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
The Disappearance of Paige Renkoski with Nina from Already Gone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:12
This month, Nina Innsted of the Already Gone podcast joins Cam and Jen to discuss the disappearance of Paige Renkoski. Paige was a 30-year-old substitute teacher who seemingly vanished into thin air in May of 1990. It’s…
355. Firestarter: Crimes of Bruce George Peter Lee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:44
In the early hours of December 4, 1979, something jolted Edith Hastie awake—and within seconds, her worst fears were confirmed. Fire was already inside her home on Selby Street in Kingston upon Hull, climbing fast, swall…
354. Out of the Fire: Suzanne Capper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:44
***Content Warning*** This episode contains discussion of violence, torture, and murder. Listener discretion is strongly advised. At 16, Suzanne Capper was just a girl trying to find her place in the world and hanging ou…
353. Family Ties, Killer Lies: Murder of Peter Porco [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:28
It was November 15, 2004, 52-year-old Peter Porco woke up like he always did: early, well before his alarm, with a few minutes to gather his thoughts in the quiet of his Delmar, New York, home. Peter was a fixture in the…
The Murder of Diane Sindall with Jenny from It's Murder Up North [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:51
This month's special, Cam and Jen talk with Jenny from It's Murder Up North. Her podcast covers crimes from the north of England; everything from the obscure to the infamous. In 1986, Diane Sindall's van ran out of gas,…
352. A Date With Evil: Grace Millane [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:46
For many young travelers, a gap year is a chance to explore, to grow, to feel free. For Grace Millane, it was all of that and more. She had already crossed continents, shared daily memories with her family, and embraced…
351. Stocking Strangler: Carlton Gary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:28
In 1970, 85-year-old Nellie Farmer lived quietly in a modest retirement hotel. A retired schoolteacher, she had spent her life helping others and asking for very little in return. One night, that safety was shattered. An…
350: 700 Miles to Nowhere: Marshal Iwaasa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:36
In November 2019, hikers traveling through a remote mountain region in British Columbia discovered a burned-out truck abandoned on a rugged forest trail. The area lies deep within the Tolkien Range, far away from any roa…
349. Dead Girls Don't Talk: The Case of Micki Jo West [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:20
On the morning of September 11, 1979, nineteen-year-old Micki Jo West left her mother’s home in St. Joseph, Missouri, as she had every morning. She wore her nurse’s aide uniform, pulled on a khaki coat, carried her white…
348: The Missing Six & The Monster of Malherbe Street [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:40
Thank you, Petra, for the episode suggestion. In 1990, a teenage girl escaped from a house in Pretoria, South Africa, narrowly avoiding an unimaginable fate. Her story revealed that she was not the first of several young…