Troubled Waters – Episode 10: All the Pieces

Casefile Presents | Released June 16, 2024

Episode Overview

The final episode of "Troubled Waters" brings together the extensive, decade-long investigation into Louisa Ioannidis’ untimely and mysterious death. Host Julie Koehler, along with Private Investigator Julia Robson and contributors including Louisa’s brother Tas, scrutinize the original police work, reassess lingering questions, and urge for a new inquest. The episode is both an emotional summing-up and a powerful call for justice, challenging official conclusions and amplifying Louisa’s story so her voice is finally heard.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Mystery of the Journal (01:05 – 06:21)

• Police discovered two messages on the final page of Louisa’s pink-covered journal after her death. One message, written by her boyfriend Jo, expressed his feelings toward George (a man Louisa was rumored to provide sexual favors for in exchange for drugs). Above Jo’s note was a cryptic, crossed-out message:

  • "When a baby is born, it's bright. When someone dies, it's dark."
    This message, later uncovered by forensic experts, is discussed as a potential premonition or clue about Louisa’s mindset. However, the authorship is inconclusive.

• Andrea Saferes (medico-legal death investigator) challenges the suicide hypothesis:

  "It's very, very, very rare that people tortoisely are able to drown themselves... It makes even less sense suicidally. It's very hard to drown yourself in water that you can obviously stand up in." (05:22)

• The inconclusive handwriting result and the timing of Louisa's last journal entry (months prior to her death) further deepen the mystery.

Tas’s Enduring Grief and the Family’s Search for Answers (07:52 – 08:54)

• Louisa’s brother Tas shares a raw account of his ongoing regret and the emotional toll of unanswered questions:

  "I just didn't do enough to try and help her more, to just keep her still alive, to keep her here..." (07:52)

• Tas's children now ask about Louisa and their grandmother, highlighting the enduring pain and absence felt by the family.

Analyzing the Official Investigation – Flaws and Unanswered Questions (08:54 – 17:43)

• Mischaracterization of Louisa’s Mental State:
  Police and the coroner referenced her "negative" journal entries, but Julie notes these were out of context:

  "The complete entry reads 'fuck the world before it fucks you. Never give up.'... This, rather than conveying negativity, actually demonstrates her resilient nature." (10:22)

• Correlation vs. Causation in Mental Health:
  Andrea Saferes highlights:

  "When you look at suicide indicators, some of those things are consistent with someone who's having an intimate partner abuse relationship. If you're in a bad relationship and you're not depressed, there's something wrong with you." (11:56)

• Critical Delays:
  There was an eight-day gap between Louisa being last seen and her body being found, followed by another eight-day delay before she was formally identified by police. These delays may have resulted in lost CCTV footage and forensics.

  Tas: "It's mind boggling actually to think that he didn't do that, that there weren't any further investigative practices..." (15:08)

• Lack of Specialized Training:
  Andrea points out that police lack training to investigate water deaths:

  "When it comes to water... there is no investigator that comes to the scene that specializes in water... Their crime scene people have been given zero training..." (16:27)

The Need for an Inquest and Alternative Explanations (17:43 – 33:29)

• Police rapidly determined there were "no suspicious circumstances," leading to a lack of forensic examination of Louisa’s house and car.

• Domestic Violence Context Overlooked:
  The Family Violence Unit was informed, but it’s unclear what input it had.

• Detailed Timeline and Alternative Hypotheses:

  • The night Louisa disappeared, she had argued with Jo, and was last seen heading toward Darebin Creek.
  • Water levels at the creek were knee-to-thigh deep—Louisa, a strong swimmer, drowned in shallow water.
  • Toxicology showed cannabis, but no incapacitating substances.

• Key Questions Raised:

  • Why did police quickly close off the possibility of foul play?
  • How could Louisa have drowned in such shallow water unless incapacitated?
  • Was there a proper investigation into inconsistencies in Jo’s account and witness statements regarding his whereabouts and actions?
  • What about the mysterious phone call at 2 am from Jo to George?

