Small Town Mysteries

Send us a textThe 1970s and 80s was a hotbed of excellent paranormal horror films – The Exorcist, the original Amityville Horror, Halloween, Carrie, Eraserhead, Dawn of the Dead, Suspiria, Invasion of the Body Snatchers…. I could go on. It was quite the era of film – and remarkably, some of these legendary tales are based on true stories.One of the lesser known films of this era is The Entity. It's sort of your run-of-the-mill poltergeist film: single mother, claims she's being attacked and harassed physically and sexually by a ghost or demon or something…But! It was based on the true story of Doris Bither…whose case was, in fact, rather unique for an alleged haunting.Sources: 1) https://skepticalinquirer.org/2021/10/a-closer-look-at-the-entity-photographs/2) https://laghosttour.com/the-entity-house/3) https://www.themysticmedium.com/the-entity-haunting-the-doris-bither-story/4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Bither_case5) https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/paranormal-activity-ucla-haunting-storySupport the show

Send us a textToday on STM I'm taking it back to the early 1800s and the village of Hammersmith, located in foggy London. Nowadays, Hammersmith is a populated area within the Greater London area, home to almost 200,000 people . In December of 1803, However, the village only had about 5,500 inhabitants - the perfect setting for local gossip to run amok. And amok it ran! Tales of an ominous specter were spreading among the village. It was described as a white-shrouded figure that would stalk Black Lion Lane. Some said it wore calfskin clothes and had horns and large glass-like eyes. Local legend was that the spectre was actually the restless spirit of a man who'd taken his own life the year before, and who was now condemned to haunt the grounds of St. Paul's churchyard.But was the figure really a ghost?And how did this lead to a legal dilemma that would last for 200 years?Sources: 1) https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2015/10/the-case-of-a-ghost-haunted-england-for-over-two-hundred-years/2) https://www.historicmysteries.com/history/hammersmith-ghost/37316/ 3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammersmith_Ghost_murder_case 4) https://www.discoveryuk.com/mysteries/the-hammersmith-ghost-londons-paranormal-murder/ Support the show

Send us a textThe Dybbuk box first gained popularity in 2003, after a man by the name of Kevin Mannis posted the Dybbuk box for sale on ebay. He claimed that the Dybbuk box was haunted and was causing a lot of strange and supernatural things to happen to both him and his family. Sources: 1) https://jewitches.com/blogs/blog/the-deal-with-the-dybbuk?srsltid=AfmBOooiwzKe-kwg8ZBK2fCzzIa10aX_7PbGLT9DV-QiFa2KlCeknEQl2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repentance_in_Judaism3) https://www.inverse.com/input/features/dybbuk-box-dibbuk-kevin-mannis-zak-bagans-haunted-hoax-revealed4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dybbuk_boxSupport the show

Send us a textHello and welcome to Small Town Mysteries, spooky season edition! This October we're bringing you some truly bizarre cases – ones that we think simply scream Supernatural…are they truly the works of ghosts and phantoms? Are these crimes caused by otherworldly beings…or are humans the most depraved creature of all? I'm Kate, here with Christine and Rachael, bringing you our the first episode of our annual Spooky Season Series, The Death of Zona Shue…also known as the Greenbrier Ghost. Sources: 1) https://appalachianmemories.org/2025/01/10/the-greenbrier-ghost-the-case-where-a-spirit-helped-convict-a-murderer/2) https://dannyechase.com/blog/greenbrier/3) https://greenbrierwv.com/editorials/the-greenbrier-ghosthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenbrier_Ghost4) Support the show

Send us a textOn a Monday morning in February 1986, in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles, Sherri Rasmussen's life came to a violent end. Sherri, a young nurse, was found dead in her condo. She had been brutally beaten and shot three times.Following this discovery, the Los Angeles Police Department quickly labeled the case as a botched burglary. But to Sherri's father, Nels, this felt wrong. He had a suspect in mind from the very beginning, one he had even told police about. A woman who couldn't let go of the man Sherri had just married. A woman who just happened to be an LAPD officer herself.This is the story of a cold case that went unsolved for over two decades. A story of obsession, murder, and the blue wall of silence.Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Sherri_Rasmussen2) https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ex-lapd-detective-hid-murder-decades-wont-paroled-reversing-earlier-de-rcna1737233) https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/stephanie-lazarus-former-lapd-detective-who-shot-ex-lovers-new-wife-has-parole-denied-again/4) https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-15/it-took-lapd-23-years-to-identify-police-detective-as-culprit-in-fatal-love-triangle5) https://abcnews.go.com/US/former-lapd-detective-murdered-lovers-wife-hid-crime/story?id=1139555316) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52954546/sherri_rae-rasmussen Support the show

