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This week on Motive and Method, we dissect the mind of David Prince-Popovich, aka ‘The Playboy Swindler’. From bogus bank transfers to private jets, even duping a former Premier, his scams were as elaborate as they were audacious. 
Sydney Morning Herald crime reporter Clare Sibthorpe joins Xanthe and Tim to explore how one man built a life of lies - and why so many believed him.

Read the Sydney Morning Herald Article

Watch the A Current Affair story

This week on Motive and Method, we dissect the mind of David Prince-Popovich, aka &lsquo;The Playboy Swindler&rsquo;. From bogus bank transfers to private jets, even duping a former Premier, his scams were as elaborate as they were audacious.&nbsp; Sydney Morning Herald crime reporter Clare Sibthorpe joins Xanthe and Tim to explore how one man built a life of lies - and why so many believed him.
<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/a-con-artist-made-these-chilling-confessions-then-a-criminologist-dissected-every-word-20250514-p5lz2u.html">Read the Sydney Morning Herald Article</a>
<a href="https://www.9now.com.au/a-current-affair">Watch the A Current Affair story</a>

Motive & Method is an expert-led Australian true crime podcast. Join Dr Xanthe Mallett and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro as they unpack what really makes the offenders behind some of history’s most notorious cases tick, and also react and unpack crimes as they hit the headlines. You will also hear from victim survivors, investigators and advocates for change analysing motive, and method.

Motive &amp; Method is an expert-led Australian true crime podcast. Join Dr Xanthe Mallett and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro as they unpack what really makes the offenders behind some of history’s most notorious cases tick, and also react and unpack crimes as they hit the headlines. You will also hear from victim survivors, investigators and advocates for change analysing motive, and method.

Motive & Method

Motive & Method is an expert-led Australian true crime podcast. Join Dr Xanthe Weston and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro as they unpack what really makes the offenders behind some of history’s most notorious cases tick, and also react and unpack crimes as they hit the headlines. You will also hear from victim survivors, investigators and advocates for change analysing motive, and method.

Motive &amp; Method is an expert-led Australian true crime podcast. Join Dr Xanthe Weston and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro as they unpack what really makes the offenders behind some of history&rsquo;s most notorious cases tick, and also react and unpack crimes as they hit the headlines. You will also hear from victim survivors, investigators and advocates for change analysing motive, and method.

Who is ‘The Playboy Swindler’? Inside the Psyche of a Serial Scammer

A 17-year-old disappeared in Thailand after meeting an Australian man. Less than a day later her body was found inside a suitcase abandoned near railway tracks. 
In this episode Tim and Xanthe examine the evidence authorities allege they have against Australian man Simon Peter Carman, and how they say they tracked him through an extensive network of CCTV. 
Carman denies intentionally killing the teenager - Thanchanok Donhomla - claiming he acted in self-defence, and could face the death penalty if convicted under Thai law.

You can read the Sydney Morning Herald article about Thanchanok Donhomla and her family, mentioned in this episode HERE

Watch the full video episode on Youtube atCrime Central Australia HERE.

A 17-year-old disappeared in Thailand after meeting an Australian man. Less than a day later her body was found inside a suitcase abandoned near railway tracks.&nbsp; In this episode Tim and Xanthe examine the evidence authorities allege they have against Australian man Simon Peter Carman, and how they say they tracked him through an extensive network of CCTV. Carman denies intentionally killing the teenager - Thanchanok Donhomla - claiming he acted in self-defence, and could face the death penalty if convicted under Thai law.
<hr>
You can read the Sydney Morning Herald article about Thanchanok Donhomla and her family, mentioned in this episode <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/cake-might-have-been-any-teenager-anywhere-20260709-p60dv4.html">HERE</a>
Watch the full video episode on Youtube at<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@CrimeCentralAustralia"> Crime Central Australia HERE.</a>

The Thailand Suitcase Murder: An Australian Charged

Could an anonymous truck driver hold the key to solving this 50-year-old cold case?
In this episode Tim & Xanthe sit down with Karen Cox, the sister of Narelle Cox, who vanished in 1977 while hitchhiking from Grafton to Noosa. She was just 21 years old and left a note saying she was visiting a friend for the weekend, but she never arrived and she never came home. 
Karen shares the devastating impact of Narelle’s disappearance, the police decisions they believe cost valuable time and the lost leads that have haunted them for nearly 50 years. Plus, why possible links to Ivan Milat, or another convicted killer, continue to raise troubling questions.

Anyone with information about Narelle’s disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 
1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au

Watch the full video episode on Youtube atCrime Central Australia HERE.

Could an anonymous truck driver hold the key to solving this 50-year-old cold case? In this episode Tim &amp; Xanthe sit down with Karen Cox, the sister of Narelle Cox, who vanished in 1977 while hitchhiking from Grafton to Noosa. She was just 21 years old and left a note saying she was visiting a friend for the weekend, but she never arrived and she never came home. Karen shares the devastating impact of Narelle&rsquo;s disappearance, the police decisions they believe cost valuable time and the lost leads that have haunted them for nearly 50 years. Plus, why possible links to Ivan Milat, or another convicted killer, continue to raise troubling questions.
Anyone with information about Narelle&rsquo;s disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or<a href="https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au"> https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au</a>
<hr>
Watch the full video episode on Youtube at<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@CrimeCentralAustralia"> Crime Central Australia HERE.</a>

8. Narelle Cox: If Not Milat, Then Who?

No badge, no warrant and no official powers - yet she uncovered vital evidence in the search for missing schoolteacher Marion Barter.
In this episode, we speak with citizen sleuth and social worker Joni Condos, whose relentless research from her own living room uncovered crucial evidence in the mysterious disappearance of Marion Barter. Joni reveals how she traced hidden identities, unearthed forgotten records and pieced together key movements that helped reshape the coronial inquest into one of Australia’s most baffling missing persons cases.
She also shares why she believes collaboration between police and skilled civilian researchers could be the key to solving more cold cases.

Watch the full video episode on Youtube atCrime Central Australia HERE.

Anyone with information about Marion’s disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 
1800 333 000 orhttps://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au

For more information, follow the links below:
The Lady Vanishes podcast
The Missing Matter podcast
The Green Seat Project

 

No badge, no warrant and no official powers - yet she uncovered vital evidence in the search for missing schoolteacher Marion Barter. In this episode, we speak with citizen sleuth and social worker Joni Condos, whose relentless research from her own living room uncovered crucial evidence in the mysterious disappearance of Marion Barter.&nbsp;Joni reveals how she traced hidden identities, unearthed forgotten records and pieced together key movements that helped reshape the coronial inquest into one of Australia&rsquo;s most baffling missing persons cases. She also shares why she believes collaboration between police and skilled civilian researchers could be the key to solving more cold cases.
Watch the full video episode on Youtube at<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@CrimeCentralAustralia"> Crime Central Australia HERE.</a>
<hr>
Anyone with information about Marion&rsquo;s disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers:&nbsp; 1800 333 000 or<a href="https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au"> https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au</a>
For more information, follow the links below: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-lady-vanishes/id1457296528">The Lady Vanishes podcast </a><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/033fR7EkDAmVchzrlSZKnv">The Missing Matter podcast </a><a href="https://themissingmatter.com/the-green-seat-project">The Green Seat Project</a>
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Who is ‘The Playboy Swindler’? Inside the Psyche of a Serial Scammer

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