Morbid

In the early morning hours of July 14, 1966, Chicago police responded to a call about a woman screaming for help at a townhouse in Chicago’s Jeffery Manor neighborhood. When they arrived, they found student nurse Cora Amurao outside the home she shared with eight other student nurses, all of whom had been strangled or stabbed that night by an unknown intruder, while Cora hid underneath her bed. 

Considered at the time to be a “crime of the century,” the student nurse murders shocked and terrified Chicago residents all across the city. Not only had one man managed to brutally murder eight people, but he had also managed to escape and was loose somewhere in the city. At the time, racially motivated riots had broken out across the city, making the already-burdened Chicago Police Department even more strained when it came to investigating the case.

After an intense manhunt that lasted several days, investigators arrested Richard Speck, a twenty-four-year-old unemployed drifter with a criminal history. There was a strong amount of evidence that linked Speck directly to the murders, including his own confession, so when he went to trial, his lawyer tried unsuccessfully to argue Speck was not legally sane at the time of the murders. Unfortunately, the truth was something far worse: Speck killed eight women for no reason whatsoever.

Altman, Jack, and Marvin Ziporyn. 1967. Born to Raise Hell: The Untold Story of Richard Speck. New York, NY: Grove Press.

Breo, Dennis L., William J. Martin, and Bill Kunkle. 1993. The Crime of the Century: Richard Speck and the Murders That Shocked a Nation. New York, NY: Bantam Books.

Chicago Tribune. 1966. «Prisoner suffers heart attack, doctor hints.» Chicago Tribune, July 20: 1.

Chown, Susan. 1966. «Tearful eyes at hospital.» Daily Calumet (Chicago, IL), July 15: 1.

Goodyear, Sara Jane. 1966. «Hunt for clews in killing of eight nurses on S.E. side.» Chcago Tribune, July 15: 1.

—. 1966. «Killing leads ‘hopeful’.» Chicago Tribune, July 16: 1.

Hollatz, Tom. 1966. «Grisly scene stuns reporter into silence.» Daily Calumet (Chicago, IL), July 15: 1.

—. 1966. «Relatives, neighbors are ‘shocked beyond words’.» Daily Calumet (Chicago, IL), July 15: 1.

—. 1966. «The townhouse tragedy.» Daily Calumet (Chicago, IL), July 15: 2.

Koziol, Ronald. 1966. «Cops weave tight security web around prisoner in hospital.» Chicago Tribune, July 18: 1.

Siemaszko, Corky. 2016. How Richard Speck’s rampage 50 years ago change a nation. July 13. Accessed July 29, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/how-richard-speck-s-rampage-50-years-ago-changed-nation-n606211.

Sowa, Tony. 1966. «Nab killer suspect.» Chicago Tribune, July 17: 1.

Wiedrich, Robert. 1967. «Death verdict for Speck.» Chicago Tribune, April 16: 1.

—. 1967. «Filipino nurse tells how eight met their doom.» Chicago Tribune, April 6: 1.

—. 1967. «Filipino nurse tells how eight met their doom.» Chicago Tribune, April 6: 1.

—. 1967. «State describes night of horror in nurses’ home.» 

Chicago Tribune

, April 4: 1.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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When Phil and Clara Dandy first saw the house on McMahon Road in Hinsdale, NY, in the spring of 1970, they thought they’d found the home they could spend the rest of their lives in. Since the mid-1960s, the Phil, Clara, and their four children had been vacationing in rural western New York, and the house represented everything they loved about the tranquil region of the state. Within the span of a few months, they’d bought the house and that summer, they began their new life in the country.

Unfortunately for the Dandys, their new slower pace of life didn’t last long. Within a few months of moving into what would become known as The Hinsdale House, the family was besieged by disembodied voices, inexplicable sounds, and the presence of ghostly apparitions. In time, what began as bizarre occurrences and disturbing encounters became a daily battle for the health and safety of Phil, Clara, and their children.

Want to visit??? Book an experience NOW by visiting https://hauntedhinsdalehouse.com

References

Curran, Bob. 1974. «For rent: Nice home in Hinsdale suitable for psychics and skeptics.» Buffalo News, June 18: 41.

—. 1974. «O.J. brings joy in remote resort; lib joke draws a sharp retort.» Buffalo News, February 27: 37.

—. 1974. «The mystery house and the exorcist.» Buffalo Times, February 22: 33.

Erkelens, Alluson. 2006. A Haunting – Dark Forest. Directed by Davbid Haycox and Jeffrey Fine. Produced by New Dominion Productions.

Miller, Clara. 2009. Echoes of a Haunting – Revisited. Buffalo, NY: Virtual Bookworm .

Tokasz, Jay. 2011. «Ghost home up for sale.» Buffalo News, October 30: 41.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

ITS HALLOWEEN and we are reaching into our candy bowl to give you a spooooooky episode that’s brought to you BY you, FOR you, FROM you and ALLLLL about you! Debdeb has gathered a batch of terrifying tales that will get you in the mood for the most wonderful time of the year!

LISTEN to this (nearly)Nicholas-free version on all podcast platforms OR WATCH the Nicholas version on Youtube!

If you’ve got a listener tale please send it to DEB by emailing us at  Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line- and if you share pictures- please let us know if we can share them with fellow weirdos! 🙂

Huge shout out to our video editor @aidanmcelman

Music: Www.purple-Planet.com

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When newlyweds Tony and Deb Pickman moved into their new home in Atchison, Kansas in March 1993, they were excited to have found what they believed was the perfect home for their new family. But that summer, when Deb gave birth to their son, Taylor, things in the Pickman’s new house went from perfect to terrifying in a matter of months.

Considered one of the most haunted houses in America, the Pickman’s experienced everything from disembodied voices and moving objects to spontaneous fires and violent physical attacks before finally deciding to abandon the house altogether, rather than risk their lives any further. In the years since, “Sallie’s House,” as it’s become known due to its ghostly inhabitant, has become a major destination for ghost hunters and thrill-seekers alike.

Want to see the Sam & Colby Video we talked about in the episode? CLICK HERE!

Amodio, Joe. 2006. A Haunting – «Sallie’s House». Directed by Bertrand Morin and Jeffrey Fine. Produced by New Dominion.

Business Insider. 2020. «7 haunted houses that were once worth over $1 million.» Business Insider, October 14.

Pickman, Debra Lyn. 2010. The Sallie House Haunting: A True Story. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications.

Tanner, Beccy. 2001. «Atchison’s haunted history.»  Wichita Eagle, October 26: 25.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Weirdos! We’re bring OG MORBID back! THIS week we’re reviving something that many of you have been missing: the illusive MiniMORBID! But fear not! We’re going to give you a DOUBLE DOSE of Mini  as Ash & Alaina each talk about a different cryptid of the midwest! Get ready for an unhinged episode that had us laughing HYSTERICALLY! And don’t forget the hit the comments to let us know what you think of our pitch for November’s Bonus Episode!

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Throughout the twentieth century, few names loomed as large in the business and financial worlds as John Paul Getty. Once the richest man in the world, Getty made his fortune in the oil industry and an avid art collector, with a massive collection that served as a basis for the Getty Museum, the wealthiest museum in the world. 

 Getty’s wealth and business acumen made him a household name well beyond his death in 1976; however, that same wealth and notoriety made him a target for con artists and other criminals. Among those who sought to extort the Getty family, no attempt was more incredible and sensational than the kidnapping of Getty’s favorite grandchild, J. Paul Getty III, by an Italian crime syndicate in 1973.

At first, the scion of the Getty family refused to negotiate with kidnappers, arguing that, if he paid the money, they would only kidnap other members of this family. But Getty reconsidered his position just a few weeks later, when his grandson’s ear arrived in the mail, with the promise of other body parts, should he not comply with their demands.

Associated Press. 1973. «Getty kidnapers spurn offer of $430,000 ransom as ‘paltry’.» Buffalo Nerws (Buffalo, NY), August 3: 2.

—. 1973. «Getty’s mother awaits word from kidnapers on ransom.» Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY), July 18: 3.

—. 1973. «Grandson of Getty missing.» Los Angeles Times, July 13: 9.

—. 1974. «Italy arrests 3, seeks 4th in Getty kidnapping .» New York Times, Janaury 17: 14.

