It’s the 21st of January, 2010, and Vicky Rockefeller is in her house in the affluent suburb of East Malvern - roughly 8 kilometres southeast of Melbourne's CBD. Her two children are out. And she’s expecting her husband, Herman, any minute now. 

Herman has been away on a business trip, a regular practice for his line of work as a property developer, and had messaged her earlier to say his flight had been delayed. Herman was good like that, he’d text her updates so she wouldn’t worry while he was away and he would always call her once he landed. But Herman hadn’t called her tonight. So she waits, assuming he’d just forgotten this one time and that his blue Toyota Prius will pull into the driveway at any moment. 

But the minutes tick by into hours, with no sign of Herman. She texts and calls, but nothing.

Just after midnight, Vicky calls the police. Her husband’s plane landed at 9:35pm. So the question is where is Herman Rockefeller?

CREDITS

Guest: Hilary Bonney

Executive Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producers: Rhiannon Mooney & Gia Moylan

CONTACT US

Tell us what you think of the show via email at truecrime@mamamia.com.au  

Join our closed Facebook community to discuss this episode. Just search True Crime Conversations on Facebook or follow this link https://bit.ly/tcc-group 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Just by reading or listening to our content, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and our aim is to get to 1,000. Find out more about Mamamia at mamamia.com.au