The Tombstone Shadows podcast visits U.S. cemeteries, and explores the lives behind forgotten graves of ordinary people.
In the 14th episode of Tombstone Shadows, we're going to visit San Francisco, California, where we'll meet a young lady named Kyoko. We will follow her and her husband to southern California and hear how her life tragically ended. Then we will head over to the east coast of the United States to New York, where we'll hear about a grisly death, and then follow one of the involved persons back to the west coast in Seattle, Washington, and find out what else went wrong in that individual's life. Kyoko Kuwako Johnson Born: April 20, 1937 Died: November 23, 1990 Born in Japan, Kyoko married a U.S. military man while she was living in San Francisco. The couple moved to Harbor City, California (southern California), where, after raising a family, she was brutally killed on a late November morning as she slept. Her husband was put on trial, but found not guilty. Wells Benner van Steenbergh Jr. Born: March 29, 1935 Died: June 19, 2012 In an attempt to steal some cash from a home, Wells Jr. burned down a home where a husband and wife lived, who had been friends with Wells Jr. for a few years. Unknown to Wells Jr., the wife was at home sleeping. Wells Jr. later moved to Seattle where he almost pulled off another perfect crime.
In episode #13 of Tombstone Shadows we're going be in Southern California, visiting two lives. Both were murdered. One in San Pedro, and the other in Alhambra. Rudy Ernst Mejia III Born: January 29, 1955 Died: July 21, 1990 Burial place unknown.Late one evening, Rudy left his home in Pico Rivera on a warm evening for San Pedro's Cabrillo Beach. Perhaps unknown to Rudy, was that Cabrillo Beach at night was not a safe place to be—especially alone. Elmer Hearn Griffin Born: 1904 Died: February 7, 1926 Buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Pasadena, California Elmer Griffin had been a motorcycle officer for the San Gabriel Police Department for less than one year, when he had a violent run-in with "booze runners."
In episode #12 of Tombstone Shadows we're going to visit Harbor City, California for the tragic end to the lives of two young navy-men in 1965; and then head back east to Boston, and hear about a life that started at 4-years-old as very bad, but ended up doing a lot good later in life; in a related life, you'll hear about the sordid life of a spiritualist named Oscar Concannon who lived a short life that included being sent to a mental institution in the late 1890s. Dudley G. Kimball Born: July 31, 1872 Died: 16 Oct 1969 Buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts Oscar L. Concannon Born: March 21, 1869 Died: July 11, 1904 Buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts Dennis Gerald BensonBorn: July 15, 1944Died: July 25, 1965
In episode #11 of Tombstone Shadows we'll reconstruct three lives from Southern California: Ocean Beach in 1938, Los Angeles in 1938, and Orange in 1989. Tombstone Shadows Investigations: Florilla Lee-Crolic Born: April 1869 Died: 25 March 1938 Jeanne M. Kelly Born: June 24, 1917 Died: January 28, 2019 JacalynBorn: July 14, 1977 Died: December 18, 1989
In episode #10 of Tombstone Shadows we will visit the Calvary Cemetery in South Portland, Maine. History: The Calvary Cemetery was established in 1858 as a resting place for those who followed Catholicism (all denominations were welcome, though). Tombstone Shadows Investigations: Lillian I. MacDonald (Born: June 1, 1910; died July 12, 1930). Calvary Cemetery James M. Mitchell (Born: May 27, 1909; Died: March 20, 1982?) Hillside Cemetery, Libson Falls, Maine (?)
In episode #9 of Tombstone Shadows we will visit two cemeteries that are both in Lobelia, West Virginia: the History: The first cemetery we visit is the Emanuel Cemetery. It sits to the left of an old presbyterian church. The second is the Richard Hill Cemetery. It was a an overgrown cemetery with some graves sinking into the ground, but recently had renovation by volunteers. Tombstone Shadows Investigations in Episode #9: Warwick B. Scott (Born: April 21, 1889; died October 24, 1945). Emanuel Cemetery John Robert Bruffey (Born: 1849; Died: March 1879) Richard Hill Cemetery PFC Harlan Ellsworth Dean (Born: November 16, 1921; Died: March 3, 1944) Richard Hill Cemetery Samuel Wesley Hodges (Born: October 16, 1874; Died: February 28, 1896) Richard Hill Cemetery Merritt Brook Hill (Born: October 16, 1915; Died: May 28, 1938) Richard Hill Cemetery Henry C Spinks (Born: April 7, 1901; Died: July 11, 1922) Richard Hill Cemetery
In episode #8 of Tombstone Shadows we will visit the Greenlawn Cemetery in West Long Branch, New Jersey. History: We'll hear a story about huge gatherings at the cemetery in 1930: everyone came to see a ghost. Tombstone Shadows Investigations in Episode #8: "Billie" Blanchard (Born: March 31, 1910; death not investigated): Along with Al Hakem, was the first to see the "ghost" at Greenlawn Cemetery. Emma B. Smith (Born: 1898; Died: December 9, 1935): Left behind a husband and five children when she died the week after Thanksgiving.
