sleepers

Sixteen years after two barrels were recovered from tunnels beneath a South Australian reservoir, the science is moving again.
In this episode of Sleepers, Bryan Littlely speaks with forensic scientist, toxicologist, and criminologist Asha Walther from Exhuming the Truth about her independent preliminary examination of material recovered from the barrels.

Those barrels have long formed part of an investigative theory surrounding the 1973 disappearance of Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon from Adelaide Oval. That theory has never been proven, and there is currently no evidence establishing that either girl was ever inside them.

But the barrels are real. The material recovered from them is real. And now new preliminary forensic findings are in
.
Asha reveals that presumptive testing produced a positive reaction consistent with the presence of blood or haemoglobin-related activity. At this stage, the testing cannot determine whether that blood is human or animal, and no DNA identification has been made.

Preliminary pH testing has also found material from the barrels to be acidic. Again, that doesn't establish what substance was present, why it was there, or support any particular theory about how the barrels may have been used. Further chemical analysis is required.

Then there's the expanding foam.

The unusual material inside the barrels raises another set of questions. What happened to the significant amount of liquid apparently once present beneath the foam? What may have been absorbed into it? And could the chemical composition of the foam itself help establish when it was manufactured or placed inside the barrels?

Asha explains how techniques including GCMS analysis may help characterise its chemical composition and potentially narrow its age to a useful timeframe. She also explains why microscopic examination can reveal biological material that would never be visible to the naked eye, particularly after decades of environmental exposure.

Most importantly, the preliminary examination isn't where this investigation ends.

Subject to the necessary permits and approvals, material is intended to undergo further independent specialist examination through a university laboratory in the United Kingdom. That next stage could include species-specific or human-specific testing, DNA analysis, chemical examination, and further analysis of the expanding foam.

Bryan also confronts the question that inevitably follows: after another independent presumptive result consistent with blood, should South Australia Police now receive material from the barrels for further examination? And if these tests eventually produce something significant, how important will the documented chain of custody become?

Max doesn't interrupt this time. We leave Bryan and Asha to follow the evidence and explain what the science tells us, what it doesn't, and what needs to happen next.

After sixteen years, the next step isn't another theory.

It's the science.

SLEEPERS LIVE: NEW INVESTIGATIONS
Join Bryan, Max and the SLEEPERS team LIVE at the Arkaba Hotel, Wednesday 30 September 2026.
Expect new cases, new information, advance developments in current investigations, and the story behind an upcoming hunt through the Adelaide Hills for one very particular item.
Doors 6:30 pm | Show 7:30 pm
BOOK TICKETS — SLEEPERS LIVE
EVENT DETAILS — ARKABA HOTEL

Always remember – fight like Jo.
It's time to rise - #fightlikejo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the witness you've been searching for was there all along?

In this special episode of Sleepers, investigative journalist Bryan Littlely sits down with Nicole Morris, founder of the Australian Missing Persons Register, during National Missing Persons Week.

For 21 years, Nicole has worked to keep Australia's missing visible. Her register contains thousands of long-term missing-person cases, some dating back to the 1930s, and during last year's National Missing Persons Week campaign her Facebook posts reached an extraordinary 45 million people.

Because sometimes keeping a photograph, a name, and a story in front of the public is enough to make somebody remember.

And this conversation proves it.

Bryan and Nicole explore the disappearance of Joanne Butterfield, the importance of listening to the people who actually knew the missing, and why even decades of research don't always produce a simple answer.

Then Nicole tells Bryan about Rhonda State, a 20-year-old mother who disappeared after attending a dance at Camden in 1979.
While researching Rhonda's case, Nicole tracked down a woman who told her she had seen Rhonda getting into a car in the car park.

Nicole asked what she'd told police.
The answer?
She hadn't.
Nobody had ever asked her.

That extraordinary revelation leads to the possibility that Ivan Milat was involved, and raises a much larger question: how much potentially important information can remain hidden, not because somebody deliberately concealed it, but because the right witness was simply never interviewed?

Bryan then brings the conversation home to South Australia and the Sleepers investigation into the 1973 Adelaide Oval disappearance of Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon.

The discovery that Alex Bone and his father, Frank, travelled to the football with the Ratcliffe family, and Alex's recollection of being sent to search for the girls, raise significant questions about the accepted timeline.
Nicole immediately recognises the problem.

If the timeline is wrong, were investigators asking witnesses to remember the wrong period?
Along the way, Bryan and Nicole also discuss Susie Ratcliffe, Leave A Light On, and, for the first time on Sleepers, Bryan explains the story behind the words that have become our signature:
#Fight Like Jo.

