The day he vanished, Jack moved his stuff out of Carlee's place. They'd just broken up. Carlee hasn't spoken publicly about what led up to that day or why she called police twice in the days before Jack disappeared — until now. She thinks Jack's disappearance is suspicious, but tells ABC journalist Rob Burgin how speculation, rumours and aggression have flooded the vacuum of information around what happened to Jack.

When Jack's mate turns around, he's just… gone. Vanished. His mate says that's how fit 27-year-old Jack McLennan disappeared from a bush picnic spot 3 hours from Brisbane. But when searchers discover a trail of baffling clues, suspicions begin to deepen among friends and family. 

They start questioning what this is — it doesn't seem like the average missing person's case to them. Could it be murder? Is it someone who's just gone missing? ABC journalist Rob Burgin picks up the case, determined to find out what became of Jack.

When a fit young man disappears from a picnic spot, leaving a trail of strange clues behind him, a community begins to suspect the worst. The belongings he leaves behind are discarded in a way that seems nonsensical, and to some, even sinister. Is he missing, has he left town or has there been a crime? Concern turns to suspicion and online speculation as weeks turn into months, with no sign of Jack. Now, ABC journalist Rob Burgin investigates what became of Jack, tracing the fragments of that night through a web of small Queensland towns, where everyone knows everyone, everyone knows something, but no one can agree on what became of Jack. 

Coming soon, What Became of Jack?: the latest season of the ABC's award-winning true crime podcast, Unravel. Follow or favourite to be notified when the first episode releases.

Credits

• Host and reporter: Rob Burgin
• Producer and fact checker: Jake Morcom
• Supervising producers: Alex Mann and Yasmin Parry
• Theme composition and additional music: Martin Peralta and Ashley Cadell
• Sound design and additional music: Emrys Cronin
• Executive producers: Tim Roxburgh and Eric George
• Head of Audio on Demand: Jessica Radburn

It's 2025, and the NSW Deputy Coroner is holding a fresh inquest into the death of Gomeroi teenager Mark Haines, who was found dead on the train tracks back in 1988.

As the inquest hearings spiral over a year a half, new witnesses appear with explosive allegations and police make surprising admissions.

Allan heads to Tamworth and dives back into a story that's gripped him for over a decade.

Will he finally find the answers to this mystery he's been looking for?

Blood on the Tracks is the first ever series we made for Unravel, back in 2018.

It is intended to be listened to as a whole, so we encourage you to go back to episode 1 and listen to the entire series.

To binge more great episodes of Unravel, the ABC's award winning investigative true crime podcast documentary series, search 'Unravel podcast' on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

There you'll find previous series covering various crimes and crime-related topics including solved and unsolved murder cases, forensic analysis, gangland crimes, love scammers, con-artists, drugs, terrorism, neo-nazis, and miscarriages of justice — all investigated by some of Australia's best reporters and people who know the story best.

Years of investigation have led to this moment … a major breakthrough in the case, a potential answer to thirty years of mystery and pain for the Haines family.

An alleged confession has revealed who might have placed Mark's body on the train tracks on that summer night in 1988.

Now it's time to put the question to him — did he have anything to do with Mark's death? Will Allan Clarke finally have some answers for Uncle Duck?

Blood on the Tracks is the first ever series we made for Unravel, back in 2018.

But we're re-releasing it now with a new episode because the NSW Deputy State Coroner is currently holding a fresh inquest into this case.

Keep listening to the end of this series to find out about the new information that's recently been revealed in the inquest hearings.

This season of Unravel is intended to be listened to as a whole. If you haven't heard all the episodes, you shouldn't draw any conclusions, because you haven't heard all the sides of this story.

To binge more great episodes of Unravel, the ABC's award winning investigative true crime podcast documentary series, search 'Unravel podcast' on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

There you'll find previous series covering various crimes and crime-related topics including solved and unsolved murder cases, forensic analysis, gangland crimes, love scammers, con-artists, drugs, terrorism, neo-nazis, and miscarriages of justice — all investigated by some of Australia's best reporters and people who know the story best.

