Missing or Murdered

In late December 2005 Lily Parmenter’s Mum Katie O’Shea called from a phone box in Far North Queensland. It was the last time Lily would ever hear her mum’s voice.

Missing or Murdered is the new real-life story from Australian Independent Podcast producer Podshape. Over 6 episodes the podcast explores the story of self-confessed hippy Mum Katie O’Shea who went missing in 2005 in Far North Queensland tablelands.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brett Devine who leads the case says “there are only two real persons of interest”. One of those people is Katie’s own son Alan, the other is a convicted murderer.

Lily Parmenter has led the family’s charge over the past 15 years to find the answers. She was a 19-year-old hairdresser when her Mum went missing and was so grief stricken and helpless that she has been studying criminology so she can join the Australian Federal Police’s missing persons unit.

Lily says of this podcast with Podshape:

“My Mum’s story is more than a face on a missing person’s poster - she was a quirky, funny, smart, kind woman who adored her 5 children and loved without boundaries. Losing her has left an irreparable hole in our hearts and we just want her back. Podshape have done an incredible job in helping to tell who Katie was, how loved she was and the devastating effect that losing her has been on her loved ones”. 

Podshape burst into the Australian podcasting scene in March this year and have quickly produced some popular titles which focus on story telling for change.

Missing or Murdered is out today July 1 on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.