
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 WEEKTerror 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 LooneProducer/Editor: Lachie FlanniganExecutive Producer: Jacqueline TonksGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcastEmail the show at hello@australiantruecrimepodcast.comAustralian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
8 Feb 202233min

The Detective’s Story: Frank Sanvitale on the Disappearance of Cheryl Grimmer
The disappearance of 3-year-old Cheryl Grimmer in 1970 has gripped listeners around the world due to the extraordinary BBC Sounds Podcast Fairy Meadow and our guest for this episode Frank Sanvitale is a big part of that podcast.Now retired from the New South Wales Police, Frank has moved the wheels of justice further for Cheryl’s shattered family more than had ever been done in the more than 50 years since her disappearance.Frank, was teamed up in 2016 with Detective Sergeant Damian Loone and the pair set about looking into this long cold case, combing over boxes of stored evidence.It was a confession made in 1971 by a then 17-year-old that was found in one of these dusty boxes and set in motion events that would see that person, who we can only identify as Mercury, charged with Cheryl’s murder in 2017.But tragically, the case against mercury fell apart because the trial judge applied a retrospective law on the confession and would not allow it as evidence.The collapse of the case against Mercury was the breaking point for Frank who left the police soon after.The NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman can give the Grimmer family their day in court. You can contact him here.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 WEEKTerror 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: Frank SanvitaleProducer/Editor: Lachie FlanniganExecutive Producer: Jacqueline TonksGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcastEmail the show at hello@australiantruecrimepodcast.comAustralian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
8 Feb 202248min

The Disappearance of Cheryl Grimmer & The 52-year Search for Justice.
On January 12th 1970, Three-Year-Old Cheryl Grimmer disappeared from Fairy Meadow Beach. While it’s technically one of Australia’s longest-standing cold cases, Cheryl’s family and the two highly respected former homicide detectives believe they know exactly what happened to her, and who’s responsible. Cheryl’s eldest brother, Ricky Nash, was the last person to see her on the day of her disappearance. Ricky joins us to discuss his fight to find justice for his baby sister. 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 brilliant BBC Sounds podcast Fairy Meadow, hosted by Jon Kay, can be found here. NEXT WEEK Staying with the Cheryl Grimmer story, we’ll hear from Frank Sanvitale & Damian Loone, the two former homicide detectives who arrested the man both they and Ricky Nash believe to be responsible for Cheryl’s disappearance and murder. 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:Ricky Nash Producer/Editor:Lachie Flannigan ExecutiveProducer: Jacqueline Tonks GET IN TOUCH: Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast Email the show at hello@australiantruecrimepodcast.com Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Yourstory matters and how you tell it matters even more.You can find more shows here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
6 Feb 202259min

Short Cut: Why The Whole Story Matters When Sex Crimes Go To Court.
This is an Australian True Crime short cut. It’s an abridged version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Why The Whole Story Matters When Sex Crimes Go To Court.Criminologist Patrick Tidmarsh specialises in teaching police how to interview victims of sexual assault and sex offenders in the hope that he can have some positive impact in the pathetically low rates of conviction in that area. He joins us to talk about his new book ‘The Whole Story’.The Whole Story by Patrick Tidmarsh: www.booktopia.com.au/the-whole-story-patrick-tidmarsh/book/9781787331037.htmlNEXT 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: Patrick TidmarshProducer/Editor: Lachie FlanniganExecutive Producer: Jacqueline TonksGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcastEmail the show at hello@australiantruecrimepodcast.comAustralian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.patricYou can find more shows here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2 Feb 202213min

Why The Whole Story Matters When Sex Crimes Go To Court.
Why The Whole Story Matters When Sex Crimes Go To Court.Criminologist Patrick Tidmarsh specialises in teaching police how to interview victims of sexual assault and sex offenders in the hope that he can have some positive impact in the pathetically low rates of conviction in that area. He joins us to talk about his new book ‘The Whole Story’.The Whole Story by Patrick Tidmarsh: www.booktopia.com.au/the-whole-story-patrick-tidmarsh/book/9781787331037.htmlNEXT 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: Patrick TidmarshProducer/Editor: Lachie FlanniganExecutive Producer: Jacqueline TonksGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcastEmail the show at hello@australiantruecrimepodcast.comAustralian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.patricYou can find more shows here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
30 Jan 202256min

Gary Jubelin's Brilliant Career
Show Notes Ep 237 of Australian True Crime with Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbFormer Detective Inspector Gary Jubelin of NSW police will be forever linked with the search for William Tyrrell. In this re issued episode of Australian True Crime, originally aired in 2020, we hear about some of the cases that made him a legend before he agreed to take on the one that ended his 34-year career and has him back in the headlines now. Buy CSITold You Lies by Meshel Laurie hereIn PaperbackAs an ebookAs an audiobookread by Meshel You can support us with a one-off contribution here.You can become a patron here.You can subscribe to Calm Ya Farm here.You can visit the Calm Ya Farm website here. Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport uson PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on ApplePodcastsListen on GooglePodcastsListen on Spotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22 Nov 202141min

William Tyrrell Update - Who Really Said What and When?
Show Notes Ep 236 of Australian True Crime with Meshel Laurie and Emily Webb Australia is haunted by its missing children and none more so than William Tyrrell. On November 16 NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller sensationally announced a breakthrough in the investigation. The headlines have been extraordinary and at times misleading. Here are the interviews behind those headlines. Buy CSITold You Lies by Meshel Laurie hereIn PaperbackAs an ebookAs an audiobookread by Meshel You can support us with a one-off contribution here.You can become a patron here.You can subscribe to Calm Ya Farm here.You can visit the Calm Ya Farm website here. Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport uson PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on ApplePodcastsListen on GooglePodcastsListen on Spotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22 Nov 202128min

Who Killed Canberra Grandmother Irma Palasics?
Episode 236: On November 6, 1999, Canberra grandmother Irma Palasics was on the floor of her home. Irma’s grandson John Mikita feels that the case is tantalisingly close to being solved but frustratingly, despite a few breakthroughs on the case and a $500,000 reward, no one has been arrested. Police believe that members of the Hungarian community in Melbourne can provide the vital clue to the identity of the people who killed Irma. John Mikita runs and maintains a website https://www.whokilledirma.com.au/ that has lots of information and videos. If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or https://www.lifeline.org.au/ If you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast,please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/australiantruecrime. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Australian-True-Crime-with-Meshel-Laurie-and-Emily-Webb-968806949920266/?fref=ts Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/australiantruecrimepodcast/ Twitter https://twitter.com/australiantcpod?lang=en Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AustTrueCrimePodVisit our Bookshop https://australiantruecrimepodcast.com/bookshopThis is a Smart Fella production in conjunction with the acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
14 Nov 202141min