Three doors down22 Jul 2025

Introducing...The Lab Detective

Kathleen Folbigg was known as ‘Australia's worst female serial killer’ - she’d lost all four of her infant children and was convicted for killing them.

Until, after spending decades in jail, a scientist working in a lab uncovered the truth behind the deaths.

The Lab detective is the story of a shocking miscarriage of justice, and an investigation into why Kathleen’s story might not be the last.

This is episode one of four. You can listen to the entire series today by subscribing to The Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or by downloading the Tortoise app. To listen, search for The Lab Detective wherever you get your podcasts.

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free episodes.
Head to our website observer.co.uk
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Reporter: Rachel Sylvester

Producer: Gary Marshall

Music supervisor: Karla Patella

Sound design: Rowan Bishop

Podcast artwork: Lola Williams

Executive producer: Basia Cummings

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Episoder(9)

Introducing...Dangerous Memories

Introducing...Dangerous MemoriesWhen Sarah watched her 23 year old daughter cycle away from her in Chelsea - a well-off corner of London - she had no idea it would be the last time they’d see each oth...

9 Jul 202441min

Introducing… Legacy

We are partnering with Wondery, so that we can continue to bring our listeners brilliant investigations like Three Doors Down. You can join Tortoise as a member to get early and ad-free access to new ...

15 Nov 20234min

Inquiry | Ep 5

The police say they are not looking for any more victims of David Boyd but we met other women who were confronted by the killer. This episode contains descriptions of child sexual abuse.This is the fi...

8 Aug 202321min

Conviction | Ep 4

Sharon's case should be extraordinary but it isn't. A few miles away from Sharon another mother was left to solve her own daughter's murder after being let down by police. For the premium Tortoise lis...

1 Aug 202323min

Confession | Ep 3

The number one suspect is interrogated by police until he confesses but it's not until 30 years later that the right man is put on trial.For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our j...

25 Jul 202329min

Rumours | Ep 2

Rumours choke the case and a vulnerable suspect is arrested. The first 48 hours after a crime are crucial: what did the police get so wrong in the days after Nikki went missing?For the premium Tortois...

18 Jul 202330min

Missing | Ep 1

In 1992 on a council estate in Sunderland a seven year old girl is murdered. It took the police 30 years to find the killer, a convicted child sex offender who lived three doors away from where Nikki ...

18 Jul 202324min