Sleuths Unveil: Underbelly Mysteries

In Australia, Father’s Day falls on the first Sunday of September and is typically a time for families to gather together and celebrate. But on Father’s Day in 2005, the small Victorian town of Winchelsea was rocked by news that a local man named Robert Farquharson had driven his three young sons – Jai, Tyler and Bailey – into a dam. Robert survived, but all three boys drowned. --- Narration – Ano...

In 1979, residents of Adelaide were gripped by fear when several young men began to go missing under mysterious circumstances. 17-year-old Alan Barnes, 25-year-old Neil Muir, 14-year-old Peter Stogneff, 18-year-old Mark Langley and 15-year-old Richard Kelvin were later found dumped in the Adelaide Hills and surrounds. They had been drugged and subject to horrific sexual abuse and torture. --- Narr...

In 1994, 13-year-old Nicholas Barclay disappeared after playing basketball with his friends in his home town of San Antonio, Texas. Years went by with no sign of him. Just when his family thought all hope was lost, in October 1997 they received a call from a police officer in the Spanish city of Linares. Nicholas had been found wandering the local streets, alive and well. --- Narration – Anonymous...

During the 1980s, Canadian nurse Cindy James was tormented by an unknown assailant at her home in Vancouver, British Columbia. She was subject to threatening phone calls, break-ins, arson attacks and even physical assaults. Cindy tried everything to protect herself, from installing an alarm system to moving house, but nothing – not even her policeman roommate – could deter the assailant. --- Narra...

Melanie Road’s family come face-to-face with her killer for the first time. But the clock is ticking for investigators to build a case with 30-year-old evidence. A trial starts. But what happens when the man in the dock is asked if he murdered the schoolgirl in 1984? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sleuths-unveil-underbelly-mysteries--6700113/support .

Cold case investigator Gary Mason receives an email which turns the inquiry into the murder of Melanie Road on its head. Arrest teams are drafted in. And a custody time clock runs out, meaning the man police believe to be Melanie’s killer must be released. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sleuths-unveil-underbelly-mysteries--6700113/support .

Melanie Road’s mother writes a letter to the people of Bath asking them to search their memories and consciences as the 30th anniversary of the killing approaches. Cold case investigator Julie Mackay is told to drop the inquiry. And the team continues to search in the UK and abroad for the schoolgirl’s murderer. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sleuths-unveil-un...

Scientists tell Julie Mackay and her cold case team they have an incredible DNA lead in the hunt for the killer of Melanie Road. But will it take the team on the right track? Julie builds a deep friendship with the mother of the murder victim. A forensic review reveals a fingerprint on Melanie Road’s shoe. But as this lead emerges, the Government is destroying old fingerprint records which may hel...

Julie Mackay takes control of the cold case inquiry into the death of Melanie Road. She hears about a man’s deathbed confession. But how can detectives prove he really is the murderer of Melanie Road? And 26 years after the killing, a witness comes forward offering explosive new evidence. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sleuths-unveil-underbelly-mysteries--6700...

Has the killer of Melanie Road struck again? Police look at similarities between the stabbing of schoolgirl Melanie Road in June 1984 and the disappearance of a young mother two days afterwards. And years into the future, police ask chilling questions when another woman called Melanie disappears. She vanishes from the same city on the same date as Melanie Road was killed. Become a supporter of thi...

A nationwide manhunt begins for the killer of schoolgirl Melanie Road. In the hours after the murder, a blood trail is discovered by detectives. Cold Case investigator Julie Mackay takes ITV News correspondent Robert Murphy back to the scene to describe how this gave police in 1984 their first clues. Inquiries start to stretch from this small city all over the world. Become a supporter of this pod...

How do you find a killer from the past? June 9th 1984. 17 year-old schoolgirl Melanie Road is murdered while walking home after a night out in the tourist city of Bath. In ITV News’ True Crime podcast, correspondent Robert Murphy learns how a murderer appeared in the night, killed this popular, bright student and disappeared. Leaving clues which detectives would pore over for decades. Become a sup...

