On March 19, 1960, Kansas City police were called to the home James and Sharon Kinne for what they believed was an accidental shooting. According to Sharon, she had found their two-year-old daughter lying on the couple’s bed, a gun near her hand and her father’s body next to her with a large hole in his head. Unable to find evidence to the contrary, the shooting was ruled an accident and Sharon collected on her husband’s life insurance policy. It wasn’t until a few months later, when the wife of Sharon’s new boyfriend went missing and eventually turned up dead, that investigators came to believe that James Kinne’s death was no accident.Sharon Kinne was eventually arrested and charged with the murders of her husband James and of Patricia Jones, the wife of Sharon’s boyfriend at the time of her arrest. During the course of their investigation, detectives began unraveling a lurid tale of infidelity and conspiracy that resulted in at least two murders. Ultimately, Sharon would be acquitted of her Patricia Jones’ murder, and would be tried three times for the murder of James Kinne. Before she could be tried for a fourth time, Sharon fled to Mexico with the help of yet another boyfriend, where she killed Francisco Parades Ordoñez in what she claimed was self-defense. The Mexican authorities rejected that claim and in 1964. Sharon was tried and convicted for murder, receiving a ten-year prison sentence. However, after serving just five years of her sentence, Sharon Kinne escaped the Mexican prison and has been on the run ever since. Today, more than fifty years later, she is still considered a fugitive with active warrants out for her arrest.Thank you to the wonderful David White, of the Bring Me the Axe pod, for research assistance ReferencesDoyle, Patricia Janson. 1962. "Sharon thinks of trial, jury and jail." Kansas City Times, January 13: 1.Hays, James C. 1997. I'm Just an Ordinary Girl: The Sharon Kinne Story. Leawood, KS: Leathers Book Publishing.Kansas City Star. 1961. "Anxious in his hunt for wife." Kansas City Star, June 16: 1.—. 1961. "'Changed her story on gun'." Kansas City Star, June 15: 1.—. 1960. "Fin a woman slain in woods." Kansas City Star, May 28: 1.—. 1962. "'Fixed a price for his death'." Kansas City Star, January 9: 1.—. 1960. "Officers study life of families in slaying probe." Kansas City Star, May 28: 1.—. 1960. "Puzzled over a fatal shot." Kansas City Star, March 20: 1.—. 1960. "Rap coroner in slaying probe." Kansas City Star, June 2: 1.—. 1960. "Weird ties in murder probe." Kansas City Star, May 29: 1.Kansas City Times. 1962. "Boldizs views offer as jest." Kansas City Times, January 10: 1.—. 1969. "Kinne Search Widens." Kansas City Times, December 9: 1.—. 1962. "Mrs. Kinne found guilty." Kansas City Times, January 12: 1.—. 1961. "Sharon Kinne goes free." Kansas City Times, June 23: 1.—. 1962. "Somber Sharon Kinne starts jail routine." Kansas City Times, January 12: 1.Kelleghan, Kevin. 1969. "Sharon Kinne hunt eases up." Kansas City Times, December 18: 31.Maryville Daily Forum. 1961. "Testimony on death gun to KC jurors." Marysville Daily Forum, June 19: 1.Olwine, Margaret. 1974. "Sharon Kinne: Is she free forever, part II." Kansas City Star Magazine, February 17: 14.—. 1974. "Sharon Kinne: Is she free forever?" Kansas City Star Magazine, February 17: 17-19.Weber, David. 1964. "Sharon Kinne in jail." Kansas City Star, September 20: 1.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When East Orange, New Jersey police were called to the home of Virginia Wardlaw in late November 1909, they knew only that there had been an accident involving Virginia’s niece, Ocey Snead. Once they’d arrived, however, officers discovered Ocey’s body in an upstairs bathtub, dead from what appeared to be suicide by drowning.After just a few weeks of investigation, it became clear that Ocey’s death was no accident. Suspicion quickly fell on Virginia and her two sisters, who were soon charged with Ocey’s murder, which investigators believed was committed in order to collect on a large insurancepolicy.The murder of Ocey Snead was an undeniable tragedy, but her death was only the beginning of what would become one of the early twentieth century’s most captivating crime stories. As detectives and the press dug deeper into the background of the three women accused of starving and drowning their niece, a bizarre story emerged that sounded as though it had been pulled directly from the pages of a classic southern gothic horror novel. And like any good gothic horror story, the trial of Virginia Wardlaw and her sisters was full of unbelievable twists and culminated in a shocking conclusion.Thank you to the Wondrous Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for Research!ReferencesNew York Times. 1910. "Alienists declare Mrs. Martin insane." New York Times, September 21: 6.—. 1909. "Bathtub mystery no murder, she says." New York Times, December 2: 2.—. 1909. "Bathtub principals are twice indicted ." New York Times, December 23: 4.—. 1910. "Miss Wardlaw dies; starved herself." New York Times, August 12: 1.—. 1911. "Mrs. Martin pleads to manslaughter ." New York Times, January 10: 2.—. 1910. "Mrs. Martin's cries halt lunacy trial." New York Times, November 8: 7.—. 1909. "Mrs. Snead's family full of fatalities." New York Times, December 9: 20.—. 1910. "Ocey Snead was drugged ." New York Times, January 21: 1.—. 1910. "Say Miss Wardlaw is dying." New York Times, August 11: 4.—. 