Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown

In 1954, hundreds of cast and crew members traveled to the deserts of southern Utah to make what was supposed to be Hollywood's next epic adventure movie: The Conqueror. The film starred John Wayne as Genghis Khan and was backed by eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes. What was meant to become the next blockbuster ended up becoming one of the deadliest movies ever made, all thanks to a nuclear test...

When a deceased cameraman was found slumped in his car outside the Hollywood post office, police were certain jealousy was the motive. Or was it robbery? Either way, the killer must have been a man. Or maybe a woman? Yeah, police didn't have a clue, despite, well, all the clues. Episode Sources: “King D. Gray — Little Close-Ups of the A. S. C. (1922)” King’s Death Certificate “Film Cameraman Found...

It's officially summer and to celebrate we've got a brand spankin' new round of Misfit Tales! We're reading stories written by YOU about things you've experienced. Today's tales have been brought to you by Anonymous, Melody MacKay, Lexi and Maria. We've got a real-life possibly criminal case, a ghost truck, a visit from the afterlife and, as the title of this episode suggests, ghost fingers. Keep...

When Yoko Ono lost contact with her daughter, Kyoko Chan Cox, she had no idea it would be more than two decades before they would see each other again. After a bitter custody battle, Kyoko's father, Anthony Cox, disappeared with the young girl and eventually brought her into an allegedly secretive religious cult that kept them hidden from the outside world.   For ad-free and bonus episodes: Subscr...

In 1994 during a solo trip to New Orleans, 23-year-old Ylenia Carrisi - the granddaughter of Hollywood icon Tyrone Power - walked out the front door of the hotel where she was staying and never returned. If you have information on the whereabouts of Ylenia Carrisi, you are urged to contact the New Orleans Police Department at 504-658-5315, case number A-36564-94.   For further reading: Al Bano's a...

For more than a century New York City's Palace Theatre has stood at the heart of Broadway, hosting some of the biggest names in entertainment. Alongside its remarkable history, the theatre has also earned a reputation as one of Broadway's most haunted venues, with stories of ghostly acrobats, mysterious children, and even the lingering presence of Judy Garland.   For ad-free and bonus episodes: Su...

David Huffman stopped by the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego to bring his castmates cookies. It was a gesture of goodwill since he was leaving the production a week early to start work on a TV miniseries. Unfortunately he didn't make it to the start of the series. He didn't even make it to that evening's performance at the Old Globe. Minutes after dropping off the cookies and leaving the theatre, D...

Gagandip Singh was a young Sikh TV entrepreneur in London who seemed to have his whole future ahead of him. But one late-night visit to a student house in Brighton set off a chain of events that ended with one of the most disturbing murder cases Britain had seen in years. Behind the headlines was a tangled story involving friendship, grief, infatuation, religion, and revenge that still sparks deba...

*Claudine Longet died yesterday, May 14, 2026. We covered her case back in January 2023 and are re-releasing that episode in case you missed it the first time around. It's a wild one! **I just want to note that in this episode I mention Claudine admitted to pulling the trigger. I misspoke. ACTUALLY, she only admitted to shooting him. There is a difference. ;) This episode has quite the cast of cha...

Deep in the hills near Adams, Tennessee, the legend of the Bell Witch grew from a terrifying family haunting into one of America’s most famous ghost stories. For over 200 years, the tale has inspired books, paranormal investigations, and horror films like An American Haunting, leaving people still wondering what really happened on the Bell family farm.   For ad-free and bonus episodes: Subscribe o...

CW: This episode contains discussion of suicide. Lee Sun-kyun was already a household name in Korea when the critically acclaimed film "Parasite" took home the Oscar for Best Picture. Korea has strict moral standards when it comes to their citizens, and a celebrity who is constantly in the spotlight is sure to have their every move examined under a microscope. Such was the case for Lee Sun-kyun wh...

Gemma McCluskie was a former EastEnders actress who vanished from her East London home in March 2012. What began as a missing person case quickly turned into something more complex with unsettling discoveries in Regent’s Canal. As investigators worked to piece together what happened, attention shifted closer to home.   For ad-free and bonus episodes: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts -OR- Subscribe on Y...

