On June 17th, 1985, William “Billy” Steffen vanished from North Hobart, Tasmania, leaving behind two young children, a tent burned on the beach, and decades of unanswered questions. Forty years on, his daughter Susie shares her memories, grief, and determination to uncover what really happened to her dad. From lost police records to missed DNA matches, this episode exposes the deep cracks in Australia’s missing persons system and the enduring love of a family who refuse to forget.

If you know someone who is dealing with a missing person, and would like to share your story, contact Sally at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sally Leydon sits down with families still searching for their loved ones, stories that have faded from headlines but never from their hearts. In this episode, Sally speaks with Amelia Grozdanovski, whose mother, Lorrin Jane Whitehead vanished from Bannockburn, Victoria, in 2013. Together they revisit that day, the unanswered questions, and the emotional toll of living without answers. It’s a raw and compassionate look at Australia’s missing, the families who keep searching, and the fight to be heard.

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In March 2015, Ray and Jennie Kehlet vanished on a prospecting trip in remote WA. Days later, Ray’s body was found at the bottom of a mine shaft. Jennie has never been found.

A coronial inquest ruled Ray was murdered, but no one has been charged. The only survivor has changed his story multiple times. This podcast unravels nine years of evidence, missed opportunities, and unanswered questions in the search for justice for Ray and Jennie.

If you know someone who is dealing with a missing person, and would like to share your story, contact Sally at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

# The Vanishing of James "Crackers" Hunter

In the vast landscapes of rural New South Wales, a man known for his charismatic presence and unpredictable nature simply disappeared. James "Crackers" Hunter was last seen at a Dubbo pharmacy on February 28, 2020 - over 2,000 days ago. His blue Toyota Hilux was found abandoned on a rural property two years later, but James himself has vanished without a trace. For his former partner Marie Farrell, the years since have been consumed by an unrelenting search for answers.

The podcast takes us deep into the complex reality of ambiguous loss - the torment of not knowing whether someone is alive or dead. Marie shares intimate details about James's transient lifestyle, his ability to connect with people from all walks of life, and the deep bond they maintained even after their relationship ended. As she navigates the frustrating landscape of police investigations, media misrepresentations, and personal grief, Marie reveals the devastating impact of living in limbo.

## Timestamps and Key Takeaways:
- 05:30 - James's last known whereabouts and the timeline of his disappearance
- 14:20 - The discovery of James's vehicle and questions surrounding its return to the property
- 22:45 - Marie's organization of high-tech drone searches covering 1,700 hectares
- 35:10 - The revelation that police considered the case a potential homicide by April 2022
- 43:20 - James's intelligent, adaptable nature and his ability to connect with people across social boundaries
- 51:30 - The impact of ambiguous loss on Marie's mental health and family relationships

If you have any information about James Hunter's disappearance, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or the Dubbo Police Station. Even the smallest detail could be the missing piece that brings closure to those who love him. As Marie reminds us, "He doesn't deserve to be an unknown person... he matters because he's important."

If you know someone who is dealing with a missing person, and would like to share your story, contact Sally at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this bonus episode of The Missing Matter, crime analyst Laura Richards joins Sally and Joni from Los Angeles to discuss the case of Sal’s mum, Marion, and their recent overseas trip.

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Patrick Liedke was 39 when he vanished from Tweed Heads in April 2024 a gentle, artistic soul loved by his family, with paintings on hospital walls and a life shaped by neurodiversity and complex health needs. In the days after a hospital discharge, sightings placed him around Cobaki, Piggabeen and into Currumbin Valley. Then… nothing.

This episode follows Patrick’s sister, Nicole, as she turns grief into an unrelenting search — combing ridgelines and creek beds with volunteers, dogs, thermal drones, even paragliders — while wrestling with the what-ifs: delays, borders, systems that didn’t move fast enough. The official multi-agency search stopped on May 1, 2024; Nicole never did. 

If you live near Tweed Heads, Piggabeen or Currumbin Valley, please stay alert.

Report any information to Tweed Heads Police or Crime Stoppers, and follow Find Patrick Liedke on Facebook for updates and ways to help. For Nicole, every share, every set of eyes on a track, is a step closer to home.

If you know someone who is dealing with a missing person, and would like to share your story, contact Sally at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Sarah Wayland is a social work professor and leading researcher who has spent decades working with families of missing people. From frontline support to shaping national conversations on ambiguous loss and trauma, she brings unique insight into what it means to live in the “missing” space and why these stories matter

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On Sunday, 25th June 2017, Jorn Jesper Jensen, known to all as Jesper, vanished without a trace. A devoted father and grandfather, Jesper’s sudden disappearance shocked his family and community. In this episode, we go back to the day it happened, retracing Jesper’s last known movements, the first signs that something was wrong, and the search that began to find him. More than 2,900 days later, the questions remain: what happened to Jesper, and why has he never been found?

In this episode Sally chats with Belle, one of his daughters, to ask why Jesper matters.

If you want to listen to Belle's full podcast about her Dad's disappearance, search Dad's Gone on your favourite podcast app.

You can sign the petition for justice for jesper here

If you know someone who is dealing with a missing person, and would like to share your story, contact Sally at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Easter Sunday 2008, engineer and devoted dad Warren Meyer set out for a short, well-planned hike at Dom Dom Saddle. He never came home. In this episode, Warren’s wife Zee shares who he was, the day he vanished, and the search that followed. We examine early assumptions that shaped the investigation, the long path through the coroner’s process, and the quiet battles families face when someone goes missing. 

If you have a story about ambiguous loss and would like to share your story with Sally Leydon please email here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this new season Sally Leydon wants to help others who are dealing with ambiguous loss due to a missing loved one.

In this episode Jason Sallese tells the story of hsi Dad Nicola who was last seen in November 2008.

If you want to contact sally to have an episode feature your missing loved one, contact her here The Missing Matter

If you want to listen to know more or help Jason you cna visit him at  Help Find Nicola Sallese Facebook page

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