The Pandemonium Witches: Murders, Mystery, and Mayhem

TPW3MPodcast

Do you hear things that go bump in the night & know better than to investigate? Obsessed with unsolved mysteries, hauntings, and true crime? Then this podcast is for you! Hosts Cat & Rachel (with occasional hosts Em & Meg) dive into murders, monsters, and the paranormal - uncovering the real horrors while honoring the victims. Each themed episode mixes dark tales with humor as they dehumanize villains and explore the unknown. Stay feral, bite the hand, and don’t forget to follow!

  1. 4D AGO

    S2.E19 - Satan, Silence, and a City in Fear: Richard Ramirez, The Night Stalker

    This week, the Pandemonium team discusses the terrifying case of Richard Ramirez, a man who would come to be known as the “Night Stalker.” Throughout the mid-1980s, residents of Los Angeles lived in fear as a series of brutal home invasions, assaults, and murders left investigators scrambling for answers. Ramirez targeted men, women, and even children, often striking at random and leaving behind a trail of violence that felt impossible to predict. With no clear pattern and little forensic evidence at first, the case quickly escalated into one of the most intense manhunts in California history. This episode walks through the timeline of Ramirez’s crimes, the fear that spread across entire communities, and the investigation that ultimately led to his capture. Because when violence strikes without warning, it leaves behind more than victims - it leaves an entire city searching for safety. Links We Used: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ramirezhttps://www.aetv.com/articles/richard-ramirezhttps://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/night-stalker-casehttps://csi.pressbooks.pub/darkmindsdeadlydeeds/chapter/richard-ramirez-social-learning-theory/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-Ramirezhttps://people.com/all-about-richard-ramirez-death-8759802https://sk.sagepub.com/ency/edvol/violentcrime/chpt/richard-ramirez#_https://allthatsinteresting.com/richard-ramirez-night-stalkerhttps://people.com/how-was-the-night-stalker-richard-ramirez-caught-8758626https://www.biography.com/crime/richard-ramirezhttps://www.cnn.com/2013/06/07/justice/california-night-stalker-ramirez-deadhttps://www.reddit.com/r/AskLosAngeles/comments/1i9w0ew/what_was_it_like_living_in_the_la_area_while/https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/serial-killers/richard-ramirez/https://vault.fbi.gov/richard-ramirezhttps://expendableforacause.net/2023/08/30/murderofmeileung/https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Night-Stalker-tied-to-slaying-of-S-F-girl-3213197.phphttps://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/people-v-ramirez-33683https://expendableforacause.net/2023/01/29/the-kyle-incident/https://expendableforacause.net/2023/01/05/the-murder-of-joyce-nelson/https://expendableforacause.net/2024/06/13/khovananthincident/https://expendableforacause.net/2022/12/26/petersen-incident/https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188868013/mei_shan-leunghttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/211167702/jennie-vincowhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25075405/vincent_charles-zazzarahttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25075416/maxine_levenia-zazzarahttp://findagrave.com/memorial/112101798/william_makoto-doihttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/137031658/yuriko_lillie-doihttp://findagrave.com/memorial/117936337/mary_louise-cannonhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112102711/joyce_lucille-nelsonhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125212949/sophie-dickmanhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112101055/elyas_yakub-abowathhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87654040/barbara-panhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87654048/peter_hsuntse-panhttps://www.holeinthewallgang.org/

    1h 43m
  2. MAY 8

    S2. E18 - The House on Moorhouse Street: The Murderous Match of David and Catherine Birnie

