Happy Halloween! Here's a spooky little treat of an episode about seances, Ouija boards, and famous people in history who have believed in them (and were institutionalized because of it). Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-oddities--5307439/support.بقلم Autumn Grube

Today I’d like to tell you the tale of a woman minding her own business in the woods. She became the town scapegoat, and eventually, the hysteria and ignorance of her neighbors took her life. Meade County, Kentucky is a small hamlet that packs a massive supernatural punch. In terms of dark tourism, this county boasts everything from sightings of Bi…

The mother of modern sci-fi, Mary Shelley, had a life as interesting as the timeless fiction she created. A woman ahead of her time, her greatest work was an allegory for the struggles and tragedies of her own life, as well as a commentary on the politics of the time. Trigger warning: miscarriage, infant death SOURCES The Lady and Her Monsters: A T…

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is known as the location of one of the largest, most expensive, and deadliest battles of the American Civil War. There were an estimated 50,000 casualties during the bloody days at Gettysburg, and the nightmare of that battle never ended for some of the poor souls killed there. Some believe that the souls of those who suff…

Can a whole town be cursed? The small village of Dudleytown in Connecticut, part of the Cornwall township, has experienced a series of unfortunate events since its inception in 1747. Bouts of insanity, suicides, and murder have plagued the city throughout its short history. Perhaps the Dark Entry Forest surrounding the village drove its people to m…

You might be mistaken if you think you know the whole story of the Son of Sam. David Berkowitz, also known as Son of Sam and the .44 Caliber Killer, terrorized the New York City area from July 1976 to July 1977. Berkowitz killed six people and wounded seven, most using a .44 caliber Bulldog revolver. Since his conviction, Berkowitz has made a lot o…

Death ceremonies and traditions around the world often have a similar central purpose, regardless of the religion, sect, or geography of the people. That central purpose is community. From Victorian Era romanticizing of death to sky burials, there's an option for us all. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-…

In the late 1970s, professor Dr. Charles Scudder and his companion Joey Odom left their lives in Chicago behind for simpler lives in the mountains of Georgia. There, they built their home by hand and furnished it with occult books and symbology. They frequently welcomed guests into their Pink Room for "parties." Eventually, the wrong person was let…

The 1830 murder of one of Salem's wealthiest octogenarians both stunned and captivated the public. At the trials of the accused, which featured the legendary orator Daniel Webster, a convoluted murder-for-hire plot unfolded. The details of the trial inspired such works of fiction as "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Scarlett Letter", with the ghost of…

During a massive storm on November 29, 1980, Granger Taylor left a note for his parents to find. It said that he had gone to board an alien spaceship after recurring dreams had told him he was going to embark on a 42-month interstellar journey. That night, Granger Taylor vanished. Both his family and the police spent months searching for him, but n…

The Fresno Nightcrawler is a cryptid that resembles a pair of legs draped in white fabric and not much else. While the sightings might immediately scream “hoax”, there are at least two instances of it being captured on video. Is there really a haunted pair of pants out there or is the Fresno Nightcrawler just another clickbait story? SOURCES https:…

When typically reliable Al Kite failed to show up for work on May 24, 2004, his co-workers called his emergency contact who, in turn, called the Aurora, CO police. What they believed to be a welfare check turned into a gruesome murder investigation that became more confusing with each detail they uncovered. SOURCES https://www.denver7.com/news/crim…

In the early morning hours of March 24, 2012, Molly Young drove to her ex-boyfriend’s apartment after receiving numerous calls and texts asking for help. The next morning, she was found in his room, on the floor next to his bed, with a gunshot wound to her head. Her death has initially ruled a suicide, but was amended to “undetermined”. The evidenc…

John Bodkin Adams was a British general practitioner, more than 160 of whose patients died under suspicious circumstances. Many of them just so happened to be very wealthy women and some 132 patients left him money or gifts when they died. Rumors started that Adams was killing them with drugs, but many of their bodies had been cremated before a pos…

On March 26, 1997, a tip from a former member led police to a grizzly discovery: 39 decomposing bodies in a San Diego mansion. The Heaven’s Gate massacre was the largest mass suicide that had ever taken place on US soil. SOURCES Heaven's Gate: America's UFO Religion; By Benjamin Zeller Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/po…

On August 23, 1912, Percy and Lessie Dunbar loaded their two young sons and left their Opelousas home for a camping trip at nearby Swayze Lake. Four-year-old Bobby Dunbar wandered away from the family’s tent and disappeared that night. During a search, a boy matching Bobby’s age and description was found. Assuming this was the missing boy, “Bobby” …

The idea of life after death has confounded humans since the beginning of time. While it is truly impossible to know, endless theories have been proposed to lessen the blow of what is, quite possibly, nothingness after death. Reincarnation is one such possibility. The strange case of the Pollock twins is still cited as a credible instance of reinca…

