About This Episode
Casefile True Crime released a new Behind the Files bonus episode in May 2026, giving premium subscribers an inside look at the making of Case 338 — the podcast's coverage of the Kathleen Folbigg case, one of Australia's most debated and consequential criminal convictions.
A case that has haunted Australia for over three decades
Kathleen Folbigg was convicted in 2003 of killing her four children: Caleb, Patrick, Sarah, and Laura. She spent twenty years in prison before new scientific evidence from geneticists and medical researchers gradually began to undermine the basis for her conviction. In 2023, she was pardoned by the Governor of New South Wales following an independent inquiry that found there was reasonable doubt about her guilt. The case is now widely regarded as one of the most significant potential miscarriages of justice in Australian legal history.
It is this complex and emotionally harrowing case that Casefile chose to examine in Case 338 — and in the May 2026 Behind the Files episode, the team pulls back the curtain on what it takes to research and produce an episode of this magnitude. Kathleen Folbigg
Behind the microphone: The challenges of production
In the Behind the Files format, the anonymous host and Elsha typically speak candidly about the ethical and practical considerations behind each episode. With the Folbigg case, the team had to navigate particularly sensitive territory: the case involves four dead children, a mother who was regarded as a serial killer for two decades, and a public debate that cuts to the heart of whether the justice system failed — both the children and their mother.
Behind-the-scenes episodes like these are popular among Casefile's audience because they offer a window into the journalistic and human work behind the podcast. The true crime podcast genre is frequently criticised for reducing victims to objects of fascination, and the Casefile team has repeatedly emphasised their commitment to treating everyone involved with dignity and respect.
Casefile as a global true crime institution
Casefile True Crime launched in 2016 out of Australia and has since become a fixture at the top of global true crime podcast charts. The show is known for its serious, documentary-style approach, its anonymous hosting format, and its ability to cover both local Australian cases and international crimes with equal rigour.
The premium subscription — which unlocks Behind the Files and Q&A episodes — is a central pillar of the podcast's business model, offering listeners a closer connection to the production team. The May 2026 episode is therefore of interest not only to those following the Folbigg case, but to anyone curious about how professional Australian true crime journalism is made.
A case with global resonance
The Folbigg case has attracted attention well beyond Australia's borders, becoming a reference point in broader discussions about how scientific evidence is weighed in criminal trials and how media coverage can shape public perception of the accused. That Casefile chose to dedicate both a full episode and a bonus episode to the case underscores its enduring relevance — not merely as a crime story, but as a case study in the limits of the legal system and its capacity for error.
