Chasing Ghosts: Murder In The Sounds

NZME

In the second series of Chasing Ghosts true crime podcasts, the New Zealand Herald takes a fresh look at the murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope at a New Year's Eve party 20 years ago and the ongoing debate over the killer's identity.

  • 1 hour 15 minutes
    Episode 5: Unmasking The Puppeteer

    For the first time in 13 years, David Fisher sits down with Natalia Burgess to talk about her catfishing. While he gains new insight into her life, how she operates her false characters, and her reasons for doing it, something's missing. And then an email out of the blue offers the answers he's been waiting for. 

    And one victim of Natalia's catfishing reveals the devastating consequences of having these memories resurface. 

     

    Suicide and depression help services:

    If it is an emergency and you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

    For counselling and support:

    Youth services:

    • Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234
    • What's Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)
    • Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)
    • Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737
    • Aoake te Rā (Bereaved by Suicide Service): Call 0800 000 053

    For more information and support, talk to your local doctor, hauora, community mental health team, or counselling service.

    The Mental Health Foundation has more helplines and service contacts - click here for information

    Sexual assault support services:

    If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:

    Call 0800 044 334
    Text 4334
    Email [email protected]
    For more information visit safetotalk.nz

    If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 October 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 57 minutes 11 seconds
    Episode 4: Understanding Natalia

    Warning: This episode contains discussion around suicide.

    In 2011, after outing her for her catfishing, David Fisher sat down with Natalia Burgess for an interview about why she had done what she had.

    13 years later, David revisits that interview as he looks for answers as to why she has done what she has, and gets insight from a psychologist on the potential motivations behind her behaviour. 

    Suicide and depression help services:

    If it is an emergency and you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

    For counselling and support:

    Youth services:

    • Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234
    • What's Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)
    • Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)
    • Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737
    • Aoake te Rā (Bereaved by Suicide Service): Call 0800 000 053

    For more information and support, talk to your local doctor, hauora, community mental health team, or counselling service.

    The Mental Health Foundation has more helplines and service contacts - click here for information

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    14 October 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 37 minutes 42 seconds
    Episode 3: Mothers and Daughters

    While Natalia is best known for catfishing teen boys and young men into relationships, she has also used the photos she has stolen to trick at least two different teenage girls - and their mothers - into believing she is a long-lost member of their family. Today, David finds out their stories and how Natalia came to infiltrate their lives. 

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    7 October 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 59 minutes 32 seconds
    Episode 2: Sorry's Just A Word

    In 2022, David Fisher receives an email from Crystal Jenner, a New Zealand woman living in Australia. She has approached him as her last hope after six years of trying to find a solution to Natalia stealing her photos.

    David hears from her, her mother, and a friend who also had had her pictures stolen, one of the men who fell victim to Crystal's face, and a lawyer analyses why Crystal has struggled to get the law to help her. 

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    3 October 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 48 minutes 10 seconds
    Episode 1: The Death of Laura West

    In December 2010, the announcement on Facebook that Laura Jane West has died in a car crash devastates her online friends, and has ramifications in real life for those linked to her and her sisters. 

    Four months later, Herald on Sunday journalist David Fisher investigates a serial catfisher targeting teen boys in Christchurch.

    In his reporting, David would link these two stories together as he uncovered the extent to which the catfisher had created the world around her characters - a world that, 13 years later, he is still trying to make sense of. 

    Suicide and depression help services:

    If it is an emergency and you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

    For counselling and support:

    Youth services:

    • Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234
    • What's Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)
    • Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)
    • Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737
    • Aoake te Rā (Bereaved by Suicide Service): Call 0800 000 053

    For more information and support, talk to your local doctor, hauora, community mental health team, or counselling service.

    The Mental Health Foundation has more helplines and service contacts - click here for information

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 September 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 1 minute 1 second
    Coming Soon: Chasing Ghosts - The Puppeteer

    Season of Chasing Ghosts - The Puppeteer - begins October 1st. 

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 September 2024, 11:32 pm
  • 44 seconds
    NZH Presents - Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial

    On Easter Monday 2021, Paulina Hanna was found dead at the Remuera home she shared with her husband of 30 years, Philip Polkinghorne.

    For 16 months, her death was treated as “unexplained”. That’s until it emerged Polkinghorne had been charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty in August 2022.

    From the team behind The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, comes Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial.

    Listen to Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, or in The Front Page podcast feed.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 July 2024, 11:00 pm
  • 37 minutes 49 seconds
    Episode Four: The Saga of Silver Ring

    Elizabeth Fraser's testimony at the coronial hearing into Donald's death sparks huge interest in Christchurch - but can she be blamed for his death? And how does the success of Donald's horse tie into his murder?

    Host: Ric Stevens
    Audio Editor: Alastair Boyes
    Producers: Ethan Sills and Elizabeth Binning

    Open Justice is funded through the Public Interest Journalism Fund through NZ on Air. 

    If you know more about this case, you can get in touch at [email protected]

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 November 2023, 4:00 pm
  • 30 minutes 55 seconds
    Episode Three: The Widow and the Mistress

    The spotlight falls on Elizabeth Fraser as the investigation continues, but who was she and why would she want to kill her own husband? And who was the mistress that came between this marriage?

    Host: Ric Stevens
    Audio Editor: Alastair Boyes
    Producers: Ethan Sills and Elizabeth Binning

    Open Justice is funded through the Public Interest Journalism Fund through NZ on Air. 

    If you know more about this case, you can get in touch at [email protected]

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    17 November 2023, 4:00 pm
  • 32 minutes 4 seconds
    Episode Two: The Murder Commission

    When Fraser's body is discovered, the murder investigation begins, but as Christchurch police struggle to find his killer, outsiders are brought in - and the suspect list starts to contract. 

    Host: Ric Stevens
    Audio Editor: Alastair Boyes
    Producers: Ethan Sills and Elizabeth Binning

    Open Justice is funded through the Public Interest Journalism Fund through NZ on Air. 

    If you know more about this case, you can get in touch at [email protected]

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    10 November 2023, 4:00 pm
  • 36 minutes
    Episode One: The Death of Donald Fraser

    On November 16th, 1933, Donald Fraser was shot dead in his bed at the Racecourse Hotel. But who was the controversial publican, and why would anyone want to kill him? 

    Host: Ric Stevens
    Audio Editor: Alastair Boyes
    Producers: Ethan Sills and Elizabeth Binning

    Open Justice is funded through the Public Interest Journalism Fund through NZ on Air. 

    If you know more about this case, you can get in touch at [email protected]

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    3 November 2023, 4:00 pm
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