What Happened To…

Each Wednesday, we’ll bring you a new episode of Revelle: The Last Appointment in this feed, exploring the disappearance of Revelle Balmain, who went missing in 1994.

Episode 1: Her Name Was Misha

She was a young model and dancer with dreams of making it big overseas. But 22-year-old Revelle Balmain had another life, one her family and closest friends knew little about.

Working as an escort under the name Misha, Revelle was preparing to leave it all behind for a fresh start in Japan.

Then, in November 1994, she vanished.

More than 30 years later, questions remain about her secret life, the people around her and what really happened in the days before she disappeared.

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In August 2021, 83-year-old Trevor McDonald vanished while prospecting for gold in remote Western Australia. Despite an extensive search involving police, drones and aircraft, not a single trace of him was found. Three years later, a coroner ruled he had died, but his body has never been recovered. So how does an experienced bushman simply disappear without a trace?

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In April 1974, teenage cousins Raylene Eaton and Yvonne Waters went out to enjoy live music at a Perth pub and never returned home. Last seen leaving the White Sands Tavern with three unidentified men, the girls vanished without a trace. More than 50 years later, questions remain about missed clues, early police assumptions and whether someone still holds the key to solving one of Western Australia's most haunting mysteries.

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In November 1994, Sydney woman Revelle Balmain disappeared after attending what was believed to be her final appointment of the day. More than three decades later, her disappearance remains one of Australia’s most enduring mysteries. 

In Revelle Balmain: The Last Appointment, we revisit the final hours before she vanished and speak with people who knew her best  including former boyfriends, her stepsister Suellen, and one of the last people known to have seen Revelle alive.

Through their memories, new interviews and a fresh examination of the case, the series explores who Revelle was, what was happening in her life at the time, and the unanswered questions that remain about her disappearance. 

Revelle Balmain: The Last Appointment is coming to Apple Podcasts Subscriptions from Monday, October 19. 

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In this episode, we sit down with renowned criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro to unravel the complexities of the Samantha Murphy case from Ballarat. Samantha's disappearance has puzzled law enforcement and the public alike, leaving more questions than answers. Through an in-depth conversation with Tim, we explore the psychological underpinnings of the case, examine the clues left behind, and discuss the impact on the community and the ongoing search for justice. Watson-Muro brings his expert analysis and unique insights, shedding new light on one of Australia's most perplexing cases.

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A man has now been charged with the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy, but many questions about what happened on the morning she disappeared remain unanswered.

In this episode, former Victorian Police detective Damien Marrett helps piece together what investigators may have known before the arrest, how phone and location data could have shaped the investigation, and what happens behind the scenes when police decide they have enough evidence to charge someone with murder.

As the case moves towards court, we examine the evidence still missing from the public picture and why finding Samantha remains so important.

The accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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As the investigation into Samantha Murphy’s disappearance intensified, police were not only searching the ground — they were also following a digital trail. Telecommunications expert Associate Professor Mark Gregory explains how mobile phones, smartwatches and tower data can help investigators map movements, identify devices in an area and look for unusual patterns. We examine how this kind of digital evidence may have helped police piece together crucial parts of the investigation.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This episode was originally recorded and published during the early stages of the investigation and reflects information publicly available at that time.

Since its original publication, criminal proceedings relating to Samantha Murphy’s disappearance have commenced. This episode has not been updated to discuss those proceedings and does not address the person currently before the courts, the evidence in those proceedings, or questions of guilt or innocence.

Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as commenting on, prejudging or seeking to influence any current court proceedings. The accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty according to law.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the search for Samantha Murphy intensified, police canvassed the area while hundreds of volunteers joined the effort to find answers. Bush tracker Jake Cassar travelled to Ballarat to help search the surrounding terrain, bringing years of experience from other missing-person cases. He takes us inside the search, explaining the clues trackers look for, the challenges of the bushland and what caught his attention on the ground.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This episode was originally recorded and published during the early stages of the investigation and reflects information publicly available at that time.

Since its original publication, criminal proceedings relating to Samantha Murphy’s disappearance have commenced. This episode has not been updated to discuss those proceedings and does not address the person currently before the courts, the evidence in those proceedings, or questions of guilt or innocence.

Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as commenting on, prejudging or seeking to influence any current court proceedings. The accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty according to law.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the morning of 4 February 2024, Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy left her home for a routine run and never returned.

Originally recorded during the early stages of the investigation, this episode retraces Samantha’s last known movements and the massive search that followed. We speak with former Detective Inspector Greg Lamey about what happens in those crucial first 48 hours of a missing-person investigation, what police look for, and why seemingly insignificant information can become an important piece of the puzzle.

What did investigators know in those early days and what were the missing pieces?

IMPORTANT NOTE: This episode was originally recorded and published during the early stages of the investigation and reflects information publicly available at that time.

Since its original publication, criminal proceedings relating to Samantha Murphy’s disappearance have commenced. This episode has not been updated to discuss those proceedings and does not address the person currently before the courts, the evidence in those proceedings, or questions of guilt or innocence.

Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as commenting on, prejudging or seeking to influence any current court proceedings. The accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty according to law.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Years after  “Bob”  disappeared, his family were finally waiting for an answer.

In this episode, we revisit the case, the courtroom, and the evidence that emerged along the way  including claims involving a shooting, a mysterious vehicle, and other people whose names surfaced during the investigation.

But as the case reaches a crucial moment, Bob’s family is left facing questions they never expected to still be asking.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.