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Solved January 8, 1982 Homicide

Lynette Dawson

Status Solved
Type Homicide
Date January 8, 1982
Location Sydney, Australia
Victim Age 33
Gender Female

Chris Dawson, a former rugby league player and teacher, was convicted in 2022 of murdering his wife Lynette in 1982. The case was revived by the podcast 'The Teacher's Pet.'

Lynette Dawson, 33, vanished from her home in Bayview, Sydney on January 8, 1982. Her husband Chris, a former rugby league player and high school teacher, claimed she had called from a phone box saying she needed time away.

Two days after Lynette disappeared, Chris moved his teenage former student and babysitter, known as 'JC,' into the family home. He had been having an affair with the girl since she was 16.

The case lay dormant for decades until journalist Hedley Thomas launched the podcast 'The Teacher's Pet' in 2018, which attracted millions of listeners and generated new evidence and witnesses.

Chris Dawson was arrested in 2018 and convicted of murder in August 2022. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison. Lynette's body has never been found.

homicide Australia 1980s podcast solved
1982-01-08
Lynette Dawson vanishes.
2022-08-30
Chris Dawson convicted of murder; sentenced to 24 years.

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