Allan and the team shift their focus to Tamworth and the truth starts to emerge from a fog of rumours. As Allan builds on the case, he discovers the police aren't far behind.

An eyewitness comes forward. Key witnesses are confronted for the first time. An alleged confession emerges which takes the investigation in a completely new direction.

If it turns out to be true, this new lead could help finally solve the 30-year-old mystery.

Blood on the Tracks is the first ever series we made for Unravel, back in 2018.

But we're re-releasing it now with a new episode because the NSW Deputy State Coroner is currently holding a fresh inquest into this case.

Keep listening to the end of this series to find out about the new information that's recently been revealed in the inquest hearings.

This season of Unravel is intended to be listened to as a whole. If you haven't heard all the episodes, you shouldn't draw any conclusions, because you haven't heard all the sides of this story.

To binge more great episodes of Unravel, the ABC's award winning investigative true crime podcast documentary series, search 'Unravel podcast' on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

There you'll find previous series covering various crimes and crime-related topics including solved and unsolved murder cases, forensic analysis, gangland crimes, love scammers, con-artists, drugs, terrorism, neo-nazis, and miscarriages of justice — all investigated by some of Australia's best reporters and people who know the story best.

More than two decades have passed since the coronial inquest into Mark Haines' death. The family have been forgotten about — until news reporter Allan Clarke arrives in Tamworth on a routine story and becomes convinced this is a major injustice.

Allan's reporting unearths fresh information. A mother comes forward with a story about her son's involvement.

Police aren't quick to follow up. But, after a flurry of protests and phone calls … the case finally starts to gain traction.

Blood on the Tracks is the first ever series we made for Unravel, back in 2018.

But we're re-releasing it now with a new episode because the NSW Deputy State Coroner is currently holding a fresh inquest into this case.

Keep listening to the end of this series to find out about the new information that's recently been revealed in the inquest hearings.

This season of Unravel is intended to be listened to as a whole. If you haven't heard all the episodes, you shouldn't draw any conclusions, because you haven't heard all the sides of this story.

To binge more great episodes of Unravel, the ABC's award winning investigative true crime podcast documentary series, search 'Unravel podcast' on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

There you'll find previous series covering various crimes and crime-related topics including solved and unsolved murder cases, forensic analysis, gangland crimes, love scammers, con-artists, drugs, terrorism, neo-nazis, and miscarriages of justice — all investigated by some of Australia's best reporters and people who know the story best.

Nine months after Mark's death, an inquest is held. The family are hopeful it will give them answers, but the police won't budge from their theory that he put himself on the tracks.

As the hearing unfolds, the family find out just how mediocre the initial investigation was.

One person is in the family's corner though. The railway worker who found Mark on the tracks is adamant the police and the forensic pathologist have it wrong. He's remained silent for the last thirty years but finally comes forward to set the record straight.

Blood on the Tracks is the first ever series we made for Unravel, back in 2018.

But we're re-releasing it now with a new episode because the NSW Deputy State Coroner is currently holding a fresh inquest into this case.

Keep listening to the end of this series to find out about the new information that's recently been revealed in the inquest hearings.

This season of Unravel is intended to be listened to as a whole. If you haven't heard all the episodes, you shouldn't draw any conclusions, because you haven't heard all the sides of this story.

To binge more great episodes of Unravel, the ABC's award winning investigative true crime podcast documentary series, search 'Unravel podcast' on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

There you'll find previous series covering various crimes and crime-related topics including solved and unsolved murder cases, forensic analysis, gangland crimes, love scammers, con-artists, drugs, terrorism, neo-nazis, and miscarriages of justice — all investigated by some of Australia's best reporters and people who know the story best.

On the surface, Tamworth in 1988 is a typical Aussie town with rodeos, farmers and an active Country Women's Association. But beneath the friendly veneer, there's a thriving criminal underbelly. Large marijuana crops grow on the outskirts of town and there are reports of bikie gangs with links to corrupt cops on the take.

The police investigation into Mark's death has stalled, allowing gossip and innuendo to take hold. The family know Mark occasionally smoked marijuana, but now they're hearing whispers that he might've got on the wrong side of some serious criminals.

