Our True Crime Podcast

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

368.The Boogeyman of Melbourne: Mr Cruel

On August 22nd, 1987, a man wearing a balaclava broke into a home in Lower Plenty, Australia. After tying up the parents and their young son, he brutally assaulted their eleven-year-old daughter. Then, he did something truly chilling: he made himself a snack, sat down, and ate it, leaving the family tied up and traumatized in the other rooms.

This monster, who would eventually be dubbed “Mr. Cruel” by the media, was just getting started.

He went on to terrorize the suburbs of Melbourne, executing highly planned child abductions that sparked one of the largest police investigations in Australian history. Then, just as suddenly as he arrived, he vanished.

This case is still open. If you have any information on these abductions, please contact the Melbourne Police. Or Crimestoppers

Phone Number (Within Australia): 1800 333 000

Website (For international listeners or online tips): crimestoppersvic.com.au

Join Jen & Cam as they dive into the details behind 'The Boogeyman of Melbourne: Mr Cruel.'

Our team:

Listener Discretion by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edward October ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Research & Writing by Lauretta Allen

Executive Producers Nico & Jesse of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Inky Pawprint⁠⁠

Sources:

https://youtu.be/ArIl4189jDw?si=RpwZGMKgwfzv_cmg

https://youtu.be/Jaq001Evc_c?si=CxsMwY8U6CL-_1pb

Apr 14, 1992, page 5 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™

Mr Cruel - Wikipedia

Chilling new evidence in harrowing ‘Mr Cruel’ investigation | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site for latest headlines

Major breakthrough in Melbourne’s notorious ‘Mr Cruel’ case - Starts at 60

A new profile of Mr Cruel, who may have been a burglar before he was a killer

Mr. Cruel: The Australian Serial Kidnapper Still at Large

Aug 29, 1987, page 5 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™

Dec 29, 1988, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Dec 28, 1988, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™

Dec 31, 1988, page 2 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Dec 30, 1988, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Dec 29, 1988, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Dec 28, 1988, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Jul 06, 1990, page 4 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™

Jul 05, 1990, page 3 - The Sydney Morning Herald at Newspapers.com™

Jul 07, 1990, page 5 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Apr 16, 1991, page 3 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Jul 07, 1990, page 4 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Apr 15, 1991, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Jul 05, 1990, page 7 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Jul 21, 1990, page 17 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Jul 07, 1990, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Apr 21, 1991, page 5 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™

Apr 17, 1991, page 9 - The Sydney Morning Herald at Newspapers.com™

Apr 30, 1991, page 3 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Apr 29, 1991, page 3 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

May 27, 1991, page 8 - The Sydney Morning Herald at Newspapers.com™

Apr 15, 1991, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Apr 20, 1991, page 1 - The Sydney Morning Herald at Newspapers.com™

Apr 24, 1991, page 10 - The Sydney Morning Herald at Newspapers.com™

Apr 11, 1992, page 20 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

May 29, 1992, page 18 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

May 11, 1992, page 5 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

May 17, 1992, page 3 - The Age at Newspapers.com™

Jan 29, 1995, page 2 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™

Saturday, July 11, 2026

Cheers to 10 Years! The Ultimate Celebration Tour 2028

Our True Crime Podcast is officially kicking off its

10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION TOUR

We are heading to

Belgium • Netherlands • Luxembourg

July 8-19 2028

Our True Crime Podcast is turning 10 in 2028, and we want to celebrate this milestone with the very people who made it possible—you! We are so excited to bring our community together for an unforgettable anniversary getaway.

We’re heading to the heart of Europe to swap stories and make memories together. From the storybook canals of Bruges and Amsterdam to the breathtaking, cliffside charm of Luxembourg, a dream itinerary that is all about culture, connection, and celebrating our community.

We would love for you to be part of this special anniversary experience!

Some highlights from the tour:

Belgium: Indulge in world-class Belgian chocolates, fresh waffles, and famous abbey beers while wandering the magical medieval streets of Bruges and Brussels.
The Netherlands: Raise a glass on a private evening canal cruise through Amsterdam, explore vibrant historic towns, and take in the iconic windmills.

If you book the extension

Luxembourg: Toast to 10 years overlooking the breathtaking, fairytale valleys and clifftop castles of Luxembourg City's Old Town.

