Not Today

Seemona Sumasar spent seven months in jail after her ex-boyfriend orchestrated an elaborate scheme to frame her in a spree of faked armed robberies. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. To get 10% off your first month go to betterhelp.com/nottoday 

In this episode we'll be discussing people who almost lost their lives after a freak fall off a cruise ship, over Niagara Falls, and even from an airplane mid flight!

On November 8th, 2010, Jennifer Pan called 911 to report a home invasion. Three men had entered her home, tied her to a banister and shot both of her parents, Hann and Bich Pan, before fleeing the scene. Markham Ontario police had to figure out why this brutal attack happened to a seemingly normal and innocent family. Was the Pan family chosen at random, or were they targeted for a specific reason?

In July 2014, Gregg Hein survived six days on Mt. Goddard in Kings Canyon National Park after a boulder came loose and hit his leg causing a compound fracture.

On December 9th 2019, Whakaari Volcano on White Island in New Zealand explosively erupted. The volcano was a popular tourist destination, and at the time of the eruption 47 people were on the island taking a tour.

Stacey Castor wanted people to believe that her life had been crippled by tragedy, but when authorites investigated her second husband's “suicide” things werent adding up. After looking into her past, investigators uncovered the terrifying reality of the situation. Stacey Castor wanted to keep her secrets concealed and would do anything to keep it that way, including attempting to take her own daughter's life.

Join hosts Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore as they take you deep into the world of the most notorious crimes ever — where a single clue can crack a case wide open. From shocking murders to serial killers, Clues dives into all the forensic details and brilliant sleuthing of the world's most infamous cases. CLUES is a Crime House Original, powered by PAVE Studios. Follow and listen now wherever you get your podcasts. 

The West End Baptist Church Explosion and the Kentucky Meat Shower are the odd and unexplained mysteries we'll be covering this week. On Wednesday March 1st 1950 at 7:27pm, a gas leak at the West End Baptist Church in Beatrice Nebraska caused the building to explode. The church choir should have begun their rehearsal that night at 7:25pm, however every member of the church was uncharacteristically running late and missed the explosion. In 1876 in Rankin Kentucky, a woman stood on her farm and watched pieces of meat rain down from the sky.

Natascha Kampusch was only 10 years old when a deranged man abducted off the street in March of 1998 and held her captive in the cellar of his house for eight and a half years.

Mary Mallon, commonly known as Typhoid Mary, was an Irish-born American cook who is believed to have infected between 51 and 122 people with typhoid fever in the early 1900s. The infections caused three confirmed deaths, with unconfirmed estimates of as many as 50. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/NOTTODAY and get on your way to being your best self!

Movie stunts are an iconic part of action films, but not all of them go according to plan. This episode explores some of the most memorable stunt mishaps in movie history, including on-set injuries and life-threatening accidents.

In early August of 1991, the Oceanos was close to finishing a seven day cruise from Cape Town, South Africa to Durban. While sailing through a treacherous storm all the power went out on board, and the passengers were left in the dark in more ways than one. Neither the crew nor the captain told the passengers what had caused the black out or that the ship was actually going down. After most of the crew abandoned ship, it was up to the entertainment staff on board to save everyone's lives.

On September 13th 2016 at 6:48AM, 911 received a call from a woman reporting her own kidnapping. After police arrested the man responsible, they would soon learn about the years of disturbing and terrifying crimes Shawn Grate had committed.

On July 14th 2003, Dan Bigley was wrapping up a day of fishing with his friend John when moments from the safety of their car, the pair unknowingly put themselves between a furious mama grizzly bear and her three cubs. The bear focused in on Dan and charged at him at full speed. Before Dan could even process what was happening, the bear was already on him. The mauling that Dan endured was beyond brutal. After the attack, Dan's fight to survive was had only just begun. 

On June 8, 1998, a spark caused by jammed machinery and ignited by highly flammable grain dust caused a massive explosion at the DeBruce Grain elevator. The facility was the largest grain elevator in the world at the time, which killed seven people and injured 10 others. 

This week we'll be discussing some Reddit Let's Not Meet stories about a terrifying sound proof "music studio", a man in a crawlspace, a creep and a dead body, and more!

On December 10, 2003, the Whittacre family went out to dinner to celebrate their son Bart's college graduation,but when they returned home they found a masked man in their home with his gun drawn. Kent, his wife, and two sons were shot, however Kent and Bart were the only two who would survive. As the investigation into who attacked the family continued, Kent learned that the killer may be a lot closer to him than he ever could have imagined.  

