True Crime Island

Today I am going to tell you a story of greed, fraud, theft and murder. A small-time conman who evolves into a ruthless killer. From the suburbs of North Carolina to the secluded paradise of Bocas del Toro Panama. William Dathan Holbert or Wild Bill as he would become known, would target his victims by befriending them, then killing them for homes and businesses. This is a story of murder in paradise.

Today I am going to tell you a story of greed, fraud, theft and murder. A small-time conman who evolves into a ruthless killer. From the suburbs of North Carolina to the secluded paradise of Bocas del Toro Panama. William Dathan Holbert or Wild Bill as he would become known, would target his victims by befriending them, then killing them for homes and businesses. This is a story of murder in paradise.

It’s 7:09am, June 20 1994, Dunedin New Zealand. 22-Year-old David Bain calls emergency services 111. Clearly distressed he tells the operator ‘They’re all dead, they’re all dead’. Police and Ambulance arrive 20 minutes later to a grisly scene. David’s mother, father, two sisters and brother are all shot dead. Four days later, David would be charged with their murder. David says it was his father and that he didn’t do it. This case will split a nation. Did he do it, or didn’t he? Murder or murder suicide. Did police screw up the investigation?

It’s 7:09am, June 20 1994, Dunedin New Zealand. 22-Year-old David Bain calls emergency services 111. Clearly distressed he tells the operator ‘They’re all dead, they’re all dead’. Police and Ambulance arrive 20 minutes later to a grisly scene. David’s mother, father, two sisters and brother are all shot dead. Four days later, David would be charged with their murder. David says it was his father and that he didn’t do it. This case will split a nation. Did he do it, or didn’t he? Murder or murder suicide. Did police screw up the investigation?

It’s Sunday the 7th of December 2003. 13 year-old Daniel Morecombe waits at an unofficial Bus Stop under the Kiel Mountain Road overpass in the Woombye district of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. He is on his way to the Sunshine Plaza Shopping Centre for a haircut and to buy Christmas presents for his family. The bus he planned to catch breaks down and the replacement bus fails to stop. The driver radio’s the depot for another bus to pick him up, but by the time it arrives, Daniel is nowhere to be seen.

It’s Sunday the 7th of December 2003. 13 year-old Daniel Morecombe waits at an unofficial Bus Stop under the Kiel Mountain Road overpass in the Woombye district of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. He is on his way to the Sunshine Plaza Shopping Centre for a haircut and to buy Christmas presents for his family. The bus he planned to catch breaks down and the replacement bus fails to stop. The driver radio’s the depot for another bus to pick him up, but by the time it arrives, Daniel is nowhere to be seen.

It’s 5am the 18th November 2011. A fire breaks out at the Quakers Hill nursing home 40km west of Sydney NSW Australia. 14 of the 81 residents of the home would die in the fire or in the period soon after. Roger Kingsley Dean, a registered nurse employed at the home, would ultimately pleaded guilty to, and was convicted in respect of, eleven counts of murder by way of reckless indifference to human life. On this episode, we will find out what went wrong and how this horrific event could have been avoided.

It’s 5am the 18th November 2011. A fire breaks out at the Quakers Hill nursing home 40km west of Sydney NSW Australia. 14 of the 81 residents of the home would die in the fire or in the period soon after. Roger Kingsley Dean, a registered nurse employed at the home, would ultimately pleaded guilty to, and was convicted in respect of, eleven counts of murder by way of reckless indifference to human life. On this episode, we will find out what went wrong and how this horrific event could have been avoided.

It’s July 10, 2001, 000 emergency dispatchers receive a phone call from 20-year-old Sef Gonzales, a Phillipino/Australian, who tells them he has just arrived home, found his mother, father and sister murdered and that he had chased off the intruders. Police arrive and find the dead bodies of 46-Year-old Teddy Gonzales, 43-year-old Loiva Gonzales and his 18 year-old sister Clodine. They also see the words ‘F**K Off Asians KKK’ spray painted on the wall. Is this a heinous hate crime, or is there something more sinister going on?

It’s July 10, 2001, 000 emergency dispatchers receive a phone call from 20-year-old Sef Gonzales, a Phillipino/Australian, who tells them he has just arrived home, found his mother, father and sister murdered and that he had chased off the intruders. Police arrive and find the dead bodies of 46-Year-old Teddy Gonzales, 43-year-old Loiva Gonzales and his 18 year-old sister Clodine. They also see the words ‘F**K Off Asians KKK’ spray painted on the wall. Is this a heinous hate crime, or is there something more sinister going on?