From a fruit picker who falsely claimed he killed Nancy, to a person who meditated on Beaumaris Beach until “visions” came, and even a red jacket planted as false evidence after Victoria’s murder, these cold cases have led to plenty of dead ends and bizarre false leads. Retired detective Bob Coad, author Melanie Calvert, and current Detective Inspector Kim Steven explain why these cases have led to so much fascination - and so much speculation.

Twenty-five years have passed since a peaceful Tasmanian seaside community was shattered by the brutal murder of a young Italian tourist on one of its remote and beautiful beaches. Still to this day, no-one has ever been charged with the murder of Victoria Cafasso. But Victoria’s death wasn’t the first disturbing event along that picturesque coastline — young German tourist Nancy Grunwaldt had disappeared from the same area two years earlier. With the anniversary of Victoria’s death, the Mercury revisits these two mysteries to find out what the police detectives and the locals think happened — and if they’ll ever be able to put these ghosts to rest.

Twenty-five years have passed since a peaceful Tasmanian seaside community was shattered by the brutal murder of a young Italian tourist on one of its remote and beautiful beaches.

Gone Girls

Twenty-five years have passed since the brutal murder of a young Italian tourist on one of its remote and beautiful beaches in Tasmania.

Episode 4: Theories, Myths and Fatal Flaws

Victoria’s father had a heart attack the day after her memorial service and died. Nancy’s “heartbroken” father died in 2005 never knowing what happened to his daughter. Detective Inspector Kim Steven, who currently has carriage over both cold cases, explains how nothing would make him happier than being able to give both families the closure they’ve waited so long for.

Episode 5: Hearts Broken

Detective Inspector Kim Steven is the keeper of reams of documents and huge files of evidence stored over Nancy’s disappearance and Victoria’s murder. He’s been reviewing the two cold cases over the past 18 months, and hopes that on the 25th anniversary of Victoria’s death, someone will finally come forward and provide a vital clue. He also reveals that police might just be able to use science to pinpoint her killer.

Episode 3: The New Detective

Former detective Bob Coad has been retired for nearly 20 years. But he remains as dedicated as ever to solving the missing persons case of young German tourist Nancy Grunwaldt, who vanished from Tasmania’s East Coast two years before the murder of Victoria Cafasso in the same area. Bob explains the two crucial pieces of evidence that prove Nancy wasn’t murdered.

Episode 4: Theories, Myths and Fatal Flaws

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