William MacDonald: The Sydney Mutilator episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 19, 2026 · 30 MIN

William MacDonald: The Sydney Mutilator

from Criminal, Interrupted · host Sophie Imogen

In the early 1960s, Sydney was a vibrant city, unaware that a predator was moving quietly through its streets. Between 1961 and 1962, five men would fall victim to a killer whose brutality shocked Australia and left investigators scrambling for answers. His name was William Macdonald, an English migrant who blended into the city by day and hunted its most vulnerable by night.Known later as “The Mutilator", Macdonald became one of Australia’s earliest recognised serial killers, targeting men he lured with alcohol before attacking them with sudden, frenzied violence. His crimes unfolded across familiar Sydney locations, Darlinghurst, Moore Park, the Domain, turning ordinary public spaces into scenes of horror.In today’s episode, we explore the life and crimes of William Macdonald, a killer whose brutality left a lasting mark on Australia.Australia’s Most Feared Serial Killer William MacDonaldCORONERS COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES - William MacDonaldMurders Most Foul - William MacDonald “The Mutilator,” Sydney’s Most Disturbed Serial Killer.The Daily Telegraph - The Mutilator dead at 90: William MacDonald, who cut off victims’ genitalia, was NSW’s longest-serving prisonerThe Serial Killer Podcast - William MacDonald | William The Mutilator MacDonald - Part 1 & 2

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 19, 2026

Embed this episode

Ready to play

William MacDonald: The Sydney Mutilator

0:00 30:20

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

Socialite Crime Club Burning Mountain Productions A new take on true crime, former investigators and successful entrepreneurs, energetically discuss their involvement in criminal cases across the country and what it takes to solve complex investigations. Join your hosts, Sy and Keri Ray, as they delight your insatiable desires for scandalous schemes, disgraceful deeds, secret soiree’s and criminal conspiracies. Explicit Crime Insiders LiSTNR Crime Insiders is LiSTNR's home of true crime.     DETECTIVES hears from the professionals behind some of the world's most gripping criminal investigations. Hosted by former police officer Brent Sanders, the series features law enforcement operatives who were either first on the scene or painstakingly pieced together evidence long after the dust had settled. Raw, revealing and deeply personal, these conversations take you inside the interview rooms, crime scenes, and sleepless nights that define the pursuit of justice. FORENSICS takes you deep inside the minds and methods of the world’s top forensic experts. Hosted by award-winning journalist and true crime author Dr Liz Porter, these interviews cut through the TV clichés to reveal what forensic science really looks like - up close, complex, and constantly evolving. From the techniques that crack high-profile cases to the breakthroughs that exonerate the innocent, these are the real stories behind the science of solving crime.JUDGEM Explicit Criminal Conduct Creative Babble Criminal Conduct is an investigative true-crime podcast series hosted by John Taylor and Javier Leiva.Season 1: The hosts look into the death of Michelle O'Connell, picking up the investigation where the murdered sleuth, Eli Washtock, left off.Season 2: The investigation of a rogue constable in Kentucky who is accused of planting drugs, stealing money, and shaking people down.Season 3: An American Serial Killer in Paradise: The story of serial killer William Holbert, aka "Wild Bill," and his victims.Season 4: Getting Away with Murder: The Death Investigation of Pravin VarugheseSeason 5: The Life and Death of Buffalo Jim Barrier Explicit Who Killed Theresa John Allore This podcast was started in January of 2017, about the unsolved murder of my sister, Theresa Allore, who died on November 3, 1978. The project has grown to include unsolved murders of women in Quebec in the 1970s. Now the podcast is simply about justice issues and criminal investigative failures. www.theresaallore.com @justusguy Explicit

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Criminal, Interrupted?

This episode is 30 minutes long.

When was this Criminal, Interrupted episode published?

This episode was published on January 19, 2026.

Can I download this Criminal, Interrupted episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!