The Lady Vanishes

02/07/2024

Thank you for your ongoing support Great Australian Pods Podcast Directory

The Truth About Amy

Great Australian Pods Podcast Directory: https://www.greataustralianpods.com/the-truth-about-amy/

02/07/2024

02/07/2024

The Truth will come out

01/07/2024

Episode 2 Wrong Decision is available now podcast

As he stood and looked at the ghastly scene in front him, Larry Blandford made a promise — to himself, and to the young woman who lay dead on the floor at his feet.

30/06/2024

Why the police officer first on scene suspected foul play - episode 2 of Wrong Decision is available now

29/06/2024

Episode 2 Wrong Decision will be available after midnight tomorrow.

You’ll hear how former Constable Larry Blandford will never forget the night Amy died, saying he never believed she killed herself. Now retired, he reveals what really happened and how the mishandling of her death continues to haunt those involved. Also, find out what happened when detectives were questioned at the Coronial Inquest.

All episodes will drop weekly at 12.01am every Monday morning.

28/06/2024

This week, I had the pleasure of catching up with my old friend Greg Cary on 4BC radio about The Lady Vanishes book. Getting Marion's story out there as far and wide as possible will hopefully truly achieve justice. Too many women in Australia have met with foul play and authorities have just turned a blind eye. It's time to hold them to account! Click on the link to listen.

A MUST read! 📖📖

Co-author of ‘The Lady Vanishes’, Alison Sandy, joined Greg Cary to dissect the bestselling Australian true crime book based on the disappearance of Marion Barter.

Hear the details: https://nine.social/Kuk

28/06/2024

Today is Gwen Grover's birthday - she would have turned 73.

This is a photo of the tree planted for her by Cairns Regional Council after our podcast was published.

Later this year, a red bench will go in and one day, Gwen's Tree will shelter and protect the people on that bench, the same way she tried to shelter and protect her boys.

Like so many other women across Australia, Gwen's death was a Hidden Homicide.

The creators of her podcast are dedicated to exposing stories such as Gwen's whose deaths were mishandled by authorities.

Gwen's sister, Sue Cole, has this message:

"To all our friends, family and loyal supporters, your unwavering support has given me the strength and courage to keep going even when things get tough. I want you all to know how much it means to me and I will continue with our fight to get justice for Gwen."

We are still awaiting a date for the District Court where Gwen's case will be resumed.

22/06/2024

Talking about The Truth About Amy on Sunrise this morning, which is now available wherever you download your podcasts. You can follow us here https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560930526578 where we'll post all the updates about getting justice for Amy from now on. Thank you for caring about and supporting the families of victims of crime.

22/06/2024

Today’s the day! Tune into Channel 7 - Sunrise at 8.40am, 7NEWS Australia at 6pm, 7NEWS Spotlight at 8.40pm and subscribe to https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/crime/the-truth-about-amy-new-podcast-to-revisit-death-of-devoted-wa-mother-of-two-amy-wensley-in-2014-c-15088118?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1yRLyPSKw2V3tVyYk1Ar5xj75dpLcxkKW4pptsn71gZnlhHn-L0Q_eEh8_aem_fQV7UzlNJeNNkNDUtjFg2w

22/06/2024

This week, and for many weeks to come, Seven West Media will release a major new podcast — The Truth About Amy — which will revisit the death of devoted mother-of-two Amy Wensley in 2014.

22/06/2024

The front page of tomorrow’s The Sunday Times.

22/06/2024

How did Amy Wensley really die?

Spotlight investigates Australia’s most intriguing cold case.

Liam Bartlett uncovers new evidence with a leading crime scene reconstruction expert.

Spotlight presents: The Truth About Amy. Sunday 8.45pm

20/06/2024

Sunday night is a big night. The Truth About Amy podcast will be launched nationally on all 6pm news bulletins and Spotlight! https://www.facebook.com/share/r/3CnGQ4r2KroM71UW/?mibextid=VMBKnz

20/06/2024

We’ve hit #1 in Australia for the True Crime (category) Bestseller according to Bookscan! Thank you all for your support!