In October 2009, the Jamison family disappeared after touring a plot of land in Oklahoma. Days later, their abandoned pickup truck was found in a remote area of the Ouachita National Forest. Inside they found an odd assortment of items, along with their dog. There was no sign of the family. SOURCES https://www.enidnews.com/archives/found-remains-co…

One evening in late September 1937, Charles S. Ross, the wealthy president of a greeting card company, was driving toward Chicago when he was pulled over and kidnapped at gunpoint by a pair of criminals. The ensuing investigation became one of the largest for the young FBI. The plot did not end well for Ross and one of the men who abducted him. SOU…

In 2002, investigators made a horrendous discovery at the Tri-State Crematory in Noble, Georgia. The owner had not cremated bodies that had been entrusted to him, but instead had dumped or buried them on the property. In all, 339 bodies were found on the 16-acre property. No explanation has been given as to why the bodies were not cremated. SOURCES…

In 1985, US Marshals collaborated with other law enforcement agencies to capture more than 100 fugitives from justice. They constructed an elaborate sting operation, luring the criminals with promises of brunch and free NFL tickets. SOURCES https://www.usmarshals.gov/who-we-are/history/historical-reading-room/fugitive-investigative-strike-teams-no-…

In the final installment of the life and times of Aleister Crowley, the magician finds himself destitute, but somehow still traveling the world and creating communities that definitely aren't cults. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-oddities--5307439/support.…

In episode 2, Crowley and his protege travel to North Africa where they test the boundaries of their magical prowess. It only gets weirder from here, folks! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-oddities--5307439/support.بقلم Autumn Grube

Aleister Crowley was one of the most intriguing characters of the 20th century. He was a poet, a ceremonial magician, a mountaineer, an alchemist, a philosopher, a spy, and a self-described sex and drug addict. He was also known as “The Beast”, a title given to him by his own MOTHER, and the “wickedest man in the world.” SOURCES The Book of the Law…

From the outside, the Victorian house at 3406 Brownsville Road in Brentwood, Pennsylvania looks like any other in the area. It was once a waking nightmare inside, though, according to the Cranmer family. SOURCES The Demon of Brownsville Road: A Pittsburgh Family's Battle with Evil in Their Home; by Bob Cranmer (Author), Erica Manfred (Author) https…

From the outside, Bob and Diane Ward had it all. They'd been married for 26 years, raised two daughters, and called a six-bedroom mansion in an exclusive neighborhood at Isleworth in Orlando, Florida home. Gunshots shattered that perfect illusion in September 2009. SOURCES STATE OF FLORIDA v. JAMES ROBERT WARD; CASE NO: 09-CF-13977-A-O https://case…

On July 4, 1998, a trio of ATV riders found a body near an interstate exit in the Las Vegas desert. What the police thought was an apocalyptic skinhead was really Airmen Dan Shersty, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base. Days later, they found the body of Lin Newborn, a local punk scene staple. The two men were best friends and the leaders of the loc…

On Easter Sunday in 1967, Jim Thompson took an afternoon stroll in the Cameron Highlands’ hills. The American, known as the “king of Thai silk”, was on vacation in Malaysia with friends. Something happened during his walk and Thompson was never seen again. His disappearance remains a mystery. SOURCES https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article…

On December 28, 1964, the quiet town of Garfield Heights, Ohio was shocked by the brutal stabbing death of 16-year-old Beverly Jarosz. While there were several suspects and even two confessions, most were excluded using methods that no longer hold up as evidence. Her murder remains unsolved. SOURCES https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Law-Enf…

Have you ever felt like you’ve had an out-of-body experience? Surveys suggest that between 8 and 20 percent of people claim to have had something like an out-of-body experience at some point in their lives — a sensation of the consciousness, spirit, or "astral body" leaving the physical body. SOURCES https://www.wikihow.com/Perform-Astral-Projectio…

Ariel wanted to be where the people were, but most of the half-human, half-fish sirens of the sea known as mermaids wanted to be left alone. These legendary sea creatures chronicled in maritime cultures since the advent of written history. While legends in various parts of the world differ, there are some common themes, fairly credible sightings, a…

In 1992, young sailor Allen Schindler, after a series of events that outed him to his entire ship, was found beaten so severely that he was unrecognizable while returning to the USS Belleau Wood while docked in Japan. What followed was a series of blatant omissions from the US Navy regarding the details of his brutal murder. SOURCES https://www.nyt…

In the 1970’s Doris Bither claimed, among other ghostly happenings, to have been sexually assaulted by three ghosts. Her case inspired a 1978 novel by Frank De Felitta titled The Entity and a film of the same name. The case parallels other popular “based on a true story” horror films of the time—including The Exorcist and The Amityville Horror—blen…

