On December 2, 2010, Phoebe Handsjuk spent a day home at the apartment she shared with her boyfriend in Melbourne, Australia. It had been a rough week for her. By the end of the day, Phoebe's body would be found in a lower level garbage room of the apartment building, where investigators say she managed to fit down an extremely narrow garbage chute from the 12th floor. Officials ruled her death a suicide, but Phoebe's family has questions regarding the suspicious nature of her death and the lack of policework done to investigate properly. 

You might think the only thing going on at Denver International Airport is people heading out on vacation. Think again. Because when it comes to DIA, there might be more going on than meets the eye. 

In May of 2014, Georgia couple Russell and Shirley Dermond were invited to a party at a friend's house, but failed to show up. Days later, friends became worried after no contact was made with the couple, both in their 80s, since then. When someone went to check on them, they found Russell's decapitated body in the garage and Shirley was missing. What happened on that day is still a mystery and one of Putnam County's most baffling cold cases.

It's a cold, desolate place. Not many people go there. But it's natural beauty and potential for science make it an almost haven for some people. However, for the lucky few that get to go, rigorous physical and psychological testing is often required. They sometimes spend months on end in darkness and isolation, with only a few other humans around for thousands of miles. And sometimes mysterious things happen, or crime - this week were talking about what it's like living on Antarctica.

On December 9, 2019, Whakaari, an active volcano off the coast of New Zealand, erupted. This was not like other eruptions from Whakaari. A popular tourist destination for adventurers, 47 people were on the volcano at the time of eruption. The aftermath was devastating to all involved. 

It was supposed to be a fun spring break trip - in 1989, Mark Kilroy and his friends from college went to South Padre Island, Texas, to party and have fun. During a short trip across the border into Mexico one night, Mark got separated from his friends - and was never seen alive again. His family and friends suffered an excruciating 4-week search for Mark, until his body was found on a Mexican ranch - along with evidence of a cult that practiced human sacrifice. 

Welcome to Helltown, Ohio! It's now your average ghost town from the Wild West. Boston, Ohio was once home to a thriving  community until they were told they no longer owned their homes and were forced to leave. What moved in to what became known as Helltown would give anyone chills. 

As one of the first luxury apartment buildings on New York City's Upper West Side, the building now known as the Dakota has had a long history. Many know of the Dakota's most recent history, most famously the site of the murder of John Lennon, who lived there at the time - but as with many older historical, unique buildings, the Dakota soon gained a reputation of being haunted. In this episode, we'll talk about some of the spirits of the Dakota. 

It was a story that only Agatha Christie could write. But in this mystery, she was the main character. 

In the early 1930s, things were tough for many Americans. The Great Depression was underway, prohibition was going strong, and people found themselves struggling to keep jobs and desperate for money. In New York City, a group of men - later dubbed the Murder Trust - decided on a get rich quick scheme that involved taking out an expensive life insurance policy on an alcoholic man they knew, killing him, and collecting on the policy. Except their victim, Michael Malloy, was MUCH tougher than they thought. The Murder Trust tried some pretty crazy ways of murdering someone to make it look accidental - but there's  a reason their victim was nicknamed Iron Man Mike. 

This is not your mama's dance party.  Or at least we hope not. The dancing plague of 1518 involved bloodied feet, broken ribs and even death. What started as one woman's mysterious dancing through the streets quickly escalated to something that baffled church officials and physicians in Strasbourg, France and over the course of two months grew out of control. What would cause people to dance until they literally dropped? 

In 1968, college student Barbara Mackle was kidnapped from an Atlanta hotel when two armed individuals came into her room, tied her up, drugged her and forced her into a car. The kidnappers intended to get a ransom - $500,000 - from her wealthy family, but they also imposed a strict set of rules regarding the ransom drop and how they would find Barbara afterward.  However, a carefully planned kidnapping soon turned terrifying after the ransom money drop was bungled, leaving the kidnappers anxious, police frustrated and Barbara's parents worried beyond belief. Barbara herself however, was in the most precocious position of all - she had been hidden away in an underground capsule, buried alive. 

Sixteen year old Karlie Guse  disappeared from her home in October 2018. She had returned to her family home the night before after being out at a house party and her behavior was frantic and erratic. Her dad and stepmom did what they could through the night to keep her calm, but when they woke up the next morning, Karlie was nowhere to be found. 

In 1958, the Hermann family of Seaford, NY, began to experience strange things in their house. It began with bottle lids suddenly and collectively popping off at the same time. What began as a mild annoyance became more extreme, as small objects started moving on their own, and larger pieces of furniture gradually started falling over by themselves. Police, paranormal investigators, priests, friends and neighbors - from around the country - came by to offer an explanation, or help to the Hermann family. But no one knew for sure what was happening, and the general consensus seemed to be that the family was dealing with a poltergeist.

Moll Dyer lived on the outskirts of Leonardtown, Maryland in the late 1600s. Maryland was said to be more tolerant than other neighboring New England states. Many people thought Moll was a witch because of her knowledge of herbalism and ability to heal with her "potions." People in town accepted Moll for who she was as long as it helped them. But in the winter of 1697, the tides turned and the enduring legend of Moll Dyer was born.

In summer of 1994, 13-year-old Nicholas Barclay went missing. He was playing basketball with some friends, and never returned home. Three years later, his family received a phone call that Nicholas had been finally found - in Europe, as a victim of an international sex trafficking ring. When Nicholas came home, he was...different. He looked the same, acted the same, and was "glad to have his family back." But soon his family learned an unbelievable secret about Nicholas...

Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world's largest known cave system. It's known for many things: soaring passages, ancient artifacts left behind by its first explorers and some of the most breathtaking underground scenery you could imagine. No one would expect to find a tuberculosis hospital. But for several people in the mid 1800s suffering from tuberculosis, they were willing to try anything to find a cure for an incurable disease. Even if it meant living in the depths of Mammoth Cave. 