The year: 1931. The place: New York City. Despite that the country was in the throes of the Great Depression, life seemed unaffected for the employed performers of the Ziegfeld Follies. During a weekend of summer fun and relaxation, five of the cast members were joined by a chauffeur and boat captain on a private yacht. Then tragedy stuck.   For ad-free and bonus episodes: Subscribe on Apple Podca...

Long before the Wendigo found its way into mainstream pop culture appearing in movies and TV shows, it lived in stories of indigenous communities as a warning about what happens when a person loses their humanity. Its origins are rooted in real places and real fears. It is often described as a towering, skeletal figure with skin stretched tight over bone and the stench of death.    For ad-free and...

Elliott Smith’s music felt extremely personal, like he was saying things that most people couldn’t quite put into words. His rise from Portland’s indie scene to an Oscar-nominated songwriter brought him into a spotlight he never seemed fully comfortable with. Behind the songs was a complicated life and a death that still leaves questions without clear answers.   For ad-free and bonus episodes: Sub...

Misfits! It's been a minute since our last Misfit Monday, but we're back! We're reading stories written by YOU about things you've experienced. Today's tales have been brought to you by Tammy T., Gloria via Chelsea, Deedee, Erin Carlson and Alice. We've got a floating lady in white, a lady in lavender (such colorful ladies), a strange guy in a pickup truck who might or might not have a gun, commun...

Jack Nance became a cult icon through his unforgettable role in Eraserhead and a decades-long collaboration with David Lynch. Offscreen, his life moved between moments of success and long battles with addiction. Those who knew him describe a man with a quiet humor and a way of seeing the world that felt just a little off center. His final days in South Pasadena led to a death that remains unresolv...

We've made it, Misfits. We're finally at the last part of our Hollywood Ripper series. What was Michael Gargiulo's childhood like? Did he have friends? Girlfriends? We're discussing his background as well as his trial in LA, and where things currently stand.   For ad-free and bonus episodes: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts -OR- Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/horrorwoodpodcast   Follow us! I...

Maria Bruno was a young mother of four, ready to start her new life away from her abusive husband. She never dreamed the new home she picked out for its safety and security features would be the very place her life would end. Michelle Murphy was a young, athletic woman living near the beach in Santa Monica. What began as an unremarkable, mundane evening turned into the most traumatic night of her...

18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio was a straight-A student, a member of the National Honor Society and an award-winning debater. She was just one week away from beginning her freshman year at Purdue University where she planned to study biomedical engineering. However, after a celebratory night out with friends her life ended in the most brutal way right on her very own doorstep.   For ad-free and bonus...

While you await Part 2 of our Hollywood Ripper series we've got a fun bonus episode for ya! Our special guest today is actor Patrick Mulvey. He plays Phil, Halle Berry's jerk of a co-worker in the new film "Crime 101," also starring Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo. In Season 2, Episode 3 of "The Pitt" he plays Benny, a father who is believed to be abusing his young daughter. We promise he's not a...

It was the night of the Grammy Awards - February 21, 2001. 22-year-old fashion student Ashley Ellerin set out the outfit she planned to wear to a Grammys after-party. Having just taken a shower, she was about to blow dry her hair when someone came to the door. Tragically, her life was cut short just moments later.   For ad-free and bonus episodes: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts -OR- Join our Patreon:...

Before her name was tied to a federal indictment, Shannon Richardson was known for appearances on television shows like The Walking Dead and The Vampire Diaries. In 2013, she became the center of a national criminal investigation involving letters sent to high-profile political figures. As investigators peeled back the layers, the case revealed a calculated act that carried consequences far beyond...

Brandon Lee was on the brink of becoming a major movie star when The Crow came his way. The movie became inseparable from the idea that something darker hung over its production. The legend of a curse took hold and didn't let go. The cult classic film had many accidents surrounding it, but the one that took Brandon's life would leave a permanent mark on Hollywood.   For ad-free and bonus episodes:...

Kirsty MacColl is remembered by most people as the voice sparring with Shane MacGowan on Fairytale of New York, but her story goes far beyond one Christmas song. She was a sharp songwriter and a working musician, with several hit records. When Kirsty was killed during a diving trip in Mexico in December 2000, the official explanation left her family with more questions than answers. What followed...