Australian True Crime: "Shortcut: Father, Teacher, Child Killer"

Release Date: February 9, 2026
Host: Meshel Laurie (A)
Guest: Michael Madigan (D), author of Father, Teacher, Child Killer

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the chilling true crime case of Dieter Fenwick, a former South Australian teacher convicted of abducting and murdering Michael Black, and later, the disappearance and murder of Louise Bell. Host Meshel Laurie interviews journalist and author Michael Madigan, whose book re-examines these linked cases and explores suspected connections to other unsolved child abductions in Australia's suburbs. Through detailed storytelling and investigative insight, the episode reveals the devastating personal and community impacts of these crimes—and the painstaking process of seeking truth and justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Crimes & Suspicions Surrounding Dieter Fenwick

• Dieter Fenwick was convicted for the murder of Michael Black and later Louise Bell, with additional suspicions regarding other missing children in South Australia.
• There was initially a wrongful conviction in the Louise Bell case before Fenwick's connection was proven.
• Madigan notes the possibility Fenwick was involved in multiple unsolved child cases:

  "You can almost say that Dieter might have been involved with every one of them. I mean, how many serial killers of children are there in South Australia?"
  — Michael Madigan (D), [01:51]

The Disappearance of Louise Bell (January 1983)

• Louise and her sister Rachel were last seen happy at home the night before Louise vanished.
• The next morning, Louise's mother discovered her gone, a piece of window screen torn away, and panic ensued.
• Police mounted a large search; the case deeply unsettled the neighborhood.

  "You can imagine the fear involved with finding your child missing from your home."
  — Michael Madigan (D), [02:33]

• Extraordinary clue:
  • Neighbor Mrs. S received several mysterious phone calls from a man with a German accent claiming to be Louise's abductor, requesting medical help and revealing details only the culprit could have known.
  • This caller directed police to buried earrings, which proved authentic, linking the caller directly to the crime.

  "He explained what happened, as in the screen. And he also said that if you tell the police to look under a rock ... you'll find Louise's earrings."
  — Michael Madigan (D), [04:09]

  • Shortly afterward, Louise’s clothing was found folded on Mrs. S’s lawn, evidence that the perpetrator was psychologically manipulating both police and those around the family.

The Kidnapping and Death of Michael Black (January 1989)

• Michael Black, 10, set out to fish on his own for the first time and never returned.
• His belongings were later found neatly stacked on the forbidden side of the bridge—a significant detail given Michael’s usual behavior.

  "Michael’s a notorious untidy young boy like every 10-year-old boys are and he would never leave his stuff neatly in a, in a little neatly pile."
  — Michael Madigan (D), [07:21]

• Witnesses saw Michael with a man near a Combi van, and a local noticed suspicious behavior from a similar vehicle.
• The police worked timelines, gathered witness statements, and tracked other instances involving a combi van and potential attempts at abduction.

The Abduction and Escape of Robert: Linking Fenwick to the Crimes

• In December 1989, Dieter Fenwick abducted another young boy (Robert) by luring him with help to retrieve ‘lost keys,’ then gagging, confining, and sexually assaulting him.
• Fenwick showed meticulous efforts to remove forensic evidence, mirroring the calculated, ritualistic aspects of previous crimes.
• Robert displayed remarkable courage in escaping, freeing himself from his bonds while Fenwick was out buying cigarettes:

  "He started to wriggle his little fingers in and out of the, the knots... all of a sudden it came free...he climbed up on the sink, pulled aside the glass part of it and kicked in the screen, jumped out and goes to the neighbour."
  — Michael Madigan (D), [14:56]

• When confronted by police, Fenwick responded evasively, even stating his name as “mud”:

  "The police ask him, you know, we found this little boy in your home, what's your story? And he said, oh, it was just that I need someone to hug ... And Fennec said, mud. And that was probably the truest thing he's ever said."
  — Michael Madigan (D), [14:56]

Evidence and Conviction

• The prosecution tied Robert’s abduction to Michael Black’s case, highlighting the overwhelming probability that the same predator operated each time.

  "The judge said, what are the chances that two child abductors was at Murray Bridge at the same time talking to Michael Blight?" — Michael Madigan (D), [14:56]

• A planted pajama top, ignored for decades, was linked to Fenwick via advanced DNA technology in 2013.
  • At trial in 2016:

  "The prosecutor came out on day one, said it was a billion to one chance that it wasn't Dieter Fennick." — Michael Madigan (D), [17:47]

• Despite conviction, Fenwick never assisted with the recovery of the victims’ remains and continued to deny guilt publicly, while reportedly making confessions to other inmates.

Lingering Trauma and Unanswered Questions

• Police and families remain haunted by Fenwick’s refusal to reveal what became of the children.

  "I talked to one of the leading detectives... he used to visit Fenwick quite often just to ask one question. Can you tell us where the bodies are? ... But Fennec denies that he's even guilty." — Michael Madigan (D), [18:37]

Notable Quotes

• On serial offenses:
  "You can almost say that Dieter might have been involved with every one of them."
  — Michael Madigan (D), [01:51]

• On evidence and doubt:
  "Michael’s a notorious untidy young boy ... he would never leave his stuff neatly in a, in a little neatly pile."
  — Michael Madigan (D), [07:21]

• On escape and resilience:
  "He started to wriggle his little fingers in and out of the, the knots... all of a sudden it came free..."
  — Michael Madigan (D), [14:56]

• On legal certainty:
  "The prosecutor came out on day one, said it was a billion to one chance that it wasn't Dieter Fennick."
  — Michael Madigan (D), [17:47]

Important Timestamps

• [00:07] - Audio from Fenwick denying guilt
• [02:33] - Details of Louise Bell’s disappearance
• [04:09] - Mrs. S’s phone call with the abductor and the discovery of Louise’s earrings
• [07:21] - Michael Black’s last known movements and discovery of evidence
• [14:56] - Robert’s abduction, ordeal, and courageous escape
• [17:47] - Court’s reliance on DNA evidence to convict Fenwick for Louise Bell’s murder
• [18:37] - Police efforts to locate the children’s remains and Fenwick’s refusal to cooperate

Conclusion

This episode delivers a thorough, deeply disturbing examination of Dieter Fenwick’s crimes and their enormous impact on survivor families and communities, as well as on the justice system. Through Michael Madigan’s research and retelling, listeners gain insight into the procedural breakthroughs, dogged detective work, and the relentless trauma that persists when justice can never feel fully complete.