Motive & Method

The Port Arthur massacre remains the deadliest mass shooting in Australian history - a tragedy that shattered lives and transformed the country’s gun laws.
On a quiet Sunday afternoon in April 1996, 35 people were killed and dozens more wounded when a gunman opened fire at the tourist site and continued on an hours-long deadly rampage. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe discuss how the events of that tragic day played out and the lasting legacy and impact of the massacre. 
They also delve into the life of the shooter, exploring his troubled upbringing, his bizarre relationship with a wealthy heiress, and the complex psychological questions that continue to surround one of Australia’s most infamous killers.

For more information on ‘The Alannah & Madeline Foundation’ mentioned in this episode - click here. 

Watch the full video episode on Youtube at Crime Central Australia HERE.

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On a remote highway Peter Falconio vanished forever - His murder became every outback travellers worst nightmare.
25 years after one of Australia’s most infamous murders, the case is back in the spotlight with the release of never-before-seen police footage and investigation photos. In this episode, Xanthe and Tim retrace the events of that terrifying night and discuss the forensic evidence that secured Bradley John Murdoch’s conviction without a body. Plus, the psychology behind Joanne Lees’ remarkable survival and discuss the enduring mystery of what happened to Peter Falconio’s remains.
Over the decades there has been widespread speculation, and many theories, surrounding what happened to Peter Falconio’s body. Did the truth die with the only man who has the answer?

If you have information, you can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously across Australia by calling 1800 333 000 or submitting a report online via Crime Stoppers Australia. 

Watch the full video episode on Youtube at Crime Central Australia HERE.

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At the second hearing of the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into unsolved missing and murdered cases, Tim and Xanthe examine three more cases that expose troubling similarities in the experiences of families searching for answers.
They discuss the unsolved murder of 16-year-old Lee Ellen Stace, the disappearance of Kylee-Ann Schaffer and the long-running mystery of Bronwyn Winfield, whose case has become one of Australia’s most high-profile missing persons investigations. Through the powerful evidence given by family members in Grafton, they explore recurring concerns about delayed investigations, poor police communication and a lack of resources.
Although the cases are unrelated, the testimony reveals strikingly similar systemic failures that have shaped these investigations for decades. As the inquiry continues, Tim and Xanthe examine what these families hope must change to ensure others are not left waiting generations for answers. 

You can read the full submissions from the family and friends who spoke at the hearings HERE

If you or anyone else you know needs support please reach out for help:
Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or text 0477 13 11 14
Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

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A teenager climbed into his red Datsun and drove off into the rain on Boxing Day 1985. He was never seen again.
Nearly 40 years later, what happened to 18-year-old Andrew Inglis remains a mystery. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe are joined by Andrew’s then-girlfriend, Joanne Greensill, who shares the heartbreak of losing her first love. Although she doesn't believe he met with foul play, his disappearance has haunted her for decades and she believes critical opportunities to find answers were missed. 
After giving evidence to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into unsolved murders and missing persons, Joanne is hoping her story will help change how other missing persons cases are handled.

Anyone with information about Andrew's disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 
1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au

Watch the full video episode on Youtube at Crime Central Australia HERE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 17-year-old disappeared in Thailand after meeting an Australian man. Less than a day later her body was found inside a suitcase abandoned near railway tracks. 
In this episode Tim and Xanthe examine the evidence authorities allege they have against Australian man Simon Peter Carman, and how they say they tracked him through an extensive network of CCTV.
Carman denies intentionally killing the teenager - Thanchanok Donhomla - claiming he acted in self-defence, and could face the death penalty if convicted under Thai law.

You can read the Sydney Morning Herald article about Thanchanok Donhomla and her family, mentioned in this episode HERE

Watch the full video episode on Youtube at Crime Central Australia HERE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could an anonymous truck driver hold the key to solving this 50-year-old cold case?
In this episode Tim & Xanthe sit down with Karen Cox, the sister of Narelle Cox, who vanished in 1977 while hitchhiking from Grafton to Noosa. She was just 21 years old and left a note saying she was visiting a friend for the weekend, but she never arrived and she never came home.
Karen shares the devastating impact of Narelle’s disappearance, the police decisions they believe cost valuable time and the lost leads that have haunted them for nearly 50 years. Plus, why possible links to Ivan Milat, or another convicted killer, continue to raise troubling questions.

Anyone with information about Narelle’s disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers:
1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au

Watch the full video episode on Youtube at Crime Central Australia HERE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No badge, no warrant and no official powers - yet she uncovered vital evidence in the search for missing schoolteacher Marion Barter.
In this episode, we speak with citizen sleuth and social worker Joni Condos, whose relentless research from her own living room uncovered crucial evidence in the mysterious disappearance of Marion Barter. Joni reveals how she traced hidden identities, unearthed forgotten records and pieced together key movements that helped reshape the coronial inquest into one of Australia’s most baffling missing persons cases.
She also shares why she believes collaboration between police and skilled civilian researchers could be the key to solving more cold cases.

Watch the full video episode on Youtube at Crime Central Australia HERE.

Anyone with information about Marion’s disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 
1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au

For more information, follow the links below:
The Lady Vanishes podcast
The Missing Matter podcast
The Green Seat Project

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She secretly changed her name. Hundreds of thousands of dollars disappeared from her bank account. A convicted conman was questioned for days at a coronial inquest, yet nearly three decades later, no one knows what happened to Marion Barter.
In this episode, Tim & Xanthe are joined by Marion’s daughter Sally Leydon. She reveals the extraordinary twists in her mother’s disappearance, the police failures that left the case largely uninvestigated for years and the new leads that continue to emerge. 
Sally also reflects on her appearance before the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into unsolved cases, where she’s fighting for reforms to ensure other families don’t endure the same devastating search for answers.

Watch the full video episode on Youtube at Crime Central Australia HERE.

Anyone with information about Marion’s disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 
1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au

For more information, follow the links below.
The Lady Vanishes podcast
The Missing Matter podcast
The Green Seat Project

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How a notorious criminal became a pop culture legend.
Tim & Xanthe unpack the violent life and complicated mythology of Mark Brandon ‘Chopper’ Read -  the underworld figure immortalised in film, television, and true crime folklore. From prison violence and gangland crime to media fame and the cult success of 'Chopper', we examine how a brutal criminal transformed himself into an Australian icon. But beneath the stories, one-liners and legend lies a darker question: why are societies so fascinated by violent men like Chopper Read?

Watch the full video episode on Youtube at Crime Central Australia HERE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2007, four people vanished from a remote town in Western Australia - leaving behind an abandoned home, a cryptic note and a trail of unanswered questions.
At the centre of the mystery was a self-styled spiritual leader, who had built an online doomsday cult. Over the past 20 years, as desperate family, police and coroners examined theories ranging from suicide pacts to staged disappearances, the truth behind the so-called “Nannup Four” only became more disturbing.
In this episode, ABC journalist Dominique Bayens - behind the investigative podcast ‘Expanse: The Nannup Four’ -  joins Tim and Xanthe to examine this mystery, and discuss the disturbing psychology behind what has become one of Australia’s strangest and most unsettling cult cold cases.

You can listen to the whole series by Dominique Bayens here: “Expanse: The Nannup Four”

Watch our full video episodes on Youtube on the Crime Central Australia channel.
Follow us on Instagram @Motive&Method

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.