In 1979, Sherry Hopsen met a charming parachute instructor named Bruce Lindahl and the two hit it off. After dating for a few months, Bruce became very interested in learning about Sherry's best friend Beth who had been recently murdered and found in the woods near the local university. Bruce had some less than desirable qualities, but Sherry didn't notice how alarming some of his habits actually were before she broke it off with him. It wouldn't be until many years later that Sherry found out her boyfriend at the time was not only a serial killer, but her best friends killer as well. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/NOTTODAY and get on your way to being your best self!

After the Unabomber was seen after placing his 12th bomb in 1987, he disappeared for six years. The public hoped he was finished, however Ted Kaczynski was far from done. Over the years the Unabomber task force had very little information about Ted to get closer to a suspect. That was until Ted's sister-in-law started to piece together the similarities in the bomber and her husband's brother. After nearly twenty years of terror, Ted Kaczynski was finally caught on April 3rd 1996.

In 1978 Ted Kaczynski began what would become a series of bombings around the United States over the next two decades. Kaczynski, who was then an unknown serial bomber, wanted to rid the country of modern technology which he believed was destroying human minds and society. By 1996, the Unabomber had killed three and injured twenty nine others with his carefully crafted homemade bombs. The investigation into the Unabomber was the most expensive investigation in the history of the FBI with an estimated to cost around 50 million dollars.

In 1971, Noel Marshall, Tippi Hedren, and their family raised and purchased over 100 lions, tigers, and other big cats for an adventure comedy movie they planned to make called Roar. So many things went wrong while filming, the movie has been described as “the most dangerous film ever made”. A memorably eye-catching tagline for the film was "No animals were harmed in the making of this movie, 70 members of the cast and crew were."

From a very young age Benedict Allen dreamed of becoming an explorer. At the age of twenty two he saved up just enough money to get himself to South America and back, with the plan that he would cross the north of the Amazon basin. After spending five months in the rainforest with two local guides, Benedict found himself with two illegal gold miners, who one night, decided they would kill him. Benedict managed to get away, however he found himself alone in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. Benedict knew if he wanted to live and see his family again, he needed to do whatever it took to find a way out.

In 1988 Steve Cartisano founded the Challenger Foundation Camp in southern Utah for troubled teens. The program brought the teens into the Utah desert and was designed to help kids by instilling discipline, kicking them out of their bad habits and giving treatment. However after the death of 16-year-old Kristin Chase, the abuse occuring at this camp would finally come to light. Steve Cartisano was never held responsible and instead of finding a new line of work, decided to open multiple other wilderness therapy programs. His final program, Pacific Coast Academy in Samoa, was shut down after a video that was secretly taken at the camp exposing the abuse came to light. Head to acorns.com/nt or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! 

Let's chat about some unbelievable stories our listeners have sent to us!

A near-death experience, or NDE, refers to a profound, often life-changing event that occurs when a person is close to death, or becomes clinically dead for a time, yet survives. For some, the experience can involves a range of vivid, unusual sensations and perceptions, such as moving through a tunnel of light, an out of body experience, encountering deceased loved ones, a life review, etc. Though many people have NDEs the question of why these types of occurrences happen remains unanswered. International Emergency/Suicide Hotlines: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/

Steven Stayner was abducted at the age of 7 in 1972 by Kenneth Parnell, who held him captive for seven years. Steven eventually escaped in 1980 at the age of 14 and in a courageous act, he also rescued another kidnapped child, Timothy White. His remarkable survival story immediately became a national sensation. However Steven's story is linked to his older brother, Cary Stayner, who later gained infamy for committing a series of murders in the 1990s.

Justin Dewitt wanted to hire a hitman to murder his business partner, Chad Williams, Chad's wife Angie, and their two small children over a lost landscaping contract. When Justin approached conman Ron Robi, he believed he would have that wish taken care of, however Ron promptly went to the police. After the undercover operation put Justin behind bars, he decided he would put out a few more hits on the people who were responsible for sending him to jail. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/nottoday and get on your way to being your best self.

