Spiral | Tortoise Investigates

Rachel Sylvester travels to Greece to investigate whether genetic science could change the story in the case of Roula Pispirigou – a mother who was convicted of killing her three young children just last year.

Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute for sharing recordings and insights. 

Reporter: Rachel Sylvester

Producer: Gary Marshall

Music supervisor: Karla Patella

Sound design: Rowan Bishop

Podcast artwork: Lola Williams

Executive producer: Basia Cummings

This episode is sponsored by The Life of Chuck. Join us across the UK for a preview screening on Wednesday 13 August, before it hits cinemas nationwide on 20 August. Find the locations and book now at SEEITFIRST.COM and enter the code CHUCK.

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Scientist Carola Vinuesa and her team test their extraordinary genetic discovery in a court of law.

Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute for sharing recordings and insights. 

Reporter: Rachel Sylvester

Producer: Gary Marshall

Music supervisor: Karla Patella

Sound design: Rowan Bishop

Podcast artwork: Lola Williams

Executive producer: Basia Cummings

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Kathleen Folbigg is just trying to survive. She’s a grieving mother, sentenced to life in jail for killing her four infant children. That is, until a small group of people start to question whether she might be the victim of a terrible miscarriage of justice.

Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute for sharing recordings and insights. 

Reporter: Rachel Sylvester

Producer: Gary Marshall

Music supervisor: Karla Patella

Sound design: Rowan Bishop

Podcast artwork: Lola Williams

Executive producer: Basia Cummings

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Journalist Rachel Sylvester investigates the case of 'Australia's worst serial killer'. And discovers, in a story about mothers who have been accused of murdering their own children, there is one man who connects them all: a doctor called Roy Meadow.

Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute for sharing recordings and insights. 

Reporter: Rachel Sylvester

Producer: Gary Marshall

Music supervisor: Karla Patella

Sound design: Rowan Bishop

Podcast artwork: Lola Williams

Executive producer: Basia Cummings

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Introducing...The Lab Detective

Kathleen Folbigg experienced unimaginable loss. All four of her infant children died suddenly, over a 10-year period. Their deaths were unexplained. Until a police detective turned up at her door, and arrested Kathleen on suspicion of murder. 

She was labelled ‘Australia's worst female serial killer’, convicted, and was destined to spend most of the rest of her life in jail. 

Until a different type of detective entered her life. A scientist working in a lab who uncovered the truth behind the deaths. 

This is the story of a shocking miscarriage of justice, but as journalist Rachel Sylvester starts to investigate how this happened, she learns that Kathleen is not alone – other mothers have endured the same fate, and may also be in prison. 

The Lab Detective is a story about the power of science, and the determination of those searching for the truth.

The full series is available to listen now.

Reporters: Rachel Sylvester 

Producer: Gary Marshall

Executive editor: Basia Cummings 

Music supervisor: Karla Patella 

Sound design: Rowan Bishop 

Artwork: Lola Williams 

Fact checking: Ada Barume and Madeline Parr

Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute for sharing recordings and insights.

Watch a short documentary on the genomics team behind Kathleen Folbigg's case filmed at the Crick

To find out more about The Observer:

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Gareth’s whole life has been defined by a relationship he had 35 years ago when, as a 14-year-old schoolboy, he fell in love with an attractive young teacher at his school. He spent most afternoons in her bedroom and thought he was the luckiest boy in the world. But when she walked out of his life everything started to unravel. 

Lucky Boy is a new four-part series in which Chloe Hadjimatheou asks who gets to be a perpetrator and a victim.

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Reported and produced by: Chloe Hadjimatheou and Gary Marshall

Sound design: Hannah Varrall

Podcast artwork: Lola Williams

Executive producer: Basia Cummings

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When Donald Trump declared victory in the US presidential election, he told an adoring crowd that "a star is born". He was referring to Elon Musk.

After months of reporting on the billionaire's use of private investigators, Alexi asks whether the insights he gained from that investigation reveal how Musk will operate in his new political era, and what that means for everything in his orbit.

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Reported and produced by: Alexi Mostrous, Gary Marshall, Matt Russell & Patricia Clarke

Sound design: Bart Warshaw

Original Music: Tom Kinsella

Podcast artwork: Jon Hill 

Executive producer: Basia Cummings

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To his surprise, Alexi finds himself speaking to a local reporter at the Gold Coast Bulletin in Australia. It’s not where he thought the story would take him but it reveals a new case involving Elon and his spies. 

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Reporter: Alexi Mostrous

Producer: Gary Marshall

Original Music & Sound design: Tom Kinsella

Podcast artwork: Jon Hill 

Executive producer: Ceri Thomas

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When Martin Tripp worked at Tesla, he took the advice of his boss Elon Musk - if you discover a problem, tell me about it. But when Martin shares his concerns, his world begins to spiral out of control. 

You can find out more about Tortoise:

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If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected]

Reporter: Alexi Mostrous

Producer: Gary Marshall

Original Music & Sound design: Tom Kinsella

Podcast artwork: Jon Hill 

Executive producer: Ceri Thomas

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In 2018, Vernon Unsworth is at the centre of a global news story. He plays a crucial role in rescuing a young football team who became trapped in a flooded cave system. Overnight, he is a hero. But there’s a darker side of his story that’s less well known. That’s where Elon Musk and his private investigators come in. 

You can find out more about Tortoise:

Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists

Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more

If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected]

Reporter: Alexi Mostrous

Producer: Gary Marshall

Original Music & Sound design: Tom Kinsella

Podcast artwork: Jon Hill 

Executive producer: Ceri Thomas

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.