A true crime podcast that recalls the brutal slaying of BETTY ANN SULLIVAN on a snowy night in January of 1988, a night that, more than 30 years later, the small town of Jefferson Township, New Jersey has yet to fully recover from. The violence of that evening shocked the nation for the perpetrator... was her own son, a boy of fourteen who would take his own life only hours later. What the investigation revealed left a community in tatters, unwilling to believe the evil that had befallen them.
The Devil Within is a meticulously researched and professionally produced podcast that delves into the intriguing story of a murder-suicide in West Milford. As someone who grew up in the area, I found this podcast to be a particularly well-told account of the events surrounding the crime. The deep dive into local history was a fascinating aspect of the podcast that added depth and context to the story. The host did an excellent job of presenting various theories, including paranormal explanations, in a relevant and thoughtful manner. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed each episode and felt that it brought me closer to home.
One of the best aspects of The Devil Within is its ability to stick with you long after you finish listening. The tragic nature of the story and the lingering questions about the murder create a sense of intrigue that stays with you. The podcast also does a great job of incorporating the paranormal aspects of the case, adding an extra layer of mystery to the story. I particularly appreciated how well-researched and well-produced each episode was, making for a compelling listen.
While there were many positive aspects to this podcast, some reviewers have criticized it for its speculative nature and inclusion of paranormal explanations. However, I believe that these elements are entirely relevant given the circumstances surrounding the crime. It is important to remember that this is true crime storytelling, not just investigative reporting. With real-life occurrences like this, there are often unknown details that are open to interpretation. It is refreshing to hear alternative viewpoints and explore different perspectives on what happened.
In conclusion, The Devil Within is an engaging and thought-provoking podcast that offers a unique perspective on a true crime story. Despite some negative reviews criticizing its speculative nature, I believe that this podcast successfully presents multiple viewpoints while maintaining an intriguing narrative throughout each episode. From its meticulous research to its professional production quality, this podcast stands out as one of my favorites in the true crime genre. Whether or not you're a fan of paranormal aspects or speculative theories, I highly recommend giving The Devil Within a chance. It may just leave you captivated and wanting more.
Show Notes: It started as a story whispered at campfires and on playgrounds. But on Staten Island, the name Cropsey became something far more terrifying—a legend that seemed to step out of the shadows and into reality. In the first half of this two-part episode of The Devil Within, we trace the origins of the Cropsey myth, from abandoned asylums to forgotten tunnels. We explore how fear took root in a community, and how a monster of folklore became linked to real-life tragedy.
Show Notes: It started as a story whispered at campfires and on playgrounds. But on Staten Island, the name Cropsey became something far more terrifying—a legend that seemed to step out of the shadows and into reality. In the first half of this two-part episode of The Devil Within, we trace the origins of the Cropsey myth, from abandoned asylums to forgotten tunnels. We explore how fear took root in a community, and how a monster of folklore became linked to real-life tragedy.
EPISODE 1: Northern Aggression April 1865. The Civil War ends—but the peace is fragile, and the nation stands at the edge of chaos. In this first episode of The Ides of April, we explore the days leading to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. We uncover the towering egos, the desperate plots, and the fractures in a nation struggling to heal. What drove John Wilkes Booth—a celebrity actor and son of a famous family—to transform into an agent of terror? And how did his personal insecurities and extremist beliefs ignite one of the most shocking acts in American history?
THE IDES OF APRIL Show Description: The Ides of April is a gripping historical podcast that takes you inside the final 17 days of John Wilkes Booth's life—from the surrender at Appomattox to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the largest manhunt in American history. Narrated by Alec Baldwin, this immersive series blends dramatic storytelling, historical detail, and expert insight to trace the deadly plot that changed the nation forever.
Show Notes: In 1984, a brutal murder in the woods of Northport, New York shocked the nation and ignited a moral panic that still echoes today. In this episode of The Devil Within, we dive into the dark and chaotic life of Ricky Kasso—the so-called “Acid King”—whose obsession with the occult, drugs, and Satanic symbolism spiraled into violence. From his troubled upbringing to the infamous killing of his friend Gary Lauwers during what some called a ritual sacrifice, we separate myth from fact and explore the real horror at the heart of the legend.
THE IDES OF APRIL Show Description: The Ides of April is a gripping historical podcast that takes you inside the final 17 days of John Wilkes Booth's life—from the surrender at Appomattox to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the largest manhunt in American history. Narrated by Alec Baldwin, this immersive series blends dramatic storytelling, historical detail, and expert insight to trace the deadly plot that changed the nation forever.
