Curious Cousins OK Podcast

Curious Cousins OK
  • 4.9 (27)
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Become a Paid Subscriber: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/curious-cousins-ok-podcast/subscribe All things Kooky and Spooky in the Sooner (or Cowboy) state! Native Oklahomans and cousins, Jess and Tiff, explore all the dark history, paranormal, and true crime in their home state.

  1. FEB 20

    EP 158 Belvidere Mansion

    Episode 158: The "Belle" of Rogers County – The Belvidere Mansion In this episode, we travel to Claremore, Oklahoma, to explore the Belvidere Mansion, a three-story Victorian Gothic "castle" with a history as grand as its four turrets. Built at the turn of the 20th century by wealthy entrepreneur John Melville Bayless, this 9,000-square-foot masterpiece was meant to be a dream home—but it quickly became a site of tragedy and transition. From its origins as a high-society residence to its stints as a specialized hospital for "blood diseases" and a 12-unit apartment complex, the Belvidere has seen it all. We dive into the life of the ambitious Bayless family, the eerie "Kooky Facts" surrounding the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair materials hidden in the walls, and the heartbreaking string of deaths that left the mansion filled with more than just memories. The Highlights-- The Visionary: The story of John Melville Bayless, the man who built Claremore's infrastructure but died just six months before his "dream home" was finished. Architectural Salvage: How pieces of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair ended up as permanent fixtures in an Oklahoma mansion. The Darker Years: The mansion’s transformation into the Cinnabar Hospital in 1919 and its eventual slide into disrepair as a "condemned hazard." The Residents Who Never Left: From the "friendly" ghost of John Bayless greeting guests on the porch to the tragic, lingering presence of his daughter Bland and the "distraught woman" of the 1940s. Modern Day: A look at the mansion's rebirth via the Rogers County Historical Society, featuring a tea room (The Pink House), a genealogical library, and a ballroom that still hosts weddings today. Spook Scale-- We discuss the "hotspots" identified by paranormal investigators, including: The Basement: Disembodied footsteps and "ghost stick figures" captured on SLS cameras. The Second Floor: The most active area, where visitors report the sensation of a rope burn on their necks and whispers asking, "Who are you?" The Self-Flushing Toilets: Because even spirits appreciate indoor plumbing. Plan Your Visit-- If you’re brave enough to visit the Belvidere in person, here is what’s on the 2026 calendar: Dine: Grab lunch at The Pink House (Mon–Sat, 11 AM – 2 PM). Events: Stargazers Gathering: March 12, 2026. Nightcap at the Belvidere (Tales of the Macabre): April 26, 2026. Kentucky Derby Garden Party: May 3, 2026. Sources: Rogers County Historical Society TravelOK Legends of America Claremore Museum of History Ghosts and Legends of Oklahoma by Mike Ricksecker Oklahoma's Haunted Route 66 by Tanya McCoy OHS - Claremore

    48 min

  2. FEB 13

    Ep 157: OK Black Rodeo

    Episode 157: OK Black Rodeo – The Dust, The Duty, and The Dynasty In this episode, Tiff kicks up the red dirt of Oklahoma to uncover a history often "whitewashed" out of the Hollywood Western: the formidable legacy of the Black cowboy. From the "Soul Circuit" of all-Black towns to the modern-day "Super Bowls" of rodeo, we explore how Oklahoma became the epicenter of a movement where skill met defiance. We dive into the linguistic origins of the word "cowboy"—originally a derogatory label that Black riders reclaimed as a badge of honor—and trace the 100-year history of the Boley Rodeo, a Memorial Day tradition born in one of America's wealthiest historic all-Black towns. The 1-in-4 Statistic: Despite mainstream narratives, roughly 25% of cowboys on the 19th-century trail were Black. Oklahoma’s unique status as Indian Territory made it a sanctuary for skilled Black, Native American, and Mexican riders. Boley & Okmulgee: We break down the differences between these two titans. Boley is the historical soul, while Okmulgee (home of the Roy LeBlanc Invitational) is the professional heart. The Legend of Bill Pickett: Meet the "Dusky Demon," the Oklahoman who revolutionized the sport by inventing bulldogging (steer wrestling)—a technique inspired by herding dogs. Modern Shifts: We discuss the major 2026 news: the Roy LeBlanc Invitational's historic move from Okmulgee to Shawnee to accommodate its massive, growing audience. If you're ready to trade the headphones for the grandstands, we’ve got your 2026 roadmap. So listen in as we celebrate the "Soul Circuit"—a world where the DJ plays R&B, the BBQ is legendary, and the riders are some of the best in the world. Sources: University of Illinois Oklahoma State University Tamron Hall Show  Boley Rodeo Bill Pickett Rodeo MVSKOKE Media

