Series one was the first official WA Police Force podcast and was launched in December 2023 in an effort to gather fresh information from the public and bring to a close unsolved homicide investigations.
Veteran Perth crime reporter and former WA Police Force media advisor Neil Poh has returned to host Series 2, which includes interviews with detectives close to the cases and family members.
“Time has done little to ease the pain of the victims’ family members, and we’re hopeful that keeping these tragedies fresh in the minds of the public will encourage someone to come forward,” Poh said.
The first episode of Series Two examines the suspected murder of 12-year-old Collie schoolgirl Lisa Mott in 1980. Lisa had gone to play basketball with friends, and never returned home. As part of the podcast, Poh spoke to Lisa’s sisters Vicki and Bernadette.
"I just want to find my sister. I just want somebody to say this is where she is, or this is where her remains are, you know, so that we can actually start to heal. Because I think the healing process is really hindered by that not knowing," Bernadette Mott told Poh.
Today marks the 44th anniversary of Lisa’s disappearance. Cold Case Investigation Squad Acting Detective-Inspector Stephen Crowley said police never gave up on unsolved cases and always looked for new ways to progress inquiries.
“Any piece of information – no matter how insignificant it may seem in isolation – may provide the breakthrough needed to provide answers to grieving families and to put alleged offenders before the courts,” Acting Det-Insp. Crowley said.
Cold Case WA will be accessible by searching “Western Australia Police Force Cold Case” on your preferred podcast platform, or by visiting the WA Police Force podcast page.
Season 2, Episode 1: Lisa Mott - Part 1
On 30 October, 1980, Lisa Marie Mott had gone to play basketball with friends at the local courts in the South West town of Collie.
She went to a pizza shop opposite the courts with a friend about 8.45pm that night and, by 9pm, had started walking home towards Forrest Street.
She was just 12-years-old and has never been seen since.
Her disappearance has had a lasting impact on her family – listen to interviews with them and with detectives close to the case here:
