Crime Insiders

Stalking is disturbingly common, yet often misunderstood by wider society.  Professor Troy McEwan from the Swinburne University of Technology is a forensic psychologist specialising in understanding, assessing, and treating stalking behaviour. In this episode with Kathryn Fox, hear about the 5 different types of stalkers, and gain insights into their problematic behaviours.  This episode is part 1...

Once an admired figure in NSW police, the now disgraced Roger Rogerson left a trail of corruption and death as he moved his way through the force.  Former NSW Detective Deborah Locke was at the centre of Rogerson's grip on the police, and faced horrific consequences for standing up to him and his corruption. Deb sat down with host Brent Sanders, and unpacked the details of her life in the force an...

Even when removed or burnt, forensic experts can use tattoos to identify offenders and victims of crimes. This is one of many techniques forensic photographers like Karen Byrne use to document everything from crime scenes to autopsies.  Hear about the surprising ways evidence can be captured, the emotional weight of the job, and how forensic photography plays a crucial role in securing justice. If...

One of the country's most effective crime fighting arms, Queensland Police have some of the world's most dedicated officers. Their experience in fighting online child sexual abuse is second to none, and James Maskey was part of that team.  Join host Brent Sanders as he unpacks James' career. From General Duties, to the CPOL team, hear about the cases that defined James and eventually lead to his d...

They say pigs will eat anything. But can they diminish a whole human body? Surprisingly, science didn't have an answer to this question until recently. Forensic anthropologist, Dr Penny McCardle, has helped police investigate some of the most high-profile crimes in recent history, including the disappearance of William Tyrell and the 1986 murder of Roxlyn Bowie.  In this discussion with Kathryn Fo...

Matt Newlands is a former NSW Police Officer who undertook general duties for much of his career. His career was well regarded, but was also peppered with difficulties and would end as part of a slippery slope of incidents in Matt's personal life.  We'll understand what lead to that situation with host Brent Sanders, as he unpacks stories and cases from Matt's career and the one mistake which ende...

Technology has become a weapon for perpetrators of abuse. And, in our digitally intertwined lives, cyber forensics has become an essential step in almost all aspects of criminal investigation, particularly cases involving child exploitation and family violence.  Cyber forensic expert, Rose MacDonald, has made it her life's mission to combat this insidious form of abuse. Her work ensures the comple...

A person of interest driving over five days and distributing drugs across the country was finally brought down after a complex sting.  Noel, who's last name has been redacted for operational reasons is one of Victoria's most seasoned detectives, and has seen the state thrashed through a period of uncertainty by Melbourne's high-profile criminal underworld.  He joins Brent Sanders, and talks us thr...

Heard of a smoking gun? What about a smoking shovel?  Tracking down killers has never been part of the traditional job profile for people who study soils, but when the bodies of two women believed to be murdered could not be located, police gave pedologist, Professor Rob Fitzpatrick a call. In this episode with Kathryn Fox, Rob reveals how soil has been the key to cracking complex criminal investi...

Tony Hines' body was found strewn against a cliff face in Maroubra. How did police begin their investigation, and what contributed to the eventual outcome of the case? Former NSW Police Deputy Police Commissioner Dave Owens is one of the states' most respected officers, and has seen some of NSW's most intense criminal operations unfold.  Join host Brent Sanders as he unpacks Dave's illustrious car...

Two young girls shot dead in a town of less than 1000 people. With local law enforcement stumped, they turned to the renowned FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit for answers. Julia Cowley is a retired FBI criminal profiler with a twist - she's a forensic scientist too. In this episode with Kathryn Fox, hear about Julia's very first assignment with the BAU, where her unique dual skillset provided insight...

When Detective Brett Lee was told one of his colleagues was a potential sex offender, he took on not only the investigation, but the pressure of prosecuting one of his own.  Brett was a career detective, and was involved in some of QPol's most heinous investigations. Working in child protection has its difficulties, but for Brett, he found the challenges to be rewarding. Understand his work and wh...

When an off-duty officer made a disturbing discovery off a country road in Sheffield, detectives were immediately notified. They rushed to the scene to preserve evidence and begin piecing together clues. For Detective Nigel Donohue though, despite the horrific scene, this case proved much more complex, and more disturbing than what initially appeared.  Former South Yorkshire Detective Inspector Ni...