CRIME SCENE VICTOR HARBOR | 21–23 AUGUST 2026
This episode arrives as Bryan prepares to bring together some of Australia's leading true crime investigators, journalists, authors, podcasters and advocates for the inaugural CRIME SCENE Victor Harbor.
Across three days, Victor Harbor becomes a true crime precinct with live presentations, investigative panels, author appearances, live podcasting and forensic experiences. The 2026 program includes Sally Leydon, Debi Marshall, Derek Pedley, Adam Shand, Suzie Ratcliffe, Max Marten, Bryan Littlely and many more. Part of the proceeds from Crime Scene Victor Harbor supports Leave A Light On Inc.

And Sleepers is going live.
SLEEPERS LIVE
Sunday, 23 August 2026 | 11.00 am
McCracken Country Club – Convention Centre, Victor Harbor
Bryan Littlely and Max Marten take Sleepers out of your podcast app and into the room for a live examination of the cold cases, witnesses and information driving the investigation.
Sometimes somebody sitting in the audience knows something that somebody standing on the stage doesn't.
Come and be part of the conversation.

Crime Scene Victor Harbor 21–23 August 2026. Sleepers Live is 11:00 am Sunday 23 August at McCracken Country Club. Tickets are currently listed at $40, and part of the festival proceeds support Leave A Light On Inc. (crimescenevictor.com.au)
It's time to rise - #fightlikejo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when someone decides, after years of silence, that it's finally time to tell their story?

In this special episode of Sleepers, investigative journalist Bryan Littlely takes listeners behind the scenes of the investigative process itself.

You'll hear how one witness's recollection of a hitchhiker seen shortly after Gus Lamont's disappearance led to an unexpected conversation about another missing person, and how that conversation opened the door to an entirely new lead.

The second half of this episode follows the real-time journey of information that recently found its way into the Sleepers' investigation. It's a rare opportunity to hear how new material is assessed, why not every lead becomes a case, and why careful listening remains one of the most important tools available to any investigator.

If you've arrived here after watching the video shared on Bryan Littlely's Facebook page, welcome. You'll find the direct link to that video HERE

Together, the video and this episode explain not just what was discovered, but how information like this reaches Sleepers in the first place.

At its heart, this episode isn't about a single witness, a single video or a single cold case.
It's about people.
People who have carried memories for years.
People looking for somewhere they'll be heard.
And the belief that every genuine piece of information deserves careful consideration, because behind every unsolved case is a family still waiting for answers.

If you have information about any of the cases discussed in Sleepers, we'd genuinely like to hear from you.

The Skull Video
At the time of posting, all links are current.
The Video can be found by clicking - HERE

Join Us Live at Crime Scene Victor Harbor
If today's episode has sparked your curiosity, we'd love to meet you in person.
Join Bryan Littlely, Max Marten and a host of Australia's leading true crime researchers, investigators, forensic specialists and authors at

Crime Scene Victor Harbor—AUGUST 21-23 2026 - a unique weekend dedicated to investigation, education and conversation.

The programme includes Sleepers Live, where you'll experience the investigation in a completely different way, hear exclusive material, and join the discussion.

Importantly, proceeds from the event support Leave A Light On, continuing the shared commitment to helping families and keeping forgotten stories alive.

For tickets and the full programme, visit the festival website - HERE - that's where tix are available,

#SleepersPodcast, #Sleepers, #BryanLittlely, #MaxMarten, #AustralianTrueCrime, #AdelaideTrueCrime, #SouthAustralia, #ColdCasesAustralia, #MissingPersons, #InvestigativeJournalism, #CrimeSceneVictor, #SleepersLive, #LeaveALightOn

#FightLikeJo
It's time to rise - #fightlikejo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode contains references to child exploitation, grooming, sexual abuse and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.

What if some of the most important witnesses to South Australia's darkest mysteries were never suspects, police officers or investigators?
What if they were simply there?

In this episode, Bryan Littlely sits down with Jade, a witness whose teenage years were spent navigating a hidden Adelaide that most people never knew existed.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, Jade moved through the city's beats, street communities and underground social networks, encountering people, places and events that would later intersect with some of South Australia's most enduring true crime questions.

From warnings passed quietly between vulnerable young people, to recollections of an unsettling upstairs room above a suburban business, Jade paints a picture of an Adelaide operating beneath the surface of everyday life.

Along the way, you will hear accounts involving individuals later connected to major public discussions surrounding The Family murders, Adelaide's hidden beats culture, and allegations involving a man Jade believed to be a serving South Australian police officer.

This is not an episode about proving a theory.

It's an episode about understanding a world.

A world of vulnerable youth, hidden networks, whispered reputations and forgotten places.
A world that still echoes in some of South Australia's most notorious cold cases and unsolved mysteries.

