Morbid

Morbid

Listen to new episodes early & ad-free.

US$5.99/mo or US$44.99/yr after trial

It’s a lighthearted nightmare in here, weirdos! Morbid is a true crime, creepy history and all things spooky podcast hosted by an autopsy technician and a hairstylist. Join us for a heavy dose of research with a dash of comedy thrown in for flavor.

  1. 17 APR • WONDERY+ EARLY ACCESS

    David Carpenter: The Trailside Killer (Part 2)

    This episode is available early and ad-free for Wondery+ members and will be released on all platforms on Thursday, April 17th. To stay up-to-date on new podcasts and more from Wondery, sign up on https://wondery.fm/morbid-wondery-newsletter. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, from Los Angeles to San Francisco, Californians were terrorized by multiple killers including notorious serial killers like the Zodiac Killer, the Hillside Stranglers, Herbert Mullin, and Ed Kemper. While the decade may have ended with these killers disappearing or apprehended, the threat of violence and murder simply moved north. Though less known than his contemporaries, David Carpenter was no less prolific and frightening a killer than those men mentioned above. Nicknamed “The Trailside Killer” by the press, Carpenter terrorized Point Reyes and Santa Cruz County for a decade, assaulting, kidnapping, and killing at least eight people, but he was suspected of more. Like those other killers, Carpenter had a long history of violent and antisocial behavior going back to his childhood, including multiple arrests and incarcerations. How was it that a man with such an alarming history of violence could go uncaught for a decade? Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Associated Press. 1980. "Trail Killer will strike again." Santa Cruz Sentinel, December 1: 1. Burkhardt, Bill. 1979. "Woman found murdered on Mt. Tam." San Francisco Examiner, August 21: 1. Graysmith, Robert. 1990. The Sleeping Lady: The Trailside Murders Above the Golden Gate. New York, NY: Onyx. Keraghosian, Greg. 2020. "'Do not hike alone': For 21 months, the Trailside Killer terrorized Bay Area's outdoors." San Francisco Chronicle, October 25. Leader, Lewis. 1980. "Identification ends dad's long quest." San Francisco Examiner, December 2: 2. San Francisco Examiner. 1960. "MP's shots foil attack on woman." San Francisco Examiner, July 13: 1. —. 1961. "Presidio attacker gets 14 yrs." San Francisco Examiner, March 10: 11. —. 1960. "Sex case insanity plea." San Francisco Examiner, October 8: 5. Santa Cruz Sentinel. 1970. "Boulder Creek girl attacked." Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 29: 22. —. 1970. "Grand jury indicts con." Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 17: 7. —. 1970. "SLV kidnap suspect flees Calaveras jail." Santa Cruz Sentinel, April 27: 1. The People v. Carpenter. 1997. S004654 (Superior Court of Los Angeles County, April 28). The People vs. David Carpenter. 1999. S006547 (Superior Court of San Diego County, November 29). Todd, John. 1980. "Tam closed in hunt for clues." San Francisco Examiner, October 16: 1.

    49 min
  2. 14 APR • WONDERY+ EARLY ACCESS

    David Carpenter: The Trailside Killer (Part 1)

