Champagne and Murder, Please

Some paths are meant to be safe. Some stories are meant to be simple. This week, neither one is.We begin with April Millsap — a life full of light, cut short in a place that should have protected her. But from that darkness, something powerful grew: awareness, advocacy, and a community that refused to forget her name.Then we follow the winding, shadowed road of Lynn Messer’s disappearance — a case tangled in silence, shifting narratives, and questions that still linger like fog.Two women. Two very different stories. And the unsettling space where truth and uncertainty meet.We always encourage you to read, research, and form your own opinions.Because these stories deserve more than just being listened to… they deserve to be understood.This episode draws from a combination of local reporting, national news coverage, and long-form case analysis. As with many cases, especially Lynn Messer’s, some details remain disputed or unclear, and we’ve done our best to separate confirmed facts from speculation.https://abcnews.go.com/US/police-search-home-connection-murder-teen-phone-text/story?id=24779407https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2014/08/18/april-millsaps-cellphone-may-help-solve-mystery-surrounding-murder/https://www.wxyz.com/news/jury-reaches-verdict-in-april-millsap-murder-casehttps://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/court-conviction-stands-in-april-millsap-murder/https://www.frontpagedetectives.com/crime-archives/fitness-tracking-app-on-michigan-teenagers-phone-helped-police-get-a-breakthrough-on-her-murderhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/national/making-a-murder-case-how-a-prosecutor-won-a-conviction-with-an-absence-of-evidence/2016/02/09/9b48ff68-abb5-416b-9656-49b7a11e4567_story.htmlhttps://morbidology.com/morbidology-the-podcast-84-april-millsap/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Lynn_Messerhttps://www.ky3.com/content/news/Family-of-Lynn-Messer-speaks-out-after-investigation-closed-512889471.htmlhttps://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2014/11/13/lynn-messer-case-timeline/18961083/https://www.fox2now.com/news/missouri/mystery-surrounds-death-of-lynn-messer-in-missourihttps://www.kmov.com/news/lincoln-county-death-still-a-mystery-years-later/article_0d9d6f9e-8f7c-5c69-b2b4-7c1c2dbe6f3b.html

The April Fools/200th episode may be fashionably late, but chaos has impeccable timing.This week, we’re diving into two stories where nothing is quite what it seems. First, a moment of large-scale confusion that proves some jokes go way further than expected. Then, we head into darker territory with a chilling encounter that still lingers years later.One story is fueled by prankster energy. The other feels like footsteps behind you when no one’s there.Pour something bubbly, lock the doors, and join us for an episode full of confusion, curiosity, and our usual questionable commentary.

This week, we’re sitting with a case that has never really let go of the people who know it… or the ones hearing it for the first time.In the early hours of a quiet Sunday morning in 1982, 12-year-old Johnny Gosch set out on his paper route in Des Moines, Iowa. It was routine. Familiar. The kind of ordinary that feels safe… until it isn’t. Somewhere between front porches and folded newspapers, Johnny vanished without a trace.What followed wasn’t just a search—it was the beginning of a national shift in how we talk about missing children. Johnny’s case would go on to spark fear, activism, and questions that still don’t have clear answers decades later.In this episode, I’m walking through who Johnny was, that morning in detail, and the investigation that unraveled in ways both frustrating and deeply unsettling. We’ll also talk about the impact his disappearance had—not just on his family, but on the way America began to understand cases like his.This is one of those stories that lingers. The kind that makes you look twice at quiet streets and early mornings… and wonder what we might have missed.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Johnny_Gosch https://www.thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/johnny-gosch/ https://info.porterchester.edu/inf/the-tragic-disappearance-of-johnny-gosch-a-child-abduction-case-that-shook-the-nation

There’s something in the woods… and it doesn’t walk like you do.This week’s solo episode drifts into the shadows of folklore and fear—where “flesh pedestrians” are whispered about in hushed tones, and Pukwudgies lurk just beyond the tree line, watching… waiting.Stories like these aren’t just urban legends. For many, they’re warnings.I’ll take you through what people have seen, what they’ve experienced—and why some say you should never answer if something calls your name from the dark.Also making his debut: Aries 🐾 my tiny co-host with a lot to say (you’ll hear him… he insists).Put your headphones in, lock your doors, and maybe… don’t listen alone.Navajo People Overview https://www.britannica.com/topic/Navajo-peopleDiné (Navajo) Belief Systems & Spiritual Practiceshttps://www.arizona-leisure.com/navajo-religion.htmlHózhó Concept Explainedhttps://navajotraditions.com/blogs/navajo-culture/hozhoNavajo Witchcraft & Cultural Contexthttps://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/3629273Clyde Kluckhohn – Navaho Witchcrafthttps://archive.org/details/navahowitchcraft00klucUniversity of New Mexico – Navajo Beliefs & Witchcraft Studieshttps://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1038&context=anth_fspSmithsonian Magazine – Navajo Cultural Beliefs & Traditionshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/navajo-code-talkers-180967994/Native-Languages.orghttp://www.native-languages.org/navajo-legends.htmLegends of America – Navajo Witchcraft Traditionshttps://www.legendsofamerica.com/navajo-skinwalkers/Diné Cultural Education Resourceshttps://www.navajonationmuseum.orghttps://www.legendsofamerica.com/ma-pukwudgie/https://www.native-languages.org/pukwudgie.htmhttps://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/pukwudgies/https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2014/10/19/pukwudgies/https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/pukwudgie-ma/https://www.mass.gov/locations/freetown-fall-river-state-foresthttps://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/1998/10/31/legend-pukwudgies/50550562007/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2014/1031/Pukwudgies-The-creepy-legend-behind-Massachusetts-mischievous-creatureshttps://bridgewaterstateuniversity.edu/bridgewater-triangle

This week, we’re popping whatever’s in our glasses and pulling up an extra chair… because it’s Teagan’s birthday, and she’s stepping in as guest host for a night that starts with celebration and slowly unravels into something far more chilling.We kick things off getting to know Teagan, the mind behind this week’s first case, before she leads us into the heartbreaking and haunting story of Natalie McNally… a case that feels as devastating as it is infuriating, wrapped in questions that still linger like smoke in the air.Then, as the night deepens and the candles burn lower, we shift into the case of Sativa Transue… a story layered with betrayal, control, and the kind of calculated darkness that reminds you not everything is as it seems behind closed doors.It’s a birthday episode, yes… but in true Champagne & Murder, Please fashion, we’re balancing celebration with truth, laughter with gravity, and a reminder that behind every case is a real person who deserved so much more.So pour a glass, settle in, and stay close… this one gets heavy.Resources for anyone dealing with domestic abuse:You are not alone.National Domestic Violence Hotlinehttps://www.thehotline.orgThe National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) provides a wide range of free, comprehensive, and individualized technical assistance, training, and specialized resource materials and key initiatives designed to enhance current domestic violence intervention and prevention strategies.National Resource Center on Domestic Violence | National ...National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)https://nrcdv.orgSOURCES:https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/natalie-mcnally-murder-trial-hears-psni-cyber-crime-officer-say-live-stream-alibi-was-pre-recorded-PAHNBRD4Q5CNZF7IKIDHQCH42Q/https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2026/02/25/former-partner-of-natalie-mcnally-peddled-false-alibi-about-live-gaming-stream-court-hears/https://www.thejournal.ie/stephen-mccullagh-trial-natalie-mcnally-belfast-crown-court-6966178-Feb2026/https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/natalie-mcnally-murder-trial-hears-defendant-told-psni-aggressive-ex-boyfriend-had-been-harassing-her-V7BONRGUNFHH5B42WHJ2JOFQA4/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lisburn-family-psni-northern-ireland-rebecca-black-b2926727.htmlhttps://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/dec/02/family-of-sativa-transue-who-was-found-dead-in-can/https://www.khq.com/news/please-get-help---family-of-cheney-woman-murdered-in-mexico-pleading-with-those/article_a763cc58-677a-11ec-9742-cfbe0ac6a0d7.htmlhttps://people.com/crime/washington-woman-found-dead-in-cancun-hotel-room-after-going-on-thanksgiving-vacation-with-boyfriend/https://people.com/crime/family-of-washington-woman-killed-in-cancun-allege-boyfriend-has-been-violent-before/https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/sativa-transue-thanksgiving-hotel-death-b1968224.htmlhttps://www.cheneyfreepress.com/story/2021/12/16/news/cheney-woman-found-dead-in-cancun/29056.htmlhttps://www.latintimes.com/woman-found-beaten-bloody-pulp-swanky-cancun-hotel-after-trip-boyfriend-497185https://www.change.org/p/sativa-s-law

We’re back… In this redo episode, both of your favorite hosts dive back into the chilling legends of Franklin Castle and Leap Castle with fresh eyes, sharper instincts, and a whole lot more questions. What’s folklore, what’s fact… and what still doesn’t sit right?From shadowy figures in Cleveland’s most infamous mansion to the violent, blood-soaked history lurking inside Ireland’s Leap Castle, we’re peeling back the layers and sitting with the stories a little longer this time.The kind of late-night, best-friends energy that makes even the darkest tales feel a little too real.Because sometimes… the second look is where things get truly unsettling.Wikipedia — Franklin Castle (Hannes Tiedemann House): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Castle. WikipediaCleveland Historical — Tiedemann House (Franklin Castle): https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/531. Cleveland HistoricalWKYC local feature — rare tour through Ohio City Franklin Castle: https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/a-rare-tour-through-ohio-city-franklin-castle/95-b057ce23-2617-460a-9857-291d13dbc22e.The Franklin Castle (official / tour info and history): https://thefranklincastle.com. The Franklin CastleAllThat'sInteresting — “The Tragic History Of Franklin Castle”: https://allthatsinteresting.com/franklin-castle. All That's InterestingEventbrite / tour listings (sample of modern tours): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-franklin-castle-tour-tickets-1484749378359. Eventbritehttps://www.mustseespots.com/ireland/articles/the-legends-and-lore-of-leap-castle-irelands-haunted-history/https://paranormalcasefiles.com/p/the-haunting-of-leap-castle-irelandshttps://www.theirishpost.com/life-style/irelands-haunted-castle-174273https://ghostwatch.com/paranormal-report/haunted-locations/ireland/leap-castle/https://www.revisitinghistory.com/castles/ireland/leap-castle/https://listverse.com/2016/03/21/10-tales-of-haunted-irish-castles/https://spookyvalley.com/events/leap-castle-ireland/

