Malice in the Mitten

Tracy Preston
  • 4.6 (19)
  • True Crime
  • Weekly

Three Michigan shows, one voice.  Malice in the Mitten - Michigan-focused True Crime. Round Robin - Upbeat round-table talk. F-Bomb - Michigan folklore and frights.   New episodes every Monday, Wednesday & Friday

  1. Episode 1

    S14 E1 - Rough on Rats - A Farm, a Fortune, and a Fatal Promise

    In 1883, sixty-year-old Michigan farmer John Guild transferred his property to a woman who promised him a home for the remainder of his life. Not long after the deal, he was dead. An examination reportedly revealed arsenic. A neighbor testified about purchasing a product called Rough on Rats. And investigators questioned what happened to Guild's missing money. Korun Larson was convicted of first-degree murder. Her husband, Ole, was acquitted. But the story didn't end with the verdicts. A campaign to secure Korun's pardon would raise further questions about one of Michigan's forgotten nineteenth-century murder cases. Join Tracy Preston and Christine Mulligan as they examine the historical evidence and remember the life of John Guild. #MaliceInTheMitten #MichiganTrueCrime #HistoricalTrueCrime #JohnGuild #TrueCrimePodcast Written, recorded, edited & produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine Mulligan Original music created exclusively for Malice in the Mitten by Tracy Preston Original artwork by Todd Preston Sources: “The ‘Rough on Rats’ Murder.” Kalamazoo Gazette, 20 Feb. 1884, p. 1. Reproduced in Murder by Gaslight, 12 July 2014. Read historical newspaper transcription. The Clinton Republican. Historical newspaper issue containing reports of Ole Larson's acquittal and Korun Larson's pardon effort. Clinton County Historical Newspaper Archives. Historical newspaper archive. “Woman's Christian Temperance Union.” Social Welfare History Project, Virginia Commonwealth University. Historical background. “Microfilm & Obituary Request.” Muskegon Area District Library. Newspaper collection information.

  2. Episode 2

    S14 E2 - Round Robin - What The Hell is WrongWith Everybody

    What happens when common sense takes a vacation? This week on Round Robin, Tracy, Christine, and Nina explore some of the most outrageous and extraordinary stories making headlines. From a Disney World guest diving into an attraction's water to two men driving a couch down a public road, we're asking the question everyone seems to be thinking: What the hell is wrong with everybody?! Discover why groups sometimes encourage risky behavior, how the human brain develops extraordinary physical abilities, and what separates reckless decisions from remarkable achievements. Plus, meet Betty Bromage, the 97-year-old wing walker who proves that adventure doesn't have an expiration date. #RoundRobinPodcast #FunnyNews #WeirdNews #HumanBehavior #WomanOfTheWeek Written, recorded, edited & produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine & Nina Mulligan Original music created exclusively for Round Robin by Tracy Preston Original artwork by Todd Preston Sources: Tucker, Luke. “Police Stop Men ‘Driving’ Couch Down Busy Charlotte Road.” WBTV, 1 Oct. 2026. Read source. “Disney World Guests Banned after Diving into Epcot Boat Ride Water, Violating Strict Safety Rules.” Entertainment Weekly, Oct. 2026. Read source. Hyem, Caitlin. “Dad Unexpectedly Runs Record-Breaking Mile While Pushing His Daughter in a Pram.” Guinness World Records, 9 Sept. 2026. Read source. “Fastest Mile Pushing a Pram (Male).” Guinness World Records, 2026. Read source. Gross, Katherine. “‘Unicycle Strongman’ Rides Back into Record Book by Squatting over 130 lbs Mid-Peddle.” Guinness World Records, 1 Oct. 2026. Read source. Newman, Vicki. “Brave Betty Becomes Oldest Person to Do the Loop-the-Loop as She Wing Walks at 97.” Guinness World Records, 15 Sept. 2026. Read source. “Oldest Person to Perform a Loop the Loop Wing Walk (Female).” Guinness World Records, 2026. Read source. Gardner, Margo, and Laurence Steinberg. “Peer Influence on Risk Taking, Risk Preference, and Risky Decision Making in Adolescence and Adulthood: An Experimental Study.” Developmental Psychology, vol. 41, no. 4, 2005, pp. 625–635. Research abstract. “Risk-Taking in Social Settings: Group and Peer Effects.” Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2014. Research article. “The Role of Social Context in Risky Decision-Making: Presence of Friend and Low Resistance to Peer Influence Increase Risky Decision-Making.” PubMed, 2022. Research abstract.

