Weird Darkness: Stories of the Paranormal, Supernatural, Legends, Lore, Mysterious, Macabre, Unsolved Darren Marlar

IN THIS EPISODE: The governor called it “mass murder” in 1942 when forty-seven patients died at the Oregon State Hospital – all within hours. All of them, poisoned. Finding the murderer and motive would lead to an unexpected conclusion, and to an unrelenting haunting. (An Accidental Mass Murder at Oregon State Hospital) *** It was 1973, and the small town of Murphysboro, Illinois had quite a scare with numerous people encountering what many described as a large gorilla-like creature. We might call it Bigfoot or Sasquatch – they called it a “Big Muddy Monster”. (A Big Muddy Monster) *** In November, 1978, four employees at a hamburger restaurant are kidnapped and murdered. Almost forty-five years later, seven employees at a fried chicken establishment are found slain – their bodies found in the restaurant’s walk-in freezer. One case found justice… the other is still waiting. (The Burger Chef and Brown’s Chicken Murders) *** In Germanic and Scandinavian folklore, a child murdered by their mother is known as a Kindermorderinn – and if that child is a boy and decides to appear from beyond the dead, he’s considered a “Radiant Boy”. And there are numerous stories of their hauntings. (Radiant Boy) *** Grace Stevens was excited to attend her company’s annual picnic with friends and co-workers, dressing for the occasion, hoping to possibly meet her future Prince Charming. Her company was splurging and inviting everyone to take a ship from Chicago across Lake Michigan to attend the party in Michigan City. They never arrived. (Grace Stevens And The Tragedy Of The U.S.S. Eastland) *** In 1947 a woman jumped to her death from 86th floor of the Empire State Building… yet today, her ghost still needs to use the building’s bathroom facilities. (The Haunted Empire State Building Bathroom) 

YOUTUBE CHAPTERS AND TIMESTAMPS…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:05:44.930 = Appointment With Fear, “And Deep Shuddered” (November 20, 1945)
00:32:09.459 = Weird Darkness, “An Accidental Mass Murder at Oregon State Hospital”
00:51:18.784 = Box 13, “The First Letter” (August 22, 1948)
01:19:08.463 = Weird Darkness, “Radiant Boy”
01:26:16.930 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Doll” (October 10, 1974)
02:12:30.242 = Weird Darkness, “Grace Stevens And The Tragedy of the U.S.S. Eastland
02:24:31.749 = The Chase, “Greedy Crockeys” (February 08, 1953)
02:54:58.088 = Weird Darkness, “The Burger Chef and Brown’s Chicken Murders”
03:08:01.363 = Chet Chetter’s Tales From The Morgue, “Elmer Vs The Invaders” (date unknown)
03:35:55.754 = Weird Darkness, “The Big Muddy Monster”
03:48:59.892 = Cloak And Dagger, “The Frank Bakers Story” (May 07, 1950)
04:19:13.974 = Weird Darkness, “Haunted Empire State Building”
04:25:08.602 = The Creaking Door, “Dummy” (date unknown)
04:56:02.222 = Show Close

SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…
“The Haunted Empire State Building Bathroom” by Erin Taylor from the book, “Unfinished Business: Tales of Haunted Restrooms and Bathrooms”: https://amzn.to/3rCp9qU
“A Big Muddy Monster” by Bridge Vaughan for The Patriot Press: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ycy9kr78; and from The New York Times archives: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8tpv8v
“An Accidental Mass Murder at Oregon State Hospital” by Capi Lynn for The Statesman Journal:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4swhcvt2; and Macabre Mary at Puzzle Box Horror:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4k53fxa4
“Radiant Boy” by Lux Ferre for...

IN THIS EPISODE: Cemeteries are more than just resting places for the dead; they are steeped in history, emotion, and, some believe, paranormal activity. We’ll explore the eerie tales and scientific theories that make these hallowed grounds a focal point for ghostly encounters. (Unveiling The Secrets of Spirits At Cemeteries) *** Ever driven down a dark, winding country road and felt the hair on the back of your neck stand up? It’s very possible you did if you were traveling down Sleepy Hollow Road. This isn’t the Washington Irving tale of a hamlet in New York State – this is an infamous road in Kentucky with eerie legends of ghostly hearses, time warps, satanic rituals and haunted bridges. (The Sleepy Hollow of Kentucky) *** In the picturesque village of Bennington, Vermont, 18-year-old Paula Jean Welden disappeared on a chilly December afternoon in 1946. The case took many twists, including a fruitless search in the wilderness, misleading clues, and even the formation of the Vermont State Police due to criticism of the investigation. To this day, Paula's fate remains unknown. (Vanished: The Unsolved Disappearance of Paula Jean Welden”) *** In 1968, Spain experienced an unprecedented wave of UFO and humanoid sightings that left many mystified, terrified… and mesmerized. From encounters with mysterious figures in homes, to bizarre sightings outdoors, 1968 had the entire country of Spain talking about aliens from outer space. (1968: The Year Of High Strangeness) *** Despite humanity's efforts to control nature, sometimes the natural world pushes back in unexpected and chaotic ways. From a pigeon poop-induced blackout in Japan to a squirrel terrorizing a Welsh town, animals can disrupt our lives… and sometimes in humorous ways. (Man Vs Nature – When Animals Wreak Havoc) *** On a stormy night in April 1893, two condemned prisoners at Sing Sing Prison blinded a guard with pepper spray, and executed a daring escape down the Hudson River that left authorities baffled and the public enthralled. (The Great Escape From Sing Sing) *** You seemed to like my new film noir story idea, so I have another Murder Noir tonight – based on a true case from Halloween Day, 1981 when 11-year-old Karl Heikell told his parents he was going for a walk in Calumet, Michigan. He never returned home. (Murder Noir: The Case of the Vanishing Trick-or-Treater) *** Did pterosaurs, the ancient flying reptiles, truly vanish millions of years ago, or do they still soar through our skies? We’ll look at claims of modern-day sightings, some controversial theories, and a tantalizing photograph that challenges their extinction. Could these prehistoric flying giants still be among us in hiding? 

YOUTUBE CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS…
00:00:00.000 = Title Story Preview
00:01:04.228 = Show Open
00:04:28.333 = Unveiling The Secrets of Spirits In Cemeteries
00:16:10.533 = The Great Escape From Sing Sing
00:21:06.361 = Vanished: the Unsolved Disappearance of Paula Jean Welden
00:27:23.337 = The Sleepy Hollow of Kentucky
00:35:27.839 = 1968: The Year of High Strangeness
00:42:35.562 = Man Vs Nature – When Animals Wreak Havoc
00:53:52.841 = In Search Of Living Pterosaurs (links to photos below)
00:57:56.382 = Show Close

SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…
“In Search of Living Pterosaurs” by David Albaugh for BasementOfTheBizarre.com (used with permission): https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yjvb29mr
PHOTO OF PTEROSAUR FROM CIVIL WAR: https://weirddarkness.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PterosaurPhotoFromCivlWar.png
PHOTO OF PTEROSAUR FROM OLD WEST, NAILED TO BARN: a href="https://weirddarkness.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PterosaurPhotoFromOldWest.png"...

IN THIS EPISODE: Numerous Reddit users describe their own personal encounters with strange creatures that might be described as werewolves or wendigos… but even further skin deep. (Skinwalkers and Shapeshifters) *** In 1836, an unsuspecting passerby entered the Gardette-LePrete mansion and uncovered a scene of unimaginable horror. (Blood Soaked Gardette LePrete Mansion) *** Is it possible that some classic UFO events were actually hallucinations by people on drugs? (Psychedelic UFO Sightings) *** Ann Hodges, the only person struck by a meteorite who survived it, suffered a nervous breakdown after a media frenzy and a court battle for meteorite ownership. (Struck By a Meteor) *** A mysterious sighting in the night spawned the legend of one of West Virginia's creepiest cryptids. (The Legend of the Flatwoods Monster) *** A Weirdo family member tells the story of a ghost named Matilda. (Matilda)

YOUTUBE CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS…
00:00:00.000 = Title Story Preview
00:01:53.509 = Show Open
00:04:06.087 = True Stories of Skinwalkers And Shapeshifters
00:46:44.121 = Blood Soaked Gardette-LePrete Mansion
00:51:58.197 = Psychedelic UFO Sightings
01:01:20.797 = Struck By A Meteor
01:09:18.304 = Legend Of The Flatwoods Monster
01:17:07.801 = Matilda
01:20:38.511 = Show Close

SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…
“Skinwalkers and Shapeshifters” by Nida Sea: http://bit.ly/2Xzkaml
“Blood Soaked Gardette-LePrete Mansion” by Adam Karlin: http://bit.ly/2Lb3RKI
“Psychedelic UFO Sightings” by Nick Redfern: http://bit.ly/2LSsETx
“Struck By a Meteor” by Martin Chalakoski: http://bit.ly/2xBwmZ5
“The Legend of the Flatwoods Monster” by Orin Grey: http://bit.ly/32jIImG
“Matilda” submitted anonymously to WeirdDarkness.com
Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = =
(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
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WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.
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Originally aired: June, 2022


CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/true-stories-of-skinwalkers-and-shapeshifters/

THE TRUE CASE THIS STORY IS BASED ON: The case of Carolyn Warmus reads like a plot torn from a Hollywood thriller. In the late 1980s, the 25-year-old insurance heiress and elementary school teacher began an affair with her older, married coworker, Paul Solomon. Solomon promised to leave his wife, Betty Jeanne, but Warmus grew impatient. On January 15, 1989, Betty Jeanne was found shot dead in her home, and suspicion quickly fell on Warmus. The media likened the case to the 1987 film "Fatal Attraction," adding to the frenzy surrounding the investigation. Warmus was indicted and tried for the murder, but conflicting stories and a lack of physical evidence led to a mistrial. In a second trial, a bloody glove presented as new evidence sealed her fate, resulting in a conviction and a 25-year-to-life sentence. Warmus, maintaining her innocence, was released on parole in 2019 and continues to fight to clear her name, seeking DNA testing on key pieces of evidence.

SOURCES…
Matt Crabtree, AllThatsInteresting.com: https://allthatsinteresting.com/carolyn-warmus
Murder Noir music provided by Alibi Music Library.
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(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
= = = = =
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
= = = = =
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.
= = = = =
Originally aired: June 07, 2024

CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/the-case-of-the-fatal-teacher-attraction-murdernoir/

Watch the VIDEO or read the article: https://weirddarkness.com/could-aliens-be-using-supernovas-to-try-and-reach-us-mindofmarlar/
magine if there were really smart aliens out there who wanted to talk to us from super far away. How would they do it? First I have to say that if they truly are really smart aliens, they would probably want nothing to do with us; we’ve not really been model representatives of the human race lately – much less Earthlings in-general.Then again, maybe that’s what makes us attractive to them; they see us for the idiots we are…

THE TRUE STORY THIS EPISODE IS BASED ON: In 1954, 11-year-old Jeanette Earnest was abducted by her uncle, 48-year-old Thurman Priest, in Fort Worth, Texas. Jeanette's mother Nadine had previously noticed Priest's inappropriate obsession with Jeanette and tried to keep him away from her daughter. After the abduction, Priest took Jeanette to motels in Texas, Kansas and Missouri. Evidence suggests he sexually assaulted her during this time. Jeanette tried to escape at one point but Priest caught her and forced her back into the car. Priest eventually shot and killed Jeanette, leaving her body in a wooded area off a highway in Missouri. He was arrested after calling his wife from a motel. Priest claimed he and Jeanette were in love, but more likely she rejected his sexual advances, leading him to kill her in anger. In 1955, Priest was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison. He died of a heart attack in prison in 1960.

SOURCES…
Robert A. Waters, Kidnapping, Murder and Mayhem: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/39mw7shb
Murder Noir music provided by Alibi Music Library.
= = = = =
(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
= = = = =
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
= = = = =
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.
= = = = =
Originally aired: June 04, 2024

CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/the-case-of-the-obsessed-uncle-murdernoir/