Show Notes: In the dark heart of Washington State, a predator stalked his prey. Jack Spillman earned the name “The Werewolf Butcher” for crimes so brutal, they seemed ripped from myth. In this chilling episode of The Devil Within, we explore Spillman's terrifying attacks, his obsession with wolves and the occult, and the twisted psychology that drove him to kill.
Show Notes: December 8th, 1980. New York City. John Lennon is gunned down outside The Dakota, and the world loses a Beatle. When police arrest his killer, Mark David Chapman, they find him carrying a copy of The Catcher in the Rye—a book that, for him, blurred the lines between fiction and murder. In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we explore the haunting artifact at the center of this infamous crime. From the history of The Beatles and J.D. Salinger's iconic novel to Chapman's obsession and New York's dark night, we unpack the symbolism of that paperback. We'll also follow the journey of this chilling collectible—right to the auction block.
Show Notes: Italy — land of empires, saints… and monsters. In this haunting series of The Devil Within, we uncover the chilling legends that lurk behind Italy's beauty. From the night battles of the Benandanti in Friuli to the wolf cults of Lucera, the possessed convent of Prato, and the submerged beasts of Venice — these are not just stories. These are warnings. Across 12 gripping episodes, we explore centuries of folklore, true crime, and the terrifying spaces where they overlap. Werewolves in noble courts. Skinwalkers among shepherds. Choirs that sang to the abyss. Some say these tales are myth. Others know better.
Show Notes: Italy — land of empires, saints… and monsters. In this haunting series of The Devil Within, we uncover the chilling legends that lurk behind Italy's beauty. From the night battles of the Benandanti in Friuli to the wolf cults of Lucera, the possessed convent of Prato, and the submerged beasts of Venice — these are not just stories. These are warnings. Across 12 gripping episodes, we explore centuries of folklore, true crime, and the terrifying spaces where they overlap. Werewolves in noble courts. Skinwalkers among shepherds. Choirs that sang to the abyss. Some say these tales are myth. Others know better. EPISODE 7: The Beast Beneath Venice Long before tourists filled St. Mark's Square, locals spoke of a creature beneath the canals — a wolf that fed not on flesh, but on sin. EPISODE 8: The Black Huntsman of Sicily A shadow on horseback terrorized the island's countryside. Was it a bandit? A ghost? Or the last of the ancient wolf-blooded clans? EPISODE 9: The Werewolf Trials of Tuscany Between the plague years, fear took root in the villages — and men stood trial not for witchcraft, but for turning wolf beneath the full moon.
Show Notes: In 1997, the world was stunned by the mass suicide of 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult in San Diego. But one detail stood out in every photo of that tragic scene—the matching black Nike Decade sneakers on each body. In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we explore how these now-infamous shoes became a dark symbol of the cult's final ritual. We trace the origins of Heaven's Gate, led by Marshall Applewhite, the apocalyptic beliefs tied to the Hale-Bopp comet, and the eerie details of that last night—right down to the poisoned applesauce.
Show Notes: Italy — land of empires, saints… and monsters. In this haunting series of The Devil Within, we uncover the chilling legends that lurk behind Italy's beauty. From the night battles of the Benandanti in Friuli to the wolf cults of Lucera, the possessed convent of Prato, and the submerged beasts of Venice — these are not just stories. These are warnings. Across 12 gripping episodes, we explore centuries of folklore, true crime, and the terrifying spaces where they overlap. Werewolves in noble courts. Skinwalkers among shepherds. Choirs that sang to the abyss. Some say these tales are myth. Others know better. EPISODE 4: The Werewolf of Naples A noble family's darkest secret — a man who prowled the city's outskirts, not as a prince, but as a beast. EPISODE 5: The Possessed Convent of Prato In 1587, the nuns of Prato claimed they were stalked by a wolfish demon. Was it mass hysteria — or a predator cloaked in faith? EPISODE 6: The Wolf and the Pope A Vatican advisor accused of lycanthropy. A secret tribunal. And a question that shook the Church: can a soul turn feral?