In 1987, Ruthie Mae McCoy called 911. She told the dispatcher that someone was "trying to tear the cabinet down" and to please send help. Police came, but left. A few days later she was found dead in her apartment in one of Chicago's ABLA housing projects. Her murder illustrates a problem that plagued ABLA Homes - that people climbed between apartments and broke into units via tunnels built behind bathroom medicine cabinets. Even moreso, her death highlights issues that poor people still face today, and her life was on track to become an example of the societal benefits of stopping the cycle of poverty. 

Hy Brasil: The mysterious island where you can have riches of gold and silver, possible immortality and hang time  with the gods and giant bunnies. All you have to do is find it! Believe us, it's harder than it sounds. 

In 1962, a routine landfill cleanup went underway in Centralia, Penn. Burning trash was a common way of clearing it out, except this time something was different - fire fell into a hole leading to an abandoned coal mine.  What proceeded was decades health issues for the residents, toxic gases in homes and schools, the threat of the ground opening up from underneath their feet, and .... government inaction on almost every level. Today, the town is near abandoned and looks like something from an apocalypse movie. We'll talk about what happened and how it ended up as a worse-case scenario, and how the incident should serve as a warning (and example) for current leaders in our climate crisis. 

Liz Barraza was a light in the world. She was creative, imaginative and loved getting lost in the world of sci-fi and fantasy with her husband and friends. But in the early morning hours of January 25, 2019, it all ended when someone approached Liz in her driveway and shot her. Who would target someone like Liz Barraza? Why would someone target Liz Barraza? These are questions many are still trying to find answers too. 

Warning: This episode contains explicit content.Most people remember the trial - it was full of scandalous sexual details, insight into Mormonism, horrifying crime scene photos, and lie after lie after lie told by the woman charged with murder. It was watched by millions as it aired, allowing the public to try and figure out what happened the night of June 4, 2008 when Travis Alexander was killed at his home in Mesa, Arizona. Most people recognize her name - Jodi Arias - as much as they recognize the lies she told about her victim and how she continued to demonize him in court. This week, we'll talk about Jodi Arias and her lies and attempted manipulation of everyone around her, and we'll discuss the murder of Travis Alexander - and tell you more about his life, his friends and family, and the impact he had on those around him.

In the famous words of Ross Gellar, "We're going on a break!" Or, something along those lines. But yes, we are briefly hitting the pause button to take care of some exciting changes that are coming the way of one of the Darker Side of Life girls. But don't worry, we will be back in no time with new content for our awesome listeners. You all can't get rid of us that easily. 

In late summer 1945, WWII was heating up in the Pacific for a final showdown. The heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis suffered an attack by a Japanese bomber, and while undergoing repairs, got orders for a secret cargo mission back to the Pacific front. With the cargo delivered and mission complete, an enemy submarine fired on the ship, sinking it in 12 minutes. Hundreds of sailors and marines ended up in the water, awaiting rescue. However, a major miscommunication among a handful of people meant that nobody knew the Indianapolis had sank - so the men in the water fought sunburn, dehydration, starvation, delirium and constant shark attacks while they waited for ANY help at all. This week we tell the amazing story of these survivors, and discuss the major plot twists in the aftermath of the sinking.  

Ten year old Kyron Horman was almost finished with school until the summer vacation. He was excited to show off his science fair project on Red Eyed Tree Frogs. According to Kyron's stepmom Terry, she saw Kyron walking down the hallway toward his class as she was leaving the science fair. When Kyron didn't get off the bus that afternoon, the school told his parents that Kyron had never been to class that day. This set off the biggest search in Oregon history. 

In July 1996, the body of Blair Adams was found in a parking lot of a construction site in Knoxville, Tennessee. Circumstances surrounding his death were already unusual - he was partially clothed, he had severe injuries to his body, and among his pockets and belongings found nearby were thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars, platinum and jewelry. Investigators soon discovered the days before his death were just as mysterious - Blair had sudden behavioral changes, thought people were coming to kill him, and embarked on an international road trip that his friends and family struggled to make sense of. Was Blair's paranoia justified? Was he having a mental break of some sort? Who would kill him and leave the valuables behind? Police still grapple with these questions, as his case is still unsolved. 

Residents in the South of England woke up the morning of February 9, 1855, to a winter wonderland. A storm the night before had dumped snow over the countryside. But people started to see something different in the snow, something that didn't belong. Footprints. It wasn't only the type of footprint that was confusing, it was where they were. The prints crossed snowy fields, wandered up to doorsteps, traveled over haystacks and even ended up on roofs. Were they the prints of some sly animal out for an evening in the blustery weather, or were they the work of something more sinister? 

It wasn't easy being in a position of power in 10th Century Europe. But for Italy and the papacy, it was even worse - for a long period, the pope of the Catholic Church was the only person to have authority to crown the next Holy Roman Emperor. Because this was such a powerful position, many people were willing to kill for it.Sometimes a new pope would pass decrees undoing certain rules of previous popes, or to promote their own personal or political gain. But the case of Pope Formosus was different - he was made to answer for his alleged crimes after his death, by (literally) exhuming his dead body and putting him on trial. 

On March 25, 2017,  police in West Palm Beach received a 911 call. The man on the other end confessed to murdering someone and asked for police to come. The caller was Randy Herman Jr., and the victim was Brooke Preston. Not only were Randy and Brooke roommates and close friends for almost a decade, but Randy would have an interesting defense of his crime. He claimed he was sleepwalking. 

In 1900s New York City, two brothers from a well-to-do family found themselves in a bad situation. When one brother went blind, the other quit his job to be able to care for his sick sibling. As time went on, the brothers withdrew from society and ventured outside less and less, and developed a dangerous habit - hoarding. While living among tons of items in their house, one brother began setting booby traps to keep people out. One day, a neighbor called the police to report the smell of a decomposing body - and what they found was awful. This week we talk about Homer and Langley Collyer, their eccentric habits, and how some people come to become hoarders. While often popularized as entertainment on TV, hoarders usually have one or more mental health issues that lead to that lifestyle, and overcoming it might be harder than most people think. 

Sit back during this holiday season and enjoy some darker tales of Christmastime folklore from around the world. 