1909. "The Snead msytery." New York Times, December 18: 12.Rife, Luanne. 2016. "The Black Sisters." Roanoke Times, December 1: 116.Roanoke Times. 1909. "Christiansburg woman is held." Roanoke Times, December 3: 1.West, Mike. 2009. "Fearless Confederate died mysteriously in NYC." Murfreesboro Post, February 15: 8.—. 2009. "'Sisters in Black' sour Ocey's domestic bliss." Murfreesboro Post, February 22: 8.Zierold, Norman. 1968. Three Sisters in Black. New York, NY: Little, Brown.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It is Listener Tales 80 and this installment is brought to you by HEROES with the spookiest of tales… A decomposing body, florescent yellow fluid, possessed toys, a baby seeing ghost, and a man in black. These are brought to you by you, for you, from you and all about you so if you have a listener tale please go ahead and send it to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with "Listener Tale" somewhere in the subject line :)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the evening of December 28, 1956, fifteen-year-old Barbara Grimes and her thirteen-year-old sister, Patricia, left their home in Chicago, Illinois headed for a movie theater in Brighton Park to see the latest Elvis Presley film. When the girls failed to return home that evening as expected, their mother sent the two other siblings to wait for them at the closest bus station, but when they returned later without Barbara and Patricia, she became anxious and began calling their friends, before eventually phoning the police. Three weeks later, Barbara and Patricia’s bodies were discovered on the side of a rural road by a construction worker in Willow Springs, about an hour outside Chicago.The murder of the Grimes sisters and the investigation that followed remains one of Chicago’s most notorious cold cases and one of the most costly and labor-intensive searches in the state’s history. Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring Me The Axe Podcast for research assistance!ReferencesChicago Tribune. 1957. "Suspect's mom says he's lazy, shiftless bum." Chcago Tribune, January 25: 3.—. 1957. "Charged with murder of Grimes girls." Chicago Tribune, January 28: 1.—. 1957. "Dsicloses how 2 girls ditched him and companion in theater." Chicago Tribune, January 27: 1.—. 1957. "High points of the news." Chicago Tribune, February 3: 8.—. 1957. "'I knew it!' sobs mother." Chicago Tribune, 01 23: 1.—. 1957. "Nude bodies thrown beside country road." Chicago Tribune, January 23: 1.—. 1957. "Rule out sex attack, strangling theories." Chicago Tribune, January 24: 1.—. 1958. "Slayer of girl, 15, hopes he gets chair." Chicago Tribune, November 19: 1.—. 1957. "Widen search for 2 young sisters missing four days." Chicago Tribune, January 1: 5.—. 1956. "Young sisters reported seen in two places." Chicago Tribune, December 31: 6.Gowran, Clay. 1957. "Re-enacts crime, and shows how he dumped two in ditch." Chicago Tribune, January 28: 1.Lowry, Shirley. 1957. "Lost girls' mother keeps brave." Chicago Tribune, January 11: 3.McGill, Nancy. 1957. "Mom denies Skid Row tale." Chicago Tribune, Janaury 28: 6.Milwaukee Journal. 1957. "Grimes case tiff costs job." Milwaukee Journal, February 16.Nix, Naomi. 2013. "1950s case gets new look from pro, amateurs." Chicago Tribune, 30 May: 1.Taylor, Troy. 2015. The Two Lost Girls: The Mystery of the Grimes Sisters. Jacksonville, IL: Whitechapel Press.United Press. 1957. "Bennie admits part in crime." Daily Chronicle, January 28: 1.—. 1957. "New suspect is arrested." Daily Chronicle, January 24: 1.—. 1957. "Two teen-aged girls killed." Daily Chronicle, Janaury 23: 1.UWIRE. 2019. "'Chicago History Cop' making headway in Grimes sisters' murder case." UWIRE, October 25.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When 39 year old Bernie Tiede confessed to the murder of his friend and companion, 81 year old Marjorie Nugent in November 1996, the revelation came as a shock to the small town of Carthage, Texas. The two had been inseparable friends since the death of Nugent’s husband in 1990 and as far as anyone in Carthage could tell, Nugent couldn’t have picked a more devoted companion than Tiede. Yet as the details of the crime began to emerge, a strange story began to take shape—Tiede’s supposed motive for the murder was to gain access to Nugent’s fortune, but what he did with that money once he had access defied the logic and expectations of greed.The story of Bernie Tiede and Marjorie Nugent should have ended with the trial and conviction of Tiede, but a few years later, Bernie’s story became the subject of a big Hollywood film, shining a spotlight on the story and raising new questions about the extent of Bernie’s responsibility for the murder. Tiede remains a rarity in the history of American crime: a sympathetic killer almost no one in town wanted to see convicted.Thank you to the wonderful David White, of the Bring me the Axe podcast, for research assistanceReferencesAssociated Press. 1997. "Man indicted in death of banker's widow." Austin American-Statesman, August 29: 91.—. 1999. "Shreveport man testifies about 'inappropriate kiss' he witnessed between murder suspect and victim." Marshall News Messenger, February 3: 6.—. 1998. "Mistrial declared in confessed widow killer case; trial moved." Odessa American, October 28: 16.Bernhardt Tiede, II v. The State of Texas. 2002. 12-99-00182-CR (Twelfth District Court of Appeals (Tyler, Texas), November 2).Cieply, Michael, and David Montgomery. 