Miller, Julie. 2017. «What All the Money in the World gets right (and wrong) about the Getty kidnapping.» Vanity Fair, December 25.

New York Times. 1976. «2 Getty kidnappers sentenced in Italy.» New York Times, January 30: 10.

—. 1973. «Roman police report a threat to sever a finger of Getty boy.» New York Times, July 20: 2.

Norman, Judith. 2013. «His favorite wife: A memoir looks back on the life of the fifth and final Mrs. Getty.» New York Times, September 1: 10.

Pearson, John. 1995. Painfully Rich: J. Paul Getty and His Heirs. London, UK: Macmillan.

Reuters. 1973. «Ransom is offered for Paul Getty, 17, his father reports.» New York Times, November 18: 8.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When Andy and Lisa Wyrick moved into their new home in Georgia in 1989, the young couple thought they’d lucked out when they finally found a place they could afford. Within a few months, however, Andy and Lisa started noticing strange behavior in their three-year-old daughter, Heidi, and soon after, the Wyricks were forced to face the fact that they might not be alone in the house.

For a decade, the Wyrick family experienced a range of strange and seemingly supernatural phenomenon from the presence of a kindly old man to apparitions of a dark entity, all seemingly focused on their daughter, Heidi. Efforts to stop the haunting provided little relief and in time, the family came to believe they’d attracted something far darker than ghosts.

Anderson, Sherry, Michael Ray Brown, and Tom Naughton. 2002. A Hautning in Georgia. Directed by Jeffrey Fine and Tom Naughton. Produced by New Dominion Pictures.

Franklin, Harry. 2002. «Harris County home may be haunted.» Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, GA), April 23: 19.

Walsh, Mick. 1994. «Unsolved mystery in Ellerslie is now ‘Unsolved Mystery’ on NBC.» 

Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, GA)

, September 18: 31.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the summer of 1878, eighteen-year-old Esther Cox was assaulted at gunpoint by a male acquaintance, leaving the Nova Scotia teenager traumatized and afraid. In the days that followed, Esther and those with whom she shared a house in rural Amherst began to notice unusual things occurring around the house including knocking on the walls and floors, objects flying around the house, and Esther suffering frequent seizures without any apparent cause.

In the months and years that followed, the “Great Amherst Mystery,” as it came to be known, was investigated by various clergy, scientists, and paranormal investigators, all intent on proving or disproving the poltergeist activity. While none of the investigators were ever able to identify the origins of the haunting in the Cox house, the attention made Esther a prominent national figure in spiritualist circles until several bad experiences led her to flee Canada for good several years later.

Thank you to the incredible Dave White for research and writing assistance!

Allen, Alexander. 1970. «Strange to relate.» Windsor Star, August 22: 32.

Bird, Will R. 1932. «The Great Amherst Mystery.» Star Weekly (Toronto, ON), November 19: 28.

Hamilton Spectator. 1878. «Spiritualism or diabolism .» Hamilton Spectator (Hamilton, ON), November 22: 4.

Hubbell, Walter. 1916. The Great Amherst Mystery: A True Narrative of the Supernatural. New York, NY: Brentano Publishing .

Moncton Dispatch. 1879. «The Amherst mystery.» Moncton Dispatch, June 18: 1.

Ottawa Daily Citizen. 1878. «The Amherst mystery.» Ottaway Daily Citizen, November 23: 1.

Prince, Walter. 1919. «A Critical Study of ‘The Great Amherst Mystery’.» Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research 89-130.

Smith, Emma. 2022. 

The haunting of Esther Cox is still a mystery in Amherst.

 October 20. Accessed October 7, 2025.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Weirdos! It’s our SECOND BONUS EPISODE!!! This month, Ash is ready to give you a dose of corpse medicine! From mummy dust & king’s drops to blood jam & human fat poultices, this month’s bonus covers the weird remedies  of yesteryear that will make you PRAISE modern medicine!

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the evening of January 27, 2001, Roxana Verona arrived at the Etna, NH home of her friends Half and Susanne Zantop for a dinner the couple had planned with friends that night. When no one answered the door, Verona entered the home and found the brutalized bodies of Half and Susanne, both dead from multiple stab wounds.

The murder of the Zantops shocked the tiny community of Etna and the faculty and students of Dartmouth College, where the couple worked at the time of their deaths. The murder baffled local police, who had very little experience with violent crime, much less murder. The first few weeks of the investigation were hampered by an overwhelming number of unhelpful tips from the public and considerable time was wasted on chasing false leads. When investigators finally caught up with the killers nearly a month later, their identities were not at all what anyone was expecting, and their motive for the murder made even less sense.

Resources

Belkin, Douglas, and Lois Shea. 2001. «Slayings cast pall over Dartmouth.» Boston Globe, Janaury 30: 1.

Belkin, Douglas, and Marcella Bombardieri. 2001. «A faculty couple at Dartmouth slain.» Boston Globe, Janaury 29: 1.

—. 2001. «Officials won’t discuss motive or how evidence led to pair.» Boston Globe, February 18: 1.

Bombardieri, Marcella, and Tom Farragher. 2001. «1 NH suspect to be arriagned today.» Boston Globe, February 21.

Butterfield, Fox. 2002. «Teenagers are sentenced for killing two professors.» New York Times, April 5.

Eddy, Kristina. 2001. «Town jholted by death of two professors.» Concord Monitor, January 29: 1.

Hookway, Bob. 2002. «Zantop killing was randon.» Valley News, February 20: 1.

Lehr, Dick, and Mitchell Zuckoff. 2003. Judgment Ridge: The True Story Behind the Dartmouth Murders. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Mooney, Brian, and Kathleen Schuckel. 2001. «Bid for a ride via CB trips up NH suspects.» Boston Globe, Febraury 20: 1.

New York Times. 2002. «Youth dreamed of adventure, but settled for killing a couple.» New York Times, May 18.

Storin, Matthew. 2001. «To our readers.» Boston Globe, February 21.

Tillman, Jodie. 2001. «Dartmouth College reacts.» Concord Monitor, Janaury 29: 8.

Zuckoff, Mitchell, and Shelley Murphy. 2001. «Love affair eyed in NH killings.» Boston Globe, February 16.

—. 2001. «Love affair eyed in NH killings.» Boston Globe, February 6.

—. 2001. «Vt. youth sought in NH killings.» Boston Globe, February 17: 1.

Zuckoff, Mitchell, Marcella Bombardierri, Douglas Belkin, and Rachel Osterman. 2001. «Zantops were close, but a study in contrasts.» 

Boston Globe

, February 16: 1.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Weirdos! Today we are joined by legendary crime novelist Patricia Cornwell, the mastermind behind the Kay Scarpetta series and one of the pioneers of the forensic thriller genre! Whether you’re a longtime Scarpetta stan or newly forensic-curious, this episode is packed with morbid stories, writing wisdom, and bone-deep passion for the truth!

Looking to Preorder SHARP FORCE, the 29th installment of the Scarpetta series? Click HERE or find it at your favorite bookseller on 10/7/25!

Would you like a sneak peak to the Scarpetta Television show? Click Here!

Want to read A Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Ruben? Find it here!

Join us for our NEXT Morbid Bookclub by starting the first Scarpetta book, Post Mortem! Find it here!

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the evening of November 30, 1989, Linda Napolitano awoke in her lower Manhattan apartment to find herself unable to move. She felt as though she was in the presence of other individuals, then she began to lift off her bed and was transported, as though by unseen hands, out her bedroom window several floors up, before being abducted into an unidentified aircraft. 

Linda Napolitano is one of countless people who claim to have been abducted and experimented on by extraterrestrials; however, she is one of very few whose abduction was witnessed by nearly two dozen strangers in one of the busiest cities in the world. According to ufologist Budd Hopkins, Napolitano’s abduction has produced irrefutable evidence of extraterrestrial life, but more importantly, he believes Linda’s case is proof of a larger and more insidious plan to eradicate humanity altogether.

The Manhattan Alien Abduction case is among a small number of heavily researched and well-documented cases of supposed alien abduction in American history, but it is not without its critics. In the years following Linda’s abduction, a dramatic story has unfolded, pitting skeptics and believers against one another in surprising and deeply personal ways.

Thank you to the Amazing Dave White (of BRING ME THE AXE PODCAST) for research and writing assistance!

Hopkins, Budd. 1996. Witnessed: The True Story of the Brooklyn Bridge UFO Abductions. New York, NY: Pocket Books.

