DIG UP YOUR MAM: EPISODE FOUR
After Ann’s disappearance, Joanne and her brother Trevor were placed in what was meant to be a temporary home, but it became a place of lasting trauma. Joanne would endure years of abuse, with the system failing to protect her. This episode delves into their harrowing experiences in care.
A brand-new true crime podcast, Dig Up Your Mam, dives deep into Northumbria Police’s longest-running missing person investigation—the disappearance of Ann Law.
Hosted by award-winning journalist and feminist campaigner Julie Bindel, this six-part investigative series uncovers decades of mystery, injustice, and a family's relentless search for the truth.
Ann Law vanished without a trace in 1973, leaving behind her two young children, Joanne and Trevor. In the years that followed, her husband, Gilbert Law, was tried for her murder but not convicted. Her body was never found. Dig Up Your Mam features exclusive first interviews with Ann’s daughter Joanne Mackel, and nephew Stephen Cassels.
Julie also speaks to former detective chief inspector Gary Shaw—who sheds new light on investigative failures and unanswered questions that still haunt the case today.
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Episode Highlights:
* Exclusive family testimony: Hear from Joanne about her harrowing childhood and from her cousin Stephen, who was forced to help dig for Ann’s remains.
* The failed investigations: Ex-detective Gary Shaw breaks down the troubling gaps in Northumbria Police’s case handling.
* New revelations: Unearthed documents, lost evidence, and fresh perspectives that provide answers and raise questions.
The Police Response:
Northumbria Police say their thoughts remain with Ann's family and friends.
"As a Force, we will continue to act on any new lines of enquiry or information received. Unsolved cases are never closed and are all subject to periodic reviews.
“Anyone with information that could help us with any of our unsolved cases is asked to use the report tool on our website, call 101 or pass information through independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
A Story That Demands Justice
Through first-hand accounts, chilling location recordings, and Julie Bindel’s reporting, Dig Up Your Mam exposes the flaws in the justice system that left Ann Law’s case in limbo. This podcast is a testament to the resilience of survivors and a call for accountability.
With strong language and descriptions of male violence from the start, the series is available to stream on Substack and all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Reporter: Julie Bindel
Producer: Samantha Smith
Artwork: Nicole Jones
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