About this episode

Episode two discusses the formation of the Spectrum Task Force in response to the murder of Karmein Chan and related crimes.

When Karmein Chan remains were found in a shallow grave, Melbourne’s worst fears were confirmed — the child taken from her home had been murdered. In episode two, Adam Shand follows the creation of the Spectrum Task Force as police began linking a string of terrifying home invasions, abductions and sexual assaults to one unknown offender. But as investigators compared the cases, a darker question emerged: were they hunting one monster, or had several predators been folded into the myth of Mr Cruel? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Adam Shand

Topics covered

• murder investigation
• task force
• home invasions
• abductions
• sexual assaults
• Mr Cruel

Keywords

• Karmein Chan
• Spectrum Task Force
• Melbourne
• home invasions
• abductions
• sexual assaults
• Mr Cruel

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Spectrum Task Force, Melbourne

More episodes of The Adam Shand Collection

• Episode 4 - My Mother's Voice · August 23, 2026 · 40 min
• Episode 3: The Trial · August 16, 2026 · 49 min
• Episode 2: A Family Affair · August 9, 2026 · 37 min
• La Famiglia – Episode 1: The Last Goodbye · August 2, 2026 · 30 min
• Season 2 - La Famiglia - The Killing of Connie Armaro · July 27, 2026 · 2 min
• Ep 6 - Unmasking the Myth · July 12, 2026 · 41 min

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