17/06/2024

I am in the privileged position to work in a job where I can shine a light on stories of terrible injustice and provide a voice to those who are constantly being ignored by the people with the power to do something about it. I have rarely encountered a story where the evidence is so completely overwhelming in the picture it paints and yet authorities still continue to turn a blind eye to the absolute obvious. It's podcasts such as this one which can truly make all the difference. Please tune in when it launches Sunday night. Alison

A decade after her death was written off as su***de, the case is reopened for a fourth time... this time as a homicide.

10/06/2024

Lovely to receive a generous review of our book in the Canberra Daily. Thanks Jeff Popple!

This week, Jeff Popple reviews three good books about true and fictional disappearances.

31/05/2024

Please help if you can especially if you’re on the Gold Coast or Northern NSW

Patrick Liedke - Missing Person

30 May 2024

After a thirty-nine-day search, a meeting with NSW Police Force detectives yesterday resulted in re-strategising a plan to find Patrick.

My new plea is for the local community, and especially residents of Far Northern New South Wales, Gold Coast City and Gold Coast Hinterland areas to please continue to report any information immediately no matter how small or irrelevant you think it may be, as all information is crucial to putting all the pieces together to locate Patrick.

Please report sightings and information IMMEDIATELY to police as late reporting will result in a lower-level triage and a higher unlikelihood the police will be able to locate Patrick.

I will continue to organise large weekly community searches where I invite all capable adult walkers to help us as bigger groups allow for a far more effective line search. We have discussed new routes and locations to search with detectives when planning these community searches.

The police search and rescue commenced on 27 April 2024 and lasted for 5 days and included POLAIR which is the police helicopter with thermal imaging, NSW Police Dog Squad, QLD Police on trail bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), State Emergency Services (SES) QLD and NSW, Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) QLD and NSW, Currumbin Valley Rural Fire Brigade and Queensland Remote Area Tracking (QRAT), which is a specialist team of ex-military personnel and my family and friends and I.

Following the suspension of the police search and rescue on May 1 2024, I have continued to search privately to locate information to report to the police which they have acted upon.

The private search and rescue resources I am utilising include private search and rescue teams with paramotor which is paragliding with a motor and thermal drones, Australian Dingoes and their Indigenous Dingo Trainers, professional and amateur trackers, retired detectives researching people who go missing in the bush, ex-military personnel, off-duty police, off-duty SES, off-duty paramedics, off-duty doctors, and community volunteers on foot, motorbike, car, day hikes, night hikes, camping in the bush, locals providing local knowledge, loved ones of missing people sharing lived experiences and resources, neurodiverse people sharing lived experiences, property owners giving permission to access their properties, family travelling from overseas and interstate to help, neighbours setting up campers with a bed, food and drinks, neighbours calling out and checking their properties and sheds, neighbours checking when mustering cattle on their properties, delivering care boxes of clothes, food, water and blankets, setting up trail cameras, searches of Patrick’s home and setting up CCTV, searches of Patrick’s google accounts, donations, signage, posters, social media and media interviews, all the hugs, prayers and kind words of support and my own personal daily search walking a distance equivalent of further than Byron Bay to Brisbane.

The main information I’ve collected so far includes:
- Two confirmed sightings on Piggabeen Road, Piggabeen, NSW
Barefoot footprints on Tomewin Mountain Road, Currumbin Valley, QLD near to the intersection of Taylors Lane, Currumbin Valley, QLD, found by my friend walking with me following my deep intuitive feeling he was in Currumbin Valley.
- Barefoot footprints located in Glengarrie, NSW found by NSW Dog Squad.
- Four sets of barefoot footprints in different locations in the Bains Road Reserve rainforest off Taylor’s Lane in Currumbin Valley and 2 sets of stick teepee like structures located by off-duty police officers, ex-military personnel and by me with family and friends. QLD Police attended with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to follow up on this information.
- Report from neighbour of a cry in the night in the Bains Road Reserve, Currumbin Valley QLD.
- Human peeled banana skins located in a banana plantation in Piggabeen, NSW.
- Human faeces indicating a banana diet located at a property in Glengarrie, NSW close to where the NSW Police dog squad located footprints.
- Searches on Patrick’s google accounts for Currumbin Rock Pools and properties bordering the Bains Road Reserve rainforest at the back of Currumbin Valley Rock Pool. 3 crews of QLD search and rescue police attended to follow up on this information.
- Two Australian Dingoes howling and jumping up in a shed in Bains Road Reserve rainforest after following Patrick’s scent. QLD Police attended to follow up on this information.
- A number of reported sightings in which NSW Police or QLD Police were dispatched depending on if they were sighted in NSW or QLD.

