The Book of the Dead

Courtney Liso
  • 4.4 (52)
  • True Crime
  • Updated Biweekly

Hosted by Courtney Liso, The Book of the Dead is a true crime podcast that focuses on the victims of lesser-known crimes. Each episode presents a deep dive into a case from around the world, dissecting the details to tell the whole story of who each victim was, in addition to what happened to them. Formerly hosted by a mother-daughter team, the podcast has evolved with one host, taking the care necessary to ensure each victim is honored as they should be. Join Courtney every Wednesday at 12am EST for a new chapter in The Book of the Dead. 

  1. 4d ago

    Fear of the Dead-The New England Vampire Panic w/ The Family Plot

    In 19th-century New England, fear of tuberculosis collided with an older, darker belief: that the dead could return from the grave to prey upon the living. In this episode, I join Family Plot Podcast to explore the New England Vampire Panic — a chilling period when families, desperate to explain devastating outbreaks of illness, began to suspect that their deceased loved ones were actually vampires. Across New England, graves were opened, bodies examined, and desperate measures were taken in the belief that the dead were somehow responsible for the suffering of those still alive. What we now understand as tuberculosis was once interpreted through a supernatural lens, creating one of the strangest chapters in American history. From exhumations and suspected vampires to the real-life fear and tragedy behind the legends, we're digging into the history of the New England Vampire Panic and asking how a community's desperation can transform disease, death, and grief into something truly terrifying. I'm so excited to have been a guest on Family Plot Podcast for this fascinating journey into one of America's most obscure historical panics. 🩸 Rare history. Dark folklore. Real fear. Check out The Family Plot Podcast here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. Aug 26

    Chapter 151: A Harlem Globtrotter's Last Drive-The Disappearance of Rico Omarr Harris

    Rico Omarr Harris had once seemed destined for a life in basketball. Standing 6-foot-9, Rico was a standout player who attracted attention from college scouts, led Los Angeles City College to a state championship, and eventually played briefly for the Harlem Globetrotters. But years after his basketball career had taken an unexpected turn, Rico was preparing for a new chapter of his life. On October 10, 2014, 37-year-old Rico Omarr Harris left his mother's home in Alhambra, California, and began driving north toward Seattle, where he planned to reunite with his longtime girlfriend and start a new life. He spoke with his mother while driving through the Sacramento area and later left a voicemail for his girlfriend. Then, he vanished. Three days later, Rico's black Nissan was discovered abandoned at a remote Yolo County Regional Parks location along State Route 16. His vehicle was there, but Rico was nowhere to be found. Extensive searches of the surrounding area produced no trace of him, and despite the passage of more than a decade, Rico Harris remains missing. What happened to the former basketball star in Yolo County? Why did he leave his vehicle behind? And how does a man who stood nearly seven feet tall seemingly disappear without a trace? Anyone with information about the disappearance of Rico Harris can contact: Yolo County Sheriff's Department at (530) 666-8282 The case number to reference is 14-2964 Connect with us on Social Media!You can find us at:Instagram: @bookofthedeadpodX: @bkofthedeadpodFacebook: The Book of the Dead PodcastTikTok: BookofthedeadpodOr visit our website at www.botdpod.com Join hosts CJ and Carmita as they set out to cover cases of grizzly serial killers who have brought their nefarious crimes to our beautiful area of the PNW for many years.  Listen Here Fenno, N. (2017, March 18). His dreams of basketball stardom vanished first. Now his mother says, ‘I am not giving up on finding my son’ - Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Mertz, A. (2014, October 22). Seattle girlfriend of missing former Harlem Globetrotter confident he will “come home.” FOX 13 Seattle.  MISSING IN AMERICA: Rico Omarr Harris. (2015, June 11). NBC News.  Rico Harris College Stats | College basketball at Sports-Reference.com. (n.d.). College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.  Rico Omarr Harris. (2017, July 21). State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General. The disappearance of Rico Harris. (2019, June 27). Stories of the Unsolved.  Vanishing Man: The Disappearance of Rico Harris. (n.d.). FOX Sports.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Aug 12

