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A child killer hides in plain sight

February 10, 2024 / 01:13:30

This episode covers the tragic murder of 6-year-old Bonnie Clark in December 1982, the investigation that followed, and the eventual conviction of Malcolm Clark. Key discussions include the initial discovery of Bonnie's body, the police investigation led by Detective Eric Lily, and the eventual confession of Malcolm Clark.

On December 21, 1982, Frank Church discovered his neighbor Maran Clark in distress, revealing that her daughter Bonnie had been murdered. The police arrived and found Bonnie's lifeless body in her bedroom, leading to a complex investigation.

Detective Eric Lily was skeptical of Maran's claims of an intruder, focusing instead on her as a potential suspect. Despite a lack of physical evidence, Lily's suspicions grew, leading to a lengthy investigation that included interviews with Maran and others.

In 2002, after years of investigation, Malcolm Clark was arrested following a covert operation that led to his confession. He admitted to the sexual assault and murder of Bonnie, claiming it was an accident.

Malcolm Clark was convicted in 2004 and sentenced to life in prison. The episode concludes with reflections on the impact of Bonnie's murder on her family, particularly Maran, who lived with the stigma of suspicion for decades.

TLDR

The episode details the murder of Bonnie Clark, the flawed investigation, and Malcolm Clark's eventual confession and conviction.