The radius of possible locations that Patrick could be in may be further when discussed with detectives to include:
- Far Northern New South Wales
- Gold Coast City
- Gold Coast Hinterland

Patrick may be located in hospitals or services that provide support for people that are homeless or sleeping rough.

Patrick’s survivability has been medically assessed by a doctor specialising in survival, as “indefinite”, due to an assessment of both his health noting his medications are not needed for survival and the survivability of the environment he went missing in.

But the biggest risk factor for Patrick, in my opinion is that he may not follow hiker lost person strategies of looking for higher ground, waiting and/or approaching a house or people to help. Patrick is a neurodivergent person, his thinking may be different, he prefers dark and quiet places as he becomes overwhelmed by lights and noise, he can speak, but may not speak when spoken to, and his focus may be on other things. Patrick may not assess the immediate environmental risks or his limitations and the danger he is in. Patrick also has very little resources on him, last seen only wearing black shorts covered in mud with a T-shirt wrapped over his shoulders and barefoot, he may have his phone on him, his wallet with a small amount of cash and keys as I believe he left his car and belongings to go bush simply for a short walk to make himself feel better and became lost and disoriented. All of these contributing factors make the search for Patrick far more complex.

I recall on one of my search days for Patrick, I found myself trapped on the edge of a cliff. I was crawling on all fours, on the precipice in the dark night, wanting desperately to go back to my family, have a hot meal, drink and shower, and lay down and cover myself in my doona. The terrain was so challenging I couldn’t see a way to climb up, and I could not see a way back. As I sat in a full frozen fear shut down response, I knew I was in one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. Luckily for me, I was with a group of people, and a volunteer whom I’d only met hours before became my lifeline and physically pulled me out, and I will be forever grateful to him for saving my life.

But Patrick is all alone in the bush and doesn’t have a lifeline with him like I did.

Please give Patrick a lifeline to pull him out and save his life.

To donate to Patrick's private search and rescue:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/find-patrick-liedke?qid=018eadd6b6dffe140cfc14934a875a55

Sightings -
Call 000 IMMEDIATELY

Information -
Call 07 5506 9499 Tweed Heads Station Police IMMEDIATELY (NSW)
or online via Crimestoppers (NSW)
Police Report: E83250483
Case: C86603403

Call 131 444 or 07 3055 6206 (QLD) IMMEDIATELY
or online via Policelink (QLD) IMMEDIATELY
QPRIME: QI2400719719 (QLD)

30/05/2024

From wonderful and inspiring TLV supporter Paul Kent:
“My copy of the book has reached Tunbridge Wells outside the hotel I believe Marion & Blum stayed at in The Pantiles.”
Thank you for sharing Paul!
If you’ve read our book, please post a review here https://www.amazon.com.au/Lady-Vanishes-bestselling-Australian-popular/dp/1460765133/

27/05/2024

We honestly couldn't have released a book without visiting the place where it all started - the Gold Coast.

Also, so many of you have contacted us disappointed you weren't able to get tickets to the Brisbane book launch.

So here we go:

Where: Robina Library, 196 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina

When: Wednesday, 10 July, 6.30-7.30pm

How: Click on the link below. Tickets are free!

https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/libraries/Whats-on/Author-Series-The-Lady-Vanishes-909551873137

Please get in quick if you want to come but if you miss out, dm us and we'll work something out for you.

See you soon! Alison x

27/05/2024

We honestly couldn't have released a book without visiting the place where it all started - the Gold Coast.

Also, so many of you have contacted us disappointed you weren't able to get tickets to the Brisbane book launch.

