Unravel True Crime is a podcast where, each season, some of Australia's best journalists investigate unsolved crimes. Season 4: Snowball tells how an average family's encounter with a charismatic Californian con woman cost them everything.

Unravel series four — Snowball

As a lawyer, Nicola Gobbo represented some of Australia’s most dangerous criminals, while covertly feeding the Melbourne underworld’s secrets back to police. When her secret life as an informer was exposed, she fled. The only reporter to interview her since she went into hiding is Rachael Brown. In the new season of Trace, Rachael, and her co-reporter Josie Taylor, tell the extraordinary story ...

As a lawyer, Nicola Gobbo represented some of Australia’s most dangerous criminals, while covertly feeding the Melbourne underworld’s secrets back to police. When her secret life as an informer was exposed, she fled. The only reporter to interview her since she went into hiding is Rachael Brown. In the new season of Trace, Rachael, and her co-reporter Josie Taylor, tell the extraordinary story of Australia’s most controversial informer. Listen to this special preview of the new series.

PRESENTS — TRACE: The Informer

After the confrontation in the supermarket carpark, Ollie is left feeling confused — has he been charmed just like everyone else in this story? Will Lezlie fail to keep her promises to Ollie or leave him and his family hanging?

S4 07 | The Morning After

Ollie and Simon have criss-crossed California to find themselves parked in a supermarket car park staking out where Lezlie supposedly works. They may only have one shot to talk to her and finally get some answers. It doesn't go the way Ollie imagined.

S4 06 | Stakeout

Ollie and his brother Simon follow the trail of broken dreams and failed restaurants to Paso Robles, California. It's apparent Lezlie's exploits didn't stop when she left New Zealand. Ollie discovers his former sister-in-law had manufactured an image of a successful restaurateur in Hawaii, Lake Tahoe and New Zealand. Her exotic CV and exciting stories pull a new family into her web — with disas...

Ollie and his brother Simon follow the trail of broken dreams and failed restaurants to Paso Robles, California. It's apparent Lezlie's exploits didn't stop when she left New Zealand. Ollie discovers his former sister-in-law had manufactured an image of a successful restaurateur in Hawaii, Lake Tahoe and New Zealand. Her exotic CV and exciting stories pull a new family into her web — with disastrous consequences.

S4 05 | Black Widow

Following the trail to Lezlie Manukian, Ollie and his other brother Simon end up in California. With a muscle car and loud Hawaiian shirts, the brothers look every bit like '80s TV detectives as they head off on their very first stakeout. But, when the trail runs cold, they decide to chase down a lead at Lezlie's first restaurant in the resort town of Lake Tahoe. Meanwhile, Lezlie's emails beco...

Following the trail to Lezlie Manukian, Ollie and his other brother Simon end up in California. With a muscle car and loud Hawaiian shirts, the brothers look every bit like '80s TV detectives as they head off on their very first stakeout. But, when the trail runs cold, they decide to chase down a lead at Lezlie's first restaurant in the resort town of Lake Tahoe. Meanwhile, Lezlie's emails become stranger than fiction.

S4 04 | Charmed

Lezlie Manukian's stories about her time in Hawaii usually ended with murderous local mobsters running her off the island. So, to track down his brother Greg's ex-wife, Ollie Wards needs to understand her past. What really happened according to "the coconut wireless"?

S4 03 | The Coconut Wireless

Ollie and Greg's dad, David Wards, picks through the clues left behind by Greg's American wife, Lezlie. He realises that the entire family may have been victims of an elaborate con job. David is obsessed with finding answers, launching his own investigations and even becoming a 60-something computer hacker.

S4 02 | The Great Houdini

When Ollie Wards' brother Greg marries his American dream girl in New Zealand and they go into business together, it seems like a perfect start to a new life. But only a few months later, Greg is heartbroken, the family home is gone — and so is Lezlie.

S4 01 | The Girl With The Dragonfly Tattoo

In 2006, Greg Wards was your average Kiwi backpacker on an overseas adventure in the UK, working hard, playing harder — and falling head-over-heels in love. After a whirlwind international romance, Greg married Lezlie Manukian in New Zealand. Their new life started out by setting up a small business north of Auckland. But a snowball had started to roll the day Greg met Lezlie Manukian. It wasn'...

In 2006, Greg Wards was your average Kiwi backpacker on an overseas adventure in the UK, working hard, playing harder — and falling head-over-heels in love. After a whirlwind international romance, Greg married Lezlie Manukian in New Zealand. Their new life started out by setting up a small business north of Auckland. But a snowball had started to roll the day Greg met Lezlie Manukian. It wasn't long before this ball of chaos gathered pace and crushed Greg and his family. Ten years on, Greg's younger brother Ollie takes up the case begun by his amateur PI Dad and goes on the hunt. Across three continents and over seven episodes — with many twists, turns and WTF moments — Ollie goes on a mission to unravel a quirky and baffling love fraud. Who is Lezlie Manukian — and why did she con his family? Is this the first time this has happened? Can he track her down and finally get some answers? This series of Unravel is released on September 3.

INTRODUCING – Season 4: Snowball

Host Gina McKeon interviews film-maker Helen Barrow about her coverage of Belinda Peisley’s inquest and the behind-the-scenes moments that we can’t hear in the audio. Helen’s one-hour tv documentary WHO KILLED BELINDA PEISLEY? is available on the streaming platform ABC iView. Download the app or visit the website: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/who-killed-belinda-peisley

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Unravel True Crime

Unravel True Crime: Snowball

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www.abc.net.au is casting Unravel True Crime