Tales of the Twisted: True Crime Stories of the Strange

D. Whitman

Tales of the Twisted is a cinematic true crime podcast exploring real stories of the strange, weird, bizarre, and eerie. Each episode dives into chilling true crime, unsolved mysteries, bizarre disappearances, cold cases, disturbing historical crimes, and dark psychological stories—told in a slow-burn, atmospheric style. From vanished-without-a-trace cases and unexplained disappearances to infamous killers, mysterious deaths, and true stories stranger than fiction, this show uncovers the unsettling details behind some of the world’s most haunting real crimes. If you love true crime podcasts, mysterious vanishings, paranormal-adjacent mysteries, eerie storytelling, and strange true stories based on real events, follow Tales of the Twisted and explore a new chilling case every week. Stay curious. Stay twisted. 

  1. Rebecca Zahau: The Coronado Mansion Death Ruled Suicide

    12/15/2025

    Rebecca Zahau: The Coronado Mansion Death Ruled Suicide

    The death of Rebecca Zahau remains one of the most controversial cases in modern true crime. In July 2011, the 32-year-old was found naked, bound, and hanging from a balcony at her boyfriend’s oceanfront mansion in Coronado, California. Authorities ruled her death a suicide — but the details of the scene immediately raised disturbing questions. This Tales of the Twisted episode delivers a cinematic, story-driven investigation into the evidence, timelines, and unanswered contradictions surrounding Zahau’s death. From the cryptic message painted on the door, to the bindings, to the people inside the mansion that night, we examine why so many believe the scene may have been staged — and why the case continues to divide experts, investigators, and the public more than a decade later. If you’re drawn to cases involving questionable suicide rulings, elite power dynamics, and crimes that defy logic, this story refuses to fade into silence. Related Episodes: • The West Mesa Bone Collector — Albuquerque’s Buried Secrets • The Springfield Three — Vanished Without a Trace • The Yuba County Five — The Boys Who Vanished • The Sodder Children — The Christmas Eve Mystery Follow for new unsettling true stories every week.   Get more info at talesofthetwisted.com

    21 min
  2. The West Mesa Bone Collector: Albuquerque's Buried Secrets

    12/03/2025

    The West Mesa Bone Collector: Albuquerque's Buried Secrets

    The West Mesa Bone Collector is one of the most haunting unsolved cases in American true crime. Between 2001 and 2005, eleven women—and one unborn child—vanished from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their remains were discovered in 2009, buried across a remote stretch of desert now known as the West Mesa mass grave. This Tales of the Twisted episode delivers a cinematic, investigative deep-dive into the timeline, suspects, satellite imagery discoveries, trafficking theories, and the work of Detective Ida Lopez, whose missing-women list predicted the victims years before the graves were found. We explore the chilling possibility of a serial killer, a multi-state trafficking ring, and the still-missing women who may remain buried beneath the shifting sands of the mesa. If you follow cases like the Gilgo Beach murders, Jeffrey Dahmer, or the Cleveland Strangler, this episode exposes a case just as disturbing—and still unsolved. Related Episodes: • Dean Corll — The Candyman Killer • The Springfield Three — Vanished Without a Trace • The Sodder Children — The Christmas Eve Disappearance • The Yuba County Five — America’s Strangest Missing Persons Case Follow for new unsettling true stories every week.   Get more info at talesofthetwisted.com

    16 min

  3. 12/01/2025 ·  Bonus

    Twisted Short: The Boy in the Chimney

    A young man vanishes during a simple walk… and seven years later, demolition crews uncover his mummified body wedged head-first inside an abandoned cabin’s chimney. Who put him there? How did he get inside a chimney sealed with wire mesh? And why were his clothes folded neatly inside the house? In this Tales of the Twisted Twisted Short, we explore the chilling, real-life mystery of Joshua Maddux known worldwide as “The Boy in the Chimney.” This haunting case blends true crime, unsolved mystery, bizarre circumstances, and deeply unsettling questions investigators still cannot explain. If you love dark true crime, unexplained deaths, bizarre disappearances, and cases with impossible forensic details, this episode will pull you straight into the shadows. More Tales of the Twisted episodes you’ll want to hear next: • The Disappearance of Brandon Swanson — The 47-Minute Phone Call That Ends in Silence • The Ripper Crew of Chicago — Inside the Ritualistic Cult Behind the City’s Most Disturbing Murders • The Hex Hollow Murder — Curse, Powwow Magic & the Hauntings of Rehmeyer’s Hill • The Phantom Barber of Pascagoula — The Midnight Intruder Who Terrorized a Town • Amelia Dyer — Britain’s Baby Farmer Serial Killer Follow for new unsettling true stories every week.   Get more info at talesofthetwisted.com