In 1929, Netta Fornario came to the small Scottish island of Iona for a break from the hectic pace of London city life. For island residents - most devout Christians - she was an outsider, but a friendly, kind person, who was just a little different. Netta was a practitioner of the occult, believed in fairies, and thought of herself as a healer, even trying to heal people through telepathy.  However, one November day, Netta didn't return home. Days later, her body was found on a hillside, nude, with a knife nearby and a cross carved into the earth. Was it murder? Did she take her own life? Was it simply an accident? In this episode we'll talk about her life, theories around her death, and how the people of Iona took Netta in as one of their own. 

When Selena Not Afraid grew up, she wanted to go to college near her older brother and eventually own her own horse farm. The teenager from Montana had her whole life ahead of her when she disappeared at a rest stop on New Years Day, left behind by the people who were taking her back home after a New Years Eve party. When her body was found days later, the family still didn't have the answers they wanted and continue to push to find out what happened to Selena.  

It's a story worthy of a modern-day soap opera: Successful millionaires fight for the love of a young, beautiful, popular actress, creating a love triangle filled with luxury, social status (and the occasional meddling mother-in-law.) But it's also a story that we've seen recently, and in real life - wealthy, older men raping and trafficking underage girls, a murder of a ringleader, and millionaires going without punishment for committing various crimes. In a story filled with Jeffrey Epstein parallels, in this episode we talk about the murder of New York architect Stanford White; Harry Thaw, the man who killed him, and Evelyn Nesbit, the girl they fought over - and how this killing uncovered a disgusting part of the underbelly of the New York high. society scene of the 1900s. 

Happy Halloween to all our listeners! Dana and Kristen both have stories to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. 

When the Dandy family wanted to get away from the loud and busy city life of Buffalo, New York, they found what would seem like the perfect place to relocate: a beautiful farmhouse in Hinsdale, New York. But it wasn't long before the family started to experience things they couldn't explain. And for years, a grab bag of unexplainable paranormal activity shadowed their every day life. 

Bonds between siblings isn't uncommon. But it's said that the bond between twins might be deeper or more intense than a non-twin sibling relationship.  The bond between twins June and Jennifer Gibbons was nearly supernatural - from near birth, these twins almost acted as if they were one person split into two bodies. An agreement early in their childhood to never speak to adults, their ability to mimic each other's movements even while separated, and their almost inability to live without each other soon became an inability to live WITH each other. Each girl had to find a way to co-exist while feeling "possessed" by her sister, and the only way out appeared to be unthinkable.

Sixteen year old Skylar Neese was a smart, bubbly, driven teenager with a smile that could light up a room.  As an only child, Skylar was doted on by her mom and dad. She fought for the underdog and was loved by so many of her classmates.  But it was the two people Skylar trusted the most that would take it all away.

New Year's Eve in 1999 was a night of excitement and uncertainty - most were celebrating the new millennium, some were fearful of Y2K and a handful waited for the End of Days. One such group was the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, a cult in Africa led by a woman who said she saw visions of the Virgin Mary. However, Credonia Mwerinde was a strict leader who starved her followers and forced them into hard labor, and when the world didn't end in the year 2000, she turned to horrific measures to maintain control....

Clowns: Rainbow hair, colorful clothing, big shoes, balloon animals. What's not to love? Well, for some people, plenty. On the surface clowns are seen as wacky and whimsical characters falling out of cars at the circus. So why do they cause such a panic when they're seen out in the real world? The reasons might surprise. Hint: It's not all Stephen King's fault. 

In the late 1800s New England, a tuberculosis outbreak killed almost a quarter of the population. While the medical community wasn't yet aware of the disease or how to treat it, some turned to religion for relief, and some had .... other ideas. As the disease consumed people's bodies, some thought the cause was vampires rising from the dead to feed on the living. Stopping them involved exhuming bodies and destroying them ... or worse. In this episode, we'll talk about New England vampire panic, and discuss the death and aftermath of a young woman named Mercy Brown, whose story would spread around the world. 

On June 12, 1912, the residents of Villisca, Iowa woke to find their small town changed forever. Sometime during the night the well-known Moore family and their two overnight guests were killed in their beds. The murder weapon: an ax taken from the Moore property. Left behind was a crime scene so horrifying and odd that people are still trying to make sense of it over one hundred years later. 

In the 1950s and 60s, the United States and USSR were locked in a space race to land a human on the moon. As the Soviets excelled at being the first to launch a satellite and put the first human in space, much of the West feared the speed and advanced technology of their rivals. In the aftermath of the Cold War, many around the world began to think the Soviets were masters of propaganda, and they weren't as successful as they appeared to be. Were they knowingly killing cosmonauts and hiding their deaths for the sole purpose of being 'first'? Today we discuss the conspiracy of the Lost Cosmonauts. 

Don't worry guys, we aren't going anywhere. But life got in the way of this weeks' episode.

Even though we have come a long way when it comes to mental health treatment and care, we still can't forget where we started. Athens Lunatic Asylum is testament to that. The sprawling building in Southeast Ohio looked more like a castle than an asylum. Thousands of people over 119 years came through the doors, committed for reasons such as childbirth, general bad health and illness that was still decades away from being diagnosed. Some may still linger in the halls. Each had a story to tell.

Each year, the allure of Mt. Everest attracts climbers from around the world. People hope to climb the world's highest peak in a challenge of human endurance and spirit - but it doesn't always have a happy ending. Some climbers achieve their dreams on Everest, but many die trying. This week, we will examine common issues that plague high-altitude climbers, tell stories of mountaineers whose bodies are permanently embedded on the mountain, and discuss why, as one climber put it, "Above 8,000 meters is no place for morality."

On September 8, 2017, nineteen year old Kenneka Jenkins headed out to a birthday party with friends at a Chicago area hotel. At the end of the night when her friends couldn't find her, they searched for hours into the early morning hours. When she was eventually found dead in a hotel freezer, family, friends and the community were left shocked and looking for answers. How could a fun night out turn so tragic for a girl just getting started in her life? 

