Persons Unknown Podcast

28/01/2025

26/01/2025

On this day (26th January 1966) Jane, Grant and Arnna Beaumont disappeared from Glenelg Beach near Adelaide, South Australia. No trace of them has been found since that day. It is believed they were abducted and m*rdered.

20/01/2025

*NEW EPISODE OUT NOW*

German tourist Heidi Mnilk was on a two week trip to the UK. The 17 year old pharmaceutical apprentice was staying with an English family in West Wickham in south east London.  On Sunday July 8th 1973 Heidi travelled to London with a friend to see the sights. Shortly before 5.00pm the pair boarded a train at Charing Cross Station to take them back to their accommodation. Heidi went to a non-smoking compartment and her friend to a carriage where smoking was permitted.  Less than two minutes after the train passed London Bridge two young passengers heard screams and witnessed the neighbouring compartment's door fling open and the body of a young woman fall onto the tracks. Despite these passengers raising the alarm they were not taken seriously and it was a little while before the body of Heidi Mnilk was discovered. A post-mortem showed Heidi had been stabbed before her body was hurled from the train. The young passengers gave a detailed description of a man seen leaving Heidi's compartment and police scoured London for the suspect. Then, a few months later, information came to light suggesting a motive for the seemingly random crime.

25/12/2024

A lovely Christmas morning run around the lake to blow the cobwebs away. Very mild weather here too!

Well it's been over three years of podcasting and this has been the most fruitful but also toughest year yet. Sometimes it's difficult trying to juggle everything but I still enjoy it (despite the odd troll ripping into me because of my boring voice!)

I hope you all have a peaceful day and thank you for listening. You are the best.

John

23/12/2024

*NEW EPISODE OUT NOW*

Thursday March 18th 1965 was a dismal day in the town of Tyrone, Pennsylvania. Shortly after midday, six year old Kathy Shea left her home for the short walk to her elementary school. Although spring was just around the corner, slushy snow lined the streets as the Kindergartner hurried along on her way. Several people saw Kathy en route but she never made it to her lessons that afternoon. A bloodhound tracked Kathy's scent to a spot within eyesight of the school. The only conclusion was that the little girl had been abducted by person or persons unknown. Since that day there has been no sign of Kathy.

22/12/2024

Today is Richey Edward's birthday.

Richey has been missing since 31 January 1995.

If you have any information on Richey Edward's whereabouts, phone Metropolitan Police on 101 or use their online reporting service, quoting reference 95MIS000050. Alternatively, contact Kensington Police Station, Public Protection MPU on 02071754651.

16/12/2024

F.A.C.E image of one of the suspects in the 1993 m*rder of Crispin Dye. Crispin was the former manager of AC/DC and had just released his first solo album when he was attacked and k*lled in Sydney in the early hours of December 23rd. In 2023 a special commission of inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes found there was "objective reason" to suggest LGBTIQ bias in his death.

09/12/2024

*NEW EPISODE OUT NOW*

For seven years Crispin Dye had been the manager of Australian rock band AC/DC. He was a talented song writer and musician in his own right and during the early 1990s released his first solo album. Shortly before Christmas 1993 Crispin, aged 41, travelled to his mother's home in Sydney to spend the festive period with her.

On the night of the 22nd December Crispin went out with friends to celebrate the success of his album. In the early hours of the following morning, after separating from his friends, Crispin was found lying face down on the pavement. He had sustained a head injury and was in cardiac arrest. Two days later Crispin passed away in hospital. Some suspected that Crispin had been the victim of a LGBTIQ hate crime but the NSW police were not so sure. The investigation has been dogged with criticism over the years but several persons of interest have surfaced, including a previously unknown individual in 2023 after a DNA breakthrough.

06/12/2024

I was contacted this week by members of the Harris-Reed family. I covered the 1981 unsolved m*rder of 22 year old student Caroline Harris-Reed earlier this year. They sent me this beautiful photograph of Caroline and gave me permission to share it. I was immensely touched by their kind words. They said I had brought her to life again. It's making me well up thinking about it.

03/12/2024

The longest 8 minutes ever! Well done to Wales, reaching their first major tournament.

27/11/2024

The disused stonemasons yard on Winchelsea Road, Forest Gate where the body of 11 year old Nayantara Ali was found in November 1994. She had been missing for three weeks. The location was just 18 m from her front door.

The pea green fitted bed sheet and circle of pink carpet which concealed the body.

A "Take That" duffel bag similar to the one owned by Nayantara. Her bag has never been recovered.

If you have any information about the unsolved m*rder of Nayantara Ali you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Photos from BBC Crimewatch/ YouTube via The Sun.

25/11/2024

*NEW EPISODE OUT NOW*

It was a normal Friday morning in November 1994 and 11 year old Nayantara Ali left her home in Forest Gate, East London, to walk to school. It should have taken less than 15 minutes but Nayantara never arrived. Family members reported her missing later that day and for three weeks there was no hint of what had happened to the confident and playful young girl. Worst fears were realised when Nayantara was found murdered just a stone's throw from her front door and in a spot already searched by police.

11/11/2024

RTE is reporting that a man in his 50s has been arrested in County Kildare in connection with the 1995 disappearance of Jo Jo Dullard. An operation is currently taking place on open ground near Grangecon, county Wicklow.

I covered the case of Jo Jo Dullard on Persons Unknown back on April 3rd 2023.

11/11/2024

*NEW EPISODE OUT NOW*

Tara Calico disappeared while riding her bicycle near the town of Belen, New Mexico, in September 1988. The 19 year old fitness enthusiast would go out every morning to complete a 35 mile round trip along the NM 47 highway taking in the vast open spaces of Valencia County. On the morning of September 20th she left her home as usual but never returned. Several witnesses saw Tara riding on the highway that morning listening to a personal stereo; unbeknownst to her, she was being followed by an old Ford truck. Over the ensuing decades the investigation has seen numerous leads come and go, culminating in a significant announcement by law enforcement in the summer of 2023.

29/10/2024

A new exhibition exploring the 1981 disappearance of 2 year old Katrice Lee.