Show Notes: Italy — land of empires, saints… and monsters. In this haunting series of The Devil Within, we uncover the chilling legends that lurk behind Italy's beauty. From the night battles of the Benandanti in Friuli to the wolf cults of Lucera, the possessed convent of Prato, and the submerged beasts of Venice — these are not just stories. These are warnings. Across 12 gripping episodes, we explore centuries of folklore, true crime, and the terrifying spaces where they overlap. Werewolves in noble courts. Skinwalkers among shepherds. Choirs that sang to the abyss. Some say these tales are myth. Others know better. EPISODE 1: The Curse of Lucera In the shadow of the ancient Roman colony of Lucera, a wolf cult thrived — and its echoes still haunt the Apulian hills. Explore how settlers, invaders, and wolves shared blood, soil, and secrets. EPISODE 2: The Benandanti of Friuli They called themselves “the good walkers” — but the Church called them witches. Discover the night battles fought between these dream warriors and the forces of evil. EPISODE 3: The Skinwalkers of Abruzzo Shepherds in the high pastures whispered of men who could wear wolf skins… and of the terrible price they paid for their hunger.
Taboo Treasures is a true crime–adjacent podcast that dives deep into the world's most shocking, macabre, and controversial artifacts—the objects that carry the weight of dark history, forbidden belief, and unspeakable acts. From the sneakers worn by the Heaven's Gate cult on their final night… to the copy of Catcher in the Rye found int he possession of the man who killed John Lennon… to relics, Barbie Dolls and memorabilia linked to murder, mystery, and mayhem—each episode unearths the twisted stories behind these rare and disturbing collectibles.
THE DEVIL WITHIN Mini-Series: The Beasts of France Description: France is a country of cathedrals, castles… and cryptids. In this chilling six-part series from The Devil Within, we journey into the haunted forests, fog-laced vineyards, war-ravaged trenches, and bone-lined tunnels of France to uncover a dark and forgotten legacy: the loup-garou. Part folklore, part true crime, The Beasts of France explores six terrifying cases—some legendary, others all too real—where the line between man and monster vanished. From the infamous Beast of Gévaudan that terrorized the countryside in the 1700s… to the Black Beast that stalked soldiers during WWI… to a secret cult beneath Paris in the 1970s that believed the werewolf wasn't a myth—but a destiny. PART ONE: 1 The Beast of Gévaudan – A brutal string of killings in 18th-century France blamed on a creature that couldn't be caught… or killed. 2 The Werewolves of the Jura – A cannibalistic hermit confesses to transforming into a wolf—and sets off a legal and spiritual panic. 3 The Beast of the Vosges – In 1994, livestock mutilations and phantom sightings resurrect France's most ancient fears. PART TWO: 4 The Werewolf of Bordeaux – A calm, lucid man is arrested for murder—and insists he was simply answering the call of the wolf. 5 The Black Beast of Normandy – World War I soldiers report a hulking predator in the fog of battle… and it may not have left. 6 The Devil's Breath – A Parisian cult, a forgotten detective, and a series of disappearances that point to something living beneath the City of Light. Submit your own sightings, stories, or artifacts tied to werewolf lore:
THE DEVIL WITHIN Mini-Series: The Beasts of France Description: France is a country of cathedrals, castles… and cryptids. In this chilling six-part series from The Devil Within, we journey into the haunted forests, fog-laced vineyards, war-ravaged trenches, and bone-lined tunnels of France to uncover a dark and forgotten legacy: the loup-garou. Part folklore, part true crime, The Beasts of France explores six terrifying cases—some legendary, others all too real—where the line between man and monster vanished. From the infamous Beast of Gévaudan that terrorized the countryside in the 1700s… to the Black Beast that stalked soldiers during WWI… to a secret cult beneath Paris in the 1970s that believed the werewolf wasn't a myth—but a destiny. PART ONE: 1 The Beast of Gévaudan – A brutal string of killings in 18th-century France blamed on a creature that couldn't be caught… or killed. 2 The Werewolves of the Jura – A cannibalistic hermit confesses to transforming into a wolf—and sets off a legal and spiritual panic. 3 The Beast of the Vosges – In 1994, livestock mutilations and phantom sightings resurrect France's most ancient fears. PART TWO: 4 The Werewolf of Bordeaux – A calm, lucid man is arrested for murder—and insists he was simply answering the call of the wolf. 5 The Black Beast of Normandy – World War I soldiers report a hulking predator in the fog of battle… and it may not have left. 6 The Devil's Breath – A Parisian cult, a forgotten detective, and a series of disappearances that point to something living beneath the City of Light. Submit your own sightings, stories, or artifacts tied to werewolf lore:
London is a city of layers. Roman roads. Saxon graves. Plague pits and forgotten tunnels. But beneath the cobblestones and catacombs… something howls. In this six-part limited series from The Devil Within, we journey through centuries of urban legends, cryptid sightings, and historical anomalies to ask: What really stalks the streets and shadows of England's capital? From werewolves in Camberwell to the vampire panic of Highgate, each episode digs into chilling eyewitness accounts, forgotten folklore, and suppressed rituals. These aren't just stories—they're patterns. Something is beneath London. Something old. Something watching.