    This episode is available early and ad-free for Wondery+ members and will be released on all platforms on Monday, April 14th. To stay up-to-date on new podcasts and more from Wondery, sign up on https://wondery.fm/morbid-wondery-newsletter. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, from Los Angeles to San Francisco, Californians were terrorized by multiple killers including notorious serial killers like the Zodiac Killer, the Hillside Stranglers, Herbert Mullin, and Ed Kemper. While the decade may have ended with these killers disappearing or apprehended, the threat of violence and murder simply moved north. Though less known than his contemporaries, David Carpenter was no less prolific and frightening a killer than those men mentioned above. Nicknamed “The Trailside Killer” by the press, Carpenter terrorized Point Reyes and Santa Cruz County for a decade, assaulting, kidnapping, and killing at least eight people, but he was suspected of more. Like those other killers, Carpenter had a long history of violent and antisocial behavior going back to his childhood, including multiple arrests and incarcerations. How was it that a man with such an alarming history of violence could go uncaught for a decade? Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Associated Press. 1980. "Trail Killer will strike again." Santa Cruz Sentinel, December 1: 1. Burkhardt, Bill. 1979. "Woman found murdered on Mt. Tam." San Francisco Examiner, August 21: 1. Graysmith, Robert. 1990. The Sleeping Lady: The Trailside Murders Above the Golden Gate. New York, NY: Onyx. Keraghosian, Greg. 2020. "'Do not hike alone': For 21 months, the Trailside Killer terrorized Bay Area's outdoors." San Francisco Chronicle, October 25. Leader, Lewis. 1980. "Identification ends dad's long quest." San Francisco Examiner, December 2: 2. San Francisco Examiner. 1960. "MP's shots foil attack on woman." San Francisco Examiner, July 13: 1. —. 1961. "Presidio attacker gets 14 yrs." San Francisco Examiner, March 10: 11. —. 1960. "Sex case insanity plea." San Francisco Examiner, October 8: 5. Santa Cruz Sentinel. 1970. "Boulder Creek girl attacked." Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 29: 22. —. 1970. "Grand jury indicts con." Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 17: 7. —. 1970. "SLV kidnap suspect flees Calaveras jail." Santa Cruz Sentinel, April 27: 1. The People v. Carpenter. 1997. S004654 (Superior Court of Los Angeles County, April 28). The People vs. David Carpenter. 1999. S006547 (Superior Court of San Diego County, November 29). Todd, John. 1980. "Tam closed in hunt for clues." San Francisco Examiner, October 16: 1.

    1h 2m
  3. 8 HR AGO

    The Exorcism of Roland Doe

    In the winter of 1973, director William Friedkin released his iconic horror classic The Exorcist, a film that has shocked and terrified audiences for more than fifty years. Based on William Peter Blatty’s novel of the same name, The Exorcist tells the story of a young girl who becomes possessed by a demonic entity, and the two Catholic priests who attempt to exorcise the demon. Even more terrifying than the content of the film, however, was the fact that The Exorcist was supposedly based on a true story.   William Peter Blatty had always stated The Exorcist was based on a supposedly true story he’d heard while at Georgetown University. According to Blatty, a Maryland boy, known as “Roland Doe,” had become possessed by a demonic entity and, among other things, underwent a negative personality change and began exhibiting impossible abilities including an ability to speak Latin. It was only through the dedication of one Jesuit priest that the boy was eventually freed of his possession and went on to live a normal life. Since the release of both the novel and the film in the 1970s, a great deal more has been learned about “Roland Doe” and the supposedly true story that inspired The Exorcist, raising many questions about the veracity of the original claims. Who was “Roland Doe,” and was he truly possessed by a demon, or just the intense emotions of an adolescent boy? Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Allen, Thomas. 1993. Possessed: The True Story of the Most Famous Exorcism of Modern Time. New York, NY: Doubleday. Associated Press. 1949. "'Evil spirit' cast out of 14-yearf-old." The Bee (Danville, Virginia), August 10: 8. McGuire, John M. 2005. "Priest was last of three who did 1949 exorcism." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 3: A1. News and Observer. 1964. "Tar Heel develops space ceramics." News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), September 3: 27. Nickell, Joe. 2001. "Exorcism!: Driving Out the Nonsense." Skeptical Inquirer 20-24. Opsasnick, Mark. 1999. "The haunted boy of Cottage City, the cold hard facts behind the story that Inspired The Exorcist." Strange Magazine.  Young, Maya. 2010. Boy whose case inspired The Exorcist is named by US magazine. December 20. Accessed March 17, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/20/the-exorcist-boy-named-magazine. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 9m
  4. 3 DAYS AGO

    Herbert Mullin: The Killer Hippie (Part 2)

