Case 163: Joanne Ratcliffe & Kirste Gordon

[@ellenbaldock5147]

My Dad used to ride his bike to school with Joanne, he lived up the road from the family. Thanks for covering this case.

[@theavandenberg6876]

Gotta feel for both of the girls of course but Joanne is a real hero in my book. If the witness accounts can be believed the perp was after the young Kirste and Joanne could probably have gotten away. But she choose to try and protect her friend, even if it led to her own dimise. That to me is heroic.

[@VegemiteQueen1]

Not only that, but she was MEMORABLE in her actions. People remembered seeing the girls BECAUSE of Joanne's behaviour. They may not have understood the situation, but they didn't forget it immediately like we do with most people we pass. This was in a time when the world was considered to be much 'safer', even with the Beaumont children's disappearance. Children weren't taught how to ask for help in extreme situations, or what to do, other than obey their elders. While my heart hurts for these two precious girls, you can't help but feel admiration for Joanne's actions and bravery in an impossible situation.

[@thethrowawaythatstayed7055]

@@VegemiteQueen1 right? This was very much a time when children were not to talk back to elders let alone physically FIGHT them. A very brave girl indeed.

[@shawnaweesner3759]

To: @theavandenberg6876: Always advise children if there are two, and only one is the target of a kidnapper, NOT to try and get the other child back from the adult, or stay with their friend, but run screaming “help,” to the closest adult. Joanne’s focus was staying with Kirste; however, the child that can should run and get help, NOT stay with their friend. Joanne’s father gave Joanne the wrong advice, too, bless his heart. He should have advised Joanne that wherever they were, to try and get away, if she could, and get to the nearest adult that would then call the police. Joanne’s sister, Susie, also gave the wrong message at the end. In response to the question as to why Joanne did not run away, Susie should have responded that Joanne had not been taught to go against her Christian values, and leave a friend in their time of need, in order to get help. The reality is that a child cannot make an adult stop the evil actions they are perpetrating. We need to teach our children that running to get help from an adult is the only option when confronted with an adult intent on doing evil to a friend, and/or to them.

[@gothqueen8397]

Am addicted to your podcasts, think a have shared you with the whole of Scotland . Thanks.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@calamityj3634]

I’m Adelaide born and bred and this case and the Beaumont’s who lived just round the corner , shaped a whole generation of kids If it’s too late for justice then at least let there be an answer as to exactly what happened for the poor long suffering families

[@catherinegrace2366]

I’m with you. There has to be a way. Offer a sizable reward after all this time could be helpful.

[@MissLibra-ce8qe]

It blows my mind when I hear of potential witnesses keeping quiet about something they’ve seen which could greatly help an investigation...especially one involving child abductions and/or murder. I can understand it to a certain extent if that witness is concerned for their own safety, but being witness to something disturbing and knowing from news reports and the media that there are children who have been abducted and possibly harmed, and there’s a high likelihood you’ve been witness to it and have actively chosen to keep your mouth shut, is unforgivable in my opinion.

[@margaretbanks8969]

At first I would have thought it was a dad with his children but once I'd heard news I'd have rang police.

[@Aryasvitkona]

I think the girl who saw them was a teenager and was as such so untrusting of her memory at the time, thinking maybe she imagined it afterwards with news reports

[@seymore1532]

I still remember as a young child living in Adelaide the missing children posters of photos of Kirste & Joanne plus a sketch of the alleged kidnapper. Everytime I saw one of these posters placed around Adelaide I always felt scared & so sorry for these two young girls and prayed they would be found safe. I became very aware of stranger danger after this happened and would never leave my parents side. This change the way we lived in Adelaide.

[@hardsam68]

And those manequinnes in the John Martina store windows

[@blackkittens.]

Sending love to these sweet Angels and their families ♡♡♡

[@smink8]

I thought I knew this case fairly well and then along comes Casefile to prove me wrong...well done!

[@erichoberg3502]

Same, especially being an Adelaide boy.