2014. "Murderer who inspired the film 'Berni' is released to the director's garage." New York Times, May 8.Grissom, Brandi. 2014. "Over 15 years, a town's stance on a convict shifts." New York Times, February 9.Halmark, Bob. 2012. Carthage residents react to Bernie movie. March 8. Accessed June 13, 2023. https://www.kltv.com/story/17106798/carthage-residents-react-to-bernie-movie/.Hollandsworth, Skip. 1998. "Midnight in the Garden of East Texas." Texas Monthly, Janaury.Jacobs, Janet. 1997. "Slaying, arrest stun town." Longview News-Journal , August 21: 1.—. 1998. "Deputy testifies about Tiede's arrest, confession." Longview News-Journal, October 29: 7.—. 1999. "Emotions run high in Tiede trial." Longview News-Journal, February 7: 1.—. 1999. "Tiede found guilty of murder." Longview News-Journal, February 10: 1.—. 1998. "Tiede returns to court." Longview News-Journal, October 29: 1.—. 1999. "Tiede sentenced to life in prison." Longview News-Journal, February 12: 1.—. 1997. "Homicide shocks Carthage residents." Marshall News Messanger, August 20: 5.—. 1997. "Tiede's troubles mount as new charge is filed." Marshall News Messanger, August 22: 1.—. 1997. "Officials freeze Tiede's finances as murder investigation continues ." Marshall News Messenger, August 24: 9.Jennings, Diane. 2012. "Austin attorney takes interest in Bernie Tiede's murder case." Dallas Morning News, August 7.Longview News-Journal. 1998. "Confession gives details into slaying." Longview News-Journal, October 29: 1.Marshall News Messenger. 1999. "Carthage man's trial set to begin in San Augustine." Marshall News Messenger, February 1: 1999.—. 1999. "Tiede sobs as photos shown in court." Marshall News Messenger, February 4: 3.—. 1999. "Videotape upsets Tiede jury." Marshall News Messenger, February 5: 2.Rhodes, Joe. 2012. "A wacky Lonestar murder mystery." New York Times, April 15: SM40.Texas Tribune. 2016. "Bernie Tiede painted as victim, calculating killer." Texas Tribune, April 6.—. 2016. "Jury sentences Bernie Tiede to 99 years or life." Texas Tribune, April 22.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On June 22, 1932, a boy picking blackberries in rural Logan, West Virginia made a hideous discovery when he happened upon the dead and brutalized body of local woman, Mamie Thurman. At first glance, Mamie’s murder resembled a gangland-style execution; she had been shot twice in the head and her throat had been slit from one side to the other, as though whoever killed her wanted to make sure she didn’t survive.The murder shocked the small town of Logan. Mamie was well-known around town as a devoted wife to her husband, Jack, a local police officer, and a good Christian who was actively involved in her church and community organizations. Yet as news of the murder spread, so too did rumors of Mamie’s infidelity and poor moral character. Ultimately, local Black handyman Charles Stephenson was arrested, tried, and convicted in a sensational trial that made national headlines. Yet many felt that conviction was obtained on questionable evidence and, in retrospect, largely the result of racial bias. Was Mamie Thurman really just an unfortunate victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or was there a more personal element? Indeed, evidence suggests there was more going on in the case of Mamie’s death than a simple murder and that a number of powerful men conspired to cover up the true motive for Mamie’s death, allowing the true killer to walk free.Thank you to the wonderful David White, of the Bring Me the Axe pod, for research assistanceReferencesCharleston Daily Mail. 1932. "Negro was at killing scene." Charleston Daily Mail, June 27: 1.—. 1932. "Pair guarded in Logan case." Charleston Daily Mail, June 26: 1.—. 1932. "Tests show blood in Logan official's car." Charleston Daily Mail, July 28: 1.—. 1932. "Two men accused of Logan murder." Charleston Daily Mail, June 23: 1.—. 1932. "Two more questioned in Logan murder case." Charleston Daily Mail, June 24: 1.Davis, F. Keith. 2021. Secret Life and Brutal Death of Mamie Thurman. Charleston, WV: Quarrier Press.Hinton Daily News. 1932. "Large crowd at hearing of Logan men." Hinton Daily News, June 25: 1.State of West Virginia vs. Clarence Stevenson. 1933. 172 S.E. 533; 7621 (Supreme Court of West Virginia, December 16).See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Discovered in Utah County in 1960, Nutty Putty Cave quickly became a popular destination for amateur and professional cavers and spelunkers as a kind of bucket list cave of considerable difficulty. Despite its popularity, beginning in the late 1980s, the cave became notorious for the number of explorers who became trapped and required emergency assistance to escape its twisting, narrow, and poorly mapped passageways.In late November 2009, the inherent risk and dangers of Nutty Putty Cave made national news when twenty-six-year-old college student John Edward Jones became trapped upside-down in an uncharted and perilously narrow section of the cave. Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring me the Axe Podcast for research assistance!ReferencesAshton, Katie. 2006. "Nutty Putty Cave entrance getting a gate." Daily Herald, May 2: 23.Associated Press. 2006. "Utah's caves remain open one year after Provo tragedy." Daily Herald, August 14: 8.—. 2009. Man dies after day trapped upside-down in cave. November 25. Accessed October 12, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna34157005.—. 