Lost in Sydney podcasts: The stories of Sydney’s missing people
THEY are the people who disappear and are never seen again. The missing people of Sydney. Here is the investigative podcast series, Lost in Sydney, produced by the network of NewsLocal newspapers across Sydney.
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THEY are emotional stories. They are mysterious stories. They are heartbreaking stories. They are people stories. Stories told about people who are lost, by those who are left behind, the people who knew them best.
This is the investigative podcast series, Lost in Sydney, produced by the network of NewsLocal newspapers across Sydney.
THE LIME GREEN VAN
STEPHEN Lapthorne and Michelle Pope, then 21 and 18 respectively, disappeared while travelling from Stephen’s family home in West Pymble to Berowra on Friday, August 25, 1978.
The case, which rocked the upper north shore at the time, resulted in countless searches, pleas from family and friends to private investigators and, years later, an inquest that identified backpacker serial killer Ivan Milat as a person of interest in the couple’s disappearance.
THE DISAPPEARANCE AT DAWN
CITY dweller Tiemuzhen Chalaer’s love of music drew him to an unregistered dance party deep in the bush.
He accepted an invitation from friends to attend the GEOHectic music festival in Lower Portland, more than 30km north of Richmond, on Saturday, August 6, 2016.
But early in the morning, ‘Tim’ left a car packed with his friends, wallet, passport, shoes and socks and headed into the bush.
He was never seen again.
THE BOY ON BOXING DAY
IT IS Boxing Day, 1982, a young indigenous boy jumps the back fence of his Dundas Valley home to scurry off to Eastwood station — he is on a mission to borrow money for his mother — minutes later his brother goes after him, but Bradford Pholi is never seen again.
The disappearance of the 10-year-old with dark brown eyes and brown hair, resulted in the early death of his mother and his siblings have had a spiralling battle with substance abuse.
THE BAG IN THE BUSH
FIFTEEN years may have passed since Maureen Matterson vanished without a trace — but that won’t stop those closest to her from holding onto hope.
Maureen, 57 at the time of her disappearance, was last seen by her daughter at the Seven Hills home the family shared on December 5, 2003.
The loving grandmother spent the morning of that fateful day playing with her one-year-old grandson, Bailey Nouredine, before setting out on her daily walk to visit friends.
But Maureen was never seen again.
THE LAST DANCE
JUST after midnight on a Saturday 40 years ago, Avalon teenager Trudie Adams hitched a ride home from the Newport surf club and was never seen again.
The disappearance and suspected murder of the popular 18-year-old business college student became one of the northern beaches’ most enduring mysteries.
Now, for the first time, a woman who was one of the last people to see Ms Adams alive has spoken publicly about seeing her friend leave the surf club and wave down a panel van at a section of Barrenjoey Rd called the “hitching spot”.
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