The Australian Family Cult That Vanished Overnight

The Australian Family Cult That Vanished Overnight

Author: Mamamia Podcasts March 18, 2026 Duration: 52:46

In 2007, a family of three and their friend vanished from their secluded home in Nannup, Western Australia, leaving only a cryptic note claiming they had moved to Brazil. They never arrived.

As investigators delved into the lives of Chantelle McDougall, her partner Simon Cadwell, their daughter Leela, and friend Tony Popic, they uncovered a web of doomsday prepping and cult-like spiritual beliefs.

Was this a voluntary disappearance to a "higher plane," or something far more sinister?

LINKS

Listen to Expanse: The Nannup Four here

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

GET IN TOUCH

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note.

Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. 

Get 25% off Nala with your Mamamia subscription. Click here to get your code ends April 1st.

CREDITS 

Guest: Dominique Bayens

Host: Gemma Bath 

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy

Audio Engineer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Gemma Bath hosts True Crime Conversations, a podcast from Mamamia Podcasts that delves into infamous criminal cases from Australia and around the world. Rather than just recounting facts, each episode is built around a direct conversation with someone who has a unique, often personal connection to the story. You might hear from a detective who worked the case, a journalist who covered the trial, a family member seeking answers, or a forensic expert who examined the evidence. This approach brings a tangible, human dimension to stories that can sometimes feel distant or sensationalised. The tone is engaging and thoughtful, focusing on the nuances and the people affected, rather than just the shock value. It’s for anyone who appreciates a deeper, more conversational entry into the true crime genre, where the emphasis is on understanding the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ from those who were actually there. Listening to this podcast feels like being part of a serious, yet accessible, discussion about some of the most compelling and complex crimes in recent history.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

True Crime Conversations
Podcast Episodes
Unmasking Chopper Read: The Infamous Australian Criminal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:12
Part criminal, part storyteller, and part myth. Mark “Chopper” Read is one of Australia’s most polarising figures. Today, we dive into the life and legacy of the man behind the legend. From a violent childhood and years…
We Take You Inside The New Amanda Knox Series And Real-Life Case [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:01
On a summer night in Italy in 2007, the brutal murder of Meredith Kercher shocked the world. Her American flatmate Amanda Knox, and her new boyfriend Raffaele, were instantly thrust into an international legal saga that…
Inside The Mind Of Australia's Youngest Killer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:02
What drives a teenager to become a killer? In 2001, three-year-old Courtney Morley-Clarke was put to bed on a hot summer night on the NSW Central Coast. By morning, her bed was empty, the screen door wide open, and her n…
Inside The Cecil Hotel: Dark Truths Behind Elisa Lam's Elevator Video [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:39
On a February morning in 2013, guests at the infamous Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles complained of brown, foul-tasting water. What the maintenance team discovered on the rooftop would spark a global internet frenzy - the bod…
"My Daughter Fell Victim To An Online Catfish" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:41
When police raided the home of 48-year-old Garry Francis Newman in March 2007, they found him sitting in his lounge room, chatting online with a 14-year-old girl. She thought she was speaking to “Brandon,” a teenage Amer…
Barry & Honey Sherman: Bodies Found Posed By The Pool [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:12
You don’t expect to find two billionaires posed like mannequins by their own pool. But on December 15, 2017, realtor Elise Stern did just that when she entered Barry and Honey Sherman’s Toronto mansion. Honey was traveli…
Sally Leydon Spent 30 Years Searching For Her Missing Mother [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:37
On October 19, 1997, Sally Leydon called her brother Owen to ask if their mum, Marion Barter—who was on a year-long trip overseas—had phoned for his birthday. When Owen said no, Sally felt uneasy. Marion never missed bir…
The Honeymoon Drowning That Turned A Groom Into A Murder Suspect [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:21
In October 2003, newlyweds Gabe and Tina Watson travelled from Alabama to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef for their dream honeymoon. Just 11 days after their wedding, the couple prepared to dive the SS Yongala shipwreck,…
The Idaho Four College Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:59
What began as a typical game day celebration for University of Idaho students would end in unimaginable horror on Saturday, November 12, 2022. Xana Kernodle, a marketing junior, spent the day with friends, including her…