A haunted Irish hillside. A ghost with a story that refuses to stay buried. And a stretch of Ireland where women seemed to vanish into thin air.This week we start with the eerie legend of Petticoat Loose, where folklore, fear, and a tragic past still cling to the landscape like fog rolling over the hills.Then we step into something far darker. The Vanishing Triangle, a chilling cluster of disappearances that left families searching, investigators scrambling, and a nation asking one question that still hangs in the air.Coincidence? Cover ups? Something more sinister?Pour the champagne. Things are about to get strange. 🥂Duchas.ie – The National Folklore Collection (Schools’ Collection and manuscript archives)https://www.duchas.ieThe National Folklore Collection, University College Dublinhttps://www.ucd.ie/folklore/en/The Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie)https://www.logainm.ieClare County Library – Folklore & Local Studies Archivehttps://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/folklore/folklore.htmLoop Head Tourism & Local History Resourceshttps://www.loophead.iePenal Laws historical overview – Library Irelandhttps://www.libraryireland.com/HistoryIreland/Penal-Laws.phpIrish bog bodies and archaeological context – National Museum of Irelandhttps://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Archaeology/Exhibitions/Kingship-and-SacrificeWitchcraft belief in Ireland – History Ireland journalhttps://www.historyireland.com/early-modern-history-1500-1700/witchcraft-in-ireland/Irish Folklore Commission backgroundhttps://www.ucd.ie/folklore/en/about/https://www.irishtimes.comhttps://www.rte.iehttps://www.independent.iehttps://www.thejournal.iehttps://www.garda.iehttps://www.irishmirror.iehttps://www.irishcentral.comhttps://www.oireachtas.iehttps://www.irishexaminer.com

This week on Champagne and Murder, Please, we hold space for three young women whose lives should have stretched far beyond the headlines.We begin in Auckland with Grace Millane, a bright, ambitious traveler celebrating her 22nd birthday on a solo trip around the world. One Tinder date. One night. And a courtroom battle that would ignite global conversations about consent, victim-blaming, and the stories we tell about women after they’re gone.Then we travel to the wide-open landscapes of Argentina, where best friends Marina Menegazzo and María José Coni set off on a backpacking adventure through Ecuador. Their trip was filled with photos, plans, and promise until their final days unraveled into betrayal and violence that shocked two nations.Three women. Three futures stolen. And three stories that deserve to be told with care, clarity, and just enough righteous fire to remember who the real villains were.Pour a glass. We’re remembering them properly.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Grace_Millane https://www.itv.com/news/2019-11-24/no-compensation-for-grace-millanes-family https://news.sky.com/story/grace-millane-murder-trial-jury-retires-to-consider-verdict-11866830https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caso_Mar%C3%ADa_Jos%C3%A9_Coni_e_Marina_Menegazzo https://miafm.cienradios.com/ecuador-encontraron-a-los-supuestos-asesinos-de-las-turistas-mendocinas/https://www.ecuadortimes.net/before-the-crime-marina-menegazzo-and-maria-jose-coni-were-drugged-examination-reveals/

In this week’s episode, we swirl our champagne and step straight into the smoke of old Detroit, where legend says a crimson little creature foretells chaos. We’re diving into the history, folklore, and fever dreams behind the infamous Marche du Nain Rouge in Detroit.Who is the Nain Rouge? A misunderstood trickster? A colonial curse? A tiny harbinger with impeccable timing and terrible vibes? From its first alleged sighting by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in the early 1700s to the city’s modern-day parade that theatrically banishes him each year, we unpack the myth, the history, and the way a city turned its bad luck into a party.It’s folklore, it’s fire, it’s civic therapy with a splash of sass. Grab a glass and let’s chase the red devil out of town. Official Parade & Modern Eventhttps://www.marchedunainrouge.comhttps://www.facebook.com/marchedunainrougeDetroit Historical Society & Local Historyhttps://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/nain-rougehttps://detroithistorical.org/blog/2017-03-23/legend-nain-rougeEncyclopedia & Folklore Referenceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nain_Rougehttps://www.atlasobscura.com/places/marche-du-nain-rougeLocal & Regional Journalismhttps://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2017/03/24/nain-rouge-parade-detroit/99566028/https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/the-legend-of-the-nain-rouge/Content?oid=2443976https://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/14878/the_nain_rouge_and_detroit_s_history_of_bad_luckCultural Context & French Colonial Detroithttps://www.michiganradio.org/post/story-behind-detroits-nain-rougehttps://www.historydetroit.com/nain-rouge.html

On this episode, we honor lives taken far too soon.First, we tell the story of Fan Man-Yee, a bright young woman whose disappearance and murder shook her community and left a family searching for answers that never fully came.Then, we turn to one of the most heartbreaking cases in American history: the Girl Scout Murders at Camp Scott in Oklahoma, where three young girls lost their lives during what should have been a summer of laughter, friendship, and s’mores.This isn’t about sensational headlines.This is about remembering who they were.About the families who never stopped loving them.And about making sure their names are never forgotten.Because true crime should never forget the humans at the center of the story.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello_Kitty_murder_casehttps://people.com/hell-kitty-murder-hong-kong-11831537https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3011932/hong-kong-hello-kitty-murder-meth-paranoia-or-product-violent-decade-andhttps://filmdaily.co/news/hello-kitty-murder/https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/dental-forensic-doctor-who-handled-hello-kitty-murder-case-says-teeth-can-still-be-used-to-verify-the-identity-of-the-murdered-victim-abby-choi-even-after-cooking/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_Girl_Scout_murdershttps://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/kidnappings/oklahoma-girl-scout-murders/https://www.oklahomadaily.news/oklahoma-girl-scout-murders-faqs/https://www.thecoldcases.com/p/a-timeline-of-the-oklahoma-girl-scouthttps://www.kjrh.com/news/40-years-later-the-girl-scout-murdershttps://www.killerqueenspodcast.com/oklahoma-girl-scout-murders/https://discover.hubpages.com/true-crime/1977-Girl-Scouts-Murders-Police-Hope-DNA-Will-Identify-Killer

Love isn’t always sweet. Sometimes it’s controlling. Sometimes it’s obsessive. And sometimes… it’s fatal. This Valentine’s Week, we dive into the heartbreaking murder of Tara Grant and the shocking, rage-filled story of the Papin sisters. Two cases. Two relationships gone wrong. One unforgettable episode about what happens when love turns dangerous.Sources Wikipedia – Murder of Tara Lynn Granthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Tara_Lynn_GrantMurderpedia – Stephen Christopher Granthttps://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/grant-stephen.htmDaily Press – “10 years pass since Grant murder”https://www.dailypress.net/news/local-news/2017/02/10-years-pass-since-grant-murder/Michigan Lawyers Weekly – “Grant sentenced in wife’s dismemberment slaying”https://milawyersweekly.com/news/2008/02/25/grant-sentenced-in-wifes-dismembermentslaying/CNN Transcripts – Nancy Grace coverage of the Grant case and confessionhttps://transcripts.cnn.com/show/ng/date/2007-03-06/segment/01ClickOnDetroit – “I created closure for myself”: Tara Grant’s children speak outhttps://www.clickondetroit.com/video/local-news/2021/10/07/i-created-closure-for-myself-tara-grants-children-speak-out/Chilling Crimes – Tara Lynn Grant case overview and community impacthttps://www.chillingcrimes.com/blogs/news/tara-granthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_and_L%C3%A9a_Papinhttps://sites.psu.edu/passionblogeliot/2022/02/28/the-papin-sisters/https://blogs.gwu.edu/himmelfarb/2022/07/08/disorder-in-the-court-2-folie-a-deux/https://thecoolbeans.ca/2023/12/26/the-murderous-maids-of-le-mans/

This week, we’re telling two stories about women who refused to stay in their lanes and terrified society in very different ways.First up: Sharon Kinne. Blonde. Beautiful. Seemingly untouchable. Behind the polished smile was a trail of bullets, dead husbands, and a courtroom saga so wild it feels fictional… except it wasn’t. From suburban Kansas City to an international escape, Sharon’s story is one of manipulation, charm, and a justice system that blinked at exactly the wrong moments.Then, we ride straight into legend with Calamity Jane. Frontierswoman. Scout. Drunk, brave, grieving, and endlessly misunderstood. Was she a fearless truth-teller or her own best myth-maker? We strip back the dime-novel nonsense to find the real woman beneath the buckskins, the loneliness behind the bravado, and the reason her name still echoes through the Wild West.One woman killed to protect her image.One woman became an image to survive.Two stories. Two reputations. And a reminder that history has never known what to do with women who refuse to behave.Pour something strong. This one rides hard. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Kinnehttps://kcpolice.org/media/news-releases/kcpd-jackson-county-sheriff-s-office-solve-fugitive-serial-killer-case/https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-01-31/independence-woman-sharon-kinne-accused-serial-killer-dead-missing-54-yearshttps://rdnewsnow.com/2025/01/31/serial-killer-wanted-in-u-s-and-mexico-lived-in-taber-for-49-years/https://apnews.com/article/f100887093f0794b8b50db3989acc28b britannica.com/biography/Calamity-Jane-American-frontierswoman nationalgeographic.com/history/article/calamity-jane-legend-reality wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamity_Jane deadwood.com/history/infamous-deadwood/calamity-jane historynet.com/the-calamities-of-calamity-jane cowboystatedaily.com/2024/11/14/the-american-west-calamity-jane-wild-woman-of-the-west

This week’s episode is a double feature in red flags that everyone saw… and no one stopped.We start with the Powell family case, a slow-burn nightmare filled with control, paranoia, and systems that missed every chance to intervene before tragedy struck.Then we turn to Jodi Arias, a case where obsession, image-crafting, and manipulation collided in a way that still leaves people arguing years later.Two cases that prove “it’s complicated” is sometimes the most dangerous phrase in the room.https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/february-5/husband-of-missing-utah-woman-kills-self-and-two-young-sonshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Susan_Powellhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/susan-powells-blood-letter-detailing-her-fear-of-husband-found-at-family-utah-home/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/wa-court-reinstates-nearly-100m-verdict-against-state-in-death-of-2-boys/https://dcyf.wa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/reports/CFR3qtr2012.pdfhttps://www.deseret.com/2012/8/2/20505065/report-washington-social-workers-needed-more-powell-information-from-west-valley-policehttps://www.courts.wa.gov/content/publicupload/eclips/2023%2004%2020%20WA%20court%20reinstates%20nearly.pdfhttps://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/jury-finds-washington-state-liable-in-powell-boys-deaths-awards-98m/https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/social-worker-on-josh-powell-he-exploded-the-3131867.phphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Travis_Alexanderhttps://www.biography.com/crime-figure/jodi-ariashttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-a-timeline-of-a-sensational-murder-case/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-trial-timeline-events-arizona-murder-case/story?id=18123295https://murderpedia.org/female.A/a/arias-jodi.htmhttps://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/crime-history/5-essential-things-to-know-about-the-jodi-arias-casehttps://www.abdallah-law.com/blog/how-jodi-arias-was-charged-with-the-murder-of-travis-alexander-and-avoided-the-death-penalty/https://www.azfamily.com/2026/01/05/jodi-arias-addresses-murder-case-claims-lost-evidence-first-time-years/https://www.foxnews.com/us/convicted-killer-jodi-arias-signals-fresh-legal-push-more-than-decade-after-guilty-verdicthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodi_Arias:_Dirty_Little_Secret

