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 investigations, from unsolved homicides to illegal dinosaur nest smuggling and counter-terrorism operations....
Apr 02, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 78
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 career, and gains an understanding of how Dave took on the infamous Bra Boys. If this content affected y...
Mar 31, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 77
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 into the motivations and behavioral traits of an offender who could commit such a crime - ultimately...
Mar 26, 2024•53 min•Season 2Ep. 76
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 what it took to undertake it with host Brent Sanders, as he dives into Brett as an officer and as an ed...
Mar 24, 2024•37 min•Season 2Ep. 75
After being arrested for drink driving, how did a hair sample and forensic expertise help save Silverchair lead singer Daniel Johns from a prison sentence? Dr Michael Robertson has over 20 years of forensic expertise. One of his most common cases is drink driving, and even though it seems black and white - you're either over the limit or you're not, it's actually far more nuanced and complex. Join host Kathryn Fox as she unpacks Michael's work and the case involving Daniel Johns. If this content...
Mar 19, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 74
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 Nigel Donohue joins Brent Sanders to walk him through his 31 year plus career, and offers insight into ...
Mar 17, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 73
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 walks her through the strange case of Operation Blue. If this content affected you, the number for Life...
Mar 12, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 72
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. Understand his career with host Brent Sanders, and hear about Luke's post policing endeavours as he tak...
Mar 10, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 71
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 groundbreaking petition calling for the immediate pardon and release of Kathleen Folbigg. Understand the ...
Mar 05, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 70
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 discussion with Brent Sanders, Mick delves into the evolution of policing techniques and technology, ...
Mar 03, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 69
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 accidents, claiming there is always a reason. Join host Kathryn Fox as she unpacks the work of Raphae...
Feb 27, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 68
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 Brent Sanders as he unpacks this investigation with Former Police Minister Troy Grant, as he walks us th...
Feb 25, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 67
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 ballistic evidence supports this. This episode contains references to violence, if it affects you, the nu...
Feb 20, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 66
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 force, and seeks to understand how things are different now that he's left the force. This episode con...
Feb 18, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 65
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 killed and what can be done to stop it. Lyndal sits down with host Kathryn Fox to explain how a tragic...
Feb 13, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 64
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, Michael reflects on his unusual path to policing, which meant he could form and maintain relations...
Feb 11, 2024•41 min•Season 2Ep. 63
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 employed to catch criminals and save lives, host Kathryn Fox sits down with expert Dr Marie Morelato. This ...
Feb 06, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 62
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 bizarre investigation of Thomas Keir, and the life-altering case that pushed Peter to his limits, prompting...
Feb 04, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 61
One of Australia's greatest ever miscarriages of justice. For decades, The Crown and much of the Australian public called for Lindy Chamberlain to be gaoled. Then, when she was, it was only until a chance discovery of new evidence was she released. Uncover the failings of forensics in one of Australia's most infamous criminal matters with expert Mackenzie de la Hunty. Hear as she walks host Kathryn Fox through the case, and gives intricate detail into what was involved in the forensics of the ca...
Jan 30, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 60
Working in child protection takes you to the darkest corners of humanity. Former detective Jack Roney, devoted over a decade to Queensland Police's Child Protection Unit, where he not only tackled some of the most heinous offences in the Crimes Act, but also took on the role of guardian for children who had witnessed unimaginable horrors, including homicide. In this discussion with Brent Sanders, Jack shares the harrowing story of two parents who were murdered in front of their seven children. H...
Jan 28, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 59
CCTV has helped capture criminals all across the world, but, catching a killer on camera isn't as clear cut as you might think. In fact, what may seem like the smoking gun in a case, forensic photography is actually a complex and often misunderstood field. Glenn Porter is an expert in forensic photography, and has spent decades taking pictures of crime scenes, presenting evidence and explaining how the science of video and photography works in a forensic investigation. Join host Kathryn Fox as s...
