The Detective’s Story: Damian Loone on the Disappearance of Cheryl Grimmer

Some of you may recognise the name and voice of this episode’s guest, It’s retired NSW Police Detective Sergeant Damian Loone who featured on Hedley Thomas’s extraordinary podcast The Teacher’s Pet. Damian investigated the 1982 disappearance of Sydney mum Lynnette Dawson for years, bringing the case to two coronial inquests. Lynette’s former husband Chris Dawson was charged with her murder in 2018 and is awaiting trial.

Damian features again in another major podcast that’s gripped listeners' attention worldwide. It’s the excellent BBC Sounds multi-episode podcast Fairy Meadow about 3-year-old Cheryl Grimmer’s haunting disappearance from Fairy Meadow Beach in Wollongong in 1970.

Damian and Detective Frank Sanvitale, were the detectives tasked with having another look at Cheryl’s disappearance. The case had basically gone nowhere for more than 45 years until the file was passed to them.

The NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman can give the Grimmer family their day in court. You can contact him here.

If you'd like to go one step further to assist the Grimmer family, you can also sign this petition - addressed to Attorney General Speakman - to help in the fight to find justice for Cheryl.

The BBC Sounds podcast Fairy Meadow, hosted by Jon Kay, can be found here.

There is a $1 Million dollar reward from NSW Police for information about Cheryl’s abduction and murder.

NEXT WEEK

Terror Knocks in FNQ - A young man is woken in the dead of night by a terrfied woman at his door. He barricades the two of them inside against the men from whom she’s fleeing, none of whom he knows, and frantically calls police for help. Before help arrives, he’s forced to defend himself and the 000 operator listens helplessly as the men outside lose patience and invade his home. What follows is a tragedy.

Author Robyn Bowles sheds light on how this bizarre night really unfolded.

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram here and get her free monthly newsletter here.

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here.

Guest: Damian Loone

Producer/Editor: Lachie Flannigan

Executive Producer: Jacqueline Tonks

GET IN TOUCH:

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Email the show at hello@australiantruecrimepodcast.com

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media.

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