Lowe, Lindsay. 2024. ‘The Manhattan Alien Abduction’ controversial true story: Why the star is suing Netflix. November 1. Accessed September 27, 2025. https://www.today.com/popculture/manhattan-alien-abduction-true-story-rcna178005.

2024. The Manhattan Alien Abduction. Directed by Vivienne Perry and Daniel Vernon.

Sheaffer, Robert. 2011. «Abductology Implodes.» Skeptical Inquirer 25-27.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On February 4, 1941, Bronx police officers were called to the home of John and Catherine Pappas for a report of a homicide. Based on the evidence, detectives theorized that someone had been invited into the Pappas apartment while Catherine was home alone and that same someone had strangled her to death, then ransacked the apartment looking for valuables. To investigators the scene resembled a fairly straightforward robbery-homicide; however, to detective Ed Burns, there were elements of the crime scene that bore a striking similarity to another assault and robbery case he’d been assigned to just two weeks earlier in another part of the Bronx. 

What followed was an investigation that exploded in size from a single robbery-gone-wrong that resulted in a murder to a sprawling serial sexual assault case that would eventually involve more than eighty victims in eight states, all victimized by the same man. The hunt for the Aspirin Bandit is among the more remarkable cases in New York criminal history, not only because of the number of victims, but also because of the tremendous effort and coordination put forth to catch the killer—effort and coordination that, in 1941, was virtually unheard of.

Thank you to the Amazing Dave White (of BRING ME THE AXE PODCAST) for research and writing assistance!

Brooklyn Eagle. 1941. «Papas slayer, faced by victims, confesses.» Brooklyn Eagle, March 4: 1.

Connor, Christine, and Elise Greven. 2017. «Gentleman Killer.» A Crime to Remember. Janaury 3.

Dillon, Edward, and Howard Whitman. 1941. «Cigarets, aspirin clues to woman’s strangler.» Daily News (New York, NY), February 6: 4.

New York Times. 1941. «Alarm for burglar sent in Pappas case.» New York Times, February 8: 32.

—. 1941. «Cvek found guilty of Pappas murder.» New York Times, May 20: 46.

—. 1941. «Cvek tells court he killed in anger.» New York Times, May 16: 24.

—. 1941. «Mystery cloaks woman’s murder.» New York Times, February 6: 15.

—. 1941. «Pappas strangler admits 15 crimes.» New York Times, March 5: 1.

—. 1941. «Slayer of woman ‘rebukes’ press.» New York Times, March 8: 34.

—. 1941. «Sun lamp halts trial.» New York Times, April 22: 23.

Rice, William. 1941. «Cvek a killer? No surprise to his relatives.» 

Daily News (New York, NY)

, March 5: 4.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Weirdos, REJOICE! It’s that time that’s brought to you, BY you, FOR you, FROM you and ALLLLL about you! This week, Ash & Alaina enter their villain era, and  focus on tales from the early oughts! We’ve got haunted plants! We’ve got stories about a break in! We’ve got ghostly babysitters! So sit down, grab a cup of ambrosia and join us as we say farewell to September!

LISTEN to this (nearly)Nicholas-free version on all podcast platforms OR WATCH the Nicholas version on Youtube on 9/25/2025!

If you’ve got a listener tale please send it on over to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line- and if you share pictures- please let us know if we can share them with fellow weirdos! 🙂

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Weirdos! This week, we’re diving headfirst into the haunted and the unexplainable with none other than Sam & Colby! They’ve shared their passion for seeking the paranormal, taunting the unknown, and occasionally screaming at shadows in abandoned places. Sam & Colby talk about some of their most terrifying (and hilarious) experiences on the road, as well as answer questions we can confidently say they’ve never been asked!

Want to watch their ghost hunts? Check out their YouTube Channel HERE!

Interested in doing a ghost hunt at the haunted school they purchased? Book your experience HERE!

Check out their Escape Room: Room 1952 Asylum? Book it HERE!

Purchase their NEW Hunt A Killer Game: The Haunting of Wicker Ridge HERE!

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the early morning hours of July 9, 1993, police in Sedona, Arizona received a dispatch call from 911 regarding a domestic violence related shooting at a home on Coffee Pot Drive. When they arrived at the home, officers found thirty-one-year-old Russell Peterson performing CPR on his longtime girlfriend, Stephanie Wasilishin, who was lying on the floor of the couple’s bedroom with a large hole in her neck from a .44 caliber bullet. Also present in the bedroom was the couple’s four-year-old daughter.

At first, Peterson told investigators that Stephanie had fired the gun at him in the living room, then retreated to the bedroom, where the two struggled over the gun, during which Stephanie was shot. Later, however, Peterson changed his story, telling detectives he couldn’t remember what happened, but he thought Stephanie shot herself. Further complicating matters was the couple’s daughter, who told detectives “Papa killed her.”

For decades, the Wasilishin family has sought justice for Stephanie, but that justice and the answers to their questions have remained elusive. With the passage of time, is it possible for investigators to close the case on Stephanie Wasilishin’s death, or has too much time passed for a resolution to present itself?

Looking to sign the petition? Click here!

Want LISTEN to Nikki’s Podcast “PAPI KILLED MOMMY” Listen here!

Follow Nikki on TikTok Click here!

Thank you to the Amazing Dave White (of BRING ME THE AXE PODCAST) for research and writing assistance!

Brooks, Scott. 1993. Miscellaneous offense report, Peterson/Wasilishin. Incident Report, Sedona, Arizona: Sedona Police Department.

Eland, Ron. 2020. Sedona Police Department adds more pieces to puzzle in 1993 death. July 27. Accessed August 5, 2025. https://www.redrocknews.com/2020/07/27/sedona-police-department-adds-more-pieces-to-puzzle-of-1993-death/.

—. 2020. Sedona Police Department returns to 1993 case. July 16. Accessed August 5, 2025. https://www.redrocknews.com/2020/07/16/sedona-police-department-returns-to-1993-case/.

Irish, Robert. 1993. Sedona Police Department Supplementary Report, case #93-4944. Supplementary Report, Sewdoa, Arizona: Sedona Police Department.

Keen, Dr. Philip. 1993. Report of Autopsy, Stephanie Wasilishin. Autopsy, Phoenix, Arizona: Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner.

Spokes, Walter. 1993. Russell Peters interview, 10-21-93. Interview transcript, Sedona, Arizona: Sedona Police Department.

Spokes, Walter. 1993. 

Supplementary Report, case # 93-4944.

 Incident report, Sedona, Arizona: Sedona Police Department.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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In the summer of 1977, single mother Margaret Hodgson called the police to her council estate apartment in Enfield, London to report that she and her two daughters, Janet and Peggy, had seen furniture move in the apartment and were hearing strange noises coming from within the walls. That simple albeit unusual call set in motion a chain of events that would thrust the unassuming Hodgson family into the center of a debate about the existence of the supernatural and forever associate them with one of England’s most notorious paranormal cases, the Enfield poltergeist.

Over the course of roughly eighteen months, the family claimed they were subjected to a variety of supernatural harassment that ranged from moving furniture and knocking in the walls to disembodied voices and even involuntary levitation. Soon after the report was made to the police, the story attracted a variety of news outlets and paranormal investigators, all determined to either prove the case a genuine poltergeist or a hoax perpetrated by two adolescent attention-seeking girls.

Nearly fifty years later, the case remains controversial among skeptics and believers, all of whom want to know what exactly did happen in the Hodgson’s apartment and who—or what—is to blame for the disturbances.

Thank you to the Amazing Dave White (of BRING ME THE AXE PODCAST) for research and writing assistance!

References

Amin, Meghna. 2022. «Man behind photos of the Enfield poltergeist ‘still can’t believe’ what he saw.» The Metro, October 28.

Brimmer, Ryan. 1978. «Ghost Story.» Daily Mirror, March 30: 20.

Cambridge Evening News. 1978. «Pitfalls facing psychic investigator.» Cambridge Evening News, March 31: 18.

Couttie, Bob. 1988. Forbidden Knowledge: The Paranormal Paradox. Cambridge, UK: Lutterworth.

French, Chris. 2016. Five reasons why London’s most famous poltergeist case is a hoax. June 17. Accessed October 7, 2023. https://www.timeout.com/london/blog/five-reasons-why-londons-most-famous-poltergeist-case-is-a-hoax-061616.