    Chapter 150: Dead Men Tell No Tales-The Legend of the S.S. Ourang Medan

    Was the Ourang Medan a real ghost ship—or one of the greatest maritime legends ever created?The crew of the Ourang Medan were reportedly found dead aboard their ship in the waters of the Strait of Malacca in the late 1940s. Their bodies were said to have been discovered sprawled across the ship, their faces frozen in expressions of terror, and then came the chilling message allegedly sent from the vessel: “I die.”Before anyone could uncover the truth, the Ourang Medan caught fire and exploded, sending the ship and its secrets to the bottom of the sea.But did the Ourang Medan really exist? Was the crew killed by toxic gas, a dangerous cargo, or something far more mysterious? And how much of the story is actually true? In this episode of The Book of the Dead, we dive into one of the most infamous maritime mysteries ever told: the legend of the Ourang Medan, the ghost ship of Southeast Asia.Connect with us on Social Media!You can find us at:Instagram: @bookofthedeadpodX: @bkofthedeadpodFacebook: The Book of the Dead PodcastTikTok: BookofthedeadpodOr visit our website at www.botdpod.comFeaturing a Promo for Murder Unscripted:Veteran true-crime producer, Ed (Forensic Files, Cold Case Files, City Confidential) and his crime encyclopedia gal pal, Melissa, bring you the most immersive podcast in the genre - breaking down the barrier between fan and creator.Listen HereCover ups after the war. (n.d.). Pacific Atrocities Education.Gov, N. O. O. R. a. R. U. (n.d.). NITROGLYCERIN, DESENSITIZED, [LIQUID] | CAMEO Chemicals | NOAA. Hewitt, L. (2020, October 27). Tragedy on the S.S. Ourang Medan – Fact or Legend? Historic Mysteries.  A, L. (2022, June 3). Unresolved: What Happened To The Ourang Medan — And Did It Exist At All? The Ghost in My MachineRipley’s Believe It or Not. (2020, February 19). The Mysterious Tale Of The S.S. Ourang Medan Ghost Ship. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! The Associated Press. (1940, November 22). Crew dies in SOS mystery. The Daily Mirror, 11.The Shipyard. (2021, October 27). How to Sink a Ghost-Ship: The Story of the SS Ourang Medan. The SS Ourang Medan - the Philadelphia Experiment from A-Z. (2025, December 16). The Philadelphia Experiment From A-Z.Troutner, A. (2022, September 14). The Strange Tale of the Mysterious Dutch Ghost Ship Ourang Medan.... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Chapter 150: Dead Men Tell No Tales-The Legend of the S.S. Ourang Medan

  4. Aug 5

    Chapter 149: The Body in the Garden-The Murder of John Sabine

    For nearly two decades, John Sabine was simply gone.His wife, Leigh, had spent years telling elaborate stories about their lives, convincing friends and family that John had left and started over somewhere else. She was a gifted storyteller whose lies became more outrageous with time, and few people questioned them. But when Leigh died of cancer in 2015, those stories began to unravel.After two friends made a horrifying discovery in the garden of the couple's former home in Beddau, Wales, investigators were confronted by a body wrapped in plastic. After 18 years the remains of John Sabine, had been found. As they worked to find out what happened, police revealed years of manipulation, compulsive deception, and the couple's infamous decision to abandon their five young children before John's disappearance. Today, we'll trace the lies that concealed a murder for nearly two decades, examine the evidence that finally exposed the truth behind one woman's carefully constructed fiction.Connect with us on Social Media!You can find us at:Instagram: @bookofthedeadpodX: @bkofthedeadpodFacebook: The Book of the Dead PodcastTikTok: BookofthedeadpodOr visit our website at www.botdpod.comAroesti, R. (2024, August 11). The Body Next Door review – a jaw-droppingly addictive true-crime tale. The Guardian. BBC News. (2015, November 24). Beddau murder probe launched after remains found near flats.Beddau. (n.d.). RHONDDA CYNON TAF. Beddau murder: “I was screaming it’s a dead body.” (2016, January 6). [Video]. BBC News. Couple Found in Perth. (1970, May 9). Press, 1.Dewey, P. (2024, August 12). Sky’s The Body Next Door: True story behind man murdered with a stone frog and buried in Welsh garden. Wales Online. Guarino, B. (2016, May 20). For 18 years, no one believed the woman who said she killed her husband with a stone frog. Then they found the body. The Washington Post. Late wife suspected of killing husband. (2015, December 12). The Herald, M11.Mercer, R. (2024, August 12). The Body Next Door: How a skeleton prank led to a murder investigation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Chapter 149: The Body in the Garden-The Murder of John Sabine