Send us a textOn July 4, 2016, David Isaiah Goodwin (age 25)  murdered Wendy Tamagne (age 37) and then dismembered her body and shoved her remains into trashbags.Sources: 1) https://wcti12.com/news/local/deliberations-finish-jury-begins-discussion-of-sentencing-for-david-godwin2) https://www.wnct.com/news/david-godwin-sentenced-to-death-justice-has-been-served/3) https://www.jdnews.com/news/murder-suspect-to-be-returned-to-carteret-county-to-face-charges/article_3d2ca89e-a450-5cc6-9941-4f1e0c8e4aee.html4) https://www.newbernsj.com/news/local/wendy-tamagne-remembered-as-caring-friendly/article_dfa05da8-d8ab-5827-8e18-e82585b744f0.html5) https://www.gofundme.com/f/welovewendyraeSupport the show

Send us a textSometimes on this podcast, or in true crime in general, there's discussion over so-called “black widows,” or women who have had multiple husbands die mysteriously, with the implication that they were responsible for those deaths. But that's not why we're here today. Today, we're going to talk about a bluebeard – yes, a man rather similar to a black widow, whose wives or partners mysteriously died. Support the show

Send us a textOver 40 years ago, on July 15th, 1984, in the rugged wilderness of the Madison Range in Montana, 22-year-old Kari Swenson went missing. Kari was a recent Montana State University graduate and rising star in the world of biathlon, a sport that combines cross country skiing and rifle shooting. One sunny morning in July, Kari went for a run on a scenic forest trail. She was actually hoping to see a grizzly bear during her run, as it was an animal she'd always wanted to see. But instead of a bear, she encountered two men. Sources: 1) https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/100/newsmakers/mountain-men-kidnap-murder-captured-world-s-attention/article_b7b40ff8-c53e-11e0-b014-001cc4c03286.html 2) https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/24/mountain-man-freed-32-years-after-kidnapping-athlete-to-be-sons-bride3) https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/28086785/30-30-podcast-how-gender-politics-tragedy-changed-kari-swenson-biathlon-generation4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kari_Swenson Support the show

Send us a textOne unhinged person murders their in-laws and the sister of her mother-in-law via death cap mushrooms. Sources: 1) https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy3ngr2n3vo2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leongatha_mushroom_murders3) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-02/police-charge-erin-patterson-mushroom-poisoning-deaths/1030566944) https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/30/erin-patterson-mushroom-poisonings-murder-trial-ntwnfb5) https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/son-pays-tribute-to-extremely-thoughtful-and-generous-parents-gail-and-don-patterson-after-they-died-from-mushroom-poisoning-following-leongatha-lunch/news-story/2b5f5ad4e303390e5312c4077b7b46a96) https://www.sgst.com.au/news/memorial-service-brings-home-depth-of-korumburra-tragedy7) https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-670029188) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_phalloides9) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-04/mushroom-poisoning-victim-heather-wilkinson-memorial-service/10292952610) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-10/gail-don-patterson-heather-ian-wilkinson-erin-patterson-mushroom/105513208Support the show

Send us a textOn May 13, 1998, the body of a woman was found on the side of I-85 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. On September 25 of the same year, the body of a young boy was found underneath a billboard off of I-85 in Mebane, North Carolina. The bodies were found about 3 hours away from each other – in different months, in different stages of decay, even in different states. But more than 20 years later, the truth would come out – connecting these bodies, their lives, and their deaths, once and for all. Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_palynology2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotope_analysis3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders_of_Bobby_Whitt_and_Myoung_Hwa_Cho4) https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article225508170.html5) https://people.com/crime/john-mebane-doe-murdered-north-carolina-new-photo/6) https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/investigations/two-decades-ago-a-10-year-old-was-killed-now-his-fathers-been-charged-with-murder/275-b4a44661-02a5-4269-a8ee-fad621c769ee7) https://local12.com/news/local/brown-co-family-says-final-goodbye-to-missing-boy-found-murdered-in-19988) https://www.wral.com/man-to-spend-rest-of-life-behind-bars-for-killing-wife-boy-whose-remains-were-found-under-mebane-billboard/18888831/9) https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article230338529.htmlSupport the show

In the summer of 2005, Melanie Metheny's family had a cookout. For Catherine Moles, it's a vivid memory of her niece, Melanie, then 20, doting on her three-year-old son, Ryan. Catherine remembers Melanie as "very, very watchful," and "very protective." The cookout was just a small glimpse into Melanie's world: her kids were everything to her. But little did Catherine know that the cookout would be one of the last times that she saw Melanie.On July 19, 2006, just a year later, Melanie Metheny, at 21 years old, vanished.Sources: 1) https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/cold-case-spotlight/melanie-metheny-missing-person-west-virginia-rcna216494 2) https://www.wvsp.gov/missing-persons/Pages/MissingPerson_Detail.aspx?personid=33) https://www.kanawhasheriff.us/Documents/MelanieMetheny.pdf 4) https://melaniemetheny.wordpress.com/ 5)https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/7wgihm/where_is_melanie_metheny_unresolved_disappearance/ 6) https://www.melanieshope.org/?page_id=16Support the show

