The Lab Detective | Tortoise Investigates

Rachel Sylvester travels to Greece to investigate whether genetic science could change the story in the case of Roula Pispirigou – a mother who was convicted of killing her three young children just last year. Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute [https://www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-04-28_science-uncovered-the-truth-of-why-my-children-died-and-set-me-free] for sharing recordings and insights.  Reporter: Rachel Sylvester Producer: Gary Marshall Music supervisor: Karla Patella Sound design: Rowan Bishop Podcast artwork: Lola Williams Executive producer: Basia Cummings This episode is sponsored by The Life of Chuck. Join us across the UK for a preview screening on Wednesday 13 August, before it hits cinemas nationwide on 20 August. Find the locations and book now at SEEITFIRST.COM [http://seeitfirst.com/] and enter the code CHUCK. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Scientist Carola Vinuesa and her team test their extraordinary genetic discovery in a court of law. Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute [https://www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-04-28_science-uncovered-the-truth-of-why-my-children-died-and-set-me-free] for sharing recordings and insights.  Reporter: Rachel Sylvester Producer: Gary Marshall Music supervisor: Karla Patella Sound design: Rowan Bishop Podcast artwork: Lola Williams Executive producer: Basia Cummings ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Kathleen Folbigg is just trying to survive. She’s a grieving mother, sentenced to life in jail for killing her four infant children. That is, until a small group of people start to question whether she might be the victim of a terrible miscarriage of justice. Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute [https://www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-04-28_science-uncovered-the-truth-of-why-my-children-died-and-set-me-free] for sharing recordings and insights.  Reporter: Rachel Sylvester Producer: Gary Marshall Music supervisor: Karla Patella Sound design: Rowan Bishop Podcast artwork: Lola Williams Executive producer: Basia Cummings ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Journalist Rachel Sylvester investigates the case of 'Australia's worst serial killer'. And discovers, in a story about mothers who have been accused of murdering their own children, there is one man who connects them all: a doctor called Roy Meadow. Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute [https://www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-04-28_science-uncovered-the-truth-of-why-my-children-died-and-set-me-free] for sharing recordings and insights.  Reporter: Rachel Sylvester Producer: Gary Marshall Music supervisor: Karla Patella Sound design: Rowan Bishop Podcast artwork: Lola Williams Executive producer: Basia Cummings ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Introducing...The Lab Detective Kathleen Folbigg experienced unimaginable loss. All four of her infant children died suddenly, over a 10-year period. Their deaths were unexplained. Until a police detective turned up at her door, and arrested Kathleen on suspicion of murder.  She was labelled ‘Australia's worst female serial killer’, convicted, and was destined to spend most of the rest of her life in jail.  Until a different type of detective entered her life. A scientist working in a lab who uncovered the truth behind the deaths.  This is the story of a shocking miscarriage of justice, but as journalist Rachel Sylvester starts to investigate how this happened, she learns that Kathleen is not alone – other mothers have endured the same fate, and may also be in prison.  The Lab Detective is a story about the power of science, and the determination of those searching for the truth. The full series is available to listen now. Reporters: Rachel Sylvester  Producer: Gary Marshall Executive editor: Basia Cummings  Music supervisor: Karla Patella  Sound design: Rowan Bishop  Artwork: Lola Williams  Fact checking: Ada Barume and Madeline Parr Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute [https://www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-04-28_science-uncovered-the-truth-of-why-my-children-died-and-set-me-free] for sharing recordings and insights. Watch a short documentary [http://www.crick.ac.uk/genomics-video] on the genomics team behind Kathleen Folbigg's case filmed at the Crick To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk [http://observer.co.uk/]  Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com [hello@tortoisemedia.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.