  5. Jul 29

    What Happened to Yolanda Evette Panek? W/ Missing in the PNW

    Today, you'll hear the story of Yolanda Paneck, brought to you by Carmita from Missing in the PNW. A beautiful young mother is brutally murdered after last being seen at the Capri Motel in Portland, Oregon. The day after her locked car was found abandoned with her two-year-old son inside, alive and a maid at the motel who cleaned her room found the mattress stripped of its sheets and soaked in blood.Though she has never been found her husband was charged and convicted of her murder in March 1996If you have any information on the whereabouts of Yolanda Evette Panek please call the Portland Police Bureau at 503-823-0418.  Carmita is back with brand new episodes on Monday, August 3rd!Check out Missing in the PNW:The Pacific Northwest is known for it's beautiful coastline, green interior, rainy weather, and spectacular mountains, but because of all of this it's also the perfect place to go missing.Listen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsIf you enjoyed the episode, consider leaving a review or rating! It helps more than you know! If you have a case suggestion, or want attention brought to a loved one's case, email me at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.com with Case Suggestion in the subject line.Stay safe, stay curious, and stay vigilant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    What Happened to Yolanda Evette Panek? W/ Missing in the PNW

  6. Jul 23

    Chapter 148: The Crime That Changed Brisbane-The Murder of Betty Shanks

    In September 1952, Betty Shanks left work in Brisbane, Australia, and began the journey home.She never made it.What followed was one of Brisbane’s most disturbing and enduring unsolved murder cases. Betty was found brutally murdered, and despite an extensive investigation, numerous theories, and decades of speculation, the person responsible was never definitively identified. Was her murder a random attack, or did the killer know more about her movements than investigators ever realized? More than 70 years later, Betty’s murder remains one of Australia’s most haunting cold cases.If there’s anyone out there that could have any information regarding the murder of Betty shanks, you can contact crime stoppers at 1800 333 000.Connect with us on Social Media!You can find us at:Instagram: @bookofthedeadpodX: @bkofthedeadpodFacebook: The Book of the Dead PodcastTikTok: BookofthedeadpodOr visit our website at www.botdpod.comFeaturing a promo for Love and Murder:What drives people to hurt the ones they love? Every week on Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide, we’ll go on a journey, together, through true crime relationship stories that were doomed bonds from the start.Listen here.57 days of torture for murdered girl’s parents. (1952, November 16). Truth, 5.Admin, J. (2020, August 6). Unsolved murder of Betty Shanks - 60th anniversary. State Library of Queensland. Betty Shanks murder recalled. (1953, July 31). The Evening Advocate, 1.Clear another man in Wilston murder case. (1952, October 11). The Courier-Mail, 1Coates, W. (1953, February 8). Betty Shanks’ mother to speak. The Sunday Mail.Jones, C. (2024, September 18). The murder of Betty Shanks has haunted Brisbane for decades. After 72 years, it still remains unsolved. ABC News. Lloyd, P., & Coates, W. (1952, September 21). Murder manhunt goes on all night. The Sunday Mail, 1–2.Man with blood on his face hired cab, coroner told. (1953, February 11). The Courier-Mail, 3.Moore, T. (2012, September 20). Betty Shanks: An enduring mystery. Brisbane Times. More clues in Wilston check. (1952, October 23). The Courier-Mail, 1.No tougher murder case. (1952, October 5). The Sunday Mail, 2.Our Police Roundsman. (1952, October 18). Life that slayer destroyed was a happy one. Brisbane Telegraph, 18.Polic expect arrest in sex murders. (1952, December 30). Warwick Daily News, 1.Police describe man sought in murder inquiry. (1952, December 29). The Sun, 2.Police make murder appeal. (1952, September 22). The Courier-Mail,... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Chapter 148: The Crime That Changed Brisbane-The Murder of Betty Shanks

