The Missing podcast: Aussie families share their ‘heartbreaking’ nightmares

Presented by former police officer Meni Caroutas, The Missing aims to break new ground on cold cases – because there’s always someone out there who knows something. These were the big moments from 2023. Listen to the podcast.

Almost 38,000 missing people are reported to police every year in Australia; that’s one every 14 minutes. Some do not return home. For their families, it’s a never-ending nightmare. For police, the search for answers can sometimes last for decades.

Presented by former police officer Meni Caroutas, The Missing aims to break new ground on these cold cases – because there’s always someone out there who knows something.

These were the big moments from 2023.

Former police officer Meni Caroutas who hosts The Missing podcast. Picture: Tim Hunter.

MILAT AND MY DAUGHTER

A teenager who vanished without a trace could be a victim of one of Australia’s worst serial killers, her family fear.

Debbie Marie Ashby was last seen on October 7, 1987 when she left her family home in Leumeah in Sydney’s west – a 10 minute drive from where Ivan Milat lived when he was arrested for the backpacker killings.

In a heartfelt revelation to The Missing, Debbie’s mother Mary revealed she believes the serial killer might be behind her daughter’s disappearance.

Debbie Ashby who was last seen leaving her family home at Leumeah in Sydney's west on October 9, 1987.

Debbie's mum Mary Ashby is still searching for answers. Picture: Supplied, Picture: Ryan Osland

“Then they started finding all the bodies in the forest, and I was convinced they’d find her. I was convinced of it.”

Milat was convicted of seven murders with his victims buried in the Belanglo State Forest, but homicide detectives have long suspected there were others who remain unfound.

Serial killer Ivan Milat. Picture: Supplied.

LISTEN TO THE MISSING PODCAST HERE

WHO KILLED KATIE

It’s been almost two decades since mother-of-five Katie O’shea disappeared from far North Queensland on the 29th December 2005.

A decade later a coroner said it was likely somebody had killed her - but the case has remained unsolved.

Ms O’Shea’s daughter Brigid, who was 11 and staying with her mother when she disappeared, said it was “heartbreaking” not knowing what happened to her, or where her body might be if she was murdered.

“It does become close to impossible, some days, absolutely,’ Brigid told The Missing.

“You go through it in your head. Deep down inside, you know they most likely won’t show up, you know, not alive anyway.

“But you just keep hoping and wishing, no matter what [that] she will walk in the door one day.”

Missing person Katie O'Shea with her daughter Lily Parmenter.

Katie O'Shea’s daughter Bridget Parmenter.

A BABY IN THE POST

After almost six decades, one of Australia’s most grisly mysteries is a step closer to being solved.

In 1965 a horrific discovery was made at a Darwin post office, when an unclaimed package addressed to a J Anderson was opened, uncovering a dead newborn baby.

After a revelation about the child’s possible identity on the latest season of The Missing, a woman called Amelia Anderson came forward, telling the podcast team the baby could be her big brother.

“It was just instant distress, shock, confusion, all the emotions you get, we have overcome the shock now, so we just wanna see if we can give the bubba some closure.”

Days after the release of the episode, Northern Territory police contacted Amelia and arranged for her to attend Darwin Police Station where they took her DNA.

The body of the baby after it was unwrapped from packaging in a post office in Darwin. Supplied

The body of the baby sent in the mail was exhumed from Darwin General Cemetery. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

STILL MISSING - PAUL STEVENSON

A potential witness in the disappearance of a Queensland father-of-two says he has since received death threats, which police have traced to a payphone hundreds of kilometres from where the man went missing.

The man, who asked not to be named, contacted police investigating the disappearance of Paul Stevenson, a diesel mechanic last seen on March 11, 2012.

Stevenson’s wife Julie told The Missing he got up early that morning to ride his motorbike. His bike was found in the bush, while Paul was never seen again.

Former diesel mechanic Paul Stevenson was last seen on March 11, 2012.

“Foul play is my answer,” Mrs Stevenson said, when asked what she thought happened to her husband.

“I do believe … that’s what’s happened to him. I’ve always had that gut feeling from the time I was up at Wonbah when they were searching.

“I do believe somebody there, some person or persons know what’s happened to him and knows where he is”.

GORDANA KOTEVSKI

The mysterious disappearance of schoolgirl Gordana Kotevski on November 24, 1994, has baffled investigators for almost three decades.

Gordana went missing as she was walking to her aunt’s house in Newcastle, a couple of hours drive north of sydney.

Gordana Kotevskih has been missing since 1994.

Gordana’s mother Peggy Kotevski with her daughter Carolina. Picture Ryan Osland

Witnesses say they heard a scream, and two car doors banging closed - then silence.

Gordanas mother Peggy told The Missing she will never forgive the people who took her daughter.

“I don’t think he’s a human being, I think they’re...animals, and I think they should be severely punished,” she said.

“Some days I feel like if I knew who they were I could cut them up to pieces, piece by piece”.