Case 167
Jai, Tyler & Bailey Farquharson
*** Content Warning: child victims, domestic abuse ***
In Australia, Father’s Day falls on the first Sunday of September and is typically a time for families to gather together and celebrate. But on Father’s Day in 2005, the small Victorian town of Winchelsea was rocked by news that a local man named Robert Farquharson had driven his three young sons – Jai, Tyler and Bailey – into a dam. Robert survived, but all three boys drowned.
Police quickly suspected that the incident was an intentional act of revenge by Robert against his ex-wife, Cindy Gambino. But others, including Cindy herself, were convinced it was nothing more than a tragic accident…
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research & writing – Erin Munro and Milly Raso
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
PREMIUM
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RESOURCES
BOOKS
On Father’s Day – Megan Norris
This House of Grief: The Story of a Murder Trial – Helen Garner
COURT DOCUMENTS
The Queen v Robert Donald William Farquharson
ARTICLES
Father wins backing of his daughter – and Victoria – The Age
Fond memories as town farewells three brothers – The Age
‘Dumbfounded’ dad to fight murder charges – The Age
Drowned brothers’ father takes lie detector test – The Age
Farquharson told pair it was too late to save boys, court told – The Age
‘Dad, we’re in water’ – The Age
Blackout behind car wheel likely: doctor – The Sydney Morning Herald
Dad didn’t call 000, court hears – The Herald Sun
Boys’ father refused to call for help – The Age
Tears for dead boys – The Herald Sun
Court told of plan to kill three sons – The Sydney Morning Herald
Farquharson jury retires to consider verdict – The Age
Dam deaths father granted bail – ABC News
Dad guilty of killing sons – The Age
Father found guilty of killing three sons – ABC News
In the name of the father, how could he? – The Sydney Morning Herald
Australian man kills his 3 young sons on Father’s Day – NY Daily News
What drives a dad to murder his sons? – News.com.au
The kids are in the water -– The Sydney Morning Herald
Cindy Gambino seeks to keep Robert Farquharson away from children after death – The Age
A mollycoddled, twisted loser: why Robert Farquharson killed his 3 sons – Mamamia
Dam mum Cindy Gambino’s court bid to stop ex Robert Farquharson being buried beside the sons he drowned on Father’s Day – The Herald Sun
When mums kill: Charge of infanticide an offence that divides the community – The Age
Why she broke – The Monthly
Akon Guode resentenced for killing her children by driving car into Wyndham Vale lake – ABC News
VIDEOS
Remembering the Farquharson case – Victoria Police
Crimes that shook Australia – Robert Farquharson