    Throughout the early 1970s, California’s Bay Area was in the grip of terror as multiple serial killers operated at the time same time and in more or less the same space. In time, some of these killers, like Ed Kemper, would be caught, while others, like the Zodiac Killer, would remain unidentified. Yet it was the ones who appeared to kill at random, without any preferred victim, that would prove the most terrifying and most difficult to catch. Herbert Mullin was one such killer, and while he may have been active for a very short period, he managed to do a tremendous amount of damage in such a little amount of time. Over a five-month period in late 1972 and early 1973, Herbert Mullin killed thirteen people, including a college girl, a Catholic priest, and a former high school friend and that friend’s neighbors. To investigators, Mullin’s victims appeared to be—and indeed largely were—chosen at random and the weapons used were chosen more out of convenience than pathology. Had Mullin’s final murder not been committed in full view of witnesses, there’s a very good chance he would have gone on to kill many more people before being caught, if he ever was. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Associated Press. 1972. "Dragnet set up for Catholic priest's slayer." Los Angeles Times, November 4: 34. Dowd, Katie. 2022. "'Murder capital of the world': The terrifying years when multiple serial killers stalked Santa Cruz." SF Gate, August 21. Green, Ryan. 2024. I Hear Voices: A Descent into the Dark Half of Psychotic Killer, Herbert Mullin. Herefordshire, UK: Independent. Honig, Tom. 1973. "Did Mullin slay fourteen." Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 10: 1. —. 1973. "Mullin enters plea: innocent, insanity." Santa Cruz Sentinel, June 13: 1. —. 1973. "Mullin explains his reason for killing." Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 15: 1. —. 1973. "Mullin is found guilty." Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 20: 1. —. 1973. "'Overtones' of drugs in five slayings." Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 28: 1. —. 1973. "Slaying suspect called a 'quiet, regular guy'." Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 15: 1. Lunde, Donald, and Jefferson Morgan. 1980. The Die Song: A Journey into the Mind of a Mass Murderer. New York, NY: Norton. Santa Crus Sentinel. 1973. "Suspect charged in six shootings." Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 15: 1. Santa Cruz Sentinel. 1972. "Another disturbance at SC County Jail." Santa Cruz Sentinel, September 14: 19. —. 1972. "Body of slain transient is identified." Santa Cruz Sentinel, October 16: 10. —. 1972. "Investigator hired to find Cabrillo coed." Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 26: 46. —. 1972. "Priest slain in confessional box of church." Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 3: 2. Smith, Dave. 1973. "Killer of killers? Town waiting for answer." Los Angeles Times, February 19: 3. United Press International. 1973. "Friends claim man charged with 7 deaths used drugs." Sacramento Bee, February 16: 21. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    54 min
  5. 3 APR

    Herbert Mullin: The Killer Hippie (Part 1)

    Throughout the early 1970s, California’s Bay Area was in the grip of terror as multiple serial killers operated at the time same time and in more or less the same space. In time, some of these killers, like Ed Kemper, would be caught, while others, like the Zodiac Killer, would remain unidentified. Yet it was the ones who appeared to kill at random, without any preferred victim, that would prove the most terrifying and most difficult to catch. Herbert Mullin was one such killer, and while he may have been active for a very short period, he managed to do a tremendous amount of damage in such a little amount of time. Over a five-month period in late 1972 and early 1973, Herbert Mullin killed thirteen people, including a college girl, a Catholic priest, and a former high school friend and that friend’s neighbors. To investigators, Mullin’s victims appeared to be—and indeed largely were—chosen at random and the weapons used were chosen more out of convenience than pathology. Had Mullin’s final murder not been committed in full view of witnesses, there’s a very good chance he would have gone on to kill many more people before being caught, if he ever was. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Associated Press. 1972. "Dragnet set up for Catholic priest's slayer." Los Angeles Times, November 4: 34. Dowd, Katie. 2022. "'Murder capital of the world': The terrifying years when multiple serial killers stalked Santa Cruz." SF Gate, August 21. Green, Ryan. 2024. I Hear Voices: A Descent into the Dark Half of Psychotic Killer, Herbert Mullin. Herefordshire, UK: Independent. Honig, Tom. 1973. "Did Mullin slay fourteen." Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 10: 1. —. 1973. "Mullin enters plea: innocent, insanity." Santa Cruz Sentinel, June 13: 1. —. 1973. "Mullin explains his reason for killing." Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 15: 1. —. 1973. "Mullin is found guilty." Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 20: 1. —. 1973. "'Overtones' of drugs in five slayings." Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 28: 1. —. 1973. "Slaying suspect called a 'quiet, regular guy'." Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 15: 1. Lunde, Donald, and Jefferson Morgan. 1980. The Die Song: A Journey into the Mind of a Mass Murderer. New York, NY: Norton. Santa Crus Sentinel. 1973. "Suspect charged in six shootings." Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 15: 1. Santa Cruz Sentinel. 1972. "Another disturbance at SC County Jail." Santa Cruz Sentinel, September 14: 19. —. 1972. "Body of slain transient is identified." Santa Cruz Sentinel, October 16: 10. —. 1972. "Investigator hired to find Cabrillo coed." Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 26: 46. —. 1972. "Priest slain in confessional box of church." Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 3: 2. Smith, Dave. 1973. "Killer of killers? Town waiting for answer." Los Angeles Times, February 19: 3. United Press International. 1973. "Friends claim man charged with 7 deaths used drugs." Sacramento Bee, February 16: 21. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 3m
  6. 31 MAR