2009. Man dies after day trapped upside-down in cave. November 25. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna34157005.—. 2009. "Recovery of caver's body deemed too dangerous." Roanoke Times, November 28: 4.—. 2004. "Teen stuck in cave is rescued." Salt Lake Tribune, August 22: 20.Cabero, Alex. 2009. Nutty Putty Cave discoverer doesn't want it to be closed. November 27. Accessed October 12, 2023. https://www.ksl.com/article/8824435/nutty-putty-cave-discoverer-doesnt-want-it-to-be-closed.Canham, Matt. 2004. "BYU student freed from cave." Salt Lake Tribune, Septmber 5: 21.LaPlante, Matthew. 2009. "Popular cave draws ill-prepared adventurers." Salt Lake Tribune, November 25.Nokkentved, N.S. 2005. "State may close popular cave." Daily Herald, June 26: 21.Outside Magazine. 2002. Exploring Caving Accidents, Deaths, and Rescues in the United States. August 3. Accessed October 12, 2023. https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/exploration-survival/exploring-caving-accidents-deaths-and-rescues-united-states/.Peterson, Chris. 2005. "Father says daughter died doing what she loved." Daily Herald, August 19: 1.Reporter-Times. 1999. "Deputies free teens from cave." Reporter-Times, July 29: 3.Tanner, Steve. 1999. "Teens spend long day in dark." Daily Herald, July 29: 1.Waqar, Jehanzeb. 2022. The Nutty Putty Cave and the untimely death of a young caver. December 15. Accessed October 12, 2023. https://interestingengineering.com/culture/nutty-putty-cave-death-young-caver.Whitehurst, Lindsay. 2018. Nutty Putty: ‘I really, really want to get out’. July 9. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/07/09/nutty-putty-i-really/.—. 2018. Nutty Putty: ‘We’re going to get you out’. July 10. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/07/10/nutty-putty-were-going/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the early morning hours of June 4, 1904, New York City police were called to Lower Manhattan for what they were told was the death of Frank “Ceasar” Young from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest. When they arrived at the scene, they found Young’s body in the back of a Hansom cab, slumped over into the lap of a young actress named Nan Patterson, with whom he’d been having an affair. Nan claimed Young had shot himself when she refused to accompany him back to England, where he was headed to meet his wife that morning, but the police believed otherwise, and Nan was arrested and charged with Young’s murder.What followed was not one, but three sensational murder trials that commanded the attention of New Yorkers across all five boroughs, and all of them had an opinion about Nan Patterson and her relationship with Caesar Young.Thank you to the fantastical David White, of Bring me the Axe podcast, for research assistance :)ReferencesAllen, Oliver. 2017. When today's Tribeca was the site of a most sensational murder. November 15. Accessed August 30, 2023. www.tribecatrib.com/content/when-todays-tribeca-was-site-most-sensational-murder.New York Times . 1904. "Nan Patterson hears the case against her." The New York Times, November 22: 6.New York Times. 1904. "Bookmaker is shot in cab with actress." New York Times, June 5: 1.—. 1904. "Actress recommitted at Jerome's insistance." The New York Times, June 7: 2.—. 1904. "Aged witness speaks for Nan Patterson." The New York Times, November 2: 16.—. 1904. "Allows Nan Patterson bail." The New York Times, September 2: 14.—. 1905. "Choose married men for Patterson case." The New York Times, April 19: 20.—. 1904. "Coroner says Nan Patterson is guilty." The New York Times, June 9: 2.—. 1905. "Disagreement in Patterson case." The New York Times, May 4: 1.—. 1905. "Indictment against Morgan Smiths quashed." The New York Times, May 6: 16.—. 1905. "Misdirected sympathy." The New York Times, January 2: 6.—. 1904. "Nan Patterson case results in mistrial." The New York Times, December 24: 14.—. 1905. "Nan Patterson Free." The New York Times, May 13: 3.—. 1905. "Nan Patterson free; Jerome blames press." The New York Times, May 13: 3.—. 1904. "Nan Patterson swears Young shot himself." The New York Times, December 20: 1.—. 1904. "Nan Patterson will not answer questions." The New York Times, June 10: 3.—. 1904. "Nan Patterson's trial to begin again Monday." The New York Times, November 29: 4.—. 1904. "New Patterson trial soon." The New York Times, December 25: 11.—. 1904. "Patterson counsel witness at trial." The New York Times, December 10: 16.—. 1904. "Rand highly praised for closing address." The New York Times, December 22: 6.—. 1904. "Rand springs surprise in Nan Patterson case." The New York Times, December 14: 16.—. 1904. "The Nan Patterson case, letter to the editor." The New York Times, December 30: 8.—. 1904. "Witness corroborates Hazelton's version." The New York Times, November 3: 16.—. 1904. "Witness ill, may halt Nan Patterson trial." The New York Times, November 19: 5.—. 1904. "Young, witness says, hit Nan Patterson." The New York Times, November 24: 4.New York Tmes. 1904. "Skeleton in court in Young case." The New York Times, November 23: 5.San Francisco Call. 1904. "'Caesar' Young, the Californian slain while riding in cab with actress." The San Francisco Call, June 5: 21.San Francisco Chronicle . 1904. "Young's death still puzzling." San Francisco Chronicle, June 6: 1.San Francisco Chronicle. 1904. "Young's death still puzzling." San Francisco Chronicle , June 6: 1.Segrave, Kerry. 