2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5 3bbd92d2-0eb6-4789-8bec-acac0188e766 7e151776-f7a0-45fe-8666-b4a500480d35 fe9d03b3-aa69-4a29-9315-b4a5004a32d9 en-US The Poisoned Wife From Hedley Thomas and The Australian, a compelling cold case investigation into the unsolved murder of Rosslyn McQueen. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/ Who killed Rosslyn McQueen? The Australian’s Hedley Thomas and Karina Berger investigate the unsolved 1986 murder of a 30-year-old pregnant mother, poisoned with strychnine in her own home in country Victoria, as her toddler played nearby. Rosslyn’s husband, Ray McQueen, told police and ambulance officers she had terminal cancer. But Ros didn’t have cancer and nobody believed she would have taken her own life. This podcast, from the creator of The Teacher’s Pet, Bronwyn and Shandee’s Story, also features Rex Bakes, a relentless, retired private investigator who once worked for Ray McQueen’s defence team. Now, Rex is determined to help get justice for Ros. Subscribers to The Australian hear new episodes first on Apple Podcasts, on The Australian’s app and thepoisonedwife.com, where you’ll find photos, videos, timelines, stories and more.

]]> serial Who killed Rosslyn McQueen? The Australian’s Hedley Thomas and Karina Berger investigate the unsolved 1986 murder of a 30-year-old pregnant mother, poisoned with strychnine in her own home in country Victoria, as her toddler played nearby. Rosslyn’s husband, Ray McQueen, told police and ambulance officers she had terminal cancer. But Ros didn’t have cancer and nobody believed she would have taken her own life. This podcast, from the creator of The Teacher’s Pet, Bronwyn and Shandee’s Story, also features Rex Bakes, a relentless, retired private investigator who once worked for Ray McQueen’s defence team. Now, Rex is determined to help get justice for Ros. Subscribers to The Australian hear new episodes first on Apple Podcasts, on The Australian’s app and thepoisonedwife.com, where you’ll find photos, videos, timelines, stories and more. audio@news.com.au audio@news.com.au The Australian 2026 News Corp Australia clean https://www.omnycontent.com/d/playlist/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/7e151776-f7a0-45fe-8666-b4a500480d35/fe9d03b3-aa69-4a29-9315-b4a5004a32d9/image.jpg?t=1786595413&size=Large The Poisoned Wife https://www.theaustralian.com.au/ Episode 3: Contradictions Episode 3: Contradictions Homicide squad detectives rush from Melbourne to Bendigo. They hit the ground running, questioning Donna and Ray within days of one another. Detectives identify contradictions in their accounts, including when Ray denies kissing Donna before Ros's death.  

Ray suggests that his neighbour Vin, who found Ros's body, might have been the source of the strychnine that killed Ros.

Ros's mother pleads with her daughter's best friend, Wendy, to tell the police everything she knows. 

Subscribers hear new episodes of The Poisoned Wife first. Listen at thepoisonedwife.com, in The Australian’s app or search for The Poisoned Wife on Apple Podcasts to connect your subscription.

Join the conversation and hear more from Hedley Thomas in The Poisoned Wife Podcast Official Discussion Group on Facebook

Do you know more? Contact the team at thepoisonedwife@theaustralian.com.au

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> Homicide squad detectives rush from Melbourne to Bendigo. They hit the ground running, questioning Donna and Ray within days of one another. Detectives identify contradictions in their accounts, including when Ray denies kissing Donna before Ros's death.  

Ray suggests that his neighbour Vin, who found Ros's body, might have been the source of the strychnine that killed Ros.

Ros's mother pleads with her daughter's best friend, Wendy, to tell the police everything she knows. 

Subscribers hear new episodes of The Poisoned Wife first. Listen at thepoisonedwife.com, in The Australian’s app or search for The Poisoned Wife on Apple Podcasts to connect your subscription.