Late on the afternoon of October 24, 1961, police were called to a home in Lincoln, Mass. after a neighbor reported seeing a trail of blood leading from the house to the driveway. She discovered the unsettling scene after a young girl living in the house returned from a playdate to find her mother, Joan Risch missing. Several unconfirmed sightings …

In the conclusion of the Golden State Killer series, the mask is finally lifted using modern DNA technology and the man also known as the Visalia Ransacker, the East Area Rapist, and the Original Night Stalker is brought to justice. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-oddities--5307439/support.…

While the moniker for the GSK was the East Area Rapist in Sacramento, he was given a variety of names during the murders in Southern California. The Original Night Stalker was the most commonly used of those names, and seven attacks in Southern California are attributed to him. SOURCES Cited in previous episode Become a supporter of this podcast: h…

The Golden State Killer is one of the most infamous serial killers in United States history. Also known as the Visalia Ransacker, the East Area Rapist, and the Original Night Stalker, the Golden State Killer was active from 1974 to 1986 across California, committing at least 13 murders, 50 rapes, and more than 100 burglaries. In 2013, true crime wr…

When Mary Horton Vail died on Oct. 28, 1962, her husband, Felix Vail, told police she drowned in a freak accident in the Calcasieu River in Louisiana. He wasn’t prosecuted at the time, but more than 50 years later – after two other women he was last seen with went missing – his luck finally ran out. SOURCES STATE of Louisiana V. VAIL; 17–354; 12-28…

For over 3,000 years, certain regions of China have practiced a tradition known as yinhun, or ghost marriage. This ancient ritual marries the souls of a bride and groom in the afterlife to ensure their ghosts won't haunt their respective families. But with everything, there's a dark side to this ritual that includes kidnapping, murder, and bidding …

Red River Gorge is a canyon system located in central eastern Kentucky. It's home to some of the best rock climbing in the country, great camping spots, and plenty of flora and fauna. But the deep woods may contain dangerous creatures (besides bears) and secrets that an unlucky few have encountered. SOURCES cited within episode Become a supporter o…

It’s a case that spans hundreds of miles and has had hundreds of suspects nationwide. A killer targeted people when they least expected and executed them mercilessly. The identity of the I-70 Killer remains unknown. SOURCES Dead End: Inside the Hunt for the I-70 Serial Killer; by Bob Cyphers Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.…

On the morning of February 14, 2013, Nicole Waller left her boyfriend’s home and disappeared, never to be heard from again. Her body was never found, but her car was. SOURCES Cody Johnston v. State of Montana: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/mt-supreme-court/2186463.html#:~:text=On%20the%20morning%20of%20February,Her%20body%20was%20never%20found.…

After years of admiring each other from afar, Serena Karlan and Bison Dele decided the time was right to pursue a relationship. After 9/11, they embarked on a sailing adventure in the Pacific. The couple and boat captain disappeared after Bison’s brother showed up unannounced. They have never been found. SOURCES https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-…

Do you know who your neighbors are? After the Cold War, the FBI arrested 10 people who’d been spying for Russia for more than a decade. They’d been blending in with Americans, but in reality, they were sleeper spies. Their objective was to disappear into a community and not be recognized for what they were, leaving many questioning who they could t…

When the body of 23-year-old Josh Dufort was found by the side of the road in Henderson, Nevada, it appeared at first to be a random crime. Only after investigators found two life insurance policies taken out in Josh’s name by a new friend did they realize he’d been murdered. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autu…

When a group of young Burger Chef employees went missing from their night shift, police initially thought they’d stolen money and run. It was soon apparent that they hadn't gone anywhere willingly. SOURCES https://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/news/2023/12/28/from-the-indystar-archives-the-1978-burger-chef-restaurant-murders/72054036007/ https:/…

Where we left off, Dion Fortune was in the midst of a divorce and living in The Belfry, about to embark on a new leg of her journey. This time I’m getting into the good, the bad, and the ugly the details of one of the most influential people in modern paganism and Wicca. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-…

Dion Fortune was a British occultist, ceremonial magician, novelist, and author. She co-founded the Fraternity of the Inner Light and several other Theosophical organizations. Fortune was a proponent of philosophies that she claimed had been taught to her by spiritual entities known as the Ascended Masters. SOURCES [ T. W. C. Moriarty], Seven Aphor…

On a cool night in January of 2008, the town of Stephenville, Texas was inundated with unexplained aerial sightings. The incident received widespread media attention at the time and remains among the most notable UAP events in the 21st century. SOURCES https://web.archive.org/web/20080208225743/http://www.ufocasebook.com/2008/sorrellssaga1.html.web…

For 40 years, one mother worked diligently to ensure that her daughter’s killer would be brought to justice. After decades of chasing would-be suspects, police finally realized that the person who killed Joyce McClain had been hiding in plain sight all along. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-oddities--53…