2020. Death in a Hansom Cab; The 1904 Persecution of Nan Patterson. Cheltinham, UK: History Press.The Washington Times. 1904. "Nan Patterson's mother very ill." The Washington Times, June 6: 1.Woolcott, Alexander. 1930. "The mystery of the Hansom cab." The New Yorker, May 3: 36-44.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On September 11, 1982, Ken Dooley, a Youth Development Center employee in Rome, Georgia, was shot at in his home by an unseen attacker. The following day, Dooley’s coworker, Linda Adair, was also attacked when someone threw a Molotov cocktail at her house in an attempt to kill her.  Although neither Dooley nor Adair knew it at the time, these were the first attacks in the violent crime spree of Alvin and Judith Ann Neelley, a married couple whose brutality would shock in and around Georgia in the fall of 1982.Thank you the the incredible Dave White of Bring Me The Axe Podcast for Research Assistance.ReferencesAnniston Star. 1982. "Woman seeks juvenile status in slaying." Anniston Star , December 2: 28.Associated Press. 1982. "Probe covers two states in death, disappearance." Anniston Star, October 6: 10.Birmingham Post-Herald. 1982. "Jury indicts Mrs. Neelley on capital murder." Birmingham Post-Herald, October 29: 2.—. 1982. "Neelley's wife sits while he talks." Birmingham Post-Herald, October 22: 2.—. 1982. "Suspect in canyon deaths gives details of 7 more slayings." Birmingham Post-Herald, October 22: 1.—. 1982. "Woman killed 2, authorities charge." Birmingham Post-Herald, October 16: 1.Columbus Enquirer. 1982. "13-year-old found dead." Columbus Enquirer, October 1: 7.—. 1983. "Neelley jury suggests life without parole." Columbus Enquirer, March 23: 1.Cook, Thomas H. 1990. Early Graves: The Shocking True-Crime Story of the Yongest Woman Ever Sentenced to Death Row. Boston, MA: E.P. Dutton.Dunnavant, Bob. 1983. "Jury hears 'robot' defense." Birmingham Post-Herald, March 10: 1.Judith Ann Neelley v. State of Alabama. 1985. 494 So. 2d 669 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama, March 12).Morning Press. 1983. "Neelley to get death penalty." Morning Press, April 19: 1.Neelley vs. Alabama. 1989. 88-5806 (United States Supreme Court, January 9).Thompson, Tracy. 1982. "Luck, guesswork led to suspects." Atlanta Constitution, October 16: 23.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On September 11, 1982, Ken Dooley, a Youth Development Center employee in Rome, Georgia, was shot at in his home by an unseen attacker. The following day, Dooley’s coworker, Linda Adair, was also attacked when someone threw a Molotov cocktail at her house in an attempt to kill her.  Although neither Dooley nor Adair knew it at the time, these were the first attacks in the violent crime spree of Alvin and Judith Ann Neelley, a married couple whose brutality would shock in and around Georgia in the fall of 1982.Thank you the the incredible Dave White of Bring Me The Axe Podcast for Research Assistance.ReferencesAnniston Star. 1982. "Woman seeks juvenile status in slaying." Anniston Star , December 2: 28.Associated Press. 1982. "Probe covers two states in death, disappearance." Anniston Star, October 6: 10.Birmingham Post-Herald. 1982. "Jury indicts Mrs. Neelley on capital murder." Birmingham Post-Herald, October 29: 2.—. 1982. "Neelley's wife sits while he talks." Birmingham Post-Herald, October 22: 2.—. 1982. "Suspect in canyon deaths gives details of 7 more slayings." Birmingham Post-Herald, October 22: 1.—. 1982. "Woman killed 2, authorities charge." Birmingham Post-Herald, October 16: 1.Columbus Enquirer. 1982. "13-year-old found dead." Columbus Enquirer, October 1: 7.—. 1983. "Neelley jury suggests life without parole." Columbus Enquirer, March 23: 1.Cook, Thomas H. 1990. Early Graves: The Shocking True-Crime Story of the Yongest Woman Ever Sentenced to Death Row. Boston, MA: E.P. Dutton.Dunnavant, Bob. 1983. "Jury hears 'robot' defense." Birmingham Post-Herald, March 10: 1.Judith Ann Neelley v. State of Alabama. 1985. 494 So. 2d 669 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama, March 12).Morning Press. 1983. "Neelley to get death penalty." Morning Press, April 19: 1.Neelley vs. Alabama. 1989. 88-5806 (United States Supreme Court, January 9).Thompson, Tracy. 1982. "Luck, guesswork led to suspects." Atlanta Constitution, October 16: 23.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the early morning hours of June 27, 1977, the bodies of millionaire Elisabeth Congdon and her nurse, Velma Pietila, were discovered murdered in Congdon’s 22-acre estate in Duluth, Minnesota. From the outset, local police were baffled as to the motive for the murders; Congdon was well liked in the community, and as far as anyone could tell, nothing significant seemed to be missing from the house.In time, detectives learned that Elisabeth’s daughter Marjorie Caldwell had a long history of financial problems and debt, had been institutionalized several times for antisocial behavior, and had recently been trying to get money from Elisabeth to buy a new home. Based on the evidence collected in the investigation, Marjorie and her husband Roger were arrested; however, at trial Marjorie was acquitted and Roger’s conviction was overturned by the supreme court five years later, so no one was ever truly held responsible for Congdon and Pietila’s murders.In the decades since, the murders of Elisabeth Congdon and Velma Pietila have faded into the background of Minnesota history—another tragic end to one of America’s twentieth-century aristocratic families. Yet, while Congdon and her nurse may be long gone, the memory and legacy of the Congdon murders remains a significant curiosity, especially to those who tour Glensheen, the 39-room mansion where Elisabeth Congdon lived her entire life, before it was brought to a shocking end allegedly by her own daughter. Thank you to the lovely David White, of Bring Me the Axe podcast, for research assistance :)Sources:Feichtinger, Gail. 2002. Will to Murder: The True Story Behind the Crimes and Trials Surrounding the Glensheen Killings. Duluth, MN: X-Communication Press.Johnson, Steve. 