Australian True Crime – Julie Hatton’s Death at Darreen

Podcast: Australian True Crime
Host: Michelle Laurie (A)
Guest: Natalie (B), daughter of Julie Hatton
Date: April 12, 2026
Episode Theme:
This episode centers on the mysterious 1978 death of Julie Hatton, officially ruled a suicide, and her daughter Natalie’s relentless quest to uncover the truth. Natalie contends with decades-old family dynamics, conflicting witness memories, missing evidence, and what she believes to be a deeply flawed original investigation. The conversation provides moving insights into grief, rural family life, and the complexities of pursuing justice in an old, small-town case.

Episode Overview

• Main Focus: Re-examination of Julie Hatton’s reported suicide at the age of 22 in outback Queensland, the questionable investigation, and her daughter Natalie’s campaign for a formal inquest.
• Key Issues: Family relationships, rural life pressures, potential investigative failings, timeline inconsistencies, and the difficulties of reopening historic cases.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Aftermath of Julie Hatton’s Death

• From the start, Julie's death was labeled a suicide. The family, especially on the paternal side, reinforced that narrative, emphasizing a lack of empathy:

  “The family were also saying that it was very selfish what your mother did. So that was not, you know, what a mother does.” – Natalie (B), [01:54]

• Natalie grew up angry at her mother due to these repeated messages, only later questioning the circumstances.

2. Julie Hatton’s Life & Family Dynamics

• Julie, a Gold Coast girl, struggled with moving to a rural cattle property and with motherhood, but loved the outdoors and horses.
• The relationship with her mother-in-law was strained, marked by criticism and lack of emotional support:

  “If mum mopped the floors, it wasn't good enough. So then my grandmother would come along and mop the floors behind her...” – Natalie (B), [04:54]

• Material differences, possible jealousy, and being an outsider played into family tensions.

3. Succession, Trust, and Family Loyalties

• As Natalie matured, she began to see inconsistencies in property deals and family stories, especially regarding her father, Paul:

  “It takes a while. But yeah, I finally got to the stage where I just call him Paul because he hasn't really acted like a dad.” – Natalie (B), [08:35]

• Disputes over land, family brands, and financial arrangements eroded trust and sparked further questions about her mother’s fate.

4. The First Doubts – Timeline of Suspicion

• Natalie's suspicions deepened at age 17 after a conversation with her maternal grandmother, who told her:

  “Your father harmed my daughter.” – [11:07]

• Only years later, after personal and financial betrayals by her father, did Natalie actively pursue her mother's case.

5. The Timeline of Julie’s Last Day

• Through meticulous gathering of oral accounts and documentation, Natalie reconstructed the day:
  • Multiple reliable witnesses received phone calls about Julie's death around lunchtime, yet police weren’t formally called until 4:35pm.
  • “Everyone, you've got half a dozen people saying they were either at the property or they got the phone call around lunchtime... police weren't called until 4:35?” – Michelle Laurie (A), [32:33]
• Witnesses described the scene, including the body’s location and timeline inconsistencies, raising questions of whether evidence was manipulated.

6. Police Response & Investigation Flaws

• The original investigation lacked rigor:
  • No crime scene photographs, no forensic testing, and no autopsy.
  • Police who attended the scene noted the unusual lack of blood and absence of ballistic evidence.

  “The strange thing for him was no blood. He just thought it was really weird. Like, he just said it was just too clean.” – Natalie (B), [34:46]

  • Key witnesses never gave statements; some refused and were not compelled.

7. The Quest for an Inquest

• Despite mounting testimonial evidence (aligned timelines, witness corroboration), coronial authorities declined an inquest, citing the age of the case and difficulty in establishing new evidence.
• Natalie points out systemic issues: lack of seriousness around rural women’s deaths, and the risk of setting a precedent if the case remains unexamined.

  “If they leave mum’s case as a suicide in state archives ... how many more women could end up with a gunshot there and be written off for suicide?” – Natalie (B), [45:31]

8. The Ongoing Battle

• Natalie continues to petition for a formal inquest and transparency from the coroner’s office.
• She expresses concern about precedent, the reliability of forensic traditions, and the risk of similar cases being dismissed.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Family Judgments and Silence:

  “Suicide was something that was not ... you never got any empathy from any other family members about it. Definitely not. It was all, oh, you know, she shouldn't have done it.” – Natalie (B), [02:32]

• On Lost Trust:

  “...when you sort of start realizing how much he's lied to you ... you just lose respect.” – Natalie (B), [08:35]

• On Timeline Gaps:

  “Why? Has anyone ever addressed why the police weren't called until 4:35?” – Michelle Laurie (A), [33:12]

• On Official Dismissal:

  “He [the police officer] wanted other people to come over and check it out ... But the sergeant was adamant ... just write it off as a suicide on the spot.” – Natalie (B), [36:30]

• On Persistence:

  “The work you've done in four years is pretty amazing ... I'm trying to push it really hard because all the witnesses, majority of the witnesses that we need are alive.” – Michelle Laurie (A), [45:17]

Important Timestamps & Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------|------------------| | Initial Family Response & “Selfish” Label | 01:54 – 03:00 | | Julie's Rural Life and Family Relationships | 03:13 – 07:01 | | Trust Issues with Father and Discovery Pattern | 08:35 – 18:44 | | Natalie’s Moment of Suspicion | 11:01 – 12:49 | | Reconstructing the Timeline | 22:16 – 33:17 | | Police Delays, Witness Testimony | 32:09 – 34:46 | | Investigation Weaknesses & Lack of Inquest | 36:16 – 42:16 | | Ballistics, Forensic Anomalies | 42:16 – 44:24 | | Systemic Issues & Precedents | 45:17 – 46:22 | | Final Updates and Call to Action | 46:37 – End |

Resources & Further Actions

• Natalie runs a private Facebook group called The Guarantor for those interested in updates and detailed evidence.
• The case is also explored in detail on Graeme Crowley’s podcast, The Guarantor.
• Call to Listeners:

  “To learn more about the case, we strongly encourage you to listen to Graham Crowley's podcast, The Guarantor.” [46:37]

  • Links are provided in the show notes.

Tone & Style

• The conversation is heartfelt, direct, and occasionally raw, balancing analytic scrutiny with lived emotional experience.
• Listeners are invited not only to hear facts but to imagine themselves in the shoes of rural women, grieving families, and determined justice-seekers.

Note: No one mentioned in the episode has been charged with a crime relating to Julie Hatton’s death.
Content Warning: Discussions of suicide.

For those new to the case, this episode serves as both a detailed primer on the facts and a testament to the tenacity required when the system resists reopening old wounds. It’s a must-listen for true crime enthusiasts and anyone interested in justice for the unheard.