  3. Episode 3

    S14 E3 - F-Bomb - The Door to Nowhere - The Haunting of Henderson Castle

    High above Kalamazoo, Michigan, stands a magnificent Victorian castle built in 1895. But according to decades of paranormal accounts, some of its former residents may never have left. This week on F-Bomb Friday, Tracy Preston explores the fascinating history and chilling legends of Henderson Castle. From Mary Henderson's mysterious missing jewelry and the Lady in White to the tragic legend of a little girl named Christine, the castle holds stories that blur the line between history and haunting. We'll also uncover the real military record behind one alleged spirit, examine paranormal investigations conducted inside the castle, and investigate the mysterious legend of a basement Door to Nowhere. What is documented history? What is folklore? And what remains unexplained? Join us as we explore one of Kalamazoo's most intriguing historic landmarks. #FBombFriday #HendersonCastle #MichiganFolklore #HauntedMichigan #MaliceInTheMitten Recorded, edited & produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Todd Preston Researched and written by Todd Preston Music created exclusively for F-Bomb by Tracy Preston Original music created by Todd Preston Sources: Detroit Rock City Paranormal. “Henderson Castle.” Detroit Rock City Paranormal, 2019, www.detroitrockcityparanormal.com/henderson-castle. GRAVE Paranormal. “Henderson Castle in Kalamazoo, MI.” GRAVE Paranormal, 27 Dec. 2019, graveparanormal.com/henderson-castle-in-kalamazoo-mi/. “Henderson Castle.” Henderson Castle, Henderson Castle Foundation, www.hendersoncastle.com/index.php/castle. “Henderson Castle.” SAH Archipedia, Society of Architectural Historians, sah-archipedia.org/buildings/MI-01-KZ20. “The Haunted History of Kalamazoo’s Henderson Castle.” The Haunted Places, thehauntedplaces.com/haunted-history-kalamazoo-henderson-castle/. “Henderson Castle.” Spookfinder, spookfinder.com/place/henderson-castle. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026. “Henderson-Ames Company.” Kalamazoo Public Library, www.kpl.gov/local-history/kalamazoo-history/business/henderson-ames-company/. “Inside Look at One of the Most Haunted Places in Michigan.” FOX 17 West Michigan, 18 Oct. 2018, www.fox17online.com/2018/10/18/inside-look-at-one-of-the-most-haunted-places-in-michigan. “Kalamazoo’s Henderson Castle Is One of Michigan’s Most Haunted Sites.” FOX 17 West Michigan, 2023, www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/kzoo-bc/kalamazoos-henderson-castle-is-one-michigans-most-haunted-sites. Michigan Volunteers of ’98: A Complete Photographic Record of Michigan’s Part in the Spanish-American War of 1898. 1898. Internet Archive, archive.org. Rzepczynski, Kris. “Henderson Castle.” Kalamazoo Public Library, 21 Feb. 2017, www.kpl.gov/local-history/kalamazoo-history/houses/henderson-castle/. Southern Michigan ParaNormals. “Past Investigations.” The Southern Michigan ParaNormals, WordPress, thesouthernmichiganparanormals.wordpress.com/investigations/. Thomas, Wayne, and Brandon Hoezee, hosts. “Southern Michigan Paranormals Danny Holroyd: Stories of Hauntings in West Michigan Including Henderson Castle.” Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters, WKTV Community Media, 27 Apr. 2023, www.wktvjournal.org/podcast/grand-rapids-ghost-hunters/.

  4. Episode 4

    S14 E4 - A Fatal Diagnosis - The Poisoning Case of William Vanderhoof

    In December 1883, William Vanderhoof died after years of unexplained illness in Berrien County, Michigan. His wife, Elizabeth, was accused of poisoning him with arsenic. A jury convicted her of murder. But William's attending physician believed he was suffering from heart disease, and the medical evidence was far from straightforward. In 1888, the Michigan Supreme Court overturned Elizabeth's conviction, criticizing the handling of expert testimony and the jury's instructions. Then, in April 1889, prosecutors abandoned the murder case entirely. #MaliceInTheMitten #MichiganTrueCrime #HistoricalTrueCrime #WilliamVanderhoof #TrueCrimePodcast Written, recorded, edited & Produced by Tracy Preston Original music created exclusively for Malice in the Mitten by Tracy Preston Original artwork by Todd Preston