  Andrea Saferes:

  "When people drown accidentally, there are reasons for it... Why is she dead?" (25:10)

The George and Jo Dynamic – Contradictory Accounts (28:06 – 33:29)

• Details emerge about tensions between Jo and George (the alleged drug dealer and possibly more), including broken car windows and late-night calls—fueling suspicions.

• Louisa’s sexual history and whether acts with George were consensual or coerced is left unresolved.

• Jo declined to be interviewed for the podcast. During attempts to contact him, Julie receives a threatening voicemail from someone impersonating a police officer, connected to Jo's circle:

  "[Impersonator:] I'm just ringing up in regards to an illegal investigation you got going on Jo. Can you cease that operation please, and or call back?" (33:29)

The Case for Justice and Final Reflections (33:44 – 36:29)

• Louisa’s friends and family remain determined to keep searching for the truth, even as hope ebbs:

  Indigo: "You're like the last chance, then you just give up." (34:40)

• Julie calls on listeners to speak up and keep Louisa’s voice alive—not just for her, but for all women whose stories have been erased.

• Tas’s last word:

  "Justice for Louisa. That's it. That's what I'm wanting to achieve. Simple. It's got nothing to do with me... It's for Louisa." (35:29)

• The episode and series are dedicated to Louisa’s mother, Helen, who fought for her children and believed their story needed to be told:

  "It was my mother's dream for her story to be told... and to think that it's somewhat happening here... Yeah." – Tas (36:07)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “Nothing adds up when it comes to this incident.” – Andrea Saferes (06:21)
• “Louisa was resilient... Never give up. This, rather than conveying negativity, actually demonstrates her resilient nature.” – Julie Koehler (10:22)
• “If you're in a bad relationship and you're not depressed, there's something wrong with you.” – Andrea Saferes (11:56)
• “When it comes to water... there is no investigator that comes to the scene that specializes in water.” – Andrea Saferes (16:27)
• “Why didn't she just stand up and walk out? The answer... may be that Louisa was unable to do so because she was already incapacitated...” – Julie Koehler (19:06)
• “Because when I was calling... he actually walked all the way down to the end of the creek. He saw something in the water... [he] just saw it from a distance, and he assumed that she just threw her robe off... that was actually her lifeless body.” – Tas (27:17)
• “Justice for Louisa. That's it. That's what I'm wanting to achieve... It's for Louisa.” – Tas (35:29)

Important Timestamps

• 01:05 — The discovery and scrutiny of Louisa’s journal
• 04:59 — Friends and community deny the idea of Louisa’s suicide
• 05:22 — Andrea Saferes: Improbability of suicide by drowning
• 07:52 — Tas’s guilt and regret about Louisa’s death
• 10:22 — Mischaracterization of Louisa’s final journal entries
• 11:56 — Domestic violence and depression indicators
• 15:08 — Tas on police investigative failures
• 16:27 — Lack of specialist police training for water deaths
• 17:43 — Forensic lapses due to "no suspicious circumstances"
• 24:33 — Police satisfied with Jo’s alibi
• 25:10 — Andrea on questions around cause of death
• 27:17 — Tas recounts Jo’s claim about the robe in the creek
• 33:29 — Voicemail threatening Julie to drop the investigation
• 34:40 — Indigo voices fatigue and hope for justice
• 35:29 — Tas’s call for justice for Louisa
• 36:07 — Tas on his mother’s dream for the story to be told

Call to Action and Legacy

Julie closes with a direct appeal to listeners to keep Louisa’s story alive and press for answers, not only for her but for all women whose cases are dismissed or overlooked. The episode underlines the need for a formal inquest and greater accountability, setting a precedent for other families denied closure.

Dedication:
To Helen—Louisa’s mother—whose efforts to keep her family safe and her story known inspired this investigation.

Contact:
If you have any information, reach out at contactasefilepodcast.com