Among the Dirt and Trees

Betty Beets was married five times to six different men.Four of her husbands were endangered, injured, or killed.Love isn't always a good thing.Sometimes, it's dangerous.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Subscribe here and your favorite podcasting apps: https://talko.fm/dirtWarning: This episode contains mature content and themes. Listener discretion is strongly advised.During this episode we will be discussing crimes involving violence, assault, murder or other disturbing details. Some listeners may find certain portions of our discussion offensive, upsetting or traumatic.If at any time you need to step away, we encourage you to take a break. Please proceed with caution and take care of yourself first while listening.

When three women went on a trip to visit Starved Rock State Park, they were looking for fresh air and the sweet taste of adventure.Disappearing changed the plan.Within days, their bodies were found—but their killer was nowhere to be seen.Police finally believed they got the right person, but all these years later, the public is fairly split.Find out what police say happened, then what the man they sent to prison has to say about it all.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Subscribe here and your favorite podcasting apps: https://talko.fm/dirtWarning: This episode contains mature content and themes. Listener discretion is strongly advised.During this episode we will be discussing crimes involving violence, assault, murder or other disturbing details. Some listeners may find certain portions of our discussion offensive, upsetting or traumatic.If at any time you need to step away, we encourage you to take a break. Please proceed with caution and take care of yourself first while listening.

When an engaged couple can't get a hotel room, they decide to illegally camp out on the beach for a night instead—but as they slumbered beneath the stars, someone had other plans. The young couple was shot and killed by a stranger, and it took over a decade to get answers.The truth from the killer's mouth would paint a story of a random act of violence that ended two lives too early.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Subscribe here and your favorite podcasting apps: https://talko.fm/dirtWarning: This episode contains mature content and themes. Listener discretion is strongly advised.During this episode we will be discussing crimes involving violence, assault, murder or other disturbing details. Some listeners may find certain portions of our discussion offensive, upsetting or traumatic.If at any time you need to step away, we encourage you to take a break. Please proceed with caution and take care of yourself first while listening.

The internet is known for its fair share of conspiracy theories and trending topics, but some of them are downright WILD.In this episode, we are going to discuss a popular theory perpetuated on TikTok that states that our National Parks are actually full of secret feral cannibals that are lying in wait to snatch up hikers and campers.What do you think? Are the stories real? Are the cannibals in cahoots with the federal government? Be sure to send in your fan theories!***RESOURCE LIST***https://nerdist.com/article/american-horror-stories-conspiracy-theory-feral-people-national-parks/https://www.pathloom.com/post/national-park-oddities-cannibal-conspiracy-wildlifehttps://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRphroex/https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRphhntA/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Helen Karipidis was only nine years old when she disappeared while playing outside in 1988. Blame was cast on secret groups of pedophiles, strangers, and even her own father. To this day, no one knows what happened to her. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To kick off the new year, we are going to explore some random crimes out in nature that anyone could commit.Well, almost anyone.Find out if you should be on the run from the police! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Colleen Wood was a 51-year-old woman who was living her best life in Florida when she met someone special, a man named John Paul Sr.He had a beautiful boat and promised that they could live out her dream of sailing the world.On a whim, Colleen sold everything—her home, her car, her belongings—and moved onto his boat.Unfortunately, when they left for their first trip around the holidays, she never came back.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

500 years ago, the Chimú Empire made the terrifying decision to sacrifice 140 children and 200+ baby animals.Hundreds of years would pass before their bodies were discovered and their stories could be told.Learn about the world's most devastating human sacrifice in Pampa La Cruz–and what caused it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Debra Lee Vowell, Dennis Vowell, and Gary Newton went out on a boat, they expected to enjoy their time out on the ocean.But–when they didn't come back, rumors began to spiral. An extensive search would yield no real evidence–no boat, no people–at least nothing that lasted.There was a potential sighting, but the suspected bodies disappeared beneath the waves never to be seen again. What happened–and where did they go?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Frank Lenz was a cyclist with a dream—to travel the world and take photos. After two years of traveling across Europe, he suddenly disappeared. In his absence, his magazine articles would continue to be printed even though his editor knew he was missing. What happened to him?

When a mansion owner decided to have work done on their property, they discovered a shocking surprise—a car buried on their property. The car had been there for decades, and the owner of this car was John Lew, a man who lived a life of crime spanning across decades. Why was the car buried? What secrets did it hold?

Three different crimes in three different parks. Whether you're walking, talking, or working, the parks really just aren't safe. You never know who you might meet there.