Several shots fired, a body in a driveway, and an abandoned meat cleaver. How does forensics piece together the scene and catch the killer?  Angus Newton is one of Oceania's most respected ballistic experts. His career has seen him take on hundreds of intense and complex cases - spanning from discrete robberies to violent and devastating killings.  Unpack his work with host Kathryn Fox, as Angus w...

A wounded gang member, a set of abandoned shotguns in a playground and a witness who refuses to testify. How do police piece together the case to not only make sense of what happened, but gain a conviction?  Luke Taylor is a 14 year veteran of the force. His time in the police saw him take on unique challenges, and meant he was on the frontline of policing for some of NSW's most violent crimes.  U...

After her convictions were quashed, many touted forensics as the saviour for Kathleen Folbigg. But, how did they fail her in the first place, and what led to one of Australia's greatest ever miscarriages of justice?  Host Kathryn Fox is joined by Professor Stephen Cordner, who is one of Australia's most respected forensic experts. In 2021, Stephen was one of 90 eminent scientists who signed a...

A man brandishing two shotguns brought one of Adelaide's busiest streets to a standstill, with former Chief Superintendent Mick Symons caught in the crossfire. in this episode, understand Mick Symons' illustrious policing career, from his time in the high-stakes Armed Offenders Apprehension Group to leading gripping homicide investigations, including the tragic case of Samantha O'Reilly. In this d...

How do forensic investigators decipher the scene of a violent car crash? Why is the filament in a brake light so important? And what evidence can lead investigators down the wrong path? Dr Raphael Grzebieta is an expert in car crash analysis, and has worked for decades in the field. His goal is to bring road safety to the fore of transport conversations, and refuses to acknowledge car crashes as a...

Countless victims over a 20 year period, only uncovered thanks to the bravery of the victim-survivors who came forward and told their story. In the mid 1990s, Detective Troy Grant received a report from two men who had been sexually abused by Paedophile Priest Vincent Ryan. What followed was an investigation that uncovered decades of horrific and ongoing abuse within the Catholic Church.  Join Bre...

A long standing theory, but one ballistics supports, at least in the mind of some of those who worked the case, is that Ivan Milat didn't act alone and that there were multiple shooters at several of his crime scenes.  Host Kathryn Fox sits down with one of Australia's most respected forensic experts, Gerard Dutton to understand why some think there was more than one shooter, and how specific ball...

Known for its violent, unpredictable atmosphere, and for being a home to Sydney's organised crime kingpins. The Cross is an intense place to be for anyone, especially a cop.  Brett Stevens is a former NSW Police Officer who spent years in the heart of Sydney's inner city, and took on cases that still affect him now, almost 20 years later. Join host Brent Sanders as he unpacks Brett's life in the f...

Forensic data and pattern recognition tell us a lot, but how does it help in the fight against domestic violence? And how are some data points more important than others?  Dr Lyndal Bugeja is the research lead of the Violence Investigation Research and Training Unit at Monash University, and is an expert in interpreting forensic data sets to gain an understanding as to how people are dying/being k...

A hefty bribe landed in the hands of a supposedly crooked cop, courtesy of a heroin kingpin's brother. Little did the briber know, this cop was Michael Kennedy, a former detective with an unwavering moral compass. Michael spent over two decades with the NSW Police, working in the Major Crime Squad, Bureau of Crime Intelligence, and the NSW State Crime Commission. In this episode with Brent Sanders...

When a merciless serial killer terrorised the women of Manchester with a spate of brutal attacks, police and forensics were left stumped. Now, almost 50 years later, forensics has learned, and built more advanced technologies that could've helped catch the killer sooner, and saved more lives.  To understand how forensics has learned from this case, and to unpack the current strategies being employ...

Two cousins, both wives to the same man, found dead under mysterious circumstances. Was this the world's unluckiest husband, or a serial wife killer? Former detective Peter Seymour has dedicated over two decades of his life to the people of Western Sydney, serving in the NSW Police as both a detective and police prosecutor.  In this episode, Brent Sanders talks to Peter about the shockingly bizarr...