On September 21, 1909, six members of the Meadows family were murdered and had their log cabin set on fire. George and Lydia Meadows, as well as their children: Will, Noah, and Lafayette, and Lydia's mom, Elizabeth, were all hit in the head with an axe or hatchet. Sources: 1) https://blueridgetruecrime.substack.com/p/death-rides-a-fast-train-the-laurel?open=false#%C2%A7an-unsettling-development2) https://www.oocities.org/rmbaker66/jstsmrdr.html3) https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2019/09/laurel-creek-murders-part-2.html4) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/237051360/william-howard-littleSupport the show

Listen to Kate talk about how truly witless this man was!Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Wozniak_(murderer)2) https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/16/theater/inspired-by-true-events-true-crime-play.html3) https://abcnews.go.com/US/community-theater-actors-final-performance-chilling-confession-double/story?id=631815884) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_(musical)Support the show

Today, Christine talks about a person whose mission to complete a charitable act ended in tragedy. We are going to uncover the truth that was buried in the remote Scottish Highlands for three, long years. This is the story of Tony Parsons.Sources: 1) https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-66614488 2) https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-56927878 3) https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/aug/25/drink-driver-killed-cyclist-on-remote-scottish-road-jailed-for-12-years4) https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/23686444.red-bull-can-helped-find-body-missing-cyclist-tony-parsons/ 5)https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/9mgrdz/tony_parsons_set_out_on_a_170_km_bike_ride_across/Support the show

Today we are going back in time to the 1890s to talk about the murder of the Meeks Family.Sources: 1) https://www.murderbygaslight.com/2011/04/meeks-family-murder.html2) https://sullivan.mogenweb.org/meeksmurders.html3) https://www.hannibal.net/archive/article/history-in-hannibal-folktale-relates-towns-horror-over-meeks-family-murders/article_78cc9a66-7ce1-521a-a5e6-10c7363aa413.html4) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61610270/delora-meeks5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linn_County,_MissouriSupport the show

Over the course of just two days, so began a panic that ultimately led to the deaths of at least 7 people directly, and more from copycats – and borderline hysteria that would change the pharmaceutical industry forever.Sources: 1) https://www.chicagotribune.com/2022/09/30/the-tylenol-murders-40-years-ago-an-infamous-chicago-area-crime-took-these-7-lives/2) https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/tylenol-murders-19823) https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/15/us/tylenol-figure-is-convicted.html4) https://time.com/archive/6914067/a-brief-history-of-the-tylenol-poisonings/5) https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1982/10/11/tylenols-maker-shows-how-to-respond-to-crisis/bc8df898-3fcf-443f-bc2f-e6fbd639a5a3/6)https://web.archive.org/web/20111030094338/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/18703672/detail.html7) https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/tylenol-murders-40-years-later-who-have-investigators-identified-as-suspects-or-persons-of-interest/Support the show

On December 5th, 1872, about 400 miles off the coast of the Azores, crew members on the British ship Dei Gratia spotted a ship adrift in the sea. The Captain of the ship was shocked to find that the unguided ship was the Mary Celeste, which had departed from NYC eight days before him, and had been well past-due to have arrived in Genoa, Italy.A small crew was sent to the ship. Below deck, items had been tossed around, and crewmen's belongings were still in their quarters. The only lifeboat on the ship was missing, and one of the pumps was disassembled. There was a large supply of food and drink, but not a soul on the ship to consume it. So what happened to the ten people who had been on board the Mary Celeste? Sources: 1) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/abandoned-ship-the-mary-celeste-174488104/ 2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Celeste 3) https://sippican.theweektoday.com/article/family-gathers-celebrate-legend-mary-celeste/58992 Support the show

This week, we talk about the murder of Patricia Richmond. This case will throw you for a loop!Sources:1) Murder in the Heartland, Season 3, episode 3: Beautiful Mess 2) https://www.yampavalleyfh.com/obituary/51512913) https://www.denverpost.com/2016/05/24/man-pleads-guilty-to-killing-cousins-fiance-in-routt-county/4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_County,_Massachusetts5) https://www.uncovercolorado.com/towns/clark/Support the show

An online connection that Vickie Edge thought was fate, turns out to be a nightmare. Sources: 1) https://www.wkrg.com/true-crime/vickie-edge-owner-of-destin-day-spa-murdered-by-man-she-met-online/2) https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/vickie-edge-allegedly-murdered-by-boyfriend-jerry-odum3) https://www.wkrg.com/video/family-remembers-murder-victim-vickie-edge/5754161/4) https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/murder-confession-video-jerry-geisler-odum-b2480750.html5) https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2020/08/10/srso-destin-woman-vickie-edge-killed-milton-boyfriend-jerry-odum/3340369001/6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APgSbV7BD3M7) https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/just-science-podcast-just-research-dating-apps-and-violent-sexual-assault8)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359178922000623#:~:text=A%20Pew%20Research%20survey%20of,et%20al.%2C%202020).9) https://respect.uq.edu.au/swipe-left-online-abuseSupport the show

