Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"Because easy answer? Racism. I mean, it is a huge problem in Bauerville. I mean, this is a town divided in particular, because you had white Australians and then the local Aboriginal Australian community, which Muriel was a part of, and Colleen had a lighter skin tone than her mother. I mean, that's really what it boils down to." — Britt
"But the thing is, I don't know if anyone is putting this together yet, but even though they're not necessarily like saying they're connected or whatever, it does seem that at some point when Evelyn doesn't just show up, police do organize some searches for her. And I say her, meaning just Evelyn, because again, not connecting the two." — Ashley Flowers
"The circumstances are just too suspicious. So they decide to go out into the community to start really talking to people about this guy. And I'd assume the stuff they hear only makes them more convinced that they're on the right track." — Ashley Flowers
This episode of Crime Junkie delves into the distressing and complex "Bauerville Murders," a series of disappearances and suspected homicides in a small rural town in New South Wales, Australia. The narrative begins with the disappearance of 16-year-old Colleen in September 1990. Her mother, Muriel, faced immediate skepticism and dismissal from local police, which the podcast attributes to racial bias against the Aboriginal Australian community, of which Colleen was a part. This initial obstruction set a concerning tone for the subsequent investigations.
The situation tragically escalated with the disappearance of four-year-old Evelyn Stadams just weeks later, from a home located a mere 100 meters from where Colleen was last seen. Despite the proximity and the fact that Evelyn and Colleen were cousins, initial police efforts failed to connect the two cases. The episode highlights further perceived inadequacies in the police response, including officers ending their shifts and a lack of urgency in taking statements. The community's distress was compounded when, in February 1991, 16-year-old Clinton also disappeared under suspicious circumstances after a party.
The investigation then focuses on a man named James, a local resident who was present at or connected to all three incidents. Evidence such as a matching pillowcase found with Clinton's body and bedsheets from James's caravan linked him to the crime. However, the podcast meticulously details the legal hurdles and systemic issues that prevented a conviction. The Australian legal system's rules on similar fact evidence, the challenges of witness testimony from a potentially traumatized and marginalized community, and the eventual acquittal of James in Clinton's murder trial are explored. The subsequent trials for Evelyn's murder also resulted in an acquittal, with prosecutors facing difficulties in connecting the cases due to strict evidentiary rules.
The episode concludes by emphasizing the enduring pain and lack of closure for the victims' families, who feel justice has been denied due to systemic failures and racial bias. Despite multiple reinvestigations and legal challenges, including attempts to change double jeopardy laws, James has never been convicted. The podcast suggests that the initial handling of the cases by law enforcement played a significant role in the lack of resolution and calls for continued awareness and advocacy.