The Disappearance of Lynette Dawson
Lynette Dawson was a 33-year-old mother of two who disappeared from her home in Bayview, Sydney, in January 1982. Her husband, former NRL player and PE teacher Chris Dawson, was the prime suspect from the outset. He claimed she had left voluntarily; police investigations in 1982 and 2003 concluded without charges.
In 2018, journalist Hedley Thomas of The Australian investigated the case for the podcast Teacher's Pet. The podcast documented the affair between Chris Dawson and his underage student Joanna Curtis, witness accounts of Lynette's state before her disappearance, and decades of investigative failures. The podcast generated enormous public and media attention.
The podcast directly contributed to charges being laid in 2018. Chris Dawson was tried for murder, convicted in August 2022, and sentenced to 24 years in prison with a non-parole period of 18 years. He was 74 at sentencing. Lynette's remains have never been found.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Teacher's Pet podcast about?
Teacher's Pet investigates the 1982 disappearance of Lynette Dawson from Sydney. Journalist Hedley Thomas documents the affair between Lynette's husband Chris Dawson and an underage student, the failures of the original police investigation, and new evidence gathered decades later.
Was Chris Dawson found guilty?
Yes. Chris Dawson was convicted of murdering Lynette Dawson in August 2022 and sentenced to 24 years in prison. He was 74 at sentencing. The Teacher's Pet podcast is widely credited with generating the public pressure that led to him being charged 40 years after Lynette's disappearance.