Episode

1:13:30
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[Music] our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents if you feel at any
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time you need support please contact your local crisis center for suggested phone numbers for confidential support
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and for a more detailed list of content warnings please the show notes for this episode on your app or on our
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website today's episode involves crimes against children and won't be suitable for all
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listeners at about 7:40 on the morning of Tuesday December 21 1982 Frank Church headed out of his home in Westborn Grove
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northcut and walked towards the front gate the rubbish bins had gone out for collection the previous night and Frank
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was going to bring his empty one in as Frank exited his front gate he noticed his nextdoor neighbor Maran standing on
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the footpath outside of her home while Frank had resided on westborne Grove for the past 27 years
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Maran and her 6-year-old daughter Bonnie were relative newcomers they'd moved into the inner
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city Melbourne Street about 2 years ago although their Victorian Terrace houses sat quite close to each other the
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residential Street was wide and fairly quiet Frank didn't really know Maran or Bonnie except to exchange pleasantries
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whenever they bumped into one another as soon as Marian spotted Frank she called out to him shouting Frank
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Frank as Frank looked at the young mother he noticed how distraught her expression was and that her face was
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stre with tears concerned Frank approached Maran as he neared her she leaned into
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him collapsing into his shoulder and cried my baby is dead what do you mean your baby is dead
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Frank asked Maran replied that her daughter Bonnie had been [Music] stabbed shocked Frank told Marian he'd call the
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police Marian said that she'd already done so then continued to sob and scream as she leaned heavily on Frank seemingly
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unable to support herself Frank's wife Mavis was just getting out of bed when she heard
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Marian's distraught cry Frank began to call out mavis's name asking for her help Mavis quickly pulled
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on a dressing gown and ran outside to investigate she only knew Maran to say hello to in the street but now the young
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mother was a sobbing Rack in Frank's arms it's her little girl Frank said without hesitating Mavis ran towards
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maran's home the front door was wide open Mavis looked in into the first room but that
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appeared to be maran's bedroom along the right side of the house was a long hallway while a second o-shaped
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passageway LED from Marian's room to the home's left side Mavis hurried down the
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hallway looking into each room as she passed the second bedroom was a guest room that appeared to be empty but the
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third was clearly Bonnie's children's clothing and toys lay on the floor a single bed was pushed
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up against one wall while a bunk bed sat opposite on a bedside table was a lamp which was switched
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on lying on her back in the single bed was 6-year-old Bonnie Clark her arms were straight by her
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sides and she was naked with a blue Duna bunched around her waist and covering the lower half of her
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body Mavis immediately noticed how incredibly pale Bonnie was she had a bloody wound just below her chest
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hoping she might be able to save the girl via resuscitation Mavis lifted the back of Bonnie's neck Bonnie's skin was
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ice cold next Mavis felt for a heartbeat she found none realizing that Bonnie was dead
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Mavis immediately dropped her hands and hurried from the room meanwhile outside on Westborn Grove
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two con pulled up in their patrol car having responded to Marian Clark's call as they pulled up at her house they saw
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Marian standing on the footpath still being held by Frank Church Marian suddenly pulled away from
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Frank's Embrace and kicked out at a small Terrier standing nearby why didn't you bark you always
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bloody bark why didn't you bark she screamed at the dog the constables rushed to 6-year-old
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Bonnie's bedroom it looked like an ordinary children's bedroom except for Bonnie lying cold and
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still in her bed the constables were joined a few minutes later by two paramedics who
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confirmed that Bonnie was deceased furthermore riger mortise had set in indicating that Bonnie had been
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dead for some time she had been digitally raped and suffered injuries to her janitors there was no Seaman found
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at the scene com pressions to Bonnie's neck pointed to Suffocation a 3 cm Stab Wound was
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visible in her chest but there was only a small amount of blood around it beneath her body the mattress was soaked
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with water Bonnie's bed was kept pushed up against one wall and her pillows lay against this wall instead of beneath
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Bonnie's head when police pulled the bed away they found her pajamas stuffed beneath the pillows between the mattress
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and the wall the pajama top was heavily stained with blood Bonnie's Underpants had been cut
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with two slashes made by either a knife or scissors extending from the elastic waistband to the bands where each of
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Bunny's legs would go given the amount of blood on bonny's pajama top it seemed strange there was
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so little around her actual wound it appeared that after the killer stubbed Bonnie they had rolled her over
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onto her stomach then removed her pajamas and washed her with water which soaked the
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mattress faint smearing across Bonnie's torso indicated that her body had been wiped
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[Music] clean Frank and Mavis Church ushered Mariam back to their home to comfort her
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while the police remained at the Clark residence with Bonnie at 8:05 a.m. one of the
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constables called northcut police station to request detectives from the crime investigation Bureau attend the
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scene along with crime scene investigators almost 15 minutes later the detectives arrived and took note of
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the properties's layout a crime scene investigator noted there was no sign of forcible entry the
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long single fronted weatherboard house had three bedrooms one after another flanked by two
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hallways after the third bedroom which was Bonnies there was a living room with a couch and a television set a small
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coffee table was cled Ed with cups and empty bottles including one beer bottle and one soft
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drink at the rear of the house was the kitchen laundry and bathroom Another Empty beer bottle was found in the
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laundry a sliding door in the kitchen led to the Back Garden where there was an ouse a Hills hoist washing line with
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the dry clothes hanging from it two empty beer bottles and a set of tall Double Gates that led to a
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lanway these were closed and there were no prints or marks on either side to suggest that someone had climbed
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them Maran said that neither She nor Bonnie ever went into the laneway or used the back gate at all she also
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explained that while the front door was always locked she never completely closed the rear sliding door it was
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always kept slightly a jar so that one of the family's dogs a small Terrier named Troy could go outside whenever he
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needed Troy slept on a couch in the living room while Bonnie's dog a poodle chihuahua cross named mumi slept in
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Bonnie's room on the bunk bed in the kitchen a Cutlery drawer was slightly open prompting investigators to
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wonder if the killer had used one of the household knives to stab Bonnie but no weapon matching her injury
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was recovered Maran Clark briefly spoke to detectives in her home while B's body
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still lay in her bed before being formally interviewed in the Presbytery of a church that also sat on westborne
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Grove according to Marian the previous night had been peaceful the only hiccup had been that Bonnie didn't want to go
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to her own bed she had asked Maran if she could sleep with her instead Bonnie was afraid of the dark for that reason
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she always slept with her bedside lamp on and kept the door slightly ajar Bonnie's pet dog mumi would also
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keep her company by curling up on the bunk bed in her room but this wasn't always enough to calm the little
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girl Maran had been tired and reluctant to agree to Bonnie's request the leadup to Christmas was always a busy time but
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this year Marian's schedule was particularly hectic she worked as a nurse and was undertaking extra
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full-time studies with final exams as a single mother with no partner to help carry the load these commitments had
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left Maran extra Keen for a good night's sleep pointing out that it was only four