  7. Jul 8

    Chapter 147: Japan's Most Wanted-The Murder of Lindsay Hawker

    In 2007, 22-year-old Lindsay Hawker left England for Japan to pursue her dream of teaching English and experiencing life abroad. Kind, adventurous, and passionate about helping others, she had no idea that one persistent stranger would change the course of her life forever.After repeatedly seeking her attention and convincing her to give him private English lessons, the man followed Lindsay home. When she failed to arrive at work, concern quickly turned into a missing persons investigation that shocked Japan.Her killer fled before he could be arrested, sparking one of the country's largest manhunts. For more than two years, he evaded capture, even undergoing plastic surgery in an attempt to change his appearance and disappear forever.Connect with us on Social Media!You can find us at:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookofthedeadpod/X: https://twitter.com/BkofthedeadpodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550490186243TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebookofthedeadpodOr visit our website at http://botdpod.com/Featuring a promo for Mountain Murders:Mountain Murders is a true crime improv comedy podcast hosted by two Appalachians with questionable judgment and strong opinions. Join Heather & Dylan as they dive into bizarre murders, infamous killers, and small-town mayhem—armed with dark humor, off-the-rails commentary, and just enough research to be dangerous.https://open.spotify.com/show/40g9BcUDirt3cqirkSvLgd?si=1cfeea01228a4ab0https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/profile-timeline-lindsay-hawkers-spirit-3919725https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-14010308g.https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-14075271https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-14234404https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-14226859https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-14224830https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-17673492https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-14232041https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/04/10/call-eliminate-japans-hostage-justice-system-japanese-legal-professionalshttps://www.hrw.org/news/2019/04/10/call-eliminate-japans-hostage-justice-system-japanese-legal-professionalshttps://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/celebrity-inmate-tatsuya-ichihashi-who-killed-lindsay-hawker-doing-time-with-better-than-average-creature-comfortshttps://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/fugitive-ichihashi-may-be-in-philippineshttps://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/ichihashis-former-mentor-sheds-new-light-on-2007-hawker-murderhttps://web.archive.org/web/20080317191147/http:/www.japantoday.com/jp/news/431056https://web.archive.org/web/20080317191147/http:/www.japantoday.com/jp/news/431056https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-04/japanese-man-admits-killing-british-teacher/2782172https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1547136/Post-mortem-secrets-of-woman-buried-in-sand.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/apr/02/japan.justinmccurryhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/24/hawker-japan-murder-ichihashifile:///Users/courtneyliso/Downloads/.%20https:/www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/05/lindsay-hawker-suspect-face-surgeryhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jul/04/japanese-man-lindsay-ann-hawker-murderhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/10/japan-murder-plastic-surgery-hawkerhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/mar/28/japan.justinmccurry1https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/3248564/Murdered-Lindsay-Hawkers-killer-may-have-committed-suicide-Japanese-police-fear.htmlhttps://www.reuters.com/article/world/british-womans-body-in-japan-released-to-father-idUST93158/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Chapter 147: Japan's Most Wanted-The Murder of Lindsay Hawker

  8. Jul 1

    Chapter 146: 83 Hours in the Dark-The Kidnapping of Barbara Mackle Pt. 2

    The search for Barbara Mackle was becoming a race against time.After 20-year-old Barbara was buried alive inside a custom-built underground capsule, her family and the FBI faced an impossible challenge: pay a $500,000 ransom before her air supply ran out. But when the first ransom exchange went disastrously wrong, investigators feared they had lost their only chance to save her.In Part 2 of Barbara Mackle's incredible story, I'll tell you all about  the failed ransom drop, the intense FBI investigation, the successful payoff that finally put agents on the trail, and the desperate search that led to Barbara's rescue after 83 terrifying hours underground.Connect with us on Social Media!You can find us at:Instagram: @bookofthedeadpodX: @bkofthedeadpodFacebook: The Book of the Dead PodcastTikTok: BookofthedeadpodOr visit our website at www.botdpod.com14 News WFIE Evansville. (2003, April 21). Past haunts Chrisney doctor.ABC News. (2006, January 7). Man who buried girl alive becomes doctor.Associated Press. (2019, March 11). Kidnaper who used “Grave” accepted at medical school - Los Angeles Times.Buried alive. (n.d.). https://nmfh.org/buried-alive-boetticher/Buried Alive - The Kidnapping of Barbara Jane Mackle - 1968 Crime Magazine. (n.d.).Craig Woodward Cwoodward@wpl-legal.com. (2020, January 30). Who dunnit: Anatomy of an egomaniacal con artist – Part 3 of 3 Coastal Breeze NewsGary Steven Krist. (n.d.). FBI.gov.Gary Steven Krist. (2026a, January 17). Grokipedia.Lallanilla, M. (2026, April 2). The heiress who was buried alive—and survived | A&E. AETV.Neumann, S. (2024, November 2). How a 20-Year-Old heiress survived her kidnapping and being buried alive for 3 days: “I screamed and screamed.” People.Notorious Georgia kidnapper out of prison again. (2011, March 7). Corrections1.Special To The New York Times.... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Chapter 146: 83 Hours in the Dark-The Kidnapping of Barbara Mackle Pt. 2
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4.4
out of 5
52 Ratings

About

Hosted by Courtney Liso, The Book of the Dead is a true crime podcast that focuses on the victims of lesser-known crimes. Each episode presents a deep dive into a case from around the world, dissecting the details to tell the whole story of who each victim was, in addition to what happened to them. Formerly hosted by a mother-daughter team, the podcast has evolved with one host, taking the care necessary to ensure each victim is honored as they should be. Join Courtney every Wednesday at 12am EST for a new chapter in The Book of the Dead. 

Information

  • Creator
    Courtney Liso
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    177
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright The Book of the Dead Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Book of the Dead

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