Two people. Two countries. Two moments in time where everything simply… stops.Sneha Philip disappears in New York City on September 10th, 2001. Her case becomes forever entangled with the shadow of 9/11, blurring the line between tragedy, possibility, and unanswered questions. Was she lost in the chaos, or did she vanish before the world changed forever?Years later in England, 14-year-old Andrew Gosden skips school, boards a one-way train to London, and is never seen again. No note. No backpack. No confirmed sightings. Just a quiet exit that has haunted his family and investigators for nearly two decades.This episode explores two separate disappearances bound by silence, speculation, and the unsettling truth that some people don’t leave behind clues. They leave behind echoes.What happened to Sneha Philip?And where did Andrew Gosden go?Sometimes the most disturbing mysteries aren’t about what we know. They’re about what we never will.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Sneha_Anne_Philiphttps://charleyproject.org/case/sneha-ann-philiphttps://voicescenter.org/living-memorial/victim/dr-sneha-anne-philiphttps://www.rediff.com/news/report/roll/20080807.htmhttps://www.rediff.com/news/special/snehas-room-has-been-kept-the-same-way-for-the-past-15-years/20160911.htmhttps://truenoirstories.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/sneha-philip/https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-trace-evidence-29076624/episode/028-the-disappearance-of-sneha-48069733/https://thartribune.com/what-the-security-footage-shows-in-the-disappearance-of-dr-sneha-anne-philip/https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/sneha-philip-mystery-disappeared-9-11-b1917381.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Andrew_Gosden Wikipediahttps://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2022-07-10/the-huge-hole-felt-by-family-of-boy-still-missing-after-15-years ITVXhttps://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2025-09-08/appeal-for-teenager-andrew-gosden-who-went-missing-from-doncaster-18-years-ago ITVXhttps://news.sky.com/story/andrew-gosden-disappearance-two-men-arrested-on-suspicion-of-kidnap-and-human-trafficking-after-boy-14-went-missing-in-2007-12513719 Sky Newshttps://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2023-09-20/men-arrested-over-andrew-gosden-disappearance-eliminated-from-inquiry ITVXhttps://www.thestar.co.uk/news/crime/andrew-gosden-police-send-out-update-on-doncaster-missing-boy-after-false-information-is-spread-5307929 The Starhttps://news.sky.com/story/andrew-gosden-new-age-progression-image-of-boy-who-went-missing-in-2007-aged-14-11847662 Sky Newshttps://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/missing-people-charity-safecall-campaign-andrew-gosden-b2878228.html The Independent

Decades apart, two women were taken from the world in brutally different ways, yet their stories are bound by the same haunting question: how does the truth survive when someone tries to erase it?In this episode, we examine the unsolved 2012 murder of Faith Hedgepeth, a vibrant young woman whose voice was nearly lost to time, and the chilling 1986 case of Helle Crafts, a mother whose husband believed a wood chipper could destroy the truth. Spoiler Alert, It couldn’t.From whispered clues and overlooked evidence to forensic breakthroughs that changed criminal investigations forever, these cases reveal how women’s stories persist even when someone works desperately to silence them.This is not just about how they died.It’s about how they were heard.Official Tip LinesChapel Hill Police Department — Faith Hedgepeth Tip Line Phone: (919) 614-6363 This number is staffed by investigators familiar with the case, and callers can speak directly about information related to Faith’s murder.Chapel Hill-Carrboro-UNC Crime Stoppers Phone (anonymous tips): (919) 942-7515Crime Stoppers allows people to submit tips confidentially or anonymously.Website: https://www.chapelhillcrimestoppers.com/ — You can submit an anonymous tip online through their TIP form. Chapel Hill CrimeStoppersJusticeForFaith.com — The official site maintained by Faith’s family and supporters. Website: https://justiceforfaith.com/ — This site includes updates on memorials, scholarships in Faith’s name, and contact info for tips (the same official numbers above). Justice for faithThey also list an email contact via the site’s contact form and may provide imagery and hashtags (e.g., #JusticeForFaith, #J4F) for awareness campaigns. Justice for faithIf someone has information related to Faith’s murder, law enforcement requests that they:Call (919) 614-6363 to reach Chapel Hill investigators familiar with the case directly.Call Crime Stoppers at (919) 942-7515 if they want to remain anonymous.Submit tips online through the Crime Stoppers website where available.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Faith_Hedgepeth• https://justiceforfaith.com/• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/faith-hedgepeth-unc-student-found-dead-in-her-apartment/• https://www.wral.com/news/local/court-hearing-faith-hedgepeth-jan-2025/• https://abc11.com/post/faith-hedgepeth-unc-hawani-saponi-tribe-indigenous-women/11027779/• https://www.spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2019/09/22/family-remembers--honors-faith-hedgepeth-with-community-service• https://www.wect.com/2021/09/28/durham-das-office-wont-seek-death-penalty-faith-hedgepeths-accused-killer/• https://www.lawandcrime.com/crime/north-carolina-man-arrested-in-brutal-long-mystifying-2012-murder-of-native-american-unc-student-faith-hedgepeth/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Helle_Craftshttps://www.crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/family/woodchipper_murder/https://morbidology.com/the-wood-chipper-murder-helle-crafts/https://storiesoftheunsolved.com/2018/11/14/the-murder-of-helle-crafts/https://www.newtownbee.com/08111999/notorious-crafts-murder-shook-newtown-ten-years-ago/https://www.thescarechamber.com/the-woodchipper-murder-of-newtown-connecticut/https://www.mrpalermo.com/uploads/9/8/9/6/9896107/_____________woodchipper_case_study.pdfhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_murder_convictions_without_a_body

The Keddie Cabin Murders are often described as one of California’s most horrifying unsolved crimes — and for good reason. Four victims. Extreme violence. A crime scene that should have led straight to arrests. Instead, it led to decades of silence.Then there’s Andrea Scherpf and Bernd Göricke. Killed later the same year. Officially “unrelated.” Investigated separately. Filed away.In this episode, we unpack what happened inside Cabin 28, what police did in the crucial early hours, and why the investigation veered off course almost immediately. We also revisit the murders of Andrea and Bernd, and ask the uncomfortable question law enforcement seemed determined not to: what if these cases were never meant to be separated?This is a story about violence, oversight, and the cost of unanswered questions — for victims, families, and a town that never really recovered.​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keddie_murders​https://www.crimemagazine.com/cold-case-keddie-murders​https://the-line-up.com/keddie-murders-cabin-28​https://lassennews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Times04-17-18.pdf​https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/keddie-cabin-murders​https://www.buzzfeed-unsolved.fandom.com/wiki/The_Disturbing_Murders_at_Keddie_Wikipedia: Murder of Andrea Scherpf and Bernd Görickehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Andrea_Scherpf_and_Bernd_G%C3%B6ricke WikipediaUCF Unsolved Case File – Andrea Scherpf & Bernd Görickehttps://www.ucfiles.com/Files/1983/andrea-scherpf-and-bernd-goricke/ Unsolved Case Files CanadaThe Trail Went Cold – Episode 311https://www.trailwentcold.com/2023/01/11/the-trail-went-cold-episode-311-bernd-goericke-andrea-scherpf/ Trail Went ColdPodcast on iHeart: Bernd Goericke & Andrea Scherpf Pt. Twohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/53-the-path-went-chilly-80684064/episode/bernd-goericke-and-andrea-scherpf-pt-two--285270936/ iHeart📺 The Fifth Estate – “Someone Got Away with Murder” (archived timeline)https://archive.today/20120723055359/http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2008-2009/someone_got_away_with_murder/timeline.html Trail Went Cold📰 Police seek new leads in 1983 murder of two German tourists near Chetwynd (Vancouver Sun archive)https://web.archive.org/web/20190610173730/https://vancouversun.com/news/Police+seek+leads+1983+murder+German+tourists+near+Chetwynd/8512101/story.htmlPodcast & Investigative CoverageArchived CBC Documentary & TimelineLocal News 

As the old year dies and a new one staggers into the light, we travel back to industrial Leeds, where desperation was currency and superstition could be weaponized.This is the story of Mary Bateman, known to history as the Yorkshire Witch, a woman who sold miracles, curses, and hope in tiny paper packets… until one of her promises ended in murder.In this New Year’s Eve episode, we untangle folklore from fact, examine the life of her victim Rebecca Perigo, and ask an uncomfortable question that still echoes today: when survival depends on belief, who really holds the power?Because not all monsters wear masks. Some sell cures. And some years end in blood.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Bateman https://www.yorkmuseumstrust.org.uk/blog/prisoner-stories-mary-bateman/ https://www.iapsop.com/ssoc/1809__anonymous___life_and_character_of_mary_bateman_the_yorkshire_witch.pdf https://capitalpunishmentuk.org/mary-bateman-the-yorkshire-witch/ https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1939-0513-110 https://www.mylearning.org/stories/crime-and-punishment-in-leeds/1053 https://the-line-up.com/mary-bateman-yorkshire-witch https://murderpedia.org/female.B/b/bateman-mary.htm

In this solo episode, I step into the quiet hills of Pennsylvania’s Hex Hollow, where folklore and fear collided with devastating reality. The 1928 murder of Nelson Rehmeyer is often remembered as a “witchcraft killing,” but that label flattens a far more complicated story. Poverty, superstition, desperation, and community pressure all braided together, with tragic consequences.Alongside the case, we trace the ancient legend of the Wild Hunt. A ghostly procession said to ride the winter skies, carrying omens, warnings, and echoes of communal guilt. Not as a gimmick, but as a mirror. Folklore doesn’t cause violence, but it often shows us where fear already lives.This episode is about belief systems, moral responsibility, and what happens when people mistake myth for permission. It’s also a reminder that while legends fade into the mist, the harm done to real people never does.Listener discretion advised. This episode discusses murder, coercion, and domestic violence.988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline📞 Call or text 988🌐 https://988lifeline.orgAvailable 24/7 for emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or crisis support.Crisis Text Line📞 Text HOME to 741741🌐 https://www.crisistextline.orgFree, confidential texting support anytime.National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline📞 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)🌐 https://www.nami.org/helpInformation, referrals, and support for individuals and families.National Domestic Violence Hotline📞 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)📞 TTY: 1-800-787-3224🌐 https://www.thehotline.org24/7 confidential support, safety planning, and local resources.Love Is Respect (Teen and Young Adult Focused)📞 1-866-331-9474📞 Text LOVEIS to 22522🌐 https://www.loveisrespect.orgSupport for unhealthy or abusive relationships.Mental Health Support Domestic Violence & Abuse Support https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rehmeyer%27s_Hollow https://www.wgal.com/article/york-county-history-of-the-hex-house/62778197 https://www.ydr.com/story/news/history/blogs/york-town-square/2017/10/14/murder-and-witchcraft-incredible-story-york-countys-hex-murder/764018001/ https://unchartedlancaster.com/witchcraft-and-murder-in-hex-hollow/ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/109023095/nelson_dietrich-rehmeyer https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3145016/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Hunt https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C5%B5n_Annwn https://starofnature.org/wild-hunt-mythology/ https://fellowshipandfairydust.com/2019/07/01/the-wild-hunt/ https://www.nuggetnews.com/story/2020/10/20/news/the-wild-hunt/31298.htm

