The case of Leongatha's Erin Patterson, who was recently convicted of murdering three relatives with a deadly mushroom meal, captured headlines around the world.

But did you know an even more prodigious killer lived in the same small Victorian farming community in the 1930s?

Join Leongatha journalist Matt Dunn, and special guests including author Katherine Kovacic and former Victoria Police detective Narelle Fraser, as they unearth the chilling story of serial killer Arnold Sodeman on 'Sodeman: The Schoolgirl Strangler'.

For more information and insights on the show and the life and crimes of Arnold Sodeman, check out arnsodpod.com

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The case of Leongatha's Erin Patterson, who was recently convicted of murdering three relatives with a deadly mushroom meal, captured headlines around the world. But did you know an even more prodigious killer lived in the same small Victorian farming community in the 1930s? Join Leongatha journalist Matt Dunn, alongside author Katherine Kovacic and former Victoria Police detective Narelle Fraser, as they uncover the chilling story of Arnold Sodeman—a serial killer who terrorised Victoria in the 1930s.

In this episode, we revisit the brutal murder of 12-year-old Mena Griffiths, abducted from Melbourne's Fawkner Park in November 1930 by a stranger who lured her with a simple request. One day later, her body was found in an abandoned house in Ormond—no signs of struggle, only unanswered questions. While pressure mounts on police to make a quick arrest - with a man who was 500 km from the murder scene, arrested and charged - the real killer strikes again.

For five years, police remained unaware that they were dealing with a serial killer, as Sodeman's ritualistic murders continued. Explore the overlooked details, the investigative missteps, and the terrifying escalation of Sodeman's crimes. How did one of Victoria's worst killers evade justice for so long? Tune in as we piece together the dark legacy of a murderer who walked unnoticed among the community—until the truth finally caught up. For more information and insights on the show and the life and crimes of Arnold Sodeman, check out arnsodpod.com

Ready to make your own podcast?

Choose the platform that puts creators first. As podcasting's most trusted independent platform, Libsyn is built to empower your voice, not control it. They succeed when you succeed. Share your story on your own terms.

Join the platform where creators succeed. Get your first month free with my code: SODEMAN

Head here: https://signup.libsyn.com/

The case of Leongatha's Erin Patterson, who was recently convicted of murdering three relatives with a deadly mushroom meal, captured headlines around the world. But did you know an even more prodigious killer lived in the same small Victorian farming community in the 1930s? Join Leongatha journalist Matt Dunn, alongside author Katherine Kovacic and former Victoria Police detective Narelle Fraser, as they uncover the chilling story of Arnold Sodeman—a serial killer who terrorised Victoria in the 1930s.

In this episode we look at the wrongful arrest of Robert James McMahon for the murder of Mena Griffiths. In the spring of 1930, Melbourne was gripped by fear when the 12-year-old was found murdered in a vacant house in Ormond. Under pressure, police arrested McMahon, a recently released prisoner, and charged him with the crime. The evidence was thin, but the headlines were loud. McMahon was held in custody, awaiting trial for a murder he didn't commit. But while McMahon sat behind bars, the real killer was still free—and he struck again.

Explore the overlooked details, the investigative missteps, and the terrifying escalation of Sodeman's crimes. How did one of Victoria's worst killers evade justice for so long? Tune in as we piece together the dark legacy of a murderer who walked unnoticed among the community—until the truth finally caught up. For more information and insights on the show and the life and crimes of Arnold Sodeman, check out arnsodpod.com

Ready to make your own podcast?

Choose the platform that puts creators first. As podcasting's most trusted independent platform, Libsyn is built to empower your voice, not control it. They succeed when you succeed. Share your story on your own terms.

Join the platform where creators succeed. Get your first month free with my code: SODEMAN

Head here: https://signup.libsyn.com/