Grosse, Maurice. 1977. «Poltergeist in Enfield.» The Observer, November 20: 16.

Hyde, Deborah. 2015. «The Enfield ‘poltergeist:’ a sceptic speaks.» The Guardian, May 1.

Nickell, Joe. 2012. «Enfield Poltergeist.» Skeptical Inquirer 36 (4): 12-14.

Playfair, Guy Lyon. 1980. This House is Haunted. New York, NY: Stein and Day.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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Happy Friday, weirdos! We are SO EXCITED to spend our FIRST MONTHLY BONUS EPISODE digging into the shocking Netflix Documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish! MAJOR spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t watched it yet, press ‘pause’ and get thee to Netflix IMMEDIATELY!

Want to watch the documentary? Find it on Netflix here! Unknown Number: The High School Catfish

Looking for the article we mentioned? Find it on THECUT Here! Who Was Cyberbullying  Kendra Licari’s Teen Daughter?

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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Just after 8:00 pm on the evening of February 19, 1994, thirty-one-year-old Gloria Ramirez was admitted to Riverside General Hospital with what Emergency Room staff believed were symptoms of a heart attack. When Ramirez failed to respond to the medications and emergency treatments, medical staff began preparations for defibrillation; however, when they removed the woman’s shirt, they were surprised to find her skin covered in an oily sheen and her body seemed to be emitting an odd fruity odor. Stranger still, when a nurse took a blood sample from the woman’s arm, the blood smelled of ammonia and appeared to have slightly yellow particles floating in it. The nurse turned to leave the room, intending to take the sample for immediate analysis, but she didn’t even make it to the door before she lost consciousness and was caught by a coworker before her limp body hit the floor. Less than an hour after she was admitted to the Riverside General Emergency Room, Gloria Ramirez was pronounced dead, but her story was far from over.

Within hours of Ramirez’s visit to the ER, medical personnel who attended her that evening became sick with symptoms typically associated with insecticide poisoning (tremors, apnea, burning skin), and several required hospitalization. In the days and weeks that followed, the doctors and nurses who’d come into direct contact with Ramirez continued to experience bizarre symptoms that seemed to defy logical explanation and left everyone wondering, how had a seemingly ordinary woman’s body been transformed into Trojan horse of toxicity most associated with chemical warfare?

Thank you to the Amazing Dave White (of BRING ME THE AXE PODCAST) for research and writing assistance!

References

Ayers, B. Drummon. 1994. «Elaborate precautions taken for autopsy in mystery fumes case.» New York Times, February 25: A17.

Ayers, B. Drummond. 1994. «After airtight autopsy, mystery lingers in case of hospital fumes.» New York Times, February 26: 10.

Boodman, Sandra G. 1994. «Was it a case of mass hysteria or poisoning by toxic chemical?» Washington Post, September 13.

Gorman, Tom. 1994. «Victims of fumes still ill, and still seeking answers.» Los Angeles Times, April 14: 1.

King, Peter H. 1994. «Another funeral of note.» Los Angeles Times, April 27: 3.

Kolata, Gina. 1994. «Fumes at hospital baffle officials.» New York Times, February 22: A12.

New York Times. 1994. «Doctor faults state report on faintings.» New York Times, September 4.

—. 1994. «Doctor files lawsuit over mystery fumes in emergency room.» New York Times, August 10: A14.

—. 1994. «Kidney failure killed woman in fumes case.» New York Times, May 1.

Stone, Richard. 1995. «Analysis of a Toxic Death.» Discover Magazine, April 1.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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When nineteen-year-old Patty Hearst was kidnapped from her apartment in February 1974, everyone assumed the heiress had been abducted for the purposes of ransom. However, in the days that followed, Hearst’s kidnappers, the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), made themselves known when they sent a letter demanding the Hearst family provide food to every needy family in California. 

For nearly two months, the SLA held Patty Hearts captive, or so it seemed to the public. But when the group’s demands were met and Hearst was given the opportunity to leave, the teenager shocked the world when, rather than flee her captors, she joined their ranks in support of their cause. Hearst’s decision set in motion a chain of events that resulted in several acts of explosive violence and forever changed the way we think about victims of kidnapping. Yet in all the analysis of the case over the last fifty years, one question remains unanswered, and possibly unanswerable: Was Patty Hearst a willing accomplice to the SLA or was she a brainwashed victim trying to survive a traumatic ordeal?

Thank you to the Amazing Dave White (of BRING ME THE AXE PODCAST) for research and writing assistance!

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When nineteen-year-old Patty Hearst was kidnapped from her apartment in February 1974, everyone assumed the heiress had been abducted for the purposes of ransom. However, in the days that followed, Hearst’s kidnappers, the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), made themselves known when they sent a letter demanding the Hearst family provide food to every needy family in California. 

For nearly two months, the SLA held Patty Hearts captive, or so it seemed to the public. But when the group’s demands were met and Hearst was given the opportunity to leave, the teenager shocked the world when, rather than flee her captors, she joined their ranks in support of their cause. Hearst’s decision set in motion a chain of events that resulted in several acts of explosive violence and forever changed the way we think about victims of kidnapping. Yet in all the analysis of the case over the last fifty years, one question remains unanswered, and possibly unanswerable: Was Patty Hearst a willing accomplice to the SLA or was she a brainwashed victim trying to survive a traumatic ordeal?

Thank you to the Amazing Dave White (of BRING ME THE AXE PODCAST) for research and writing assistance!

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When nineteen-year-old Patty Hearst was kidnapped from her apartment in February 1974, everyone assumed the heiress had been abducted for the purposes of ransom. However, in the days that followed, Hearst’s kidnappers, the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), made themselves known when they sent a letter demanding the Hearst family provide food to every needy family in California. 

For nearly two months, the SLA held Patty Hearts captive, or so it seemed to the public. But when the group’s demands were met and Hearst was given the opportunity to leave, the teenager shocked the world when, rather than flee her captors, she joined their ranks in support of their cause. Hearst’s decision set in motion a chain of events that resulted in several acts of explosive violence and forever changed the way we think about victims of kidnapping. Yet in all the analysis of the case over the last fifty years, one question remains unanswered, and possibly unanswerable: Was Patty Hearst a willing accomplice to the SLA or was she a brainwashed victim trying to survive a traumatic ordeal?

Thank you to the Amazing Dave White (of BRING ME THE AXE PODCAST) for research and writing assistance!

References

Associated Press. 1974. «SLA commandos rob bank, shoot 2.» Los Angeles Times, April 15: 1.

Caldwell, Earl. 1974. «Miss Hearst says she joins terrorists.» New York Times, April 4: 1.

Conant, Jane Eshleman. 1974. «Guns point at ‘Tania’ in bank.» San Francisco Examiner, April 16: 1.

Cook, Stephen. 1976. «Doctor: I wasn’t harsh with Patty.» San Francisco Examiner, January 15 : 1.

—. 1975. «Patty falling apart and must leave jail, her lawyer says.» San Francisco Examiner, September 29: 1.

Curtain, Andrew. 1974. «New offer to Patty’s captors.» San Francisco Examiner, February 23: 1.

Fosburgh, Lacey. 1974. «Miss Hearst: an unlikely revolutionary.» New York Times, April 7: 1.

Hager, Philip, and Daryl Lembke. 1974. «Kidnappers may offer ‘deal’ for Hearst girl.» Los Angeles Times, February 9: 1.

Hager, Philip, and Dick Main. 1974. «$2 million for food pledged by Hearst.» San Francisco Examiner, February 19: 1.

Hearst, Patricia. 1974. «Transcript of Patricia Hearst’s diatribe on ‘SLA expropriation’.» San Francisco Examiner, April 25: 4.

Kendall, John. 1974. «‘Never afraid of death,’ defiant Miss Hearst declares on tape.» Los Angeles Times, June 8: 1.

Linder, Douglas. n.d. The Patty Hearst Tapes. Accessed June 22, 2025. https://www.famous-trials.com/pattyhearst/2209-tapes.

Martinez, Al, and Robert Kistler. 1974. «Suspected SLA hideout stormed, 5 die.» Los Angeles Times, May 18: 1.

Nordheimer, Jon. 1974. «Miss Hearst is now Tania, but how and why?» New York Times, May 26: 160.