In this episode, we uncork a glass and wander straight into the winter-dark. First, we follow the long, creaking footsteps of Frau Perchta, a midwinter enforcer with a taste for justice and a reputation for… creative disembowelment. She prowls Alpine nights like a stern auntie from the underworld, checking lists the way Santa wishes he could.Then we shift the spotlight to Boulder, Colorado, where the murder of JonBenét Ramsey still hangs over true crime history like a strand of tinsel that refuses to fall. We revisit the timeline, the conflicting theories, and the uneasy quiet that settles over a case still wrapped in unanswered questions.Two stories, one chilling thread: what happens when innocence meets the darker corners of winter lore and human nature. Let’s step into the frost and see what stares back. ❄️🕯️Crisis & Support Resources:• U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988 | https://988lifeline.org• Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741 | https://www.crisistextline.org• SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) | https://www.samhsa.gov• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 | https://www.thehotline.org• RAINN Sexual Assault Helpline: 1-800-656-4673 | https://www.rainn.org• Trans Lifeline (U.S./Canada): 1-877-565-8860 | https://www.translifeline.org• Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 (press 1) | https://www.veteranscrisisline.net• International Hotline Directory: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/frau-perchtahttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Perchtahttps://www.thecollector.com/frau-perchta-germanic-folklore/https://mythology.net/germanic/germanic-spirits/frau-perchta/https://www.alpinefolklore.org/perchta-traditionshttps://bouldercolorado.gov/jonbenet-ramsey-homicide City of Boulderhttps://www.jonbenetramsey.com/evidence/ jonbenetramsey.comhttps://www.jonbenetramsey.com/casefiles/ jonbenetramsey.comhttps://www.biography.com/crime/jonbenet-ramsey-murder-investigation-timeline Biography https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jonbenet-ramsey-case-colorado-ransom-note-evidence-48-hours/ CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/jonbenet-ramsey-murder-further-investigation-dna-technology-boulder-colorado/ CBS Newshttps://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/cold-cases/jonbenet-ramsey/ Crime Museumhttps://www.thesmokinggun.com/sites/default/files/assets/johnkarr.pdf thesmokinggun.com

This week on Champagne and Murder, Please, we’re heading into the icy shadows of the Adirondacks—where a summer romance took a deadly turn. Grace Mae Brown, a young factory worker with dreams bigger than her circumstances, met a tragic end on Big Moose Lake, and the truth behind her death became one of the most sensational trials of the early 1900s. We’ll unravel the heartbreak, the lies, the evidence, and the haunting legacy Grace left behind.Then, because the holiday season apparently wasn’t spooky enough, we’re unwrapping the chilling legend of the Christmas Werewolf—a winter creature that supposedly prowls through villages when the nights are longest, looking for more than milk and cookies. Is it folklore? A morality tale? Or a genuine monster stalking the snow?Grab your champagne, bundle up, and join us for a wintry double feature of true crime and folklore that proves the holidays aren’t always merry and bright.• National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988 • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) • National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Grace_Brown https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/gillette-chester.htm https://www.adirondack.net/history/grace-brown https://www.crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/classics/chester_gillette https://www.hamilton.edu/news/story/burke-library-to-receive-diary-of-adirondacks-murderer-chester-gillette https://unsolved.com/gallery/ghost-of-grace-brown https://nysba.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/BarJournJulyAug06.pdfOlaus Magnus — Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus https://archive.org/details/Historiaedegent00OlauOxford University Press blog — “Witches, werewolves, and Christmas”: https://blog.oup.com/2016/10/witches-werewolves-christmas/Atlas Obscura — “The Long, Hidden History of the Viking Obsession With...wolf warriors”: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/hidden-history-viking-wolf-warrior-werewolfNordic Visitor — “The 13 Yule Lads of Iceland” https://www.nordicvisitor.com/blog/the-13-yule-lads-of-iceland/University of Manitoba (news) — “Werewolves at Christmas” https://news.umanitoba.ca/werewolves-at-christmas/Doris V. Sutherland — “Werewolf Wednesday: Festive Lycanthropy” https://dorisvsutherland.com/2024/12/25/werewolf-wednesday-festive-lycanthropy/Project Gutenberg / Pitt / Dash folklore page — Werewolf legends and Germanic lore https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/werewolf.htmlMatador Network — “The 7 Creepiest Christmas Characters From European Folklore” https://matadornetwork.com/read/creepiest-christmas-characters-european-folklore/Writing Werewolf / blog posts and other compiled folklore pieces on Christmas werewolves (various regional accounts, supplemental reading): https://writingwerewolf.wordpress.com/tag/christmas-folklore/

This week on Champagne and Murder, Please, we follow the chilling and courageous escape of Eliza Harris — the enslaved woman whose desperate flight across the frozen Ohio River became one of the most unforgettable moments in American storytelling. We explore the real history behind her legendary escape, the cultural shockwaves it caused, and how her story helped shape the nation’s conscience. Grab a glass, settle in, and prepare for a night on the ice.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Tom%27s_Cabinhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Uncle-Toms-Cabinhttps://www.ohiohistory.org/stowe-and-eliza-what’s-the-real-story/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_Railroadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery_in_Kentuckyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Beecher_Stowe

In this episode, we walk the line between tragic reality and bone-deep folklore. The Boy in the Box remains one of the most haunting cases in American criminal history—a child lost, nameless, and silent for decades. And from the winter-stricken North comes the legend of the Wendigo, a spirit of famine, greed, and insatiable hunger. Light a candle, pour your drink, and settle into the dark with us.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Joseph_Augustus_Zarelli https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/joseph-augustus-zarelli-the-boy-in-the-box-identification-police/ https://www.people.com/boy-in-the-box-case-philadelphia-joseph-zarelli-8766320 https://apnews.com/article/f95f42e9d0ecae075d7eaa6f976135e6 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/08/philadelphia-police-boy-in-the-box-cold-caseWikipedia — “Wendigo” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WendigoBritannica — “Wendigo” https://www.britannica.com/topic/wendigoPMC / PubMed Central — Scholarly review of Wendigo psychosis https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10685673/Brian Dillon — “Windigo” PDF (Algonquian literature) https://web.pdx.edu/~dillong/Windigo%20%28Dillon%29.pdfFacing History — “More Than Monsters: The Deeper Significance of Wendigo Stories” https://www.facinghistory.org/ideas-week/more-monsters-deeper-significance-wendigo-stories

This week on Champagne and Murder, Please, we’re hopping from one eerie mystery to another. First, we drift through the fog toward Poveglia—Italy’s infamous “island of ghosts,” steeped in plague pits, abandoned hospitals, and more whispered hauntings than a gothic novel. Then we follow the trail of Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès, the French aristocrat-turned-fugitive whose disappearance after his family’s murder has baffled investigators for over a decade. Two places, two mysteries, and zero answers…but plenty to sip on.Grab your champagne, babes, it's time to dive in.Wikipedia – PovegliaWalks of Italy – “Poveglia Island: All About Venice’s Haunted Island”Visit Venezia – “Poveglia: The Mysterious Ghost Island That Wants to Be Reborn”Condé Nast Traveler – “Haunted Italian Island Poveglia Sold”Amusing Planet – “The Plague Island of Poveglia”Visit Lido – “Poveglia”Wikipedia-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dupont_de_Ligonn%C3%A8s_murders_and_disappearanceThe Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/22/nantes-family-murderUnsolved Mysteries — https://unsolved.com/gallery/house-of-terror/The Connexion — https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/man-suspected-of-killing-family-reported-to-be-at-french-convent/652210Le Monde — https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2025/05/19/l-enigme-publique-no-1-de-daniel-zagury-xavier-dupont-de-ligonnes-en-tueur-mystique_6607191_3260.html

This week, we’re talking about one painting that refuses to burn and one family that decided reality was optional. From The Crying Boy curse that terrified Britain to the Tromp family’s “we’re going off-grid, kids” road trip, we’re unpacking the chaos, the confusion, and the downright weird energy connecting these two infamous tales. Seatbelts on — emotionally and otherwise.The Sun (1985) — original tabloid coverage that triggered the panicPunt PI, BBC Radio 4, Series 3 (2010) — “The Crying Boy” episodeMassimo Polidoro, “Curse That Painting!”, Skeptical Inquirer (Nov/Dec 2012) https://skepticalinquirer.org/2012/11/curse-that-painting/Atlas Obscura, “A Painting of a Crying Boy Was Blamed for a Series of Fires in the ’80s.” https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/crying-boy-painting-firesWikipedia — The Crying Boy overview https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crying_BoyABC News: “Mark Tromp apologises for hurt, concern caused by bizarre family road trip”. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-06/mark-tromp-apologises-for-puzzling-family-road-trip/7818562 ABCSBS News: “Tromp father apologises over road trip”. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/tromp-father-apologises-over-road-trip/2gwj4tafd SBS AustraliaSBS News: “Tromp family road trip still a mystery”. [https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/tromp-family-road-trip-still-a-mystery/cu9o25rc7 SBS AustraliaThe New Daily: “Ella Tromp charged with car theft as family’s ‘road trip’ saga mystery deepens”. https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2016/09/05/ella-tromp-stolen-car The New DailyThe New Daily: “Tromp daughter found hiding in the back of a ute”. https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2016/09/02/tromp-holiday The New DailyPedestrian.TV: “Mark Tromp gives first statement after vanishing on bizarro family trip”. https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/mark-tromp-gives-first-statement-after-vanishing-on-bizarro-family-trip/ Pedestrian.tv

We’re diving into the witchy OGs: the Witch of Endor (who once summoned a dead king like it was her side hustle) and Mother Shipton, the Yorkshire prophetess who had thoughts about the future. Miracles? Curses? Early influencer energy? Grab your brooms — we’re judging everyone.Bible Odyssey – The Woman at Endor1 Samuel 28 – Bible GatewayUniversity of Hertfordshire – The Witch of Endor in History and FolkloreJewish Encyclopedia – Endor, The Witch ofGotQuestions – Who Was the Witch of Endor?Marg Mowczko – The Witch of Endor and King SaulWikipedia – Witch of EndorMy Jewish Learning – The Witch of EndorTandfonline – The Witch of Endor in Folklore StudieMother Shipton — Wikipedia. WikipediaMother Shipton’s Cave — Wikipedia (petrifying well history & tourist site). Wikipedia“Mother Shipton and Her Prophesies” — Historic UK (local legend & summary). Historic UKThe Prophesie of Mother Shipton in the raigne of King Henry the Eighth (Early printed edition, 1641 — EEBO entry, University of Michigan). Quod Lib.The Park / Official Mother Shipton’s Cave site (history of the Petrifying Well & tourism). Mother Shipton's CaveAtlas Obscura — Mother Shipton’s Cave and the Petrifying Well.“Divining the Witch of York: Propaganda and Prophecy” / Public Domain Review (essay on myth formation and later interpolations). Wikipedia+1Sacred-Texts / “Mother Shipton Investigated” — collected prophecies and later attributions. Internet Sacred Text ArchiveVarious archival & reprint references to early editions and Victorian additions (Google Books / AbeBooks listings for collected early editions). Google Books+1