[Part 6] This is the final instalment in a Casefile series that was first released in 2017.It covers recent developments in the case and mentions incidents detailed in previous episodes. If you haven’t already, we recommend you go back and listen to the first five parts of Case 53: The East Area Rapist before proceeding with Part Six. Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host Researched and written b...

On August 25 1973, 12,000 South Australian National Football League spectators packed into Adelaide Oval to watch the North Adelaide Roosters take on the Norwood Redlegs. During the game’s third and penultimate quarter, 11-year-old Joanne Ratcliffe was given permission by her parents to escort 4-year-old Kirste Gordon to the toilet. But the girls never returned. --- Casefile would like to give a s...

In 1995, 15-year-old Scottish schoolboy Lawrence Haggart’s dreams came true when he was signed to join Celtic, an elite Scottish football club. The future looked bright for young Lawrence, until one night in March 1996 when his brother John Haggart awoke to the smell of something burning. He discovered Lawrence downstairs, beaten and set on fire. --- Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host Research...

[Part 2 of 2] After the decapitated body of 26-year-old naturalist Joie Armstrong is found in Yosemite’s Foresta region, investigators are quick to deny that her murder is linked to that of Carole and Juli Sund and Silvina Pelosso. But when suspicions are cast on a local maintenance worker, the investigation takes a shocking turn. --- Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host Researched by Jessica Fo...

[Part 1 of 2]Carole Sund and her teenage daughter Juli were excited to take their family friend and Argentinian exchange student, Silvina Pelosso, on a trip to see the natural wonders of Yosemite National Park. But when they fail to arrive at the San Francisco Airport for their scheduled flight home, investigators suspect that the trio might have met with foul play.  --- Episode narrated by the An...

In late July 1990, siblings Steve and Jane McGowan both received a letter in the mail from their sister, 34-year-old Beverly McGowan, advising that she had quit her job and was selling her condo in order to go travelling. This made no sense to Steve and Jane. --- Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host Researched and written by Erin MunroCreative Director: Milly Raso For all credits and sources ple...

When 47-year-old Mississippi resident James Craig Anderson realised he’d locked his keys in his car in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 26 2011, he was thankful when a vehicle pulled up offering to help. But it soon became clear that the occupants were anything but good samaritans.  --- Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host Researched by Holly BoydWritten by Elsha McGillCreative Director:...

31-year-old Russell ‘Stabba’ Martin was well known around the small town of Stawell in Victoria’s west. A staple of the local pubs and footy club, it wasn’t unusual for Russell to leave town for days at a time. No matter where he went or why Russell’s journey always led him back home to his wife Helen and their four children.  --- Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host Researched and written by Ei...

** Warning: This episode contains descriptions of sexual violence *** The evening of April 9, 2004, started as a regular, uneventful shift for employees at a McDonald’s restaurant in Mount Washington, Kentucky. Until 4:56 PM, when the phone rang and the man on the other line introduced himself as Officer Scott.  --- Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host Researched and written by Erin MunroCreativ...

In Ireland in 1968, a period known as The Troubles began. Years of extreme protesting and violence culminated in low morale and widespread despair throughout the country, and the economy struggled, resulting in high unemployment rates and mass emigration. --- Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host Researched by Jessica ForsayethWritten by Elsha McGillCreative Director: Milly Raso For all credits a...

It wasn’t unusual for 25-year-old Danniella Vian to lose her phone. So when her mother-in-law Julie received a phone call from a stranger saying he had Danniella’s mobile, this wasn’t a cause for concern. The previous day, Danniella had made a highly anticipated car purchase and spent the night out celebrating with friends. --- Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host Written by Eileen OrmsbyCreativ...

When seven-year-old Steven Stayner fails to return home from school on December 4 1972, life changes irrevocably for the Stayner family. As the years pass by with no sign of their beloved son and brother, they do their best to adjust to life without him. --- Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host Researched by Jessica ForsayethWritten by Elsha McGillCreative Director: Milly Raso For all credits an...

Newlyweds Anni Hindocha and Shrien Dewani were looking forward to celebrating their honeymoon in South Africa. After a traditional wedding in India, they set off for a luxury stay at Kruger National Park before making their way to Cape Town. --- Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host Researched by Holly BoydWritten by Erin MunroCreative Director: Milly Raso For all credits and sources please visit...