True Blue

Shelly worked her shift and returned to her parents house in Brougham St around 2PM. When she went inside, her Dad, John, was making a cup of tea. But Shelly felt something was off, immediately.

The first thing she noticed was that the latch on her parents bedroom door was snibbed shut, but from the outside. This was strange because if her Mum was inside, she couldn't have locked it from the outside.

Shelly unlatched the door and opened it, and looked in to see her Mum lying on the floor. She turned to John and said, ‘did I just see what I think...?’

Join Shaun and Chloe as they discuss the brutal and tragic murders that occurred in Cowra, NSW, in 2008.

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This episode was produced by True Blue Media using the open source materials referenced below: 

1. https://www.smh.com.au/national/grandfather-charged-with-axe-murder-rampage-20080701-2zmm.html
2. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4083618/The-dark-past-Australia-s-worst-killer-John-Walsh-77-killed-wife-two-grandchildren-nine-years-bashing-cellmate-death-sandwich-press-prison.html
3. https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/484769/bloody-rampage/
4. https://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/899708/the-house-of-horror/ 
5. https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/arrest-in-axe-murder-case-20080701-gea3f3.html 
6. https://www.standard.net.au/story/724420/brush-with-axe-murder-suspect/ 
7. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/840619/axe-attack-accused-fronts-court/ 
8. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/nsw-mum-blames-herself-for-axe-murders 
9. https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/pm/nsw-police-hunt-axe-murderer/2490404 - AUDIO
10. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/true-blue-crime.

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Prue awoke well after midday on a warm summer’s day in February, 1992. Her Mum, Jenny, and younger sister, Amanda, had already left home, headed to the local swimming pool. She planned to meet them there after having something to eat.

But Prue never made it to the pool. After heating up a can of creamed corn on the stove, she vanished without a trace…

Join Shaun over a cup of coffee as he runs through this interesting and sad tale, exploring the sordid criminal connections with Prue’s case, and the possibility of its connection to the Russell Street bombers.

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This episode was produced by True Blue Media using the open source materials referenced below:

1. The Innocent parts 1 & 2 by Australian Story, ABC
2. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-27/prue-bird-police-should-apologise-handling-detective-admits/5842748
3. http://www.australianmissingpersonsregister.com/PrudanceBird.htm
4. Mother's reward hope for missing girl, 19 Sep, 2008 - Golden Mail
5. https://twistedhistory.net.au/2017/02/02/disappearance-of-prue-bird-2/
6. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/witness-says-she-shared-shed-with-missing-teen-prue-bird/news-story/91831cc60361c8d346e824429486235c?sv=5b2c9c830cd6e8a200f1ddcef68790dd
7. https://www.smh.com.au/national/prue-bird-killing-was-planned-court-told-20130204-2dtve.html
8. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-05/school-girl-killer-sentenced/5138310
9. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-23/police-may-excavate-tip-in-hunt-for-body-of-murdered-schoolgirl/4975030
10. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/schoolgirl-killer-leslie-camilleri-ignores-judges-plea/news-story/b3d113ccc4d5da2fcb4b3422038f87d1
11. Archived articles from The Age Newspaper: February 18th, 1992, July...

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Inside the watch house across the street, which housed the cells of the nearby courthouse, constables Dave Yeoman and Angela Taylor had just fed the prisoners. It was their own lunch time now, and they could smell the fresh sandwiches emanating from the canteen across the road.

‘Whose turn is it to get the munchies?’ asked Angela. The 21 year old rising star was dux of her class at the academy; she had a bright smile, and this was her last shift before going on holidays.

‘I’ll toss you for it,’ Dave said with a smile, before he guessed correctly on the heads or tails and ordered a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich from Angela...

Join Shaun and Chloe as they discuss Melbourne's devastating Russell Street bombing in 1986.

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This episode was produced by True Blue Media using the open source materials referenced below:

1. The Russell Street Bombing by Vikki Petraitis
2. Forensic Investigators S2E6
3. Crimes That Shook Australia S2E5
4. 60 Minutes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6cggxOy-hQ
5. https://www.news.com.au/national/courts-law/rape-charge-for-russell-street-pair-peter-reed-and-craig-minogue/news-story/5950c4bfdf91dd563307cd935c059d44
6. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/russell-street-bomber-stan-taylor-dies-in-custody-20161019-gs655k.html
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Street_Police_Headquarters
8. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-day-terror-came-to-melbourne-the-russell-street-bombing-30-years-on-and-the-murder-of-angela-taylor-20160223-gn15xs.html
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Street_bombing
10. https://www.theage.com.au/national/remembering-the-day-russell-street-shook-20060325-ge209w.html
11. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-24/scars-still-felt-20-years-after-russell-street-bombing/7264058
12. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/true-blue-crime.

