Bronwyn

Episode 17: A Strange Cheque

Bronwyn

Show Notes

Police Commissioner Karen Webb and her top Homicide detectives come under fire. Bronwyn’s brother, Andy Read, calls out a lack of effort, urgency and competence in the police investigations of his sister’s case, which has been hopelessly bungled all the way back to 1993. Commissioner Webb and her top Homicide detective Danny Doherty look uncomfortable and unwilling to talk about a case which has embarrassed detectives for three decades. Jon insists that Bronwyn went back to the house in Sandstone Crescent about six weeks after her disappearance, yet nobody saw her. Jon says Bronwyn left behind a Medicare cheque – and he says she must have signed it. Jon adds that Bronwyn took two bags of her own clothing as well as a pair of Jon’s jeans. It’s proof of life, according to Jon. Andy, Megan and Kim ridicule his claims. The signature on the cheque appears to be a crude forgery. Read more about this case and see photographs, maps, timelines and more at bronwynpodcast.com. If you have information which may help solve this cold case, you can – contact our team confidentially by emailing [email protected] If you need support, Lifeline can be reached on 13 11 14. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More from Bronwyn

Sep 13, 2026

Journalist Hedley Thomas joins us with a special insight into where his blockbuster podcast investigation The Poisoned Wife is heading. After the 1986 murder of Rosslyn McQueen, the Homicide Squad rolls into tiny Lockwood, Victoria to question husband Ray, who is infatuated with a teenage girl - and the police interview changes everything. He suspects a neighbour of poisoning his wife Ros. Meanwhile, Ray’s attention is focused on a vulnerable 17-year-old girl. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Husband accused of murder sent ‘strange’ neighbour to find poisoned wife Poisoned wife Rosslyn McQueen feared husband was having an affair with babysitter McQueen marriage under ‘considerable stress’ due to finances, friend told police This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack, and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 17, 2025

A blockbuster new podcast from The Australian and our investigative star reporter Hedley Thomas: Sick To Death is the horrifying true story of a surgeon who made catastrophic mistakes - and went unchallenged by a broken system. Hedley Thomas is here for a special episode to mark the launch of Sick To Death, available now in Apple Podcasts and at sicktodeathpodcast.com This is an episode of our daily news podcast The Front, presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Joshua Burton with Lia Tsamoglou. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack, Joshua Burton, Stephanie Coombes and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 22, 2025

In the final episode for some time, the owners of a Sydney property learn that the missing mother’s remains may have been concealed under concrete there. Andy, Michelle and Madi reflect on some of the major milestones over the past 18 months of podcast investigation. New evidence is discovered by Karina who finds the former owner of the hair salon where Jodie Winfield worked in May 1993. She reveals that Bronwyn would telephone the salon to say Jon Winfield was going to kill her. Hedley and Karina go through the numerous clues which arouse suspicions over the Illawong property. Bev Brooker's cousin reveals what’s happening with a proposed legal challenge to Bev’s will and its multi-million-dollar windfall for Jon. Hedley thanks everyone who has helped the investigation and pays tribute to one of Bronwyn's best friends from Lennox Head, the late Denise Barnard. Read more about this case and see photographs, maps, timelines and more at bronwynpodcast.com. If you have information which may help solve this cold case, you can contact our team confidentially by emailing [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 15, 2025

Megan performs a dramatic backflip by changing her evidence about Jon’s moves in Sydney in the hours after his wife Bronwyn’s disappearance. Megan expresses doubts about whether Bronwyn's body was in the car’s boot during a road trip from Sandstone Crescent to Sydney. Bronwyn’s brother Andy Read accuses Megan of inventing ‘fairytales’ in a bid to make herself more relevant in the investigation of the suspected murder of the mother of two. Megan denies she was helping Jon. Madi sides with Andy while a senior detective who ran an exhaustive cold case probe in 2009 into Bronwyn’s disappearance reveals his theory and the evidence to support it. Jon’s former lover Lena sends a heartfelt message to Bronwyn’s family. Read more about this case and see photographs, maps, timelines and more at bronwynpodcast.com. If you have information which may help solve this cold case, you can contact our team confidentially by emailing [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 7, 2025

Retired detective Glenn Taylor who has worked harder on Bronwyn’s case than any other police officer faces a problem. Will his video-taped formal interview in Ballina’s police station in 1998 with murder suspect Jon Winfield be ruled out in the event of any prosecution? Lawyers and police say it is on the cards because Jon was not cautioned by police that he had a legal right to silence. Glenn believes that damning evidence from the interview ‘should’ be admissible in a future prosecution – but he agrees it will be up to a judge to decide. Legendary former Sydney detective Michael Drury highlights what he describes as a disturbing ‘pattern of alibi construction’ by Jon, who denies wrongdoing. Chrystal ceases all contact with her Uncle Andy, who blames the Winfield family for the rift. Read more about this case and see photographs, maps, timelines and more at bronwynpodcast.com. If you have information which may help solve this cold case, you can contact our team confidentially by emailing [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See all episodes →