In one of our more heartbreaking stories, we cover the murder of the Rev. Carol Daniels, a woman who ministered to a small church in Anadarko, Oklahoma. She was murdered inside of her church, on a Sunday morning, and the brutal manner of her death left many more questions than answers, and her family and friends heartbroken. 

"Are you a witch or are you a fairy or are you the wife of Michael Cleary?" In the 1800s, Ireland had seen its fair share of upheaval and changes. But one thing that was a common thread for many on the island was the belief in the "Good People" or Fairies and also in Changelings, human-like fairies left behind in another's place. They could be fickle creatures, creating trouble for some while bringing luck for others. And when Bridget Cleary got sick in 1895 with what seemed like a simple cold, folklore and real life collided with dire consequences to Bridget. 

In the 1600s, the newest flagship for the Dutch East India Trading Company set sail to buy spices to bring back to Europe to sell. About 340 people gathered on the Batavia, ready to make the monthslong journey halfway around the world.  It got bad when they were lost in a storm. It got worse when they found themselves shipwrecked. And it grew dire when, on a tiny deserted island in the middle of the ocean, the man in charge turned into a sociopathic mass murderer.

On October 24, 1961, police in Lincoln, Massachusetts were called to the home of Joan Risch. Her neighbor had called, concerned for her friend when she entered her house and found a kitchen covered in blood and the phone ripped off the wall. The scene police found was both shocking and confusing, but Joan was no where to be found. And the case continued to get weirder as reports came in of suspicious cars and multiple sightings of a woman that many thought was Joan. But 60 years later, people still ask: What happened to Joan Risch? 

On Christmas Eve, 1975, skilled pilot Peter Gibbs started a plane for a flight. He was advised not to take off, as it was pitch black over the Scottish airstrip, there were no guiding lights, and a winter storm was approaching fast. Not deterred, Peter took off anyway to prove such a takeoff and landing could be made - but he never made it back. Four months later, his body was found, in plain view on top of a hill that had already been searched. More questions were raised and speculation abounds in what is now known as the Great Mull Air Mystery. 

That's right. We've found a way to combine two of our favorite things into one episode: Ghosts and true crime! In the early 1800s, the London borough Hammersmith was being terrorized by a ghost. Several people were attacked and people were scared to  come out of their homes.  Concerned groups of citizens would search at night for the Hammersmith ghost, hoping to put a stop to the terror. But what happened instead would set in motion a trial unlike any that people had seen before, setting a legal precedent in the U.K. regarding self defense. 

It's raining meat! Hallelujah, it's raining meat .... No, really. In 1876 in Eastern Kentucky, on a clear, calm, sunny day, chunks of meat began to fall from the sky. A family's farm was covered in the mysterious meat, and meat samples were sent far and wide to try and figure out the mystery. Then in 1970, a whale washed ashore in Oregon, causing a dilemma regarding removal efforts. But we know how this meat shower happened - it turns out whales and dynamite don't always mix.  We discuss these two events, and touch on a few other meat showers on the historical record. 

February 13, 2017, was a warm day in Delphi, Indiana, and friends Abby Williams and Libby German set out to enjoy a bonus day off of school. They headed to the trails at the Monon High Bridge, a popular place for locals to go and enjoy the outdoor gem. Abby and Libby never made it home and the next day the girls' bodies were found in the surrounding woods, setting in motion a mystery of who could have killed them. This mystery has only deepened  after evidence was found on Libby's phone that many thought would break the case. But after four years, the killer is still out there. 

In 1590, someone - or something - began a killing spree around the village of Bedburg, in Germany. Cattle and livestock began turning up dead and horribly mutilated, and soon after, some townspeople met that same fate. The work of a large wolf was likely at play. When the "wolf" was captured and transformed into a well-known man in the village, the people then realized - they weren't dealing with a regular wolf, they were dealing with a werewolf. And it was so much worse. 

The family of Clairvius Narcisse had watched him die. His sister, Angelina, stood over his bed and cried. They watched his coffin be lowered into the ground in a cemetery in Haiti. They placed a heavy stone marker over his grave. They moved on with their lives for almost two decades. But 18 years after her brother died, Angelina was approached by a familiar man in the market. He gave her his name: Clairvius Narcisse. He was back from the dead and the story he would give rivals any modern zombie movie out today. 

In 1998, a 10-year-old Austrian girl was grabbed off the street by a strange man, thrown into a van and driven to a strange house only to be put down in a dark basement cell. The cell was tiny, dark, and void of natural light and fresh air - and it would be her home for the next 8 years. This is the kidnapping of Natascha Kampusch - but it's not just a story of a kidnapping and the abuse she endured, it's about her will to live, her determination never to forget herself, and how the kidnapper tried to break a girl who refused to be broken. Sources:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMCoeBG0GUohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8xwr2x-w2ohttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/this-in-a-way-is-why-i-am-mourning-him-says-kidnapped-teenager-413755.htmlhttps://www.ozy.com/news-and-politics/no-longer-silenced-a-former-kidnapping-victim-takes-on-cyber-bullies/97242/And Natascha's own book, "3096 Days in Captivity" 

Every year millions of people visit the National Parks in the United States. Families go to camp for the weekend, hikers and backpackers set out to explore the wilds of this country, photographers seek to capture the beautiful scenery of nature.  But some people will never come out of the parks and become lost in the wilderness. Many are never heard from again and no one knows exactly how many people are missing to this day in our National Parks.  Many of the cases are explainable, but there are also those that don't make much sense with the information we have.  The disappearances of Dennis Martin, Bobby Bizup and Charles McCullar are three of those cases. 

Born under tragic circumstances and raised in an abusive household, Leonarda Cianculli's early life seemed to have led her down a rough path. But poverty, a bad marriage, and the death of her children - along with a fortune teller's predictions from long ago - prompted her to lean into her superstitions and belief in magic. At the start of World War II, Leonarda found a way to protect her sons from serving and being killed in combat - she needed to take others' lives in their place. But were her superstitions her true drive for murder, or was it simply greed? 