  5. Episode 5

    S14 E5 - Round Robin - Animals Gone Wild

    A black bear walks into an Alaska shopping mall, steals a peach, poops in the hallway, and leaves. Beavers in Poland destroy a sign warning people about… beavers. And a frightened monkey turns a Spirit Halloween store into its own personal jungle gym. You seriously cannot make this shit up. Because on Round Robin, sometimes we start with a bear taking a shit in a shopping mall...and somehow end up learning something. #JoanBeauchampProcter #WomanOfTheWeek #WomenInScience #AnimalLovers #RoundRobinPodcast Written, recorded, edited & produced by Tracy Preston Original music created exclusively for Round Robin by Tracy Preston Original artwork by Todd Preston  Sources: DeLatte, Tracy. “Spooked Monkey at Spirit Halloween Swings from Rafters.” FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, 29 Oct. 2025. https://www.fox4news.com/news/monkey-spirit-halloween. Lee, Hannah, and Lauren Maxwell. “VIDEO: Black Bear Goes into JBER Shopping Mall, Steals Some Fruit, Leaves Some Scat.” Alaska’s News Source, 7 July 2026. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/07/07/video-black-bear-goes-into-jber-shopping-mall-steals-some-fruit-leaves-some-scat/. Ledford, Heidi. “Big Dogs Age Faster than Little Ones—Rogue ‘Jumping Genes’ Might Be to Blame.” Nature, 8 Oct. 2026. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03199-5. Mariner, Blaise L., et al. “Epigenetic Aging and Transposon Dysregulation Reflect Size-Related Lifespan Compression in Dogs.” Science, 8 Oct. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aeb2986. National Park Service. “Acadia’s North American Beaver: The Ultimate Keystone Species.” National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. https://www.nps.gov/articles/north-american-beaver-acadia.htm.  National Park Service. “Bear Safety: Storing Food.” National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. https://www.nps.gov/articles/bearsafetyfood.htm.  Schneider, Lauren. “Jonathan the Tortoise Has Lived to 194 Years Old—Now Scientists Think They Know Why.” Live Science, 7 Oct. 2026. https://www.livescience.com/animals/turtles-tortoises/scientists-discover-the-genetic-secrets-that-may-have-helped-jonathan-the-tortoise-live-to-194-years-old. Shaw, Madeline. “Do Animals Experience Schadenfreude?” Live Science, 4 Oct. 2026. https://www.livescience.com/animals/do-animals-experience-schadenfreude. Snyder, Bill. “An Extremely Old Giant Tortoise Named Jonathan May Hold the Secret to a Long, Healthy Life: Study.” Vanderbilt Health News, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 7 Oct. 2026. https://news.vumc.org/2026/10/07/an-extremely-old-giant-tortoise-named-jonathan-may-hold-the-secret-to-a-long-healthy-life-study/. Tilles, Daniel. “Beavers Destroy Sign Warning about Beavers.” Notes from Poland, 8 Oct. 2026. https://notesfrompoland.com/2026/10/08/beavers-destroy-sign-warning-about-beavers/. Zoological Society of London. “53ft Snake Arrives at London Zoo to Celebrate Forgotten Pioneer.” ZSL, 2 July 2026. https://www.zsl.org/news-and-events/news/53ft-snake-arrives-london-zoo-celebrate-forgotten-pioneer. Zoological Society of London. “Happy Birthday, Joan Procter!” ZSL, 4 Aug. 2017. https://www.zsl.org/news-and-events/news/happy-birthday-joan-procter. Zoological Society of London. “Joan Beauchamp Procter.” ZSL Archives. https://zsl.maxarchiveservices.co.uk/sub_people/joan-beauchamp-procter/.  Zoological Society of London. “Reptile Houses New and Old: Commemorating Joan Procter.” ZSL. https://www.zsl.org/news-and-events/feature/reptile-houses-new-and-old-commemorating-joan-procter.  Zoological Society of London. “Reptile House History.” London Zoo. https://www.londonzoo.org/zoo-stories/history-of-london-zoo/reptile-house-history.

