MENA

The case of Leongatha’s Erin Patterson, who was recently convicted of murdering three relatives with a deadly mushroom meal, captured headlines around the world. 

But did you know an even more prodigious killer lived in the same small Victorian farming community in the 1930s? 

Join Leongatha journalist Matt Dunn, alongside author Katherine Kovacic and former Victoria Police detective Narelle Fraser, as they uncover the chilling story of Arnold Sodeman—a serial killer who terrorised Victoria in the 1930s.

In this episode, we revisit the brutal murder of 12-year-old Mena Griffiths, abducted from Melbourne's Fawkner Park in November 1930 by a stranger who lured her with a simple request. One day later, her body was found in an abandoned house in Ormond—no signs of struggle, only unanswered questions. While pressure mounts on police to make a quick arrest - with a man who was 500 km from the murder scene, arrested and charged - the real killer strikes again.

For five years, police remained unaware that they were dealing with a serial killer, as Sodeman’s ritualistic murders continued.

Explore the overlooked details, the investigative missteps, and the terrifying escalation of Sodeman’s crimes. How did one of Victoria’s worst killers evade justice for so long?

Tune in as we piece together the dark legacy of a murderer who walked unnoticed among the community—until the truth finally caught up.

For more information and insights on the show and the life and crimes of Arnold Sodeman, check out arnsodpod.com

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