    6 min
  4. Brandon Swanson (Minnesota) — The 47-Minute Call to Nowhere

    11/30/2025

    Brandon Swanson (Minnesota) — The 47-Minute Call to Nowhere

    Brandon Swanson’s 2008 disappearance in rural Minnesota remains one of the most haunting unsolved true-crime mysteries in modern history. After crashing his car, he called his parents—and vanished mid-sentence. He was calm. He was walking. He believed he was heading toward the lights of town. But he was miles from where he thought he was — and miles from the parents frantically searching for him. What happened after that final moment remains one of the most baffling unsolved disappearances in American true crime. In this extended episode of Tales of the Twisted, we explore Brandon’s last known steps, the massive search that followed, the landscape capable of swallowing a person whole, and the heartbreaking legacy his disappearance left behind — including Brandon’s Law, which forever changed how missing adults are investigated. If you’re drawn to stories of eerie vanishings, real-world mysteries, and cases where the answers remain just out of reach, this is an episode you won’t forget. Listeners who enjoyed this case may also like: 📝 The Circleville Letters: The Poison Pen Who Terrorized an Entire Town https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-circleville-letters-the-poison-pen-who-terrorized-an-entire-town--6786657 🧬 The Yuba County Five — The Boys Who Vanished Into the Sierra Nevada https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-yuba-county-five-the-boys-who-vanished-into-the-sierra-nevada--6786657 🕯️ The Springfield Three — Three Women, One Vanishing Act https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-springfield-three-three-women-one-vanishing-act--6786657 🔪 The Butcher of Kansas City: The Shocking Crimes of Robert Berdella https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-butcher-of-kansas-city-the-shocking-crimes-of-robert-berdella--6786657 👶 Amelia Dyer — The Baby Killer Who Haunted Victorian Britain https://www.spreaker.com/episode/amelia-dyer-the-baby-killer-who-haunted-victorian-britain--6786657 Follow for new unsettling true stories every week.   Get more info at talesofthetwisted.com

    23 min
  5. The Ripper Crew: Chicago’s Ritualistic Killers

    11/30/2025

    The Ripper Crew: Chicago’s Ritualistic Killers

    Chicago’s Ripper Crew carried out one of the most disturbing series of satanic-influenced murders in American true-crime history. Between 1981 and 1982, women were abducted, tortured, and killed in rituals that horrified investigators. Operating under the control of self-proclaimed leader Robin Gecht, the crew carried out attacks marked by ritual, ideology, and horrifying precision. In a city still haunted by the shadow of John Wayne Gacy, these crimes defied every expectation of what investigators thought they were dealing with. Tales of the Twisted uncovers the full story: the attic “ritual room,” the red van that stalked the streets, the survivors whose bravery broke the case open, and the shocking trials that led to the downfall of the Ripper Crew. This episode explores how a seemingly ordinary group of men formed one of the most sadistic murder teams in modern true-crime history — and what questions still remain unsolved today. If you’re drawn to eerie true stories, dark psychology, and the cases that leave a stain on history, this is one you won’t forget. If you liked this episode, check out these other Tales of the Twisted stories: The Butcher of Kansas City: The Shocking Crimes of Robert Berdella https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-butcher-of-kansas-city-the-shocking-crimes-of-robert-berdella--6786657 👁️ The Circleville Letters: The Poison Pen Who Terrorized an Entire Town https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-circleville-letters-the-poison-pen-who-terrorized-an-entire-town--6786657 🕯️ The Springfield Three – Three Women, One Vanishing Act https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-springfield-three-three-women-one-vanishing-act--6786657 👶 Amelia Dyer – The Baby Killer Who Haunted Britain https://www.spreaker.com/episode/amelia-dyer-the-baby-killer-who-haunted-victorian-britain--6786657 🧠 The Boy Who Remembered His Past Life https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-boy-who-remembered-his-past-life--6786657 🔪 The Yuba County Five – The Boys Who Vanished Into the Sierra Nevada https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-yuba-county-five-the-boys-who-vanished-into-the-sierra-nevada--6786657 Follow for new unsettling true stories every week.   Get more info at talesofthetwisted.com

    27 min
  6. The Hex Hollow Murder: Magic, Fear, and a Curse

    11/28/2025

    The Hex Hollow Murder: Magic, Fear, and a Curse

    The 1928 Hex Hollow murder in Pennsylvania blends true crime, superstition, and Appalachian folk magic into one of the strangest cases ever recorded. A brutal killing sparked panic over curses, witchcraft, and dark beliefs. This episode reveals the true story behind the Hex Hollow Murder—from the belief in folk magic and the powerful fear of curses, to the lingering hauntings reported for decades on Rehmeyer’s Hill. A dark, factual, cinematic deep dive into superstition, folklore, and the tragedy that still echoes across the land known as Hex Hollow. If you enjoyed this episode, explore more twisted real-life stories: • The Circleville Letters: The Poison Pen Who Terrorized an Entire Town https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-circleville-letters-the-poison-pen-who-terrorized-an-entire-town--6786657 • The Yuba County Five: The Boys Who Vanished Into the Sierra Nevada https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-yuba-county-five-the-boys-who-vanished-into-the-sierra-nevada--6786657 • The Boy Who Remembered His Past Life https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-boy-who-remembered-his-past-life--6786657 • The Butcher of Kansas City: The Crimes of Robert Berdella https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-butcher-of-kansas-city-the-shocking-crimes-of-robert-berdella--6786657 • Twisted Short: The Boys Who Remember Their Past Lives https://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-the-twisted-short-the-boys-who-remember-their-past-lives--6786657 Follow for new unsettling true stories every week.   Get more info at talesofthetwisted.com

