Exhuming the Truth

07/09/2026

On behalf of our team at ETT we want to wish our long term family Kellie Moody a happy birthday for their loved one, Jack McLennan.

Birthdays can be especially difficult in the face of ambiguous loss, where there is no certainty, no goodbye and no opportunity to know what tomorrow holds. We continue to hold hope for Jack and for the family and friends who carry his absence every single day. Jack is not forgotten, and neither is the search for answers.

We will never stop working towards answers for Jack and his family.

Asha

07/09/2026

A message to the loved ones of Stacey Mitchell

We are reaching out to Stacey’s family, friends, and anyone who knew and loved her. Stacey’s story deserves to be heard, and most importantly, she deserves to be remembered as a person not simply as a case or a name.

If you knew Stacey personally, shared memories with her, spent time with her, worked with her, went to school with her, or were part of her life in any way, we would genuinely like to hear from you.

You may hold something that seems small or insignificant a memory, a photograph, a story, a place she loved, something she used to say, or simply a moment that captures who Stacey was.

Sometimes those little pieces are incredibly important.
We are also conscious that this is deeply personal and sensitive, and we will treat anything shared with us with care, compassion and respect. You do not need to share anything publicly. If you would prefer to speak privately, please send us a private message.

We are not looking to sensationalise Stacey’s story. We want to understand Stacey the person, to preserve her memory, and to make sure the people who loved her have an opportunity to be heard.

If you knew Stacey please consider reaching out or if you know someone who did, please tag them or share this post with them.

For Stacey. For the people who love her. And for the truth. 🤍

05/09/2026

Merrigum, Victoria - Police are investigating the death of a man at a caravan park on Waverley Avenue in Merrigum.

At approximately 3.10am on Saturday, two men were found injured and unresponsive following reports of an assault.

One man was taken to hospital with non life threatening injuries. The second man could not be revived despite CPR and died at the scene. Victoria Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: The Nightly, 5 September 2026.

02/09/2026

We are incredibly sad to learn of the passing of a great person, mentor, friend and stand-up advocate for mental health with FTW revolution, Matt Dee.
You might recognise Matty from Bondi Rescue, we recognise Matty as a friend, a peer and someone I looked up to and worked with years back, singing for an event to raise money for his foundation for mental health awareness. I had the pleasure of knowing Matty through FTW (for those without) and admired his strength, friendliness and advocacy.
Please if you are ever in doubt of your worth and your place here on this side of life, reach out to a crisis line or to a loved one.
You are valued here. We will make time for you.
Rest in peace legend.

01/09/2026

You don’t always realise how far good news, good work, and genuinely good people can travel.

A few weeks ago, while attending court in relation to some very personal circumstances, I was having what was undoubtedly a difficult and emotionally stressful day. Unexpectedly, one of the security staff recognised me through the work I do with Exhuming the Truth.

She took a moment to speak to me, offer encouragement and say some incredibly kind things about the work we do. It may have seemed like a small interaction to her, but on that particular day, it meant more than she could possibly know.

I have always believed in acknowledging kindness wherever I find it. We are often quick to share negativity, criticism and disappointment but I think good people deserve to travel just as far.

Kindness is not always the easiest choice. Taking a moment to see someone, encourage them, or simply offer a few thoughtful words costs very little, yet can have a profound impact on someone carrying more than we may realise.

So this is simply an acknowledgment and a thank you. To the lovely woman who showed me such genuine warmth during a particularly difficult moment, thank you. Your kindness did not go unnoticed, and it will not be forgotten.

May we continue to remind one another that good does exist. That compassion matters. That kindness has a ripple effect far beyond the moment in which it is given. And perhaps in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelmingly heavy, choosing to be kind is one of the quietest and most powerful ways we can help carry each other through it.

The Exhumers team is one I am very, very proud of!

01/09/2026

We are currently deciding how to present our Jack McLennan QLD trip episodes and would love your input.

The material is quite extensive and sensitive, and throughout the investigation we learned a lot about Jack’s case, the town, the people involved, how we can better work within the missing persons sector, how to engage the public safely, and what a responsible plan forward looks like.

Would you prefer:
Multiple parts released one per week
All parts released at once
Video and audio versions
Or a combination of these

We want to present this properly and respectfully, so let us know what you would prefer.

01/09/2026

📱 WORK PHONE TEMPORARILY DOWN

Just a quick heads-up that the Exhuming the Truth work phone number is temporarily unavailable while I sort out an issue with the service.

If you’ve been trying to contact me and haven’t been able to get through, please don’t worry I haven’t disappeared! 😂

I’m working on getting the number and service restored as quickly as possible. In the meantime, please contact me via Facebook Messenger or through the usual Exhuming the Truth page channels.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Asha

30/08/2026

30/08/2026

I genuinely can’t believe I’m writing this. 🥹

When I submitted my work to the Australian & New Zealand Society of Criminology (ANZSOC) 2026 Conference, I honestly thought, “Well… I’ll give it a shot, but there’s no way they’ll pick this.”

I submitted my abstract, closed my laptop and expected absolutely nothing to come of it.
And then this email arrived:
“We are happy to tell you that we accept your proposal…”
I actually had to read it twice.

I’ve been accepted to present at ANZSOC 2026 on:

Beyond Awareness: How Community-Led Missing Persons Investigations Are Reimagining Justice in Australia

The scientific committee has accepted my work and recommended it for a Lightning Talk.
And honestly? I’m still processing that.

To be able to stand in a room filled with criminologists, researchers, academics and professionals and share the work that I am so deeply passionate about the work we do through Exhuming the Truth and the questions that have driven me for years is something I never imagined would happen when this journey began.

I didn’t start Exhuming the Truth because I thought I had all the answers.

I started it because I saw questions that weren’t being answered. Families who needed someone to keep asking.

Missing people who deserved to remain more than a case number. And communities who wanted to contribute meaningfully to the search for truth and justice.

What started with a passion for understanding crime, forensic science and the human stories behind cases has grown into something I never could have predicted.

And now I get to take that conversation into an academic space and talk about what community-led missing persons investigations can contribute to justice in Australia.

That means more to me than I can probably put into words.

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has trusted me, challenged me, supported the work, shared information, volunteered, searched, listened, asked questions and believed that these conversations matter.

This isn’t just a win for “me”.

It’s a win for the idea that communities can have a meaningful place in the pursuit of truth, accountability and justice.

From thinking “I’ll probably get nowhere” to “See you at ANZSOC 2026.”

What a bloody journey. ❤️

29/08/2026

A coroner has identified a human skull found on a Clifton Beach property as belonging to Edward Harold Tait, who vanished more than two decades ago.

Gregory Hunter found the skull while clearing weeds on July 5 2023, near a makeshift bush campsite with shoes, clothing, keys and a lighter.

Coroner Madeleine Wilson said advanced genetic genealogy testing in 2024 linked the remains to Tait, whose sister later confirmed the DNA match.

Wilson found Tait died at or near the shelter after November 30 1999, but could not determine how or why he died.