On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549, piloted by Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, struck a flock of geese shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport, causing both engines to fail. Facing a critical emergency, Captain Sully made the decision to execute a water landing on the Hudson River. All 155 passengers and crew survived the unprecedented ditching, thanks to the crew's expertise and the swift response of rescue teams. Check out Uncommon Goods! To get 15% your next gift go to UncommonGoods.com/nottoday  

The Wizard of Oz is a classic film millions have enjoyed since its release in 1939. Based on the children's novel by L. Frank Baum, the movie recounts an adventure between Dorothy, her dog, Toto, a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion on their way to get help from a great and powerful wizard. While the movie is revered as a cinematic masterpiece, it's also infamous for its disastrous production problems. There were many severe accidents on set that almost cost multiple cast members their lives. The most amazing thing about Wizard of Oz is that it even made it to theaters in the first place.  Check out our Merch shop! --> https://www.teepublic.com/stores/not-today?ref_id=35928

Let's dive into some terrifying reddit let's not meet stories about creeps and stalkers! To get 15% off your next gift, go to Uncommongoods.com/nottoday

On the morning of July 24, 2016, Camron Reimhofer woke up to find his girlfriend, Kaylee Sawyer, hadn't returned home after they'd had an argument the night before. As the search for Kaylee began, a rookie-cop named Isabel Ponce-Lara came into the police station to report that her husband, Edwin Lara, had admitted to being involved with a terrible accident. After sharing that with his wife, fleeing with her gun. What followed was a multi-state crime spree involving the kidnap of Andreah Maes, an intensive manhunt, and the arrest that brought Edwin Lara's rampage to an end.

In 1959, nine young hikers ventured into Russia's remote Ural Mountains, but they never returned. When a search team arrived, they found the group's tent slashed open from the inside and their belongings abandoned in an eerie silence. The hikers' bodies were discovered scattered in the snow—some barefoot, others without adequate clothing, as if they'd fled into the night in terror. All of their bodies had extremely strange and gruesome injuries with seemingly no explanation. Soviet investigators called it an “unknown compelling force” and quickly closed the case, leaving a swirl of theories and chilling questions. What happened to the Dyatlov hikers, and what horror made them flee into the deadly cold? To get 15% off your next gift, go to Uncommongoods.com/nottoday Check out our new Halloween Merch Design!  https://www.teepublic.com/stores/not-today?ref_id=35928

The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were a series of hearings and prosecutions in colonial Massachusetts, where 20 people were executed and over 200 accused of practicing witchcraft. The accusations made by a group of young girls, fueled by religious fervor, social tensions, and political instability, led to a widespread panic. The events left a lasting impact on American history, serving as a cautionary tale about the consequences of fear-based justice. Check out our new Halloween merch design here! ---> https://www.teepublic.com/stores/not-today?ref_id=35928

In October of 2009 Jordan Nicurity survived a terrifying fall off a cliff that left him with a shattered pelvis while on a solo trip to Hornby Island in British Colombia. Jordan spent 4 days in the wilderness and had to claw his way back to safety, and save his own life. Check Out Magic Mind! You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code NOTTODAY20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/nottoday20

Some young children, usually between the ages of 2 and 5, speak about memories of a previous life they claim to have lived. They often show behaviors, such as phobias or preferences, that are unusual within the context of their particular family and can't be explained by any current life events, and in many cases, the child's statements correspond accurately to the life and death of a deceased individual. This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/nottoday and get on your way to being your best self.

In 2011, Michelina Lewandowska was attacked by her ex-fiancé, Marcin Kasprzak, who bound her with tape and buried her alive in a cardboard box. Left for dead in a shallow grave, she managed to escape and survive against all odds. This episode recounts the key moments of her remarkable fight for survival and the justice that was ultimately served. Merch Shop Link ---> https://www.teepublic.com/stores/not-today?ref_id=35928

The whale ship Essex, set sail from Nantucket in 1819 on a whaling expedition. In 1820, the ship was struck by a large sperm whale in the Pacific Ocean, causing it to sink. The crew, stranded thousands of miles from land, were left to drift in small whaleboats with limited supplies. After weeks at sea, the survivors faced starvation, dehydration, and extreme hardship. Some resorted to cannibalism to stay alive. The factual timeline of the Essex voyage, the whale attack, and the grim aftermath connects directly to the creation of the novel Moby Dick. Check out our new merch shop! ---> https://www.teepublic.com/stores/not-today?ref_id=35928

We're going to be discussing a wide range of events that are seemingly impossible to survive, and yet there were survivors. From a terrifying parachuting accident, to a parasite living in a young girls brain for 10 years, to meteorite crashing into a home, and more!

