Beyond the Ferns

This week, we are headed to Indiana! Belle Gunness didn’t just chase a better life—she seemed to study where money followed misfortune, and then quietly position herself in its path. Born as Brynhild Paulsdatter Størseth in rural Norway in 1859, she grew up in poverty, where survival meant hard work and very little security. But when she immigrated to the United States in the 1880s, something shifted. In Chicago, she moved from domestic labor into a life that, on the surface, looked ordinary—marriage, children, a modest home. Underneath it, though, patterns began to form. Fires. Insurance policies. Sudden deaths that came with payouts. Her first husband, Mads Sorenson, died under circumstances that raised concern and all pointed back to Belle. But it wouldn't end or even begin with Mads. Each time, the money came through. And each time, Belle moved forward—never collapsing under grief for long, but instead using those moments to rebuild, often bigger than before. By the time she relocated to a farm in La Porte, Indiana, her methods seemed more deliberate. She placed personal ads, attracting men—often immigrants like herself—who arrived with cash, property, or the promise of both. Many were never seen again. Neighbors noticed the steady flow of visitors, and the silence that followed. Belle wasn’t impulsive. If anything, she appeared calculated—someone who understood systems like insurance, property ownership, and trust, and found ways to exploit them. Whether through arson, suspected poisoning, or manipulation, money was often at the center of what followed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we are headed to Tennessee! On the surface, Janet March seemed to have built a beautiful life. She was an artist, a mother of two, and living in an affluent area of Nashville with her husband, successful attorney Perry March. Perry was intelligent, ambitious, and by many accounts, difficult to be around. He had built a reputation as a sharp attorney, but behind the scenes, cracks had already started to form in both his career and his marriage. By the summer of 1996, Janet and Perry’s relationship was unraveling. The couple fought often, there were rumors of infidelity, and Janet had begun talking seriously about divorce. Then, in August, Janet suddenly vanished. Days passed before she was officially reported missing, and by the time investigators began looking into what happened, precious time had already been lost. What followed was a case filled with strange behavior, mounting suspicions, years of legal battles, and a man who seemed more focused on controlling the story than finding his missing wife. In this episode, we look at who Janet was before she became a headline, the warning signs in her marriage, and the long road investigators took to uncover the truth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we are headed to Arkansas! In 2005, in the quiet college town of Russellville, AR, 19-year-old Nona Dirksmeyer was found brutally murdered inside her off-campus apartment. A student at Arkansas Tech University, Nona was known for her easygoing nature and close relationships— a talented woman who was crowned beauty pageant queen at Miss Jean Petit. In the earliest moments of the investigation, attention turned quickly to someone close to her—her boyfriend, Kevin Jones. He had been one of the last known people to see her, and his account of what happened raised questions for investigators. After discovering Nona, Kevin’s behavior—emotional, frantic, and, at times, inconsistent—drew intense scrutiny. He was brought in for questioning and interrogated for hours, as investigators worked to reconcile his version of events with the physical scene they were trying to understand. Early on, it seemed as though the case might center around him. But as the investigation continued, what initially appeared straightforward began to fracture. Evidence didn’t align as cleanly as expected. Certain assumptions were challenged. And questions started to surface—not just about what happened inside that apartment, but about whether the investigation itself was heading in the right direction. Kevin may have literal blood on his hand from rushing to Nona's side, but did he really do it? Over time, the case would shift in unexpected ways—introducing new angles, new individuals, and growing controversy over how key pieces of evidence were handled. Years later, the story of Nona Dirksmeyer remains one that lingers—not just because of the violence of that day, but because of everything that followed—and everything that still doesn’t quite fit. And there may be a person currently walking free, that many expect did this, but they can't quite prove it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we are headed to North Dakota! Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind was a 22-year-old woman from Fargo who was eight months pregnant and preparing for a new chapter in her life. In August 2017, she vanished from her apartment complex after briefly going upstairs to help a neighbor with a simple request. When she didn’t return, concern quickly escalated into a desperate search led by her family and local authorities. As investigators worked to piece together her last known movements, the case began to unfold in unexpected ways, drawing in the surrounding community and capturing national attention. What initially seemed like a missing persons case soon revealed deeper, more troubling layers—raising questions about trust, vulnerability, and the hidden dangers that can exist in the most ordinary places. Savanna’s story is not only about the mystery of her disappearance, but also about the lasting impact her life and legacy have had—helping bring awareness to violence against Indigenous women and sparking conversations that continue today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, we are headed to the great state of Alabama! Tucked away in the quiet stretches of rural Alabama, Jack Cole Road doesn’t look like the kind of place that would carry a reputation. It’s just a narrow, winding road—lined with dense woods, long shadows, and the kind of stillness that seems to press in around you the deeper you go. But over the years, stories have gathered there. Strange lights flickering between the trees. Unexplained figures seen just off the roadside. Disappearances and speculation surrounding deaths. And then there’s the story of Orion Williamson. In 1854, on a seemingly ordinary day, Williamson was walking across his own farmland in Selma, Alabama—his wife and neighbors within sight—when something happened that has never been fully explained. He stepped forward… and simply vanished. No struggle. No sound. No trace left behind. A large search followed, combing through every inch of the land, but whatever happened to him left no answers. Nearly two centuries later, his disappearance still lingers as one of the strangest cases on record—often dismissed, debated, or quietly retold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we are headed to New Orleans, LA! In the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when New Orleans was still struggling to find its footing, a volatile love story was quietly unraveling behind the doors of a French Quarter apartment. Addie Hall — a free-spirited bartender known for her magnetic personality and fiercely independent nature — had fallen into a passionate, often turbulent relationship with Iraq War veteran Zack Bowen. Together, they drifted through the strange, lawless days that followed the storm, forming a bond shaped by trauma, excess, and emotional instability. But by October 2006, what had once felt like survival-driven connection turned into something far more sinister. When police were called to the couple’s apartment on Governor Nicholls Street, they uncovered a crime scene so disturbing it would shock even seasoned investigators. Spray-painted messages, chilling notes, and the gruesome treatment of Addie’s body revealed a descent into psychological darkness that few could comprehend. The murder of Addie Hall remains one of New Orleans’ most haunting modern crimes — a case that raises unsettling questions about love, war, mental health, and the fragile line between devotion and destruction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are headed to Mississippi! On a quiet December evening in rural Mississippi, a stretch of backroad became the center of a tragedy that would shake an entire community. Nineteen-year-old Jessica Chambers was found severely burned near her vehicle — alive, and barely able to speak. To the first responder's surprise, she was able to respond to who had done this to her. The man's name was "Eric". In the hours that followed, investigators, loved ones, and a small town desperate for answers were left trying to piece together what had happened in the moments leading up to the fire. What unfolded was a case marked by confusion, conflicting accounts, and emotional courtroom battles. Rumors spread quickly, fear took hold, and the search for truth became as complicated as the circumstances surrounding Jessica’s final hours. Years later, questions still linger about who was responsible and whether justice has truly been served. In this episode, we do a deep dive into this cold case. We explore potential suspects, review the details, and the evidence. Join along as we try to understand what exactly happened to Jessica Chambers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we are headed to Maine! We're stepping back into the late 1800s to explore the unsettling story of a woman who would eventually earn one of the most chilling nicknames in New England true crime — the “Borgia of Maine.” Drawing comparisons to the infamous poison-wielding Borgia family of Renaissance Italy, this case centers around Mary Cowan, a woman whose life became surrounded by a troubling pattern of illness and sudden deaths within her household. What initially appeared to be misfortune and sickness — common explanations in an era with limited medical knowledge — slowly began to raise suspicions as multiple family members died under eerily similar circumstances. As whispers spread through the small Maine community and investigators began looking closer, the quiet domestic tragedies started to resemble something far more sinister. In this episode, we’ll unravel the life of Mary Cowan, the string of mysterious deaths that followed her, and how she ultimately came to be remembered as the “Borgia of Maine.