In this episode of Territory Famous, we examine the disappearance of Paddy Moriarty from the remote Northern Territory town of Larrimah. In December 2017, Paddy Moriarty vanished without a trace from a town of just eleven people, creating one of Australia’s most puzzling and unsettling true crime cases.

Larrimah later became nationally known for the so-called meat pie war — a bitter and long-running feud between locals that divided the town and drew widespread media attention. But beneath the eccentric headlines lies a far more serious question: what really happened to Paddy Moriarty?

Despite extensive police searches, investigations and coronial proceedings, no body has ever been found and no charges have been laid. In a place where everyone knows each other, suspicion, resentment and silence have lingered for years.

This episode explores the relationships, rivalries and isolation that shaped life in Larrimah, and how a petty feud may have masked something far more sinister. Drawing on police statements, court and coronial findings, and verified media reporting, we separate fact from speculation while examining how the Paddy Moriarty case has been portrayed in documentaries and public discussion.

The Disappearance of Paddy Moriarty and the Great Larrimah Meat Pie War is a story about isolation, hostility and unanswered questions — and how, in the harsh Northern Territory heat, the truth can remain buried.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith

Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records

https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords

Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/

"Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia

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In this episode of Territory Famous, Kellie examines the Adelaide River murders, a lesser-known Northern Territory true crime case from 2004 involving the deaths of two women in the Adelaide River near Darwin.

The case unfolded during a period of intense national media coverage for the Peter Falconio disappearance, and as a result, this investigation received far less attention than it otherwise might have. Despite the circumstances, the Adelaide River murders remain one of the most disturbing true crime cases in the Northern Territory.

This episode explores:

• The background of the victims and the events leading up to the murders
• The discovery of the bodies in the Adelaide River
• The police investigation and forensic findings
• False confessions and shifting stories involving bikie gangs and organized crime
• The trial, convictions, and sentencing of Phu Ngoc Trinh and Ben William McLean

While crocodiles are often associated with the Adelaide River, this case highlights how misinformation and false narratives complicated an already confronting investigation.

Territory Famous focuses on true crime stories from Australia’s Northern Territory, with an emphasis on cases that are overlooked, misunderstood, or overshadowed by larger national stories.

⚠️ Content warning: This episode discusses murder, violence, and the deaths of two women. Listener discretion is advised.

Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith

Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records

https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords

Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/

"Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia

Follow Territory Famous:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520

Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/

Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok

Resources:

Sentencing remarks: Wayback Machine

https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/crime-court/teen-killers-ben-mclean-and-phu-ngoc-trinh-dumped-dying-prostitutes-in-crocinfested-waters-of-adelaide-river/news-story/a4b0558e9b87c03fc5a474aa9f5561f

R v McLean & Trinh - Wikipedia

Supreme court appeal : PARTIES:_–––––

In 1986, Michael Anthony Lewis was killed in the Northern Territory during a confrontation with Peter Rudge.

Rudge claimed he was fearing for his life after alleged threats were made against his family. Following those events, he went to Lewis’s residence, where the situation escalated and Lewis was shot and killed.

The case would later focus on a claim of self-defense and how such claims are assessed under Northern Territory law. Despite the circumstances surrounding the shooting, the legal outcome left ongoing questions about escalation, intent, and accountability.

In this episode of Territory Famous, the events are examined in detail, from the reported threats and confrontation through to the court proceedings and final outcome.

Listener discretion advised.

Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith

Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records

https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords

Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/

"Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia

Follow Territory Famous:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520

Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/

Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok

YouTube: (1) Territory Famous - YouTube