    The Unsolved Murder of Kristin O’Connell

    On the night of August 14, 1985, twenty-year-old Kristin O’Connell left a party in Ovid, NY to go for a walk. Two days later, her nude body was discovered near a cornfield along a rural county road; she had been stabbed in the chest and her throat was cut.  The unsolved murder of Kristin O’Connell has baffled local New York investigators for decades. At the time of her murder, Kristin had traveled from Minnesota to New York to visit a young man she’d met a few months earlier while on Spring Break in Florida. According to witnesses, Kristin wasn’t wearing shoes when she left the party and she wasn’t carrying a purse. Several witnesses reported having seen Kristin walking that night between 11:30 pm and 12:15 am, when she was seen talking to one or possible two men in a car. Roughly ten minutes later, several people reported hearing a loud scream coming from the area where her body was discovered. In the decades since Kristin’s murder, police have interviewed dozens of witnesses and followed up on thousands of leads, yet the case remains no closer to being solved than it was in the days following the discovery of the body. Please sign the Petition to override the decision to not permit 'touch DNA' to potentially solve this cold case! visit https://www.change.org/p/family-demands-dna-testing-by-othram-labs-in-the-kristin-o-connell-cold-case Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Allen, Matha. 1985. "Slain woman's parents seek comfort from her letter." Star Tribune, August 18: 35. Associated Press. 1987. "Psychics seeking slues to 1985 murder in Ovid." Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY), August 22: 12. —. 2009. "DNA may solve '85 slaying." Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, NY), August 13: 1. Democrat and Chronicle . 1985. "Police ask help in Ovid murder." Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY), August 20: 11. Democrat and Chronicle. 1985. "Lab to test items from slaying." Democrat and Chronicle , August 19: 7. Ebert, Alex. 2009. "A Burnsville mother won't let her daughter's murder case go cold." Star Tribune, August 13. Gillis, Jackie. 2023. What happened to Kristin O'Connell? March 2. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/local-news/what-happened-to-kristin-oconnell/. Lighty, Todd, and John Hartsock. 1985. "Brutal slaying shakes Seneca town." Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY), August 18: 1. Pfifer, Jim. 1996. "Police suspect imprisoned man for 1985 murder in Ovid." Star-Gazette, January 28: 1. Pittman, Mark. 1985. "Minn. woman found dead in Seneca." Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY), August 17: 1. Ritter, Carol. 1985. "4 deaths, few answers in Seneca." Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY), August 22: 14. —. 1986. "Parents on pilgrimage of grief." Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY), August 16: 1. —. 1985. "Slaying no longer the talk of Ovid, but investigation, reaction continue." Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY), September 25: 11. Shaw, David. 2009. "Police seek help on cold case." Finger Lakes Times, August 13. —. 1986. "Kristin O'Connell's murderer thwarts police." Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), February 21: 1. —. 1986. "Murder case takes police out of state." Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), January 8: 14. —. 1985. "Cops place an ad in hunt for killer." Syracuse Herald-Journal, August 29: 1. —. 1985. "Police hope TV reenactment of killing will help solve case." Syracuse Herald-Journal, September 13: 15. —. 1985. "Slaying's legacy: a bounty and fear." Syracuse Herald-Journal, August 30: 95. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    58 min

Shows with Subscription Benefits

  • A Wondery original podcast so compelling it was reimagined for TV starring Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Sissy Spacek, and more… When Molly's diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, she decides to do something bold: she leaves her unhappy marriage and embarks on a series of sexual adventures to help her feel alive. She shares the funniest and most touching details with her closest friend, host Nikki Boyer. As they peel back the layers, we learn that Molly isn’t just grappling with breast cancer: she's also dealing with some trauma from her past. Along the journey, the friends explore bigger themes that affect us all -- like healing, forgiveness and what do we do with the time we have left.  Follow Dying for Sex plus all-new bonus episodes on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge the entire original podcast early and ad-free, right now on Wondery+. Start your free trial in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or by visiting wondery.com/links/dying-for-sex/ now.

