Unravel Podcast Revisits 1988 Death of Gomeroi Teen Mark Haines

The ABC award-winning podcast Unravel has used its sixth season, Blood On The Tracks | Revelation, to revisit a case that went unanswered for decades: the 1988 death of Gomeroi teenager Mark Haines, who was found dead on railway tracks in Australia.

A case reopened after 37 years

In 2025, the case was reopened with a new inquest led by the NSW Deputy Coroner. During the proceedings, it emerged that the original police investigation had been marked by serious inadequacies. The handling of the case in its early stages was found to be unsatisfactory — and those failings have long cast a shadow over the search for the truth.

Investigating investigative failures

Unravel's sixth season takes a particularly close look at these investigative shortcomings, examining how errors and a lack of thoroughness in the initial inquiry can undermine any chance of reaching a reliable conclusion. The podcast does not simply retell the story — it interrogates the process itself.

This focus on wrongful investigation and systemic failure is a hallmark of the Unravel series, which is produced and published by ABC — the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Each season presents in-depth episodes exploring unsolved or reopened cases, with an emphasis on uncovering facts and nuance.

One of Australia's most acclaimed true crime podcasts

Unravel has firmly established itself among the most respected true crime productions in Australia. The podcast holds a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 679 user reviews on Apple Podcasts, reflecting its reputation for rigorous journalism combined with compelling storytelling.