In 2019, we told the story of Zac Barnes  an 18-year-old from the Hunter Valley who vanished in November 2016 after getting out of a friend’s car on the way to Thornton train station and running into nearby bushland.

At the time, Zac’s family were still searching for answers. His body had never been found. The questions around what happened that day and what may have happened afterwards remained unresolved.

Now, almost a decade after Zac disappeared, a NSW coronial inquest has found that Zac is most likely deceased and that he died in suspicious circumstances. The coroner was unable to determine the exact manner, cause, or place of his death, but recommended the NSW unsolved homicide team take over the investigation.

This new release revisits the story we first told in What Happened to Zac?, with the benefit of the coroner’s findings and the painful clarity they bring. It is a story about a young man who never came home, a family who refused to stop fighting for him, and a case that still demands answers.

Zac’s mum said he “deserves justice and to be found”  and that his family deserves answers.

What Happened to Zac? is the story of a disappearance, a delayed search, years of uncertainty, and a family’s ongoing fight to find out what really happened to Zac Barnes.

In 2019, we told the story of Zac Barnes&nbsp; an 18-year-old from the Hunter Valley who vanished in November 2016 after getting out of a friend&rsquo;s car on the way to Thornton train station and running into nearby bushland.
At the time, Zac&rsquo;s family were still searching for answers. His body had never been found. The questions around what happened that day and what may have happened afterwards remained unresolved.
Now, almost a decade after Zac disappeared, a NSW coronial inquest has found that Zac is most likely deceased and that he died in suspicious circumstances. The coroner was unable to determine the exact manner, cause, or place of his death, but recommended the NSW unsolved homicide team take over the investigation.
This new release revisits the story we first told in What Happened to Zac?, with the benefit of the coroner&rsquo;s findings and the painful clarity they bring. It is a story about a young man who never came home, a family who refused to stop fighting for him, and a case that still demands answers.
Zac&rsquo;s mum said he &ldquo;deserves justice and to be found&rdquo;&nbsp; and that his family deserves answers.
What Happened to Zac? is the story of a disappearance, a delayed search, years of uncertainty, and a family&rsquo;s ongoing fight to find out what really happened to Zac Barnes.

What Happened To… is a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of missing people across Australia, with a focus on lesser-known cases that deserve more attention. Each episode explores a new story, helping families keep their loved one’s name in the public conversation and raising awareness in the hope that someone, somewhere, may know something. 

This series exists to support families, amplify their voices, and remind Australia that no missing person should ever be forgotten.



Support and Information

If you have information about a missing person, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report at crimestoppers.com.au. Reports can be made confidentially. 

For information about missing persons in Australia, visit the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre at missingpersons.gov.au. The centre is run by the Australian Federal Police and helps coordinate national awareness around missing persons cases.  

 

If this episode has raised distressing feelings, you can contact Lifeline 24 hours a day on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au.

 

What Happened To&hellip; is a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of missing people across Australia, with a focus on lesser-known cases that deserve more attention. Each episode explores a new story, helping families keep their loved one&rsquo;s name in the public conversation and raising awareness in the hope that someone, somewhere, may know something.&nbsp;
This series exists to support families, amplify their voices, and remind Australia that no missing person should ever be forgotten. 
Support and Information
If you have information about a missing person, contact&nbsp;Crime Stoppers&nbsp;on&nbsp;1800 333 000&nbsp;or submit a report at&nbsp;crimestoppers.com.au. Reports can be made confidentially.&nbsp;
For information about missing persons in Australia, visit the&nbsp;National Missing Persons Coordination Centre&nbsp;at&nbsp;missingpersons.gov.au. The centre is run by the Australian Federal Police and helps coordinate national awareness around missing persons cases. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
If this episode has raised distressing feelings, you can contact&nbsp;Lifeline&nbsp;24 hours a day on&nbsp;13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au.
&nbsp;

What Happened To… is a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of missing people across Australia, with a focus on lesser-known cases that deserve more attention.

What Happened To…

What Happened To… is a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of missing people across Australia, with a focus on lesser-known cases that deserve more attention. Each episode explores a new story, helping families keep their loved one’s name in the public conversation and raising awareness in the hope that someone, somewhere, may know something. 

This series exists to support families, amplify their voices, and remind Australia that no missing person should ever be forgotten.



Support and Information

If you have information about a missing person, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report at crimestoppers.com.au. Reports can be made confidentially. 

For information about missing persons in Australia, visit the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre at missingpersons.gov.au. The centre is run by the Australian Federal Police and helps coordinate national awareness around missing persons cases.  

 

If this episode has raised distressing feelings, you can contact Lifeline 24 hours a day on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au.

What Happened To&hellip; is a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of missing people across Australia, with a focus on lesser-known cases that deserve more attention. Each episode explores a new story, helping families keep their loved one&rsquo;s name in the public conversation and raising awareness in the hope that someone, somewhere, may know something.&nbsp;
This series exists to support families, amplify their voices, and remind Australia that no missing person should ever be forgotten. 
Support and Information
If you have information about a missing person, contact&nbsp;Crime Stoppers&nbsp;on&nbsp;1800 333 000&nbsp;or submit a report at&nbsp;crimestoppers.com.au. Reports can be made confidentially.&nbsp;
For information about missing persons in Australia, visit the&nbsp;National Missing Persons Coordination Centre&nbsp;at&nbsp;missingpersons.gov.au. The centre is run by the Australian Federal Police and helps coordinate national awareness around missing persons cases. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
If this episode has raised distressing feelings, you can contact&nbsp;Lifeline&nbsp;24 hours a day on&nbsp;13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au.

Ep 1 - Who is Zac

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/b35dd866-a9d4-449d-81c6-b44a002906d7/transcript