1977. "Killer reportedly stole Congdon gems." Minneapolis Star, June 30: 1.Johnson, Steve, and Walter Middlebrook. 1977. "Caldwell faces murder charges." Minneapolis Star, July 8: 1.Johnson, Steven. 1977. "Duluth nurse changed mind, missed murders." Minneapolis Star, June 28: 1.Kimball, Joe. 1978. "Brainerd picked as Caldwell trial site." Star Tribune, March 31: 1.—. 1978. "Caldwell defense challenges attorney." Star Tribune, May 25: 1.—. 1988. "Despair caught up with Roger Caldwell." Star Tribune, May 20: 1.—. 1978. "Jury finds Caldwell guilty of 2 murders." Star Tribune, July 9: 1.—. 1978. "Marjorie Caldwell indicted in deaths." Star Tribune, August 19: 1.—. 2007. "Marjorie's out." Star Tribune, June 15: B3.—. 1978. "Money called Caldwell motive in killings." Star Tribune, May 10: 18.Kimball, Joe, and Peg Meier. 1977. "Duluth dowager was 'regal, lonely woman'." Star Tribune, June 29: 1.Meier, Peg, and Joe Kimball. 1977. "Duluth woman, nurse slain." Star Tribune, June 28: 1.—. 1979. "Marjorie Caldwell acquitted of murders." Star Tribune, July 22: 1.Meier, Peg, Joe Kimball, and Neal Gendler. 1977. "Son-in-law investigated in Duluth slayings." Star Tribune, July 6: 1.Meir, Peg. 1979. "Prosecutor: Caldwell had mother killed to get money." Star Tribune, April 27: 1.Middlebrook, Walter. 1977. "Mrs. Caldwell's claim of attack doubted." Minneapolis Star, August 11: 1.Peterson, David. 1979. "Another year, same Caldwell defense." Minneapolis Star, June 28: 20.—. 1978. "Congdon murder trial goes to jury." Minneapolis Star, July 06: 1.—. 1978. "Defense focuses on Caldwell kin." Minneapolis Star, May 29: 1.State of Minnesota vs. Marjorie C. Hagen. 1985. CX-84-340 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, January 22).Stone, Doug. 1978. "Supreme court releases data on Marjorie Caldwell." Star Tribune, July 26: 16.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to a super duper special episode of Morbid with guest host, the incredible Rachel Stavis. We are so freaking excited to be speaking with the Los Angeles–based screenwriter, novelist, and an exorcist. Yup, you read that right. She’s a full blown exorcist. How cool?!?!? It was a grand time, so please enjoy!Check out her book Sister of Darkness and find her on all socials @rhstavis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s Listener Tales 79, and you know what that means… It’s brought to you by you, for you, from you, and ALL ABOUT YOU! This installment features a rogue silhouette ghost man, playful ghosts, spontaneous fires, bone-boiling toilet bowl water, and floating obituaries.Truly, what more could you want?! If you have a listener tale you’d like to send in, please send it to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com :)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Having lost several children to childhood illnesses, Leonarda Cianciulli was very protective of her surviving children and was willing to do anything to protect them. So, when the deeply superstitious Leonarda was warned by a fortune teller that all her children would die at a young age, the forty-six-year-old shopkeeper determined that the best way to keep her son alive was to offer human sacrifices in exchange for Giuseppe’s safety. Ove the course of a year, Leonarda murdered three local women and disposed of their bodies with caustic chemicals, using any remaining biological evidence in the creation of soaps, candles, cookies, and cakes, which she shared with others in her community.Thank you to the lovely David White, of Bring Me the Axe podcast, for research assistance :)ReferencesBaltimore Sun. 1946. "Rendered her friends to wax, she says." Baltimore Sun, April 28: 3.Eddy, Cheryl. 2015. The Superstitious Murderer Who Turned Her Victims Into Cake And Soap. June 23. https://gizmodo.com/the-superstitious-murderer-who-turned-her-victims-into-1713486930.Green, Ryan. 2019. The Curse: A Shocking True Story of Superstition, Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism. Unknown: Independent.Museo Criminologico. 2006. The Correggio soap-maker. September 12. http://www.museocriminologico.it/correggio_uk.htm.Ortiz, Genoveva. 2022. The Deadly Soap-Maker of Correggio: The True Story of Leonarda Cianciulli. unknown: True Crime Seven.