Many of us know the story of the Pied Piper: The man in the brightly colored clothes who could make rats and mice follow him just by playing a flute. But many don't know the second, darker part to the story where children were led away from their homes by that same man and his flute, never to be heard from again. But was it just a story told to children to teach them a lesson? Or did something dark and sinister actually happen to the real-life children of Hamelin?

Happy Halloween Week, listeners! We are very excited for our first collaboration with another podcast! And for Halloween, no less! Please welcome CeCe, Alex and James from the 13th Floor as we sit down with our new friends and talk about our favorite Halloween memories and personal spooky tales to get you in the mood for October 31. 

Most Halloween haunted houses are good-natured fun, hoping to give you a good scare and a probably few laughs. But McKamey Manor is different. Here, participants are subjected to extreme physical, verbal, and mental horrors - but agree to it by signing an extremely long and detailed waiver. Broken bones, cuts, and worse are possible.  We discuss what happens at McKamey Manor, the legalities of its operation and the reception of the public, plus a few of our own stories about Halloween haunted houses. 

A group of colonists in North America disappeared from their new home on Roanoke Island sometime between 1587 and 1590. They left behind one word and many questions. It's bee over 400 years later and we're still asking: What happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke?

On March 13, 1997, something strange was reported moving across the sky from Henderson, Nevada, travelling across the state of Arizona and disappearing into the Sonoran Desert. Hundreds of people reported the event, telling officials what they saw - and their stories are all similar. A V-shaped aircraft with bright lights appeared to be moving across Arizona. But when it reached Phoenix, people got out their cameras and documented what was to become one of the most infamous UFO events in US history. What were the Phoenix Lights? 

When Bruce and Andrea Leininger's two-year old son, James, started becoming fascinated by WWII planes, they thought it was normal for a boy his age. But when little James started experiencing vivid nightmares about plane crashes and recalling events and people he couldn't possibly know about, Andrea knew her son was experiencing something more. Was he remembering a past life as a WWII fighter pilot? 

When a man who made a living at being an inventor, travelling showman, and radio broadcaster announced that he had the cure for cancer, people were thrilled. Finally, there was a cure for this terrible disease. Except the man, Norman Baker, was no hero - he was simply a fraud, who conned thousands of people out of millions of dollars with his so-called "cure." Yet he was able to open and operate two hospitals promoting this "cure" - one of which being the Crescent Hotel in Arkansas, which still shows its evidence of Norman's terrible schemes in its history, paranormal visitors, and a surprising discovery made on it's property in 2019 .... Sources:https://web.archive.org/web/20101121070622/http://www.crescent-hotel.com/bakerstory.shtmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i6GMCH91mIhttps://crescent-hotel.com/history.shtmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_G._Bakerhttps://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/norman-baker-4885/https://www.toptenz.net/10-frightening-facts-about-the-crescent-hotel.phphttps://www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/1886-crescent-hotel-and-spa/ghost-stories.php

It is said to be one of the worst events of racial violence in the history of the United States. And yet almost 100 years later, many people don't know much, if anything, about it. From May 31 to June 1, white mobs attacked the Greenwood District and its black residents from the ground and from the air. When it was all over, the black community was left in ashes and it would be years before they could rebuild. And much of this rebuilding and reckoning is still happening today. 

The early 2000s were a time of peak reality TV, and few networks reached the success of shows as Vh1. Their "Of Love" series, as it came to be called, provided hit after hit after hit for the network and the production company in charge. But in 2009, production came to a screeching halt when Jasmine Fiore, the wife of a former contestant, was found murdered, her body left in a suitcase in a Dumpster.  We talk about Jasmine's murder, the toxic relationship that led up to it, and how it affected more than just her own family and friends by bankrupting businesses and shutting down a reality show empire. SourcesEntertainment Weeklyhttps://ew.com/tv/2020/01/30/ryan-jenkins-jasmine-fiore-megan-wants-a-millionaire/Talk of Love podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIKy0YmonQwsR_Tx8IRKQrAMegan Wants a Millionairehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mo0_OiX1Xc&list=PL4c9x5pADNHi7w9hskOO7Ttmw9le6iYIxI Love Money 3 tell-all videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSEIOA9FPsPeople Magazinehttps://people.com/celebrity/ryan-jenkinss-suicide-note-found-on-his-computer/https://people.com/celebrity/inside-story-jasmine-fiore's-life-and-tragic-end/ABC Newshttps://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/2020/model-murder-ryan-jenkins-jasmine-fiore-back-story/story?id=8417815https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Decade/top-10-reality-tv-shows-decade/story?id=9210225https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=8397405https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/jasmine-fiore-ryan-jenkins-volatile-vegas-relationship/story?id=8404538

Something wasn't quite right about the girls who walked off the boat and into the newly settled French colony of New Orleans in 1728. They were sickly and pale. They traveled  with large, heavy trunks that looked different than the ones previous new arrivals had carried. They had been sent to New Orleans to help settle the colony and become wives to the men. But were the new arrivals pious and devout girls from France? Or were they something darker that would begin to hunt in the streets of New Orleans and leave behind lasting lore that still thrives today? Stick around at the end of our episode for some listener thoughts on the Martin family disappearance from episode 33 and also a Dyatlov Pass update that brings up more questions than answers. In our opinion! 

It started off as an annual family outing. In December 1958, the Martin family left their Portland, Oregon, home to go find a Christmas tree and gather greens for holiday decorations. Ken, his wife Barbara, and their three young daughters piled into the family station wagon and ventured along the Columbia River on a Sunday afternoon. They would never come home. A massive search never found the family or their car, but what WAS found in the following months included a possibly stolen truck, a woman's glove, and a bloody handgun with a family connection. With little clues and a lot of speculation, this is one case that might not ever be solved. 

On February 8, 1933, police in the small Appalachian town of Tomahawk, Kentucky started receiving calls from locals talking about screaming and loud noises coming from the cabin of the Mills family. When authorities showed up to the remote cabin and forced their way in, they walked into a horror show being directed by members of the Mills family. And in the middle of all the chaos, was the body of the family matriarch, Lucinda Mills. But the events surrounding Lucinda's death go beyond anyone's imagination and shocked the small mountain community. 