When Bobbi Parker vanishes one day, her family is concerned. She was thought to be taken by an inmate under her care. However, over a decade later, the mystery begins to unravel, and let's just say that everything is not as it seems!Sources: 1) https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Bobbi_Parker2)https://www.reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/f6nhp0/bobbi_parker_sufferer_of_stockholm_syndrome_or/3) https://allthatsinteresting.com/bobbi-parker4) https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/seven-years-dateline-producer-follows-devil-bobbi-parker-flna1b60350315) https://www.newson6.com/story/5e368c655c62141fdeebfcd3/bobbi-parker-sentenced-for-helping-inmate-escapeSupport the show

Often in true crime spaces we come across cases where a murder is never solved, where a murdered person's family never finds justice, where a body is never properly laid to rest. Sometimes we get one of these things, or two, and, more rarely than it SHOULD happen, sometimes we get all three. Today's case is all 3: a body found, a murder solved, and justice served. This is the case of April Tinsley.Sources: 1) https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/stories/2009/may/april-tinsley-murder-pt.-3/tinsley-killer-profile2) https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/stories/2009/april/tinsley_0403093) https://theburr.com/3058/blogs/season-of-justice/season-of-justice-april-tinsley/4) https://www.insideedition.com/april-tinsley-case-man-tied-8-year-olds-1988-murder-through-genealogy-website-dna-technology-cops5) https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/07/16/i-been-watching-you-a-child-killer-taunted-little-girls-with-terrifying-notes-police-say-after-30-years-dna-led-to-an-arrest/6) https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/arrest-made-in-april-tinsley-homicide-case7) https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/tinsley-detectives-reveal-new-details-about-case-suspect/1724738759/8) https://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/06/04/indiana.fbi.cold.case/9) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_April_Tinsley Support the show

Do you know the expression: "The Dingo ate my baby"?Okay, but did you know that it was based on an actual case in Australia in the 1980s?This week, Christine covers the famous Australian case - and talks about how one of the most publicized cases of its decade was botched, in large part due to public pressure. Sources: 1) https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/azaria-chamberlain-inquest2) https://justice.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/205377/azaria-chantel-chamberlain.pdf 3) https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/collection/highlights/azaria-chamberlain-dress 4) https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/why-didnt-she-cry-how-lindy-chamberlain-became-the-poster-child-for-life-shattering-gender-bias/5) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Azaria_Chamberlain6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindy_Chamberlain-Creighton7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DingoSupport the show

Rachael walks us through the murders of Bruce and Darlene Rouse. As always, there's a niiiiice little twist in there...just to keep you all on your toes.Sources: 1) https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/william-billy-rouse-confesses-parents-murders-illinois2) https://vocal.media/criminal/the-libertyville-murders3) https://www.lhsdoi.com/3511/news/libertyvilles-own-american-horror-story/4) https://idoc.illinois.gov/offender/inmatesearch.html5) Snapped. Season 27, Episode 25, “William Rouse” Support the show

Daniel Williams was 21 years old when he was sentenced to one year in prison for non-violent drug charges. He was bounced around to multiple facilities during this year, and was set to finish out the last few weeks of his sentence at Staton Correctional Center in Elmore, Alabama. Little did Daniel know that he would die in that prison, both at the hands of someone yet to be convicted of any crime AND at the hands of the mind-boggling negligence of the entire prison facility.Get your pitchforks ready for this one, folks. Sources:1) https://abc3340.com/news/local/fathers-outrage-as-no-charges-filed-in-sons-torture-rape-death-in-prison2) https://abc3340.com/news/local/suspect-in-murder-and-rape-of-22-year-old-inmate-had-history-of-sexual-violence-according-to-adoc-documents3) https://alabamaappleseed.org/author/eddie-burkhalter/after-investigation-no-criminal-charges-in-the-torture-and-homicide-of-daniel-williams-at-staton-prison/4) https://abc3340.com/news/local/fathers-outrage-as-no-charges-filed-in-sons-torture-rape-death-in-prison5)https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrime/comments/1gx6qge/no_charges_in_22yearolds_kidnapping_torture_gang/Support the show

On the morning of September 16th, 2010, Greg Fleniken's body is found in his hotel room. Police are puzzled - they cannot find any motive for his murder and no explanation for his strange internal injuries. Greg's wife, Susie turns to a private investigator in order to crack the case...and he does, revealing a series of truly stupifying events.Sources: 1) https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2013/05/true-crime-elegante-hotel-texas-murder 2) https://abcnews.go.com/US/caused-mans-mysterious-death-texas-hotel-room/story?id=206568543) https://kpel965.com/greg-fleniken-death-true-crime-mystery-body-in-room-348-vanity-fair/4) https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/wife-of-man-found-dead-at-mcm-elegante-proceeds-4725451.php5) https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/theadvertiser/name/gregory-fleniken-obituary?id=9169857 Support the show

