Bronwyn

Episode 16: A Family Divided

Bronwyn

Show Notes

A politician and a leading newspaper speculate that a serial killer could have murdered Bronwyn and 66 other women on the New South Wales north coast over the past three decades. Bronwyn’s daughter Chrystal – who still supports Jon Winfield – welcomes news of a possible serial killer instead of her step-father being responsible for Bronwyn’s presumed slaying. In stark contrast, other members of the Read family point the finger at Jon. The powerful emotions and different views fuel family tensions and lead to Chrystal icing cousin Madi Walsh. Bronwyn’s youngest daughter, Lauren, who also backs her Dad, hits out at podcast listeners, calling some "gutless keyboard bullies who think they're detective heroes". Analysis of Detective Sergeant Glenn Taylor’s 1998 interview with Jon raises more mystery because of Jon’s omission of key information about what he did for a few hours in the Shire, the day after Bronwyn disappeared on the night of May 16, 1993. 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.

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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.

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