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The 5th of October 1997 was a beautiful day on the NSW Sapphire Coast and Nichole Collins and Lauren Barry were a great team who shared a lot of fun times together; this long weekend was just another one of those. At least, it was to this point, as the pair left their campsite, headed down the Bega Tathra Road towards a party. Sadly, the girls wouldn’t make their destination...

Join Shaun and Chloe as they discuss the brutal and tragic Bega Schoolgirl Murders.

Join our Patreon community for access to exclusive extra content:

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Website - www.truebluecrimepodcast.com - includes our merch store

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This episode was produced by True Blue Media using the open source materials referenced below: 

1. https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5236407/pink-tv-the-key-to-unlocking-mystery-disappearance-of-bega-schoolgirls/
2. Little Girls Lost by Helen Reade
3. Crimes That Shook Australia S3E2
4. https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4970359/schoolgirl-victims-of-one-of-australias-most-vicious-crimes-remembered/
5. Crime Investigation Australia S3E4
6. R v Camilleri [1999] VSC 184 (27 April 1999), Supreme Court (Vic, Australia).
7. R v Beckett [1998] VSC 219 (20 August 1998), Supreme Court (Vic, Australia).
8. https://murderpedia.org/male.C/c/camilleri-leslie.htm
9. https://freesound.org/people/AmeAngelofSin/sounds/345049/

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/true-blue-crime.

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Saturday 8th December, 1934, Mylor, South Australia

As dawn broke on this fresh summer’s morning, John Scotland was walking down the main street when he spotted a familiar face. William Arthur Figg was riding his bicycle in Scotland’s direction, wearing a navy suit and a dark felt fedora. Scotland knew Figg as a local woodcutter, and figured he was on his way to work. “Morning Art’, Scotland called out to no reply. Figg kept riding south along Strathalbyn Rd, a haversack on his back, and a double barrelled shotgun un-cocked and slung over his shoulder.

Scotland didn’t know it at this moment, but this would be the last time he’d ever see William Arthur Figg...

Join Shaun and Chloe back in era of the Great Depression in Australia to discuss the little known but tragic case of the Figg Family Murders.

Join our Patreon community for access to exclusive extra content:

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Link to one-off Supporter donations at the bottom of show notes

Website - www.truebluecrimepodcast.com - includes our merch store

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Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by True Blue Media using the open source materials referenced below:

1. Murder at the Lion Villa: a case of domestic violence at Mylor, South Australia, in 1934, and the manhunt for William Arthur Figg, by Anita Stelmach
2. The Age (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) 05 Jan 1935, Sat
3. The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) 11 Dec 1934, Tue
4. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Thu 13 Dec 1934  Page 44, Mother And Four Children Murdered At Mylor
5. The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1954)
6. The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954)Saturday 9 February 1935 - Page 15
7. News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954) Thu 1 Aug 1935 Page 1 Police Discontinue Hunt for Figg
8. The Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954) Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/true-blue-crime.

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Set against the backdrop of the 1930’s Great Depression, the grey Melbourne streets were stalked by a serial killer the press dubbed The Schoolgirl Strangler. This predator, a few beers down each attack, blended in amongst the everyday downtrodden bloke walking the streets during this time. And that made him all the more dangerous…

Join Shaun and Chloe as they discuss the shocking murder of 4 young girls in Melbourne in the early to mid 1930’s, and the investigation that caught the man responsible.

Join our Patreon community for access to exclusive extra content:

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Link to one-off Supporter donations at the bottom of show notes

Website - www.truebluecrimepodcast.com - includes our merch store

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Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by True Blue Media using the open source materials referenced below: 

1. Archived contemporaneous articles obtained from newspapers.com from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age 
2. Archived contemporaneous articles from The Argus newspaper
3. The Giant Book of Crimes That Shocked Australia by Alan Sharpe
4. http://inverlochhistory.com/books/murder-in-inverloch-the-sodeman-murders/
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Sodeman  
6. https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/sodeman-arnold.htm
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyO39czTqb8
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression_in_Australia
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phar_Lap

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/true-blue-crime.

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Friday 23rd November 1978, Murwillimbah, NSW

Inside the branch of the Bank of NSW, the crew of thieves worked quickly and quietly.

They bypassed the combination lock of the vault and made their way inside. Shrouded in darkness, one of the bandits drilled into the safe, just above the lock, to expose the tumblers. From here, he could manipulate them and gain access.

Another thief cut a hole into the second floor of the building as backup escape plan. But they wouldn’t need it.

Stuffing the paper notes into cardboard boxes, the gang split, jamming the vault door in their wake, over 1.7 million dollars richer than when they entered.