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more days until Christmas Maran had encouraged Bonnie to go to her own room stating sleep in your bed Santa won't
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know where to find you Bonnie agreed and at 8:30 that night Maran tucked her in Maran had gone to bed before 11:00
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p.m. only getting up once during the night at around 1:30 a.m. to go to the toilet she had checked in on her
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daughter as she walked by her room Bonnie had been awake and asked her mother for a drink which Marian got her
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both mother and daughter had gone back to sleep straight after shortly before 700 a.m. Maran had
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been woken by the telephone ringing it was the nursing agency that employed her asking if she could come in for a shift
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right away Maran accepted and immediately began getting ready as she made her way to the
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bathroom she glanced in at Bonnie's room she saw Bonnie was still asleep in her single bed her Duna pulled over her
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up to her chin Maran dressed and made breakfast by 7:45 there was still no sign of Bonnie stirring so Maran went to
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wake her as she approached Bonnie's bed Maran in stly knew that something was wrong
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Bonnie was lying completely still and her face was extremely pale Maran reached for the bed's Duna
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and lifted it underneath Bonnie lay on her back her arms beside her she was naked her neck appeared bruised and
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there was a hole in her chest Maran said she immediately knew her daughter was dead
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distraught she phoned the police unable to stay in the house where her daughter lay dead for a moment
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longer Maran rushed out into the street as she stood on the footpath outside she saw her neighbor Frank
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church and ran to him for Comfort Maran was adamant that an intruder must have broken into the home
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in the middle of the night and killed Bonnie while Maran was sleeping the case was aign to lead
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homicide investigator detective senior Sergeant Eric Lily detective Lily was dubious of
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maran's version of events for starters according to both Maran and her neighbors neither of the family's dogs
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had barked at all during the night yet whenever a stranger came to the house both dogs were known to bark
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incessantly any Intruder also would have had to navigate a very difficult layout
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to reach Bonnie's room with the home's front door closed and locked it seemed the perpetrator must
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have entered by the rear sliding door that was always kept slightly open but hanging at the back entrance to the
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house was a beaded curtain which made noise when walked through or pushed aside along the hallway that led to
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Bonnie's room were a number of hanging plants suspended from the ceiling an intruder fumbling in the dark
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would have been caught off guard by these and found it difficult to access Bonnie with without waking her mother
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yet Maran insisted she'd heard nothing none of the neighbors reported seeing a Prowler in the area or hearing
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anything suspicious either everything was pointing to a perpetrator who knew the home
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well the only people who lived in the residence were Marian and Bonnie Marian said she'd left Bonnie's father Dennis
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due to his alcoholism and occasional violent outbursts although this description
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might have made Dennis sound like a possible suspect he had a solid Alibi for the night of December 20 and was
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quickly ruled out of the investigation but there was something about Bonnie's mother that gave
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detective Lily pause although Bonnie's murder looked to have a sexual component there was no
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Seaman present and the assault of Bonnie had been digital these factors led detective Lily
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to suspect that a woman was behind the crime and the most obvious woman was Maran perhaps something had happened
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which caused Marian's temper to flare she had snapped and killed Bonnie in an angry rage then tried to cover up her
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actions by staging the sexual assault there were other elements to the crime scene that caused the detective to
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consider Maran Clark to investigators the number of empty beer bottles recovered around the
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property Poss indicated poor parenting and loose morals detective Lily didn't beat around
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the bush during his very first conversation with Maran in her Lounge room while Bonnie's body lay Dead one
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room over he said you did it didn't you tell us now we can help you Maran fiercely denied killing her
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daughter replying no I didn't do it I don't understand why why you say that because you don't know
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me detective Lily wasn't [Music] dissuaded the crime scene yielded little physical evidence Searchers of the house
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and neighboring Properties by a total of 32 officers failed to uncover the weapon
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used to stab Bonnie nor did detectives find Whatever item had been used to wash and wipe down her body after the murder
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a white coat with a small blood stain on it was found in a laundry and was initially thought to be
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important but this was later ruled out as having nothing to do with the crime the house and items within it were
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dusted for fingerprints everything came back as belonging to Marian Clark her daughter
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Bonnie and two of Marian's acquaintances who were known to visit the home there were no prints to indicate an
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unidentified offender as detective Lily dugged deeper into the case his suspicions against Maran grew
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stronger While most who knew her described her as a loving mother a couple said she could be physically and
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verbally abusive towards Bonnie Maran also had a history of depression she'd attributed this to a difficult period of
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adjustment she'd gone through after moving to Melbourne from country Victoria however she had recently made
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phone calls to a parents helpline as she was Finding single motherhood difficult
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to detective Lily this hinted at someone who wasn't coping he made several requests to
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interview Marian again and she always obliged each time she spoke to him he used an increasingly adamant and
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assertive tone after interviewing Maran on two more occasions for a total of almost 5
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hours detective Lily asked if she would be willing to be hypnotized he suggested that this might reveal if
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there was something she was subconsciously hiding about the night of Bonnie's murder Maran agreed but then police were
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contacted by a solicitor that she had retained Marian was withdrawing her consent and wouldn't be participating in
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the hypnotism session after all this was Clear Proof to detective Lily that Maran was guilty but without
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any forensic evidence or a confession from his suspect there was little more that he could
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[Music] do in February 1983 2 months after bonny's murder a young reporter for the
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local northcut Leader newspaper approached the suburbs homicide squad for a story journalist Ian Monroe was writing
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an article about several unsolved murders in the area and one of the cases he wanted to cover was that of Bonnie
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Clark Ian spoke with one of the the northcut detectives but when he raised Bonnie's murder he was reassured that
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there was no need to further publicize that case the police already knew who was
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responsible yet months continued to pass with no breakthroughs occasionally names of
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other possible suspects came up detective Lily interviewed at least one other individual in connection with
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Bonnie's murder but this led nowhere and he remained convinced of Marian Clark's
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guilt in February 1984 an inquest was held into Bonnie's murder detective Lily gave evidence
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while Maran Clark was absent her lawyer attended in her place the coroner found that 6-year-old
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Bonnie Clark had been killed by an unknown as salant no recommendations were made that
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anyone be charged and the case continued to languish [Music] meanwhile Mary and Clark was
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experiencing unimaginable grief Bonnie's death felt like a nightmare that she kept waiting to wake up from as well as
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struggling with the loss of her daughter Maran was overwhelmed with guilt for not
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allowing Bonnie to sleep with her that night as she'd requested one day Marian was driving
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somewhere when she was suddenly overcome by the need to pull over when she did she burst into
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tears from that moment on the loss of her daughter finally seemed real at the same time that she was
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processing Bonnie's murder Marian felt as though all lies in Melbourne were on her being in crowded spaces and catching