For listeners interested in Australian true crime, Adelaide history, The Family Murders, Bevan Spencer von Einem, South Australian cold cases, historical abuse investigations, and the hidden social history of Adelaide, this episode provides a rare first-hand account from someone who was there.

Some claims made in this interview cannot be independently verified and are presented as one person’s recollections and lived experiences.

Interview by Bryan Littlely.
Hosted by Max Marten.

BRYAN'S Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bryan.littlely
Bryan is old school.

A huge thank you to everyone who supports Sleepers

Always remember

Fight like JO! - #fightlikejo

Support Services
🇦🇺 Australia
Lifeline Australia – Crisis Support & Suicide Prevention: 13 11 14 (24/7)
Kids Helpline – For young people aged 5–25: 1800 55 1800 (24/7)
Beyond Blue – free, confidential telephone counselling 24/7: 1300 22 4636
MensLine Australia – Counselling for men: 1300 78 99 78
1800RESPECT – National Sexual Assault, Domestic & Family Violence Counselling Service: 1800 737 732 (24/7)

🌍 International
United States
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): 1-800-656-4673 (24/7)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial 988 (24/7)
United Kingdom
NSPCC (for children & young people): 0808 800 5000
Samaritans UK: 116 123 (24/7)
NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood): 0808 801 0331
Canada
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868 (24/7)
Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 (24/7)
New Zealand
Safe to Talk (Sexual harm helpline): 0800 044 334 or text 4334 (24/7)
Lifeline New Zealand: 0800 543 354
Europe (general)
116 123 – European standard suicide helpline (works in many EU countries)
116 111 – Child Helpline Europe
Global
Child Helpline International: childhelplineinternational.org/child-helplines

HASHTAGS
#SleepersPodcast
#Sleepers
#BryanLittlely
#MaxMarten
#AustralianTrueCrime
#AdelaideTrueCrime
#SouthAustraliaTrueCrime
#TheFamilyMurders
#BevanSpencerVonEinem
#ColdCasesAustralia
#UnsolvedMysteries
#InvestigativePodcast
#AdelaideHistory
#HiddenAdelaide
#FightLikeJo
It's time to rise - #fightlikejo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode contains references to child exploitation, grooming, drugging allegations, sexual abuse, trauma, and strong language. Listener discretion is advised.

This interview audio has been altered at the request of the Interviewee.

In this episode, investigative journalist Brian Littlely speaks with a person who moved through Adelaide’s hidden social world during the 1970s and 1980s.
What begins as a discussion about growing up gay in an era of fear, violence, and secrecy slowly unfolds into something much larger, a portrait of overlapping worlds operating beneath the surface of everyday Adelaide life.

The racing scene.
The security world.
Private gatherings.
Powerful men.
And the survival masks people built in order to exist within them.

As Sleepers moves deeper into its investigation surrounding what became known as The Family, this episode marks a shift away from isolated allegations and toward the broader culture that allowed silence, vulnerability, and fear to thrive.

Some claims made in this interview cannot be independently verified and are presented as one person’s recollections and lived experiences.

Interview by Bryan Littlely.
Hosted by Max Marten.

BRYAN'S Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bryan.littlely
Bryan is old school.

Next time on Sleepers, we will be moving further into Adelaide after dark, hidden social circles, drugging allegations, and names many South Australians already know.

A huge thank you to everyone who supports Sleepers

Always remember

Fight like JO! - #fightlikejo

Sleepers is an investigative podcast exploring the stories that refuse to stay buried.

#TrueCrimeCommunity
Support Services
🇦🇺 Australia
Lifeline Australia – Crisis Support & Suicide Prevention: 13 11 14 (24/7)
Kids Helpline – For young people aged 5–25: 1800 55 1800 (24/7)
Beyond Blue – free, confidential telephone counselling 24/7: 1300 22 4636
MensLine Australia – Counselling for men: 1300 78 99 78
1800RESPECT – National Sexual Assault, Domestic & Family Violence Counselling Service: 1800 737 732 (24/7)

🌍 International
United States
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): 1-800-656-4673 (24/7)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial 988 (24/7)
United Kingdom
NSPCC (for children & young people): 0808 800 5000
Samaritans UK: 116 123 (24/7)
NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood): 0808 801 0331
Canada
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868 (24/7)
Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 (24/7)
New Zealand
Safe to Talk (Sexual harm helpline): 0800 044 334 or text 4334 (24/7)
Lifeline New Zealand: 0800 543 354
Europe (general)
116 123 – European standard suicide helpline (works in many EU countries)
116 111 – Child Helpline Europe
Global
Child Helpline International: childhelplineinternational.org/child-helplines

It's time to rise - #fightlikejo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.