If two teenage girls went missing today, would police just assume they’d run away from home? That assumption is why two Australian teenagers, Elaine Johnson and Kerry Anne Joel, have never been found.

Elaine was 16, Kerry was 17, living a carefree 80s life in The Shire, south of Sydney. The girls were seen hitchhiking on the Princes Highway, but by the weekend, they were gone. No calls. No sightings. Years later, the families uncovered police oversights, lost documents, and a cold case that never should’ve gone cold.

Journalist and podcast host Kate Kachor is retracing Elaine’s final days, hoping someone out there finally comes forward.

You can listen to Kate's podcast Out from the Cold: Searching for Elaine, here. 

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CREDITS 

Guest: Kate Kachor

Host: Claire Murphy

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy

Audio Engineer: Tina Matalov

GET IN TOUCH

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. 

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note.

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

We acknowledge 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.

If two teenage girls went missing today, would police just assume they&rsquo;d run away from home? That assumption is why two Australian teenagers, Elaine Johnson and Kerry Anne Joel, have never been found.
Elaine was 16, Kerry was 17, living a carefree 80s life in The Shire, south of Sydney. The girls were seen hitchhiking on the Princes Highway, but by the weekend, they were gone. No calls. No sightings. Years later, the families uncovered police oversights, lost documents, and a cold case that never should&rsquo;ve gone cold.
Journalist and podcast host Kate Kachor is retracing Elaine&rsquo;s final days, hoping someone out there finally comes forward.
You can listen to Kate's podcast Out from the Cold: Searching for Elaine,&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-from-the-cold-searching-for-elaine/id1840856418">here</a>.&nbsp;
SURVEY
Want to win a $1,000 gift card in just 3 minutes? <a href="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8496276/True-Crime-Study-2025">Fill out this short survey</a> to help True Crime Conversations gather more information on what content you want to hear from us!
CREDITS&nbsp;
Guest: Kate Kachor
Host: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-murphy-52121979/?originalSubdomain=au">Claire Murphy</a>
Senior Producer:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahli-blackman-205a891b7/?originalSubdomain=au">Tahli Blackman</a>
Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy
Audio Engineer: Tina Matalov
GET IN TOUCH
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeconversations/?hl=en">@truecrimeconversations</a>
Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple &amp; Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes.&nbsp;
Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:truecrime@mamamia.com.au">truecrime@mamamia.com.au</a>&nbsp;or <a href="https://help.mamamia.com.au/en-US/send-a-podcast-voice-note-467960">send us a voice note.</a>
If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on <a href="tel:1300 22 4636">1300 22 4636</a>.
We acknowledge 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.

True Crime Conversations explores the world’s most notorious crimes by speaking to the people who know the most about them. 

Follow us on TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au

True Crime Conversations explores the world&rsquo;s most notorious crimes by speaking to the people who know the most about them.&nbsp;
Follow us on TikTok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@truecrimeconversations?lang=en">@truecrimeconversations</a>
Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:truecrime@mamamia.com.au">truecrime@mamamia.com.au</a>

True Crime Conversations

Australia’s Forgotten Teens: The Vanishing Of Elaine Johnson & Kerry Joel

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/3ea926be-9be7-482a-8ac3-a44f016e43d1/clips/2d999010-ac68-4948-83d8-b39a0019b22c/transcript

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