WARNING: This episode discusses several instance of suicide and may be difficult to listen to for many. It was meant to be a luxury hotel for business travelers and wealthy tourists, but instead turned into a place of crime, mystery, and death. The Cecil Hotel, opened in 1927, instead earned a reputation of violence and became known as "The Suicide Hotel." We talk a little about past incidents at the hotel, plans for its future, and recap our own good and bad hotel stays. 

In 2013, residents of the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles noticed a strange odor, look and taste to their tap water. A hotel worker found the cause of the murky, reddish water - the body of a young woman was floating in the rooftop water tank. Elisa Lam had gone missing from the hotel two weeks before, and the discovery of her body solved that mystery but raised more questions than it answered. How did she get there? We discuss the tragic death of Elisa Lam, issues surrounding her death investigation, and talk about a better way to remember her. Original YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TjVBpyTeZMTime stamp video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YO4QbaNDjIElisa's Tumblr:https://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/archiveGone at Midnight:https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/46184565-gone-at-midnightSynchronicity video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt8lhNNk9SoRoof Access video:https://tieryas.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/elisa-lam-updates/Lawsuit dismissed:https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/elisa-lam-hotel-downtown-la-lawsuit-negligence-dismissed-parents/125395/Reflections on Elisa:https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/02/08/elisa-lam-vancouver-student-missing-los-angeles_n_2647593.html?guccounter=1Body Language analysis:https://www.bodylanguagesuccess.com/2013/02/nonverbal-communication-analysis-2313.htmlCoroner articles:https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2017/12/12/its-time-to-abolish-the-coroner/https://www.npr.org/2018/05/04/608511061/in-california-critics-say-sheriff-coroner-gig-is-a-conflict-of-interestDark Water comparisons:https://steemit.com/story/@jhon21/the-disturbing-death-of-elisa-lam-and-the-dark-water

"Dearest neighbor...allow me to welcome you to the neighborhood." Imagine receiving a letter that starts out with that sentence as you get ready to move your family into your new home. You'd probably be touched at the heartfelt message. But as you read on, the welcoming words turn sinister and you realize your family is in the sights of someone unseen but who knows everything. This is what Derek and Maria Broaddus went though when they bought their dream home at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey. It wasn't long after the closing that the letters came from someone who called themselves The Watcher. And this Watcher seemed to know small details about the family, including the Broaddus' three children. The Watcher could be anyone. Were they a stranger lurking in the shadows of the Boulevard? Or were they the smiling neighbor waving from their front porch? Who is The Watcher of New Jersey? 

It is a piece of property once known as "America's Village of the Damned." Since the 1700s, almost everyone who has been plagued with tragedy - houses burned, children went missing, people would fall into insanity and die. Today, the property is carefully guarded by a group of people who refuse to allow entry to anyone. Did the founding family bring a curse with them from England when they originally settled the land? Welcome to Dudleytown, Connecticut. Source Links:http://www.ancientpages.com/2017/12/30/cursed-dudleytown-what-really-happened-in-americas-village-of-the-damned-in-connecticut/http://cornwallhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-truth-about-dudleytown.htmlhttps://www.americanhauntingsink.com/dudleytownhttps://i95rock.com/dudleytown-cornwall-ct-responds-to-freedom-of-information-request/https://i95rock.com/the-mystery-surrounding-dudleytown-the-haunted-deserted-ct-town-has-baffled-me-for-years-this-year-i-intend-to-get-to-the-bottom-of-it/https://i95rock.com/dudleytown-the-investigation-sparks-deeper-and-darker-questions/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/06/AR2007060602736_pf.htmlhttp://www.ghostvillage.com/legends/dudleytown.shtml

Brian Shaffer went out the night of March 31, 2006, like many other college students that night. It was the beginning of spring break for Ohio State University and it had been a tough few weeks for Brian after suffering a family tragedy. Blowing off steam, Brian bar hopped with friends around popular spots in Columbus, Ohio. When no one could find Brian at last call at The Ugly Tuna Saloona, his friends figured he had gone home. When Brian wasn't heard from for days following March 31, family reported him missing. And when police checked the security camera at the Ugly Tuna, it only added to the mystery of Brian's whereabouts because to their surprise, Brian was never shown leaving the bar. This case will leave you scratching your head. Where is Brian Shaffer?

Stuck inside over coronavirus? Be glad you're not this man. We tell a tale of famed Kentucky caver Floyd Collins - one of the bravest, most determined and skilled cavers in the country during the 1920s. That was, until he found himself in a precarious position - literally.  And you thought your quarantine was bad. 

Between 1852 and 1946, the penal colony of French Guiana was sent thousands of men to serve out their sentences in brutal conditions. Sentences ranged from murder to minor offenses such as theft. But all men were forced into hard labor and had little hope to ever return to mainland France, even when their sentences were completed. The Prison of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni and the Salvation Islands off the coast have sparked movies, legends and even books by those who somehow managed the impossible feat of escaping and went on to tell the heinous conditions of the colony. 

Moving to a new home can be stressful enough, but for the Ammons family, moving to a new home caused strife unknown to most of us. What began at first as a simple pest problem quickly escalated into something much more sinister. Soon, a mother and her three children found themselves tormented by spirits unknown. And while most hauntings or spiritual activity are usually witnessed by only the afflicted persons, this story adds a new layer - written documentation and testimony by police, physicians, church leaders, and state child care workers, who all witnessed the happenings in the 200 Demons House. 

Pearl Bryan's murder and the execution of her killers has left a mark on the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati area for over a century. But her story hasn't ended and continues to live on in an unlikely place. Bobby Mackey's Music World in Wilder, Kentucky is where locals go for music, drinks and line dancing. But there could be more to this bar than meets the eye. A reportedly haunted place, the bar is known throughout the area and the paranormal community for it's strange happenings. And one of the biggest legends tied to Bobby Mackey's is Pearl Bryan and the mystery of what happened to the poor girl's head. Find out why many believe Pearl Bryan has stuck around Bobby Mackey's.