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Annie Campbell uprooted her daughter from their home in Donegal, Ireland and relocated to Sauchie, Scotland in 1960, the move resulted in consequences far beyond what anyone could have expected. Removed from the only home she’d ever known, eleven-year-old Virginia Campbell did her best to acclimate to the foreign environment as she and her mother settled into the home of Virginia’s aunt, but within just a few weeks of their arrival the family was under siege from an invisible entity Virginia would later name “Wee Hughie.”One of the most notorious cases of poltergeist activity in Scottish history, the case of the Sauchie poltergeist involved the usual trappings of poltergeist phenomenon—slamming doors, moving objects, and disruptive noises. Yet what set the phenomenon apart from myriad other cases of poltergeist phenomenon was that the supposedly supernatural phenomenon was witnessed by many bystanders, including Virginia’s teachers and classmates.Was the Sauchie poltergeist a genuine example of paranormal activity, or was “Wee Hughie” nothing more than an elaborate hoax perpetrated by a creative girl seeking attention in the wake of major disruption in her life and environment?Thank you to the lovely David White, of Bring Me the Axe podcast, for research assistance :)ReferencesAssociated Press. 1960. "Haunted Irish girl gtets aid." Windsor Star, December 3: C-8.Owen, A.R.G. 1964. Can We Explain the Poltergeist? New York, NY: Garrett Publications.Robinson, Malcom. 2020. The Sauchie Poltergeist. Scotland: Independent.Sims, Victor. 1965. "Poltergeist Terror." Sunday Mirror, June 13: 8.—. 1965. "Virginia was possessed by a wild and unknown force." Sunday Mirror, June 27: 13.United Press International. 1960. "Girl's ghost upsets school." Pittsburgh Press, December 2: 17.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When it comes to the horrors of witch hunts and trials around the world, Sweden is not often cited as one of the more aggressive or egregious nations. Nevertheless, the Torsåker Witch Trials remain a shocking example of religious hysteria due to the way in which they unfolded, which included local leaders defying the Swedish Crown and taking it upon themselves to identify, try, and execute supposed witches without proper authority. Moreover, while the Torsåker case may have unfolded like most others across Europe, it remains an outlier in that those responsible for starting the hysteria weren’t just held accountable for their false accusations but were in fact murdered.Thank you to the lovely David White, of Bring Me the Axe podcast, for research assistance :)ReferencesGershon, Livia. 2022. "The Easter Witches of Sweden." JSTOR Daily, April 15.Hogman, Hans. n.d. Torsåker Witch Trials of 1674 - 1675. Accessed September 16, 2023. https://www.hhogman.se/witch-trials-sweden.htm.Jordan, Charlene Hanson. 2012. Whispers in the Church: Swedish Witch Hunt, 1672. Des Moines, IA: Abbott Press.Tiderman-Österberg, Jennie. 2021. "The Swedish Witch Trials: How to Confront Dark Heritage." Smithsonian Magazine, October 25.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Muswell Hill resident David Farrant wrote to the letters section of the Hampstead and Highgate Express in February 1970, he had hoped to find others who’d witnessed any unusual or potentially supernatural happenings in London’s Highgate Cemetery. Instead, Farrant kicked off a moral panic over vampires, ghosts, and all manner of occult activities that featured prominently in the pages of British newspapers for years. Farrant’s letter received a few responses from others who claimed to have had their own supernatural experiences in Highgate Cemetery, but the story would likely have ended there had it not been for Sean Manchester. A self-proclaimed occultist and vampire hunter, Manchester claimed that what Farrant had seen at Highgate was in fact a vampire, and moreover, the cemetery itself was the site of ongoing black masses, vampire gatherings, and other dark practices. Soon, a rivalry developed between Farrant and Manchester over who had the power to eradicate the supernatural threat at Highgate and just weeks after Farrant sent his letter to the newspapers, Manchester led a large mob of Londoners into Highgate Cemetery intent on driving out the evil that supposedly swelled there.Throughout the early 1970s, the war of words between Farrant and Manchester frequently captured the public’s attention, thanks to the various news outlets that couldn’t resist the outrageous actions of the two men that ranged from benign and silly (a naked fire dance in an abandoned building) to gruesome and disrespectful (desecration of human remains). However, while the antics of the two men at the center of the story may elicit a smirk or an eyeroll, the public’s response to the supposed supernatural threat provides valuable insight into a phenomenon of moral panic that go on to fuel, among other things, the satanic panic that dominated the news throughout the 1980s and 90s. To learn more about ways to save our graves, go to https://www.saveourcemeteries.org. Thank you to the lovely David White, of Bring Me the Ax podcast, for research assistanceReferences: Cambridge Evening News. 1970. "Mr. Blood in hunt for vampire." Cambridge Evening News, March 14: 21.Ellis, Bill. 1993. "The Highgate Cemetery Vampire Hunt: The Anglo-American Connection in Satanic Cult Lore." Folklore (Taylor and Francis, Ltd.) 104 (1/2): 13-39.Evening Standard. 1970. "'Black magic' man tells of threats." Evening Standard, November 4: 17.—. 1968. "Coffins broken open at a witches' sabbath." Evening Standard, November 1: 23.—. 1974. "Naked witchcraft men in fire dance." Evening Standard, January 21: 5.—. 1974. "Wife tells of 'horror photos'." Evening Standard, June 20: 5.Farrant, David. 1970. "Letters: Ghostly walks in Highgate." Hampstead and Highgate Express, February 6: 26.Guardian Journal. 1970. "Vampire hunter is cleared by court." Guardian Journal, September 30: 7.—. 1968. "'Black magic' theory after coffins raid." Guiardian Journal, November 2: 1.Hampstead and Highgate Express. 