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode #60, we are headed to Oklahoma! On a cold December morning in 1996, 21-year-old dance student Juli Busken was preparing to leave Norman, Oklahoma behind for the holidays. She had just finished her final semester at the University of Oklahoma and was looking ahead to a future of dance. But before she could return home to her family in Arkansas, something happened in the quiet hours before sunrise in her apartment parking lot. Her car was found abandoned. Hours later, her body was discovered near the shoreline of Lake Stanley Draper. What followed was a case that would stretch across years — marked by unanswered questions, evolving forensic technology, and a relentless pursuit of justice. For nearly a decade, the mystery of what happened to Juli haunted her family and the community she left behind. We will walk through Juli’s final known movements, the early investigative missteps, and the long road toward answers — while keeping the focus where it belongs: on a young woman whose life was filled with promise and who's presence is missed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we are headed to North Carolina - Lake Norman, NC. Lake Norman looks peaceful at first glance — miles of open water stretching across North Carolina’s Piedmont, dotted with quiet coves, sailboats, and lakeside homes. But beneath that calm surface lies a drowned valley. Entire communities once stood where boats now drift. Roads end abruptly underwater. Foundations, churches, and forgotten farmland remain frozen in time beneath the depths of the Catawba River. For decades, witnesses have reported sightings of something moving through the water. Known locally as “Normie,” the Lake Norman Monster. But Normie isn’t the only legend tied to the lake. Boaters have long whispered about the Lady of the Lake — a pale figure said to appear along the shoreline or drifting near submerged roads. Blending local history, eyewitness accounts, folklore, and the unexplained, this episode explores whether Lake Norman’s mysteries are simply stories born from imagination… or echoes of something still waiting beneath the surface. Listen along wherever you get your podcast! Happy to have you here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we are headed back to New Hampshire in Part II (final part) of the Mysterious Disappearance of Maura Murray. We will be diving into details concerning the 22 year long investigation, the many person of interest leads that have been chased throughout the years, and the circulating theories of what could have happened on that fateful day in February 2004. PLEASE NOTE: If you have any information on this cold case, please speak up. A case is never fully cold and it could be just what is needed to crack the case open and lead to answers. These are the best channels for submitting any potentially useful information: New Hampshire State Police – Cold Case Unit:Call the Cold Case Unit at (603) 271-2663 Email Cold Case Unit:[email protected] — often used for tips and detailed information! Gloucester, Massachusetts Police Department: 978-283-1212 The Murray family maintains an official site about Maura’s disappearance. If you believe your information might help and want to reach out directly to the family or share your tip, there’s a contact form and press email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In early February 2004, 21-year-old Maura Murray was a nursing student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Smart, athletic, and known for her quiet determination, Maura had once attended United States Military Academy at West Point before transferring to UMass to pursue nursing. On the surface, she looked like someone building a future — clinical rotations, classes, a tight circle of family. But in the days leading up to February 9th, there were fractures forming beneath that surface. A few days earlier, Maura had been involved in a minor car accident while driving her father’s vehicle after a late night out. No one was seriously hurt, but it was another stressor layered onto an already heavy week. There were academic pressures. There were questions about her personal life. There were small, seemingly isolated events that, in hindsight, feel like pieces of a larger puzzle. Then came Monday, February 9, 2004. That afternoon, Maura emailed her professors and supervisor, saying there had been a death in her family and she would be gone for a few days. There had been no death. She withdrew nearly all the money from her bank account — just under $300. She purchased alcohol. She packed some belongings. She printed directions to northern New Hampshire — specifically to the White Mountains area, near Bartlett. And then she left campus. What’s haunting is how ordinary it all seemed at the time. College students take breaks. They drive to clear their heads. They don’t always tell everyone where they’re going. As evening fell, Maura drove north in her black Saturn sedan. The further she traveled from Massachusetts, the darker and more rural the roads became. Snowbanks lined stretches of highway. Temperatures hovered below freezing. By nightfall, she would be hundreds of miles from campus, on a quiet stretch of road in Haverhill, New Hampshire. And within minutes, everything would change. But up until that moment — she was just a young woman driving into the winter night, with a destination in mind and questions she may or may not have planned to answer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, ranchers across the United States have walked out to their fields expecting an ordinary morning — only to find one