[@VegemiteQueen1]

I'm surprised they dug up that area based on what the 'psychic' said. Just logically it doesn't make sense - Joanne was too old to go 'play with ducklings' and she was old enough to know that she and Kirste not only were not to leave the grounds, but especially not with a stranger.

[@fattyboombatty8876]

Love listening to these while trying to sleep plus "hope I don't skud myself" no adverts. Get in there my playlist BTW 🤣

[@wallstreet_au]

Joanne coulve run off and let the abductor take off with Kirste......but she didnt. such a brave young girl who gave up her life to try to save another. True heroine.

[@hardsam68]

Might still be alive

[@wallstreet_au]

@@hardsam68 true.

[@shawnaweesner3759]

To any young girl listening to this podcast, and reading the comment above about being a “heroine.” If you are in a situation like this, always run, screaming “help” all the way, and get an adult to help you. This young girl should have done that, too.

[@fannymoreno2851]

Y si en realidad Joanne intentaba escapar y no que estuviera “peleando” con el secuestrador….después de todo, por qué dejaría a la niña libre, para que fuera pedir ayuda, para que lo delatara, pues ella le vio la cara y podría reconocerlo

[@secularbeast1751]

This was a hard one to listen to, CP, hearing about this diabolical crime made me feel sickened and furious. We need programs like this to remind us to be ever vigilant.

[@hardsam68]

They should have named the new ADELAIDE oval riverbank stand the Ratcliffe-Gordon stand in their memory

[@wookiedog]

Great work with the new sponsor. I think everyone might need it after listening to this.

[@danrobinson572]

Thanks been waiting!!

[@mariac7084]

The magnitude of her bravery was never repaid, rewarded by the police. It was as great as their indifference & the suffering of her family

[@rmooreg]

A very grim, tragic, as well as infuriating case. The abduction of innocent children, is so rage inducing, in this case exacerbated by the police incompetence/indifference. It defies explanation why they chose to simply ignore various leads, some of which were credible and promising. I know they have a daunting tasks and a seemingly endless sea of possibilities, but arbitrarily deciding to simply not respond to tips or witnesses undermines the entire investigation. If they are not willing or able to conduct a thorough, complete inquiry, they should remove that from their job description and tell the relatives so, instead of assuring families that all is being done that can be. But of course that would lead to vigilantism and possibly actual justice, which law enforcement won't allow. It just makes them look bad, as well make their job a bit busier. Still, their inaction is perturbing.

[@BlazeBuds]

My guess is seeing what we see these days, most likely paid off to ignore leads. The media seemed to lead the public astray a bit in the Beaumont kids

[@katrinacarter2019]

Was furious they never went straight bk to talk to these witnesses poor girls and parents and family never knowing 😢rip

[@jimmy2minutes]

Great video. Adverts are funny Like 1980 stuff. Top quality. Love it .

[@18uprhea]

Best podcast

[@SHurd-rc2go]

Thanks for the warning. Can't do children. But thank you for your hard work.

[@user-mt4ku7jw1y]

Heartbreaking stuff, rip little ones

[@scottishlass803]

😍 thank you

[@MrRandomposter]

These cases are so awful. I have the dreaded feeling the remains of all of these children are in the Wingfield tip. If you look at the case of Megumi Suzuki in the 90’s it took a long time to find her remains. In 70’s it seemed police didn’t have the resources or willingness to search through the dump site. I think a great majority of missing reside there.

[@cynthiagibson2286]

Pedophile rings are so complicated and with so many red herrings its like going down. Rabbit hole

[@BlazeBuds]

Yep lots of people in all places involved. That would be why it would seem the police did such a poor job in some of these cases, not to mention the media releasing a description for the Beaumont abductor that was incorrect

[@margaretbanks8969]

For goodmess sake ignore ads. This is about the disappearance of two girls 11 and 4 nothing inc ads is more important.

[@rogerpattube]

Could not finish this. Too upsetting.