    The Pandemonium team is back, discussing the horrific crimes committed by serial killers David Birnie and Catherine Birnie, known as the Moorhouse Murderers. In the mid-1980s, the couple lured young women back to their home on Moorhouse Street in Perth, where their victims were assaulted and murdered. For months, their crimes went unnoticed until one victim managed to escape and tell police what had happened inside the house. This episode walks through the timeline of the murders, the survivor whose courage exposed the truth, and the investigation that finally brought the killings to an end. The crimes committed inside that house shocked Australia and remain one of the country’s most disturbing serial killer cases.  Links We Used: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_and_Catherine_Birniehttps://tv.apple.com/us/episode/the-moorhouse-horrorsthe-call-girl-killing/umc.cmc.4mjks9lm0xundpf4ui93h6dcx?showId=umc.cmc.59hhekmkn5g2tckmjuyk0i3clhttps://tubitv.com/tv-shows/540525/s01-e06-the-moorhouse-horrors-the-call-girl-killinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue9-wwQBkH0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ7Tm6FH84Qhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/5Sk5S5K1hlY4C9W2bSiKRfhttps://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s6-ep276-the-devils-luck-the-moorhouse-murders-survivor/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JavhWDt6onkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noX2TQyL5NIhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169083348/susannah-candyhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169398614/noelene_gladys-pattersonhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169137238/mary_frances_margaret-neilsonhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169081955/denise_keren-brownhttps://articles.listnr.com/crime/the-women-who-caught-the-moorhouse-murderers/https://www.inhumanpodcast.com/episodes/november-patreon-the-moorhouse-murdershttps://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/103t61j/over_the_span_of_5_weeks_david_catherine_birnie/https://www.serialkillercalendar.com/David%20John%20BIRNIE.phphttps://www.facebook.com/danellehallan/videos/twisted-couple-did-the-unthinkable-to-their-victims/1218798706773557/https://medium.com/@chelsealynnqueen94/the-moorhouse-murders-the-crimes-of-david-and-catherine-birnie-0d974a6a0c86http://web.diecezja.wloclawek.pl/parafia/brzeznokk/aktualnosci/images/file/jm2gdr5/page.php?id=david-and-catherine-birnie-victims-photoshttps://www.realestate.com.au/news/house-with-murderous-past-listed-in-perth/https://cattstruecrimecorner.com/the-moorhouse-murders/https://www.facebook.com/truecrimeallthetime/posts/were-discussing-the-sadistic-australian-serial-killer-couple-david-and-catherine/799142300275535/https://the-line-up.com/moorhouse-murdershttps://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/103t61j/over_the_span_of_5_weeks_david_catherine_birnie/https://www.reddit.com/r/CreepyWikipedia/comments/u3rld5/david_and_catherine_birnie_an_australian_couple/https://www.reddit.com/r/serialkillers/comments/16ac17s/david_and_catherine_birnie_moorhouse_murders/https://www.news.com.au/national/crime/david-and-catherine-birnie-the-macabre-and-sadistic-moorhouse-murderers/news-story/d1937accb6dfdbb6cc89074e7eb7c241http://moorhousemurder.weebly.com/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/moorhouse-street-home-of-serial-killers-david-and-catherine-birnie-for-sale/news-story/2b01d69a651fe6f4242ba24d232caddahttps://muggaccinos.com/Punishment/Prisoners/30th_31st_Murderers.htmhttps://skdb.fandom.com/wiki/Moorhouse_murdershttps://betternightsbetterdays.ca/sites/LCpA/david-and-catherine-birnie-victims-photos

    1h 9m
  3. MAY 1

    S2.E17 - Winn-Dixie Witness' A Girl Taken in Plain Sight: The Carmen Gayheart Case

