The Teacher’s Pet

Lynette Simms disappeared from Sydney's idyllic northern beaches in 1982 and was never seen again.

Lyn was a caring nurse, a loving mother and devoted wife. Her husband, Chris Dawson, was a rugby league star, a popular teacher and exceptionally close to his identical twin brother, Paul.

This facade of domestic bliss shattered as Dawson became infatuated with the family's babysitter, his 16-year-old student, a girl he moved into Lyn's home and bed just two days after her disappearance.

Thirty-six years later, investigative journalist Hedley Thomas revisited the story in a record-breaking podcast series that captured the unconditional support of friends, colleagues, neighbours, family and an international audience. With fresh leads and old evidence resulting in a public groundswell for authorities to take action, Dawson was arrested in late 2018 and, after a dramatic trial, was found guilty of murder in August 2022.