    45 min

  3. FEB 6

    Ep 156: The Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken Tragedy

    Podcast Episode 156: The Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken Tragedy In this chilling episode, we travel back to the summer of 1992 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to revisit a crime that shattered the sense of safety in a tight-knit community. Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken wasn't just a restaurant; it was a "fried chicken royalty" landmark with direct ties to Colonel Sanders himself. But on August 17, that legacy of hospitality was met with unthinkable violence. We detail the harrowing "execution-style" robbery that left four young employees dead in a walk-in cooler—all for a sum of just $2,000. From the "inside man" who planned the heist to the rapid-fire investigation and the 14-year legal battle that followed, we examine how one night changed Tulsa forever. What You'll Hear in This Episode: The Legend of Lee’s: The fascinating history of Lee Cummings, the nephew of Colonel Harland Sanders, and how his family built a 42-year legacy at the corner of 9th and Sheridan. The "Kooky" Connection: How the Tulsa franchise owners were actually part of the extended Sanders family and why the community viewed the staff and regular patrons as one big family. A Planned Betrayal: The role of Donnie Daniels, a former employee who used his knowledge of closing procedures and the store safe to lead three others into a deadly trap. The Crime & The Victims: A somber tribute to the four lives lost: Joey Gooch (17), Ted Kindley (19), Stephen Williams (24), and Sendy Lara (27). The Investigation: How a suspicious security guard and a blue Chevrolet led Tulsa PD to identify and arrest all four suspects within just 48 hours. Justice and Appeals: A breakdown of the trials, the "Felony Murder Rule," and the final, controversial words of triggerman Corey Hamilton before his 2007 execution. Key Facts & "Kooky" Insights: The Take-Home Price: When Lee’s first opened in 1966, a full three-piece chicken box with all the fixings cost just $1.25. The Inside Knowledge: The killers didn't wear masks because two of them were certain the employees would recognize them regardless—a chilling detail that foreshadowed their intent. A Community Staple: Despite the horror of 1992, the restaurant reopened and thrived for another 20 years, finally closing its doors in 2012. "These four beautiful people were put on their knees and executed like they were a piece of trash... He had no remorse. None at all." — Janice Ramsey, mother of victim Stephen Williams. Sources: News on 6 The Oklahoman Find Law.com The Oklahoman - Taped Confessions The Oklahoman  The New York Times Wikipedia Murderpedia  OCCA

    51 min

  4. JAN 30

    Ep 155 Ft Sill Spooks

    Episode 155: The Ghosts of Fort Sill Is it possible for a military base to never truly "close," but instead just layer century after century of restless energy into the soil? In this episode, we are heading to Lawton, Oklahoma, to explore Fort Sill. Unlike other frontier posts that were abandoned to the elements, Fort Sill has been continuously active since 1869. It has evolved from a horseback frontier outpost to a high-tech artillery hub—but it has never quite managed to shake its past. From its founding by General Philip Sheridan and George Armstrong Custer to its dark days as a prisoner-of-war camp for Geronimo and the Chiricahua Apaches, Fort Sill is a pressure cooker of American history. We dive into the "Old Post Quadrangle," built by the legendary Buffalo Soldiers, and explore why this site is considered one of the most haunted military installations in the United States. In this episode, we discuss: The Founding & The "Peace Policy": How a tent city became the epicenter of the Indian Wars. The Sherman Incident: The bloody struggle on a front porch that almost cost a General his life. Geronimo’s Final Years: The truth behind his death and the chilling "Skull and Bones" legend surrounding his grave. The Most Haunted Locations: From the "rocking chair lady" in the Sherman House to the phantom riders on the Cavalry Parade Field. Modern Shadows: Why current trainees still report "shadow people" and phantom drumbeats in the barracks today. Whether it’s the spirit of a mother searching for her lost children or the rhythmic cadence of a 19th-century bugle call, Fort Sill proves that some soldiers never truly finish their watch. Want to see the "Gun Park" or walk the haunted quadrangle yourself? Check out our show sources for info on Fort Sill’s historical walking tours and a list of the episodes mentioned in today's show (Ft. Washita #26, Ft. Reno #45, and Quanah Parker #132). Sources: Army Family and MWR Site: Ft Sill Ghosts and Legends of Oklahoma by Mike Ricksecker US Army KWSO 7News X94