    The Pandemonium team is back, unpacking a case that feels less like a crime and more like a devastating unraveling. In 1985, 14-year-old Carmen Gayheart left her home in Florida after an argument with her mother *- never knowing it would be the last time she’d be seen alive. What followed was a chilling chain of events involving manipulation, violence, and a group of teenagers whose actions would shock the nation. This episode walks through Carmen’s final days, the people she trusted, and the brutal truth of what really happened after she disappeared. As the investigation unfolded, a disturbing picture emerged - one of peer pressure, cruelty, and a complete disregard for human life. The case of Carmen Gayheart is a haunting reminder of how quickly things can spiral, and how some of the darkest crimes come not from strangers, but from those closest within reach. Links We Used: https://wfsu.org/gavel2gavel/transcript/pdfs/02-1426_02-2409.pdfhttps://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-6737/300335/20240210103526057_2024-02-10%20USSC%20Cert%20Appendix_Final.pdfhttps://www.facebook.com/Justice4CarmenGayheart/https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Carmen_Gayhearthttps://www.wuft.org/public-safety/2025-06-11/florida-executes-man-convicted-of-raping-and-killing-a-woman-3-decades-agohttps://www.ksat.com/news/national/2025/06/10/florida-set-to-execute-man-convicted-of-raping-and-killing-a-woman-3-decades-ago/https://www.wpbf.com/article/florida-palm-beach-woman-witnesses-execution-carmen-gayheart-killer/65015254https://wusf.org/text/courts-law/2025-05-12/florida-death-warrant-signed-1994-rape-murder-hamilton-countyhttps://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2025/06/11/legal-chapter-closed-for-family-of-1994-murder-victim-after-killers-execution/https://www.news4jax.com/news/national/2025/06/10/florida-set-to-execute-man-convicted-of-raping-and-killing-a-woman-3-decades-ago/https://www.news4jax.com/news/national/2025/05/13/2-more-executions-set-in-florida-making-it-6-so-far-in-2025/https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/supreme-court/1997/86021-0.html https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7286371/carmen_gabriella-gayheart

    1h 7m
  4. APR 24

    S2.E15 - A Quiet Home, A Stranger, & The Violent Truth: The Case of Robin Lawrence

    The Pandemonium team is back, and this week Cat and Rachel discuss the murder of Robin Lawrence, a suburban mother whose life ended in a crime that shocked her quiet community. What initially appeared to be a tragic death inside her own home quickly turned into a complicated investigation filled with conflicting stories, troubling evidence, and questions about what really happened behind closed doors. This episode walks through the timeline of Robin’s final days, the investigation that followed, and the details that left many people searching for answers. Robin was more than the circumstances surrounding her death. This episode is about her story, the truth investigators uncovered, and why her case continues to stand out years later.  Links We Used: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4rgitsOYYpPDvJxC5Zs8sShttps://open.spotify.com/episode/1DsWyRkPQlOL5fFBzoU4xGhttps://podcasts.apple.com/bt/podcast/308-catching-the-boogeyman-the-murder-of-robin-lawrence/id1508098400?i=1000749900899https://music.amazon.com/es-co/podcasts/3596f44a-c77f-4d1a-85f3-f1a953acbe95/episodes/23fba794-3c4e-4236-aaeb-5d2fb09096bc/crime-clueless-cold-case-cracked-the-murder-of-robin-lawrencehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/robin-lawrence-killed-by-a-stranger-while-her-baby/id1831660402?i=1000733597028https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpMvWXMasTIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqTz4iKJG6ghttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephen-smerk-new-york-robin-warr-lawrence-murder-virginia-cold-case-48-hours/https://www.instagram.com/p/DU1PHbjibDW/https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUtpZ6nCPh5/https://www.primetimer.com/features/5-horrific-details-about-the-murder-of-virginia-mom-robin-lawrencehttps://people.com/robin-lawrence-murdered-took-police-decades-arrest-her-killer-11906659https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/shows/48-hours/releases/?view=111950-a-gifted-artist-is-murdered-in-her-home-decades-later-her-killer-reveals-what-drove-himhttps://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/after-killers-sentencing-30-years-of-unanswered-questions-come-to-end-for-1994-cold-case-victims-family/3862175/https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/commonwealthattorney/stephan-smerk-guilty-killing-robin-lawrence-1994-cold-casehttps://cbs6albany.com/news/local/niskayuna-man-sentenced-to-70-years-for-1994-virginia-murder-featured-on-cbss-48-hours-robin-lawerence-stephan-smerkhttps://www.cbsnews.com/video/closing-the-cold-case-of-robin-lawrence/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/robin-warr-lawrence-virginia-murder-dna-stephan-smerk-48-hours/https://wjla.com/news/local/this-man-will-pay-virginia-family-finds-closure-after-murderer-is-sentenced-to-life-cold-case-murder-guilty-conviction-killer-found-crime-dmv-investigation-forensics-fairfax-burke-case-robin-lawrence-death-stabbing-family-smerkhttps://augustafreepress.com/news/the-boogeyman-chilling-confession-brings-end-to-northern-virginia-murder-case/https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/niskayuna-man-receives-70-years-murder-20210471.phphttps://www.wvtm13.com/article/stephen-smerk-confession-1994-cold-case-robin-lawrence-virginia/62518321https://www.tmz.com/2025/10/25/stephan-smerk-30-year-cold-case-murder-dna-arrested/https://www.reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/16g6q0r/parabon_ids_51_yo_stephen_smerk_as_killer_of_37/