The nation was shocked when the body of a woman was found on a farm in the small town of Fort Thomas, Kentucky on February 1, 1896. The woman was a young socialite from Greencastle, Indiana named Pearl Bryan. She was well known in her hometown, the daughter of a big family that was liked and admired. But the events that would send her on a trip to Cincinnati would set something terrible into motion for Pearl. And when her murderers were captured and details of her killing emerged, it sent shock waves that still are felt today. Legends and folklore continue to live on 124 years after Pearl's murder. Many people still ask one question when it comes to Pearl Bryan. Listen to find out what that question is…

It's an act mostly unheard of today, but was once a more common practice. While the notion of eating another human disgusts many, one man said he has felt the desire his entire life. One day in 1981, Issei Sagawa murdered his friend Renee Hartevelt, keeping her body in his fridge for days as he gradually ate her. He was arrested shortly after her killing, but what happens next will infuriate you. 

It all started out seemingly well. A man named Jim Jones formed a church with progressive ideas of desegregation, helping the homeless and lifting up your fellow man. He called it The Peoples Temple.  Membership would reach into the thousands. But when Peoples Temple started receiving criticism from people who left the church, Jim Jones fled to Guyana with church members and formed a settlement. They named it after their leader: Jonestown. In Jonestown, what began as a religious movement and commune disintegrated into paranoia, abuse, murder and what would shockingly become the largest mass killing of American citizens until the September 11 attacks.

If you think what happened in Hungary was bad, wait until you hear this. In Renaissance Italy, Giulia Tofana was ultimately responsible for about 600 men who were abusive to their wives. However, she evaded capture for several years, and moved around hiding in plain sight with her poison that was so effective and sought after, it even had its own brand.

Early 1900s Nagyrev, Hungary, was a time of struggle for the women who lived there. Poverty was rampant, children were burdensome, and forced marriages meant abuse, neglect and strife. Divorce was forbidden, and to make it all worse, war came. Fed up with a life no better than that of a slave, one woman led others into "fixing" their problems .... with murder. 

Happy New Year, listeners! What better way to jump into 2020 than to hear about the story of the Tromp family of Australia and their strange road trip. By all accounts, the Tromp family was a normal family. Mark and Jacoba lived and worked on the family farm in Silvan, Victoria with their three kids: Ella, Mitchell and Riana. But one day, the family suddenly fled their home, leaving behind phones, credit cards and passports. They feared for their lives. But what were they afraid of? Over the next few days, the family would travel hundreds of miles and spark a bizarre missing person's case that baffled Australia. The reason behind it still baffles many today: including the Tromp family. (Sources: Buzzfeed Unsolved, BBC.com "Tromp Family: The Mystery of a Tech-Free Road Trip Gone Wrong", The Daily Mail, Danelle Hallan "What Happened to the Tromp Family?")

The plan to rob the bank was a simple one - go in, steal the cash, hurt no one and escape via the getaway car parked strategically in an alley. It should have been an easy job. But for Marshall Ratliff and his three accomplices, a shot through a window caused complications that would turn their easy plan into a complicated mess that took many lives and would become a legendary story in West Texas. 

He had a hook for a hand. The call is coming from inside the house. Bloody Mary. Everyone grew up hearing urban legends. But where exactly do these stories come from? Are they true stories or folktales passed down through generations to warn us about something? Take a trip across the country with The Darker Side of Life to learn about top urban legends in several states and decide for yourself if there are truths to these twisted tales. 

It first happened in 1959, when a group of Russian hikers died under mysterious circumstances. Few people know that it happened again, in 1993. Seven hikers set out on a long trip near Lake Baikal, when suddenly 6 of them died mysteriously, violently, and at the same time. Even with a lone survivor to recap the details, the mystery remains. Today we discuss the Buryatia Incident, otherwise known as Russia's other Dyatlov Pass incident. 

Who put Bella in the Wych Elm? We've been asking that same question 76 years after a group of boys from the skeletonized remains of a woman on the grounds of Hagley Estate in Hagley, Worcestershire, England. And then, a year after, strange graffiti starting popping up with a name for the unknown woman. The theories of what happened to Bella and her true identity run the spectrum from the supernatural to the covert. Do you know who put Bella in the Wych Elm? 

"Ghost and goblins, spooks galore, scary witches at your door. Jack o' Lanterns shining bright, wishing you a haunting night." Happy Halloween from the girls of The Darker Side of Life!! Because it's the best day of the year, we have a bonus episode for all you guys! So turn off the lights, grab your candy corn, put out your pumpkin and listen to some spooky tales to get you in the Halloween mood. Trick or Treat! 

It all started as a normal day on the Bell farm. But when John Bell shot at a creature in one of his fields, things started changing. Soon, his family would experience a haunting like no other. He had unknowingly awoken a spirit - one who promised to haunt him and his family until John Bell was dead. This is the story of the Bell Witch of Adams, Tennessee

It was the OG of witch hunts in what would become the United States. Between January and October of 1692, hundreds of colonists in and around Salem Village and Salem Town were accused of one of the worst possible things you could be accused of: Witchcraft. There was no way to defend yourself as neighbors, friends and family pointed the finger at you and accused you of signing the Devil's book while your spirit tormented others. And at the center of it all was an unlikely group of accusers: Girls. Teenagers and children suddenly had the attention of everyone as they became the main people to point the finger. At the end of it all, 20 innocent people would be killed as "witches." To this day, it's a piece of history that still baffles many. Why did it happen? How did it happen? And how do we make sure it doesn't happen again? 

"Escape" with us while we "break out" some more stories (see what we did there?) about one of the most infamous prisons: Alcatraz. These stories have a paranormal twist you might not have seen coming. 

It was a prison on an island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. It held those who couldn't be held in other prisons. It's reputation for being inescapable was so large it was commonly referred to as "The Rock."  But that doesn't mean nobody ever tried. In 1946, a group of inmates almost did in what became known as the Battle of Alcatraz. And in 1962, three men did leave the island, and their whereabouts have been unknown ever since. Join Dana and Kristen as they discuss two of the biggest escape attempts from Alcatraz.