The Cowden family went out for a surprise camping trip during Labor Day Weekend, but when they never showed up for dinner, their extended family knew something was wrong. For seven months, the Cowdens were considered missing. Then, they found them. Their murders remain a mystery to this day.

When you die, you expect your body to end up somewhere normal–in a grave, an urn, or maybe a medical lab.Unfortunately, not everyone who is laid to rest in the ground stays that way.Sometimes, people like to go in and pull bodies right back out for reasons of their own.These are those stories. ***EPISODE EDIT***In the episode, I stated that Charlie Chaplin's body was stolen in the late 90s instead of the late 1900s in error. His body was actually stolen in the 1970s.

All around the world, there are forests just waiting to be explored—but you might not be alone out there. In the forest, there is death, and the dead don't always leave. Do you ever wonder what terrible secrets your favorite forest holds?

In this episode, we are taking a look at some of the more famous monsters in lore–and why human beings are actually the bad guys in these stories.Our crimes?Stalking, hunting, slander, and slaying!

In the 1660s, Hartford, Connecticut flew into a frenzy when witch accusations started to be made.11 were accused, 4 were killed for it, and some escaped.Accusations continued to fly until a group of neighbors took things a little too far.If only Salem had learned from these stories.

The Hammersmith Ghost was a legend that plagued a village outside of London. When a villager committed suicide and was buried on consecrated ground, people began to report sightings of the local specter. Some ran. Some died. Some picked up guns and decided to fight. One man stumbled across the ghost and shot it in the face. There was just one problem—it wasn't a ghost at all.

Roy Norris and Lawrence Bittaker were two men who met in prison and bonded over their twisted fantasies of hurting women. When they were both released, they made a plan to turn California into their own personal hunting grounds. They had five known murder victims, but most believe that there are more that remain undiscovered. Their victims met terrible, gruesome ends.

Mary Rogers was an unofficial local celebrity known for enchanting men with her smile while she sold them cigars. Not-so-subtly referred to as the “beautiful cigar girl” around town, men would visit her place of work just to share a passing glance with her. One day, she left to visit family. Three days later, she was dead in the Hudson River. Her devastating beauty was woven into stories and poems from famous writers—but no one knows what truly happened to this young beauty.Her story remains a mystery to this day.

James MacKenzie. James McKenzie. John MacKenzie. John Douglass. Seumas MacCoinnich.Let's just say he was a man of many names. Call him what you will, but this famed outlaw and traveling sheep whisperer was one committed criminal.With his canine companion, he managed to run off with an absolutely ridiculous number of sheep. Even after his capture, police couldn't manage to keep him in custody.Find out the most obscure way to get a region of New Zealand named after you.

When a preschool child disappears from his family's yard while playing with their dog, panic sets in.Where did he go? Was he alone? Did someone take him?A storm moves in that impedes the search efforts—but don't lose hope just yet. Even the smallest child can do what it takes to survive.***SPOILER BELOW***Heya, folks!In this episode, I hold off from saying the victim's name until the end—but it certainly still deserves its place in the show bio, so…The victim in this case is Ryker Webb.

Vincent Viafore went out kayaking with his future wife, Angelika Graswald.When Vincent made his way into some particularly tumultuous water without a life jacket, things took a dark turn. Vincent drowned when his kayak took on too much water.Ten days later, Angelika was arrested for his murder.Police would go on to paint a scene of a woman near her breaking point who intentionally tampered with her lover's kayak—and she was found guilty for it—but is their accusation really true?**NOTE FROM BREEANN***This is a case that has a lot of surprising and disturbing information and claims. Among them is the fact that Angelika had a known history of violence and Vincent started to pressure her to consent to sexual situations that she did not want to participate in—leading her to write a diary entry where she said that she wished he was dead.Violence, threats, and other acts of aggression are domestic violence.Sexual coercion is rape and domestic violence. All of these actions are wrong and should not be tolerated under any circumstances.If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline can help.You can call, text, or instant message a representative today at 1.800.799.7233 or by visiting https://www.thehotline.org.

Fariba Amani was experiencing difficulties in her relationship. She suspected her boyfriend, Ramiz Golshani, was cheating on her, and she consulted a private investigator to get to the bottom of it. At the last second, she backed out, afraid of what her boyfriend would think—afraid he would get mad. They went on a cruise together, where Fariba was committed to deciding if she would stay with Golshani or end it for good. When she disappeared during the cruise, there was one clear suspect. Her whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

When local children stumbled across a skull on the shore of a river, police weren't too worried. When a second skull showed up soon after, they decided to do a more thorough search just to be safe. Their search went on to reveal over 500 pieces of human bone—and a twisted killer who they knew all too well. ***A Note***I didn't cover this in the episode, but here is some additional reading on the media coverage and art that surrounded this crime and time period—and the potential implications of it. Interesting stuff! https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shadow-boxing/201402/eroti-kill

Rachel Cooke was visiting her hometown on winter break when she decided to go for a jog along her old path. She never came back home. Several suspects were named, but in the end, no one knew what truly happened to Rachel. Even a confession couldn't be taken at face value—though some believe it is the absolute truth.