It’s one thing when your neighbors suck — it’s another when they’re invisible, angry, and possibly from hell. This week, we’re talking the Smurl haunting and those nightmare-fuel Black-Eyed Children who don’t understand the concept of the word “no.” Buckle up, witches — this one’s pure chaos, so grab your champagne and lets dive in!Champagne Pairing: Luc Belaire LuxeA little dramatic, a little supernatural. Glossy black bottle, gold lettering — perfect for an episode that goes from haunted houses to black-eyed horrors.Wikipedia — Smurl HauntingAll That’s Interesting — The Smurl Haunting: One Family’s NightmareTimes Leader — “Demon in Home Grabs Our Attention”Brian Fanelli — “Revisiting the Smurl Story and The Haunted (1991)”People — Where Is the Smurl Family Now?IMDb — The Haunted (1991)Pocono Record — Jack Smurl Obituary & RetrospectiveBrian Bethel, Abilene Reporter-News: “Brian Bethel recounts his possible paranormal encounter with ‘BEKs’.” https://goo.gl/BNe9Y9Wikipedia — Black-eyed children: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-eyed_childrenSnopes — Fact Check: Black-eyed children: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/black-eyed-children/Atlas Obscura — Death as a Child: The Modern Legend of the Black-Eyed Children: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/black-eyed-children-urban-legendThe Guardian — Black-eyed ghosts and giant mutant rats: the scare stories…: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/30/black-eyed-ghosts-killer-cats-terrifying-nearly-brought-britain-to-kneesITV News — Return of The Black-Eyed Child ghost in Staffordshire: https://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2014-09-30/return-of-the-black-eyed-child-ghost-in-staffordshire/Reddit (community encounters): https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalEncounters/comments/1edemv5/are_black_eyed_children_real/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mrballen/comments/1ie5c9b/brian_bethel_and_the_blackeyed_kids/

One came as a whisper from the afterlife. The other, a blip from the stars. Both changed the way we think about who — or what — might be trying to reach us. This episode unpacks two strange moments in history that made humanity stop and listen.Champagne Pairing: Luc Belaire LuxeWikipedia — Greenbrier Ghost (concise overview with trial and autopsy details). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenbrier_Ghost. WikipediaGreenbrier County / local history writeup — “The Greenbrier Ghost, Zona Heaster Shue” (local perspective and marker info). https://greenbrierwv.com/editorials/the-greenbrier-ghost. Greenbrier WVGothicHorrorStories — “The death, resurrection and retribution of Zona Heaster Shue: The Greenbrier Ghost.” (narrative retelling with period flavor). https://www.gothichorrorstories.com/gothic-travel/the-death-resurrection-and-retribution-of-zona-heaster-shue-the-greenbrier-ghost/. gothichorrorstories.comDannye Chase blog — clear chronology and summary. https://dannyechase.com/blog/greenbrier/. Dannye ChaseAppalachianHistory — local storytelling version and context. https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2018/01/greenbrier-ghost.htmlBig Ear Radio Observatory — official Wow! page: https://www.bigear.org/wow.htm Big EarWikipedia — Wow! signal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wow%21_signal WikipediaAntonio Paris (2017) — Hydrogen Line Observations of Cometary Spectra at 1420 MHz (arXiv): https://arxiv.org/abs/1706.03259 arXivScientific American — “The Wow! Signal Might Not Have Been Aliens — But a Weird Cosmic Outburst”: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-wow-signal-seti-mystery-might-at-last-be-solved/ Scientific AmericanPhys.org — “The 'Wow!' signal gets an update: It was even stronger than we thought”: https://phys.org/news/2025-08-wow-stronger-thought.html Phys.orgAstrobio / coverage of archival Arecibo/Big Ear re-analysis (Aug 2025): https://astrobiology.com/2025/08/arecibo-wow-ii-revised-properties-of-the-wow-signal-from-archival-ohio-seti-data.html Astrobiology

In this episode we explore two of America’s most haunting vanishings separated by centuries but tied by the same unsettling question: what really happened?First, we journey to the late 16th century and the vanishing of the Lost Colony of Roanoke—117 English settlers who disappeared from Roanoke Island, leaving only the cryptic word “CROATOAN” as a clue. What theories persist to this day, and what new discoveries might be rewriting the story?Then, we leap forward to February 1978 in Northern California, where five men from Yuba County set out on a routine drive home and vanished into the wilderness. Over time their car, bodies, and one permanently missing man turned into one of the most bizarre and confounding true crime mysteries in U.S. history.Join us as we compare these two enigmas of disappearance: their facts, the theories, the lingering questions, and what draws us to stories where people simply vanish from our grasp.Champagne Pairing for this episode is: Ruinart Blanc de Blancshttps://kegnbottle.com/products/ruinart-blanc-de-blancs-champagne?variant=39656500035713&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping%3Eover-index&utm_id=22918917036&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22918917036&gbraid=0AAAAADMKQrou4bG6tsQthRCQSm5uQ3ajS&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0Y3HBhCxARIsAN7931WDaZac82cd6Xrd4ZgGcfhhD-7uCxyfNzHeha0c3IPh40gwJUUZg8IaAnDxEALw_wcBBritannica — The Lost Colony of Roanoke https://www.britannica.com/story/the-lost-colony-of-roanokeNational Park Service — Fort Raleigh National Historic Site: https://www.nps.gov/fora/NPS — Major Theories of the Lost Colony: https://www.nps.gov/fora/learn/historyculture/major-theories-of-the-lost-colony.htmHistory.com — Archaeologists Find New Clues to “Lost Colony” Mystery: https://www.history.com/articles/archaeologists-find-new-clues-to-lost-colony-mysteryFirst Colony Foundation — Hidden Images Revealed on Elizabethan Map of America: https://www.firstcolonyfoundation.org/news/hidden-images-revealed-elizabethan-map-america/Encyclopedia Virginia — John White returns to Roanoke: https://encyclopediavirginia.org/primary-documents/john-white-returns-to-roanoke-an-excerpt-from-the-fift-voyage-of-master-john-white-into-the-west-indies-and-parts-of-america-called-virginia-in-the-yeere-1590-1600/Popular Archaeology — Lost and Found: The Evidence for the Lost Colony: https://popular-archaeology.com/article/lost-and-found-the-evidence-for-the-lost-colony/Colonial Williamsburg — What Happened To The Lost Colony?: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/discover/resource-hub/trend-tradition-magazine/trend-tradition-spring-2025/lost-colony/Andrew Lawler — analysis piece: https://www.andrewlawler.com/we-finally-have-clues-to-how-americas-lost-colony-vanished/British Museum / John White map object page: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1906-0509-1-3Wikipedia — Yuba County Five https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuba_County_Five WikipediaAllThat’s Interesting — The Yuba County Five: California's Most Baffling Mystery https://allthatsinteresting.com/yuba-county-five All That's InterestingKCRA — local coverage and note on recent documentary attention https://www.kcra.com/article/yuba-county-five-mystery-disappearances/63906316 KCRAABC News (Australia) — Five men disappear on a snowy February night — four are found dead, and one is never seen again. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-24/yuba-county-five-missing-persons-case/103472558 ABCCharley Project — Gary Dale Mathias https://charleyproject.org/case/gary-dale-mathias charleyproject.orgDen of Geek — Files of the Unexplained: What Netflix's Yuba County Five Doc Leaves Out https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/files-of-the-unexplained-what-netflixs-yuba-county-five-doc-leaves-out/ Den of GeekHistoric Mysteries https://www.historicmysteries.com/unexplained-mysteries/yuba-county-five/28692/ Historic Mysteries

When we first launched Champagne and Murder, Please, we covered the chilling stories of Georgia Tann—the woman who built an empire of stolen children—and Fritz Haarmann, the “Butcher of Hanover.” But those early days came with rookie audio, nerves, and not nearly the depth we wanted to give these cases. So we’re taking a second look.In this refreshed episode, we revisit both Tann and Haarmann with sharper research, deeper storytelling, and a little more champagne. If you’ve been with us since the beginning, think of this as a remastered classic. And if you’re new here—well, buckle up.Wikipedia — Georgia Tann: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_TannTennessee State Library & Archives — Georgia Tann Investigation Scrapbooks (1950): https://tsla.tnsosfiles.com.s3.amazonaws.com/history/manuscripts/findingaids/GEORGIA_TANN_TN_CHILDRENS_HOME_SOCIETY_INVESTIGATION_SCRAPBOOKS_1950.pdfWBUR On Point — Orphan Victims of a Black-Market Baby Business: https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2019/10/22/lisa-wingate-before-and-after-orphans-tennessee-childrenLos Angeles Times — “Together Again: After 44 Tortured Years, a Mother Finds Her Stolen Child Via ‘Unsolved Mysteries’” (Alma Sipple’s story): https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-20-vw-882-story.htmlElmwood Cemetery Blog — Tennessee Children’s Home Society Lot and Memorial: https://www.elmwoodcemetery.org/blog/posts/http-www-elmwoodcemetery-org-blog-the-tennessee-childrens-home-society-lot-at-elmwoodBusiness Insider — Overview and survivor reporting: https://www.businessinsider.com/georgia-tann-tennessee-children-home-society-survivors-speak-out-2019-12Devereaux Bruch Eyler, No Mama, I Didn’t Die: My Life as a Stolen Baby (memoir): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34300356-the-complete-storyJudy Christie & Lisa Wingate, Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children’s Home Society: https://www.randomhousebooks.com/books/612909/Wikipedia – Fritz HaarmannAll That’s InterestingAtlas Obscura – Haarmann Victims MemorialFind A Grave – Victims of Fritz Haarmann MemorialCrime Library ArchiveFritz Haarmann Victims Archive

Two chilling stories—one shrouded in cosmic mystery, the other rooted in rural folklore. In 1966, two Brazilian men were found dead on a hillside, dressed in raincoats and strange lead masks, with no clear cause of death. Were they victims of a UFO experiment gone wrong, a secret ritual, or something even stranger? Then we travel back to rural England, where the brutal 1945 murder of Charles Walton still haunts the quiet village of Lower Quinton. With whispers of witchcraft and curses surrounding the case, fact and folklore blur in unsettling ways.Join us as we unravel the eerie threads connecting unexplained phenomena, superstition, and the human need to explain the unexplainable.Champagne Pairing:Drappier Carte d’Or Brut → Earthy and unusual — a toast to UFOs and eerie witchcraft murders.Wikipedia (English): Lead Masks case — background, note text, and chronology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_masks_case WikipediaWikipedia (Português): Mistério das máscaras de chumbo — Brazilian reporting, witness account, police conclusion https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mist%C3%A9rio_das_m%C3%A1scaras_de_chumbo WikipediaBrazilian National Library (O Globo archive snippet mentioning “masks of lead” and poison/afterlife angle) https://memoria.bn.gov.br/docreader/WebIndex/WIPagina/089842_07/75989 memoria.bn.gov.brRede Globo “Linha Direta Justiça” dossiers (witness Gracinda; morgue aide’s claim; investigator notes) https://redeglobo.globo.com/Linhadireta/0%2C26665%2CVYJ0-5259-215833%2C00.html https://redeglobo.globo.com/Linhadireta/0%2C26665%2CVYJ0-5259-215835%2C00.html https://redeglobo.globo.com/Linhadireta/0%2C26665%2CVYJ0-5259-215832%2C00.html https://redeglobo.globo.com/Linhadireta/0%2C26665%2CVYJ0-5259-215834%2C00.html Rede Globo+3Rede Globo+3Rede Globo+3UFO Magazine Brazil (2003): “O Caso Máscaras de Chumbo revisado” (Portuguese) https://ufo.com.br/o-caso-mascaras-de-chumbo-revisado/ ufo.com.brSkeptoid #398 (skeptical reconstruction) https://skeptoid.com/episodes/398 https://open.spotify.com/episode/4R50DhBqhDMm8P62965lI6 skeptoid.comSpotifyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Charles_Waltonhttps://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/article/tales-about-meon-hillhttps://www.stratford-herald.com/news/witchcraft-and-murder-on-meon-hill-9223403/https://www.vice.com/en/article/charles-walton-murder-victimhttps://the-line-up.com/pitchfork-murderhttps://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/9627/meon-hillhttps://whitedragon.org.uk/articles/charles.htmhttps://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/forum/the-charles-walton-mystery-warwickshire/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fabian(academic context on folk-horror themes) https://shura.shu.ac.uk/25147/