The family decide to confront a man rumoured to have been involved… with ugly consequences.

Blood on the Tracks is the first ever series we made for Unravel, back in 2018.

But we're re-releasing it now with a new episode because the NSW Deputy State Coroner is currently holding a fresh inquest into this case.

Keep listening to the end of this series to find out about the new information that's recently been revealed in the inquest hearings.

This season of Unravel is intended to be listened to as a whole. If you haven't heard all the episodes, you shouldn't draw any conclusions, because you haven't heard all the sides of this story.

To binge more great episodes of Unravel, the ABC's award winning investigative true crime podcast documentary series, search 'Unravel podcast' on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

There you'll find previous series covering various crimes and crime-related topics including solved and unsolved murder cases, forensic analysis, gangland crimes, love scammers, con-artists, drugs, terrorism, neo-nazis, and miscarriages of justice — all investigated by some of Australia's best reporters and people who know the story best.

When Mark Haines dies, news of the teenager's death spreads quickly through Tamworth and beyond. His family are on summer holidays in different parts of the state and rush home to be together in grief.

While the family mourns and Mark's body is in the morgue, their town is in full party mode. The Tamworth Country Music Festival is on and Australia is celebrating 200 years of colonisation. For Mark's uncles, it feels like the death of a young Aboriginal boy is the last thing on anyone's mind.

The police come up with a theory that Mark might've killed himself … but the family aren't buying it. In the days and weeks ahead, his uncles return repeatedly to the train tracks looking for answers. They're worried the police have missed vital clues and they become convinced Mark met with foul play.

In their quest to disprove the police theory, the family find an unlikely ally. The railway worker who first found Mark's body on tracks is just as convinced the evidence out there on the tracks just doesn't add up.

Blood on the Tracks is the first ever series we made for Unravel, back in 2018.

But we're re-releasing it now with a new episode because the NSW Deputy State Coroner is currently holding a fresh inquest into this case.

Keep listening to the end of this series to find out about the new information that's recently been revealed in the inquest hearings.

This season of Unravel is intended to be listened to as a whole. If you haven't heard all the episodes, you shouldn't draw any conclusions, because you haven't heard all the sides of this story.

To binge more great episodes of Unravel, the ABC's award winning investigative true crime podcast documentary series, search 'Unravel podcast' on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

There you'll find previous series covering various crimes and crime-related topics including solved and unsolved murder cases, forensic analysis, gangland crimes, love scammers, con-artists, drugs, terrorism, neo-nazis, and miscarriages of justice — all investigated by some of Australia's best reporters and people who know the story best.

Just outside Australia's country music capital, a young man's body is found on the train tracks, surrounded by shattered Christmas presents and discarded wrapping paper.

For decades, the mystery has haunted Tamworth. 

After Unravel's first season Blood on the Tracks brought national attention to the case and won a Walkley award, a new inquest was launched.

Now, Muruwari and Gomeroi journalist Allan Clarke returns to where it all began for Unravel, revisiting Tamworth and uncovering what's happened since, as the long-awaited final chapter of the story unfolds, and major new revelations are heard at the inquest.

But before then, let's return to episode one. We trace Mark's movements on the night before his death, as he hit the town on a big night out with a bunch of friends, dancing, drinking and having fun. Mark's friends and girlfriend say they left him in the early hours. Just after, a nearby resident hears voices on the street, what sounds like an argument, and a car driving dangerously.

But the next few hours remain a mystery. How did Mark end up on the tracks?

This season of Unravel is intended to be listened to as a whole. If you haven't heard all the episodes, you shouldn't draw any conclusions, because you haven't heard all the sides of this story.

To binge more great episodes of Unravel, the ABC's award winning investigative true crime podcast documentary series, search 'Unravel podcast' on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

There you'll find previous series covering various crimes and crime-related topics including solved and unsolved murder cases, forensic analysis, gangland crimes, love scammers, con-artists, drugs, terrorism, neo-nazis, and miscarriages of justice — all investigated by some of Australia's best reporters and people who know the story best.