    1h 8m
  5. APR 17

    S2.E14 - The Boy The World Tried to Find: The Tragic Tale of Joseph Augustus Zarelli

    This week, the Pandemonium team discusses the heartbreaking case known for decades as “The Boy in the Box.” In February 1957, the body of a young boy was discovered inside a cardboard box in the woods of Philadelphia. He had no name, no missing persons report, and no one who seemed to be searching for him. For more than 65 years, investigators and amateur sleuths worked to identify the child once called “America’s Unknown Child.” This episode walks through the discovery of the boy, the many theories that followed, and the decades-long effort to finally give him back his name. Because even when the world didn’t know who you were, your story still deserves to be told. Links We Used: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Joseph_Augustus_Zarellihttps://www.cnn.com/2022/12/08/us/philadelphia-boy-in-box-thursday/index.htmlhttps://themchenrymessenger.com/who-was-the-boy-in-the-box/https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/news/the-boy-in-the-box-finally-identified-65-years-after-his-body-was-discoveredhttps://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/the-boy-in-the-box-joseph-augustus-zarelli/https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/01/new-details-emerge-in-phillys-boy-in-the-box-mystery.htmlhttps://6abc.com/the-boy-in-box-philadelphia-joseph-augustus-zarelli-birthday/14320809/https://allthatsinteresting.com/boy-in-the-boxhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/box-in-the-box-child-murder-victim-identified-joseph-augustus-zarelli-police-philadelphia/https://discover.hubpages.com/politics/Who-is-the-Boy-In-the-Box-Who-is-Americas-Unknown-Childhttps://news.sky.com/story/mysterious-boy-in-the-box-cold-case-murder-gets-vital-clue-and-restores-childs-dignity-12764434https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11658871/Parents-Phillys-boy-box-revealed-property-developer-beautiful-woman.htmlhttps://www.aetv.com/articles/how-authorities-identified-the-boy-in-the-box-after-65-yearshttps://www.reddit.com/r/boyinthebox/comments/zki2wy/important_facts_and_timeline/

    1 hr
  6. APR 10

    S2.E13 - A Mother, A Web of Lies, and A Family in Disguise: The Case of Rebecca Park

    This week, Pandemonium covers the devastating case of Rebecca Park, known as Becca - a 22-year-old mother of two who was 38 weeks pregnant and reportedly in early labor when she was dismissed from the hospital, only to disappear after being last seen getting into a dark vehicle on November 3, 2025. What began as a missing persons search led friends, volunteers, and search teams through Boon Township before ending in tragedy when Becca’s body was discovered on November 25 in the Manistee National Forest, her newborn baby still missing. As investigators dug deeper, the case revealed a chilling web of family betrayal, conflicting timelines, and multiple arrests tied to what prosecutors allege was a brutal attack. Authorities claim Becca was tortured and that her baby was forcibly removed - leaving one of the most haunting questions unresolved. We walk through Becca’s life, the timeline of her disappearance, and the ongoing fight for justice for both mother and son. Links We Used: https://www.wowt.com/2025/12/04/evil-mom-stepfather-charged-with-murder-death-pregnant-woman-her-unborn-child/https://www.facebook.com/detroitfreepress/posts/here-is-everything-we-know-about-the-death-of-pregnant-22-year-old-wexford-count/1300613592110790/https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2025/12/02/two-charged-with-murder-of-rebecca-parkhttps://www.playlsi.com/en/commercial-playground-equipment/playgrounds/lake-rebecca-park-reserve/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n980yEFTodwhttps://upnorthlive.com/topic/Rebecca%20Parkhttps://www.reddit.com/r/MissingPersons/comments/1oup87o/missing_rebecca_becca_kay_park_michigan_39_weeks/https://www.reddit.com/r/MissingPersons/comments/1oup87o/missing_rebecca_becca_kay_park_michigan_39_weeks/https://www.9and10news.com/2026/02/13/preliminary-hearing-on-march-6-for-suspects-in-rebecca-park-murder-case/https://unsealedevidence.com/case.php?slug=rebecca-park&fbclid=IwY2xjawQhVi1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFXMWxhb1A3WVlVNkkyeGttc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgsg1EMqojb7wwFOx6Y9q-RnUISH7fk1gTofAgVp4sopR7QUYrZKeE29-UIQ_aem_xwQXw-JQnZoHM8eC03ltpQ