In 1970, three Oklahoma teens went missing on their way to a football game. Over forty years later, a routine training exercise led police to the car they were driving—and three bodies inside. What happened to these teens? Was it an accident—or is an anonymous tip proof that there is more to this story?

Lake Bodom is a lake in Finland where teens, adults, and families often go to hang out. In 1960, four teens went to camp by the lake. By morning, three of them were dead. Who is responsible for these horrible crimes?

Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States, but this lake is more than just drinking water.In recent months, Lake Mead's depths have dropped to historic lows, revealing land that was previously under water.While this land does mean there are more places to put your beach chair, it also means that some of the lake's secrets are making an appearance.Already, several bodies have been pulled from this lake–and there is a good chance that more will be revealed in the future.

Lake Tahoe is a popular vacation spot, but there is more to this lake than just crystal blue waters. Deep beneath the surface of Lake Tahoe, many people believe that hundreds of perfectly preserved bodies are lying in wait. How many crimes have happened out on these waters—and what kind of evidence will we find when we take a look?

Bobby Dunbar was four years old when he disappeared while on a vacation with his family at the lake.Bruce Anderson was on a vacation with his mother's employer when police arrested the man for the kidnapping of Bobby Dunbar.A short while later, Bruce Anderson was told that he was Bobby Dunbar and would be reunited with his family.He was raised as Bobby Dunbar and lived a long and happy life.His granddaughter, in an effort to prove he was the kidnapped child, would stumble across some shocking news almost a century later.What happened to Bobby Dunbar?

Julia Martha Thomas gets more than she bargained for when she unknowingly hires criminal Kate Webster to help her around the house. Many disputes later, Webster gets fired—but she refuses to accept it. Instead, she murders Julia Martha Thomas and chucks her her into the river before taking over her identity. It doesn't end well.

Ted Binion was a troubled heir to a casino empire who found himself participating in the local drug scene. Forced out of the casino, he ended up needing a new place to hide his immense wealth—and decided burying it on his property was the way to go. When he was found dead from an overdose and suspected suicide, police didn't read too much into it. At least not until they found one of his former associates digging on his property.

Jason Sweeney was sixteen when he was killed by his best friend, two former friends, and a new romantic partner. These four murderers were all legally children, but their levels of depravity went well beyond their years.They made several plans to kill Jason and finally succeeded after luring him into the woods one Friday evening.
The killers claimed that they did it for his paycheck–but it seems like there is more to this story than we have been told.

Nikole “Niki” Bakoles was twenty years old when she disappeared after an argument with her boyfriend. Less than a year later, parts of her body were found in the Great Salt Lake—but no one knew it was her. Dubbed “Saltair Sally” by the public, Niki was considered a Jane Doe for twelve full years with no hope of her identity ever being uncovered. Despite pushback from police, her mother insisted that the remains belonged to her daughter—and when they finally tested them, she was right. Leaving behind only her young child, the end to Niki's story remains a mystery to this day.

Edith McLeroy grew up in Alabama with strict parents, a fact which created quite a bit of tension during her teen years.After sending her to live in a group home with a local pastor, Edith finds herself kicked out on the streets.She disappeared for a year before surfacing again—but she wasn't alone.A short while later, she was married to Archie West, a leader of a local biker gang.At the age of 23, Edith decided to leave the biker world behind—but she would never get the opportunity.When she showed up dead in a local pond, the investigation into her murder began.It would take 30 years for her to receive justice.

Two newlyweds, Bruce and Janice Dodson, went out for a hunting trip when tragedy struck and Bruce was shot dead. Police considered it a normal hunting accident until the autopsy came back to reveal that Bruce was actually shot three times—not just once. The case quickly turned into a murder investigation when it became clear that Janice Dodson's ex-husband was camping nearby. He was an expert hunter. It was suspicious. But that was just the start of this tale.

When a family consisting of two young girls, two parents, and two grandparents went out for a camping trip, they expected only joy and laughter.What they did not know was that their vehicle was spotted by a dangerous local predator, leading him right to their campsite.He stalked the family, focusing on the two young daughters.There was only one problem–the adults in his way.The Johnson family would never be the same again.

