Kris Illingsworth is a former New South Wales detective who later trained with the FBI in behavioral threat assessment. In this episode of Crime Insiders | Detectives, Kris takes Brent Sanders behind the scenes at two of Australia's most notorious crimes... When a woman is murdered in the remote community of Norfolk Island, everyone on the island becomes a suspect. And in the sleepy NSW town of Wee Waa, a brutal sexual assault on an elderly woman is solved with the help of criminal profiling. Se...
Feb 23, 2025•53 min•Season 3Ep. 168
A knife-wielding attacker, a city in chaos, and a chase imprinted in the minds of Sydneysiders. On August 13, 2019, Mert Ney unleashed a brutal stabbing rampage through Sydney’s CBD—murdering Michaela Dunn and terrorising onlookers before being taken down by fearless bystanders wielding chairs and a milk crate. When police searched Ney, what they found raised even more disturbing questions. Step inside the courtroom as we uncover the shocking details of the judgement of R v Ney. Got a case you w...
Feb 19, 2025•32 min•Season 3Ep. 167
A group of bikies converged on Sydney airport. Within minutes, one was dead and others injured. It was an incident that set off one of the world's most intense and effective gang operations, and led to a plethora of law changes and high profile convictions. Deborah Wallace is a titan of NSW Police. Retiring in 2019 after 36 years in the force, she became known across Australia as 'The Gangbuster', after successful operations in the intense region of Cabramatta, and then the aforementioned Strike...
Feb 18, 2025•51 min•Season 3Ep. 166
DNA has become the gold standard in forensic investigation. As its use is increasing, so is our understanding of its limitations. Jae Gerhard is the principal forensic scientist at Independent Forensic Services. Starting out as a forensic scientist at the Australian Federal Police in 2002, Jae is an expert in body fluid detection, bloodstain pattern analysis, and DNA analysis and interpretation. In this episode of Crime Insiders Forensics, Kathryn Fox asks Jae to take us through the process of D...
Feb 16, 2025•53 min•Season 3Ep. 165
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...
Feb 11, 2025•52 min•Season 3Ep. 164
The Lindt Cafe siege is one of Australia’s most infamous crimes. A terrorist took ten customers and eight employees hostage back in December 2014. The Sydney siege resulted in a 16-hour standoff, ending when officers from the NSW Police Tactical Operations Unit – or the TOU - stormed the cafe. In this episode of Crime Insiders | Detectives, Brent Sanders sits down with Ben Besant, the police officer who led the police operation storming the cafe. A warning: this episode contains descriptions of ...
Feb 09, 2025•52 min•Season 3Ep. 163
Without the internet, police were unable to track offender behaviour, and heavily relied on the testimony of victim-survivors. These interviews were crucial, and required care and empathy, as one misstep, and evidence could be lost and a victim survivor left unheard. Former detective Andrew Patterson was part of a special task force investigating paedophiles in Perth, and was the one who spoke to hundreds of victim-survivors... One morning, he received information about a sexual predator, and de...
Feb 04, 2025•29 min•Season 3Ep. 162
What secrets do documents hide—and how are they uncovered? From forged wills to counterfeit passports, the world of document examination is a high-stakes game of detection and deception. No one knows this better than Justin Watt, a forensic document examiner with the Department of Home Affairs. In this episode of Crime Insiders | Forensics, hosted by Kathy Fox, Justin unravels how clues invisible to the naked eye busted a serial bank robber, what your handwriting can and can’t reveal about you, ...
Feb 02, 2025•44 min•Season 3Ep. 161
In 1995, a deliberately lit fire in Sydney left 8 people dead. But how was it lit? How can forensics tell, and what information do they need to build a case for conviction? Professor Peter Ellis is a veteran of forensics in Australia and has worked across a number of high profile criminal investigations. He's also worked overseas, in mass grave sites in Kosovo and mass disasters like the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami in Thailand. In this episode of Crime Insiders Forensics, understand Peter's career, ...
Jan 28, 2025•46 min•Season 3Ep. 160
Graeme Simpfendorfer was a decorated Victorian police officer. He used good old-fashioned policing to convict an arsonist who deliberately lit a fire in a shopping strip on the NSW/Victoria border. His hunch proved right. Later, Graeme worked in the prestigious Victorian Police Homicide Squad, where he obtained two departmental commendations for solving difficult, high-profile murders. Graeme tells host Brent Sanders about solving the arson case and how he helped put a man behind bars in relatio...