Join the conversation and hear more from Hedley Thomas in The Poisoned Wife Podcast Official Discussion Group on Facebook

Do you know more? Contact the team at thepoisonedwife@theaustralian.com.au

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> The Poisoned Wife The Australian Hedley Thomas Karina Berger Rosslyn McQueen Ray McQueen Donna Manallack Rex Bakes Vin McKenzie Peter Dixon Yvonne Dixon Wendy Beattie Jeanette McQueen Ron Blackshaw Evan Doherty Glenys Manallack Alf Manallack The Front true crime cold case murder investigation investigative journalism strychnine poisoning Bendigo Lockwood Lockwood North Tennis Club Lake Weeroona 1986 podcast grooming homicide investigation toxicology coronial documents The Poisoned Wife, The Australian, Hedley Thomas, Karina Berger, Rosslyn McQueen, Ray McQueen, Donna Manallack, Rex Bakes, Vin McKenzie, Peter Dixon, Yvonne Dixon, Wendy Beattie, Jeanette McQueen, Ron Blackshaw, Evan Doherty, Glenys Manallack, Alf Manallack, The Front, true crime, cold case, murder investigation, investigative journalism, strychnine poisoning, Bendigo, Lockwood, Lockwood North Tennis Club, Lake Weeroona, 1986, podcast, grooming, homicide investigation, toxicology, coronial documents full 1 3 The Australian 05537c7f-57b1-435f-82c9-b4b300436f3e 05537c7f-57b1-435f-82c9-b4b300436f3e Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 3375 yes Episode 2: False Trail Episode 2: False Trail Documents from the brief of evidence reveal that when police ask Ray McQueen whether he has any idea why his wife died at the kitchen table, he tells them “Yes, she’s had cancer”. 

Police decide there are no suspicious circumstances, but her general practitioner refuses to provide a death certificate. Almost three months later, toxicology tests show strychnine killed Rosslyn.

Hedley Thomas, Karina Berger and Rex Bakes meet in Bendigo for new interviews and investigations. 

Subscribers hear new episodes of The Poisoned Wife first. Listen at thepoisonedwife.com, in The Australian’s app or search for The Poisoned Wife on Apple Podcasts to connect your subscription.

Join the conversation and hear more from Hedley Thomas in The Poisoned Wife Podcast Official Discussion Group on Facebook

Do you know more? Contact the team at thepoisonedwife@theaustralian.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> Documents from the brief of evidence reveal that when police ask Ray McQueen whether he has any idea why his wife died at the kitchen table, he tells them “Yes, she’s had cancer”. 

Police decide there are no suspicious circumstances, but her general practitioner refuses to provide a death certificate. Almost three months later, toxicology tests show strychnine killed Rosslyn.

Hedley Thomas, Karina Berger and Rex Bakes meet in Bendigo for new interviews and investigations. 

Subscribers hear new episodes of The Poisoned Wife first. Listen at thepoisonedwife.com, in The Australian’s app or search for The Poisoned Wife on Apple Podcasts to connect your subscription.

Join the conversation and hear more from Hedley Thomas in The Poisoned Wife Podcast Official Discussion Group on Facebook

Do you know more? Contact the team at thepoisonedwife@theaustralian.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> The Poisoned Wife Hedley Thomas The Australian Rosslyn McQueen Ray McQueen Karina Berger Rex Bakes Donna Jodie true crime cold case investigative journalism murder investigation 1986 Victoria gold-rush country strychnine poisoning unsolved crime Australian podcast homicide squad The Poisoned Wife, Hedley Thomas, The Australian, Rosslyn McQueen, Ray McQueen, Karina Berger, Rex Bakes, Donna, Jodie, true crime, cold case, investigative journalism, murder investigation, 1986, Victoria, gold-rush country, strychnine poisoning, unsolved crime, Australian podcast, homicide squad full 1 2 The Australian 23a3d031-2ec1-4e67-8995-b4ac00781f6f 23a3d031-2ec1-4e67-8995-b4ac00781f6f Thu, 03 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 2979 Episode 1: The Suitcase Episode 1: The Suitcase A cold case murder by strychnine poisoning of a pregnant mother of one is revived when a suitcase filled with documents is sent to the newsroom by a retired private investigator. 