  6. Episode 6

    S14 E6 - F-Bomb - The Hospital That Wouldn't Let Go - Stimson Hospital - Where the HIstory Ends & the Haunting Begins

    Deep in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, stands a Victorian mansion that once became a twenty-bed community hospital—and later one of Mid-Michigan's most enduring paranormal legends. Harriet Chapman Hospital opened in 1918, founded by nurse Harriet Chapman alongside physicians Charles Stimson and Francis R. Blanchard. Less than a year later, tragedy struck when Dr. Blanchard stepped through an open elevator doorway and fell approximately twelve feet into the basement. He survived only minutes. For decades afterward, the building remained a place of birth, illness, healing, loss, and eventually abandonment as a hospital. But when the patients and nurses left, the stories didn't. This F-Bomb Friday, we travel to Eaton Rapids and step inside the documented history, tragedy, folklore, and alleged hauntings of Stimson Hospital. Please consider donating to help continue the preservation of the Stimson Hospital – anything is greatly appreciated.  To donate – click on of the links below:  Thank you and much love! https://cash.app/$Sturgilchristoj https://venmo.com/u/Christopher-Sutrgill-8 Pay Pal – chris.sturgill61@gmail.com #FBombFriday #StimsonHospital #HauntedMichigan #MichiganFolklore #MichiganParanormal Written, recorded, edited & produced by Tracy Preston Original music created exclusively for F-Bomb by Tracy Preston Original artwork by Todd Preston Sources: Alter, Don. “Stimson Hospital, Eaton Rapids, Michigan.” Into the Shadows: Macomb Paranormal Investigations, season 4, episode 6, 11 Sept. 2026, RSS.com. Associated Press. “Former Michigan Hospital to Become Bed and Breakfast.” Journal Record, 28 Dec. 2017. Eaton Rapids Medical Center. “About ERMC.” Eaton Rapids Medical Center. The Ingham County News. “Eaton Rapids Community Hospital.” 27 June 1957. Capital Area District Libraries, Local History Online. Malewski, Deb. “‘Haunted’ Hospital to Be Featured on Reality TV.” The County Journal, 29 Nov. 2019. Michigan State Medical Society. Medical History of Michigan. Vol. 2, Bruce Publishing Company, 1930. Library of Congress. Passick, Justin. “Stimson Hospital Hosts Parafest Event and More as Owners Renovate.” The County Journal, 10 Sept. 2026. Robinson, John. “A Quick Look Around the Old Chapman-Stimson Hospital, Eaton Rapids.” 99.1 WFMK, 22 Apr. 2025. Robinson, John. “Haunted Michigan: The Old Stimson Hospital, Eaton Rapids.” 99.1 WFMK, 5 Sept. 2017. “Stimson Hospital.” Haunted Places. Submitted by Devon H. “The Spirits Still Within Stimson Hospital, Part Two.” The Grave Talks: Haunted, Paranormal & Supernatural, 2 Sept. 2025, Audioboom.

  7. Episode 7

    S14 E7 - Halloween Behind the Mask - The Murder of Willie Wilborn

    On Halloween night in 2019, Willie Lawrence Wilborn was standing inside a Detroit gas station when a gunman wearing a clown mask approached and fatally shot him. But the story didn't begin that night. Two years earlier, Wilborn had been charged in the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, LaDiamond Myers, a 24-year-old mother of four. Those charges were dismissed after a judge determined prosecutors had presented insufficient evidence to proceed to trial. Written,recorded, edited & produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine Mulligan Original music created exclusively for Malice in the Mitten by Tracy Preston Original artwork by Todd Preston Sources: Baskerville, Aaron. “Accused Murderer Speaks after Release from Jail.” WXYZ-TV, 2017. Source . FOX 2 Detroit. “Suspect Accused of Killing Man While Wearing Clown Mask Arrested.” FOX 2 Detroit, 12 Nov. 2019. Source . Ley, Shawn, and Derick Hutchinson. “Charges Dismissed against Man Accused of Killing Pregnant Mother in Detroit.” ClickOnDetroit, 28 July 2017. Source . Ley, Shawn, and Derick Hutchinson. “Sources: Man Accused of Beating Girlfriend to Death in Front of Young Kids Killed by Detroit Gunman in Clown Mask.” ClickOnDetroit, 6 Nov. 2019. Source . Ley, Shawn, and Derick Hutchinson. “Suspected Clown Mask Gunman Charged in Fatal Halloween Shooting at Detroit Gas Station.” ClickOnDetroit, 12 Nov. 2019. Source . Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. “Detroit Man Charged in Braille Street Homicide.” Wayne County, Michigan, 2017. Source .

