Dawn of Mantis: True Crime, Mysteries and More

Send us Fan Mail In this 13th part of our series on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. We discuss Jim's continued legal battles, his attempts to repair Jonestown's damaged public image, and finally, the dreaded visit from California Congressman Leo Ryan. Redbeard Sound RedBeard Sound specializes in live sound engineering, recording, music production & audio editing. Disclaimer: This p...

Send us Fan Mail In the 12th part of our series on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. We cover the continued downfall of Jim's empire, his out of control drug use, and the legal and media firestorm that would eventually lead to the event that caused the mass suicide and murder of everyone in Jonestown- the visit from California Congressman Leo Ryan. Redbeard Sound RedBeard Sound specializes in...

Send us Fan Mail In this 11th part of our series on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple.  We cover Jim's harsh reign over Jonestown, the difficult assimilation of the new wave of settlers, the custody battle with Grace Stoen, and the ever-growing group back in America calling for an investigation into Jim's alleged abuse and human rights violations. Redbeard Sound RedBeard Sound specializes...

Send us Fan Mail In episodes 309 through 311, we did a three part series on the unsolved murder of Ruby Stapleton. A huge part of the information in that series came from the book "The Washeteria Mystery: Who Killed Ruby?", written by Catherine Rathe. In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Catherine in person about Ruby's case. Redbeard Sound RedBeard Sound specializes...

Send us Fan Mail In this tenth part of our series on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, we cover Jim’s seduction of San Francisco’s political elite, some major defections that severely impacted his mental state, and the damning magazine article that caused his early departure for Jonestown. Redbeard Sound RedBeard Sound specializes in live sound engineering, recording, music production & audio...

Send us Fan Mail In part 9 of our series on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. We talk about Jim's continued sexual deviancy,  the beginning of the construction of Jonestown, and Jim's earliest hints that he may some day expect the ultimate sacrifice from his followers. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In part eight of our series on Jim Jones, we cover the retaliation of the recently defected "Gang of Eight", and the extreme paranoia it created in Jim, which resulted in harsh punishments for the remaining Temple members.  We'll also cover Jim's decision to head to South America, and the Temples procurement of the patch of jungle that would soon become Jonesto...

Send us Fan Mail In part seven of our series on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, we cover the Temple’s most prosperous period, Jim Jones’ deteriorating mental state and the bizarre behaviors it manifested, the church’s expansion into LA and San Francisco, and the Temple’s first major defection, which drove Jim Jones mad. Redbeard Sound RedBeard Sound specializes in live sound engineering, recordi...

Send us Fan Mail In part 6 of our series on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, we cover the Temple’s complicated assimilation into Ukiah, the eventual growth of the Temple, Jim’s spiraling mental state, growing paranoia and his decision to keep a mistress.   Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we cover Jim's increasing nuclear paranoia, his search for a new home for the Peoples Temple, and their move to California.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode,  we introduce you to "Father Divine," the holy man who significantly influenced Jones. We'll also continue covering the expansion of Jim's own family as well as the Peoples Temple empire and discuss how the stress of it all nearly cause Jim to have a mental breakdown. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In part three of our series, we cover Jim's departure from the Methodist church, his foray into evangelism and faith healing, his rise in influence in the city of Indianapolis, and the origins of the church that would eventually become the Peoples Temple.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we cover how Jim met Marceline Baldwin, the couple's move from Lynn to Richmond, the failed adoption of Ronnie Baldwin, and Jim's first preachin' gig. Oh, and there's an attack monkey in there somewhere, too. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In our first ever episode from the brand new studio, we begin a series on the most infamous cult leader in American history- Jim Jones. In this episode, we cover the first seventeen years of Jim's life, from his birth in the Spring of 1931 to the Fall of 1947.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In our second and final episode on the Charley Starkweather Murder Spree, we cover the latter part of Charley's reign of terror, as well as his and Caril's apprehension by police. We also discuss their trials, Charley's execution, and Caril's life after prison.  Redbeard Sound RedBeard Sound specializes in live sound engineering, recording, music production &am...

Send us Fan Mail From November of 1956 to January of 1957, nineteen year old Charley Starkweather killed eleven people across 2 states. He had his fourteen year old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, with him during the murder spree, and her exact role in the slayings is debated to this day.  Redbeard Sound RedBeard Sound specializes in live sound engineering, recording, music production & audio ed...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we talk about one of our favorite shows ever- the raunchy, enuendo filled British comedy "Are You Being Served?".  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In our second and final episode on John Murray Spear, we cover the second, far wackier part of John's life.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This is part one of a two part series on John Murray Spear- a Universalist pastor turned Spiritualist turned low-key cult leader who operated in the mid to late 1800s. In this episode we cover the first half of his life, in which he achieved a sterling reputation as a philanthropist,  abolitionist, and prison reformer. In part 2, we will cover his later life, which was marked by s...

Send us Fan Mail In the 1960s, the Centralia City council set fire to a trash pile on top of an abandoned coal mine, and ignited an an underground coal fire that would eventually spell the end of the town. Redbeard Sound RedBeard Sound specializes in live sound engineering, recording, music production & audio editing. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I ma...

Send us Fan Mail In just a few decades, Picher went from a booming mine town of over 14,000 residents, to a literal ghost town. Turns out, the very industry that gave the town life would also be its undoing, and today all that remains are a few dilapidated structures and a grid of empty streets. Redbeard Sound RedBeard Sound specializes in live sound engineering, recording, music production &...

Send us Fan Mail We conclude our series on Fern Rodgers by covering the  trials of the three conspirators,  as well as their lives after sentencing.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In the third part of our four part series, we continue covering Fern's ongoing investigation as well as the initial arrests made in the case.  Redbeard Sound RedBeard Sound specializes in live sound engineering, recording, music production & audio editing. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost t...

Send us Fan Mail In part 2 of our 4 series, we cover the details of Fern's murder, as well as the genesis of the investigation.   Redbeard Sound RedBeard Sound specializes in live sound engineering, recording, music production & audio editing. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In late September, 1974, a wealthy doctor's wife and socialite named Fern Rodgers was found lying dead in the floor of her sprawling colonial home. She had been shot twice in the head. The evidence soon led investors straight to her estranged husband, Dr. Porter Rodgers, and his young girlfriend, Peggy Hale.  Redbeard Sound RedBeard Sound specializes in live sound engineering...