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public transport became unbearable it seemed like everyone was staring at her judging her for being quote the worst
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kind of woman and mother sometimes when her phone rang at home she would hear an unfamiliar voice on
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the other end strangers calling to abuse her you did it just admit it some of them said Maran just hung up on
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them every day she half expected the police to arrest her she felt as though detective Eric Lily was biased against
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her purely because she was a single mother Maran would later tell a reporter from the Sunday newspaper quote I
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honestly reckon he hated single mothers he had a real thing about single mothers when the detective asked Maran
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to undergo hypnosis she instinctively agreed but she later riged at her sister Jill's
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encouragement Jill warned Maran that her distress might make her vulnerable to suggestion and advised she retain a
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lawyer instead Maran was stunned upon learning that some people were reportedly accusing her of being physically abusive
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towards Bonnie she had yelled at her daughter on occasion as a form of discipline but never hit
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her on one occasion detective Lily told Maran nobody's going to believe you you're just like Lindy
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Chamberlain this was a reference to the mother of baby aaria chamblain who disappeared during a family camping trip
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in mid 1980 as covered in episode 136 of case File Lindy had been convicted of murdering her daughter just 2 months
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before Bonnie was killed despite asserting her innocence from the start years later she would be released and
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acquitted at the time Marian knew that if it was possible for Lindy Chamberlain to be arrested the same thing could
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happen to her Maran dropped out of her university studies she contemplated suicide
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living with her grief felt impossible the only thing that stopped her from taking her own life was the
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thought of how detective Lily would interpret such an action in a 2006 interview with the
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Sunday age Maran said I thought no as soon as you do that that bastard's going to turn around and
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say guilt got her and he was not going to do that to Bonnie they would have shut the book and I wasn't going to let
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them do that she was worth more than that during the first couple of years after Bonnie's death Maran kept waiting
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for the pain to subside she expected that one day she would wake up and feel normal
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again but on the third anniversary of her daughter's murder Maran realized that was never going to happen quote I
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realized that it was never going to go away and I was going to have to live with it and I better get cracking on
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this because it was ridiculous it was time I started to live for me and by living for me I would be
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living for her too while attending a Catholic Retreat Maran met a man who she later married
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and changed her name to Maran Wishard she left Melbourne for a quieter life in one thy a Seaside town almost 150 km
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away Maran and her husband went on to have four children together framed pictures of her babies were kept on a
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dresser in the family's Lounge room and in the middle was a single photo of Bonnie holding her pet dog
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mumi Bonnie's father Dennis Clark was also grappling with the mystery of what had happened to his daughter almost two
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decades past with no developments in the case over that time Dennis's Health began to deine line and he was diagnosed
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with cancer aware that he didn't have long to live Dennis was desperate to see the
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case solved before he died one day in 2001 Dennis was reading the newspaper when he saw an article
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about Victoria police's new cold Cas Squad he decided to reach out to them directly and phoned detective Ron idles
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who had been mentioned in the article the detective paid a visit to Dennis's home and Dennis showed a photo
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of his daughter he explained his need to see the case resolved detective ID promised he would
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take a look at Bonnie's case File together with his colleague Tim day the detective dug out the original case
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report and poured over its Pages they also went to the media which was something their predecessor Eric
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Lily had refused to do not long after detective idles met with Dennis he spoke with the herald son
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newspaper and they ran an article about the 1982 Cold Case one person who read the article was
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a woman in her mid-20s named Kylie Ward Kylie had a particular interest in the case she had been a friend of
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Bonnie's and had always wondered what had happened to the little girl she used to play with she also had her own
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suspicions about who might have been involved throughout 1982 Kylie used to go over to Bonnie's house to play after
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school from January through to September of that Year Bonnie and Maran weren't the only people living there struggling
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to make ANS meet as a newly single mother Maran had to let out the third bedroom to a border a 28-year-old man
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named Mal there was something about Mal that made Kylie uncomfortable she knew he made Bonnie
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feel the same way Bonnie had told Kylie that M was really creepy he looked at her a lot and sometimes he would make
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Bonnie sit on his knee Bonnie tried to avoid him as much as possible and Kylie noticed how
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cautious she seemed in his company even though Mal had moved out 3 months before
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Bonnie was killed Kylie had never been able to shake the thought that he might have been the
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killer after reading that Victoria police were reinvestigating the case Kylie reached out to the authorities to
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report what she knew case detective Tim day had been going over and over Bonnie's case File
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but when he received Kylie Ward's tip off he couldn't remember reading about a border named M after combing through the
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pages again he finally came across the name Mal Clark who was no relation to Bonny Clark or her
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family he was the most recent of several borders who'd resided with with Marian and Bonnie and had left 3 months before
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Bonnie's murder Mal had moved into the house next door for about a month before leaving
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for his parents' house in the nearby suburb of Brunswick because he couldn't afford the
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rent it turned out that Kylie wasn't the only one who'd suspected him Bonnie's mother Maran had mentioned him to
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detective Eric Lily immediately after the Murder She noted that he was the one other person who was as familiar with
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the home as she was because he had lived there for 9 months both dogs knew him well and didn't bark at him M knew the
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layout of the house and the family's routines Mal had been spoken to by the original
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investigators he'd said he had an alibi for the night in question he'd been working at the cinema where he was
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employed as an assistant projectionist the police in 1982 had ruled him out and gone back to the Dr
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drawing board detective Tim day decided to search the criminal records Branch for
00:29:03
any mention of a Mal Clark he couldn't find anything the closest he could find was
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an offender named Joe Clark who had been convicted of two separate violent crimes
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committed in the years before and after Bonnie's murder in June of 1980 Theresa Crow was
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a 22-year-old Who loved to dance a friendly outgoing and vivacious young woman one of her favorite things to do
00:29:34
was go to a disco named chases in the inner city Melbourne suburb of pan Theresa became a fixture at chases
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which led to her meeting a wide circle of friends she was something of a social butterfly rushing from one group to the
00:29:49
next and greeting those she knew with a big hug on the afternoon of Thursday June 19
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1980 Teresa visited her friend Zena at Zena's workplace and mentioned that she had an upcoming date at an expensive
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restaurant she seemed happy and excited Zena asked if Theresa would like to come over to her place later that
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evening Teresa said she had to drop in at the pizza shop where she worked to see if they needed her that night if
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they didn't she would come over when Teresa didn't show up that night Zena assumed she was working
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the pair had made plans for the following afternoon but Theresa failed to show for those too although Zena was
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upset that her friend had stood her up she didn't think that anything was wrong several days went by with no word
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from Theresa almost a week later on Wednesday June 25 Theresa's employer grew concerned when she didn't pick up her
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wages her landlord Simon was contacted and decided to go check on her Teresa rented a small Factory Loft space just
00:31:02
