The Teacher’s Pet is a 2018 Australian crime podcast that investigated the disappearance of Lynette Dawson. Published by The Australian newspaper, the podcast was hosted by journalist Hedley Thomas and produced by Slade Gibson. As of 2020, the series has had close to 30 million downloads and reached number one in podcast charts in Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand.
Lynette Dawson, a 33-year-old mother of two, disappeared from her home in Sydney, Australia, in January 1982. Her husband, Chris Dawson, a rugby league player and teacher, was the last person to see her alive. He claimed that she left him for a new life, but police suspected that he had murdered her.
Thomas’s podcast investigated the details of Lynette’s disappearance, as well as Chris Dawson’s extramarital affair with a 16-year-old student at the time, Joanne Curtis. The podcast also examined allegations of sexual misconduct at Cromer High School, where Dawson taught.
The podcast was highly critical of the police investigation into Lynette’s disappearance, which was widely seen as flawed. Thomas also criticized the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for its decision not to charge Dawson with murder, despite two coronial inquests concluding that he was dead and most likely killed by a known person.
In 2018, following the release of the podcast, the New South Wales Police Force announced that they would reopen the investigation into Lynette’s disappearance. In 2020, Chris Dawson was arrested and charged with her murder. He pleaded not guilty and is currently awaiting trial.
The Teacher’s Pet is a powerful and moving podcast that tells the story of a woman who disappeared without a trace and the family and friends who have been left behind. It is also a story of journalistic excellence, as Thomas and Gibson meticulously investigated the case and uncovered new evidence that could lead to justice for Lynette Dawson.
The podcast has also had a significant impact on Australian society. It has raised awareness of domestic violence and sexual misconduct, and it has led to calls for reform of the police and justice systems.
The Teacher’s Pet is a must-listen for anyone interested in true crime, investigative journalism, and social justice. It is a story that will stay with you long after you have finished listening.
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