The Girl in the Dark

Before Jonestown… before the poison… there was a man people believed in.In this episode, we dive into the life and rise of Jim Jones—a charismatic preacher who built the People’s Temple on promises of equality, community, and hope during one of the most divided times in American history.But behind the image of a progressive leader, something darker was taking shape.As his influence grew, so did his control. From faith healings and political power to manipulation, fear, and isolation, we follow the path that led hundreds of people to a place called Jonestown… and to the Jonestown Massacre.This isn’t just the story of what happened.It’s the story of how it happened.Because cults don’t start with control…they start with trust.And sometimes…the devil doesn’t come with horns.He comes as someone you believe in.A devil in disguise.

New Orleans is a city where music drifts through the streets, magic lingers in the air, and monsters are never too far from the shadows.In this episode of The Girl in the Dark, we take a walk through one of the most mysterious cities in America. A city where history, legend, and spirituality blur together until it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.First, we step into the terror of the Axeman of New Orleans, the mysterious killer who stalked the city in the early 1900s and sent a chilling letter demanding that jazz be played throughout the night.Then we travel back to the French colonial era to uncover the eerie legend of the Casket Girls, whose arrival in New Orleans sparked rumors of sealed attic windows, missing luggage, and whispers of vampires in the French Quarter.Finally, we explore the life and legacy of the legendary Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen whose influence shaped the spiritual traditions of the city and whose presence some believe still lingers in New Orleans today.From killers to vampires to voodoo queens, these are the stories that helped make New Orleans the most haunted and fascinating city in America.Because in New Orleans… myth becomes legend, and killers become lore.

In November 1986, Helle Crafts vanished from her home in Newtown, Connecticut. She was a mother, a flight attendant, a traveler, and a woman preparing to leave a dangerous marriage. What followed was one of the most disturbing and groundbreaking investigations in American criminal history.This episode tells the full story of Helle’s life, her growing fear, and the meticulous police work that ultimately led to the conviction of her husband, Richard Crafts — despite the fact that only fragments of her remains were ever recovered. It became the first murder conviction in Connecticut history without a body, proving that evidence can be destroyed, but truth cannot be erased.⚠️ Content Warning:This episode contains discussion of domestic violence, murder, and graphic subject matter. Please listen with care.If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You are not alone.

One year ago, The Girl in the Dark was born—and today, we’re celebrating the shadows we’ve shared together.In this special one-year anniversary episode, I’m answering your questions about the podcast, the cases, and the journey so far. We’re also diving into listener-submitted spooky stories—real encounters, chilling moments, and experiences that prove the dark is never as quiet as it seems.Thank you for walking these paths with me for an entire year. For listening, for sharing, for believing—and for not turning away when things get uncomfortable.Light a candle, get comfortable, and settle in.This is A Year in the Dark. 🖤✨

January 17th marks one full year of The Girl in the Dark, and for my anniversary episode, I want to hear from you.This is a short mini-episode inviting listeners to submit:• Questions about the podcast, the stories, or me.• True scary stories—paranormal encounters, unexplainable moments, or experiences that still give you chills.You don’t need to be a writer.You can remain anonymous.Just tell it the way it happened.📩 Email: [email protected]📲 Or DM the podcast on Instagram: @thegirlinthedarkpodEven if you’ve never commented before, this invitation is for you.Thank you for walking in the dark with me for a year 🖤

For years, Robert Hansen was seen as a quiet small-business owner, a devoted husband, and a father in Anchorage, Alaska. But beneath the surface, he was hiding something far darker.In this episode of The Girl in the Dark, we trace Hansen’s life before the monster was revealed — the warning signs that were missed, the system that repeatedly let him walk free, and the devastating consequences that followed.Everything changed in 1983, when a teenager named Cindy Paulson escaped and refused to stay silent. Her courage didn’t just save her own life — it exposed a killer and stopped years of violence.This episode centers the victims, calls out systemic failure, and honors the woman who broke the case open.

The Lemp family built an empire… and then lost everything.In this episode, we dive into the tragic history behind the Lemp Mansion, the tunnels beneath St. Louis, and the spirits said to still linger in the halls. I also share my own personal experience inside the mansion — one I’ll never forget.

December 25, 1996—six-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey is found dead in the basement of her Colorado home. Decades later, the case still haunts the world, shrouded in unanswered questions, mysterious ransom notes, and a family under intense scrutiny. In this special 20th episode, we unravel the twists, the theories, and the dark secrets behind one of America’s most infamous unsolved murders. Who had the motive? Who had the opportunity? And what really happened that fateful night in Boulder?Step into the shadows, where innocence collides with suspicion—and the truth remains elusive.

In 2008, 19-year-old Brandon Swanson called his parents after his car slid into a ditch on a dark Minnesota back road. They stayed on the phone for nearly an hour as he tried to find his way home—until his final words: “Oh, shit.” Then, silence. Seventeen years later, Brandon has never been found.👉 In this episode of The Girl in the Dark, we trace his last known steps, the search that followed, and the haunting theories that still surround his disappearance.

In the summer of 1994, Alison Botha was abducted, assaulted, and left for dead on a deserted stretch of road in South Africa. But she didn’t just survive—she fought her way back from the edge, identified her attackers, and reclaimed her life. This is the story of a woman who turned horror into hope... and made sure her attackers would never hurt anyone again.