After Marc Schiller's narrow escape from the Sun Gym Gang, their criminal ambitions only grew darker. In Part 2 we'll dive into the gang's escalation after Schiller fled Miami, as Daniel Lugo, Adrian Doorbal, and their accomplices set their sights on new targets. Their next victim, Frank Griga and his girlfriend Krisztina Furton, would not be as fortunate. The gang's violent schemes intensified, leading to murder, dismemberment, and ultimately their capture. Merch Shop Link ---> https://www.teepublic.com/stores/not-today?ref_id=35928

The Sun Gym Gang, a notorious group of Miami bodybuilders, made headlines in the 1990s for a string of violent crimes that shocked the nation. Led by Daniel Lugo and Adrian Doorbal, the gang's ambitions went far beyond their obsession with fitness, spiraling into a terrifying series of kidnappings, torture, extortion, and murder. Merch Shop Link ---> https://www.teepublic.com/stores/not-today?ref_id=35928

On New Years Eve 1989, 11-year-old Collier Landry was awoken out of his sleep by the sound of a scream and two loud thuds. The next morning he discovered that his mother had disappeared, and his father claimed that she had gone on "a little vacation." Collier knew his father had murdered his mother, but he needed the police to believe him. At the age of 12 Collier became the star witness in the his mother's murder case, and with his testimony was able to put his father away for life.

Around the 1920s young women and girls were elated to land a high paying job at US Radium Company. Their task would be to paint radium based paint on watch faces to make them glow in the dark. However through this, the girls were unknowingly exposing themselves to lethal amounts of radiation. As their health deteriorated, they faced a relentless battle against a powerful company that refused to take responsibility.

In this episode we'll be reading an epic tale submitted by our listeners who almost lost their lives while cave diving in Florida! Check out our merch shop!! ---> https://www.teepublic.com/stores/not-today

In November of 1991, 44 year old David Whittlesey took on a solo rafting trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. After his raft capsized, David was left alone, hundreds of miles away from civilization without any supplies and was forced to survive for 7 days. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/nottoday and get on your way to being your best self! Check out our new merch shop!! --> https://www.teepublic.com/stores/not-today 

Lead guitarist for The Beatles, George Harrison, was almost the second band mate to have been assassinated, because like John Lennon, George Harrison also experienced a crazed fan who almost took his life. On December 30th 1999, George Harrison and his wife Olivia were woken up to the crashing sound of glass breaking. George would soon find out that a man had broken into his home and would proceed to stab him 40 times before police and paramedics arrived. Check out Magic Mind! You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code NOTTODAY at checkout. You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/nottoday

Ivan Milat, infamously known as the Backpacker Murderer, lured, tortured, and brutally murdered seven backpackers between 1989 and 1993 in the Belanglo State Forest in New South Wales, Australia. Three years after his encounter with Ivan Milat, backpacker Paul Onions, provided the crucial information that took down Australia's most notorious serial killer.

The Robertson family began their journey around the world in January of 1971. However after 18 months at sea, the 43-foot schooner was attacked by three killer whales and went down within minutes. The family then had to survive in a damaged life raft and dinghy in the middle of the pacific ocean for almost two months before finally being rescued.

On January 15, 1919, a storage tank collapsed releasing two million gallons of molasses on the North End of Boston. The thick liquid poured out like a tsunami wave, reaching speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, destroying everything in its path. The molasses flooded streets, crushed buildings, derailed trains and ultimately killed 21 people and injured 150 more.

In 2019, 39-year-old Rob Parkes answered the door for police who played him a recording of two voices bargaining over the price of his death. One of the voices on the tape was his ex-wife Victoria Breeden. Parkes didnt know it at the time but Victoria had approached 6 different men about the hit on Rob falsely claiming rob was a violent, abusive, drug dealing, gang leading, pedophile who needed to be killed. 

In 1941 31-year-old John Capes was the only passenger on board the HMS Perseus to survive after the submarine struck a mine and sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Throughout the course of the World War II, the British navy lost 79 submarines – and from those there were only 4 escapes. One of which was that of John Capes.  This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/nottoday and get on your way to being your best self!

While on a trip retrieving animal traps in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Ken Hildebrand was crushed under his quad on a remote hillside in hungry coyote territory.