What Happened To…

In this episode of The Missing Matter, Sally sits down with Aaron Clear’s sister, Cassandra, to uncover the story behind her brother’s disappearance. Aaron vanished in early 2020, leaving behind only fragments of a life and a family searching for answers.

Cassandra shares who Aaron was beyond the missing person posters  his childhood, his struggles, his dreams, and the moments that now carry the most weight. Together, they step through the final known timeline, the reporting delays, and the unanswered questions that still haunt the family today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Missing Matter, Sally sits down with her friend Chris D'Arcy, the lead behind Search Dog Sydney, the volunteer team called in when families have run out of options. Chris and his dogs work some of Australia’s most heartbreaking cases, from long-term missing searches to human remains detection, stepping in where systems have failed. 

Together, Sally and Chris revisit their own searches, expose the gaps that leave families searching alone, and reveal how these extraordinary dogs find answers that others miss. A raw, powerful look into the people and dogs  fighting to bring the missing home

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this powerful and deeply informative episode of The Missing Matter, Sally sits down with forensic human identification specialist Dr. Jodie Ward, known by many as the matchmaker for the missing.

Jodie led the AFP’s National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons, a groundbreaking initiative that uncovered answers for families left waiting for decades. Together, Sally and Jodie unpack the extraordinary science behind identification: the realities of DNA testing, how bone samples are analyzed, why mitochondrial and Y-chromosome DNA matter, and how new SNP technology is reshaping what’s possible.

Jodie shares the behind-the-scenes story of how she fought for a national program, the international techniques she brought to Australia, and the 54 cases her team resolved, including long-term missing people who were never even reported missing.

A powerful conversation between two women working tirelessly to bring answers, dignity, and identity back to those who’ve been lost.

Check out Jodie's work here 

 https://forensichid.co/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this deeply personal episode of The Missing Matter, Sally sits down with Kim Marshall to share the story of her sister, Bronwyn Winfield, who has been missing for more than 11,848 days. Bronwyn was reported missing by her estranged husband 11 days after she was last seen in May 1993.

Together, Kim and Sally walk through Bronwyn’s final months her courage, her attempts to rebuild her life, the growing pressures she faced, and the heartbreaking gaps in the initial investigation. Kim shares intimate memories of the sister she knew: brave, hopeful, protective, and determined. She also speaks honestly about ambiguous loss, the decades-long fight for recognition, and the systems that failed her family.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 50 years after Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon vanished from Adelaide Oval, journalist Bryan Littlely is still chasing their story not for headlines, but for a promise he made.

After decades in newsrooms, Bryan left behind the daily grind to follow one of South Australia’s darkest mysteries. Now, with a small team of volunteers and the girls’ sister, Suzie Ratcliffe, he digs through red dust, old police files, and decades of silence in search of answers the system couldn’t or wouldn’t find.

What began as an investigation has become something deeper: a personal mission to honor the missing, challenge authority, and give voice to those long ignored. This is a story about truth, trust, and the people who refuse to let hope fade.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In December 2005, 45-year-old Kathleen “Katie” O’Shea travelled from Melbourne to North Queensland to meet her first grandchild. She never arrived. Nearly twenty years later, Katie’s daughter Lily shares the story of her mother’s disappearance — a journey marked by unanswered questions, lost opportunities, and a family’s enduring hope for justice. This episode of The Missing Matter unpacks the investigation, the inquest, and the pain of living without answers in one of Australia’s most haunting missing person cases.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.