In the dark waters of the Mississippi River, beneath a crooked mile of steel, two sisters vanished—and the truth nearly drowned with them. On the night of April 4th, 1991, Julie and Robin Kerry along with their cousin Tom Cummins were visiting the Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis, Missouri. What began as a quiet night to revisit a poem turned into a night of unspeakable violence, sexual assault, and murder. But what followed was just as disturbing: coerced confessions, missing evidence, accusations of racism and police brutality, and a justice system more interested in convictions than truth.Was justice truly served—or was it another life swept away by the current?

On July 2, 2025, Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to all four murders in open court. The judge accepted the plea deal. There will be no trial.

🚨 Breaking News Update from The Girl in the Dark 🚨In a shocking turn of events, Bryan Kohberger—the man accused of brutally murdering four University of Idaho students—has accepted a plea deal.In this special case update, I break down what this plea means, what the victims’ families are saying, and why this decision has left so many of us stunned. There may be no trial. No cross-examinations. No courtroom justice.Four lives were taken. And now, justice may be decided behind closed doors.Join me as I walk you through what’s happening, what could come next, and why this case still matters—now more than ever.

We have all grown up with certain fears and phobias. What if your phobia of dolls isn't ridiculous? What if some dolls really are haunted? This episode is the true story of the most haunted doll in history: Annabelle. She is one of the inspirations for the Conjuring Universe movies and currently resides in the Warren's Occult Museum, except when she is on tour. Listen now to the havoc this Raggedy Ann doll has been spreading from 1970 until today.

Welcome to the double homicide trial of Richard Alexander Murdaugh. What evidence does the prosecution have? How is the defense going to try to save him? What about all of the money he stole? Friends who helped him and the people they harmed? All of your questions and more will be answered in this epic finale of the Murdaugh Murders.

In this 2nd episode of the trilogy of the Murdaugh Murders, we open this episode with the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh and then dive into multiple other cases connected to the Murdaugh family from death to financial loss and manipulation. We get to meet the other players that helped Alex Murdaugh embezzle millions from his clients; Cory Fleming and Russell Laffitte. This episode covers the murders and the motive.

For over 100 years the Murdaugh family ruled Hampton County, South Carolina like it was their own personal kingdom, but the events of the last 6 years destroyed their legacy. A boat crash on February 23, 2019 would be the first blow to a family that wasn't used to getting hit. Listen to the first episode of a 3 part episode arc, to hear how much control the Murdaugh family had, and how they began to lose it.

On November 18, 2011, 20-year old Jaleayah Davis went out with friends for drinks and a fun night, but the evening would soon turn into a nightmare. Jaleayah's body was found mutilated at mile marker 181 just a few minutes after getting off the phone with her sister. How did this happen? Was this just a tragic drunk driving accident or was this a murder that's now been covered up? You listen and decide.

Amy Carlson was a wife, mother of 3, and manager at McDonalds, so how did she get from there to becoming the prolific leader of a dangerous cult? Listen to this episode to hear the details on how the "Love Has Won" cult began and the bizarre things that can happen when you convince a group of people you are god.

In the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students were violently butchered in their off-campus house. The suspect in these brutal slayings, is Bryan Kohberger. How did the police come to this conclusion? What evidence has been found? When will the trial be? All these questions and more will be answered on this episode.

Outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma at Camp Scott on June 12, 1977, a group of young girl scouts were supposed to be enjoying two weeks of camping and fun. In the middle of the night, three young girl were pulled from their tents and were brutally murdered. Was Gene Leroy Hart the man responsible? Or was he railroaded by the local police? A lot of this case is surrounded in mystery that still haunts Oklahoma to this day.

Asha Degree is a 9 year old little girl that went missing 25 years ago. She is believed to have gotten up during the night, grabbed her backpack, and took off walking into the dark stormy night never to be seen again. Her case has been cold, but recently new evidence has come to light. Is Asha missing or is she the victim of foul play?

Have you ever heard the story of a teenage outlaw that outsmarted all the police who tried to catch him for almost 2 years? The story of Colton Harris-Moore is a story of thievery that has never been seen or will ever be seen again. It is a story of the human spirit and outlandish shenanigans that outsmarted the police on every level, until his luck finally ran out.

This story is one of the most disturbing true crime stories that exists. This case involves pedophilia, serial killings, kidnapping, rape, and torture. The only good to come from this case, is that one of his victims escaped. She is a survivor who at the young age of 8, helped take down the vilest human.

In Atchison Kansas, there is a small unassuming house, but in reality, it is one of the most haunted houses in America. Is it haunted by a sweet little girl named Sallie? Or is it infested with demonic spirits from Satanic rituals? Listen and find out now.

We have all seen the 1973 film "The Exorcist" with heads rotating and vomiting pea soup, but did anything in that movie happen in real life? Listen to this episode to find out the real events that inspired the movie. Let me know which one you think is scarier. True life or fiction?

In the small town of Keddie California, in 1981, multiple homicides took place in Cabin 28. Although there are reputable suspects and loads of evidence, the case was mishandled by police and remains unsolved to this day. Will there ever be justice for the Keddie Cabin murder victims?

For four years in the 1930s, Cleveland was plagued with a serial killer known as the Cleveland Torso Killer aka The Butcher of Kingsbury Run. 12 victims were murdered, decapitated, and dismembered. The police brought in famous, Eliot Ness who took down the notorious Al Capone. Was Ness able to find the monster responsible for these gruesome crimes or does this case remain unsolved?

On August 8, 2013 Brandon Lawson went missing after running out of gas on a rural Texas highway. The only evidence is a 911 call he made for help. He seems to have vanished out of thin air for over a decade, until new evidence surfaced 11 years later.