Case 158: Russel Martin
🕑 Added 2020-09-26 09:45:53 +0000 UTCIn April 1977, Bev Roberts was anxiously awaiting the Easter long weekend. Her younger brother, Russell Martin, had abruptly left town earlier that year - leaving behind his wife and four young children. It wasn’t out of character for Russell to take off from time to time, but he always kept in touch. This time, no one had heard from him.
Team:
Anonymous Host - narration
Eileen Ormsby - research, writing
Mike Migas - production, scoring
Andrew D.B. Joslyn - scoring
Milly Raso - creative direction
Comments
AR
I am late so you probably won't see this, but Case file has covered numerous cases of domestic violence and even recently devoted multiple repairs specifically to highlighting cases that can serve as examples of common forms of domestic adjust in order to help listeners understand these situations and recognize that. I understand that this case is provocative, but Casefile's ability to show empathy, even for the "worst" victims, is what makes it so valuable. I think this podcast deserves much more credit from it's listeners than you're affording it.
HelpFind Ajax&Stamp
Jonathon Taylor. That is my honest opnion. I am entitled to it just as you are yours, and others to theirs. I am just describing my feelings about some comments which shock me.
HelpFind Ajax&Stamp
I also feel for Helen. If she did anything that people might think then that man has made her carry a burden for all of her life. Which is abuse.
HelpFind Ajax&Stamp
sorry typos, tiny phone kb.
HelpFind Ajax&Stamp
Orion, It was nkt Casey's speech, it was Bev's. This man's abuse made his siblings victims as well. As a survivor, I can understand back then that Bev would not have known hiw to help Helen. As everyone else would have, Helen would have got thd blame for the abuse. Believe ne, I know. If Helen killed hm than I feel lije giving her s nedsl. But Bev is also a victim of her brother.
HelpFind Ajax&Stamp
Thank you Casefile for showing tge plight of rural domestic violence sufferers.
HelpFind Ajax&Stamp
This reminds me that even the most awful victims have loving family members who want abswers. In regard to abuse, if this case is what the Coroner points to, then if the wife had access to good domestic violence services, that rural woman STILL don't have, then this situation could have resolved with no loss of life. It is a good case to broaddcast. I say all this as a survivor of severe long term domestic abuse, who often wished her partner would die in a car crash. He died of liver/kidney failure from long term drinking years after I successfully left him with the help of good Women's Refuge in the city, run by the Nun from the Sisters of Mercy. I had zero help in rural places. The police just did not eant to know.
HelpFind Ajax&Stamp
I am really shocked and ashamed to find out same Casefilers are treating these podcasts like viewing Netflix. It is not the team who should change the cases, some Casefilers need to take a good, hard look at themselves in the mirror! What would Bev think about your comments if she read them: her brother's story is 'boring', not entertaining enough? This is Casefile, not Law & Order! Well done, Casey and team on the sensitive, dignified and caring handling of this case. Bev deserves answers and send her my deep caring.
HelpFind Ajax&Stamp
It is a real person's story. I remember that with every case I listen to. It is not creative writing, it is oral history. I think on the people involved, the setting, the local culture. Even the ordinary, if any major crime can be called ordinary, deserves to be told, and heard.
Orion Pax
I feel for Bev, but I feel for Helen significantly more. Did Bev do anything to support her sister in law while her brother abused her and threatened her life, or did she only care when her brother's death affected her? Maybe I'm just cold, but if my sister in law killed my brother for abusing her and the abuse was so widely known that "everyone in town" knew about it, I would feel ashamed of myself for not helping her. And I would advocate for other victims of abuse. Obviously I'm not Bev and however someone reacts to grief is how they react to grief. But the speech at the end about how we shouldn't judge a victim for what they did in life or whatever is kind of repulsive to me as an abuse survivor. Casefile is a good show, but I think this is where I stop listening for good.
Michael
Bev Roberts might be unwell but downplaying domestic abuse in your episode does more social damage than one family's lack of closure. There are 2600 long-term missing persons in Australia. Think you might want to rethink this one.
DaveC
Excellent episode. I find these several decade long cold cases so saddening but it’s important to keep them in the public awareness. Thanks so much for covering this in an effort to bring Bev some closure or at least the comfort in the knowledge that something is still being done to find out what happened to Russell. Helen clearly knows more - her actions following the disappearance at more than suspicious.
Amanda Lewis
Any case that is unsolved is never ‘too boring’ 🤨 the fact that you even do an episode on the lesser known ones is amazing, and not to mention a massive help for the family and friends of the person who is still missing. Well done CaseFile. As always 😘
Casefile True Crime
While we understand that these smaller-scale, unsolved cases are not for everyone, we think it's important to use our reach to occasionally shed light on stories that haven't been covered elsewhere. We worked closely with Bev Roberts, who is very unwell, to bring this case out as urgently as possible. A single tip could be all it takes to bring closure to her long and painful ordeal. We remain committed to covering a diverse range of cases and have several well known and highly requested ones scheduled for release in the near future. Thanks Patrons for your ongoing support and feedback.
Daniel Cook
This one was too boring to even make the news, hence nothing on Google about it al all. Running out of ideas?
Rebekah
Such a great episode. I hope that Bev can get some answers. How heartbreaking for her.
MM
Thank you. Really interesting. Shows again that without a body-investigation is slowed and weak.
Byron Ridenour
Man this one was boring
HelpFind Ajax&Stamp
I hope thIs podcast convinces someone to come forward with more information.
J. Chips
My thoughts exactly. I mean this respectfully, but the writing could’ve been better.
Annie Brod
As always, excellent storytelling. I can't say the case itself is along the line of what I generally expect from case file? Pretty straightforward and a little boring. Still worth telling, of course all these cases are equally tragic, but seemed more fit for a podcast that does 30 min episodes.
Stefan Bradley
Bizarre case. He vanishes without a trace. Can’t find anything online either!
Mark Ofmalovia
Not sure about this one team. No twists, no intrigue, no conclusion, no wow.
J. Chips
Come on Casey
Amber
So many questions. Why would she let Charlie see him at all if she was going to say he ran off? Was she poisoning him? Did she incapacitate him and then shoot him? I'm amazed nobody has talked on this one.
Linda Cannon
So sad when family spends a lifetime looking for their missing loved one. Another case that breaks my heart is Marion Barlow. That one just reeks of foul play, not to mention police ineptitude.
Deeanne kitchen
Saturday night done right 👌 wine and crime ❤🍷
Janine Botfield
Woo hoo! Saturday night is on!!!! ❤️❤️🥂🥂