Jan 23, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 58
100 tactical operators, and lasting for nearly 40 hours. It's one of Australia's most intense, and high profile siege operations. Brett Pennell is a former NSW Police Officer who spent almost 20 years in the force. As part of the Tactical Operations Unit, Brett was involved in high level raids, drug import intercepts and complex, high profile arrests. One of those jobs, the Tumut Siege, saw him make a split second decision, that still impacts him to this day. Understand this job and more with ho...
Jan 21, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 57
An innocent woman was jailed for 16 years for a murder she did not commit. It wasn't until The Innocence Project became involved that Kirstin Blaise Lobato was finally able to walk free. Professor Gail Anderson is Canada’s first-ever full-time forensic entomologist and has been working in the field for nearly 35 years. Her work is dedicated to the study of insects, and what they can reveal about miscarriages of justice. In this discussion with host Kathryn Fox, Gail details her involvement in ex...
Jan 16, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 56
The world's most notorious criminals, unknowingly spilling their secrets on a 'secure' app run by... the cops. That's exactly what happened in Operation Ironside, a covert operation run by the FBI in collaboration with the AFP. Chris Craner is one of Australia’s most experienced tactical operators. His 30-plus-year career had him at the forefront of some of the country’s most intense and high-stakes investigations, including Ironside and the Lindt Cafe Seige. In this episode hosted by Brent Sand...
Jan 14, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 55
Do you know what a forensic sexual assault examination actually entails? What are the processes and how do they affect the outcome of a case? In this episode, former GP Kathryn Fox speaks to forensic physician Dr Maaike Moller to demystify and debunk the process of reporting a sexual assault. Maaike will walk us through how and when to report an assault, how evidence and DNA is collected from a survivor, and the autonomy of the survivor throughout the whole process. Maaike also shares her expert...
Jan 09, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 54
After an attempted murder left a man brutally injured, one cop decided to change the way police in Queensland respond to violent crimes. Queensland Police Sergeant Dustin Osborne is one of the best examples of how proactive policing can not only prevent crime, but save lives. He designed and implemented QPol’s groundbreaking Tactical First Aid Program. An initiative which has received global acclaim for its ability to train first responding police in critical medical intervention techniques. Joi...
Jan 07, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 53
In 2016, a mum of three and a wannabe serial killer became two of Australia's most calculated female murderers. Dr Kari Pitts is a forensic chemist and trace evidence expert, who has worked on over 300 criminal cases, including homicides, violent assaults, arson, and fatal hit-and-runs. In this episode, Kari explains how a dyed blue hair and some carpet helped convict Perth's female thrill kill pair. Kari also tells host Kathryn Fox about an initiative she pioneered with the WA Police, that has ...
Jan 02, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 52
In March 1991, five violent offenders stole a prison garbage truck and smashed their way through the gates. The pursuit that followed left the country and those watching live on Channel 7 stunned. Shaun O'Gorman is one of Queensland's most experienced dog handlers. He worked in the K9 unit for much of his career, and became one of the state's most effective operators. Understand his career with host Brent Sanders, and learn about what goes into training police dogs and the cops that go with them...
Dec 31, 2023•38 min•Season 2Ep. 51
In 2000, a violent daylight attack on two children rocked the Netherlands. The fatal event set the stage for the wrongful arrest of an innocent man, and would later go on to radically change the Dutch legal system forever. In this episode, host Kathryn Fox is joined by Rossanne de Roo, Forensic Advisor to the Dutch Courts, who reveals the shocking details of the bungled police investigation. Hear about the innovative role of forensic advisors, who close the gap between science and the law, to pr...
Dec 26, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 50
A 40 hour long raid. This was Derrick McManus' day at work in May 1994. Shot 14 times in a mere 5 seconds, and bleeding out on the ground for 3 hours. Derrick is a 40-year veteran of the South Australia Police. After joining the force in 1976, he moved up the ranks and was eventually selected for the exclusive STAR Group, an elite tactical special operations unit that took on some of the state's most intense cases. In this episode, Derrick tells host, Brent Sanders, how an arrest warrant turned ...
Dec 24, 2023•32 min•Season 2Ep. 49