Who was Julie Doe? And how did investigators identify her decades after she had been murdered, despite several roadblocks? Find out on this weeks episode of Small Town Mysteries!Sources:1)https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/1j840cn/dna_doe_project_identifies_transgender_julie_doe/ 2) https://dnadoeproject.org/case/transgender-julie-doe/ 3) https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/60304) https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/12/self-taught-sleuths-trying-solve-trans-murders/603976/5) https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2752umfl.html6) https://www.forensicmag.com/3594-All-News/615429-Meta-Rejects-DNA-Doe-Project-s-Ad-for-Transgender-Doe/Support the show

This week, Rachael talks about the tragic murder of 15-year-old Trish Autry. Sources: 1) https://casetext.com/case/state-v-nielsen-402) https://www.nelsonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/trisha-autry3)https://web.archive.org/web/20070812080555/http://www.unsolved.com:80/0109-TrishaAutry.html4) https://www.deseret.com/2001/5/16/19586566/missing-teen-is-found-dead/5) https://www.hjnews.com/alleged-rapist-a-suspect-in-trisha-autry-homicide-too/article_9444eddd-43d5-556f-9000-4d67a99d556d.html6) https://www.heraldextra.com/news/2001/jul/20/murder-charge-is-raised-to-capital-homicide/7) https://www.deseret.com/2004/1/28/19809056/autry-s-family-tells-jurors-evil-has-a-face/8) http://hardnews.ansci.usu.edu/archive/jan2004/0130_nielsen.html9) https://www.hjnews.com/news/autrys-bid-farewell-to-slain-daughter/article_86cdb878-c808-5eaa-b77e-a4272f8d24e8.html10) https://www.hjnews.com/a-leroy-autry/article_76f6e7c0-e2be-59d3-8f07-94073aa81c6f.htmlSupport the show

This week, Christine dives into the murder of Helen Jewett. Helen was a sex worker in New York City in the 1830s. Was the murderer her most recent client? You can decide...Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Jewett2) https://darkdowneast.com/helenjewett/3) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-long-island-star-murder-and-arson-t/102699744/4) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-post-trial-of-richard-p-rob/102702143/5) https://www.newspapers.com/article/bangor-daily-whig-and-courier-the-murder/102794404/6) https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-journal-the-murder-of-the-girl-in-gr/117166824/Support the show

Tune in this week to hear Kate cover one of the most badass survival stories we've covered: the unbelievable survival of 15-year-old Mary Vincent.Sources:1) https://people.com/archive/a-victims-life-sentence-vol-29-no-16/2) https://archive.vcstar.com/news/crime-survivor-speaks-ep-371969784-350886431.html/3) https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-feb-25-mn-22808-story.html4) https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/28/us/rape-victim-gives-up-on-collecting-award.html5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Vincent_(artist)#cite_note-126) https://morbidology.com/left-for-dead-mary-vincent/7) https://keypennews.org/stories/the-heart-of-a-survivor-blood-courage-triumph,6663?8) https://www.ranker.com/list/mary-vincent-lawrence-singleton-case/laura-allanSupport the show

When three people are wrongly convicted as a result of police manipulation tactics, you have to wonder: who was actually responsible? Miscarriages of justice are rampant in this case, but most important is to remember that Lynette White's life was taken from her, and she cannot ever get that back.Sources: 1) https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2023-02-09/lynette-whites-murder-why-it-took-16-years-to-find-her-real-killer2) https://www.forensic-access.co.uk/cold-cases/lynette-white/3) https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c079vl109x2o4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-21GVUsQcKc&t=25s5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3ltZFJ_Mng6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPTS9TZDWJU7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Lynette_WhiteSupport the show

This week, Christine covers the puzzling death of Alexander Stevens. This case was never cut and dry from the beginning, but only gets more puzzling as more details emerge. Sources:1) https://www.courts.state.md.us/sites/default/files/unreported-opinions/0993s18.pdf 2) https://www.wvnews.com/garrettrepublican/news/megan-shaffer-sentenced-to-30-years-in-prison-for-second-degree-murder/article_487d0751-30db-5b9a-a536-5d9d723f204d.html 3) https://people.com/crime/maryland-woman-charged-boyfriend-murder-throat-slash/ 4) https://kromatic.media/audio Support the show

This week, Kate dives into an unsolved mystery, and a rather perplexing one, at that. This one is a great example/reminder of why colonialism is bad. When Michael Rockefeller (yes, of THE Rockefeller Family) disappeared during an expedition in the Asmat region of southwestern Dutch New Guinea (now South Papua), no one knew what had happened to him. There's a few theories. Some are simple, and some are sinister. Support the show

