INFAMOUS: Shark Arm Murders
A shark, an arm, a mystery… what unfolded in Sydney, Australia, in 1935 is the stuff of legends:
When a tiger shark coughs up a human arm in the tank of a beachside aquarium, it kicks off a murder investigation full of winding turns and unpredictable twists. Detectives uncover a web of cons, criminal partnerships, and double-crosses… and the truth about Jim Smith – and why his arm ended up in a shark – becomes murkier than the water it was found in.
Listen in the Crime Junkie Fan Club
Unlock this episode & hundreds of other ad-free episodes across the Audiochuck network. Join the Fan Club now for more exclusive content like this & more.
James “Jim” Smith.
Credit: Fairfax Media via Getty Images
The tattooed arm.
Credit: New South Wales State Archives & Records
Reginald “Reg” Holmes.
Credit: National Library of Australia
Episode Information:
Shark Arm: A Shark, A Tattooed Arm, and Two Unsolved Murders
Check out the book we relied on for this episode: Shark Arm: A Shark, A Tattooed Arm, and Two Unsolved Murders by Phillip Roope & Kevin Meagher.
Suggested Episodes
MURDERED: Bill & Peggy Stephenson
In 2011, 74-year-old high school sweethearts Bill and Peggy Stephenson were found murdered inside their Kentucky condo on Memorial Day weekend. Nothing valuable appeared to be missing, but the crime scene was so strange that detectives wondered whether the killer was trying to leave a message.
MURDERED: Joyce LePage Part 2
In part two of Joyce’s story, we dig deep into the case file and letters left behind by Joyce herself, which reveal even more suspects, including the roommate she’d been avoiding that summer.
MURDERED: Joyce LePage Part 1
In the summer of 1971, 21-year-old Joyce LePage disappears after a skydiving lesson followed by a beer with friends. In the beginning, the only clue is a piece of missing carpet that was cut out from a vacant dorm on the campus of Washington State University where Joyce had been secretly squatting. Her belongings, her car and her body would all be found in different places, and they all point to different suspects.
Join our Fan Club to listen to this episode and more!
Unlock all of the exclusive benefits and dynamic listening experience as a Crime Junkie Fan Club member.
Join the Fan Club now to reap the rewards!