Jan 26, 2025•45 min•Season 3Ep. 159
The psychology of this policing is like no other, and requires a particular set of skills. For Anthony Macklin, it suited his attention to detail and unrelenting work ethic. He was dedicated to his work, and to the force. But, when bureaucracy and the decisions of those above him meant an offender slipped through the net - he had to rethink his career. Anthony Macklin is a former Detective Inspector in the NSW Police. He worked tirelessly in the force, and took on several high ranking positions ...
Jan 21, 2025•42 min•Season 3Ep. 158
Thousands of people cross Pheasants Nest Bridge on the Hume Highway every day, probably unaware of its haunting past. Beneath this towering structure lies a history shrouded in tragedy—suicide, dismembered remains, mysterious deaths, and dozens of unanswered questions. In 1989, the bridge became the site of a chilling case: the untimely deaths of two 15-year-old boys, Matthew Kelly and Jaymie Egner, who were discovered inside one of the bridge's 33m high pylons. Forensic Investigator Esther McKa...
Jan 19, 2025•50 min•Season 3Ep. 157
An innocent child was charged with the murder of his classmate - becoming Canada's youngest death row inmate. It wasn't until The Innocence Project became involved that Steven Truscott finally had his conviction overturned almost 5 decades later. 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 discussi...
Jan 14, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 155
Dozens of young girls were subjected to years of sexual abuse and trafficking, only to be consistently let down by every institution that was supposed to protect them. The police response was so poor, Maggie Oliver left her 16-year career with the Greater Manchester Police so she could blow the whistle on the consistent failures of the police. If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline (Crisis support and suicide prevention) 13 11 14 1800 Respect (National sexual assault, family and domestic...
Jan 12, 2025•50 min•Season 3Ep. 155
When victims share their stories, it's often with the hope that no one else will have to endure what they did. It’s about raising awareness, spotting the red flags, and, ensuring that those in power take your concerns seriously. These themes are also at the heart of every story we share on this podcast. In this episode, we’re drawing on the expertise of law enforcement professionals who have seen crimes unfold, and unravelled the chain of events that led to them. This isn't just a conversation a...
Jan 05, 2025•25 min•Season 3Ep. 154
The ripple effects of crime stretch further than we often imagine—touching lives in ways that are raw, profound, and deeply personal. On Crime Insiders , we’re privileged to hear the untold stories of those who face crime's impact head-on. In this episode, we’ll delve into some of these extraordinary stories. Crime Insiders is hosted by Brent Sanders and Kathryn Fox. Guests in this episode include Professor David Balding, Jason Semple, Peter Baines and Carla Tomadini. If you or anyone you know n...
Dec 29, 2024•28 min•Season 3Ep. 153
Why? It’s the question that draws so many of us to true crime. Why would someone kill? What drives a person to stalk? Are some people truly evil? Are good people capable of terrible things? We grapple with these questions, trying to make sense of the unimaginable. Is it their childhood? Their biology? Or something more complex? These aren’t just the questions we ask. Detectives, forensic psychologists, and criminal behaviour analysts have spent lifetimes trying to understand the minds of those w...
Dec 22, 2024•35 min•Season 3Ep. 152
10 years ago, Sydney came to a standstill. A lone gunman took 18 hostages captive inside the Lindt Café, some of whom escaped, others were trapped for 16 harrowing hours. The siege ended in the deaths of two innocent people—Tori Johnson, executed by the terrorist, and Katrina Dawson, struck by a ricochet from a police bullet when the Tactical Operations Unit stormed the building. In the aftermath, public outrage boiled over as the government and police were heavily criticised for their handling ...
Dec 14, 2024•26 min•Season 3Ep. 151
When the bodies in the barrels were found, Australia was rocked. A murder investigation was underway, and forensics was set to play a huge part. But where to even begin? Professor Roger Byard AO had been working in forensics for just two weeks when he got the call. A set of barrels had been found in a bank vault, and he was needed at the scene. The investigation that followed was taxing on Roger, and the community in South Australia, but the work was meaningful and would lead to successful convi...
