The Commune

One ordinary day almost a decade ago, John Beckenridge abducted his stepson, Mike, from school and vanished. Police investigated for four years, but with no proof of what happened, asked a court to make sense of the crime. That court heard dozens of hours of evidence, and tried to determine how a marriage breakdown became a manhunt and then a mystery. As well as a kidnapping, the story includes cryptic phone messages, a car plunging from an 80-metre cliff and allegations of secret bank accounts, criminal accomplices and illegal border crossings. We'll take you inside the courtroom as two opposing theories are put to the test. Are John and Mike alive or dead? From Stuff Audio, New Zealand’s leader in true crime podcasts, and The Press newspaper, this is the story of a calculating man with a dark past, the 11-year-old boy he controlled and the distraught mother left behind. Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to produce, which is why we’re asking you to subscribe to The Lost Boy. Subscribe to Stuff Extra on Apple podcasts, or by Clicking here. You'll get exclusive ad-free access to the remaining episodes instantly, for about the price of a cup of coffee, and in doing so you'll be supporting our gutsy, independent journalism. CREDITS Scripted, hosted and produced by Michael Wright and Shannon Redstall Sound design, audio editing and mixing by John Ropiha Visual design: Aaron Wood Producer: Jen Black Executive producer: Chris Reed Special thanks to Kamala Hayman and Wei Shao from The Press; Laura Heathcote, Elmo Johnstone, and Matt Slaughter Warning: The Lost Boy podcast contains strong language, content that may be distressing and references to self-harm and suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, call or text 1737 for free assistance, 24 hours a day.

NEW: Season 2 - Police are called to the multi-million dollar Auckland home of a successful couple to find the body of Pauline Hanna. A year and a half later, her husband, eye surgeon Philip John Polkinghorne is charged with murder, a charge he denies. Presented by Philippa Tolley. Season 1 - In 2017 49-year-old builder Michael McGrath disappeared. No body, crime scene or weapon were found. So how could his longtime friend, David Benbow, be arrested and charged with murder? Presented by Michael Wright. WARNING: This series talks about suicide and content that may upset some people. If you need help, text or call 1737, 24 hours. Podcasts like this one take a lot of time and resources to create. To help cover some of that cost, you will hear some ads during this podcast. For an ad-free experience and early access to new episodes subscribe to Stuff Extra. Subscribe on Apple or Spotify, or go to listen.stuff.co.nz/extra to get access to this and other Stuff True Crime podcasts ad-free… and you’ll be helping us make more great podcasts, like this one.

This is the story of a mass-murder that divided a nation - a story that began in a rickety old home on a cold June morning in 1994, where five members of a seemingly ordinary New Zealand family were gunned down. There were two suspects. One lay dead from a single bullet to the head. The other was the only survivor: David Bain. Since then the country has asked: who killed the Bain family? David or his father Robin? In this podcast, Martin van Beynen explores the case from start to finish, picking through evidence, the mysteries and motives, and interviewing never-before-spoken-to witnesses. He seeks to finally answer the question: Who was the killer? Podcasts like this one take a lot of time and resources to create. To help cover some of that cost, you will hear some ads during this episode. For an ad-free experience go to listen.stuff.co.nz/truecrime to get access to this and three other Stuff True Crime podcasts ad-free, for about the price of a cup of coffee… and you’ll be helping us make more great podcasts, like this one.