San Francisco Examiner. 1974. «Father agree–it’s Patty’s voice.» San Francisco Examiner, February 12: 18.

—. 1974. «Her voice: ‘Mom, Dad, I’m ok’.» San Francisco Examiner, February 12: 1.

—. 1974. «‘It’s terrible, vicious,’ father says.» San Francisco Examiner, April 16: 1.

—. 1975. «Patty asked to join the SLA, Rolling Stone article says.» San Francisco Examiner, September 29: 2.

—. 1974. «‘People in Need’ opens with chaos, violence.» San Francisco Examiner, February 23: 1.

—. 1974. «The public’s reaction to the kidnapping.» San Francisco Examiner, February 17: 20.

—. 1974. «5 victims in shootout at suspected SLA hideout.» San Francisco Exminer, May 18: 1.

2020. The Crimes That Changed Us. Performed by Sebastian Smith.

Symbionese Liberation Army. n.d. «SLA Communique.» UMKC Famous Trials. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.famous-trials.com/pattyhearst/2328-sla-communique.

Toobin, Jeffrey. 2017. American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst. New York, NY : Anchor Books.

Turner, Wallace. 1974. «Graddaughter of Hearst abducted by 3.» New York Times, February 6: 1.

—. 1974. «Note says terrorists hold Miss Hearst.» New York Times, February 8: 1.

United Press International. 1976. «Jury acquits Steve Soliah.» Daily Breeze (Torrence, CA), April 28: 6.

Waugh, Dexter. 1974. «Key groups offer help to free Patty.» San Francisco Examiner, February 14: 1.

Waugh, Dexter, and Don West. 1979. «‘Nothing wrong with being Patty Hearst’.» San Francisco Examiner, February 1: 1.

Enjoy new episodes of Morbid ad-free. Learn more about your SiriusXM Podcasts+ subscription by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Morbid ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When nineteen-year-old Patty Hearst was kidnapped from her apartment in February 1974, everyone assumed the heiress had been abducted for the purposes of ransom. However, in the days that followed, Hearst’s kidnappers, the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), made themselves known when they sent a letter demanding the Hearst family provide food to every needy family in California. 

For nearly two months, the SLA held Patty Hearts captive, or so it seemed to the public. But when the group’s demands were met and Hearst was given the opportunity to leave, the teenager shocked the world when, rather than flee her captors, she joined their ranks in support of their cause. Hearst’s decision set in motion a chain of events that resulted in several acts of explosive violence and forever changed the way we think about victims of kidnapping. Yet in all the analysis of the case over the last fifty years, one question remains unanswered, and possibly unanswerable: Was Patty Hearst a willing accomplice to the SLA or was she a brainwashed victim trying to survive a traumatic ordeal?

Thank you to the Amazing Dave White (of BRING ME THE AXE PODCAST) for research and writing assistance!

References

Associated Press. 1974. «SLA commandos rob bank, shoot 2.» Los Angeles Times, April 15: 1.

Caldwell, Earl. 1974. «Miss Hearst says she joins terrorists.» New York Times, April 4: 1.

Conant, Jane Eshleman. 1974. «Guns point at ‘Tania’ in bank.» San Francisco Examiner, April 16: 1.

Cook, Stephen. 1976. «Doctor: I wasn’t harsh with Patty.» San Francisco Examiner, January 15 : 1.

—. 1975. «Patty falling apart and must leave jail, her lawyer says.» San Francisco Examiner, September 29: 1.

Curtain, Andrew. 1974. «New offer to Patty’s captors.» San Francisco Examiner, February 23: 1.

Fosburgh, Lacey. 1974. «Miss Hearst: an unlikely revolutionary.» New York Times, April 7: 1.

Hager, Philip, and Daryl Lembke. 1974. «Kidnappers may offer ‘deal’ for Hearst girl.» Los Angeles Times, February 9: 1.

Hager, Philip, and Dick Main. 1974. «$2 million for food pledged by Hearst.» San Francisco Examiner, February 19: 1.

Hearst, Patricia. 1974. «Transcript of Patricia Hearst’s diatribe on ‘SLA expropriation’.» San Francisco Examiner, April 25: 4.

Kendall, John. 1974. «‘Never afraid of death,’ defiant Miss Hearst declares on tape.» Los Angeles Times, June 8: 1.

Linder, Douglas. n.d. The Patty Hearst Tapes. Accessed June 22, 2025. https://www.famous-trials.com/pattyhearst/2209-tapes.

Martinez, Al, and Robert Kistler. 1974. «Suspected SLA hideout stormed, 5 die.» Los Angeles Times, May 18: 1.

Nordheimer, Jon. 1974. «Miss Hearst is now Tania, but how and why?» New York Times, May 26: 160.

San Francisco Examiner. 1974. «Father agree–it’s Patty’s voice.» San Francisco Examiner, February 12: 18.

—. 1974. «Her voice: ‘Mom, Dad, I’m ok’.» San Francisco Examiner, February 12: 1.

—. 1974. «‘It’s terrible, vicious,’ father says.» San Francisco Examiner, April 16: 1.

—. 1975. «Patty asked to join the SLA, Rolling Stone article says.» San Francisco Examiner, September 29: 2.

—. 1974. «‘People in Need’ opens with chaos, violence.» San Francisco Examiner, February 23: 1.

—. 1974. «The public’s reaction to the kidnapping.» San Francisco Examiner, February 17: 20.

—. 1974. «5 victims in shootout at suspected SLA hideout.» San Francisco Exminer, May 18: 1.

2020. The Crimes That Changed Us. Performed by Sebastian Smith.

Symbionese Liberation Army. n.d. «SLA Communique.» UMKC Famous Trials. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.famous-trials.com/pattyhearst/2328-sla-communique.

Toobin, Jeffrey. 2017. American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst. New York, NY : Anchor Books.

Turner, Wallace. 1974. «Graddaughter of Hearst abducted by 3.» New York Times, February 6: 1.

—. 1974. «Note says terrorists hold Miss Hearst.» New York Times, February 8: 1.

United Press International. 1976. «Jury acquits Steve Soliah.» Daily Breeze (Torrence, CA), April 28: 6.

Waugh, Dexter. 1974. «Key groups offer help to free Patty.» San Francisco Examiner, February 14: 1.

Waugh, Dexter, and Don West. 1979. «‘Nothing wrong with being Patty Hearst’.» San Francisco Examiner, February 1: 1.

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Morbid ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting 

siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s that time again! YOU know… that time that’s brought to you, BY you, FOR you, FROM you and ALLLLL about you! And the best part?? It’s another Sleepover Edition focusing on DREAMS! So grab your sleeping bag, a GIRLS’ DINNER of junk food, and get ready to talk about some weird dream experiences!

LISTEN to this (nearly)Nicholas-free version on all podcast platforms OR WATCH the Nicholas version on Youtube on 8/28/2025!

If you’ve got a listener tale please send it on over to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line- and if you share pictures- please let us know if we can share them with fellow weirdos! 🙂

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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Weirdos, we needed to reset the energy and couldn’t think of a better way to do it than talking about some spooky games that are almost certain to ruin your life! This fourth volume definitely shows that sometimes when you play spooky games, you get spooky prizes!

Want to read about MORE games?? Purchase ‘Dangerous Games to Play in the Dark’ by Lucia Peters by visiting https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/dangerous-games-to-play-in-the-dark.html

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Throughout the 1970s, Southern California residents were held in the grip of terror as multiple serial killers stalked the streets, preying on victims from every walk of life, including the area’s gay community. From 1971 to 1983, Randy Kraft kidnapped, tortured, and murdered at least sixteen men and boys, but the real number of victims is believed to be considerably higher. When he was arrested in 1983, investigators searched Kraft’s home and found a list with cryptic references to what they believed were sixty-one victims in total. The discovery of that list led the press to dub Kraft “The Scorecard Killer.”

Following his arrest in 1983, Randy Kraft was tried and convicted of sixteen counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Although the arrest and trial put an end to Kraft’s murder spree, several critical questions remain unanswered, including the most important aspect of the case detectives were never able to solve: who was Randy Kraft’s accomplice?

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Arnold, Roxane, and Jerry Hicks. 1983. «Kraft suspected in deaths of 14 men in 3 states, Gates says.» Los Angeles Times, May 20: 73.

