She Heard Planes… #mr.cruel #truecrimestories #truecrimeshorts | Forensic Files

I see how they're like connecting the dots, because when you look at like the totality of what we know, Nikki ends up
describing almost the exact same car that Sharon described being in. They both kind of describe the same general
area, same quiet neighborhood, both describe a driveway. And most importantly, they both end up describing planes
flying overhead. Now, because Nikki was there longer, she ends up describing hearing between seven and nine of them
while she was kept there. And the number of planes and this timeline that she has
is even more specific than the details they had before. So, police take this and they're able to start mapping out
the areas in Melbourne that correspond with airports and flight paths. And to like fast forward to the details and get
you the goods, basically they narrow it down and figure out that what Nikki had to have been hearing were planes coming
in or out of Tullamarine Airport. This airport is about a 35-45 minute drive, depending on traffic, from the suburb
where she was taken. So, those 45 minutes or so that Nikki spent in the car would add up.

When Nicola “Nicki” Lynas was abducted in 1990, she was held longer than previous victims. During that time, she counted between seven and nine planes flying above the house where she was kept.

That detail became critical.

Investigators mapped flight paths across Melbourne and determined she had likely been hearing planes arriving or departing from Tullamarine Airport — about 35 to 45 minutes from where she was taken.

More than 30 years later, Mr. Cruel has never been charged.

Watch The Full Episode Tagged Below. -------- Follow Crime Junkie: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crimejunkiepodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrimeJunkiePodcast/ Crime Junkie is created and hosted by Ashley Flowers.

Text Ashley to chat this epsidoe and more: https://my.community.com/ashleyflowers?t=Hi%20Ashley%21

About Ashley Flowers Ashley Flowers is the top female podcaster in the U.S. and the host of Crime Junkie, the #1 podcast among women and the #1 true crime podcast globally. As the Founder of audiochuck, she has built a top-tier podcast production company that has garnered over 2.6 billion downloads, captivating audiences with its gripping storytelling through 10+ chart topping podcasts. Ashley and her team are dedicated to creating responsible true crime content that respects victims and their families.

Follow Ashley: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ASHLEYFLOWERS/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleyflowerscrimejunkie

Purchase Ashley’s highly anticipated second novel, The Missing Half now! | https://ashleyflowers.com/books

Brief Summary

Nikki and Sharon's similar accounts help police pinpoint Tullamarine Airport in a kidnapping investigation.

Key points

Nikki's Account Matches Sharon's. Nikki and Sharon describe the same car and neighborhood, leading to crucial evidence.

Episode quotes

They both end up describing planes flying overhead.

Connecting details between Nikki and Sharon's accounts.

0:16WatchMar 13, 2026

More from Crime Junkie

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.