In episode #7 of Tombstone Shadows we will visit two cemeteries in the state of North Carolina. History: You'll hear a short history about the city of Crab Orchard; and some history about the cemetery in Monroe—as well as a step back in time to look at how weather forecasts came about. Tombstone Shadows Investigations in Episode #7: Bertha E. Watkins (January 10, 1891 to December 25, 1935) Johnny Carter Helms (October 4, 1931 to May 17, 1957)
In episode #6 of Tombstone Shadows we'll visit the Manomet Cemetery in Plymouth, Massachusetts. History: You'll hear a short history of the Manomet Cemetery—which include the cemetery's beginning and information about a ghost that haunts the church that sits on the cemetery grounds. Tombstone Shadows Investigations in Episode #6: Bob William Dean (October 31, 1931 to October 13, 2004) Irving Leon Wood (1908 to November 10, 1936)
Episode #5 of Tombstone Shadows is a Special Halloween Episode. Stop by and hear stories of ghosts in cemeteries from various states in the U.S. Minnie Brooks - Baltimore Maryland (1926) Raymond Soukuop - Fulton, Missouri (1939) The Ghost Girl of Crown Hill Cemetery - Indianapolis, Indiana, (1932) The Ghost of Bent Creek Cemetery - Bent Creek Cemetery, Whitesburg, Tennessee (1953) The Singing Ghost of Old Joliet Prison Cemetery - Joliet, Illinois (1932) More Ghosts in Cemeteries from news articles: • Monroe, Michigan - Aug 21, 1911 • Baltimore, Maryland - November 28, 1911 • Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania - March 21, 1905 • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Aug 10, 1911
In episode #4 of Tombstone Shadows we'll visit the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco, Maine. History: You'll hear a short history of the Laurel Hill Cemetery, which include several crimes committed there through the decades. Ghost Experiences: There are no ghost experiences to share regarding this cemetery. Tombstone Shadows Investigations in Episode #4:(grave locations follow name) Jeannette Anne Haynes (July 11, 1944 to September 19, 1976) Lawrence W. Walls (July 17,1914 to September 28, 1966)
In episode #3 of Tombstone Shadows we'll visit the Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph, Michigan. History: You'll hear a short history of the Riverview Cemetery. Ghost Experiences: There are no ghost experiences to share regarding this cemetery. Tombstone Shadows Investigations in Episode #3:(grave locations follow name) John Collins Gillespie (Dec. 15 1939 to Jan. 25, 1994) Duane Allen Christianson (Jan. 10, 1955 to May 20, 1975) Oscar Castillo (Jun. 4, 1958 to Mar. 28, 1976)
In episode #2 of Tombstone Shadows we'll visit the Artesia Cemetery in Cerritos, California. History: You'll hear a short history of the Artesia Cemetery. Ghost Experiences: There are no ghost experiences to share regarding this cemetery. Tombstone Shadows Investigations in Episode #2:(grave locations follow name) John Thompson (Aug.22, 1880 to Aug. 6, 1892) (B76-L2-G10) Robert Stevens Duckworth (Oct. 4, 1922 to Oct. 22, 1972) (B36-L4-G10) Oscar Castillo (June 4, 1958 to March 28, 1976) (B122-L3-G1) The Ouija Board Murder (1933)
In episode #1 of Tombstone Shadows, we'll visit the Carpinteria Cemetery in Carpinteria, California. History: You'll hear a short history of the Carpinteria area and how the cemetery was founded—including the first interred there. Ghost Experiences: There are no ghost experiences to share regarding the cemetery. Tombstone Shadows Investigations in Ep. 1:(grave locations follow name) Kristen Leigh Moore (F, 20) Dorothy June Tennent (393, 1) Dianna M. Camacho (378, 2) and Joseph Thomas DeAlba (1 So, 10, 4, 4) Street location for Dorothy Tennent: The dirt shoulder off Gabbert Road (near W. Los Angeles Ave.), next to a chain link fence in front of the So Cal Edison Substation Street location for Dianna and Joseph: Foothill Road (east of Casitas Pass Road) - in front of a private driveway. Possibly somewhere around 5550 Foothill Road.