Secrets and lies surrounding the death of Rosslyn McQueen in a small rural community four decades ago spill out of the suitcase and trigger a new investigation into this unsolved homicide.

And a vulnerable teenager groomed by a married man more than twice her age breaks her silence. 

Subscribers hear new episodes of The Poisoned Wife first. Listen at thepoisonedwife.com, in The Australian’s app or search for The Poisoned Wife on Apple Podcasts to connect your subscription.

Join the conversation and hear more from Hedley Thomas in The Poisoned Wife Podcast Official Discussion Group on Facebook

Do you know more? Contact the team at thepoisonedwife@theaustralian.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> A cold case murder by strychnine poisoning of a pregnant mother of one is revived when a suitcase filled with documents is sent to the newsroom by a retired private investigator. 

Secrets and lies surrounding the death of Rosslyn McQueen in a small rural community four decades ago spill out of the suitcase and trigger a new investigation into this unsolved homicide.

And a vulnerable teenager groomed by a married man more than twice her age breaks her silence. 

Subscribers hear new episodes of The Poisoned Wife first. Listen at thepoisonedwife.com, in The Australian’s app or search for The Poisoned Wife on Apple Podcasts to connect your subscription.

Join the conversation and hear more from Hedley Thomas in The Poisoned Wife Podcast Official Discussion Group on Facebook

Do you know more? Contact the team at thepoisonedwife@theaustralian.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> The Poisoned Wife Hedley Thomas The Australian Rosslyn McQueen Ray McQueen Karina Berger Rex Bakes Donna Jodie true crime cold case investigative journalism murder investigation 1986 Victoria gold-rush country strychnine poisoning unsolved crime Australian podcast homicide squad The Poisoned Wife, Hedley Thomas, The Australian, Rosslyn McQueen, Ray McQueen, Karina Berger, Rex Bakes, Donna, Jodie, true crime, cold case, investigative journalism, murder investigation, 1986, Victoria, gold-rush country, strychnine poisoning, unsolved crime, Australian podcast, homicide squad full 1 1 The Australian 3f075aff-ef15-410d-b0d6-b4ac006b770a 3f075aff-ef15-410d-b0d6-b4ac006b770a Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:37:12 +0000 3117 yes Introducing The Poisoned Wife Introducing The Poisoned Wife Who killed Rosslyn McQueen? 

Join Hedley Thomas, Karina Berger and retired private eye Rex Bakes as they mine dark secrets in Victoria’s gold-rush country. The mysterious 1986 death by poisoning of a 30-year-old mum and her unborn baby has become one of Australia’s most intriguing cold cases.

Subscribers hear episodes first at Apple Podcasts, thepoisonedwife.com and The Australian’s app. 

To contact the team, email us at thepoisonedwife@theaustralian.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> Who killed Rosslyn McQueen? 

Join Hedley Thomas, Karina Berger and retired private eye Rex Bakes as they mine dark secrets in Victoria’s gold-rush country. The mysterious 1986 death by poisoning of a 30-year-old mum and her unborn baby has become one of Australia’s most intriguing cold cases.

Subscribers hear episodes first at Apple Podcasts, thepoisonedwife.com and The Australian’s app. 

To contact the team, email us at thepoisonedwife@theaustralian.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> The Poisoned Wife Hedley Thomas Karina Berger Rex Bakes Rosslyn McQueen Ros McQueen Ray McQueen Donna Jodie The Australian true crime Australian podcast cold case 1986 death poisoning strychnine Victoria gold-rush country murder unsolved murder investigation pregnancy Bendigo homicide squad inquest murder trial justice The Poisoned Wife, Hedley Thomas, Karina Berger, Rex Bakes, Rosslyn McQueen, Ros McQueen, Ray McQueen, Donna, Jodie, The Australian, true crime, Australian podcast, cold case, 1986, death, poisoning, strychnine, Victoria, gold-rush country, murder, unsolved murder, investigation, pregnancy, Bendigo, homicide squad, inquest, murder trial, justice trailer The Australian 8f338920-5cf6-4b0f-802c-b4ab00551819 8f338920-5cf6-4b0f-802c-b4ab00551819 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 88