[@lenafranklin7262]

People actually saw this happen and stood by. Shame

[@calamityj3634]

I think it’s just that people don’t always know what it is that they’re seeing especially in those days People in Adelaide at the time were generally pretty reluctant to poke their noses into what they saw as other people’s business. Nowadays everyone is much more pro active about intervening snd reporting things thank goodness

[@butterballin]

Yes, especially if the man looked at Joanne and called her a bitch. I would never assume a father to speak to his daughter like that and I would've had to say something AT LEAST.... thats not normal behavior!

[@brandyjean7015]

I always tease & try to mollify crying kids with grown-ups. I frequently offer to take the child home with me to clean chicken coops. Or wearing a red hat in the Winter explain u work for Santa & will report, if naughty or nice. When the tears disappear & the formerly crying child looks to their grown-up for support: I know all is well. Many a parent has silently mouthed 'thank you' when I've chased the tears away. If ever my ploys expose a child in danger: the abducter is going to have to drag me off too. I won't go easy.

[@margaretwellings7675]

I must be a horrible person lm instantly suspicious of people ever since the moor’s killing when I was a kid

[@anitaholst7671]

So very sad. A normal happy family and community day that turned into lifetimes of misery... and the terror, suffering and deaths of two precious children.

[@JennaMills-qb5hx]

Man who drove back to Boarding House with 2 children in a Van. Loud Noise causing another Boarder to walk out to see what was going on. Grandchildren, the Man said. What I find as a Sure Sign of Guilt was the fact that this Boarder never returned to his Accommodation. That in itself is highly SUS. Was he identified? One day the House in Prospect, with the covered in Basement might be demolished, for a New Building.

[@thecraft2091]

Which house in prospect?

[@margaretbanks8969]

I am angry with the person o n the pa system. Yes it would disrupt the game but who cares? This was 2 missing girls aged 11 and 4. Nothing is more important than that. I would say the same if it was cricket and england needed 2 wkts to win the ashes. Nothing absolutely nothing should have been more important than that.

[@JennaMills-qb5hx]

This is a very sad story.

[@skykirby2216]

Dang it im off , soz files but I can't do this one, the voice is killing me 🙉

[@margaretbanks8969]

A podcast about the disappearance of 2 little girls and all you're worried about is the presenters voice.?

[@bass3966]

There is a new suspect

[@origshoegal]

A common theme running thru many of these cases is, unfortunately, law enforcement being lax and not thoroughly investigating, IMO.

[@jeffjones3040]

Good old cops! Don't want to do their job! It would be hilarious if it wasn't so evil!

[@skykirby2216]

Is the voice this time computerised?

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

They have a real human host on every episode although hes only known as Anonymous

[@hardsam68]

IMO someone got them into a Car right outside the building the other sightings could have been staged lookalikes

[@sscraddock]

Who won the damn game?

[@erichoberg3502]

North Adelaide 17.17 119 Norwood 15.15 105 North Adelaide went into the Grand Final that year and lost to Glenelg by 7 points.

[@BlazeBuds]

I shouldn't laugh but lol We gotta keep things light sometimes or this evil will destroy us mentally

[@VladRadu-tq1pg]

your mum

[@totis1777]

Investigators did little to nothing. Lazy and irresponsable.

[@tommydougan3153]

Cannot handle the adverts

[@thecraft2091]

I believe what mark trevor marshall has said about this case.

[@margaretwellings7675]

Always go with your gut feeling if it stinks like a fish it is a fish I would have to go and check I don’t care if they call me a busy body

[@emiliotible8495]

Parents should accompsny their 11 yr old and 4 yr old to a rather far toilet. 300 meters is too far for kids to walk alone

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

WOW...what a conclusion. Freaky af

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

Where they found those barrels and the hat and related newspaper clippings. Surely that guy did it, right?

[@danmac73]

Why do people listen to these so called 'psychics'!? Jr is as big a shyster as his Father was. Makes me so angry.

[@MR-pv7qg]

AWWW☹

[@JD-qd5zp]

Stupid, stupid ads I’ll just watch another podcast.

[@brendajstevens3719]

🤚🤚🤚

[@sheenajordan4570]

SERIOUSLY SO MAAAAANY ADS! THIS IS STUPID!

[@BlackArrow238-y7u]

13:57😊