Get ready CAMPers!!!!!From the shadowed caves of Zugarramurdi in Spain to the misty woods of Sleepy Hollow in New York, tales of witches and specters have haunted communities for centuries. In this episode, we unravel the dark history of the infamous Basque witch trials and the legends tied to the “Witches’ Cave,” before crossing the Atlantic to revisit Washington Irving’s chilling tale of the Headless Horseman. Were these stories born of folklore, fear, or something more supernatural? Grab a glass and join us as we dive into witchcraft, myth, and mystery across two continents.Champagne Pairing: Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut → Golden, harvest-ready, and bold — an autumn equinox classic.Yale Law Library — The Largest Witch Hunt in World History: The Basque Witch Trials (1609–1614) (overview & references). https://library.law.yale.edu/news/largest-witch-hunt-world-history-basque-witch-trials-1609-1614 Lillian Goldman Law LibraryWikipedia — Basque witch trials (general summary, context, akelarre term). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_witch_trials WikipediaAtlas Obscura — Cave of Zugarramurdi (site description, visitor info, images). https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cave-of-zugarramurdiXareta (regional Basque tourism/culture) — Witchcraft museum and caves (local cultural framing). https://www.xareta.eus/en/quehacer/witchcraft_museum_zugarramurdi/2 and https://www.xareta.eus/en/quehacer/witches_cave_zugarramurdi/3 xareta.eusPyrenean Experience — The Witches of Zugarramurdi – the scene was set! (informal regional history with accessible narrative). https://www.pyreneanexperience.com/witches-of-zugarramurdi/ Pyrenean ExperiencePierre de Lancre — Wikipedia (context on French Basque witch hunts that influenced the region). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_de_Lancre WikipediaLocal and travel pieces / modern reflections — HuffPost Spain and regional news pieces about remembrance events (Auto-da-fé commemorations, recent festivals). https://www.huffingtonpost.es/sociedad/el-caso-mas-famosos-historia-brujeria-espanola-ultimas-quemas-europa-hpe1.html https://cadenaser.com/rioja/2024/11/01/logrono-revive-la-historia-del-auto-de-fe-de-1610-con-las-fiestas-en-memoria-de-las-brujas-de-zugarramurdi-radio-rioja/Wikipedia: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow summary & background WikipediaHistory.com article on inspiration and folklore roots HISTORYSparkNotes full plot summary & historical context insights SparkNotes+1Britannica entry on characters & setting Encyclopedia BritannicaHudson Valley and Westchester accounts of Irving’s legacy hudsonvalley.orgWestchester MagazineAnalysis of themes in literary context solgoodmedia.comOpenEdition JournalsAdaptations and media evolution WIREDWikipediaHistorical sites and Sleepy Hollow tourism heirloomartco.comWikipedia+2Wikipedia+2sleepyhollowny.gov

We’re heading back into the misty past to revisit two of our most requested stories: the legendary Isobel Gowdie and the enigmatic Biddy Early. From whispered confessions of witchcraft in 17th-century Scotland to the charms and cures of a famed Irish “wise woman,” these tales are brimming with folklore, mystery, and the lingering shadows of superstition. Join us as we breathe new life into these episodes, exploring the blurred lines between magic, myth, and fear in communities that lived by candlelight and rumor.✨ Champagne pairing for this episode: Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé CAMPers! Please keep Vanessa and her family in your thoughts, while they navigate this difficult time. https://www.shca.ed.ac.uk/Research/witches/person.php?name=Isobel+Gowdie&source=3777Pitcairn, Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland (1833)—printed text of the confessions: https://archive.org/stream/ancientcrim43pt203pitcuoft/ancientcrim43pt203pitcuoft_djvu.txtLiv Høgh Willumsen review of Emma Wilby, The Visions of Isobel Gowdie (2010) https://www.livhelenewillumsen.no/res/Review%20Gowdie_Willumsen.20.6.11%5B3%5D.pdfBoosey & Hawkes, MacMillan’s The Confession of Isobel Gowdie (composer note): https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/James-MacMillan-The-Confession-of-Isobel-Gowdie/3115Wikipedia: The Confession of Isobel Gowdie (work): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Confession_of_Isobel_GowdieInverness Courier (Auldearn mural, 2021): https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/extraordinary-witch-features-in-new-mural-257239/Smithsonian Magazine (Scotland’s 2022 apology): https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scotland-issues-formal-apology-to-thousands-accused-of-witchcraft-180979869/The Guardian (text/reportage on the apology): https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/08/nicola-sturgeon-issues-apology-for-historical-injustice-of-witch-hunts(Notes: Many details in the narrative—marriage to John Gilbert; residence around Loch Loy; dates and sequence of the four confessions; the Queen of Elphame, elf-arrows, Read Reiver; the July 1662 commission; and the uncertainty of Gowdie’s ultimate fate—are drawn from the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft case file and the Wikipedia article’s underlying citations, which synthesize Pitcairn’s printed text and modern scholarship.)Irish Times, “Irish Lives: Biddy Early” (encyclopedic overview): https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/irish-lives-1.1286579History Ireland, “Feakle’s Biddy Early: a victim of ‘moral panic’?” https://historyireland.com/feakles-biddy-early-a-victim-of-moral-panic/ historyireland.comWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biddy_Early WikipediaLady Gregory, Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/vbwi/vbwi11.htm Internet Sacred Text ArchiveDúchas (National Folklore Collection), Schools’ Collection—Biddy Early bottle lore (two versions): • https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922349/4872900/5072452 • https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922348/4872795/5074512 duchas.ie+1RTÉ Archives: • https://www.rte.ie/archives/2021/0629/1232043-biddy-early-and-the-changeling/ • https://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/0208/678387-biddy-early-wise-woman-or-witch/ RTE+1Clare County Library—People of Clare: Biddy Early (local biography & context): https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/people/biddy.htm Clare LibrariesLimerick’s Life (local historian compendium of sources & dates): https://limerickslife.com/biddy-early-the-witch-of-the-west/ Limerick's LifeNotes on sources: Where dates differ slightly across popular retellings, I favored the more conservative or scholarly references (History Ireland; Irish Times; Lady Gregory’s collected narratives and the Dúchas Schools’ Collection for folklore). The Dictionary of Irish Biography maintains an entry on Biddy Early but requires JavaScript to view; it also affirms the 1865 Ennis case and the broad outline of her life. See: https://www.dib.ie/biography/early-biddy-a2870

In this chilling episode, we dive into two of history’s most perplexing and haunting mysteries. First, we unravel the enigmatic case of the Isdal Woman—a woman found dead in Norway’s “Ice Valley” under circumstances so strange they’ve fueled decades of speculation, from espionage to secret identities. Then, we journey back to 18th-century France, where the countryside lived in terror of the Beast of Gévaudan, a monstrous creature responsible for dozens of gruesome attacks and still the subject of fierce debate: was it a wolf, a man, or something far darker?To complement these tales of mystery and menace, our champagne pairing for this episode is the Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé—a refined yet bold choice, perfect for sipping while pondering the unsolved.Wikipedia overview with detailed case chronology, items recovered, aliases, burial details, and later forensic work: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isdal_Woman WikipediaA&E True Crime digest of the case and theories (good plain-language recap): https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/isdal-woman A&ENorwegian American (English-language article) overview and context: https://www.norwegianamerican.com/bergens-cold-case-isdal-woman/ norwegianamerican.com(A note on sources: the original NRK and BBC pages are excellent, but direct access is sometimes restricted; the links above reflect open sources that consolidate the core facts, plus academic/official summaries where available.)Wikipedia — “Beast of Gévaudan” (overview, descriptions, Marin report, Chastel): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_G%C3%A9vaudan WikipediaFrench Wikipedia — “Bête du Gévaudan” (dates, counts, geography): https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%AAte_du_G%C3%A9vaudan WikipediaArchives départementales du Cantal — document note identifying Jeanne Boulet (June 30, 1764) as first official victim: https://archives.cantal.fr/explorer/document-du-mois/2022/la-bete-du-gevaudan-dans-le-cantal archives.cantal.frSmithsonian Magazine — Jay M. Smith on the Beast and Moriceau’s national context for wolf attacks: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/beast-gevaudan-terrorized-france-countryside-180963820/ Smithsonian MagazineHistory.com — “The Real Story Behind the ‘Beast of Gévaudan’,” for royal hunts (Denneval, Antoine), media panic, and timeline: https://www.history.com/news/beast-of-gevaudan-france-wolves HISTORYHarvard University Press — Jay M. Smith, Monsters of the Gévaudan (book page): https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674061957 Smithsonian MagazineJean-Marc Moriceau (scholarship on wolf attacks; 3,000 attacks/9,000 fatalities context): Études rurales review (2012): https://journals.openedition.org/etudesrurales/9654 and Global Environment review (2009): https://www.environmentandsociety.org/mml/review-histoire-du-mechant-loup-history-big-bad-wolf-jean-marc-moriceau and Academia summary (2015): https://www.academia.edu/11509663/ OpenEdition JournalsEnvironment & Society PortalAcademiaAtlas Obscura — Marie-Jeanne Valet statue (Auvers) & museum in Saugues: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/marie-jeanne-valet-vs-the-beast-of-gevaudan and https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/museum-of-the-beast-of-gevaudan Atlas Obscura+1Musée fantastique de la Bête du Gévaudan (official site): https://www.musee-bete-gevaudan.com/ and tourism pages on Marvejols’s Beast sculpture: https://en.aubrac-gorgesdutarn.com/discover/the-lot-valley/villages-of-the-lot-valley/marvejols/ musee-bete-gevaudanFrom Aubrac to the Gorges du TarnResearch discussion on the Marin report (modern critique): Karl-Hans Taake preprint: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373559206_The_1767_French_Rapport_Marin_-_a_Questionable_Report_about_the_Examination_of_an_Allegedly_Man-eating_Wolf_Canis_lupus ResearchGateFilm/culture — Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brotherhood_of_the_Wolf and IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0237534/ WikipediaIMDb