So here we go:

Where: Robina Library, 196 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina

When: Wednesday, 10 July, 6.30-7.30pm

How: Click on the link below. Tickets are free!

Please get in quick if you want to come but if you miss out, dm us and we'll work something out for you.

See you soon! Alison xx

Discover the mystery of former Gold Coast local Marion Barter and meet the team behind the true crime sensation The Lady Vanishes

23/05/2024

From Sally and Chris:

There are currently over 816 long term missing persons in NSW. That’s the highest number for any state or territory in Australia.

The families are suffering enduring ambiguous loss not knowing what has happened or where there loved ones may be. But that’s where you can help.

An inquiry is desperately needed into missing families so we are asking you to please sign the petition to give them a voice.

www.change.org/missingpersonsmatter

Can you please share and message this to your network to assist us in getting the 10,000 signatures we need. This is both an online and physical petition and we are currently sitting on 1700 signatures combined

Request a Parliamentary Inquiry into Missing Persons Investigations

20/05/2024

Thanks to the team from the podcast The Lady Vanishes for their engaging event at Brisbane Square Library, discussing their book of the same name. It's an engrossing story of how a small team of seasoned investigative journalists and storytellers, look into Marion Barter's disappearance, from tentative early police efforts to her daughter's 27-year search for answers. Come in and pick up a SIGNED COPY now! HarperCollins Books AustraliaThe Lady VanishesBrisbane Libraries

19/05/2024

16/05/2024

I have signed this. A wonderful cause initiated by Sal and husband Chris. If you haven’t done so already, please sign. Many thanks, Alison

Request a Parliamentary Inquiry into Missing Persons Investigations

15/05/2024

A fabulous night with fabulous people. Please dm us if you are interested in coming to the Gold Coast (6.30pm 10 July) or Carindale (TBC) book signings and we’ll make sure you get tickets x

15/05/2024

The Lady Vanishes book is now available! Thank you so much Charlotte for your support. We are incredibly grateful for everything especially the fundraiser for Ghislaine. For those of you who couldn't get tickets to tonight's launch, there will be plenty of other opportunities to get signed copies at other libraries including Gold Coast, Cleveland and Carindale. Details to be confirmed. Also, fantastic news for UK listeners - we are excited to announce that hard copies are now available for you too! You can preorder a hardcopy here https://www.waterstones.com/book/9781460765135 and
Plans are also underway for a US launch too. We'll keep you posted.
Thank you once again for your interest and support!

The much anticipated book from the true crime podcast, The Lady Vanishes arrived today. We have orders to post all around Australia, as well as many overseas, so we are busy packing! We really appreciate the support from the Lady Vanishes team who kindly allowed us to sell copies of the book as a fundraiser for one of the victims.

We are now a bookseller partner with Libro.fm who make it possible for you to buy audiobooks through local bookstores. How fantastic does that sound? They currently have a special offer of two free audiobook credits when you sign up for a membership. Why not download the audio book, The Lady Vanishes for FREE? Find out more: https://libro.fm/schoolworkssupplies?bookshop=schoolworkssupplies

To access the audiobook from the UK, please download this link https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781460735763. You can still support our bookshop by choosing Schoolworks Supplies when joining.

To purchase a hard copy of the book and support the fundraiser, please visit our webpage via the link: https://schoolworkssupplies.com.au/the-lady-vanishes-fundraiser

If you would like to know more about The Lady Vanishes, please visit this webpage https://theladyvanishes.org/about

11/05/2024

Happy birthday and Mother’s Day, Sal! Thinking of you on this momentous day. Turning 51 probably provokes mixed emotions, but without doubt, your mum would be so proud of you and everything you’ve achieved. Meanwhile to help Sally’s plight, please sign https://www.change.org/p/request-a-parliamentary-inquiry-into-missing-persons-investigations?recruiter=1207390373&recruited_by_id=0dda58a0-bf59-11eb-836b-d3bb152f7b1f&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=fb_dialog&utm_medium=copylink&utm_content=cl_sharecopy_490053731_en-AU%3A0 💚

23/04/2024