    32 min

  5. JAN 23

    Ep 154 Frank Eaton

    "My boy, may an old man's curse rest upon you if you do not try to avenge your father." In 1868, an eight-year-old boy named Frank Eaton witnessed his father’s cold-blooded murder at the hands of lawless vigilantes. Most children would have been broken; Frank just got a gun. In this week’s episode, Jess traces the incredible 97-year journey of the man who would become Pistol Pete. We’re diving deep into the dusty trails of the Old West to follow a legendary marksman who outshot the U.S. Cavalry at fifteen, served as a Deputy Marshal under the "Hanging Judge" Isaac Parker, and spent decades hunting down the men who destroyed his family. But Frank Eaton’s story didn't end with a smoking gun. We explore his unlikely transition from a gritty frontier lawman to a beloved community fixture in Perkins, Oklahoma—and eventually, the living face of Oklahoma State University. Tune in as we discuss: The Blood Debt: The high-stakes duels Frank fought to clear his father’s name. Kooky Facts: Why Frank was often seen walking barefoot on red-hot metal. The Mascot Wars: The modern-day legal battles between OSU, Wyoming, and New Mexico State over who owns the "rootin’-tootin’" legend. The Man Behind the Mask: How a 1923 parade changed the identity of Oklahoma sports forever. Whether you're an OSU fan or just a lover of wild frontier history, this is the story of a man who lived by the gun and died a legend. Pistols firing! 🔫🍊 Sources: Wikipedia - Frank Eaton Frank Eaton Historical Home  National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Oklahoma Senate Oklahoma State University Visit Stillwater OK.com Cowboy State Daily

    51 min

  6. JAN 16

    Ep 153 Glen Ake & Steve Hatch pt 2

    This week, your favorite cousins wrap up the crimes of Glen Ake and Steve Hatch. Ake and Hatch were arrested in Colorado and returned to Oklahoma after being linked to the murders of Reverend and Mrs. Douglass, as well as related crimes in Texas. Six weeks after the killings, the manhunt ended on Thanksgiving Eve 1979; Oklahoma officials moved quickly to secure custody. Evidence against them included statements each man made, ballistic links, and testimony from eyewitness survivors Brooks and Leslie Douglass, and girlfriend, Ginger Keefe. Hatch was tried first, convicted, and sentenced to death; Ake’s 1980 trial resulted in death sentences for the murders and extraordinary prison terms for the attempted murders. Subsequent appeals, retrials, and legal rulings (including questions about Ake’s psychiatric evaluation) led to mixed outcomes. Brooks and Leslie survived but endured repeated court appearances and years of retraumatization as appeals required them to testify multiple times. They rebuilt their lives: Brooks finished college, served in ROTC, attended law school, entered politics—winning an Oklahoma State Senate seat at 27—and championed victims’ rights, authoring the Oklahoma Victims Bill of Rights in 1992; Leslie completed college and graduate school, becoming a teacher and assistant principal. In 1995 Brooks met Ake in prison. The siblings later participated in the film adaptation of their story, and Brooks died in 2020; Leslie continues to live in Oklahoma with her family and the legacy of advocating for victims’. Due to the brutal nature of the crimes, listener discretion is advised.  Sources: Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals The Oklahoman; 2022; 2022 Wikipedia Murderpedia Dateline Heaven’s Rain They Will Kill You

