Case 271: Bonnie Clarke
When six-year-old Bonnie Clarke is murdered in her bed in the middle of the night just four nights before Christmas in 1982, Melbourne detectives are certain they know who’s responsible: Bonnie’s mother, Marion. Yet Marion insists an intruder must have broken into their home while she was sleeping. It would take 20 years, two other crimes, and an undercover investigation for the truth to unravel…
Team:
Anonymous Host - narration
Erin Munro - research, writing
Milly Raso - creative direction
Mike Migas - production, music
Andrew D.B. Joslyn - music
Comments (27)
I can’t even begin to imagine the guilt she must have felt not letting Bonnie sleep with her on that night. The world really is an evil place.
Casey is talking faster?
It’s super easy to accidentally hit 1.5x speed-I’ve done it too!
Wow the detailed similarities between the undercover police work in this case and Daniel morcombes is almost identical. They definitely must of used this case a reference for when they went undercover for Cowan
I feel like the "Mr. Big" m.o. is so well known at this point that if i were a criminal in Australia or Canada and a new friend just happened to work for a crime ring, I'd be like "nah" way way before they even got to the part where his boss miraculously wanted to fix my case but only if i confessed to the crime!
I can't believe he only got 4 years for the 3 hour rape torture he done to that poor woman.
There’s a feature film inspired by this case, the end of the episode was so familiar until it clicked
What's the name of the film?
How devastating that they located solid leads and an incompetent detective derailed the case for years. Thank goodness Det. Iddles was willing to devote his time to the case and rework the evidence. Poor Bonnie.
Absolutely devastating. That poor mother. 😢
For the Australians: if you have Binge, check out “The Good Cop” season 1, ep 2. It discusses this case from detective Ron Iddles perspective
That's how you start a new season of Casefile. Meticulously written, brilliantly narrated. A story highlighting old stereotypes, lazy policing, but with a narrative arc that ends with the very best of detectives and the ultimate satisfaction of justice. What an episode!
What is digital ra**?
Assaulted with a finger (digit)
I’m so glad you covered this case… RIP Bonnie Clark
My brother lives in the house where Bonnie Clark was murdered
Hey, I have the link added to Pocketcast, but the new episodes does not show?? I tried re-entering the link, but still nothing 🥲🥲
Perhaps Casefile might like to create a Wikipedia page for Bonnie.
So what happened to the POS "detective" Lillie? Was he ever reprimanded for his bullshit biased tunnel vision?? I hope he feels guilty everyday for the young woman who Mal Clarke murdered after murdering Bonnie, which could have been prevented had he actually done just the minimum work required for his job. I mean, he didn't even bother to verify his alibi! Marion deserves a public apology from Lillie, irrespective of it being posthumous.
Eric Lillie has since passed away.
Welcome back guys! ❤️
Aaaayyyyeeee double banger! Nice one Casefile.
You're spoiling us rotten! 😍
🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡
Hooray!! 🙌
My day just got better
Welcome back 🎉