down the street from the Chasers disco she loved to go to a few days earlier Simon had left a letter that arrived for
00:31:09
Theresa on the ladder that led to her apartment as he approached the ladder to check on her now he noticed the letter
00:31:17
was still lying there untouched Simon climbed up to the trapped door that led to Theresa's Loft
00:31:25
he clambered into the apartment which was a small cluttered Studio space a few pictures hung from the brick walls
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there was a television in one corner and a rack with Theresa's clothing in the other hanging from the middle of the
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room was a love seat style couch suspended from the ceiling with ropes and lying on the floor next to the couch
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was what looked like a mannequin tightly swaddled in a white blanket Simon approached the mannequin
00:31:54
and lifted a corner of fabric that was covering ing its head to his shock the face underneath was
00:32:05
real police were summoned after photographing the scene they carefully unwrapped Theresa Crow from the
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blanket underneath she was completely naked with her arms folded across her chest whoever had killed her had
00:32:19
carefully posed her before wrapping her like a mommy there was a horseshoe shaped cut to her left cheek es to her
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neck and a number of other small grazes bite marks and abrasions on her body most notable was a long dark
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incision that stretched from her throat to her groin it cut through all of Theresa's
00:32:42
layers of skin judging from the lack of blood this cut had been made postmortem an autopsy would indicate
00:32:51
that the cause of death was asphixiation it was difficult for investigator is to determine when
00:32:58
exactly Theresa had been murdered her body showed very few signs of decomposition even though she hadn't
00:33:05
been seen for almost a week however the cold winter weather could have played a role in preserving her remains there was
00:33:13
some indications that Theresa had been attacked at night just as she was readying for bed her face was clean of
00:33:20
makeup and the contact lenses she wore during the day were found in a container on a dresser
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a nighty was lying on the floor near The Swinging couch some cushions on the couch were
00:33:33
crumpled as though someone had been lying on them there was also a seamen stain investigators came up with a
00:33:42
theory based on this evidence one evening shortly after Theresa was last seen she was at home either in bed or
00:33:50
preparing to sleep when someone showed up unexpectedly at her apartment Theresa let the visitor in he
00:33:59
subsequently attacked and sexually assaulted her police believed the perpetrator had
00:34:05
struck ter raser in the face with a solid object causing the horseshoe shaped cut to her face then removed her
00:34:12
NY he then pinned Theresa Face Down On The Swinging couch during the struggle the attacker bit Theresa's back and she
00:34:20
sustained several other bruises and grazes Theresa's throat was also pressed tightly against one of the Couch's
00:34:27
wooden armrests which ultimately caused her to asfixiate after Theresa died her Killer
00:34:34
cut down the middle of her body for reasons unknown then carefully wrapped her in a
00:34:41
blanket the bizarre mutilation and posing of Theresa's body prompted detectives to look into whether the
00:34:47
killing could be occult related no evidence was found that confirmed this several hundred individuals were
00:34:55
interviewed by investig ators and they looked into Theresa's personal relationships and Social Circles
00:35:02
carefully they couldn't find anything that pointed to a particular suspect the case gradually went
00:35:14
cold more than 3 years later on Friday August 26th 1983 25 year-old Jane not her real name was suddenly woken in the
00:35:24
middle of the night in her Brunswick home she had heard a creaking sound just outside of her bedroom it was the
00:35:32
floorboards it sounded as though someone was crawling along their hallway on their hands and
00:35:39
knees Jane was scared her husband was working the night shift at his job and the noise was too heavy to be the
00:35:46
couple's 5-year-old daughter who was asleep in her room Jane reached for the rotary phone
00:35:53
by her bed as she picked up the receiver and began to dial for the police she suddenly felt a huge weight as a large
00:36:00
heavy set man pounced on top of her he was holding a knife which he stabbed into one of Jane's legs causing a
00:36:08
significant injury then he let go of the knife and wrapped a hand around her throat he used his other hand to smother
00:36:17
Jane's mouth preventing her from screaming desperately fighting back Jane bit down hard on the man's
00:36:25
thumb let my thumb go he demanded Jane ignored him so he squeezed her throat this prompted Jane to stop
00:36:35
biting feeling more confident the man warned her not to make any wrong moves or he would kill
00:36:43
her the man pulled Jane down to lie on the floor with him and began to talk he said he'd just escaped from prison and
00:36:52
that three of his friends were waiting outside her home for him the man told Jane that he'd cut off another woman's
00:37:00
breasts then he demanded she remove her NY Jane didn't understand his request as
00:37:07
she had been sleeping naked and had nothing on the man began to sexually assault
00:37:14
her as he did so Jane heard her daughter calling out to her perhaps woken by the commotion the
00:37:22
little girl had come to her mother's bedroom and was leaning over the bed looking at her mother and her attacker
00:37:28
lying on the floor hoping it was too dark for her daughter to make out the man's features
00:37:34
Jane explained that she and daddy were just playing a game and told her to go back to
00:37:39
bed after the little girl left the man grabbed a Jane's throat and said how easy I could kill you I could
00:37:48
cut you up like the other girl terrified of what the man might do Jane replied I'll do anything you want
00:37:57
but please don't hurt my daughter over 3 hours the man raped Jane repeatedly at knife Point while telling
00:38:05
her in detail about other violent sexual assaults he'd committed he also bit her
00:38:12
repeatedly Jane tried to memorize details about the man so she could report them later it was too dark for
00:38:19
her to see him but she felt the texture of his hair it was coarse and Sandy the men finally left just before 6:30
00:38:30
the time Jane's husband always returned from his night shift but first he cleaned up the scene removing evidence
00:38:38
of his presence before departing he told Jane if you have a baby I don't want you
00:38:45
to get rid of [Music] it Jane reported the assault to the police providing a statement with an
00:38:53
immense amount of details a few few days later two Brunswick detectives began door knocking
00:38:59
the neighborhood to see if anyone had seen or heard anything on the night in question next door to Jane's home was a
00:39:06
block of flats some of which overlooked her house detectives Mark Harris and Wayne McDonald meticulously made their
00:39:14
way through the building eventually knocking on the door of one second floor apartment it was answered by a tall
00:39:21
heavys set man in his late 20s with distinctive wiry hair both detectives immediately noted that
00:39:29
the man's hair and build were remarkably similar to what Jane had described as they explained why they
00:39:36
were there and began to ask if he'd noticed anything suspicious there was something strange about the man's
00:39:42
demeanor that also gave them both Paws he also had an injury to one thumb consistent with a
00:39:50
bite the detectives left and returned with a search warrant once inside the man's home they
00:39:58
noted that his Lounge room window had a clear view of Jane's backyard a washing basket full of dirty
00:40:04
clothes contained several blood soaked garments the blood would prove to be Janss and then while flipping through an
00:40:14
old diary from the Year 1980 the detectives found something else several newspaper clippings about a
00:40:22
murder that had been committed that same year the murder Teresa [Music] Crow the man's name was Joe Clark he was
00:40:35
arrested and taken to the local police station where he agreed to a medical examination following the examination
00:40:43
Clark abruptly told detective Mark Harris that he had something to tell him he announced quote you were right it was
00:40:52
me I went next door and had sex with the woman Clark confessed that he'd been fantasizing about Jane for some time and
00:41:02
had been watching her from his flat he said he was frustrated because quote I have never been able to get sex
00:41:10
from any woman voluntarily sick of paying to see sex workers he decided to attack Jane at a
00:41:17
time when he knew her husband wouldn't be home he'd lied to her about being a prison escape with friends waiting
00:41:24
outside hoping to both scare and trick her Clark made a full confession about the rape confirming the same details
00:41:33
Jane had provided the homicide detectives who'd been working on Theresa Crow's case 3
00:41:40
years earlier were notified about the arrest Clark had told Jane that he had cut up a previous victim this detail
00:41:49
combined with the clippings about Theresa's murder found in his home was the best lead that the Cold Case had
00:41:55
ever had when detectives from The Crow case arrived to interview Joe Clark he made
00:42:01
another prompt confession Clark had met Theresa crow in 1975 when he was 21 and she was
00:42:10
17 the pair were introduced by a mutual friend and Clark was instantly obsessed he began stalking Teresa at the
00:42:19
discos she was known to frequent Clark's fixation with Theresa grew over the next 5 years culminating
00:42:27
on the night of Thursday June 19 1980 when he saw her at Chase's nightclub and proposed that they get
00:42:35
married Theresa who didn't know Clark well had laughed at his suggestion then given him an annoyed look she left the
00:42:44
nightclub shortly after and Clark followed her home Clark told the detectives that he
00:42:50
climbed the ladder that led to her loft apartment and knocked on the trapo entrance Theresa had answered the door
00:42:57
in a nighty and let him inside it wasn't the first time he'd been there once Theresa had let him
00:43:05
sleep on her couch when he was too drunk to go home Clark claimed he made them both a
00:43:11
coffee and that when he carried Theresa's drink over to her she removed her nighty then she lay Face Down On The
00:43:19
Swinging couch suspended from the ceiling and he lay on top of her still fully dressed Clark said he bit ter Ra's back
00:43:27
as part of a consensual sexual encounter as he held her arms she started to struggle Clark wanted to have
00:43:36
sex with Theresa but she refused so instead he masturbated while lying on top of her before falling into a deep
00:43:43
sleep when he woke still lying on Teresa she was still and wasn't breathing panicked Clark moved her to
00:43:52
the floor and tried mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when this didn't work he used a sharp piece of metal to mutilate
00:43:59
Theresa's body in an attempt to throw police off making the accidental death look like an occult sacrifice
00:44:07
instead then he cleaned the apartment locked the door behind him and threw the key down a
00:44:13
[Music] drain the detectives didn't buy Joe Clark's story for a second they believed
00:44:21
he'd attacked Theresa like he'd attacked Jane removing her nighty himself then sexually assaulting her after forcing
00:44:28
her face down onto the couch with his hand holding her head down against the arm of the couch he had cut off her Air
00:44:35
Supply killing her Joe Clark was subsequently convicted of Theresa Crow's manslaughter and
00:44:44
sentenced to 15 years the longest manslaughter sentence ever imposed in the state of Victoria at that
