In the heart of New Zealand’s breathtaking North Island, a young woman’s carefree adventure turned into a chilling mystery that has gripped a nation for nearly half a century. On May 31, 1975, 18-year-old Mona Blades—vibrant, kind-hearted, and dreaming of a future in nursing—set out to hitchhike from Hamilton to Hastings, a surprise visit for her nephew’s first birthday. She was last seen climbing into an orange Datsun on a lonely highway… and then she was gone.

What followed was one of New Zealand’s largest manhunts—thousands of police hours, helicopters sweeping the rugged terrain, and a nation holding its breath. Yet, Mona left no trace. No body. No belongings. Just a haunting void. Was she taken by a predator hiding in plain sight? Did she cross paths with a dangerous gang in Taupo’s shadowy underbelly? Or does the truth lie in a twist no one has dared to imagine?

Join host Jay Nicoll on Ontario Cold Cases - Canada’s True Crime Podcast as he unravels the enigma of Mona Blades’ disappearance. From the vibrant streets of 1970s New Zealand to the eerie silence of Matea Road, this gripping episode of World Cold Case Thursday dives deep into conflicting sightings, flawed investigations, and chilling theories that refuse to fade. With every clue—from a mysterious Datsun to whispers of gang involvement—the stakes grow higher, and the questions burn brighter.

Will you uncover the key to Mona’s fate? Tune in to Ontario Cold Cases for a heart-pounding journey into a case that changed a nation—and a mystery that demands answers. Some stories don’t end—they haunt. Subscribe now and join the search for justice.

Because every case deserves answers—and every victim deserves justice.

Subscribe now to Ontario Cold Cases: Canada’s True Crime Podcast. Episodes available wherever you get your podcasts.

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