Lost Innocence at Wanda Beach: A Cold Case Deep Dive

Crime Connoisseurs

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Could one of Australia's oldest cold cases finally be cracked with modern technology? Join us on an eerie journey back to 1965 as we uncover the chilling details of the Wanda Beach Murders, a case that has haunted a community for almost six decades. We revisit the tragic day when teenage friends Mary Ann Schmidt and Christine Sherrick disappeared during a beach outing, leading to a grim discovery that shocked the nation. Listen in as we recount their last known movements and the agonizing hours that followed, ultimately ending with the discovery of their bodies in the sandhills.
Our exploration doesn’t stop at the crime scene. Hear from Detective Inspector Haynes and former detective Sec Johnson about the exhaustive investigation that followed, filled with thousands of interviews but no concrete arrests. We delve into renewed media interest in the 1980s and 2000s, especially focusing on lost evidence and the promise of DNA technology. Listen to Johnson's compelling argument regarding suspect Alan Bassett and his eerie painting, which he believes depicts the crime scene. Despite decades of persistent efforts, this episode underscores the ongoing quest for answers in one of Australia’s most harrowing unsolved murders. Join us as we piece together the clues and ponder the lingering mysteries of the Wanda Beach Murders.
Source Material: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yB3VN9UabYvsIJN4-YlmjITcsT-hxQQR1bKX_98oeQg/edit?usp=sharing

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Chapters

1. The Wanda Beach Murders (00:00:00)

2. The Unsolved Wanda Beach Murders (00:17:46)