00:44:51
time Clark later appealed the severity of his sentence and it was reduced to 9 years with a minimum of seven for raping
00:45:00
Jane he was given an additional 4 years almost two decades later in 2001 detective Tim day was reading about Joe
00:45:14
Clark's crimes while looking into the Cold Case murder of 6-year-old Bonnie Clark he'd gone looking for records of
00:45:22
someone named Mal Clark who'd been named by a friend of Bonnie as a possible suspect according to Bonnie's childhood
00:45:30
friend Kylie Ward Mal Clark had been a border who had lived with Bonnie and her mother his behavior had been creepy and
00:45:37
Bonnie had told Kylie that she didn't like him as detective day examined Joe Clark's file one detail stood out to him
00:45:48
his occupation at the time of his arrest in 1983 was listed as an assistant projectionist at a greater Union Cinema
00:45:56
Mel clarkk had also been an assistant projectionist at the same Cinema some further digging revealed Joe
00:46:04
Clark's full name Malcolm Joseph Thomas Clark he was the same person as the Border who' rented a spare room from
00:46:14
Marian Clark just going by a different name Bonnie had been killed in December of
00:46:21
1982 this was 2 and A2 years after the murder of Theresa TR and 8 months before the rape of Jane that led to his
00:46:30
arrest there was something else in 1983 when detectives investigating Jane's rape had searched
00:46:38
Malcolm Clark's Home they'd found some children's socks and underwear purchased from a budget store and a greeting card
00:46:46
addressed to Bonnie Clark just as they'd informed investigators working the Theresa Crow
00:46:52
case about the clippings relating to her murder the Brunswick detectives had notified the northcut investigators
00:46:59
about the possible connection to Bonnie Clark at that time detective Eric Lily was still in charge of Bonnie's case
00:47:08
he'd briefly spoken to Malcolm Clark shortly after Bonnie's murder but had ruled him out as a suspect convinced
00:47:15
from the start that Bonnie's mother Maran was the killer after hearing from his Brunswick
00:47:21
colleagues he agreed to meet with Clark again Clark explained away the greeting card as something he'd written for
00:47:29
Bonnie while she was still alive but never got around to sending and Mar and Clark couldn't say with any certainty
00:47:36
that the children's underwear found in his home had belonged to Bonnie detective Lily told his
00:47:43
colleagues in Brunswick that Bonnie's murder didn't fit the mo of the offenses Malcolm Clark was convicted of and said
00:47:50
they remained certain that Marian Clark was the culprit but but in 2001 Cold Case
00:47:58
detective Tim day was struck by the similarities between all three crimes all involved some kind of sexual
00:48:06
assault all of the victims had been attacked with a knife and all of the crime scenes had been
00:48:12
cleaned every one of the victims was known to Malcolm Clark in some respect and he was familiar with their homes and
00:48:20
routines on the day of Bonnie's murder Maran had actually told detectives about Malcolm Clark insisting that they speak
00:48:28
to him investigators had tracked Clark down but ruled him out after he provided an alibi that had been at the cinema
00:48:36
working detective Tim day couldn't find anything indicating the original investigators had verified this Alibi
00:48:44
almost 20 years later detective day wondered if he could finally do so it took some time but the detective
00:48:53
managed to track down shift record records for greater Union Cinemas in 1982 these confirmed that Malcolm Clark
00:49:02
had been employed by one of the company's movie theaters in December of 1982 he worked a shift there from 9:25
00:49:10
a.m. until 4:25 p.m. on Monday December 20 1982 finishing well before Bonnie Clark
00:49:18
was attacked later that night Malcolm Clark had the following day off and hadn't returned to work
00:49:25
until Wednesday December 22 his Alibi for the time of Bonnie's murder was [Music]
00:49:44
invalid by early 2002 Malcolm Joseph Thomas Clark was a free man now 47 years old he'd received parole 8 years earlier
00:49:54
in 1994 and had buil a new life for himself post prison sentence he was working as a personal
00:50:01
care attendant had gotten engaged to a girlfriend and spent his spare time exploring his passions and
00:50:08
hobbies Clark was a train Enthusiast and had a particular interest in puffing Billy a Narrow Gauge Heritage raway that
00:50:15
winds through the foothills of Victoria's dandong ranges it opened in 1900 and is one of
00:50:22
the most popular steam Heritage Railways in the world today beginning in the town of belgrave
00:50:29
and terminating in janbrook puffing Billy attracts families and tourists from Australia and all over the world
00:50:36
Malcolm Clark was also drawn to the steam train and in the year 2000 he took up a position as one of puffing Billy's
00:50:43
volunteer guards he received no money for the role but didn't mind being a part of the
00:50:50
iconic raway was payment enough one day in March 2002 Malcolm Clark was at puffing Billy's starting
00:50:59
point of belgrave train station when he struck up a conversation with a fellow train Enthusiast
00:51:05
there Phil was a tough-looking character who looked like an aging biky but he was
00:51:10
as passionate about puffing Billy as Clark was the two men hit it off and over the next couple of months they
00:51:18
built a friendship it soon became evident that Phil was part of a gang that was involved D in organized crime gradually
00:51:28
Clark began to join Phil in some of his illegal Ventures accompanying him when he
00:51:33
burgered a factory going to brothel with him to collect a large amount of cash and secretly snapping photographs of a
00:51:40
woman engaging in an adulterous affair on Friday May 17 2002 Phil took Clark to a hotel lounge where a number
00:51:50
of his criminal Associates were gathered he pointed these individuals out to Clark and provided descriptions
00:51:57
of them one was a corrupt police officer another was Steve the head honcho who Phil had to answer to known as the
00:52:07
boss Phil confided in Clark that Steve was scoping Clark out for a big job that was in the
00:52:14
works a couple of weeks later Phil took Clark on a different errand that involved meeting up with the corrupt
00:52:20
officer at the back of Victoria police's headquarters in St Kilda Road Melbourne
00:52:26
despite having seemingly gone on the straight and narrow since his release from prison Malcolm Clark appeared to
00:52:32
enjoy his new proximity to organized crime after assisting Phil with robbing some jewelry Clark was told he'd receive
00:52:40
$8,000 in payment this was in stark contrast to what he made in his job as a personal
00:52:47
care attendant which had been one of the only positions available to him with a wedding and a honeymoon to plan Clark
00:52:54
was appreciative of what the extra cash could pay for on Sunday June 2 an article was
00:53:04
published in the herald son newspaper about the Cold Case murder of Bonnie Clark its headline read DNA evidence
00:53:12
could hold the key to solving a 20-year-old child sex murder case Malcolm Clark read the
00:53:20
article it was a followup to a story about the case that had run the previous year and it featured brand new
00:53:27
information according to homicide Squad detective Ron idles investigators were now pursuing a line of inquiry that
00:53:34
indicated Bonnie's killer may have been a border who resided with the family they were aware of around 12 to
00:53:42
14 people who had rented rooms in the house prior to Bonnie's murder and planned to interview all of
00:53:48
them thanks to recent breakthroughs in DNA technology they were hopeful of identifying the perpetrator through some
00:53:55
hair samples cigarette butts and fingernail scrapings that had been saved from the crime
00:54:01
scene the following evening Malcolm Clark returned home to find a calling card had been left at his
00:54:07
residence it belonged to detective idles he'd paid a visit while Clark was at work and left a message with his
00:54:15
fiance Lynn he wanted Clark to come down to the station for DNA and polygraph testing this news sent Clark into a
00:54:25
Panic he phoned his friend Phil right away after telling Phil about the situation Clark assured him I can tell
00:54:34
you I had nothing to do with it Phil didn't seem phased by the Revelation that his new friend might be
00:54:43
a suspect in a child murder case he told Clark quote if you have done it I don't give a
00:54:50
rat's ass but we have got to know the full story so we can put wheels into motion
00:54:56
what's the polygraph going to say have you got anything to hide Clark insisted that he
00:55:03
didn't if you have we can make it go away Phil added Clark continued to deny any
00:55:11
involvement in the crime but Phil was persistent he told Clark that he could help him get rid of the issue due to his
00:55:18
Connections in Victoria police but only if Clark was completely honest I had just got my life worked out
00:55:26
getting my interests back Clark complained I never expected this to turn up you have got no idea how I am feeling
00:55:34
at the [Music] moment the following day Clark opened up to Phil some more about how he'd been a
00:55:43
border in Bonny Clark's home and had stayed in touch with the little girl even after moving out when he'd briefly
00:55:49
rented a room in the house next door to Bonnie he'd sometimes chat to her mother
00:55:53
Maran over the fence Clark claimed that sometimes Bonnie would be home alone which made her
00:56:00
scared on those occasions he invited her in and she would sit in a bean bag and watch television for a while before
00:56:06
heading back home upon maran's return Clark said he hadn't seen Bonnie after he moved back in with his parents
00:56:14
in October of 1982 2 months later on December 21 he'd been at home watching the news when he
00:56:21
saw a broadcast about Bonnie's murder the night before that was the first he knew of Bonnie being
00:56:28
harmed Phil said that if Clark was now a suspect then he wanted to help him he cared about Clark and enjoyed working
00:56:36
with him but the problem was word had already gotten back to Steve the boss that Clark might be in
00:56:44
trouble Steve needed this matter resolved and in order for that to happen Phil needed all of the information so he
00:56:51
could help Clark beat a police polygraph test if Clark wasn't being completely honest about the situation Steve would
00:56:59
abandon him without a second thought and Clark wouldn't receive the $8,000 from the jewry host that was still being held
00:57:06
for him a couple of days later Phil took Malcolm Clark to meet with Steve for an
00:57:14
official job interview at a hotel in Crown Casino in Melbourne CBD the pair went into a private Suite
00:57:21
where Steve and another associate were waiting for them Clark sat down on a couch in front of a
00:57:27
low coffee table while Steve sat opposite Steve greeted Clark and Phil then quickly got down to
00:57:36
business he was eager to have Clark join them but only if he could trust him 100% being part of their gang would be
00:57:44
highly lucrative for Clark he could quit his low-paying job and earn enough money
00:57:49
to buy his own train if he wanted the only problem was that homicide investigators were now looking
00:57:57
at Clark as the number one suspect in the 1982 murder of a 6-year-old girl Steve told Clark that he couldn't have
00:58:05
any more police heat on him if he tried stating you at the moment are [ __ ] red hot
00:58:13
right he produced a document for Clark to look at it was a three-page confidential police report stamped with
00:58:21
the Victoria Police seal and dated May 15 2002 less than 1 month earlier Clark scanned the documents
00:58:32
Pages they detailed the latest status of the Bonny Clark investigation and how it
00:58:37
seemed police finally had the suspect's DNA via some items recovered at the crime scene now they just needed a
00:58:44
sample of Clark's DNA to compare Steve told Clark that detectives could force him to provide a sample via
00:58:53