  8. Episode 8

    S14 E8 - Round Robin - Dating by Cabbage - Who Knew That Was a Halloween Tradition

    Halloween gets weird on Round Robin! Tracy, Christine and Nina uncover bizarre old-school Halloween dating rituals, terrifying turnip jack-o'-lanterns, the strange history behind trick-or-treating.  Tracy also honors Halloween historian Ruth Edna Kelley as Woman of the Week and recommends Peacock's new Friday the 13th prequel series Crystal Lake. Grab the candy, turn down the lights, and prepare for Halloween history, laughs and a few seriously strange discoveries. #RoundRobinPodcast #Halloween #HalloweenHistory #CrystalLake #SpookySeason Written, recorded, edited & produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine & Nina Mulligan Theme song created exclusively for Round Robin by Tracy Preston Original artwork by Todd Preston Halloween Themed Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/music/tracks/monument-music/midnight-creeping License code: Y8SB9DQAW3E7DBS2 https://uppbeat.io/music/tracks/monument-music/mysteria License code: SQCCBWYJWFGHQNPZ https://uppbeat.io/music/tracks/el-depravo/the-breath-of-night License code: UU2DPD0NS9EK94MM https://uppbeat.io/music/tracks/kevin-macleod/darkest-child License code: VE8WCO707IYUWTOY https://uppbeat.io/music/tracks/monument-music/dark-candy License code: POV9TXU1POQEJIFN https://uppbeat.io/music/tracks/monument-music/whisper-of-ghost License code: UCZ1FFZT6A6ID8UM Sources: Andersen, Marc Malmdorf, et al. “Playing With Fear: A Field Study in Recreational Horror.” Psychological Science, vol. 31, no. 12, 2020, pp. 1497–1510. Association for Psychological Science, doi:10.1177/0956797620972116. Kelley, Ruth Edna. The Book of Hallowe’en. Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., 1919. Project Gutenberg, 21 Feb. 2007. NBCUniversal. “Friday the 13th Prequel Series ‘Crystal Lake’ Premieres October 15 on Peacock.” NBCUniversal Media, 5 Oct. 2026. Peacock. “Meet the Full Crystal Lake Cast Led by Linda Cardellini: Bios & Photos.” Peacock, 18 Sept. 2026. Tensley, Brandon. “The Celtic Origins of Trick-or-Treating.” Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Institution, 2024. Thomas, Heather. “The Origins of Halloween Traditions.” Headlines & Heroes, Library of Congress, 26 Oct. 2021.

  9. Episode 9

    S14 E9 - F-Bomb - Devils Night - The Night Detroit Burned

    Before Halloween came Devil’s Night—a Detroit tradition that began with pranks, eggs, soap, and toilet paper before evolving into something far more terrifying. By the 1980s, October 30 had become synonymous with arson, abandoned buildings, sirens, and fear. During the three-day Halloween period of 1984, Detroit recorded an astonishing 810 fires. But this isn't only the story of a city burning. It's the story of how Devil's Night grew from old Mischief Night folklore into an urban legend built around very real destruction—and how tens of thousands of Detroit residents eventually fought back, reclaiming their neighborhoods through Angels' Night. On this episode of F-Bomb Friday, we uncover the history, folklore, fear, fire, and remarkable community response behind Detroit's infamous Devil's Night. Because the Devil didn't take Detroit. And angels didn't save it. People did. #DevilsNight #Detroit #DetroitHistory #MichiganHistory #FBombFriday Recorded, edited & produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Todd Preston Researched & written by Todd Preston  Original music created exclusively for F-Bomb by Tracy Preston Original artwork by Todd Preston Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Urban Community Intervention to Prevent Halloween Arson—Detroit, Michigan, 1985–1996.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 46, no. 14, 11 Apr. 1997, pp. 299–304. CDC/MMWR source. Detroit Historical Society. “Haunted History: Devil’s Night.” Detroit Historical Society, 29 Oct. 2021. Detroit Historical Society source. Deutsch, James. “What Did You Do on Mischief Night? Uh, Nothing...” Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, 27 Oct. 2017. Smithsonian Folklife source. Fabry, Merrill. “A Brief History of ‘Mischief Night.’” TIME, 30 Oct. 2015. TIME source. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

See All Season 14 (9)

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4.6
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Three Michigan shows, one voice.  Malice in the Mitten - Michigan-focused True Crime. Round Robin - Upbeat round-table talk. F-Bomb - Michigan folklore and frights.   New episodes every Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Information

  • Creator
    Tracy Preston
  • Episodes
    360
  • Seasons
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Malice in the Mitten

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