    51 min
  7. APR 3

    S2.E12 - Willy Wonka’s Not So Golden Ticket: The Bradford Sweet Poisonings

    This week, the Pandemonium team heads to Victorian England for one of history’s most shocking mass poisoning events - the Bradford sweets poisoning. In Bradford in 1858, what should have been a simple batch of peppermint lozenges turned into a deadly mistake when arsenic was accidentally used instead of sugar substitute, leaving more than 200 people sick and at least 20 dead. We dig into how a cost-cutting shortcut, a breakdown in oversight, and a chain of small decisions created a public health disaster that changed food safety laws forever. From confectioner Joseph Neal to supplier James Archer, and the tragic story of victim William Hardaker, this case shows how ordinary life can turn catastrophic in an instant. It’s a story about industrialization, accountability, and the moment society realized that what we consume needs regulation - because sometimes the scariest crimes aren’t intentional at all.  Links We Used: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1858_Bradford_sweets_poisoninghttps://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Dying-for-Humbug-the-Bradford-Sweets-Poisoning-1858/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-67067171https://www.amusingplanet.com/2022/09/the-bradford-sweets-poisoning-of-1858.htmlhttps://www.reddit.com/r/RandomVictorianStuff/comments/1kv8fkn/the_bradford_sweets_poisoning_of_1858_20_died_and/https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladviceofftopic/comments/1ndnwr6/why_were_the_bradford_sweet_poisoning_deaths/https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.24793263https://www.bionity.com/en/encyclopedia/Bradford_sweets_poisoning.htmlhttps://engole.info/1858-bradford-sweets-poisoning/https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/poisoned-candyhttps://www.bankofengland.co.uk/education/education-resources/shillings-to-pounds-converterhttps://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections/researchguidance/weightsandmeasures/money.aspxhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTAxPEZZwXQhttps://www.facebook.com/thetudorintruders/posts/in-1858-over-200-people-were-poisoned-by-arsenic-laced-sweets-20-of-them-fatally/1299098851859865/https://oddlyhistorical.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/1858-bradford-sweets-poisoning/http://medbox.iiab.me/kiwix/wikipedia_en_medicine_2019-12/A/1858_Bradford_sweets_poisoninghttps://www.morticianinthekitchen.com/recipe-blog/1858-the-bradford-humbug-poisoninghttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/291710290_Arsenic_and_the_Bradford_poisonings_of_1858https://www.mycityhunt.com/cities/bradford-gb-10527/poi/1858-bradford-sweets-poisoning-25295https://www.mentalfloss.com/food/candy/bradford-candy-poisoninghttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rewind-the-1858-bradford-sweets-poisoning-who-is-to-blame/id1468678544?i=1000678257635https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/04/17/bradford-sweets-poisoning-the-accidental-arsenic-poisoning-of-more-than-200-people-in-bradford/https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Bradford_Sweets_Poisoning_Disaster

    1h 4m

About

Do you hear things that go bump in the night & know better than to investigate? Obsessed with unsolved mysteries, hauntings, and true crime? Then this podcast is for you! Hosts Cat & Rachel (with occasional hosts Em & Meg) dive into murders, monsters, and the paranormal - uncovering the real horrors while honoring the victims. Each themed episode mixes dark tales with humor as they dehumanize villains and explore the unknown. Stay feral, bite the hand, and don’t forget to follow!

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