This week, Rachael covers the murder of Gregory "Sky" Erickson, who was just 15 years old. And buckle up, because the cast of characters involved in this case is EXTENSIVE--there were TEN people charged in connection with his murder!Sources:1) https://law.justia.com/cases/minnesota/court-of-appeals/2012/a11-1379.html2) https://www.facebook.com/p/In-memory-of-Sky-Erickson-100069079830324/https://www.dglobe.com/news/man-serving-life-sentence-testifies-about-murder3) https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/man-now-eligible-for-parole-for-1997-sky-erickson-killing/4) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147884681/gregory-sky-erickson5) https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/40/1073/2380789/6) https://casetext.com/case/us-v-lua7) https://www.change.org/p/joe-biden-my-brother-has-been-in-prison-for-over-23-years-and-deserves-a-second-chance8) https://doc-search.iowa.gov/Offender/Search9) https://www.change.org/p/clemency-for-luis-lua10) https://law.justia.com/cases/iowa/supreme-court/1999/98-1417.htmlSupport the show

Around 4:00 AM on August 23, 1987 in the tiny city of Alexander, Arkansas, a locomotive engineer noticed that there were people laying down on the train tracks. The engineer engaged the train's brakes and sounded the horn, but the train was unable to stop in time.When 16-year-old Don Henry and 17-year-old Kevin Ives were hit by this freight train, their death was initially and unsurprisingly ruled an accident. However, after researching this case, I think it's safe to say that the deaths of these teenagers were anything but accidental. Sources:1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Don_Henry_and_Kevin_Ives2) https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/jun/05/mom-of-cold-case-victim-dies/3) https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/kevin-ives-and-don-henry-12289/4) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120221988/lionel_keith-mckaskle#view-photo=190741804 5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Seal 6) https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/jun/05/mom-of-cold-case-victim-dies/ Support the show

Despite there being security camera footage of Missy Bever's killer, there have been frustratingly few major leads over the last 9 years. Sources: 1) https://people.com/crime/missy-bevers-murder-mother-in-law-asks-will-we-feel-like-celebrating-arrest/2) https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/internet-sleuths-muddy-waters-and-wreck-lives-in-missy-bevers-murder-investigation-91297363) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/docs-church-murder-victim-terri-missy-bevers-received-creepy-linkedin-message/4) https://people.com/crime/missy-bevers-texas-fitness-instructor-dead-one-year-later/5) https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/missy-bevers-died-from-multiple-puncture-wounds-to-head-and-chest-police/132143/6) https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/who-murdered-missy-bevers-six-years-after-killing-the-question-remains-unanswered/2943550/7) https://www.audacy.com/krld/news/local/reward-increases-to-usd150-000-dollars-in-missy-bevers-murder8) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Missy_BeversSupport the show

Katarzyna Zowada was murdered in a truly horrific way. After police didn't file a police report for Katarzyna initially when she went missing, it took almost 20 years for investigators to find out who her killer was, with the help of DNA technology.Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Katarzyna_Zowada2) The Most Bizarre True Crime Stories Ever Told by Jack Rosewood 3) https://www.krakow.sa.gov.pl/komunikat-dotyczacy-wyroku-sadu-apelacyjnego-w-krakowie-z-dnia-31-pazdziernika-2024-r-wydanego-w-sprawie-roberta-j-sygn-akt-ii-aka-39223,new,mg,281.html,11814) https://the-line-up.com/katarzyna-zowada-the-skin-case5) https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Katarzyna_ZowadaSupport the show

Michele Anne Harris, born on September 29th, 1965, left the restaurant she was working at at the end of her shift, and had a couple drinks with coworkers in the parking lot. She went to see a boyfriend in Smithsboro, New York, leaving shortly after 11pm. This is the last time she was seen. The day that Michele disappeared was unique. It was not a day that would soon be forgotten…because Michele Anne Harris disappeared on September 11th, 2001. Sources: 1) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Michele_Anne_Harris2) https://charleyproject.org/case/michele-anne-harris3) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/48-hours-mystery-a-time-to-kill-26-06-2010/4) https://abcnews.go.com/US/cal-harris-acquittal-4th-murder-trial-total-relief/story?id=39564152 Support the show

Journalist, radio personality, and socialite Dorothy Kilgallen was found dead in her apartment in New York City on November 8, 1965. She was found sitting up in bed, fully dressed and made up. Her official cause of death was an overdose of barbiturates combined with alcohol. But alcohol and barbiturates cannot explain why Dorothy's notes on the single most famous case she had ever investigated were missing–and why, two days later, a friend to whom she had given a draft of a chapter exploring theories of this case was also found dead under mysterious circumstances. Alcohol and barbiturates cannot explain why every trace of her research and theories were never seen again. Sources: 1) https://historyandimagination.com/2020/09/22/the-strange-death-of-dorothy-kilgallen-part-one/2)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_assassination_conspiracy_theories3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_John_F._Kennedy4) https://spartacus-educational.com/JFKkilgallen.htm5) https://oceanwriterreads.com/2024/03/25/book-review-the-incredible-life-and-mysterious-death-of-dorothy-kilgallen-by-sara-jordan-heintz/6) https://arapahoenews.com/12462/uncategorized/dorothy-kilgallen-reporter-cloaked-in-controversy/7) https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1283&context=fac_pm8) https://www.tigertimesonline.com/entertainment/2018/04/the-scandals-of-jfk/Support the show