  • Netflix vs. HBO. Nike vs. Adidas. Business is war. Sometimes the prize is your wallet or your attention. Sometimes, it’s just the fun of beating the other guy. The outcome of these battles shapes what we buy and how we live.  Business Wars gives you the unauthorized, real story of what drives these companies and their leaders, inventors, investors and executives to new heights -- or to ruin. Hosted by David Brown, former anchor of Marketplace. From Wondery, the network behind Dirty John and American History Tellers. Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

  • Something Was Wrong is an award-winning docuseries about survivors discovery, trauma, and recovery from crime and abuse.

  • Hi, I’m Dax Shepard, and I love talking to people. I am endlessly fascinated by the messiness of being human, and I find people who are vulnerable and honest about their struggles and shortcomings to be incredibly sexy. I invite you to join me as I explore other people’s stories. We will celebrate, above all, the challenges and setbacks that ultimately lead to growth and betterment. What qualifies me for such an endeavor? More than a decade of sobriety, a degree in Anthropology and four years of improv training. I will attempt to discover human “truths” without any laboratory work, clinical trials or data collection. I will be, in the great tradition of 16th-century scientists, an Armchair Expert. Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube or listen to Armchair Expert early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/ now.

  • NEW WEEKLY EPISODES - Sean Combs’ trial is currently slated for May 2025 and wherever this story goes, Law&Crime will be there. Follow The Rise & Fall of Diddy page and stay subscribed to be the first to access new episodes available exclusively for Wondery+ members. --- For decades Sean Combs was hip-hop’s reigning mogul—the mastermind who redefined what it meant to have fame, fortune, and dominion over the music industry. But as Combs reached new heights in music, fashion, and business, allegations of misconduct and abuse began to surface, casting a dark shadow over his legacy. Hosted by Jesse Weber, this series uncovers how Combs built an empire that shaped a generation while navigating a trail of scandals, lawsuits, and criminal allegations. The Rise and Fall of Diddy explores the intersection of power, fame, and accountability in the life of a man who once called himself a “bad boy for life.”  Will his empire survive, or is this truly the end of an era? Listen to The Rise & Fall of Diddy exclusively on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting www.wondery.com/shows/the-rise-and-fall-of-diddy

  • STAY TUNED FOR MORE CONTENT - Law&Crime will continue to provide you with all the latest updates while we wait for the Luigi Mangione trial dates to be announced. Follow the LUIGI show page and stay subscribed to be the first to access new episodes, bonus content, and more -- available exclusively for Wondery+ members. --- When Luigi Mangione was arrested for allegedly shooting UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, it sent shockwaves across the country, but the aftermath was even more unsettling. While mainstream media condemned the act as a brutal murder, a very different narrative was taking shape online—one that questioned the true villains in this story. Was the alleged shooter a violent extremist, or had he become an unwitting symbol of something much larger?  Hosted by Law&Crime's Jesse Weber, LUIGI is more than just a true crime investigation—it's an exploration of a uniquely American moment. As this case continues to unfold in real-time, this series steps beyond the headline-grabbing "crime of the decade" angle to examine the cultural reckoning it has triggered. At its core, LUIGI captures a shifting America at a tipping point. From the public's growing disillusionment with corporate power to the radicalization of online discourse,—this is a story about what happens when the powerless begin to push back. LUIGI dissects the moral, political, and cultural divide at the heart of this case. Wherever this case goes, Law&Crime will provide you with all angles of the case; from those who have condemned the suspect and the crime, to others celebrating the act as revolutionary.  With exclusive interviews and in-depth coverage, we challenge you to decide: Is the status quo enough, or is it time for a cultural reckoning? Listen to Law&Crime and Twist’s LUIGI exclusively on Wondery+ and follow the show page to keep up on all the latest developments. You can join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Listen to new episodes early & ad-free.

US$5.99/mo or US$44.99/yr after trial

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

It’s a lighthearted nightmare in here, weirdos! Morbid is a true crime, creepy history and all things spooky podcast hosted by an autopsy technician and a hairstylist. Join us for a heavy dose of research with a dash of comedy thrown in for flavor.

More From Wondery

You Might Also Like

Content Restricted

This episode cannot be played on the web in your country or region.

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada