Appalachian Mysteria

4.8 (2.6K)
TRUE CRIME
SERIES

Welcome to Appalachian Mysteria, a true-crime podcast series focused on crimes committed in the hills and hollers of Appalachia. Hosted by Kendall Parkinson and Sarah James McLaughlin. Check out past seasons: Mared and Karen WVU Coed Murders, Big Savage The Death Of Alexander Stevens, Outlandish, and our new season dedicated to stories brought to us by our listeners.

EPISODE 1

Burning Questions

A WVU alum working for the state prosecutor’s office suddenly finds herself on the scene of a very personal tragedy that could be much more sinister. Much to her dismay, her forensic investigation training is not being employed by authorities in the real world. Meanwhile, the victim’s sister is conducting her own investigation, releasing all of her findings to the public. Was the death of Amber Whitelaw a case of accidental fire or murder? Welcome to the first episode of Season 4! The full season launches in April. Justice for Amber Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justiceforamber2.18.18 1:35 – Highland County & Amber Whitelaw 4:36 – Wearing a Wire? 11:04 – One and One on the Side 13:00 – Night of the Incident 15:17 – The 911 Call 25:02 – 8 Red Flags 41:25 – Not Having Closure Thank you to our sponsor Seeker's Notes! Keep Your Mind Sharp! Download Seekers Notes Now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

52 min
EPISODE 2

Hell’s Square Mile, Part 1

This is the beginning of a 3-part story about one square mile of the West Virginia mountains. The story winds its way through a savage war between Indians and settlers, a poor boy adopted into wealth for his ruthlessness, more than one murder trial, the infamous black hand mafia, environmental protests, and international cocaine smuggling. In Part 1, the descendants of West Virginia’s first white settlers find themselves at war with Indian tribes, eventually building a home that will become the center of a web of controversy, violence and crime. 1:40 - In the beginning 3:24 - Introducing Tim & Becky 5:12 - Warring with Indians 10:37 - The Morgan house 12:27 - Walter Curnutte’s youth 14:20 - Watler’s first brush with murder 20:15 - The murder of Walter Curnutte 27:53 - Walter’s life and controversies 36:00 - Mabel’s quest begins Thank you to our sponsor June’s Journey! Discover your inner detective when you download June’s Journey for free on iOS and Android. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

42 min
EPISODE 3

Hell’s Square Mile, Part 2

After Walter Curnutte’s murder, his sister Mabel takes on the case, recording interviews, writing letters to powerful officials, and hiring a private detective. The community’s war on Walter comes to light – from protests to arson to civil disobedience. We look back at the strange month preceding Walter’s death – including his hiring of Herb Willie, the man tried for his murder. Was Herb a drunken liar, a murderer, or both? A state trooper who investigated the case has an opinion. Tim and Becky beg to differ. 1:55 – Mabel’s obsession 5:30 – Mining and dumping 12:35 – Walter’s last month alive 17:15 – Trooper Wick 26:00 – Herb Willie’s Confessions & Trial Thank you to our sponsor June’s Journey! Discover your inner detective when you download June’s Journey for free on iOS and Android. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

48 min
EPISODE 3

Hell’s Square Mile, Part 3

In the last of this 3-part series, we examine Mabel’s top suspects in the murder of Walter Curnutte. Years later, Tim and Becky discover an entirely new motive connected to a forged document, a federal racketeering case, South American cocaine, and, potentially, the West Virginia mafia. 1:30 – Mabel’s top suspects 15:54 – Modern day rumors 18:41 – The Spadafore Conspiracy 24:05 – The Puerto Rican doctor 28:30 – A landing strip? 33:23 – The mob Thank you to our sponsor June’s Journey! Discover your inner detective when you download June’s Journey for free on iOS and Android. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

54 min
EPISODE 5

The Sunnyside Rapist

Fifteen years after the events of Season 1 (The WVU Coed Murders), Morgantown women are faced with a new predator: a rapist so meticulous and organized that he vanishes through police checkpoints and neighborhood lockdowns every summer. In the first of this two part series, we speak with two women who met the Sunnyside rapist face-to-face at both ends of his 10-year crime spree. Geoff Fuller (season 1) returns to help set the scene for a trial that will become studied internationally. Elaine’s Daughter Sexually Assaulted Years After Her Own Attack 2:09 – The first victim 16:15 – WVU basketball rape scandal 19:00 – 1985 - 1991 38:57 – The arrest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

48 min
EPISODE 6

The Sunnyside Rapist (part 2)

In the second of this 2-part series, Jack Edward Hawkins is put on trial without physical evidence for three assaults committed by the Sunnyside rapist, but prosecutors refuse to claim he is a suspect in any others. Neighbors of the Hawkins family come forward to describe their experience with Jack and his children. As Hawkins’ involvement in a 1975 incident comes to light, the Mysteria team learns that a new West Virginia law now makes it impossible to learn details about any sexual assault cases. And a team of New Zealand researchers is hired by the defense to explain the problems with the eyewitness testimony used against Hawkins. Jack Hawkins’ letter to the judge explaining his side of the events 1:25 – Who is Jack Hawkins? 3:50 – Neighbors speak out 13:48 – Oklahoma, 1975 16:35 – Charges filed 17:25 – The death of FOIA and Geoff’s insider info 22:17 – The first trial 27:02 – Judge misconduct and the second trial 32:28 – Memories distorted? 48:30 – Final notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 3m
EPISODE 7

Wild Updates: Cases Solved! Suspect Killed! Gravestone Stolen!

In one month, the killers of Julie Williams, Lollie Winans and at least two victims of the Colonial Parkway murders are identified. Bill Thomas joins us to discuss the details, and why there are still so many questions unanswered. Meanwhile the grave of Harry Spitz, which inexplicably exploded in 1975, has its headstone stolen by thieves. A Morgantown resident and Appalachian Mysteria producer step up to set things right. Harry Spitz Gravestone GoFundMe 1:30 – The FBI Press Conference 6:25 – The Annes 9:37 – Questions Unanswered 12:35 – Don’t Talk to Bill Thomas 14:13 – Darrell Rice… 19:26 – …Is Dead 22:54 – Colonial Parkway Killer Identified 31:05 – The Harry Spitz Gravestone Saga Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

51 min
EPISODE 401

Unattended Death, Part 1

This two-part special introduces the life and death of Arthur Bagenda, an international student at WVU who drowned in a ditch within sight of the Morgantown Police station. In this first episode, we visit the Walnut Street bridge, where a long-time local explains her problems with hard drug users at the site of Arthur's death. We review forensic photographs from the scene, hear from Arthur’s mother about the 19-year-old son she lost, and explain the first 72 hours following the discovery of his body. Over the course of two episodes, Unattended Death will examine police reports, drone footage, forensic photographs, surveillance video, audio of police questioning, and interviews with those involved to craft a previously-untold West Virginia story. ### We have been trying to report this story for a long time. After covid interrupted our interview process, we decided to focus on other work, but three years later we’re finally ready to share the case of Arthur Bagenda. Unattended Death is the third Morgantown-centered story produced by Appalachian Mysteria (WVU Coed Murders / Cradle Will Rock). The last known sighting of Arthur Bagenda was made by a video surveillance camera mounted in front of the Morgantown police station. He would be found drowned alongside Morgantown’s recreational Rail Trail – within sight of the MPD building – a few hours later. The group of people who appear on camera seconds before Arthur seem to be carrying items found at the scene of his death, but were they involved? A private investigator hired by Arthur’s mother thinks so, but police have ruled out foul play. Like all the stories we cover, a definitive truth seems just out of reach. [00:03:14] A WVU student's death. [00:07:19] Under the Walnut Street Bridge. [00:08:15] Arthur's body found beside pipe. [00:14:01] Homelessness and drug addiction. [00:18:00] A suspicious backpack. [00:21:33] Crime scene photographs. [00:23:28] The pain of losing a son. [00:27:13] Meth-making materials found. [00:32:28] Cause of death was drowning. Thank you to our sponsor Factor75! Use code mysteria50 for 50% off ready to eat fresh meals! Thank you to our sponsor Brilliant Earth! Check out all of their beautiful pieces on their website! Thank you to our sponsor Seeker's Notes! Keep Your Mind Sharp! Download Seekers Notes Now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

40 min
EPISODE 402

Unattended Death Part 2

This episode contains detective interviews with three students who headed out on the town with Arthur the night he died. After speaking to each of them, a Morgantown detective feels confident that Arthur’s death was primarily due to his intoxication. Two months later, Arthur’s phone turns on. After tracking the GPS coordinates, police arrive at the home of a bouncer who threw Arthur out of a club just before his death. While the detective tries to figure out whether this was a coincidence, Harriet decides she is unsatisfied with the work being done by police, and hires a private investigator. The investigator has questions about the five people who walk by the police station surveillance camera just before Arthur. One of them appears to be carrying the backpack full of meth-making equipment found under the bridge, but the detective and prosecutor don’t agree. We delve into the details of all these issues in this hour-long episode of Unattended Death. Resources and Links: Appalachian Mysteria Facebook Page -- Here you can find the video and images that accompany this episode, including the backpack comparison photo made by Larry Peters, and the police surveillance camera footage of Arthur (and the group of people with the backpack) the night he died. “Strange Creatures” – The book/zine by Larry Peters about his unusual experiences decades ago. Thank you to our sponsor Factor75! Use code mysteria50 for 50% off ready to eat fresh meals! Thank you to our sponsor Brilliant Earth! Check out all of their beautiful pieces on their website! Thank you to our sponsor Seeker's Notes! Keep Your Mind Sharp! Download Seekers Notes Now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

58 min

See All Season 4 (9)

4.8

out of 5

2,568 Ratings

Great Storytelling

07/17/2024

Bobevs

Simply the best storytelling on podcast today! Love the stories you select, just wish for more content. Also like the 8-10 episode season versus 1-3 and selecting different topics.
Overall good but the Music wasn’t good.

Jan 8

tronix304

I lived in Morgantown for 8 years and never heard of those murders. Good podcast but the musical interludes are a bit too long and hurt the story progress, would be a lot better without those or drastically reduced. Also the music selection wasn’t the greatest.
Season 2

11/19/2024

Sug Sue

The story would have been very interesting, but it needed to be told in order instead of “you’ll hear that later on”. It may also be that I like a more neutral journalistic approach to stories like this and the reports sounded like they were having a conversation with friends. Also the music is distracting and unnecessary.
Decent listen

11/13/2024

RIlistener

I’m listening to the first season after hearing about it from The Opportunist podcast. Very interesting topic with great research. I just don’t like the music. It’s distracting in the background and goes on far too long in between segments. I find myself fast forwarding to get through it. If I wanted music, I would listen to a soundtrack. Otherwise, keep up the great work!

Welcome to Appalachian Mysteria, a true-crime podcast series focused on crimes committed in the hills and hollers of Appalachia. Hosted by Kendall Parkinson and Sarah James McLaughlin. Check out past seasons: Mared and Karen WVU Coed Murders, Big Savage The Death Of Alexander Stevens, Outlandish, and our new season dedicated to stories brought to us by our listeners.