a court order but Steve's corrupt police connections could make the matter go away
00:58:58
entirely it would cost $5,000 which Steve was willing to pay but only if Clark told him
00:59:07
everything I am telling you this is not going to go away Steve said you can deny
00:59:12
it till the cows come home I can't have you hanging around with us you can see why can't
00:59:19
you yes Clark replied he was silent for a long time then he finally began to speak [ __ ] hell it was an accident
00:59:31
she [Music] died Malcolm Clark told Steve that late on the night of Monday December 20 1982
00:59:40
he had been out drinking at a pub in Brunswick for some reason he' had drunkenly decided to go to the home of
00:59:47
mar and Clark to quote play with Bonnie he left the pub and either walked to Mar 's house in northcut or caught a
00:59:56
tram there very familiar with the area he walked down the laneway that sat at the rear of the property and clambered
01:00:03
over the fence into the backyard Clark entered via The house's rear sliding door and headed up the
01:00:11
passageway to Bonnie's bedroom her bedside lamp was on and her small pet dog was sleeping on the top
01:00:18
bunk across from Bonnie's single bed Clark walked over to where Bonnie lay sleeping and began to sexually
01:00:25
assault her she woke and opened her mouth to scream but Clark grabbed a pillow and pressed it over her face he
01:00:33
used his other arm to pin her down Bonnie raised a hand in protest but eventually her arm went limp and fell
01:00:41
back down this caused Clark to panic he claimed he hadn't wanted to kill Bonnie he just wanted to keep her
01:00:50
quiet Clark happened to have a small carving knife which he said he carried for protection due to issues with some
01:00:56
local youths he told Steve that when Bonnie went still he impulsively stubbed her
01:01:03
quote I think I may have had the knife and I may have I think I may have just shoved it
01:01:10
into into the side of her chest wall when the wound didn't spurt blood upwards Clark believed this confirmed
01:01:19
Bonnie was already dead when he stabbed her Clark claimed he had an undressed Bonny but he had cleaned up with a cloth
01:01:28
or towel which he took with him afterwards then he pulled her bedding up over her body up to her chin before
01:01:34
faying out the back in all he estimated he had only been in the house for about 10 to 15
01:01:41
minutes he washed his clothes the next day and eventually threw away his shoes but couldn't remember what he did with a
01:01:49
knife it had a sheath that he was worried he may have left behind perhaps the DNA had come from that Clark
01:01:58
speculated or maybe from his saliva he knew that no Sean was left at the scene prior to the DNA Revelation Clark
01:02:07
had been confident that he' never be suspected as he had never done anything to Bonnie prior to that
01:02:14
[Music] night after listening to Malcolm Clark's confession Steve said he had to make
01:02:20
some phone calls and that Phil would take Clark to go get a coffee in the me time Clark and Phil got back into Phil's
01:02:28
car as they drove Phil told Clark that he had to collect something from the corrupt police officer they knew he
01:02:36
began heading towards the police headquarters in St Kilda road driving to the rear of the building as he'd done
01:02:43
previously already standing there waiting to arrest Malcolm Clark where detectives Tim day and Ron
01:02:53
idles after detective day's digging the previous year left him convinced that Malcolm Clark was the prime suspect in
01:03:01
Bonnie Clark's murder he began to push for an undercover operation the Canadian model or Mr big
01:03:08
was the name given to a practice in which undercover detectives trick suspects into confessing to their Crimes
01:03:14
by recruiting them into fake gangs the procedure was originally developed by the Royal Canadian Mounted
01:03:21
Police or RCMP during the 1960s and it eventually made its way to law enforcement agencies in other countries
01:03:29
including Australia the Canadian model was employed in the case of missing Queensland child Daniel morham covered
01:03:37
in episode 54 of case File it's a controversial practice that has come under scrutiny at times but has been
01:03:44
upheld by the Australian courts when detective Tim day needed a confession from Malcolm Clark to solve
01:03:52
the bnny Clark case the Canadian model appeared to be the ideal approach a strategy was devised and
01:03:59
dubbed operation Marauder as part of operation Marauder an undercover officer approached Clark
01:04:07
as Phil and the operation unfolded from there for months officers had been working their way into Clark's life
01:04:15
building trust with him and recording their interactions The Herald Sun News article
01:04:20
about a DNA breakthrough was planted to Spook Clark and Phil had deliberately brought it to his
01:04:27
attention in truth no DNA was able to be gleaned from the crime scene at all the Victoria Police case progress
01:04:36
report that Steve showed him was fake and similarly designed to scare Clark his ultimate confession had been
01:04:44
filmed via covert cameras and microphones set up throughout the hotel room once Clark was done the officer
01:04:52
posing as Phil drove Malcolm Clark to Victoria Police Headquarters to be arrested at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday June 6
01:05:03
2002 detective Tim day began recording a formal interview with Malcolm Clark faed with his confession to the
01:05:11
fictitious crime gang he finally ditched his false eliy he gave a detailed description of
01:05:18
Bonnie's murder as he recorded including her bedroom adding that he had been drunk as a skunk
01:05:24
he admitted to digitally raping the six-year-old smothering her and stabbing her Clark insisted it had never been his
01:05:33
intention to kill Bonnie quote God knows why I went round to that place and whatever happened had happened
01:05:41
and when I came to my senses I realized that Bonnie was deceased malol Clark was subsequently
01:05:49
charged with the murder of Bonny Clark and taken away to be held on Rand [Music]
01:05:58
by the time Malcolm Clark's trial began in Victoria's Supreme Court 2 years later he had riged his confessions and
01:06:04
was pleading not guilty the now 49-year-old Clark claimed that he'd only confessed to killing Bonnie because he
01:06:12
believed that was the only way he was going to get hired by the organized crime gang when the undercover officer
01:06:19
he knew as Phil took him to Police Headquarters and he was arrested and interviewed there Clark thought this was
01:06:25
an extension of his hotel room confession his lawyer argued that Clark had believed detectives Ron idles and
01:06:33
Tim day were corrupt officers on the gang's payroll not appreciating the reality of the situation he kept up the
01:06:40
charade instead of requesting a lawyer and maintaining his right to silence to support their argument that
01:06:48
Clark had made a false confession his defense pointed to some discrepancies between his statement and the crime
01:06:54
scene Clark had claimed he'd left Bonnie fully dressed in her pajamas but she was
01:06:59
found naked with her pajamas wedged between her bed and the wall Clark said he'd smothered Bonnie
01:07:06
yet there were bruises on her neck that indicated strangulation or that she'd been grabbed
01:07:12
roughly the defense argued that Clark was able to provide some correct details due to his familiarity with the victim's
01:07:19
house and reports he'd heard in the news however the prosecution pointed to details that were withheld from the
01:07:27
media that Clark had correctly described these included the fact that Bonnie was digitally raped the lack of
01:07:35
seen at the scene the stab wound to Bonnie's chest and the specific way it had blurred at least one media report which
01:07:44
Clark claimed to have read had actually stated that Bonnie was killed by strangulation however Bonnie's autopsy
01:07:51
was more consistent with Clark's claim that she was smothered and didn't struggle under cross-examination Clark
01:08:00
amended his story somewhat claiming the information he decided had actually come
01:08:05
from conversations he'd had with detectives 20 years earlier while incarcerated for his previous
01:08:11
crimes he named the case's original lead investigator detective Eric lily as one
01:08:17
of these detectives and said there were others he didn't want to name detective Lily did did briefly
01:08:24
speak to Clark following his 1983 arrest but no report of this interview was made
01:08:29
and Clark wasn't asked to provide a formal statement the prosecution suggested that
01:08:36
any discrepancies between Clark's confession and the crime scene were down to Clark forgetting some details due to
01:08:42
the passage of time his claimed that he'd believed he was still talking to gang members was
01:08:48
impossible due to the detectives explaining that they were from the homicide Squad and and cautioning him
01:08:54
before commencing their interview the jury of nine men and three women weren't told about Malcolm Clark's
01:09:02
previous convictions for manslaughter and rape they heard nothing about his prior victims or the similarities
01:09:09
between their cases and Bonnies on Thursday June 17 2004 the jury delivered their verdict
01:09:19
guilty Malcolm Clark was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 25 years after learning his fate Clark
01:09:29
turned around to look at the public Gallery he found detective Tim day and one of his undercover officers amongst
01:09:36
the crowd and glared at them with an enraged expression mouthing silent threats they stared straight back at him
01:09:44
in [Music] reply two months after Malcolm Clark was sentenced Bonny Clark's father Dennis
01:09:58
passed away he had been battling cancer for years but lived long enough to finally see Justice for his
01:10:05
daughter at the time of Clark's conviction Dennis told one reporter quote it's the best news I have ever had
01:10:14
after 21 years I am so glad I just think I'll get on with my life a lot better and not look at everyone and say this
01:10:24
isn't the person now I know for Bonnie's mother Marian Wishard Clark's conviction was particularly
01:10:33
gratifying as well as knowing her child's killer was finally being held accountable Maran was freed from the
01:10:39
suspicion that dogged her ever since the original investigators set their sights
01:10:43
on her in the Years prior to the Cold Case team taking up Bonnie's case police officers had occasionally called Marian
01:10:51
to check in but but it had never felt like they were following up with the victim of a
01:10:57
crime it felt like they were sending a subtle message that she was still their top
01:11:04
suspect during the 20 years following Bonnie's murder Marian had often woken in the middle of the night haunted by
01:11:10
the thought that Bonnie's killer was free to harm others her fears were confirmed upon finally learning who the
01:11:17
murderer was Maran was distraught that the lack of police attention on Clark had allowed
01:11:23
him to brutally rape at least one other woman in 1983 she had tried to tell investigators
01:11:30
that Malcolm Clark could be a suspect immediately after Bonnie's body was found but she hadn't been listened
01:11:37
to Marian Wishard passed away in 2018 from pneumonia before her death Marian spoke
01:11:46
with the journalist Ian Monroe who was now working for the Sunday age during the interview Marian
01:11:53
reminisced about her daughter describing Bonnie as a very strong willed funny little girl Marian
01:12:00
said one of her favorite memories of how attached Bonnie was to an imaginary friend she named
01:12:07
chitty on one occasion the mother and daughter were on a tram when Bonnie suddenly panicked because chitty hadn't
01:12:13
boarded with them to soothe her daughter Marian asked the driver to stop then pretended to fetch chitty from the
01:12:20
street outside all of the other passengers had laughed as Maran put chitty down beside
01:12:28
Bonnie reflecting on the daughter she'd lost Maran stated she's there all the time there
01:12:37
really isn't a time when Bonnie's not with [Music] me [Music]