of their cattle dead under circumstances that make no sense. No signs of struggle. No tracks in or out. Although troubling, the state that they are in gives the most cause of concern. The animal is often found with certain tissues and organs missing with what witnesses describe as precise, almost surgical cuts. There’s frequently an unusual lack of blood at the scene. Scavengers — which normally descend quickly in rural environments — sometimes avoid the carcass for days. To the people who discover them, it doesn’t look like a normal predator kill. It doesn’t look like disease. And it doesn’t look random. Reports like this surged in the 1970s, drawing enough public concern that even the Federal Bureau of Investigation reviewed cases. Explanations have ranged from natural decomposition and scavenger activity to secret government testing, cult activity, and — of course — extraterrestrial involvement. But no single answer has ever fully accounted for every reported detail: the precision, the timing, the repeated patterns across states, and the strange environmental clues some ranchers claim to notice. What keeps the mystery alive is consistency. Different states. Different decades. Different ranchers telling nearly the same story — healthy livestock, no warning, and a scene that feels staged rather than natural. Whether the cause is misunderstood science, human involvement, or something we don’t yet have a framework to explain, cattle mutilation remains one of those rural phenomena that lives in the uneasy space between folklore, forensic debate, and genuine unanswered questions. And maybe that’s why it lingers. Not because we have no theories — but because none of them fully close the case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode we are headed to Kansas! The Sallie House in Atchison, Kansas, looks like an ordinary small-town home — but its history tells a far darker story. What began as a young couple’s fresh start quickly spiraled into one of the most infamous haunting cases in America. Strange scratches appeared on walls. Objects moved on their own. And then the violence turned personal. The attacks seemed focused, intelligent… and angry. Investigators, mediums, and skeptics have all stepped through the doors of the Sallie House, each leaving with more questions than answers. Was the presence truly the spirit of a young girl named Sallie, as many believe? Or was something else hiding behind that name — something far more dangerous? In this episode, we explore the reported physical attacks, the attempted cleansing of the house, and the mystery of who — or what — was really inside the house. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode we dive right into Part II! The Hi-Fi Shop murders left Ogden, Utah reeling—an act of violence so extreme it demanded answers, accountability, and justice. This episode follows the painstaking investigation that unfolded in the aftermath: the evidence recovered, the witnesses who survived, and the courtroom battles that would ultimately decide the fate of those responsible. But the story does not end with arrests and convictions. It raises deeper questions about how justice is carried out in America. As prosecutors sought the harshest punishment available, the case became entangled in debates over Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment, as well as long-standing concerns about racial bias within the criminal justice system. Through survivor testimony, investigative detail, and the legal arguments that shaped the outcome, this episode examines not only what happened inside the Hi-Fi Shop—but what the case reveals about power, punishment, and everything in between. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In April 1974, a quiet stereo shop in Ogden became the site of one of the most shocking crimes in American history. What began as an ordinary evening shift spiraled into hours of terror that would leave multiple victims dead and an entire community reeling. Known today as the Hi-Fi Murders, this case is remembered not only for its brutality, but for the disturbing choices made inside a small, locked store—and the questions that still linger decades later. In this episode, we explore the setting, the victims, and the chilling sequence of events without sensationalism, focusing instead on the human cost and the lasting impact this crime had on the justice system and public memory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are headed to Missouri to discuss the Springfield Three. In June 1992, three women—mother Sherrill Levitt and her daughter Suzanne “Suzie” Streeter, along with Suzie’s friend Stacy McCall—vanished without a trace from a quiet residential home in Springfield. The women had returned to the house after a night celebrating local high school graduations. By the next morning, all three were gone. What investigators found was almost more disturbing than what they didn’t: no signs of forced entry, no struggle, no blood, and no clear suspects. Personal belongings were left behind, including purses, keys, and vehicles—suggesting the women didn’t leave voluntarily. In this week's episode, I will be diving into theories and tips over the years in this incredibly shocking, notorious and confusing cold case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On a cold New Year’s Eve in early-1970s New York City, Roseann Quinn