01| Down the Rabbit Hole - The Children in the Pictures

Jon Rouse had no idea what he was getting into when he joined Taskforce Argos to set up their first internet investigation. What he found was a problem so vast and unique that he needed to petition for legislation to catch up with the crimes his team was fighting.  In this episode, you'll learn how former head of Taskforce Argos Jon Rouse started his career, the methods he developed to fight against online child exploitation, and his advice to those working in child protection on how to avoid getting burnt out. It's an exclusive interview hosted by former sexual assault investigator Brent Sanders for another LiSTNR podcast called "Crime Insiders". This is a bonus episode of 'Disclosed: The Children in the Pictures'. The full series is available to binge now on the LiSTNR App (if you are in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts - just search 'Disclosed' and go to Season 1. If you'd like to hear more of Brent Sanders interviewing detectives about their careers, search "Crime Insiders" and look for episodes titled 'Detectives'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is Disclosed, the home of Australian true crime documentaries. Here you’ll find unforgettable stories from people who dare to speak out against injustice, with a new investigation each season.  We'll be announcing our next season very soon so make sure you're following - you won't want to miss this. Favourite the show now on the LiSTNR app if you're in Australia, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Love Zone is gone for good, but the threat remains.  Akhim Dev hears from experts and investigators about the next frontier of child exploitation, which is leaving kids vulnerable to grooming, blackmail and extortion— and starting earlier than parents would ever suspect. Dev realises he must move from documentary observer, to messenger for children’s rights. As he is given access to global halls of power, Dev explores how we can help victim-survivors, and how parents like himself can educate their kids to keep them from harm. This is part 8 of 8 of 'Disclosed: The Children in the Pictures'. The full series is available to binge now on the LiSTNR App (if you are in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts - just search 'Disclosed' and go to Season 1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prolific abuser K has been careful to hide his identity, but a digital slip up has led Argos to a crucial clue.  And while their investigation into The Love Zone is their most successful yet, the strain of the job is starting to take its toll. So how do you balance your work saving children’s lives, without damaging your own? The fight to bring you the story of The Love Zone leads to a surprising encounter with the former kingpin, Shannon McCoole, in an Australian court. It raises questions about how we can stop perpetrators from continuing to hurt children.  This is part 7 of 8 of 'Disclosed: The Children in the Pictures'. The full series is available to binge now on the LiSTNR App (if you are in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts - just search 'Disclosed' and go to Season 1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A glitch on The Love Zone site puts Argos’ operation in jeopardy. The Love Zone’s most obsessive moderator is beginning to suspect the site has been infiltrated by law enforcement. Argos must act quickly to throw off the scent— triggering a global police operation that spans three continents . Then, the team sets its sights on one of the most prolific abusers ever encountered— for legal reasons, we call him K.  This is part 6 of 8 of 'Disclosed: The Children in the Pictures'. The full series is available to binge now on the LiSTNR App (if you are in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts - just search 'Disclosed' and go to Season 1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Impersonating the head of an online child abuse board is no easy task. But the Argos team see it as the only way they can find and save vulnerable children around the world.  Their next target leads them to Europe, while back in Australia, Shannon McCoole’s home town of Adelaide deals with the shockwaves of discovering the horrifying access this abuser had to kids in the community.   And Akhim Dev learns how children who are victim-survivors come back from their abuse, with strength and storytelling. This is part 5 of 8 of 'Disclosed: The Children in the Pictures'. The full series is available to binge now on the LiSTNR App (if you are in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts - just search 'Disclosed' and go to Season 1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police move in and confront Skee at his home. His real name is Shannon McCoole. Hear never-before-shared police footage of McCoole’s dramatic arrest and prison interviews that reveal the full extent of the power he wielded as head of The Love Zone.  McCoole’s arrest presents Argos with a rare opportunity to hunt down TLZ’s most depraved operators, one by one.  This is part 4 of 8 of 'Disclosed: The Children in the Pictures'. The full series is available to binge now on the LiSTNR App (if you are in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts - just search 'Disclosed' and go to Season 1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Argos are closing in on The Love Zone’s head administrator Skee. Documentary maker Akhim Dev travels internationally to speak to experts who work directly with abusers, in order to find out why they’re so hard to stop.  Back in Queensland, Taskforce Argos try a new tactic in their search for Skee, with unexpected results. They’re going in… This is part 3 of 8 of 'Disclosed: The Children in the Pictures'. The full series is available to binge now on the LiSTNR App (if you are in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts - just search 'Disclosed' and go to Season 1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taskforce Argos has VIP access to one of the most restricted online child abuse boards on the dark net – The Love Zone. Police begin their hunt for the kingpin of the network: head administrator Skee.  This is part 2 of 8 of 'Disclosed: The Children in the Pictures'. The full series is available to binge now on the LiSTNR App (if you are in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts - just search 'Disclosed' and go to Season 1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After special court permission, we can finally share this all-access story of how some of Australia’s best detectives infiltrated a powerful global network of child abusers to find the children in the pictures. Australian documentary-maker and father of two Akhim Dev takes an unexpected tour of the dark web and discovers an epidemic hidden in plain sight: online child exploitation material.  This is part 1 of 8 of 'Disclosed: The Children in the Pictures'. The full series is available to binge now on the LiSTNR App (if you are in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts - just search 'Disclosed' and go to Season 1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.