Badges

This episode stands out for the following:

  • 95
    Most heartbreaking
  • 90
    Most emotional
  • 85
    Most dramatic
  • 80
    Most shocking

Episode Highlights

  • Detective's Doubts
    Detective Lily grows suspicious of Maran as evidence points to a more complex situation.
    “You did it, didn't you? Tell us now, we can help.”
    @ 15m 44s
    February 10, 2024
  • A Mother's Grief
    Maran Clark struggles with the unimaginable loss of her daughter, Bonnie, and the guilt that follows.
    “It felt like a nightmare that she kept waiting to wake up from.”
    @ 20m 10s
    February 10, 2024
  • The Burden of Accusation
    Maran faces public scrutiny and personal torment as accusations of her involvement in Bonnie's death arise.
    “I honestly reckon he hated single mothers.”
    @ 21m 30s
    February 10, 2024
  • A Father's Desperation
    Dennis Clark, Bonnie's father, seeks closure before his health declines.
    “I need to see the case resolved before I die.”
    @ 25m 05s
    February 10, 2024
  • The Creepy Border
    Kylie Ward recalls her discomfort around Mal, a border in Bonnie's home.
    “He looked at her a lot and sometimes made Bonnie sit on his knee.”
    @ 26m 53s
    February 10, 2024
  • Joe Clark's Confession
    Joe Clark admits to attacking Jane, revealing his obsession and violent past.
    “You were right, it was me. I went next door and had sex with the woman.”
    @ 40m 52s
    February 10, 2024
  • Malcolm Clark's Confession
    Malcolm Clark confesses to the murder of Bonnie Clark, claiming it was an accident.
    “It was an accident, she died.”
    @ 59m 31s
    February 10, 2024
  • Malcolm Clark Sentenced
    Malcolm Clark was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Bonnie Clark.
    “Guilty Malcolm Clark was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 25 years.”
    @ 01h 09m 19s
    February 10, 2024
  • The Verdict
    Malcolm Clark is found guilty of Bonnie's murder after a lengthy trial.
    “Guilty.”
    @ 01h 09m 19s
    February 10, 2024
  • Dennis Clark's Reaction
    Dennis Clark expressed immense relief and joy upon hearing the verdict.
    “It's the best news I have ever had.”
    @ 01h 10m 11s
    February 10, 2024
  • Marian Wishard's Memories
    Marian Wishard fondly remembers her daughter Bonnie and her imaginary friend Chitty.
    “She's there all the time; there really isn't a time when Bonnie's not with me.”
    @ 01h 12m 33s
    February 10, 2024

Episode Quotes

  • My baby is dead.
    A child killer hides in plain sight
  • It was time I started to live for me.
    A child killer hides in plain sight
  • How easy I could kill you. I could cut you up like the other girl.
    A child killer hides in plain sight
  • I have never been able to get sex from any woman voluntarily.
    A child killer hides in plain sight
  • I never expected this to turn up.
    A child killer hides in plain sight
  • God knows why I went round to that place and whatever happened had happened.
    A child killer hides in plain sight

Key Moments

  • Living for Me24:01
  • Father's Search25:05
  • Creepy Border26:53
  • Violent Confession40:52
  • Verdict Delivered1:09:15
  • Guilty Verdict1:09:19
  • Haunting Memories1:11:06
  • Imaginary Friend1:12:07

Words per Minute Over Time

Vibes Breakdown