Shandee Blackburn’s unsolved murder investigated in new podcast series Shandee’s Story
The unsolved murder of young hospitality worker Shandee Blackburn will be the subject of the latest investigative podcast series by The Australian’s Hedley Thomas | WATCH
The unsolved murder of a popular young hospitality worker, Shandee Blackburn, will be the subject of the latest investigative podcast series by The Australian’s national chief correspondent Hedley Thomas.
Eight years ago, Shandee, 23, was walking home from work after a night shift in the central Queensland sugar and mining town of Mackay when she was savagely attacked with a knife on the street and left to die.
Security cameras briefly captured a mystery figure running hard towards her in the seconds before she was cut down near the townhouse she shared with her mother Vicki.
Detectives zeroed in on Shandee’s ex-boyfriend, John Peros, a champion boxer. He denied involvement and argued there was instead a compelling case against a nearby resident, William Daniel, a violent criminal and ice addict known to brandish knives. He also denied any wrongdoing.
The new podcast, Shandee’s Story, is the culmination of six months’ work by Thomas, the award-winning investigative journalist behind The Teacher’s Pet and The Night Driver podcasts.
It will launch on Friday October 15, and is due to unfold weekly over at least 11 episodes.
Thomas said on Friday the series, its witnesses and experts would reveal important new facts that might help identify with certainty Shandee’s killer.
“Shandee had absolutely no chance to survive a savage and cowardly attack,” he said.
“She couldn’t even cry out because the knife was used in a particularly ferocious way, slashing her voice box.
“Her story since has been one of terrible trauma for her family and friends, and unresolved confusion in Mackay because there is no proper ending yet – her killer is still at large.
“I want this podcast, Shandee’s Story, to properly give her voice back and tell everything about what happened and possibly why it happened and who might have done it.”
Editor of The Australian and The Weekend Australian Michelle Gunn said: “Hedley’s outstanding track record with podcasting is the perfect example of The Australian’s commitment to investigative journalism.
“Like so many of our readers, I am a fan and cannot wait to hear this story unfold.
“Shandee’s Story will also be a significant contribution to our ongoing work exploring violence against women and the complexities of our criminal justice system.”
Thomas was awarded the 2018 Gold Walkley for The Teacher’s Pet investigation into the 1982 disappearance of mother of two Lyn Dawson from Sydney’s northern beaches. Following the series, Dawson’s husband, former teacher Chris Dawson, was charged with her murder. He is due to face trial next year.
The Teacher’s Pet has been made temporarily unavailable in Australia in the interests of ensuring a fair trial.
Thomas’s second podcast, The Night Driver, examined the mysterious disappearance of 31-year-old retail worker Janine Vaughan from Bathurst, NSW, in December 2001.
Vaughan was last seen getting into a red car after leaving the local Metro Tavern.
Subscribers to The Australian will have exclusive first access to the podcast episodes via The Australian app.
Anyone with information about the murder of Shandee Blackburn can contact Hedley Thomas confidentially at shandee@theaustralian.com.au
See more at shandee.com.au
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