This episode has so many twists and turns that if it was a novel, someone on Goodreads would complain about it being "unrealistic". A whole family was murdered one night in the 1870s. The motive was clear, but the perpetrator was (and still is) a mystery. Though a trial ensues, the town decides to take matters into their own hands. Otherwise known as The Horsey Episode. Sources: 1) https://johnbrassardjr.com/2020/01/11/the-spencer-family-massacre-part-1/ 2) https://johnbrassardjr.com/2020/01/25/the-spencer-family-massacre-part-2/3) https://khqa.com/news/local/family-of-five-brutally-murdered-in-clark-county-in-18774) https://www.mississippivalleypublishing.com/group-takes-another-look-at-125-year-old-murder-case/article_b57f4759-a9c7-5ef7-89f9-0be4783df114.htmlSupport the show

Today, Christine covers the heartbreaking murders of Jack and Paul, two young boys who were killed by their father. Despite evidence and testimony from the boys' mother that their father was a dangerous man capable of killing his own sons, the judge awarded him 5 hours of unsupervised contact each week. This decision would sadly prove to be fatal for the 9 and 12-year old brothers.Sources:1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pD1Yt34vqw2) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/01/paul-and-jack-were-murdered-by-their-abusive-father-why-had-the-family-courts-granted-him-contact 3) https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/apr/07/he-saw-our-children-as-possessions-my-husband-killed-our-sons *Consider signing this petition!*Child First Campaign Petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/child-first-safe-child-contact-saves-lives In the UK, the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247, or visit Women's Aid.In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732Other international helplines can be found via befrienders.org or at Child Helplines International.Support the show

This case if not covered enough. Have you heard of Paul Revere's Midnight Ride? Probably. But there is a horrific detail of that midnight ride that most do not know about. Learn about it here on Small Town Mysteries, then tell all your friends to listen...because this one is important.Sources:1) https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/salem-witch-trials2) https://www.loc.gov/resource/llst.023/?sp=1&st=image3) https://www.paulreverehouse.org/mark-hung-in-chains-slavery-paul-reveres-midnight-ride/Support the show

The tragic murder of 5-year-old Farah Khan is discussed in this week's podcast. Sources:1) https://globalnews.ca/news/6276192/farah-khan-murder-toronto/2) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/father-stepmother-convicted-of-murdering-5-year-old-farah-khan-1.4968913) https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA112724200&sid=sitemap&v=2.1&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=mlin_oweb&isGeoAuthType=true&aty=geohttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/murder-convictions-for-farah-s-parents-1.4962234) Crime Beat - Season 1 episode 2- “Farah Khan: A City's Lost ChildSupport the show

What killed Kathy Wangler is known. Kathy, a wife and mother of two, was found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning in her upstairs bedroom on September 4, 2006. What is not so clear is how this happened.Some believe it was a tragic accident set off by a faulty water heater inside the home. Others believe it was something more sinister and calculated.Sources: 1) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15657786/kathleen_s-wangler2) https://www.oxygen.com/dateline-secrets-uncovered/crime-news/mark-wangler-convicted-of-killing-wife-kathy-with-carbon3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lima,_Ohio4)https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/1bi8jxs/did_ohio_anesthesiologist_mark_wangler_gas_his/ 5) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-killers-son-wife-continue-innocence-crusade/6) https://casetext.com/case/state-v-wangler7) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/did-ohio-anesthesiologist-gas-his-wife-to-death/Support the show

Rachael talks about our last three cryptids of this spooky season: the Black Annis, the Jersey Devil, and The Dover Demon. Which one will become Small Town Mysteries' Cryptid Congeniality?Sources:1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Annis2) https://monster.fandom.com/wiki/Black_Annis3) https://astonishinglegends.com/astonishing-legends/2023/10/15/black-annis4) https://pinelandsalliance.org/learn-about-the-pinelands/pinelands-history-and-culture/the-jersey-devil-and-folklore/5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dover_Demon6) https://cryptozoologycryptids.fandom.com/wiki/Dover_DemonSupport the show

A Halloween party turned sour. What happened to Arpana Jinaga? And why did the cops immediately zero in on one suspect, when several people at the party exhibited suspicious behaviors?Sources:1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redmond,_Washington2) https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/emanuel-fair-trial-lawsuit-dna-murder-charge-1330251/3) https://www.crimescenecleanup.com/arpana-jinaga-halloween-party-murder/4) https://unresolved.me/arpana-jinaga5) https://people.com/crime/suspect-podcast-explores-unsolved-2008-halloween-party-murder-arpana-jinaga/6) https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/halloween-horror-woman-found-dead-after-hosting-costume-party-at-her-apartmentSupport the show

