carefree New Year's Day at the Inverloch beach carnival in 1935 became her last. The spotlight for her murder quickly fell on 18-year-old Gordon Knights, one of Ethel's travelling companion. Early missaprehensions by police, made him an easy target for suspicion.

With fear gripping the coastal town and authorities under pressure, Knights was thrust into the role of accused, as whispers of the hangman's rope stirred the air. Again, the police case was flimsy and the real killer evaded capture.

Remarkably, he would even give testimony against the unfortunate Knights. Explore the overlooked details, the investigative missteps, and the terrifying escalation of Sodeman's crimes. How did one of Victoria's worst killers evade justice for so long? Tune in as we piece together the dark legacy of a murderer who walked unnoticed among the community—until the truth finally caught up.

For more information go to arnsodpod.com