The Girl in the Dark

Tasha Brantley
  • 5.0 (6)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Humans love stories. We watch them, listen to them, we even create them in our sleep. Ingrained in our basic DNA is fear. All of us are afraid of something; clowns, spiders, heights...the dark. Fear connects us all, but what happens when humans turn their humanity off? This podcast is about exploring all things that go bump in the night: missing people, murder, paranormal, cults, kidnapping, unsolved cases, and other horrors you have yet to fear and stories that will keep you awake at night. If there is a part of you that calls out to the macabre, then join me in the dark.

  1. FEB 2

    Chapter 23: Helle Crafts: A Murder Without a Body

    In November 1986, Helle Crafts vanished from her home in Newtown, Connecticut. She was a mother, a flight attendant, a traveler, and a woman preparing to leave a dangerous marriage. What followed was one of the most disturbing and groundbreaking investigations in American criminal history. This episode tells the full story of Helle’s life, her growing fear, and the meticulous police work that ultimately led to the conviction of her husband, Richard Crafts — despite the fact that only fragments of her remains were ever recovered. It became the first murder conviction in Connecticut history without a body, proving that evidence can be destroyed, but truth cannot be erased. ⚠️ Content Warning:This episode contains discussion of domestic violence, murder, and graphic subject matter. Please listen with care. If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You are not alone.

    45 min

  2. JAN 17

    A Year in the Dark

    One year ago, The Girl in the Dark was born—and today, we’re celebrating the shadows we’ve shared together. In this special one-year anniversary episode, I’m answering your questions about the podcast, the cases, and the journey so far. We’re also diving into listener-submitted spooky stories—real encounters, chilling moments, and experiences that prove the dark is never as quiet as it seems. Thank you for walking these paths with me for an entire year. For listening, for sharing, for believing—and for not turning away when things get uncomfortable. Light a candle, get comfortable, and settle in. This is A Year in the Dark. 🖤✨

    36 min

  3. JAN 11

    A Year in the Dark — I Want to Hear From You

    January 17th marks one full year of The Girl in the Dark, and for my anniversary episode, I want to hear from you. This is a short mini-episode inviting listeners to submit: • Questions about the podcast, the stories, or me. • True scary stories—paranormal encounters, unexplainable moments, or experiences that still give you chills. You don’t need to be a writer. You can remain anonymous. Just tell it the way it happened. 📩 Email: thegirlinthedarkpodcast@gmail.com 📲 Or DM the podcast on Instagram: @thegirlinthedarkpod Even if you’ve never commented before, this invitation is for you. Thank you for walking in the dark with me for a year 🖤

    3 min
  4. Chapter 22: The Butcher Baker of Alaska

    JAN 5

    Chapter 22: The Butcher Baker of Alaska

    For years, Robert Hansen was seen as a quiet small-business owner, a devoted husband, and a father in Anchorage, Alaska. But beneath the surface, he was hiding something far darker. In this episode of The Girl in the Dark, we trace Hansen’s life before the monster was revealed — the warning signs that were missed, the system that repeatedly let him walk free, and the devastating consequences that followed. Everything changed in 1983, when a teenager named Cindy Paulson escaped and refused to stay silent. Her courage didn’t just save her own life — it exposed a killer and stopped years of violence. This episode centers the victims, calls out systemic failure, and honors the woman who broke the case open.

    20 min

  5. 11/20/2025

    Chapter 21: The Lemp Mansion

    The Lemp family built an empire… and then lost everything.In this episode, we dive into the tragic history behind the Lemp Mansion, the tunnels beneath St. Louis, and the spirits said to still linger in the halls. I also share my own personal experience inside the mansion — one I’ll never forget.

    26 min
  6. Chapter 20: The Unsolved Murder of JonBenét Ramsey

    10/16/2025

    Chapter 20: The Unsolved Murder of JonBenét Ramsey

    December 25, 1996—six-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey is found dead in the basement of her Colorado home. Decades later, the case still haunts the world, shrouded in unanswered questions, mysterious ransom notes, and a family under intense scrutiny. In this special 20th episode, we unravel the twists, the theories, and the dark secrets behind one of America’s most infamous unsolved murders. Who had the motive? Who had the opportunity? And what really happened that fateful night in Boulder? Step into the shadows, where innocence collides with suspicion—and the truth remains elusive.

    45 min
  7. Chapter 19: Brandon Swanson

    09/09/2025

    Chapter 19: Brandon Swanson

    In 2008, 19-year-old Brandon Swanson called his parents after his car slid into a ditch on a dark Minnesota back road. They stayed on the phone for nearly an hour as he tried to find his way home—until his final words: “Oh, shit.” Then, silence. Seventeen years later, Brandon has never been found. 👉 In this episode of The Girl in the Dark, we trace his last known steps, the search that followed, and the haunting theories that still surround his disappearance.

    18 min
  8. Chapter 18: You Picked the Wrong Girl: The Alison Botha Story

    08/04/2025

    Chapter 18: You Picked the Wrong Girl: The Alison Botha Story

    In the summer of 1994, Alison Botha was abducted, assaulted, and left for dead on a deserted stretch of road in South Africa. But she didn’t just survive—she fought her way back from the edge, identified her attackers, and reclaimed her life. This is the story of a woman who turned horror into hope... and made sure her attackers would never hurt anyone again.

    21 min
See All (27)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Humans love stories. We watch them, listen to them, we even create them in our sleep. Ingrained in our basic DNA is fear. All of us are afraid of something; clowns, spiders, heights...the dark. Fear connects us all, but what happens when humans turn their humanity off? This podcast is about exploring all things that go bump in the night: missing people, murder, paranormal, cults, kidnapping, unsolved cases, and other horrors you have yet to fear and stories that will keep you awake at night. If there is a part of you that calls out to the macabre, then join me in the dark.

Information

  • Creator
    Tasha Brantley
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Tasha Brantley
  • Show Website
    The Girl in the Dark

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