Moll Dyer was believed to be the inspiration for The Blair Witch Project. In her time, she was thought to have been an evil witch who cursed her town. But, some believe she was an ordinary woman who was hunted down and killed by her superstitious neighbors. The most important question is: was Moll Dyer real?

Mincho Donchev was serving a sentence for murder in a Bulgarian prison when he escaped. He found his way to the United States where he met his now ex-girlfriend. When they had a dispute, he tried to blow up her home. This would precede over twelve years spent hiding in the woods in Washington, robbing vacation homes and cabins to survive. No one could predict how his arrest would go down.

Near Mexico City, you can visit la Isla de las Muñecas—the Island of the Dolls.This unsettling plot of land is covered in a collection of disembodied dolls rescued from surrounding areas and put on display, but this is no ordinary collection.The collection is meant to appease, honor, or entertain the ghost of a little girl who was found drowned in the nearby canal. Don Julian Santana Barrera collected the dolls for this little girl, but everyone has a different story to explain why.What really happened to this little girl? And what happened to Don Julian?

When a member of a logging crew goes missing in the middle of a forest, suspicion falls to his coworkers.The accused men told police that Travis Walton was taken—but police were convinced that these men murdered Travis and dumped his body somewhere in the woods.When Travis Walton showed up five days later, their theories were thrown out the window.His story was even more unbelievable than the one that his coworkers gave.Did this group file a false police report, or did Travis get abducted by something not entirely human?

In the 1500s and 1600s, Denmark experienced its own witch craze—a period that led to the unjust execution of hundreds of accused witches. In this episode, we will explore the different tales of witches in Denmark who were accused of unimaginable crimes and the fates that they met.

George Bass planned to be a wealthy private trader by transporting cargo with his new business. When the promise of riches suddenly looked to be out of reach, George made a bold move—at least that's what the stories say. Was George Bass an honest businessman? A smuggler? A victim of the ocean? We may never know.

In 2007, a feral young woman was found stealing food from a village before scurrying back into the jungle where it is presumed she lived. Local villagers caught her, wanting to understand what was going on. Shortly after, a man claiming to be her father said that she was his long-lost daughter and took her home to his family. Everyone thought that was the conclusion to the story—until another family showed up to claim her. Who is she really?

Tara Calico was nineteen years old when she left for her daily bike ride and never returned. A search would ensue, but police only found proof of where she was, not where she went.When disturbing photos started popping up, police began to speculate that she might have been abducted or trafficked.Was she taken by the stalker her mother was so worried about?We may never know.

When a family of four traveled from Germany to the United States, they expected to make lasting memories. Unfortunately, they entered Death Valley National Park, and life had other plans. Within days, they disappeared. Within weeks, the search was given up. Within years, they were found. Kind of.

When a group of 21 sailors set out to transport wheat in1902, they thought it was just another job. Within nine days, the search would be abandoned—and the crew would still be missing. Now, their tale lives on as the ghostly tale of The Flying Dutchman of the Inland Seas. What happened to them?

One of my clients reached out to inform me that her brother, Bruce, went missing on May 17, 2022.His family believes that he is without access to his medication for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and asthma. This is an obvious concern for them and why it is so important to find Bruce as soon as possible.Bruce went missing in Waxahachie, Texas, but it is believed that he drove through New Mexico and possibly into California.His vehicle, a charcoal gray Chevrolet Silverado, was found abandoned in San Bernardino with the keys still inside. It was still running when police found it.Local authorities have conducted a drone search of the area to see if he left on foot, but there are no signs of him at this time.He was last seen on Monday, May 16, 2022 wearing a red t-shirt, green gym shorts, and Corona slides.His family stresses that mental illness is real and that people who are coping with mental illness should be handled with the utmost care. Bruce needs compassion, understanding, and support.There is essentially zero media coverage for Bruce right now, so let's do what we do and get this trending on social media to increase the likelihood that someone will spot him so he can be safely reunited with his family.If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact Waxahachie Police immediately at 469-309-4410.***Social Media Post***https://www.instagram.com/p/CeEgc70l5JL/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

When a father steps away from his five and seven year old sons for a few minutes, he is surprised to return and find them gone. These two boys disappeared without warning, so their neighbors began to search, thinking they were lost in the local woods. As more time passed, their neighbors began to suspect that their parents might be involved with the disappearance. Everything changed when a neighbor's dream led to the discovery of their bodies—and more questions.