London is a city of layers. Roman roads. Saxon graves. Plague pits and forgotten tunnels. But beneath the cobblestones and catacombs… something howls. In this six-part limited series from The Devil Within, we journey through centuries of urban legends, cryptid sightings, and historical anomalies to ask: What really stalks the streets and shadows of England's capital? From werewolves in Camberwell to the vampire panic of Highgate, each episode digs into chilling eyewitness accounts, forgotten folklore, and suppressed rituals. These aren't just stories—they're patterns. Something is beneath London. Something old. Something watching.
The city speaks in static. And sometimes… it answers back. This week on The Devil Within, we bring you two terrifying tales from beneath the surface of Manhattan—where signals hum through old copper wires and ancient tunnels echo with hunger.
Beneath Manhattan, the past never stays buried. In this two-part descent into New York's forgotten corners, we explore two of the city's most enduring and unsettling legends.
As World War II spiraled toward its violent end, the Nazi obsession with relics, ritual, and redemption reached terrifying new heights. In the final three episodes of our Grail War series, we go deeper into the rituals of Wewelsburg Castle, where SS leaders performed bloodline ceremonies and solstice rites in the shadow of the Black Sun. Beneath the floors, prisoners died constructing the temple. Above, Himmler and his inner circle dreamed of a new religion—one rooted not in salvation, but supremacy. As the Reich collapsed, documents were burned, relics buried, and entire wings of the castle destroyed. But Wewelsburg's most sinister chamber survived. And in the decades that followed, its symbols and myths were reborn—on fringe message boards, in neo-Nazi movements, and in the dark corners of conspiracy culture. Because the most powerful relic… is the one never found.
Long before the Allies stormed Berlin, a different kind of war was already underway—waged not with bullets and tanks, but with relics, runes, and ancient symbols of power. This three-part series unearths the chilling true story of the Nazis' obsession with the occult and their state-sponsored quest for the Holy Grail. At the center of it all was SS leader Heinrich Himmler, who transformed a crumbling medieval ruin—Wewelsburg Castle—into a spiritual fortress and ritual temple for a cult hiding in plain sight. From secret SS expeditions in search of relics to fabricated sacred texts and blood-soaked ceremonies in the castle's north tower, The Devil Within reveals how myth, pseudoscience, and fanaticism merged into something far more dangerous: belief weaponized. And when the war was lost, Wewelsburg didn't die. The Black Sun chamber survived. And the thirteenth pedestal—the one reserved for the Grail—remains empty to this day.
He chased ghosts for a living. Then one started following him. In this episode of The Devil Within, we tell the haunting, true story of Gaurav Tiwari — India's most famous paranormal investigator, found dead in his own bathroom under chilling and unexplained circumstances. Was it suicide? Possession? Or something far more sinister?
“The Devil You Know… And the Ones You Don't” What if John Wayne Gacy wasn't the end of Chicago's nightmare — but the beginning? In this week's episode of The Devil Within, we unearth the twisted, terrifying story of the Chicago Rippers — a cult-like quartet of sadistic killers who prowled the streets of the Windy City in the early 1980s. Their crimes weren't just brutal. They were ritualistic.
In the misty glens of Northern Ireland, County Antrim holds centuries-old secrets — whispers of women who healed, cursed, and vanished. In the late 1800s, fear took hold of a quiet village when livestock died, children fell ill, and fingers pointed toward a coven said to dwell deep in the woods. But were these women truly witches… or victims of something even more sinister? In this episode, The Devil Within dives into the chilling folklore, historical records, and enduring paranoia that fueled one of Ireland's most unsettling local legends.