Two of history’s most chilling disappearances—worlds apart, yet bound by unanswered questions. In this episode of Champagne and Murder, Please, we unravel the baffling tragedy of the Dyatlov Pass Incident, where nine hikers met a strange and terrifying end in the frozen Russian wilderness. Then, we journey to West Virginia to revisit the haunting disappearance of the Sodder children, a case that continues to spark debate nearly eight decades later. Were these tragedies the result of accidents, foul play, or something more sinister? Pour a glass, and join us as we dive deep into the shadows of these enduring mysteries.Wikipedia: “Dyatlov Pass incident” — comprehensive overview with citations and chronology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident WikipediaOriginal case files (autopsies, radiograms, photos), Dyatlov Pass site: https://dyatlovpass.com/case-files and https://dyatlovpass.com/case-files-volume-2 Dyatlov Pass+1Reuters (July 11, 2020): Russian prosecutors’ avalanche conclusion and summary: https://www.reuters.com/article/world/russia-blames-avalanche-for-1959-urals-mountain-tragedy-ria-agency-reports-idUSKCN24C0JJ/ ReutersGaume, J., & Puzrin, A. (2021): “Mechanisms of slab avalanche release and impact in the Dyatlov Pass incident,” Communications Earth & Environment (Nature): https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-020-00081-8 NaturePuzrin, A. M., et al. (2022) commentary: field/expedition context for slab avalanches in the area, Communications Earth & Environment: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-022-00393-x NatureSmithsonian Magazine (Jan 29, 2021): accessible summary of the slab-avalanche research: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-may-have-finally-unraveled-mystery-dyatlov-pass-incident-180976886/ Smithsonian MagazineNational Geographic (feature, updated May 17, 2023): reporting on the science and controversy: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/has-science-solved-history-greatest-adventure-mystery-dyatlov National GeographicThe New Yorker (May 17, 2021): narrative investigation blending the 2020 prosecutor’s reconstruction with the 2021 model: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/17/has-an-old-soviet-mystery-at-last-been-solved The New YorkerHistory.com (Jan 31, 2024): succinct historical recap with timeline: https://www.history.com/articles/dyatlov-pass-incident-soviet-hiker-death-mystery HISTORYWired (Jan 28, 2021): layman’s explanation of the delayed slab hypothesis: https://www.wired.com/story/dyatlov-pass-incident-slab-avalanche/Smithsonian Magazine, Karen Abbott; updated by Meilan Solly, “What Happened to the Sodder Children…?” (comprehensive narrative; ages, timeline, sightings, Smithsonian bone report, billboard) — https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-happened-sodder-children-siblings-who-went-up-in-smoke-west-virginia-house-fire-172429802/ Smithsonian MagazineWikipedia (well-sourced overview; corroborates dates, names, legislative hearings, details like the cut phone line and the 1949 excavation) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodder_children_disappearance WikipediaABC News (Australia), “The mystery of the vanished Sodder children” (concise retelling with wrong-number call beat) — https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-25/the-mystery-of-the-vanished-sodder-children/103245390 ABCHistory Channel, History’s Greatest Mysteries S3E8, “The Sodder Children Disappearance” (TV treatment; helpful for cultural context or episode clips) — https://www.history.com/shows/historys-greatest-mysteries/season-3/episode-8 HISTORYNote on ages: Some sources list Louis as 9, others 10; Smithsonian uses 9, Wikipedia uses 10. I acknowledged the discrepancy in the script.

Disappearance is one of the most haunting crimes of all—and in this episode of Champagne and Murder, Please, we’re exploring two chilling cases that left behind more questions than answers. First, we examine the tragic death of Brookelynn Fancher, a baby whose future was stolen under mysterious circumstances. Then, we dive into the decades-old mystery of the Springfield Three—Sherrill Levitt, Suzie Streeter, and Stacy McCall—who vanished without a trace from a Missouri home in 1992, sparking one of the most baffling missing persons cases in American history. With twists, rumors, and enduring heartbreak, these stories reveal how fragile the line between ordinary life and the unthinkable truly is.People Magazine – Texas Parents Charged with Murder a Year After Baby Found in DresserHouston Chronicle – Houston parents charged with murder after baby found dead in drawerKHOU11 News – Baby found dead in dresser drawer: What we knowClick2Houston – CPS removes sibling after infant’s deathPublic records search (Harris, Tom Green, and Montgomery counties): No prior criminal history located as of June 2025FBI ViCAP: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/vicap/missing-persons/sherrill-levittKY3 News: https://www.ky3.com/KOLR10 News: https://www.ozarksfirst.com/Springfield PD Cold Case Division: https://www.springfieldmo.gov/514/Cold-CasesMedium (Kym Pasqualini): https://kympasqualini.medium.com/the-springfield-three-512b17fcfa87People Magazine Investigates (Investigation Discovery): https://www.investigationdiscovery.comThe Springfield Three Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-springfield-three/id1549028990Ozarks First: https://www.ozarksfirst.com/Disappeared (ID Channel): https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/disappearedSpringfield News-Leader Archives: https://www.news-leader.com/Reddit Unresolved Mysteries Thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/23t6ko/the_springfield_three/

On this chilling episode of Champagne and Murder, Please, we travel California’s shadowed highways to examine the life and crimes of William Bonin—the so-called “Freeway Killer”—whose spree of violence left a trail of young victims in his wake. But the story doesn’t end there. We also dive into the mysterious and unresolved deaths of the Reagan brothers, two lives cut short under circumstances that still raise more questions than answers. From calculated cruelty to lingering enigmas, this episode explores how some killers are caught—and how some mysteries refuse to be solved.https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/capital-punishment/inmates-executed-1978-to-present/william-george-bonin/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-11-mn-34809-story.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Boninhttps://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/matthew-and-philip-reaganhttps://www.cleveland19.com/2025/03/21/seeking-justice-murders-fairview-park-brothers-arizona-still-unsolved-5-years-laterhttps://www.cleveland19.com/2024/03/21/unsolved-ohio-brothers-murdered-miles-away-home-during-road-trip

In this spellbinding episode of Champagne and Murder, Please, we uncork the dark legacy of the Salem Witch Trials—where fear, hysteria, and power turned neighbor against neighbor in one of history’s most infamous purges. But we don’t stop there. We journey even deeper into the idea of the "witch" through the lens of mythology, exploring the story of Circe, the enchantress of Greek legend who defied gods and men with spells, potions, and unapologetic power. From real-life executions to timeless goddess lore, we peel back the layers of misogyny, myth, and magic. Was it ever really about witchcraft—or simply women who refused to be controlled?Pour a glass. This one’s as intoxicating as it is infuriating.History.com: Salem Witch TrialsSalem Witch MuseumMassachusetts Historical Society – Salem Trials ResourcesNational Geographic: Legacy of the Salem Witch TrialsSalem Witch Trials Documentary ArchiveWorld History EDUWikipedia: List of people of the Salem witch trialsgaudie.co.uk+4ft.com+4independent.co.uk+4.world-catalogue.com+3snargl.com+3fictionvixen.com+3 en.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1.berkeleyfictionreview.org.

In this chilling episode of Champagne and Murder, Please, we journey from the icy wilderness of Alaska to the heart of Atlanta’s Piedmont Park as we examine two tragic cases separated by decades but connected by brutality. First, we delve into the twisted double life of Robert Hansen—the “Butcher Baker”—a seemingly ordinary family man who hunted women in the Alaskan wilderness. Then, we shift to the heartbreaking 2021 murder of Katie Janness, who was walking her dog, Bowie, when both were viciously attacked in a public park. We explore the facts, the fears, and the frustrating search for justice. Pour yourself a glass—this one’s going to stay with you.Schechter, H., & Everitt, D. (1996). The A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. Pocket Books.Ramsland, K. (2010). The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds. Berkley.Douglas, J. E., & Olshaker, M. (1995). Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit. Scribner.Larsen, D. (2002). “Robert Hansen: The Butcher Baker,” Crime Library.Alaska State Troopers: Case archives and interviews with Glenn Flothe.Anchorage Daily News archives (1980–1985).“The Frozen Ground” (2013) and companion documentary interviews.NamUs. (2023). National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. https://www.namus.govAtlanta Police Department & FBI press releases (2021–2024)Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “One Year Later: Remembering Katie Janness”FOX 5 Atlanta & CBS46, interviews with Emma Clark11Alive news coverage of vigils and police updatesReddit threads from locals and community updates (r/Atlanta)Fulton County Medical Examiner autopsy report (covered via FOIA requests)GoFundMe: “Justice for Katie Janness” fund

In this gripping episode, we explore two of history's most infamous criminal duos—Leopold and Loeb, the privileged prodigies who committed a shocking "thrill kill" in 1924, and Bonnie and Clyde, the Depression-era lovers whose crime spree captivated and terrified the nation. What drove these pairs to such extremes? How did their relationships fuel their descent into violence? Join us as we unravel the psychology, passion, and notoriety behind these deadly partnerships—and the legacies they left behind.Leopold, Nathan. Life Plus 99 Years. Doubleday & Co., 1958.Darrow, Clarence. “The Plea of Clarence Darrow.” The Clarence Darrow Digital Collection, University of Minnesota, 1924. https://darrow.law.umn.eduHigdon, Hal. Leopold and Loeb: The Crime of the Century. University of Illinois Press, 1999.Baatz, Simon. For the Thrill of It: Leopold, Loeb, and the Murder That Shocked Chicago. HarperCollins, 2008.“Leopold and Loeb.” FBI Records Vault. https://vault.fbi.gov/Leopold%20and%20LoebWilson, Colin. A Criminal History of Mankind. Mercury Books, 2005.“The Trial of Leopold and Loeb.” Famous Trials, by Douglas Linder, University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School. https://famous-trials.com/leopoldloebJeff Guinn, Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and ClydeBlanche Caldwell Barrow, My Life with Bonnie and ClydeJohn Neal Phillips, Running with Bonnie and ClydeTexas State Historical Association, www.tshaonline.orgFBI Archives, vault.fbi.gov

In this powerful episode, we explore the lives, legacies, and tragic deaths of two music icons from vastly different worlds—Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla and metal guitar legend Dimebag Darrell. Though their genres, audiences, and styles were worlds apart, both artists left an indelible mark on music history and were taken from us far too soon by senseless acts of violence. Join us as we honor their journeys, reflect on their cultural impact, and examine the eerie similarities in their final days. From the rise to stardom to the shocking endings—this is a tribute to the unstoppable spirit of two unforgettable legends.Texas Monthly, April 1995 – “Murder in the Lone Star State: The Selena Story”Los Angeles Times, 2015 – “Selena: A Star Still Shining”Houston Chronicle, April 2025 – “Yolanda Saldívar Denied Parole”Selena (1997 film), Warner Bros.Court transcripts: State of Texas v. Yolanda Saldívar, 1995Corpus Christi Caller-Times archivesTexas Department of Criminal Justice Inmate RecordsSelena: The Series, Netflix (2020–2021)Selena Forever Museum – Quintanilla Family FoundationEMI Latin album liner notesRolling Stone. “Pantera Guitarist Killed Onstage.” Dec 9, 2004.Loudwire. “How Dimebag Darrell’s Death Changed Concert Security Forever.”Guitar World. “Remembering Dimebag Darrell.”Billboard. “Dimebag Darrell’s Legacy and the Security Changes After His Death.”Interviews with Vinnie Paul (2005–2017)Police Reports, Columbus Division of PoliceLegal studies: “Venue Liability in Artist On-Stage Injury,” Journal of Entertainment Law (2006)

