Fresh Hell Podcast

Today Annie takes us to the beautiful village of Brewster on Cape Cod Bay, in the late 1800s, and tells us the terrible story of the murder of Sadie Hassard after being stalked and murdered by a rejected suitor.

Today we look back on some of the most interesting deaths in history. We discuss Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, his rule in Persia, now modern day Iran, and his violent death. We discuss the death of General John Sedgwick, Union army hero, on the battlefield at Spotsylvania. We’ll cover death by very long beard, and ponder the merits...... Continue Reading →

In today’s, we look back at two of the most infamous cats in history. Simon the Shipcat, who was the only cat in history to ever receive the Dickin Medal for his outstanding bravery and the comfort he gave the crew of the HMS Amethyst in a dire situation. And another ship cat, The Unsinkable Sam,...... Continue Reading →

In our final episode on the Amityville Horror we discuss the investigation by the Warrens and do our best to answer the most common questions. We also try to debunk some of the popular rumors surrounding the house on Ocean Avenue in Amityville, NY. We'll discuss some of the most popular skeptical views on the...... Continue Reading →

A year after the horrible murders of the DeFeo family, George Lutz and his family purchased the beautiful home on Ocean Avenue in Amityville, NY. Today we tell their true story as told by Jay Anson’s 1977 book, “The Amityville Horror.”

In 1974 a terrible crime rocked the town of Amityville, NY, when Ronnie DeFeo Jr murdered 6 members of his own family. In our 2ooth episode special we talk about their story

The conclusion of the horrific and brazen attacks in Austin, Texas from New Year’s Eve 1885 to Christmas Eve, 1885. Among the murdered are Mollie Smith, Eliza Shelly, Irene Cross, Mary Ramey, Gracie Vance, Orange Washington, Susan Hancock and Eula Philips. More survivors would be forever haunted by these vicious attacks. We‘ll discuss these crimes...... Continue Reading →

Austin 1885: a series of brutal crimes shock the growing city! The victims of the brutal crimes: predominantly young women who worked as servants in the area. This week Annie and Johanna talk about the city Austin, and the first victims of the Axe murderer, Mollie Smith, Clara Strand and Christine Martenson, Eliza Shelly, Irene...... Continue Reading →

ceana  Wardlaw Martin Snead, called Ocey by her family, was a young woman, an excellent student and well liked by the whole community. When she fell ill, everybody worried about her. Well, maybe not everybody! It was her own family who had sinister plans for the young mother of two, who died in 1909.

In November, 1979, Robert Taylor, forestry worker and WWII veteran, experienced something terrifying in a clearing in the woods of Livingston, outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. This is perhaps the only UFO encounter formally investigated by police. Could there have been a reasonable explanation for what Bob Taylor experienced that day? Tell us what you think. 

Is Hänsel & Gretel based on real historical events? Was Little Red Riding Hood once a way darker story? nd how did a cursed frog truly turn back into the prince? Today Johanna tells us just how horrifyingly gruesome these original tales were. Don’t let your kids listen to these old school fairy tales!

From poisonous eye drops and mouse fur eyebrows to leaded face powder…we'll dive into how, historically, you could remove your hair, your teeth and your life, all in one sitting!

Today we discuss the terrible, story of Charles Ayer, family annihilator. What led up to that snowy New Hampshire day in January, 1906 that would leave 8 members of a family dead?  We’ll tell you everything we know about this tragedy.

In part 3 we discuss the aftermath of Natascha’s escape from Wolfgang Priklopil. We’ll also discuss the rumors, conspiracy theories and other mysterious deaths linked to the abduction of Natascha Kampusch.

Today Johanna continues the story of the abduction of 10 year old Natascha Kampusch on her walk to school in Vienna, Austria. We discuss her prison, her captor, and her daring escape after being held captive for 8 long years.

In 1998 the abduction of 10 year old Natascha Kampusch while on her way to school in Vienna, Austria stunned residents of this normally safe community. Today Johanna tells Annie the early life of Natascha and of her kidnapper, Wolfgang Přiklopil. 

In today’s more lighthearted episode, we look back at two of the most infamous dogs in history. Greyfriar’s Bobby, Edinburgh Scotland’s most loyal dog, a Terrier who rests beside his beloved human in the stunningly spooky Greyfriar’s Kirkyard. Also, Smoky, the ’Yorkie Doodle Dandy, ‘ whose mysterious appearance in a foxhole during World War II...... Continue Reading →

Today we cover the grand larceny trial of Guy Rockwell, and the lack of a homicide trial for Manzanita or Dolores Mearns. We also discuss the fact that Guy married Ruth Marie Terry in 1974, months before her partially dismembered body was found. Ruth was identified as the Lady of the Dunes on Halloween 2022. Today...... Continue Reading →

In part 2 of 3, we discuss the mountain of evidence indicating Guy Rockwell, (who married Ruth Marie Terry, aka ‘The Lady of the Dunes’ in 1974), brutally murdered his second wife, Manzanita and her daughter, Dolores Mearns in Seattle, in April of 1960. We’ll discuss what he was up to when authorities were searching...... Continue Reading →

On Halloween 2022, it was announced that the unsolved murder victim from Provincetown, Cape Cod known as The Lady of the Dunes had been identified through genealogical DNA, she was Ruth Marie Terry. Only months before her body was found, Ruth married Guy Rockwell, one of many aliases this man was known by. Today, we’ll discuss...... Continue Reading →

Today we return to the Beelitz Heilstätten, once a state of the art hospital dedicated to the care of those with tuberculosis, today it is perhaps one of the most haunted locations in Europe. Johanna discusses and debunks (when possible), the claims of Nazi experiments at the site, and tales of bizarre and terrifying paranormal...... Continue Reading →

How did the Beelitz Heilstätten go from a state of the art, self sufficient paragon of modern Tiberculosis treatment to one of the most haunted buildings in Europe (allegedly)?Today Johanna tells us about the history of this building, and some of the infamous figures it helped save. Next week, the many horrors that followed…

From frogs in your milk to secretly dosing your guests with an aphrodisiac…  we discuss some of the most interesting menu items in history, including of course,   The Roast Without Equal.   Join us for a macabre menu