Crime

5 Aussie hometown murder stories that stopped the nation

Among some of the crime cases that Australia will never forget, are murders that unfolded in the quiet corners of small towns, stark bushlands and rural suburbia.

These podcasts unpack heinous Australian crimes that left lasting impressions on local communities.

Bodies in the Barrels

Snowtown, South Australia.

    The murder of twelve people during the ’90s made national news when it was discovered the bodies has been stored in barrels in the town’s bank vault. Three men were found guilty of the murders, their motive for which was a combination of paranoia, bigotry, and social security fraud.

    Listen to Crime Insiders: Forensics – ‘The Snowtown Murders’

    Kim Snibson: ‘The Face of Evil’

    Nowra, New South Wales.

    Kim Snibson wanted the property belonging to couple Kathryn McKay and Greg Hosa – so badly she would kill for it. Snibson and two men she convinced to aid her kidnapped the couple, who she then murdered and disposed of their bodies in metal drums lit on fire.

    Listen to Generation Why – ‘Katherine Knight’

    The Love Triangle Murder

    Goomboorian, Queensland.

    The disturbing case of a suburban grandmother who orchestrated the murder of her ex-partner via a woodchipper. Investigative journalist Tara Cassidy examines how and why Queensland woman Sharon Graham coerced two lovers to stage Bruce Saunders’ death as an accident on a friend’s rural property.

    Listen to Crime in Focus: Killer Charm – ‘The Accident’

    The Female Hannibal Lecter

    Aberdeen, New South Wales.

    Katherine Knight had a long history of violence, culminating in the brutal murder of her partner John in 2000. She stabbed him to death, skinned the body and cooked his head to feed his children. She was apprehended and became the first Australian woman sentenced to life in prison.

    Listen to Small Town Murder – ‘The Face of Evil’

    Where is Paddy Moriarty?

    Larrimah, Northern Territory.

    The small town of Larrimah lost one of their few locals when 70-year-old Paddy disappeared without a trace in 2017. Although his body has never been found, authorities believe he was likely killed in relation to a neighbourhood feud, and his body was disposed in the vast outback.

    Listen to The Briefing – ‘Larrimah: Australia’s unsolved outback mystery’

    Subscribe to Crime Insiders, taking you beyond true crime. In groundbreaking interviews, explore the world of policing and forensics through stories from the world’s most experienced and decorated experts.  

    Jade Murray

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