In 1999, 15-year-old Rachel Barber walked out of her ballet class and vanished. What followed was every parent's worst nightmare—and a chilling tale of obsession, identity theft, and murder. This week on Serial Napper, I’m diving deep into the haunting case of Rachel Barber, a gifted young dancer whose life was stolen by someone she thought she could trust: her former babysitter, Caroline Reed Robertson.

Rachel was vibrant, talented, and full of promise. Caroline was quiet, isolated, and desperate to be someone else—someone like Rachel. What unfolded was a dark and deeply disturbing story of jealousy turned deadly. From Caroline’s twisted diary entries to her shocking murder plan that involved assuming Rachel’s identity, we break down every step leading up to that tragic day, the police investigation, and the chilling court revelations.

Sources:

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/caroline-reed-robertsons-deadly-obsession-with-beautiful-dancer-rachel-barber-led-to-murder/news-story/ca370d6f83a0f9a2c37b8075cfef2913

https://aussiecriminals.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/in-her-skin-court-transcript_opt.pdf

https://www.9news.com.au/national/victorian-woman-who-strangled-teen-girl-to-be-released-today/7bec1eda-d0f2-4616-9197-2ce0d41de1ae

https://morbidology.com/the-deadly-obsession-the-murder-of-rachel-barber/

https://www.mamamia.com.au/caroline-reed-robertson-rachel-barber/

https://www.fact.on.ca/news/news0011/th001130.htm

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Grace Millane was just 22 years old when she set out on the adventure of a lifetime — a solo trip around the world. Smart, independent, and full of life, she was exploring New Zealand when she matched with a man on Tinder. What happened next shocked the world.

In this episode of Serial Napper, I dive into the heartbreaking case of Grace Millane — a young British traveller whose life was tragically cut short in what was supposed to be one of the safest countries in the world. I follow Grace’s journey, her final hours, and the disturbing cover-up attempts by her killer, Jesse Kempson.

This case isn’t just about one woman’s tragic end — it’s a gut-wrenching look at how quickly trust can be weaponized and how society continues to question victims rather than the people who harm them.

🔗 TW: This episode contains details of sexual assault, violence, and murder. Please listen with care.

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-63627166

https://news.sky.com/story/grace-millane-what-happened-in-the-last-hours-of-british-backpackers-life-11866557

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/grace-millane-murder-tinder-messages-with-her-killer-revealed/Y67WCAJFSIOLKBXZEY3244NLXI/

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-54997181

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/indepth/national/grace-millane-timeline/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/117623648/the-complete-evidence-the-grace-millane-murder-trial-heard-inside-the-case-that-gripped-a-nation

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/who-is-grace-millanes-murderer-unravelling-labyrinth-of-lies-and-a-fatal-tinder-date/PDGHMSM67MZQ5VBH4GT2XIXZ7Q/

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When interior designer Jade Janks discovered hundreds of explicit photos of herself hidden on her stepfather’s computer — some dating back to when she was just 16 — her world shattered.

Days later, Tom Merriman, co-founder of a beloved butterfly sanctuary in Encinitas, California, was dead.

What happened in the hours between that horrific discovery and Tom’s final breath? Was it premeditated murder... or a panicked act of vigilante justice?

In this episode, I'm diving deep into one of the most disturbing and controversial cases in recent memory. From shocking screenshots and deleted hard drives to text messages like, “I just dosed the hell out of him,” this case is layered in betrayal, trauma, and moral gray areas that’ll leave you questioning everything.

Was Jade seeking justice, or hiding a crime? Hit play — and then you be the judge.

Sources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jade-janks-tom-merriman-murder-explicit-photos-stepdads-computer-48-hours/

https://www.courttv.com/news/ca-v-jade-janks-racy-photos-murder-trial/

https://www.newsweek.com/jade-janks-murder-case-update-tom-merriman-1916645

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/stepdaughter-found-guilty-of-killing-butterfly-farms-co-founder-after-finding-nude-photos/3126683/

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