What Really Happened to the Donner Party: The Horror And The Hauntings

In 1846, 87 pioneers took what they thought was a shortcut to California—but a series of fatal decisions, impossible terrain, and early snowstorms trapped them in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where starvation drove survivors to unspeakable acts, and some say the tortured spirits of those who perished still haunt Donner Pass to this very day.IN THIS EPISODE: The tragic demise of the Donner Party has become infamous. But what led to the failed journey, and to the eventual cannibalism some of the party resorted to in order to survive? (The Tragic Story of the Donner Party) *** Mary Ann Cotton managed to poison three husbands to death, as well as killing eleven children, before she was finally caught. How did England’s first female serial killer get away with it for so long? (Mary Ann Cotton, England’s First Female Serial Killer) *** Reddit asked men and women who have served in the military to share the creepiest things that happened to them while on duty. After hearing some of the stories, you might think the word “creepy” wouldn’t be sufficient enough to describe them. (Creepy Things That Have Happened To Military Personnel) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:33.677 = The Tragic Story of the Donner Party00:29:00.744 = ***Creepy Things That Have Happened to Military Personnel00:47:38.535 = ***Mary Ann Cotton: England’s First Female Serial Killer00:53:23.759 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakSOURCES and RESOURCES:“The Tragic Story of the Donner Party” from Legends of America: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/176gt0vu and Pam Jung from The Union: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2vdwhguj“Mary Ann Cotton, England’s First Female Serial Killer” from The Line Up: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3caw9d79“Creepy Things That Have Happened To Military Personnel” by Emily Madriga for Thought Catalog:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4a0dko75=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: February 08, 2021EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/DonnerPartyGhostsABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#WeirdDarkness #DonnerParty #DonnerPass #PioneerTragedy #SurvivalCannibalism #AmericanFrontier #HauntedHistory #SierraNevada #WestwardExpansion #TrueHistory