Associated Press. 1983. «Five murders charged to computer analyst.» Sacramento Bee, May 25: 2.

—. 1978. «Police seek link in deaths of 18.» San Bernardino County Sun, November 24: 3.

—. 1983. «Freeway killing pattern repeats.» The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA), February 19: 2.

Bajko, Matthew. 2016. Gay serial killer breaks silence. November 2. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.ebar.com/story/246748.

Grant, Gordon. 1983. «How a routine stop led to a big arrest.» Los Angeles Times, May 20: 73.

Hicks, Jerry. 1988. «Alleged ‘death list’ made public as Kraft trial opens.» Los Angeles Times, September 27: 69.

—. 1989. «Kraft condemned to death by jury for serial killings.» Los Angeles Times, August 12: 1.

—. 1988. «Kraft defense says marine found in car was not dead.» Los Angeles Times, September 28: 76.

—. 1989. «Kraft guilty of 16 sex slayings, jury decides.» Los Angeles Times, May 13: 1.

—. 1989. «Orange County jury gets Kraft serial murder case.» Los Angeles Times, April 28: 76.

—. 1988. «Two other states were closing in on Kraft.» Los Angeles Times, January 4: 3.

—. 1989. «Witness says Kraft drugged and sexually assaulted him in 1970.» Los Angeles Times, June 6: 3.

Hughes, Beth. 1982. «L.A. area’s missing youths-a trail of mystery and murder.» San Francisco Examiner, August 23: B5.

Jarlson, Gary. 1983. «Suspect in 4 slayings also investigated in 6 Oregon murders.» Los Angeles Times, May 19: 80.

Kennedy, J. Michael. 1978. «Four deaths turn into four mysteries.» Los Angeles Times, September 2: 17.

Los Angeles Times. 1973. «Head of a man found in a bag at paper plant.» Los Angeles Times, April 27: 23.

—. 1988. «Randy Kraft’s scorecard?» Los Angeles Times, October 2: 117.

McDougal, Dennis. 1991. Angel of Darkness: The True Story of Randy Kraft and the Most Heinous Murder Spree. New York, NY: Warner Books.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Throughout the 1970s, Southern California residents were held in the grip of terror as multiple serial killers stalked the streets, preying on victims from every walk of life, including the area’s gay community. From 1971 to 1983, Randy Kraft kidnapped, tortured, and murdered at least sixteen men and boys, but the real number of victims is believed to be considerably higher. When he was arrested in 1983, investigators searched Kraft’s home and found a list with cryptic references to what they believed were sixty-one victims in total. The discovery of that list led the press to dub Kraft “The Scorecard Killer.”

Following his arrest in 1983, Randy Kraft was tried and convicted of sixteen counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Although the arrest and trial put an end to Kraft’s murder spree, several critical questions remain unanswered, including the most important aspect of the case detectives were never able to solve: who was Randy Kraft’s accomplice?

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Arnold, Roxane, and Jerry Hicks. 1983. «Kraft suspected in deaths of 14 men in 3 states, Gates says.» Los Angeles Times, May 20: 73.

Associated Press. 1983. «Five murders charged to computer analyst.» Sacramento Bee, May 25: 2.

—. 1978. «Police seek link in deaths of 18.» San Bernardino County Sun, November 24: 3.

—. 1983. «Freeway killing pattern repeats.» The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA), February 19: 2.

Bajko, Matthew. 2016. Gay serial killer breaks silence. November 2. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.ebar.com/story/246748.

Grant, Gordon. 1983. «How a routine stop led to a big arrest.» Los Angeles Times, May 20: 73.

Hicks, Jerry. 1988. «Alleged ‘death list’ made public as Kraft trial opens.» Los Angeles Times, September 27: 69.

—. 1989. «Kraft condemned to death by jury for serial killings.» Los Angeles Times, August 12: 1.

—. 1988. «Kraft defense says marine found in car was not dead.» Los Angeles Times, September 28: 76.

—. 1989. «Kraft guilty of 16 sex slayings, jury decides.» Los Angeles Times, May 13: 1.

—. 1989. «Orange County jury gets Kraft serial murder case.» Los Angeles Times, April 28: 76.

—. 1988. «Two other states were closing in on Kraft.» Los Angeles Times, January 4: 3.

—. 1989. «Witness says Kraft drugged and sexually assaulted him in 1970.» Los Angeles Times, June 6: 3.

Hughes, Beth. 1982. «L.A. area’s missing youths-a trail of mystery and murder.» San Francisco Examiner, August 23: B5.

Jarlson, Gary. 1983. «Suspect in 4 slayings also investigated in 6 Oregon murders.» Los Angeles Times, May 19: 80.

Kennedy, J. Michael. 1978. «Four deaths turn into four mysteries.» Los Angeles Times, September 2: 17.

Los Angeles Times. 1973. «Head of a man found in a bag at paper plant.» Los Angeles Times, April 27: 23.

—. 1988. «Randy Kraft’s scorecard?» Los Angeles Times, October 2: 117.

McDougal, Dennis. 1991. Angel of Darkness: The True Story of Randy Kraft and the Most Heinous Murder Spree. New York, NY: Warner Books.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Throughout the 1970s, Southern California residents were held in the grip of terror as multiple serial killers stalked the streets, preying on victims from every walk of life, including the area’s gay community. From 1971 to 1983, Randy Kraft kidnapped, tortured, and murdered at least sixteen men and boys, but the real number of victims is believed to be considerably higher. When he was arrested in 1983, investigators searched Kraft’s home and found a list with cryptic references to what they believed were sixty-one victims in total. The discovery of that list led the press to dub Kraft “The Scorecard Killer.”

Following his arrest in 1983, Randy Kraft was tried and convicted of sixteen counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Although the arrest and trial put an end to Kraft’s murder spree, several critical questions remain unanswered, including the most important aspect of the case detectives were never able to solve: who was Randy Kraft’s accomplice?

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Arnold, Roxane, and Jerry Hicks. 1983. «Kraft suspected in deaths of 14 men in 3 states, Gates says.» Los Angeles Times, May 20: 73.

Associated Press. 1983. «Five murders charged to computer analyst.» Sacramento Bee, May 25: 2.

—. 1978. «Police seek link in deaths of 18.» San Bernardino County Sun, November 24: 3.

—. 1983. «Freeway killing pattern repeats.» The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA), February 19: 2.

Bajko, Matthew. 2016. Gay serial killer breaks silence. November 2. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.ebar.com/story/246748.

Grant, Gordon. 1983. «How a routine stop led to a big arrest.» Los Angeles Times, May 20: 73.

Hicks, Jerry. 1988. «Alleged ‘death list’ made public as Kraft trial opens.» Los Angeles Times, September 27: 69.

—. 1989. «Kraft condemned to death by jury for serial killings.» Los Angeles Times, August 12: 1.

—. 1988. «Kraft defense says marine found in car was not dead.» Los Angeles Times, September 28: 76.

—. 1989. «Kraft guilty of 16 sex slayings, jury decides.» Los Angeles Times, May 13: 1.

—. 1989. «Orange County jury gets Kraft serial murder case.» Los Angeles Times, April 28: 76.

—. 1988. «Two other states were closing in on Kraft.» Los Angeles Times, January 4: 3.

—. 1989. «Witness says Kraft drugged and sexually assaulted him in 1970.» Los Angeles Times, June 6: 3.

Hughes, Beth. 1982. «L.A. area’s missing youths-a trail of mystery and murder.» San Francisco Examiner, August 23: B5.

Jarlson, Gary. 1983. «Suspect in 4 slayings also investigated in 6 Oregon murders.» Los Angeles Times, May 19: 80.

Kennedy, J. Michael. 1978. «Four deaths turn into four mysteries.» Los Angeles Times, September 2: 17.

Los Angeles Times. 1973. «Head of a man found in a bag at paper plant.» Los Angeles Times, April 27: 23.

—. 1988. «Randy Kraft’s scorecard?» Los Angeles Times, October 2: 117.

McDougal, Dennis. 1991. Angel of Darkness: The True Story of Randy Kraft and the Most Heinous Murder Spree. New York, NY: Warner Books.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ash and Alaina are joined by one of their favorite authors, Grady Hendrix! The moment we covered MY BEST FRIEND’S EXORCISM on Episode 598, we KNEW we needed to chat with him on the mic! We talk cursed keyboards, horrific group chats, and if we have what it takes to be a final girl!