1970. "Does a wampyr walk in Highgate?" Hampstead and Highgate Express, February 27: 1.Liverpool Daily Post. 1972. "Couple fined for churchyard ritual." Liverpool Daily Post, November 23: 18.Manchester Evening News. 1973. "100 join hunt for cemetery 'vampire'." Manchester Evening News, March 14: 5.Sunday Mirror. 1973. "'Sacrifice' witches in horror." Sunday Mirror, April 8: 11.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On November 28, 1848, Isaac Jermy and his son were shot and killed in their Wymondham estate, Stanfield Hall. After a brief search, investigators located the killer, James Blomfield Rush, a tenant farmer who was leasing land from Jermy and had fallen behind on his payments. Fearing eviction and destitution, Rush concocted a plan to kill the entire Jermy family and their staff, then cast blame on Jermy’s relatives, with whom the family had been feuding over the title of the estate. However, the plan fell apart when several of the victims survived and identified Rush as the killer.Thank you to the lovely David White, of Bring Me the Ax podcast, for research assistance.ReferencesBayne, A.D. 1849. The Stanfield Tragedy: A Complete Narrative. Norwich, England: Jarold and Sons.Bristol Mercury. 1849. "Rush's trial." Bristol Mercury, April 7: 2.Caledonian Mercury. 1849. "Execution of Rush." Caledonia Mercury, April 23.Liverpool Mercury. 1848. "Horrible murders in Norfolk." Liverpool Mercury, December 5: 2.Royal College of Physicians of London. 1850. A Full Report of the Trial of James Blomfield Rush for theMurder of Mr. Jermy and His Son. London, England: W.M. Clark.The Times. 1848. "Horrible murders at Stanfield Hall, near Wymondham." The Times, December 01: 5.—. 1848. "The murders at Stanfield Hall." The Times, December 4: 3.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Just before midnight on December 29, 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, traveling from New York to Miami, crashed into the Florida Everglades, killing nearly two thirds of the passengers on board. Crashing into the swamp softened the landing and likely saved dozens, but the remote location made rescue efforts complicated and required a cooperative effort between first responders and local civilians.The crash came at a difficult time for the airline industry, following closely on a number of several high-profile hijackings and examples of equipment malfunctions that negatively affected ticket sales. This only got worse when the investigation into Flight 401 was concluded and the cause of the crash was determined to be operator error when the flight crew became distracted and unaware that the autopilot had switched itself off.In the months and years that followed, several Eastern Air employees and survivors of Flight 401 began reporting sightings of the ghosts of crew members and passengers who died in the crash. Although Eastern Air went out of their way to deny any sightings, the stories spread and became a part of Florida folklore as the subject of books, television films, and even a public spectacle as part of Ed and Lorraine Warren’s Occult Museum in Connecticut.Thank you to the glorious David White, of Bring Me the Axe podcast, for research assistance :)References:Aguila, Grethel. 2022. "'We're down.' Flight 401 crashed in Miami 50 years ago." Miami Herald, December 21: A3.Associated Press. 1980. "Eastern still fighting ghost." Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 28: 52.Baxter, Mike. 1972. "Rescue armada mobilized within half hour." Miami Herald, December 31: 15.Fuller, John. 1976. The Ghost of Flight 401. New York, NY: Berkley Publishing Corporation.Jenkins, Greg. 2005. Florida's Ghostly Legends And Haunted Folklore: South And Central Florida (volume one). Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press.Kay, Jennifer. 2007. "Everglades jet crash haunts hero." Rocky Mountain News, December 26.National Transportation Safety Board. 1973. Aircraft Accident Reports: Eastern Air Lines L-1011, N310EA. Aircraft accident report, Washington D.C.: National Transportation Safety Board.Orlando Evening Star. 1972. "Stewardess sings carols to survivors." Orlando Evening Star, December 30: 1.Star Services. 1972. "Many survive Everglades jet crash." Orlando Evening Star, December 30: 1.Times-News. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the fall of 1961, Betty and Barney Hill took a trip to Niagara Falls. On the drive back from Canada to their home in Portsmouth, NH, the Hills claimed their trip was interrupted when, after stopping to investigate a strange flying object hovering above the car, the couple was abducted by what Barney later described as “beings [that] were somehow not human.”Thank you to the wondrous Dave White for Research Assistance!References:Friedman, Stanton, and Kathleen Marden. 2007. Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience. Red Wheel : Newburyport, MA.Palmer, Barry. 1965. "Portsmouth couple wes 600 persons here." Nashua Telegraph, December 1: 3.Public Broadcasting Sysetm. 1997. Nova: Kidnapped by UFOs? Boston, MA, April 1.Robinson, J. Dennis. 1999. "The Grounding of Betty Hill." The Portsmouth Herald, February 5.—. 2008. The UFO romance of Betty and Barney Hill. Accessed August 17, 2023. http://www.seacoastnh.com/the-ufo-romance-of-betty-and-barney-hill/?showall=1.The Portsmouth Herald. 1969. "Barney Hill dies in city at age 46." The Portsmouth Herald, February 26: 3.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.