Hidden deep in the forests of the Czech Republic lies a castle unlike any other—one with no clear strategic purpose, no noble residence, and no windows facing the outside world. Instead, Houska Castle was built over a gaping hole in the earth... a pit so deep and terrifying that legends say it leads straight to Hell. In this episode of The Devil Within, we uncover the dark history of Houska Castle—from its bizarre medieval origins and pagan legends to whispered tales of demonic entities, Nazi occult experiments, and modern-day paranormal investigations. Why would a 13th-century ruler spend a fortune constructing a fortress with its defenses turned inward? What really happened to the prisoners who were lowered into the abyss as test subjects? And is the evil sealed beneath the chapel truly dormant? Step inside Houska, where history and horror bleed together—and where the line between myth and madness disappears. Email us at info@eviocreative.com—we'd love to hear from you. ✅ Don't forget to follow, rate, and review The Devil Within on your favorite podcast platform. Your support keeps the darkness alive. #HouskaCastle #TheDevilWithinPodcast #ParanormalPodcast #OccultMysteries #GateToHell #DarkHistory #HauntedEurope #TrueCrimeMeetsMyth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this hauntingly atmospheric episode of The Devil Within, we journey through the chilling halls of Europe's most legendary castles. From Bran Castle's eerie crypt in Transylvania to the infamous Bloody Chapel of Leap Castle in Ireland, we explore the rich—and often terrifying—histories behind the continent's most haunted strongholds. Told in the immersive narrative style of James Michener, this episode blends historical depth with ghostly folklore, examining why these fortresses refuse to forget. Discover the secrets of Chillingham Castle's tortured walls and the spectral echoes of Edinburgh Castle's lost piper. History doesn't just haunt these places—it lives there. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Devil Within and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also share your own ghost story by DMing us on Instagram @DevilWithinPodcast or by visiting devilwithinpod.com. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow The Devil Within on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—and now on YouTube, where we're posting new video content weekly.Subscribe at youtube.com/@thedevilwithinpod and never miss an episode. Got a ghost story of your own?Send it to us via DM on Instagram @thedevilwithinpod, or visit devilwithinpod.com to connect. And if you want bonus content, episode previews, and haunted history extras, don't forget to join our free newsletter. The spirits are waiting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In 1985 the villages of Sussex in south London fell victim to a brazen conman who claimed to be a spiritual warrior fighting to rid the community of a cabal of Satanists... all he needed was money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hysteria or demonic possession? Repressed lust or diabolical witchcraft? 17th century France saw it's share of witch trial, but the Loudun possessions spoke to a greater evil. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The summer of 1888 in London saw a string of murders that have become legend. This year, the killer was finally identified. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The disappearance of 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi, a citizen of Vatican City, led to decades of grief, intrigue and crumbling faith in the Church's power to protect their own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
For centuries the Catholic Church has kept it's most valuable treasures - and most dangerous secrets - locked away in a sprawling underground series of ancient, mysterious vaults called The Vatican Archives... what are they protecting? More importantly... what are they hiding? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In today's episode we'll briefly cover one of the great mysteries of Catholicism; the election of a new Pope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From the meadows of ancient Europe to the deserts of the Levant, the celebration of Easter has deeper roots than you might imagine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A picturesque monastery nestled in a remote Romania village was the site of a national scandal. In 2005 a young nun arrived seeking solace in the mountains but instead found herself in a nightmare that would ultimately claim her life and tear a country apart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The host of DeathXSouthwest, Margot Carmichael, joins Branden to discuss the episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Our series ends with Ramirez's arrival on death row and Dante's arrival in Paradise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Branden and Margot discuss the episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The conclusion of the trial and sentencing of Richard Ramirez, plus a look at the phenomenon known as hybristophilia... and Dante reaches the summit of Purgatory. What lies beyond? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Branden and Margot discuss the episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The trial of Richard Ramires begins... and almost ends due to an unexpected tragedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Branden discusses the episode with host of Death X Southwest Margot Carmichael. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The reign of the Night Stalker finally comes to an end in spectacular fashion on the streets of Los Angeles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Brande discusses the episode with Margot Carmichael, host of Death X Southwest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Mayor of San Francisco gets inviolved in the Night Stalker investigation... but not in a good way. Still the LA County Sheriff's detectives persevere and the tide begins to turn... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Brande discusses the episode with Margot Carmichael (host of Death X Southwest). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ramirez escalates his killer spree to a level no one in Los Angeles law enforcement had experienced and the press finally give him a name that sticks: The Night Stalker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Branden discusses the episode in more detail with Margot Carmichael, host of the podcast Death X Southwest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode Richard Ramirez believes he is confronted by Jesus himself... and is forced to flee. What made Ramirez feel as though Christ intervened in his wicked acts? Plus, Dante and Virgil arrive at the City of Dis and the circle of Hell reserved for the heretics... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Branden and Margot Carmichael, host of Death X Suthwest, discuss the episode in greater detail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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