Dec 10, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 150
Over a harrowing 69 minutes on September 2013, 12 people were shot dead and many more wounded in what was Washington DC's deadliest mass shooting. Navy contractor Aaron Alexis terrorised thousands of workers at the Washington Navy Yard. Former FBI Agent Timothy Gallagher led the operation at the navy yard, and he describes to host Brent Sanders how hours felt like minutes as he and his colleagues raced against time to find and capture the killer. If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline (C...
Dec 08, 2024•40 min•Season 3Ep. 149
A man-hunt that lasted more than 7 years. One of Australia's most wanted men finally caught. But by who? And at what cost? Ricky Hennessy was an integral member of the NSW Police Force for over 22 years. His skill, and level of focus lead to several high-profile convictions all across Australia. One of his most notable, was the capture of fugitive and convicted killer Malcolm Naden; who was on the run in NSW bushland for more than 7 years. With host and former police officer Brent Sanders, under...
Dec 03, 2024•57 min•Season 3Ep. 148
One night, four crime scenes, 32 gunshot wounds, and eight members of the same family slain in their homes. Two years later, a local family of four was arrested for the murders. These are the events now known as the Piketon Massacre, Ohio's most notorious mass murder. Dive into the chilling details of this case with forensic investigator, Joseph Scott Morgan. Known for his insights on high-profile cases, Joseph brings his deep expertise to this now infamous investigation. In this episode, Kathry...
Dec 01, 2024•37 min•Season 3Ep. 147
CTE is surprisingly common - but, it can only be diagnosed post-mortem, and by a forensic expert. So, how is does an examination work? And why is it so hard to have one done? Dr Linda Iles is a forensic neuropathologist, and someone who performs post-mortem brain examinations on people every single day. What she discovers in these exams is extraordinary, and revealing of the life that person lead. Understand how someone is diagnosed with CTE post-mortem, and the intricate details of brain examin...
Nov 26, 2024•25 min•Season 3Ep. 146
A young cop in England realises whilst chasing a suspect with a rifle that his life will never be the same again. It lead to infiltrating football hooligans as a 17-stone skinhead. Garry Rogers QPM is a former undercover operative who served 30 years with the Greater Manchester Police. Garry played a key role in one of the UK's most successful undercover policing operations, targeting the football hooliganism that blighted the domestic and international game. The undercover operation was so succ...
Nov 24, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 145
Taskforce Argos was built to catch the worst of the worst - to infiltrate and stop child exploitation material networks. Its former head, Jon Rouse spent years in the operation, and became entrenched in the world of saving children from abuse and sexual exploitation. Now, he's got some distance from the front-line, but, questions still linger. How does it all affect him? And what is he doing now after leaving the force? Unpack the incredible career, and the merciless work that Jon Rouse and the ...
Nov 19, 2024•49 min•Season 3Ep. 144
When a human body is discovered in the United States, there is a person who takes on the role of eyes and ears of the dead: the death investigator. There is a whole chain of officials from the police, to forensic pathologists, to families and loved ones that depend on these specialists to unlock stories the dead can no longer tell. No one knows this role like Joseph Scott Morgan. In this episode, host Kathryn Fox and Joseph peel back the layers of this hidden world: the science, the secrets, and...
Nov 17, 2024•50 min•Season 3Ep. 143
What happens when you report a sexual assault? 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 expertise on drug-facilitated as...
Nov 12, 2024•48 min•Season 3Ep. 142
How did Anne Hamilton-Byrne control her followers? How did the police eventually catch her? And what happened to the dozens of children that were in the 'care' of The Family. Lex de Man investigated The Family for more than four years, and helped rescue dozens of children from the abuse of Anne Hamilton-Byrne and her followers. Join Lex as he walks host Brent Sanders through the case in exclusive detail, and explains how he and the Victorian Police were able to arrest and charge Anne Hamilton-By...
Nov 10, 2024•38 min•Season 3Ep. 141
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 ...
Nov 05, 2024•37 min•Season 3Ep. 140
Does your family have a favourite recipe, a meal that feels like home? For Mario, that was his wife’s famous spaghetti and meatballs. But one evening, what should have been a comforting dish left him feeling... uneasy. And then, it happened again and again. Was it just a bad batch—or something far more sinister? In this episode, meet John Franceschini, a forensic chemist with over 30 years of experience in private labs. Outside the reach of police or government, he uncovers the truth about what'...
Nov 03, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 139