Looking to purchase his latest nonfiction work? Buy THESE FISTS BREAK BRICKS now by visiting https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grady-hendrix/these-fists-break-bricks-revised-and-expanded-edition/9780762489480/

Want to listen to his podcast SUPER SCARY HAUNTED HOME SCHOOL? listen here! https://www.buzzsprout.com/1080659

Visit www.GradyHendrix.com for upcoming events as well as one of the funniest «about pages» we have ever seen!

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

At the dawn of the twentieth-century, major advances in science and technology brought incredible change to the field of medicine, enhancing and extending the lives of millions. Yet at the same time, a lax regulations and minimal oversight made it possible for countless medical grifters to get rich offering quack medical solutions to everything from whooping cough to cancer, sometimes at the expense of their patient’s lives.

When Linda Hazzard opened her sanitarium, the Institute of Natural Therapeutics at Wilderness Heights, in Olalla, Washington in the first decade of the 1900s, she claimed her rigid fasting and elimination approach to dieting was a miracle cure for a variety of illnesses, both trivial and serious. For years, Hazzard operated what amounted to a health retreat for the wealthy, without any oversight from the state or federal agencies. In the end, Hazzard’s starvation cure resulted in the deaths of over a dozen people and her arrest and trial for manslaughter, but through all of it, she maintained it was a viable treatment—standing by her methods up until they ended her own life.

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Hines, Terrence. 1997. «Starvation Heights.» Skeptical Inquirer.

Lovejoy, Bess. 2014. «The doctor who starved her patients to death.» Smithsonian Magazine, October 28.

Olsen, Gregg. 2005. Starvation Heights: A True Story of Murder and Malice in the Woods of the Pacific Northwest. New York, NY: Crown Publishing Group.

Seattle Daily Times. 1911. «Erdman diary tells method of treatment.» Seattle Daily Times, August 14.

Seattle Star. 1908. «Charged with starving eight-months-old baby.» Seattle Star, January 30: 1.

—. 1911. «Denies she ‘fasted’ 2 girls.» Seattle Star, August 9: 3.

—. 1911. «‘Fast cure’ woman is arrested.» Seattle Star, August 7: 3.

—. 1909. «Prosecutors think they can put a stop to starvation cure.» Seattle Star, June 26: 1.

—. 1908. «Sign doesn’t make a doctor.» Seattle Star, June 8: 6.

—. 1909. «Woman starves to death under care of Dr. L.B. Hazzard.» Seattle Star, June 24: 1.

—. 1908. «WQeeden case leads to Dr. Hazzard’s arrest.» Seattle Star, January 31: 1.

Tacoma Daily Ledger. 1912. «Dr. Hazzard has her first inning.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, Janaury 28: 1.

—. 1912. «Dr. Hazzard’s trial begins.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, January 16: 1.

—. 1912. «Final arguments in Hazzard case.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, February 3: 2.

—. 1912. «Heiress testifies against Dr. Hazzard.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, January 20: 1.

—. 1912. «Mrs. Hazzard breaks down, and is attended by a dcevoted follower.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, February 5: 1.

—. 1904. «Samuel Hazzard sent to Minnesota prison.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, March 16: 3.

—. 1912. «Witnesses deny state’s charges.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, January 30: 1.

—. 1912. «Woman bathed by young men.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, January 23: 1.

—. 1911. «Woman meet before judge.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, October 22: 1.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

At the dawn of the twentieth-century, major advances in science and technology brought incredible change to the field of medicine, enhancing and extending the lives of millions. Yet at the same time, a lax regulations and minimal oversight made it possible for countless medical grifters to get rich offering quack medical solutions to everything from whooping cough to cancer, sometimes at the expense of their patient’s lives.

When Linda Hazzard opened her sanitarium, the Institute of Natural Therapeutics at Wilderness Heights, in Olalla, Washington in the first decade of the 1900s, she claimed her rigid fasting and elimination approach to dieting was a miracle cure for a variety of illnesses, both trivial and serious. For years, Hazzard operated what amounted to a health retreat for the wealthy, without any oversight from the state or federal agencies. In the end, Hazzard’s starvation cure resulted in the deaths of over a dozen people and her arrest and trial for manslaughter, but through all of it, she maintained it was a viable treatment—standing by her methods up until they ended her own life.

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Hines, Terrence. 1997. «Starvation Heights.» Skeptical Inquirer.

Lovejoy, Bess. 2014. «The doctor who starved her patients to death.» Smithsonian Magazine, October 28.

Olsen, Gregg. 2005. Starvation Heights: A True Story of Murder and Malice in the Woods of the Pacific Northwest. New York, NY: Crown Publishing Group.

Seattle Daily Times. 1911. «Erdman diary tells method of treatment.» Seattle Daily Times, August 14.

Seattle Star. 1908. «Charged with starving eight-months-old baby.» Seattle Star, January 30: 1.

—. 1911. «Denies she ‘fasted’ 2 girls.» Seattle Star, August 9: 3.

—. 1911. «‘Fast cure’ woman is arrested.» Seattle Star, August 7: 3.

—. 1909. «Prosecutors think they can put a stop to starvation cure.» Seattle Star, June 26: 1.

—. 1908. «Sign doesn’t make a doctor.» Seattle Star, June 8: 6.

—. 1909. «Woman starves to death under care of Dr. L.B. Hazzard.» Seattle Star, June 24: 1.

—. 1908. «WQeeden case leads to Dr. Hazzard’s arrest.» Seattle Star, January 31: 1.

Tacoma Daily Ledger. 1912. «Dr. Hazzard has her first inning.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, Janaury 28: 1.

—. 1912. «Dr. Hazzard’s trial begins.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, January 16: 1.

—. 1912. «Final arguments in Hazzard case.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, February 3: 2.

—. 1912. «Heiress testifies against Dr. Hazzard.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, January 20: 1.

—. 1912. «Mrs. Hazzard breaks down, and is attended by a dcevoted follower.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, February 5: 1.

—. 1904. «Samuel Hazzard sent to Minnesota prison.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, March 16: 3.

—. 1912. «Witnesses deny state’s charges.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, January 30: 1.

—. 1912. «Woman bathed by young men.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, January 23: 1.

—. 1911. «Woman meet before judge.» Tacoma Daily Ledger, October 22: 1.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Weirdos!! It’s the 100th Listener Tales, and it’s brought to you by spooky brides! We’re serving up some wedding themed listener tales that are brought TO you, BY you, FOR you, FROM you, and ALLLLL about you! Today we’re also offering up a side of ACTUAL terror when unknown sounds make us wonder if a story inadvertantly opened the hellmouth up in the Podlab!

LISTEN to this (nearly)Nicholas-free version on all podcast platforms OR WATCH the Nicholas version on Youtube on 7/31/2025! (You don’t want to miss it! Nicholas had us cackling!)

If you’ve got a listener tale please send it on over to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line- and if you share pictures- please let us know if we can share them with fellow weirdos! 🙂

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In early 1948, Los Angeles couples were terrorized by a series of robberies and car thefts committed by a criminal the press dubbed “The Red Light Bandit,” a reference to the red light he used to flag down his victims. Fortunately, the bandit’s crime spree was quickly cut short when police arrested Caryl Chessman, a Los Angeles resident with a criminal history going back to his teen years.

Chessman was charged with multiple counts of robbery, rape, grand theft, and because of an unusual interpretation of events, he was also charged with kidnapping. Due to the attachment of kidnapping, several of the charges were defined as a capital offense and Chessman was convicted and sentenced to death.

In the years following his conviction, Chessman’s death sentence became a source of considerable controversy—an already controversial sentence applied in a non-lethal case due to a bizarre application of the law. For ten years, Chessman fought the sentence all the way to the US Supreme Court, with support from a wide variety of sources, both notable and ordinary.

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Chessman, Caryl, and Joseph Longstreth. 1954. Cell 2455, Death Row: A Condemned Man’s Own Story. New York, NY: Prentice Hall.

Erikson, Leif. 1960. «Chessman executed with a smile on his lips.» Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, May 2: 1.

Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. 1948. «Mother on stretcher testifies for ‘genius’.» Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, May 10: 1.