Lets get spooky. Come take a tour with us of what is thought to be one of the most haunted places in the United States: Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Once a tuberculosis hospital in Louisville, Kentucky during an outbreak of the “white plague”, Waverly Hills was not only a place to treat those suffering from the disease, but also a home for those who had to leave their life behind once they came to the hospital on the hill. Now, even decades after the hospital was shut down, many things still linger within it’s walls. Waverly has become the “holy grail” for ghost hunters and paranormal experts who come to explore the massive structure, hoping to catch glimpses of what haunts the halls. Join us to learn more about the spirits of Waverly Hills and even hear Kristen’s personal experiences from her multiple visits. 

Didn't get enough of aliens during Dana's story on Betty and Barney Hill? Well, you are in luck! Welcome to a Q&A session specifically for all you Earthlings out there wondering what is beyond our universe. Play along and let us know what you think with some of these out of this world questions. And as always, keep your eyes on the sky. You never know who is looking back. 

It started innocently enough; just a late-night drive home from a vacation down rural roads in New Hampshire. But for one couple, the night would prove to be unforgettable. They saw a bright light follow their car, stopped to look at it, and were soon back on the road to continue the drive home. But now, the couple felt physically and emotionally changed, and hours had passed when it should have been a few minutes. Did they just spend time aboard an alien spacecraft? Take a trip with us to hear about the 1961 abduction of Betty and Barney Hill. 

They come a-knockin' when you least expect it. You open your door to find kids standing on your doorstep or maybe they're outside your car. They ask to come in to use your phone or for a ride somewhere. It seems like a harmless request, right? They why do you feel terrified standing in front of these children? And what is wrong with their eyes? We're talking about the mysterious Black Eyed Kids. No one knows exactly what they are or what they want, but one thing is known: don't let them in. 

If you didn't get enough in our Ice Mummies episode, join us as we unwrap a few more stories about mummies from around the world and through time. Also, "mummy soup" and "mummy paint." Yeah, you're going to want to listen to this. 

She was treated like royalty; dressed in the finest clothing, cared for, educated and well-fed. She was buried with riches and rare items on a mountain sacred to the ancient Peruvians. But although her life might have been a fortunate one, her death was not. Dana and Kristen discuss Peruvian ice mummies and the practice of capacocha - child human sacrifice. 

Welcome to the very first Darker Side of Life "Side Note" episode. Side Notes are smaller episodes that go along with the main story released the week before. You know when you're telling a story and think of something else cool? You might veer off into a "side note" conversation that, while fun, takes you away from the main story. So to give you all the darker side of life that you might crave, we've created smaller episodes to give you extra content that would normally be left out of our main stories. In the first Side Note episode, Dana and Kristen discuss a different kind of roommate that might not pay rent or do their fair share of the grocery shopping but still manage to make a home for themselves, sometimes without the knowledge of the actual resident. This is an add on to the Daniel LaPlante story so before listening, make sure you check out that episode. 

Daniel LaPlante's crimes ran the gamut around towns in Massachusetts in the 1980s. Ranging from bizarre to horrifying, LaPlante terrorized families, messing with people's heads and leaving his mark where he went. He eventually escalated to events that would leave several victims in his wake. 

In 2003 and 2004, Terrance Williams and Felipe Santos went missing in separate incidents in a Southwest Florida city. It wasn't until their families persisted in the investigation when it was discovered their disappearances had a common connection - the last person to see them alive was a Naples police officer, who was later fired from the force after having lied to investigators about the case. Does he know more that he isn't saying? 

In 1959, nine hikers were found dead in the Ural Mountains in Russia after they failed to return from their trek. We're still trying to figure out what exactly happened to them sixty years later. In part two of this fascinating and maddening story, Dana and Kristen take a deep dive into some of the theories surrounding this case. Everything from avalanches to yetis is on the table. Be sure to listen to part one before venturing into the final part of this story. 

Sixty years ago, nine hikers embarked on a winter trek in the far northern Ural mountains in soviet Russia. They never returned home. When searches found the site, they were greeted not by the hikers, but by a mysterious and morbid scene that people are still trying to make sense of today. The bodies found were frozen a mile away from the tent, some barefoot and with only light clothing on and some had unexplained severe injuries. In the first part of a two part episode, we discuss the Dyatlov Pass incident and the mystery that survives to this day.

The Darker Side of Life brings you a special kind of episode this week with not one, but two stories. In episode 4, Dana and Kristen explore two very different but equally intriguing tales coming out of Georgia while on their annual road trip. First up, Dana takes us back to the summer of 1887 in rural Georgia when the silence was disturbed by the sounds of one of the most heinous mass murders in the state's history. Tom Woolfolk, the lone survivor, was the primary suspect, and all the evidence pointed to him. But did he commit these crimes or was his version of events true? And then, Kristen heads to 1980s Atlanta where an elderly couple's house started experiencing things out of a horror movie that to this day leave investigators scratching their heads. But don't leave after the stories! Stick around for a game of "would you rather?" with a twist. 

Summerwind Mansion was meant to be a relaxing getaway in an idyllic location. It was anything but relaxing. Demonic music, hidden deeds and whispered names in dark rooms. Something was going bump in the night. Something was watching you. Those who saw the house should have run for the hills, but something was drawing people in and making them want to stay. Was it a simple case of wanting to restore a once beautiful mansion? Or something more sinister? 

Can an exorcism be botched? In 1974, Michael Taylor found out. After a 7-hour nonstop ordeal to cast out demons that had possessed him, he found out things didn't go as planned. This is the story of the exorcism of Michael Taylor and the horror that followed. 

Kristen and Dana jump down the rabbit hole to discuss the infamous Lizzie Borden and the "whacks" heard 'round the world. Step into the dark. Follow us on Instagram at darkersideoflifepodcast and make sure to email us your own stories and suggestions at darkersideoflifepodcast@gmail.com.