    55 min

  7. JAN 9

    Ep 152 Glen Ake & Steve Hatch pt 1

    Wowza! We’ve already made it through the first full week of 2026! This week, Tiff’s listener pick takes us back to 1979 when OK was rocked by the brutal murders of Rev. Richard and Mrs. Marilyn Douglass. Rev. Richard Douglass was the lead pastor at Putnam City Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Marilyn Lacy Douglass chose to focus on raising their two children, Brooks and Leslie. The couple married on July 8, 1961, and spent several years as Southern Baptist missionaries in the Amazon region of Belém, Brazil, a formative period for the family before they later settled in rural Okarche, Oklahoma. Their life together—marked by devotion, faith, and service—became the backdrop for the film The Amendment (formerly Heaven’s Rain). On the evening of October 15, 1979, two men, later identified as Steven Keith Hatch and Glen Burton Ake, forced their way into the Douglass home after committing another robbery, tied the family, and brutally executed Rev. Douglass and Marilyn while their children, 16-year-old Brooks and 12-year-old Leslie, were bound and wounded. The attackers shot the four family members; Brooks and Leslie survived despite severe injuries, escaping and seeking help. Investigators quickly traced the suspects through descriptions and the stolen yellow Chevy; Ake and Hatch fled, committing similar violent crimes across multiple states before being captured weeks later. The case drew massive public attention, and an exhaustive manhunt that ended with the suspects’ arrest six weeks after the murders. Due the grave nature of these crimes, listener discretion is advised.  Join your favorite cousins for their first True Crime case of 2026…Part 1 of the story of Glen Ake and Steve Hatch. Sources: Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals The Oklahoman; 2022; 2022 Wikipedia Murderpedia Dateline Heaven’s Rain They Will Kill You

    46 min

  8. JAN 2

    Ep 151 Robbers' Roost

    HAPPY NEW YEAR! WOHOO! 2026 Jess will be starting this new year out right…with a spooky tale from the Oklahoma Panhandle! Before Robbers Roost became legendary, the Oklahoma Panhandle—once called the Public Land Strip or "No Man's Land"—had a complex history shaped by 19th-century territorial politics and frontier life. After the Compromise of 1850 and boundary adjustments in 1854, a roughly 34-by-168-mile rectangle remained unattached to any state or territory until 1890. The area was traversed for centuries (Santa Fe Trail, Spanish explorers), controlled for a time by Comanche bands, and later overrun by buffalo hunters and Texas cattlemen who grazed open range into the Strip. From the late 1870s settlers and squatters established informal ranches and towns without legal title, relying on self-surveyed claims, local governance, and vigilante justice. Persistent confusion about jurisdiction—exacerbated by the Post Office and mistaken assignment to "Indian Territory"—delayed formal homestead rights until the 1890 Organic Act made the Strip part of Oklahoma Territory, enabling legal land ownership, railroad-driven development, and eventual statehood in 1907. Robbers Roost, on Black Mesa near Kenton in the Panhandle, was a natural stronghold and outlaw haven in the late 1860s, most famously used by William Coe and his gang to raid travelers, ranches, and military posts. Coe fortified a stone fortress with thick walls, portholes, and support structures in nearby canyons; after murders in 1867, a U.S. Army bombardment shattered the fortress, many gang members were captured or lynched, and Coe was later seized and extrajudicially hanged. The site’s foundation remains, and folklore endures—tales of buried treasure, ghostly apparitions, and phantom battle noises persist—though Robbers Roost sits on private land and visitors must not without permission!  Join Jess and Tiff this year as they continue to explore all things kooky and spooky in the state of Oklahoma!  Sources:  OHS - Robbers Roost Oklahoma Senate The Oklahoman    Legends of America OHS - No Mans Land Haunted Oklahoma by Jeff Provine

    45 min
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4.9
out of 5
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About

Become a Paid Subscriber: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/curious-cousins-ok-podcast/subscribe All things Kooky and Spooky in the Sooner (or Cowboy) state! Native Oklahomans and cousins, Jess and Tiff, explore all the dark history, paranormal, and true crime in their home state.

Information

  • Creator
    Curious Cousins OK
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    159
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Curious Cousins OK
  • Show Website
    Curious Cousins OK Podcast

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