Shortcut: The Disappearance of Pauline Sowry

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Pauline Sowry disappeared from Wollongong’s northern suburbs in December 1993 at the age of 49. An inquest in 2008 found she likely died after a reported sighting the following year, yet her body has never been located, and the case has continued to develop with a dedicated police task force in 2022, a 500 thousand dollar reward announced in 2024, and a charge laid then withdrawn in 2025. One of Pauline's children, Jason Lawrence joins us to share who his mother was and the lasting impact her disappearance has had on their family. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. Wanting to hear about certain kinds of crime? Check out our Spotify playlists for a curated list of our episodes. Join our Facebook Group here.  For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie Guests: Jason Larence Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard This episode contains extra content from NINE Entertainment. GET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at [email protected]

Pauline Sowry disappeared from Wollongong’s northern suburbs in December 1993 at the age of 49. An inquest in 2008 found she likely died after a reported sighting the following year, yet her body has never been located, and the case has continued to develop with a dedicated police task force in 2022, a 500 thousand dollar reward announced in 2024, and a charge laid then withdrawn in 2025. One of Pauline's children, Jason Lawrence joins us to share who his mother was and the lasting impact her disappearance has had on their family. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. Wanting to hear about certain kinds of crime? Check out our Spotify playlists for a curated list of our episodes. Join our Facebook Group here.  For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie Guests: Jason Larence Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard This episode contains extra content from NINE Entertainment. GET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at [email protected]

David Cammarata’s childhood best friend is currently a forensic patient in a secure psychiatric facility. He was found not guilty of the machete murder of his own brother at a suburban shopping centre and of stalking and attempting to murder David, because the judge believed he was suffering from severe mental illness when he committed the offences. David and his family were terrorised for years before his former friend Jonathan was apprehended. Now he lives in fear that he’ll one day be released.  David’s former best friend, the best man at his wedding is a man by the name of Jonathan Dick.  This episode was first aired on September 18th, 2022. You can watch our episodes and subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Wanting to hear about certain kinds of crime? Check out our Spotify playlists for a curated list of our episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 GET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at [email protected]

David Cammarata’s childhood best friend is currently a forensic patient in a secure psychiatric facility. He was found not guilty of the machete murder of his own brother at a suburban shopping centre and of stalking and attempting to murder David, because the judge believed he was suffering from severe mental illness when he committed the offences. David and his family were terrorised for years before his former friend Jonathan was apprehended. Now he lives in fear that he’ll one day be released.  David’s former best friend, the best man at his wedding is a man by the name of Jonathan Dick.  This episode was first aired on September 18th, 2022. You can watch our episodes and subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Wanting to hear about certain kinds of crime? Check out our Spotify playlists for a curated list of our episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 GET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at [email protected]

In 2016, a woman reported that she was sexually assaulted at a birthday party in the small western Victorian town of Balmoral. The case divided the close-knit community and led to a complex legal process involving an appeal, a retrial and a key witness who later changed her evidence, though two juries ultimately found the men guilty of rape. Journalists Andy Burns and Charlotte King join us to discuss their investigation for the ABC podcast Hometown Boys and the impact the case had on the town. PLEASE NOTE: This episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual violence. You can listen to Hometown Boys on the Background Briefing podcast by the ABC. You can watch our episodes and subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Wanting to hear about certain kinds of crime? Check out our Spotify playlists for a curated list of our episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie Guests: Andy Burns and Charlotte KingExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard GET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at [email protected]

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. In 2016, a woman reported that she was sexually assaulted at a birthday party in the small western Victorian town of Balmoral. The case divided the close-knit community and led to a complex legal process involving an appeal, a retrial and a key witness who later changed her evidence, though two juries ultimately found the men guilty of rape. Journalists Andy Burns and Charlotte King join us to discuss their investigation for the ABC podcast Hometown Boys and the impact the case had on the town. PLEASE NOTE: This episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual violence. You can listen to Hometown Boys on the Background Briefing podcast by the ABC. You can watch our episodes and subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Wanting to hear about certain kinds of crime? Check out our Spotify playlists for a curated list of our episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie Guests: Andy Burns and Charlotte KingExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard GET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at [email protected]

We recommend you listen to our previous episode "Ripple: A Long Strange Search for A Killer - ATC International" before starting this episode. Carol Williams, The energetic healer who was such an integral part of Jim Cosgrove's search for Frank McGonigle, joins us for a conversation that I can assure you will not disappoint. Jim's book, ‘Ripple: A Long Strange Search For A Killer’, can be purchased now. Wanting to hear about certain kinds of crime? Check out our Spotify playlists for a curated list of our episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: Carol Williams GET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at [email protected]

During Jim Cosgrove's childhood, a young man from his neighbourhood named Frank McGonigle disappeared without a trace. At various times throughout his life, Jim has been drawn back and retraced Frank’s steps, with various fascinating companions, inching closer and closer to finding out the truth about what happened to him. It’s been 40 years now, and Jim has finally written the book about his life looking for Frank. It’s called ‘Ripple: A Long Strange Search For A Killer’. It really is a strange journey, and a very entertaining one to read about. He joins us to talk about it. Wanting to hear about certain kinds of crime? Check out our Spotify playlists for a curated list of our episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: Jim Cosgrove GET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at [email protected]

Elysha was just seven years old when she was raped by Sterling Bower.  She joins us on this episode of Australian True Crime to give us an insight into what it's been like since Bower has been released. You can reach out to Elysha at [email protected] PLEASE NOTE: Listener discretion is advised as this episode details child sexual assault and trauma. Last week we re-issued Elysha's first episode with us from back in 2018. You can listen to it here "I Was Sexually Assaulted By A Stranger When I Was 7" You can watch the video version of this episode on our Youtube channel here. Wanting to hear about certain kinds of crime? Check out our Spotify playlists for a curated list of our episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: ElyshaExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard GET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at [email protected]

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Elysha was just seven years old when she was raped by Sterling Bower.  She joins us on this episode of Australian True Crime to give us an insight into what it's been like since Bower has been released. You can reach out to Elysha at [email protected] PLEASE NOTE: Listener discretion is advised as this episode details child sexual assault and trauma. Last week we re-issued Elysha's first episode with us from back in 2018. You can listen to it here "I Was Sexually Assaulted By A Stranger When I Was 7" You can watch the video version of this episode on our Youtube channel here. Wanting to hear about certain kinds of crime? Check out our Spotify playlists for a curated list of our episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: ElyshaExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard GET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at [email protected]