In April 1990, a 21-year-old woman was found dead on the side of a highway in Oklahoma City. 

The investigation into her death, which initially seemed like a straight forward hit-and-run, would lead police to uncover a violent trail of lies, abuse, false identities, kidnapping and murder, spanning multiple decades. 

Journalist Matt Birkbeck, our guest today, spent two decades researching this case and played an integral role in uncovering the woman's true identity. 

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CREDITS

Guest: Matt Birkbeck

Matt's research into Suzanne Sevakis' case is detailed in two books, A Beautiful Child & Finding Sharon as well as the Netflix documentary The Girl In The Picture. The documentary includes interviews with Megan Dufrense, the woman who was eventually identified as Suzanne's biological daughter, who was put up for adoption in 1989. 

Host: Emma Gillespie

Executive Producer: Gia Moylan

Junior Producer: Cassie Merritt

Audio Producer: Rhiannon Mooney

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Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.