The bodies of Marianne Schmidt and Christine Sharrock were found on 12 January 1965. By April 1966, approximately 7,000 people had been interviewed in what was then the largest criminal investigation in Australian history. By 1981, that figure had risen t…WANDA BEACH: PART TWO - LINGERING QUESTIONS
The bodies of Marianne Schmidt and Christine Sharrock were found on 12 January 1965. By April 1966, approximately 7,000 people had been interviewed in what was then the largest criminal investigation in Australian history. By 1981, that figure had risen to more than 16,000. The case file exceeded 10,000 pages.
Three suspects have emerged across the decades. Derek Percy, Australia's longest-serving prisoner, whose grandmother lived on the same street as both victims. Christopher Wilder, who was living on the Northern Beaches at the time of the murders and had a 1963 conviction for another serious offence at a Sydney beach. Alan Bassett gave a painting to detective Cec Johnson in 1975 that Johnson beieved depicted details of the Wanda Beach crime scene.
In part two, we examine sixty years of unanswered questions and try to solve this heartbreaking mystery.
Sources
• Whiticker, Alan J. Wanda: The Untold Story of the Wanda Beach Murders. New Holland Publishers, 2003.
• Illawarra Mercury. "Australian serial killer Christopher Wilder linked to the Wanda Beach murders," 14 June 2018. https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5461703
• St George and Sutherland Shire Leader. "Australian serial killer linked to nation's most infamous cold case," 11 June 2018. https://www.theleader.com.au/story/5458975
• Forgotten Illawarra. "The Last Dance" (Carolyn Orphin / Alan Bassett), January 2017. https://forgottenillawarra.wordpress.com/2017/01/19/the-last-dance/
• Forgotten Illawarra. "The Piccadilly Murder" (Wilhelmina Kruger), June 2013. https://forgottenillawarra.wordpress.com/2013/06/01/the-piccadilly-murder/
• Australian Missing Persons Register. "Carolyn Orphin." https://australianmissingpersonsregister.com/ampr/CarolynOrphin.htm
• Sunday Night, Channel Seven, broadcast 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQDW9pr_KzA Title Music: by Jesse Frank from Pixabay
Strewth Social Media Links: https://linktr.ee/strewthpodcast
On the morning of Monday 11 January 1965, fifteen-year-old best friends Marianne Schmidt and Christine Sharrock caught the train south from West Ryde with Marianne's four younger siblings for a summer day at Cronulla.
At around 1pm, after walking north along…WANDA BEACH: PART ONE — INTO THE DUNES
On the morning of Monday 11 January 1965, fifteen-year-old best friends Marianne Schmidt and Christine Sharrock caught the train south from West Ryde with Marianne's four younger siblings for a summer day at Cronulla.
At around 1pm, after walking north along the beach, the group stopped and Marianne told the younger children she and Christine were going back south to collect the bags. Instead, both girls turned north, deeper into the dunes. When ten-year-old Peter called out that they were going the wrong way, Marianne laughed and kept walking.
The four younger children waited until 5pm but the girls never returned.
Part One of the Wanda Beach Murders tells the story of the day itself. The gale that emptied the beach, an unexplained absence, and what the four children saw on the beach that day.
Sources
• Whiticker, Alan J. Wanda: The Untold Story of the Wanda Beach Murders. New Holland Publishers, 2003.
• Sydney Morning Herald, January–April 1965. https://trove.nla.gov.au/
• St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, January 1965. https://trove.nla.gov.au/
• National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. "True Crime Mysteries: Wanda Beach and Beaumont Kids." https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/true-crime-mysteries-wanda-beach-and-beaumont-kids
• Australian Missing Persons Register. "Christine Sharrock and Marianne Schmidt." http://www.australianmissingpersonsregister.com/SharrockSchmidt.htm
Title Music: by Jesse Frank from Pixabay
Strewth Social Media Links: https://linktr.ee/strewthpodcast
*** Content Warning: child victims, child sexual assault ***
On January 11, 1965, 15-year-old Christine Sharrock and Marianne Schmidt spent the day at Cronulla Beach with Marianne's four younger siblings. After lunch, the two teenagers went for a walk into the nearby sandhills at Wanda Beach, but n…*** Content Warning: child victims, child sexual assault ***
On January 11, 1965, 15-year-old Christine Sharrock and Marianne Schmidt spent the day at Cronulla Beach with Marianne's four younger siblings. After lunch, the two teenagers went for a walk into the nearby sandhills at Wanda Beach, but never returned.
The following day, their bodies were found in the sand dunes. The murders shocked the nation, triggering one of the largest homicide investigations in Australian history. Despite an exhaustive inquiry, police were unable to identify the killer. Decades on, the mystery remains.
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Christine Sharrock and Marianne Schmidt, both 15 years old, were at the sandhills at Wanda Beach in New South Wales, Australia in January 1965 when they disappeared. The next day, their bodies were found; they had been brutally murdered. Despite an extensive investigation, including potential other …Christine Sharrock and Marianne Schmidt, both 15 years old, were at the sandhills at Wanda Beach in New South Wales, Australia in January 1965 when they disappeared. The next day, their bodies were found; they had been brutally murdered. Despite an extensive investigation, including potential other case connections and three viable suspects, their case remains unsolved to this day. It has been 60 years and Christine and Marianne still do not have justice.
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On an overcast January day in 1965, teenagers Marianne Schmidt and Christine Sharrock went missing in the sand hills of Wanda Beach.
What happened to them remains one of Australia’s most infamous unsolved murders, despite more than 14-thousand interviews, and 5-thousand suspects.
Today we're join…On an overcast January day in 1965, teenagers Marianne Schmidt and Christine Sharrock went missing in the sand hills of Wanda Beach.
What happened to them remains one of Australia’s most infamous unsolved murders, despite more than 14-thousand interviews, and 5-thousand suspects.
Today we're joined by author Alan J Whiticker to discuss how the case unfolded and the one suspect who hasn't been ruled out
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CREDITS
Guest: Alan J Whiticker
You can find out more about his book WANDA here.
Host: Gemma Bath
Executive Producer: Gia Moylan
Audio Producer: Rhiannon Mooney
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On the 11th of January 1965, two fifteen-year-old schoolgirls Christine Sharrock and Marianne Schmidt were found murdered in the Wanda sand hills, just north of Cronulla Beach in Sydney's south.
The crime remains one of the most horrific Australia has ever seen. Despite an exhaustive police investi…On the 11th of January 1965, two fifteen-year-old schoolgirls Christine Sharrock and Marianne Schmidt were found murdered in the Wanda sand hills, just north of Cronulla Beach in Sydney's south.
The crime remains one of the most horrific Australia has ever seen. Despite an exhaustive police investigation, the killer remains unknown…
For all credits and sources please visit casefilepodcast.com/case-1-the-wanda-beach-murders
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.more