This week on Champagne and Murder, Please, we lace up our hiking boots and head deep into the misty heart of the Appalachian Trail—where the line between reality and legend is as thin as the mountain air. From ghostly hitchhikers and eerie lights in the woods, to cryptids, vanished hikers, and ancient curses whispered through the trees, the Trail holds more than just scenic beauty. Join us as we sip something bubbly and dive into the dark folklore and chilling encounters that haunt one of America's most iconic and mysterious wilderness paths. Don’t stray from the trail… something might be watching.Sources and Further ReadingPaulides, David. Missing 411: Eastern United StatesBragg, Lynn. Ghosts of the Blue Ridge MountainsAppalachian Trail Conservancy shelter logsHiker testimonials from Reddit, WhiteBlaze, and Trail JournalsCherokee Myths and Legends archivesWhiteBlaze.net Forums – “Creepiest Thing on the Trail” thread (2012)Southern Highroads Trail Guide: "Blood Mountain History," Georgia Dept. of Natural ResourcesReddit: r/AppalachianTrail – “Weirdest Stuff You’ve Heard at Night” threadJoe Tennis, Legends of the Smokies, Mountain Press (2008)TrailJournals.com, “Strange Shelter Encounter,” Appalachian Trail (2017)Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Urban Legend of the Green Man" (2005)GhostsofAmerica.com – Pine Grove Furnace sightings archiveRandy Russell, Appalachian Ghost Stories, Blair Press (2005)Virginia Folklore Society, “Moonshine Dogs and Superstition in Shenandoah”Michael Rivers, Appalachian Supernatural: The Hidden Histories (2011)David Paulides, Missing 411: Eastern United States (2012)TrailJournals.com – Glastenbury Mountain entry (2015)Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA) forums – Cold People Sightings (2018)

In this chilling episode of Champagne and Murder, Please, we dive deep into two hauntingly different but equally disturbing tales linked by water and death. First, we unravel the twisted world of Leonard Lake—prepper, predator, and one half of one of California’s most sadistic killer duos. Discover how his warped fantasies and bunker full of secrets turned into a real-life nightmare.Then, we step back in time to 1934 and explore the mystery of the “Lady of the Lake,” a still-unidentified woman whose remains surfaced in Lake Erie, shrouded in rumors, coded messages, and Great Depression-era darkness. What links these two stories isn't just the water—but the chilling stillness it holds before horror rises to the surface.Get ready for murder, mystery, and murky waters—because some things should never be dredged up.https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/june-2/serial-killing-spree-is-put-to-an-endhttps://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/new-victim-california-serial-killer-duo-identified-20062061.phphttps://www.kcra.com/article/wilseyville-serial-killers-remains-identified/64459155https://www.clevelandpolicemuseum.org/collections/torso-murders/https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/376https://vocal.media/criminal/the-cleveland-torso-killer-the-man-who-destroyed-a-legend

What happens when family values become a mask for abuse—and no one’s watching closely enough to stop it?In this chilling episode of Champagne & Murder Please, we dive deep into two shocking and deeply unsettling family cases: the public unraveling of Kevin and Ruby Franke—famous for their YouTube channel “8 Passengers”—and the harrowing case of Travis Decker, a Washington father accused of the unthinkable.We explore how outward appearances can hide horrifying truths, how communities and systems fail to intervene, and what these cases reveal about the darker side of family life that’s too often ignored. Grab your drink and your detective hat—this one’s going to haunt you long after the episode ends.https://people.com/where-is-ruby-franke-husband-now-8788008https://www.fox13now.com/news/crime/evidence-released-shows-severity-of-abuse-in-franke-and-hildebrandt-casehttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/ruby-franke-docuseries-hulu-new-details-child-abuse-case-rcna193738https://abcnews.go.com/US/father-killed-3-daughters-active-dad-system-failed/story?id=122550676https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/06/04/death-sisters-travis-decker-familiar-tragedy/84029416007/https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/cops-release-new-video-travis-decker

In this chilling episode of Champagne & Murder Please, we explore two haunting tales that blur the line between mystery and madness. First, we revisit the heartbreaking 1984 disappearance of 5-year-old Renee Aitken, who vanished from her North Carolina bedroom without a trace—no forced entry, no clear suspect, and decades of unanswered questions. Then, we dive into the terrifying mind of Richard Chase, the so-called "Vampire of Sacramento," whose brief but brutal killing spree in the late 1970s left six victims dead—and the nation shaken. What drives someone to drink human blood? And how can a child disappear so silently into the night? Join us as we trace the shadowy paths of two very different horrors—one unsolved, the other unforgettable.https://int-missing.fandom.com/wiki/Renee_Aitken https://www.doenetwork.org/cases-int/252dfnsw.htmlhttps://australianmissingpersonsregister.com/ampr/Aitken.htmhttps://vault.fbi.gov/richard-chase/Richard%20Chase%20Part%2001%20%28Final%29https://californiarevealed.org/do/6a7346c6-d39d-4d09-956a-89b884b091f0https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/january-27/the-so-called-dracula-killer

In this chilling installment of Champagne and Murder, Please, we uncork the unsettling phenomena of time slips and the doppelgänger effect—those eerie moments when past and present collide, and familiar faces turn dangerously unfamiliar. From documented encounters with doubles that foretold doom to stories of people stepping into another time without warning, we delve into the science, lore, and murder cases entangled in these temporal oddities. Pour a glass, dim the lights, and prepare to question reality itself."Time Storms" by Jenny Randles (2001)https://medium.com/tales-of-terror-paranormal-and-the-strange/the-bizarre-case-of-time-slips-c0c56efb9046https://mysticaltimesblog.com/time-slips/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppelg%C3%A4ngerhttps://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/doppelgangers-and-mythology-spirit-doubles-001825https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jun/11/twice-in-a-lifetime-would-you-dare-meet-your-doppelganger-

In this chilling episode, we dive into the twisted lives of two women whose innocent facades masked sinister intentions. Meet Nannie Doss, the "Giggling Granny," who left a trail of poisoned husbands and eerie laughter in her wake, and Stacy Castor, the so-called "Black Widow," who used antifreeze and forged letters in a deadly web of deceit. Join us as we unravel the motives, methods, and madness behind these infamous female killers—and explore what made them so uniquely dangerous.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nannie_Doss https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/nannie-doss/ https://allthatsinteresting.com/nannie-doss-giggling-grannyhttps://abcnews.go.com/US/detectives-caught-black-widow-deadly-web-lies/story?id=60854018https://www.oxygen.com/exhumed/crime-news/black-widow-stacey-castor-convicted-for-murder-after-exhumationhttps://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/stacey-castor/id1179629560?i=1000579868801

In this compelling episode, we examine two tragic yet starkly different stories connected by the relentless power of the sea. Kathryn Donohue was a vibrant woman whose life ended violently in a murder that shocked her community, unraveling a disturbing web of betrayal and deception. Meanwhile, Australian adventurer Andrew McAuley attempted an audacious solo kayak crossing of the Tasman Sea in 2007, aiming to become the first to complete the perilous journey from Tasmania to New Zealand. After a month battling fierce waves and isolation, McAuley’s final distress call sent chills through rescuers and left only haunting questions behind. Through in-depth analysis and firsthand accounts, we explore the dark circumstances surrounding Donohue’s murder and the tragic misadventure that claimed McAuley’s life. How did their fates intertwine with the unforgiving ocean, and what lessons can be learned from these two haunting tales?Prince George’s County Police Department. "PGPD Cold Case Squad Solves 1979 Rape and Murder." PGPD News, 21 March 2025. https://pgpolice.blogspot.com/2025/03/pgpd-cold-case-squad-solves-1979-rape.htmlWUSA9 News. "PGPD makes arrest in 1979 rape and murder of Arlington woman." WUSA9, 22 March 2025. https://www.wusa9.comOthram Inc. "Othram Assists in the Identification of Rodger Zodas Brown in 1979 Cold Case." Othram Newsroom, March 2025. https://othram.comFBI Baltimore Field Office. Statement in coordination with PGPD, March 2025.Moore County Sheriff’s Office (North Carolina). Press release on the arrest of Rodger Zodas Brown, March 2025.https://paddlingmag.com/stories/people/andrew-mcauley-disappears-on-sea-kayak-trip/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_McAuley https://nypost.com/2024/12/27/world-news/daredevil-andrew-mcauley-seen-in-final-haunting-image-before-he-vanished-at-sea/

In this chilling episode, we delve into two hauntingly tragic cases that captivated headlines and remain shrouded in mystery and horror. First, we explore the disturbing story of Zach Bowen and Addie Hall, a couple whose post-Hurricane Katrina love affair took a sinister turn, ending in a gruesome murder that shocked New Orleans. Then, we unravel the perplexing case of Cindy James, a Canadian nurse whose years-long harassment and mysterious death left investigators questioning: Was she the victim of a cruel and relentless stalker, or was it all a horrifying descent into madness? Join us as we dissect these haunting cases, searching for the truth amid the chaos and devastation.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aps.1865?af=R https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/117-the-case-of-addie-hall-zack-bowen/id1621195358?i=1000661504735 https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2590814&page=1 https://unsolved.com/gallery/cindy-james/ https://evelazarus.com/the-bizarre-case-of-cindy-james/ https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/mysterious-death-cindy-james/ 

In this chilling true crime double feature, we unravel two disturbing tales that expose the shadows hiding in plain sight.First, we explore the twisted story of Kelly Cochran—the woman who helped murder her lover with her husband… then may have turned on her husband, too. A tale of toxic pacts, betrayal, and a body count that might be higher than anyone thought. What drives a person to become a serial killer hiding behind suburbia?Then, we cross the border into Canada to revisit the unsolved mystery of the Lost Boys of Pickering—six teens who vanished without a trace in 1995 after a night out near Lake Ontario. With no bodies, no answers, and only a sunken boat left behind, theories have swirled for decades. Accident, cover-up, or something far more sinister?Two stories. Six missing. At least nine dead. And still, no justice.https://mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2profile.aspx?mdocNumber=356714 https://nation.foxnews.com/love-you-to-death-the-kelly-cochran-story-nation/ https://www.aol.com/investigators-reveal-riveting-details-behind-171431337.html https://www.toronto.com/news/march-17-marks-29-years-since-the-lost-boys-of-pickering-disappeared/article_ede2d620-e58b-5ea0-90c5-f17d204722ff.html https://medium.com/@knowledgeapotheosis/the-lost-boys-of-pickering-six-teens-boys-28-years-of-mysterious-disappearance-d149d7fe2325 https://www.durhamregion.com/news/the-lost-boys-of-pickering-a-haunting-cold-case-remains-open-after-30-years/article_bd0ab683-9a7c-5a54-ab0c-7411291c613e.html

This week, we dive deep into the murky unknown with two of the weirdest cryptids to ever ooze into legend. First up: the Abominable Swamp Slob—a reeking, moss-covered humanoid said to haunt the wetlands of the American South. Locals say he’s more stench than sight, but is there more to this smelly specter than meets the nose?Then, we drift into open water to unravel the mystery of the Bermuda Blob—a gelatinous mass that washed ashore and defied identification. Was it a rotting whale carcass, a deep-sea monstrosity, or something far stranger? And why do these blobs keep turning up in the Bermuda Triangle?Join us as we squish through swamp legends, blob biology, and a whole lot of speculative slime. Don’t forget your nose plugs—things are gonna get gross.https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Abominable_Swamp_Slob http://www.cryptozoonews.com/ill-ass/ https://sasquatchchronicles.com/abominable-swamp-slob-the-hairy-humanoid-from-the-swamplands/ https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Bermuda_Blob https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/07/03/mystery-creature-a-bermuda-blob/ https://www.cryptopia.us/site/2010/01/bermuda-blob-bermuda/