Join Shaun and Chloe as they discuss the infamous Magnetic Drill Gang.

Join our Patreon community for access to exclusive content:

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Link to one-off Supporter donations at the bottom of show notes

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Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by True Blue Media using the open source materials referenced below: 

RESOURCES

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murwillumbah
2. https://alyshaaitken.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/one-of-australias-biggest-bank-robberies-never-solved%E2%80%8F/
3. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110974684
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm7JxJhOgYM
5. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/australias-most-notorious-robberies-the-day-qantas-was-hoxed-out-of-500k/news-story/a24cedd101775118e64429ae039a2eab
6. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/graham-kinniburgh--the-quiet-underworld-achiever-20151104-gkqx4e.html
7. https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/mbah-bank-17m-raid-mystery-lives-on/3274687/
8. http://australiancrimes.com/crimes/magneticdrillgang.html
9. https://www.tweeddailynews.com.au/news/police-to-revisit-17m-legendary-bank-heist/2085524/
10. http://supporter.acast.com/true-blue-crime.

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

Join Shaun and Chloe to discuss the tragic case of 6 year old Kiesha Weippeart, which happened around the Mount Druitt region of Sydney NSW in July of 2010.

There’s many aspects to this case which prompted a lot of discussion at the time, not only about those involved and the broader socio economic aspects, but the possible systemic failures of our community services.

Support the show on:

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/truebluecrime

Link to one-off Supporter donations at the bottom of show notes

Website - www.truebluecrimepodcast.com - includes our merch store

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/380493356066315/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/truebluecrime/

Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by True Blue Media using the open source materials referenced below:

1. https://www.smh.com.au/national/duty-of-care-what-happened-to-kiesha-20130826-2skl1.html
2. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/18/kristi-abrahams-jailed-murder-kiesha
3. Kristi Abrahams called 'putrid dog' and told to 'rot in hell' as she was sentenced to 16 years for murder of 'vulnerable and defenceless' Kiesha
4. By Amy Dale - The Daily Telegraph July 18, 2013
5. Kristi Abrahams jailed for at least 16 years for murder of 6yo daughter Kiesha Weippeart By court reporter Jamelle Wells - ABC.net.au July 19, 2013
6. Anger as forensic pathologist details injuries suffered by Kiesha Weippeart in Supreme Court testimony By Amy Dale - The Daily Telegraph June 25, 2013
7. Kristi Abrahams' Supreme Court sentencing hearing for Kiesha Weippeart murder continues The Daily Telegraph June 25, 2013
8. A life filled with abuse: kiesha murder By Isabel Hayes - Stuff.co.nz June 17, 2013
9. Kiesha Weippeart's step-father Robert Smith jailed By Peter Bodkin - The Daily Telegraph March 3, 2013
10. Kiesha Weippeart's body 'set alight and buried' after death By Amy Dale - The Daily Telegraph February 15, 2013
11. Kiesha stepdad 'burnt and buried her body' News.ninemsn.com.au February 15, 2013
12. Guilty plea over Kiesha Weippeart's death By Jamelle Wells - ABC.net.au December 16, 2011
13. Police allege Kiesha was thrown against wall or bed By Saffron Howden and Nick Ralston - Smh.com.au June 10, 2011
14. Remains found as Police charge Kiesha Abrahams' mother Kristi Abrahams and stepfather Robert Smith with murder By Amy Dale - Clementine Cuneo April 22, 2011
15. Mother, stepfather refused bail over murder AAP April 22, 2011
16. All hope is gone as Police reveal Kiesha Abrahams is dead The Daily Telegraph January 31, 2011
17. Kiesha Abrahams search called off AAP August 8, 2010
18. Missing girl Kiesha Abrahams knew life's harsh cruelty By Clementine Cuneo and Gemma Jones - The Daily Telegraph August 4, 2010
19. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/cycle-of-abuse-and-failure-kiesha-murder
20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htkLhkNHtEw
21. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/true-blue-crime.

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Mr Cruel was a child abductor, sexual predator, and presumed murderer, active in suburban Melbourne during the late eighties to early nineties. He has been quite accurately described as the bogeyman for children who grew up in the area at this time.

The crimes attributable to this unidentified offender are some of the most calculated, meticulous, and sickening we’ve ever seen here in Australia. But it’s what we don’t know, which is a lot, that makes this tale equal parts mysterious and downright frightening...

Join Shaun and Chloe in part 2 of this episode to discuss questions, theories, persons of interest and suspects.

Support the show on:

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/truebluecrime

Link to one-off Supporter donations at the bottom of show notes

Website - www.truebluecrimepodcast.com - includes our merch store

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/380493356066315/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/truebluecrime/

Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by True Blue Media using the open source materials referenced below: 

1. https://www.9now.com.au/australian-crime-stories/season-3/episode-7 - Australian Crime Stories Season 3, Ep 7 Mr Cruel

2. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/archive/the-investigator/mr-cruel-still-on-the-most-wanted-list-says-the-investigator-charlie-bezzina/news-story/b125099085ba1df96d473a42f263e587

3. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/mr-cruel-was-a-meticulous-intelligent-predator-say-police-investigators/news-story/a88da79742d534a0f10cd255bfd41f65

4. http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/0a8fb1587d83c6e071b9cfe669381632?width=650

5. https://www.news.com.au/news/national/child-abducting-murderer-mr-cruel-could-still-be-alive/news-story/b317a3e9f6971deacc3e60b56801707a

6. https://www.news.com.au/news/national/child-sex-offender-mr-cruel-has-never-been-identified/news-story/26b509b9960d3053b65df4450048e0f0

7. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/mr-cruel-suspected-of-at-least-a-dozen-attacks-on-children/news-story/a9025019f12955de575702a7bd96c282

8. http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/12/14/3093126.htm

9. https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=22072015&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjEyMDcxNTcxNCwiaWF0IjoxNTk2NDQ5OTkxLCJleHAiOjE1OTY1MzYzOTF9.5Gq_0JtMx4ME4fG3msinBngndguCcnrDzdtVLm5KoG8

10. Daley, Paul; Catalano, Antony (21 April 1991). "A man in dark shatters a happy family". The Sunday Age. 

11. https://www.theage.com.au/national/mr-cruel-filmed-his-victims-say-police-20060408-ge23k9.html

12. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-hunt-for-mr-cruel-20101214-18wtw.html

13. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/mr-cruel-link-missing-with-bung/news-story/aea1fc90c3243e310e2bca7c40828f1f?sv=582c2e6287fc9e162317e20c7978c13d

14. https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/sacramentobased-serial-killer-shared-bizarre-trait/3396162/

15. https://listverse.com/2019/08/26/10-chilling-facts-about-mr-cruel/

16. https://truecrimenewsweekly.com/the-great-criminal-mr-cruel-prime-suspect-wrote-sex-death-essay-to-do-evil-while-committing-rape-attacks/

17. https://thecoldcasefiles.com/tag/mr-cruel/

18. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/up-to-20-men-were-suspected-of-being-mr-cruel-and-one-prime-suspect-still-lives/news-story/6f5663c332f611339fd4765967d291ae

19. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Cruel

20. https://s3.amazonaws.com/uploads.knightlab.com/storymapjs/cf9f1a518caf46006bbe43aa7ac82a36/mr-cruel/draft.html

21. https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/av9j85/a-new-fbi-profile-sheds-light-on-karmein-chans-killer

22. Why Mr Cruel has to be caught. By Bruce Tobin, The Age Apr. 12, 1993

23....

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Mr Cruel was a child abductor, sexual predator, and presumed murderer, active in suburban Melbourne during the late eighties to early nineties. He has been quite accurately described as the bogeyman for children who grew up in the area at this time.

The crimes attributable to this unidentified offender are some of the most calculated, meticulous, and sickening we’ve ever seen here in Australia. But it’s what we don’t know, which is a lot, that makes this tale equal parts mysterious and downright frightening...

Join Shaun and Chloe as they discuss the details of Mr Cruel's confirmed attacks, and the fear and panic that was instilled in families across Melbourne during the late eighties and early nineties.

Support the show on:

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/truebluecrime

Link to one-off Supporter donations at the bottom of show notes

Website - www.truebluecrimepodcast.com - includes our merch store

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/380493356066315/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/truebluecrime/

Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by True Blue Media using the open source materials referenced below: 

1. https://www.9now.com.au/australian-crime-stories/season-3/episode-7 - Australian Crime Stories Season 3, Ep 7 Mr Cruel
2. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/archive/the-investigator/mr-cruel-still-on-the-most-wanted-list-says-the-investigator-charlie-bezzina/news-story/b125099085ba1df96d473a42f263e587
3. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/mr-cruel-was-a-meticulous-intelligent-predator-say-police-investigators/news-story/a88da79742d534a0f10cd255bfd41f65
4. http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/0a8fb1587d83c6e071b9cfe669381632?width=650
5. https://www.news.com.au/news/national/child-abducting-murderer-mr-cruel-could-still-be-alive/news-story/b317a3e9f6971deacc3e60b56801707a
6. https://www.news.com.au/news/national/child-sex-offender-mr-cruel-has-never-been-identified/news-story/26b509b9960d3053b65df4450048e0f0
7. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/true-blue-crime.

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