Travel in Comfort & Style:

🏨 Beautiful, hand-selected boutique hotels
🚌 Private, seamless ground transportation
🗺️ An expert, 24/7 Local Tour Director handling every detail
🥐 Daily breakfast, celebratory regional dinners, and exclusive tastings
🔒 Lock in 2028 pricing early with flexible, interest-free monthly payment plans

We can’t wait to make a toast to the next 10 years and make new memories with you!

This is a once-in-a-decade celebration, and spots are strictly limited to keep the group intimate and fun. Let’s make some lifelong memories together!

Book by July 20th, 2026, and SAVE $150!

Nervous about booking?

Cam and possibly Jen are hosting a Zoom meeting to answer all your questions. RSVP by clicking HERE

Reserve Your Spot at the Party:

👉 CLICK HERE to view pricing, the day-by-day itinerary, and payment options.

Or Scan

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

367. Hidden Fort: Jonathan Sellers and Charlie Keever

On March 27, 1993, the morning began like countless others for nine-year-old Jonathan Sellers and thirteen-year-old Charlie Keever. The two boys set off on their bicycles, planning nothing more extraordinary than a day of roaming, pedaling through familiar places, killing time, enjoying the small freedoms of childhood.

Throughout the morning and early afternoon, the boys were seen moving easily through the neighborhood. Witnesses recalled spotting them at a local arcade and a pet adoption center, lingering the way kids do when the day feels wide open. Later, they stopped at a Rally’s hamburger stand, where they bought lunch before heading off on their bikes again.

Their last confirmed sightings placed them in the Otay River Valley, an area the boys were known to frequent. Two witnesses briefly spoke with Jonathan and Charlie as they rode along the riverbed near a washed-out bridge. One of those witnesses would later recall a detail that stood out at the time and lingered afterward: a man driving a car across the open field, deliberately blocking the bike path. It struck her as strange, out of place in the quiet riverbed. Years later, she would identify a photograph of a blue sedan, similar in color and shape to the vehicle she had seen that day.

As evening approached and the boys failed to return home, worry turned quickly into alarm. Family members began searching nearby streets and paths. Jonathan’s brother mentioned the riverbed trail where the boys often rode, prompting their mother to head there in a growing panic. What he didn’t think to mention, what no one realized in time, was a hidden “fort” tucked away in the brush, a place the boys liked to crawl into “like a little cave.”

Join Cam and Jen on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast named “Hidden Fort: Jonathan Sellers and Charlie Keever.”

Listener discretion by @octoberpodVHS

Editing and music by @theinkypawprint

Sources:

⁠http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040829/news_1m29erskine.html⁠

⁠https://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/people-v-erskine-34617⁠

⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/serialkillers/comments/1hbddzh/scott_erskine_a_repeat_offender_responsible_for/⁠

⁠https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/scott-erskine-charlie-keever-jonathan-sellers-death-row-appeal-south-bay-murders/159324/⁠

https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/scott-erskine-dies-while-on-death-row-due-to-covid-19/509-3e957e89-6775-45a2-9f5f-d08c02e0844c

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2004-08-28-0408280095-story.html

⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20130409222853/http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/cgi/prosoma.dll?searchby=offender&id=18601082E9187⁠

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2004-08-28-0408280095-story.html

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/07/29/coronavirus-these-killers-died-on-san-quentins-death-row

https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/2-condemned-san-quentin-inmates-die-of-apparent-covid-19-complications/

Who the (BLEEP) Did I Marry? Season 5, Episode 7 titled "The Face of Death"

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

366. Monster on the M1: The Murders of Samo Paull & Tracey Turner

The UK Midlands is a region steeped in history and folklore, from the ancient Kingdom of Mercia to the birthplace of Shakespeare. But on a freezing, misty day in December 1993, a peaceful village right off the M1 motorway became the backdrop for a living nightmare.

While driving past a dirty station wagon parked on a grassy verge near Junction 20, a local witness noticed a passenger sitting bolt upright in the backseat wearing a jet-black dress. It was a sight that made her blood run cold; she knew with absolute certainty that the woman was already dead.

What followed was a massive police hunt for a transient predator who used England’s motorways to hide in plain sight.