368. The Boogeyman of Melbourne: Mr Cruel

368. The Boogeyman of Melbourne: Mr Cruel

Author: Our True Crime Podcast July 15, 2026 Duration: 1:11:53
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.'  *We are BEYOND excited to finally announce our next big adventure! Our True Crime Podcast will be turning 10 years old in 2028.  To celebrate this huge milestone,  we are heading to Europe for a once-in-a-lifetime 11-day trip to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg! We would love for you to come along. It's officially a "Cheers to 10 Years Tour!" from July 8–19, 2028! SAVE $150 per person if you book by July 20th! You can visit our webpage travel webpage here to see the itinerary: https://0tcp711.s.gy/VOfMrW If you’re nervous or want more info, RSVP for a 6pm July 16th Zoom call https://0tcp711.s.gy/Ue4NG8 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™ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a whole world of strange and unsettling stories that rarely make the headlines, and that's exactly where you'll find Our True Crime Podcast. Each episode digs into one of those bizarre, lesser-known cases from any corner of the globe, stories that often defy easy explanation. Hosts Jen and Cam guide you through these peculiar narratives with a genuine sense of respect for those involved, balancing the darker details with their own conversational chemistry and a bit of well-timed humor. You might even get a smidge of song along the way, because real life, especially the strange parts, rarely follows a single tone. This isn't just a retelling of facts; it's a shared exploration of the oddities hidden within human behavior and society. Tuning into this podcast feels like pulling up a chair with two friends who have a knack for finding the most compelling, offbeat tales. You'll hear the careful research, the thoughtful discussions, and the personal touch that Jen and Cam bring to every story, making even the most obscure case feel immediate and fascinating. If you're looking for a true crime experience that ventures far beyond the usual cases and does so with character and heart, you've found it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Our True Crime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Special: Rogue Transmissions 4: DungeonPunk (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:03
Hey Everyone, Edward October and some other indie podcasts put together a 2-part anthology. Cam and I did a short true-crime episode in this first part. With the help of JT from Brew Crime. The 2nd part will be out in tw…
361. The Sleepover: Browning Family Massacre [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:28
In the quiet suburb of Cockeysville, Maryland, nothing bad was supposed to happen. Families left their doors unlocked. Neighbors trusted one another. And the Browning family seemed picture perfect. Fifteen-year-old Nicho…
The Murder of Kiara Agnew with Nikki for Serial Napper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:28
In this month’s special, Cam and Jen talk with Nikki from ⁠Serial Napper⁠. In March 2023, 23-year-old Kiara Agnew left her home in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to celebrate her birthday in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It…
360. In the Woods: The Murders of Kara Kopetsky & Jessica Runions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:48
On a May morning in 2007, a 17-year-old girl walked out of her Missouri high school, stepped away from a security camera, and vanished. For nearly ten years, her family lived without answers. They were certain they knew…
359. Stolen: The Abduction and Murder of Hailey Owens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:08
Just after 5:00 p.m. on February 18, 2014, ten-year-old Hailey Owens set out on the short walk home from a friend’s house. What began as an ordinary Tuesday turned horrific when neighbors Carlos and Michelle Edwards watc…
Sister Tadea Benz & Johnny Garret with Courtney from Book of the Dead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:13
This month, we have a talk with Courtney from The Book of the Dead, who joins us to talk about the murder of Sister Tadea Benz and the execution of Johnny Frank Garret. In October 1981, the quiet city of Amarillo, Texas,…
358. Unbelieveable: The Murder of Mindi Kassotis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:29
When hunters in Bulltown Swamp discovered the remains of an unidentified woman in late 2022, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was left with a mystery that felt impossible to solve. There were no matching missing perso…
357. Waiting in the Dark: The Murder of Beverly Guenther [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:58
In the early 1990s, long before his name would be tied to something unthinkable, Scott McLaughlin was already unraveling. Untreated childhood trauma, cognitive struggles, and severe mental illness shaped his life. Suicid…
356. In the Boat Shed: The Houston Heights Murders & Dean Corll [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:42
The 1970s were more than just shag carpet and polyester; they were a time of deep contradiction. While things felt full of possibility, a shadow of distrust hung over everything—fueled by Vietnam, Watergate, and a strugg…