    9 min

  7. 11/26/2025 ·  Bonus

    Twisted Short: The Phantom Barber of Pascagoula

    The Phantom Barber of Pascagoula is one of the strangest unsolved cases of World War II. In the summer of 1942, a silent intruder slipped through windows, crept into bedrooms, and cut the hair of sleeping women and children—vanishing without a trace. No robbery. No assault. No motive ever proven. This Tales of the Twisted short explores the bizarre break-ins, the panic that swept Pascagoula, the arrest of William Dolan, and the lingering question that still haunts the case: was the Phantom Barber ever truly caught? If you love eerie true stories, unexplained crimes, and mysteries that refuse to die… this is one you won’t forget. 🔗  More episodes you’ll want to hear next: • The Yuba County Five – The Boys Who Vanished Into the Sierra Nevada https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-yuba-county-five-the-boys-who-vanished-into-the-sierra-nevada--6786657 • The Circleville Letters – The Poison Pen Who Terrorized an Entire Town https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-circleville-letters-the-poison-pen-who-terrorized-an-entire-town--6786657 • Amelia Dyer – The Baby Killer Who Haunted Victorian Britain https://www.spreaker.com/episode/amelia-dyer-the-baby-killer-who-haunted-victorian-britain--6786657 • Robert Berdella – The Butcher of Kansas City https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-butcher-of-kansas-city-the-shocking-crimes-of-robert-berdella--6786657 Follow for new unsettling true stories every week.   Get more info at talesofthetwisted.com

    3 min
  8. Amelia Dyer: Britain’s Baby Farmer Killer

    11/25/2025

    Amelia Dyer: Britain’s Baby Farmer Killer

    Amelia Dyer, the Victorian-era “Baby Farmer,” is believed to be Britain’s most prolific serial killer. Her decades-long killing spree exposed a horrifying system of child trafficking and murder hidden behind closed doors. You’ll discover how Dyer exploited the desperate circumstances of unwed mothers, how she used opium-based cordials and white dressmaking tape to silence victims, and how the Thames discovery in 1896 finally exposed her operation. We also explore the 1901–1902 garden bone discovery, the Victorian adoption crisis, and the reforms her crimes forced into law. This episode delivers a slow-burn, cinematic dive into: • The rise of baby farming in 19th-century Britain • The deadly methods Amelia Dyer used to kill infants in her care • How poverty, stigma, and lack of oversight created a breeding ground for tragedy • The investigation that ended her decades-long reign • Her lightning-fast trial and execution at Newgate Prison • The long-term impact on UK child protection laws If you love true crime rooted in verified history — the kind that is darker than fiction because it actually happened — this is an episode you won’t forget. 🔗 If you enjoyed this episode, check out more true stories from Tales of the Twisted: • The Circleville Letters: The Poison Pen Who Terrorized a Town https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-circleville-letters-the-poison-pen-who-terrorized-an-entire-town--62009766 • The Yuba County Five: The Boys Who Vanished Into the Sierra Nevada https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-yuba-county-five-the-boys-who-vanished-into-the-sierra-nevada--61997688 • The Boy Who Remembered His Past Life https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-boy-who-remembered-his-past-life--62011488 • The Butcher of Kansas City: The Crimes of Robert Berdella https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-butcher-of-kansas-city-the-shocking-crimes-of-robert-berdella-bonus--62009556 • Tales of the Twisted: Trailer (Cinematic True Crime) https://www.spreaker.com/episode/welcome-to-tales-of-the-twisted-cinematic-true-crime-trailer--62007583 Follow for new unsettling true stories every week.   Get more info at talesofthetwisted.com

    11 min
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Trailer

About

Tales of the Twisted is a cinematic true crime podcast exploring real stories of the strange, weird, bizarre, and eerie. Each episode dives into chilling true crime, unsolved mysteries, bizarre disappearances, cold cases, disturbing historical crimes, and dark psychological stories—told in a slow-burn, atmospheric style. From vanished-without-a-trace cases and unexplained disappearances to infamous killers, mysterious deaths, and true stories stranger than fiction, this show uncovers the unsettling details behind some of the world’s most haunting real crimes. If you love true crime podcasts, mysterious vanishings, paranormal-adjacent mysteries, eerie storytelling, and strange true stories based on real events, follow Tales of the Twisted and explore a new chilling case every week. Stay curious. Stay twisted. 

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