—. 1948. «Wild chase nets ‘Red Light Bandit’ suspects.» Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, January 24: 3.

Los Angeles Times. 1941. «Crime victims point to youths.» Los Angeles Times, February 14: 2.

—. 1943. «Honor farm escapee says he only lost his memory.» Los Angeles Times, September 5: 14.

—. 1948. «Red-Light Bandit receives two death sentences.» Los Angeles Times, June 26: 17.

Pasadena Independent. 1948. «Red Light Bandit strikes again.» Pasadena Independent, January 20: 8.

People v. Caryl Chessman. 1959. CR. 5006 (Supreme Court of California , July 7).

Press-Telegram. 1941. «Five bandit suspects held in shootings.» Press-Telegram (Long Beach, CA), February 2: 1.

Ruth, David E. 2014. «‘Our free society is worthy of better’: Caryl Chessman, Capital Punishment, and Cold War culture.» Law, Crime and History 31-55.

Time Magazine. 1960. «The Chessman affair.» Time Magazine, March 21.

Times, Los Angeles. 1948. «Bandit using red spotlight kidnaps girl.» Los Angeles Times, January 23: 19.

—. 1948. «Deasth asked in Bandit case.» Los Angeles Times, May 19: 32.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One week before her wedding, on the Easter Morning in 2015 Stephanie Scott decided to stop by her classroom at Leeton High School to go over her lesson plans and other coverage documents she’d left for the substitute teacher one final time. By midafternoon, her fiancé

Aaron grew anxious by unanswered calls and texts, and reported her missing with Leeton Police. The Leeton community rallied, coordinating search efforts to this beloved member of their town. Sadly, on April 9th, twenty-four-year-old Vincent Stanford was formally charged with the murder of Stephanie Scott. The arrest of Vincent Stanford came as a surprise to Stephanie’s friends and family, particularly because, as far as anyone could tell, he was little more than a stranger.

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Australian Associated Press. 2016. Stephanie Scott’s killer Vincent Stanford told police he ‘went a little nuts’. October 10. Accessed July 12, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/11/stephanie-scotts-killer-vincent-stanford-told-police-he-went-a-little-nuts.

Australian Broadcasting Company. 2015. Stephanie Scott: 24-year-old school cleaner kept in custody over murder of teacher from Leeton, NSW. April 8. Accessed July 12, 2023. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-09/man-charged-leeton-schoolteacher-stephanie-scotts-murder/6379516.

—. 2016. Stephanie Scott: Cleaner Vincent Stanford pleads guilty to teacher’s rape and. July 19. Accessed July 13, 2023. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-20/stephanie-scott-murder-accused-vincent-stanford-pleadsguilty/.

—. 2015. Stephanie Scott: Mother of missing teacher from Leeton fears search is ‘running out of days’. April 8. Accessed July 12, 2023. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-08/mother-missing-leeton-teacher-stephanie-scott-fears-search/6378256.

—. 2015. Stephanie Scott: Police say burned body found in Cocoparra National Park believed to be that of missing teacher. April 10. Accessed July 12, 2023. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-11/stephanie-scott-police-searchers-find-burned-body-near-griffith/6385584.

Brooks, Emily. 2016. This is what we know about Stephanie Scott’s killer so far. October 12. Accessed July 13, 2023. https://www.huffpost.com/archive/au/entry/this-is-what-we-know-about-stephanie-scotts-killer-so-far_au_5cd41819e4b0ca9b77563363.

Fairfax Media. 2015. «‘Devastated:’ Communities mourning murdered bride-to-be Stephanie Scott.» Central Western Daily, April 9.

Harris, Janice. 2015. «Tears for Stephanie: Canowindra grieving for ‘absolutely wonderful girl’.» Central Western Daily, April 9.

Harvey-Jenner, Catriona. 2016. Man’s chilling google searches before he murdered a bride-to-be have been revealed in court. October 11. Accessed July 13, 2023. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/news/a46516/murderer-chilling-google-searches-bride-rape-kidnapping/.

Levy, Megan. 2015. «‘No way it’s cold feet!’.» Illawarra Mercury, April 8.

Partridge, Emma. 2015. «Stephanie Scott’s alleged killer not rostered to clean school.» Central Western Daily, April 9.

Partridge, Emma, and Megan Levy. 2015. «Car found, cleaner charged with murder of Stephanie Scott.» Canowindra News, April 9.

Patterson, Monique. 2020. United in Grief: The story of Stephanie Scott’s Beautiful Life, Tragic Murder, and How Her Death Broke the Heart of Leeton NSW. Milwaukee, WI: Genius Publishing.

Pattison, Talia, and Daisy Huntly. 2015. «Have you seen Stephanie Scott.» The Irrigator, April 6.

Reneker, Tony. 2022. «Stephanie Scott case ‘changed’ inspector’s life.» The Irrigator, September 1.

Shields, Moyra. 2015. Stephanie Scott: Missing teacher from Leeton in NSW Riverina due to get married on Saturday. April 6. Accessed July 12, 2023. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-07/missing-teacher-from-leeton-nsw-riverina-region-was-due-to-marry/6374992.

The Guardian. 2016. Stephanie Scott killer Vincent Stanford sentenced to life for murder. October 12. Accessed July 12, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/13/stephanie-scott-killer-vincent-stanford-sentenced-to-life-for.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On November 1, 1955, United Airlines flight 629 from Denver, Colorado to Seattle, Washington took off from Denver’s Stapleton Airfield at 6:52 pm, carrying thirty-nine passengers and five crew members. Roughly ten minutes later, the aircraft exploded in the air, killing all forty-four people onboard and scattering fiery debris across several miles of Colorado’s landscape.

By the early 1950s, air travel had become a popular means of travel for more and more Americans and, while air disasters weren’t unheard of, they nonetheless called into question the safety of traveling on a passenger flight. This time, however, investigators quickly determined that the explosion of flight 629 hadn’t been an accident; someone had intentionally sabotaged the flight with a suitcase bomb.

The explosion of United Airlines flight 629 marked the first time a passenger plane had been bombed in the United States, something few if any authorities ever thought would happen. In the event of an act of terror, an individual or group typically comes forward quickly to claim credit; however, in the case of flight 629, no one came forward and investigators were left to wonder, what possible reason could someone have for killing forty-four people with no obvious connection between them?

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Anastasio, Jeff. 2024. A worst act of terror. August 2. Accessed August 6, 2024. https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/a-worst-act-of-terror-the-mission-to-build-a-memorial-to-remember-the-bombing-of-flight-629-in-colorado.

Associated Press. 1955. «Arraignment for Graham postponed.» Daily Sentinel, November 17: 1.

—. 1955. «Charge of murder planned in Denver on mother’s death.» Fort Collins Coloradoan, November 15: 1.

—. 1955. «FBI begins investgation of Longmont air crash.» Fort Collins Coloradoan, November 8: 1.

—. 1955. «Graham denies plane bombing.» Fort Collins Coloradoan, November 18: 1.

—. 1955. «Graham linked to dynamite.» Fort Collins Coloradoan, November 21: 1.

—. 1955. «Judge orders hospital check.» Fort Collins Coloradoan, December 9: 1.

—. 1955. «Paper says bomb evidence found in UAL plane crash.» Fort Collins Coloradoan, November 7: 1.

—. 1955. «Probe is started by bomb expert.» Fort Collins Coloradoan, November 3: 1.

—. 1955. «Victim’s son bought insurance policy before flight, FBI says.» Fort Collins Coloradoan, November 14: 1.

2013. A Crime to Remember. Directed by Christine Connor. Performed by Christine Connor.

Field, Andrew. 2005. Mainliner Denver: The Bombing of Flight 629. Denver, CO: Bower House Publishing.

Garner, Joe. 2005. «Terror in the Colorado sky John Graham’s legacy: The mass murder of 44 people in Nov. ’55.» Rocky Mountain News, October 14.

Gauss, Gordon. 1955. «44 die in crash near Longmont.» Daily Sentinel, November 2: 1.

John Gilbert Graham v. People of the State of Colorado. 1956. 18058 (Supreme Court of Colorado, October 22).

Pitman, Frank. 1956. «Graham reportedly resigned to death, overheard telling lawyer ‘don’t want to appeal’.» Daily Sentinel, May 6: 1.

United Press. 1955. «44 on plane die in crash in west.» New York Times, November 2: 1.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.