Tonight, Christine transports us all to prom. But there are no humans to be found at this prom. Oh no. This is a prom for the Cryptids. The theme? Under the Sea. And it is up to us and YOU to decide who is crowned our Cryptid King!Get out your writing utensils or note app on your phone and decide which of our contenders deserves the esteemed title. Let us know your thoughts and who was your "Cryptid King" by DMing us or commenting @smalltownmysteriespod on Instagram!Sources:1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizard_Man_of_Scape_Ore_Swamp2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browntown,_South_Carolina3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champ_(folklore)4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loveland_frogSupport the show

Sometime between late October 30th and early Oct 31, 2010, William “B.J.” Liske murdered his father, stepmother, and his stepbrother. The family was murdered in their own home located in Martin, Ohio.Sources:1) https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2011/09/15/Liske-gets-life-for-deaths-of-3/stories/2011091500972) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-triple-murder-teen-thought-it-was-halloween-prank/3) https://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/story/news/local/2015/04/07/man-killed-family-found-dead-prison-cell/25420415/4) https://sanduskyregister.com/news/1672/liske-pleads-guilty-to-triple-homicide/5) https://www.oxygen.com/homicide-for-the-holidays/crime-news/bj-liske-kills-3-family-members-in-halloween-murders6) https://www.wtol.com/article/news/family-grapples-with-loss-of-4-relatives-in-24-hours/512-0da1e144-353c-49a7-867f-8daebce189fd7) https://sanduskyregister.com/news/40338/tragic-timeline-details-surface-on-halloween-family-killings/8) https://www.crosserpriesmanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/William-E-Liske-Jr?obId=41074449) https://www.crosserpriesmanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Susan-M-Liske?obId=410744310) https://www.crosserpriesmanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Derek-L-Griffin?obId=410744211) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/228968455/william_j-liske/photo12) https://www.unitedstateszipcodes.org/43445/13) https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/1048948Support the show

This week on Cryptid Chaos, Kate talks about Chupacabra and Mothman!Sources:1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chupacabra2) https://www.britannica.com/topic/chupacabra3) https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mythic-creatures/land/modern-myths4) https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/ology-cards/281-chupacabra5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Bridge6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothman7) https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/mothman-point-pleasant-west-virginia8) https://www.mothmanmuseum.com/9) https://www.mothmanfestival.com/10) https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1418Support the show

In this heartbreaking case, Kennedy Ife's family attempted to exorcise what they believed to be a "demon" out of him, but unfortunately ended up killing their own relative.Sources:1) https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/exorcism-possession-uk-london-death-kennedy-ife-parents-family-brothers-restrained-a8763026.html2) https://vocal.media/criminal/the-deadly-exorcism-of-kennedy-if3) https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6810045/Christian-parents-brothers-marketing-executive-cleared-killing-botched-exorcism.html4) https://www.vice.com/en/article/exorcisms-rise-2019-pentecostalism-catholicism/5) https://www.vice.com/en/article/exorcisms-rise-2019-pentecostalism-catholicism/Support the show

In September of 1999, Ronald Cohen had just finalized the sale of his home in Jericho, New York, where he had lived for the previous nine years. In cleaning out his home for the new owners, he came across something startling in his basement–left behind from the previous owner of the house and weighing about 300 pounds. Its discovery would reopen a 30-year-old cold case.Sources:1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho,_New_York2) https://forensicfilesnow.com/index.php/tag/reyna-marroquin/3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Reyna_Marroqu%C3%ADn4) https://projectpulso.org/2022/11/14/reyna-marroquin/5) https://unidentified-awareness.fandom.com/wiki/Ang%C3%A9lica_Marroqu%C3%ADn6) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/215199418/reyna_angelica-marroquinSupport the show

On March 25, 2003, Shonda Dee Walter murdered her elderly neighbor, James E. Sementelli, in order to rob him and gain gang initiation in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. She stole money from him and his car, and proceeded to return to the crime scene with other people, in order to show them James' body. Sources:1) https://murderpedia.org/female.W/w/walter-shonda.htm2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock_Haven,_Pennsylvania3) https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local-news/2016/08/victim-s-family-others-resigned-to-walter-life-sentence/4) https://creative-resistance.org/an-untimely-death-by-shonda-walters/5) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81062304/james-e-sementelli#:~:text=Sementelli%20was%20a%20murder%20victim,a%20gang%20initiation%20and%20robbery.&text=World%20War%20II-,He%20grew%20up%20in%20Lock%20Haven%20and%20was%20stationed%20at,Harbor%20on%20December%207%2C%201941.Support the show