stepped out into a city caught between economic strain and drastic social change. Bars glowed warm against dark sidewalks, music spilled into the streets, and the promise of a fresh year hung heavy in the air. Roseann was young, independent, and carving out a life on her own in Manhattan’s Upper West Side—a neighborhood that felt safe by day, but could quietly change after dark. Like so many New Yorkers at the time, she moved through a city where strangers brushed past each other constantly, anonymity was the norm, and danger often hid behind familiar routines. What unfolded after that New Year’s Day would send shockwaves through the city and tap into something deeper: the fears surrounding single women, nightlife, and trust in an era when our nation was going through major societal change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Safety Tricks & Tips 101: Protecting Yourself at Home, Out in the World, and Online (not an exhaustive list*) In this special safety-focused episode of Beyond the Ferns, I break down practical, real-world tools for staying safe—because if this podcast has taught us anything, it’s that dangerous people and situations exist and unfortunately, they live alongside us in this world! Whether you’re settling in at home, heading out for errands, or navigating the digital world, there are simple steps you can take to stay aware, prepared, and protected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we are headed to Minnesota covering the controversial case of Byron Smith and the murders of Nick and Hailie. Byron Smith was a retired security engineer living a quiet, isolated life in Little Falls, Minnesota—a man who kept to himself and had grown increasingly uneasy after a string of break-ins at his home. On Thanksgiving Day 2012, that unease collided with the actions of two teenagers. Nick and Haile were known in their community as typical teens—inseparable, always driving around town together, and bonded in a way that felt more like siblings than cousins. Around noon on Thanksgiving, the pair entered Smith’s home through a window, unaware that Byron was inside the house when they stepped in. What happened next inside that quiet basement staircase would become one of the most controversial and widely debated self-defense cases in Minnesota’s history. From Byron's detailed home audio recordings to the community’s shock at the teenagers’ deaths, the case sparked intense questions about fear, boundaries, premeditation, and the limits of “defending your home.” The story that unfolded in the aftermath—through interviews, recovered security footage, and hours of audio—left the public deeply divided on what truly happened in that dark, silent house on Thanksgiving Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, I will be covering the Tinder App Murder of Sydney Loofe. In November 2017, 24-year-old Sydney Loofe from Lincoln, Nebraska went on a date with someone she met through Tinder. After posting a cheerful Snapchat about getting ready, she vanished the next day. Her sudden disappearance — leaving behind her car, wallet, and even her beloved cat — immediately alarmed her family and friends. As investigators retraced Sydney’s final steps, digital evidence quickly pointed toward two individuals she had met through the app. Their movements, purchases, and online activity set off major red flags, leading to nationwide headlines and an intense search. The investigation uncovered a deeply disturbing pattern of deception and manipulation. Over several weeks, detectives pieced together phone records, surveillance footage, and online data that tied the suspects to Sydney’s disappearance. What followed was one of Nebraska’s most shocking and heavily debated criminal trials, raising questions about online safety, coercion, and the dangers of meeting strangers through dating apps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this chilling episode, Beyond the Ferns covers the absolutely brutal and senseless 2006 murder of 16-year-old Cassie Jo Stoddart — a case forever dubbed “The Scream Murder.” What began as a quiet weekend of house-sitting in Pocatello, Idaho, turned into a real-life horror story when two classmates, inspired by the Scream franchise, plotted and carried out her killing. A planned murder of their friend turns into a whole "death list" they expected to carry out with more classmates at their school. However, fortunately, they are caught before those crimes can turn into reality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Halloween night, 1957, a knock on the door turned deadly in the quiet suburbs of Los Angeles. When Peter Fabiano opened it, he was greeted not by a costumed child, but by a figure in disguise — a mask, a brown paper bag, and a .22 caliber revolver. Within seconds, he was dead. What really took place on Halloween Night? And with unknown enemies - who would do this to someone that seemed like an ordinary, well-liked, family man? There's a lot more that meets the eye... and we will dive deep into life in the 50s and what could have caused such a tragic ending for the Fabiano's. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, we’re stepping inside one of the most infamous collections of haunted artifacts in the world — Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum, tucked away in the heart of Las Vegas, Nevada. Within its darkened halls lie hundreds of relics steeped in tragedy — objects said to carry the weight of death, despair, and sometimes… something far worse. In this episode, we’ll explore some of the museum’s most chilling pieces: Peggy the Doll, whose gaze alone has left visitors trembling… Dr. Death’s Van, a mobile tomb with a sinister past… and a staircase salvaged from a home so violently haunted, it had to be torn to the ground. So—turn down the lights, take a deep breath, and join me… as we uncover the stories, the history, and the dark legends that refuse to stay buried inside Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this chilling episode of Beyond the Ferns, we peel back the curtain on three of the most haunting urban legends whispered across America — each with a face you’ll never forget. First, we explore the unnerving encounters with the Black-Eyed Children — pale, emotionless kids who appear at night, asking to come inside. Their eyes? Pure black. Their presence? Utterly wrong. Are they lost souls, alien hybrids, or something far more sinister? Next, we step into the fog-filled streets to meet The Smiling Man, a figure seen dancing under flickering streetlights at 2 a.m. — moving in jerky, inhuman motions, his grin stretching too wide to be real. Those who’ve seen him say it’s the kind of smile that freezes you in place. Finally, we end with a timeless ghost story out of Chicago — Resurrection Mary. The vanishing hitchhiker who leaves drivers shaken and forever changed. A woman in white, searching for a ride home along Archer Avenue, returning each night to Resurrection Cemetery. From paranormal folklore to eyewitness accounts, this episode dives deep into the origins, theories, and spine-tingling experiences that keep these legends alive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Long before it became a symbol of fear, the Ouija board was a parlor game — a curious invention of the late 1800s when spiritualism swept through American living rooms. Families gathered around the board by candlelight, fingers resting lightly on the planchette, hoping to reach loved ones “beyond the veil.” It was marketed as wholesome entertainment, a way to connect, to wonder — not to summon. But everything changed in 1973, when The Exorcist hit theaters. From that moment on, the Ouija board was no longer a game — it became a gateway. A doorway for something darker. In this episode, Beyond the Ferns explores the board’s eerie evolution from innocent pastime to cultural taboo, and dives into real stories of those who claim they made contact with something they couldn’t explain. From sudden cold spots to planchettes moving on their own, these tales blur the line between imagination and the unknown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, we are heading to a hidden on a quiet hilltop overlooking Louisville, Kentucky, stands one of America’s most infamous haunted locations—Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Built in the early 1900s, Waverly was originally designed as a hospital to treat patients suffering from tuberculosis, or “the White Plague,” which swept through the country with deadly force. At the height of the outbreak, the sanatorium housed hundreds of patients at once, many of whom never left. With no cure available, doctors relied on experimental treatments—ranging from constant fresh air exposure, no matter the weather, to controversial surgeries that sound more like horror stories today. Death was a daily visitor at Waverly Hills and because of this hospital administrators had to get "creative" to hide the multiple deaths a day. To say this place is haunted, doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. Join along as I take you step by step through the history of Waverly Hills and the paranormal that lines every each of the facility to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1978, fifteen-year-old Mary Vincent set out to hitchhike to California—searching for freedom, escape, and a new beginning. But what should have been a simple ride toward a fresh start quickly spiraled into a nightmare that would change her life forever. Exhausted, vulnerable, and against the warnings of her fellow hitchhikers, Mary accepted a ride that would lead her down a dark and unimaginable path—a fight not just for escape, but for survival itself. Her story would go on to shock and captivate the nation—a tale of courage, resilience, and the unbreakable will to live. Join me as we revisit Mary Vincent’s harrowing journey from horror to justice—a haunting reminder that even in the face of unspeakable cruelty, the human spirit can rise above and defy all odds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2000, sixteen-year-old Molly Bish vanished from her lifeguard post at Comins Pond in Warren, Massachusetts — a small-town mystery that would grip the nation. Her disappearance sparked one of the largest and most exhaustive searches in state history. When her remains were finally discovered three years later, the answers everyone hoped for never came. In this episode, Beyond the Ferns unravels the haunting story of Molly Bish — from her final morning to the decades-long investigation that followed. We’ll examine the key suspects, shifting theories, and the chilling clues that continue to leave investigators — and Molly’s family — searching for justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices