Morbidology

Police in Orono, Minnesota, received a report of a vehicle on the road with a smashed back windscreen and a missing tyre on the 20th of May, 2022. When officers responded to the scene and pulled the car over, they immediately noticed blood in the back seat, and on the driver’s hands… SPONSORS: EZ Melts:  EZ Melts are fast-melting, sugar free wonders that dissolve on your tongue, giving you all the...

In today’s digital age, obsessions can spital into existence through the vast expanses of the internet. They can even blur the lines between virtual fantasy and reality. In September of 2008, detectives in Nottingham, in the United Kingdom, were investigating a murder when their focus shifted to the online world of gaming.  SPONSORS - 310 Nutrition: They have the hydration game down to a tee. Chec...

Thad Phillips was asleep on his couch in Baraboo, Wisconsin, on the night of July 29, 1995. In the haze of half-sleep, he suddenly became aware of somebody lifting him. He thought that it was his father taking him to bed, but when he emerged from his daze, he found himself standing outside, with an older teenage boy standing before him. SPONSORS - Winona: Winona is a network of OBGYN health profes...

Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on August 25, 2017, unleashing widespread devastation along the Gulf Coast. In the days and weeks that followed, rescue missions were taking place, but amidst these, it became apparent that a woman had disappeared. However, detectives didn’t believe her disappearance was connected to the storm…. SPONSORS - ZocDoc:  Zocdoc is the only free app that lets you f...

Brad Osborne went to pick up his friend and co-worker to carpool to work in Mountain City, Tennessee, on 31 January, 2012. He pulled up outside and waited for several moments but Billy Payne never appeared. Brad opened up the unlocked back door, and other than an alarm clock blaring, the home was unusually silent…. SPONSORS - Truvaga:  Are you still grappling with stress and struggling to maintain...

Nikki Kuhnhausen, a transgender teen, found herself at a friend’s home in Vancouver, Washington, on the 6th of June, 2019. While she was normally chatty, her attention was fixated on her cell phone, chatting away on Snapchat with a man she had just met downtown. As the early morning hours approached, Nikki left her friend’s home, embarking on a journey from which she would never return. SPONSORS -...

Two teenage boys were walking through a bushy area close to Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Washington, on the morning of the 14th of December, 1991. As they drew closer to one of the bushes, a young man suddenly popped up. He glared at the two boys, before turning around and walking off. Nutrafol:  Hair thinning affects approximately 1 in 2 women, but you’re not alone. Nutrafol is the lea...

Eddie Werner was going door to door in his neighbourhood in Jackson Township, New Jersey, in the summer of 1997. He was hoping to sell the most candy for his school’s PTA to win the top prize of walkie talkies. That afternoon, however, Eddie failed to return home, prompting a large-scale search that would lead detectives to the dark underbelly of the internet. SPONSORS - ZocDoc: Zocdoc is the only...

Officer Mark Hermann was responding to a call for a welfare check in Davis, California, on the 14th of April, 2013. Oliver Northup and Claudia Maupin hadn’t shown up to church that morning, and all attempts to reach them by phone were unsuccessful. As the officer scanned the perimeter of their home, he spotted that a window screen had been sliced open… SPONSORS - Truvaga: Are you still grappling w...

Upon receiving a call regarding an unresponsive child in Dayton, Ohio, detectives promptly arrived at the home from which the call originated. Despite the outward appearances of tidiness within the home, they were horrified upon inspecting the attic. Evidence suggested that somebody had been living there, and a camera had strategically been installed to watch their every move… SPONSORS - 4Patriots...

A Park Ranger at Carlsbad Caverns National Park was working on the afternoon of the 8th of May, 1999. As he made his way past Rattlesnake Canyon, he observed a car parked on the trailhead. Just a couple of days earlier, two men had obtained a camping permit, but they had failed to sign out… SPONSORS - Aura: Aura scans the internet for your email addresses, passwords, social security numbers, and o...

On the night of 31 January, 2013, the smoke alarm started blaring from the Grafton House Hotel in Blackpool. As residents went outside, they could see flames flickering from the alleyway located behind the hotel. What appeared to be a mannequin was ablaze, but as the fire rescinded, it became apparent that it wasn’t a mannequin at all. SPONSORS - ZocDoc: Zocdoc is the only free app that lets you f...

In the early morning hours of March 28, 2014, Brisbane, Australia experienced stormy weather. As the rain subsided, the homeless community of Kurilpa Park emerged from their shelters. On a nearby bench, some of them noticed what appeared to be a homeless woman. She lay on the bench, clad only in damp newspapers to shield her from the elements. SPONSORS - Truvaga: Are you still grappling with stres...

In a quiet suburb of Timaru on New Zealand’s South Island, a woman and her husband were watching television on the night of 16 September, 2021. As they were unwinding, a strange sound emanated from the garden next door. The woman went outside and peered through the fence, and could see somebody pacing up and down and sobbing. SPONSORS - ZocDoc: Zocdoc is the only free app that lets you find and bo...

As Christmas drew near in 2010, detectives in Houston, Texas, received an alert about a missing twelve-year-old boy. As they launched their investigation, conflicting accounts of events surfaced from those who were closest to the boy. SPONSORS - Winona: Thank you to Winona for sponsoring this episode! Winona is a network of OBGYN health professonals dedicated to women navigating menopause or perim...

The “Mr. Big” operation is an investigative technique used by law enforcement agencies, particularly in Canada. It is a type of undercover operation designed to obtain a confession from a suspect in a serious criminal case. In 2019, after a mother and her young daughter vanished in Cranston, Canada, detectives quickly zoned in on a primary suspect. They just needed the evidence for an arrest, and...

Blacksburg is a town of roughly 43,000 residents in Montgomery County, Virginia, in the United States. Nestled in the picturesque New River Valley, enveloped by the Appalachian Mountains, the town boasts natural beauty with its hiking trails and parks. Notably recognised as the residence of Virginia Tech, Blacksburg is affectionately known as Hokie Nation, embodying a robust school spirit and prid...

Jogging is a popular form of exercise for millions worldwide, offering a holistic boost to physical and mental well-being, stress reduction, and an opportunity to connect with nature. Despite its benefits, safety considerations, particularly for women, loom large—especially when navigating isolated or dimly lit paths. In 2020, a woman vanished while jogging in a rural area in Jackson County, Arkan...

Mental illnesses can have a profound impact on a family, affecting various aspects of relationships, communication and overall well-being. They can exert strain on interpersonal connections, and 2011, the question of mental illness within a family raised questions as detectives scrambled to investigate a shocking murder of a mother. SPONSORS - Schedule35: Thank you to Schedule35 for sponsoring thi...

On the 25th of December 2017, Beach Drive and Goodwin Street in Oak Bay, Victoria, Canada, buzzed with the spirit of Christmas. The homes and apartments were aglow with festive cheer, from decorated Christmas trees, windows shimmering with twinkling lights, and even the presence of illuminated Santas and candy canes. Later on, however, the atmosphere in the neighbourhood took an unexpected turn, a...

The early morning mist has just begun to dissipate over the hills of Belfast, Northern Ireland, on the 12th of April, 2004. Despite schools being closed for the Easter Monday holiday, there was a sense of activity in the otherwise tranquil hills. A group of travelers had established a makeshift home in this remote landscape, marked by forests, fields, and lakes. Amidst this desolation, a teenage b...

Nohema Graber had come from Mexico to Fairfield, Iowa, where she and her husband raised a family. As a devoted educator, her sudden disappearance one November afternoon in 2021 left her students deeply troubled. As detectives began their investigation, a local resident came forth. He reported seeing two teenagers driving Nohema’s car… SPONSORS - B abbel: Thank you to Babbel for sponsoring this epi...

Santa Cruz, California, is renowned for its secure, laid-back beach atmosphere. Boasting white sandy beaches and a charming boardwalk, it remains a favoured destination for tourists. It was the peak of summer season in 2015. The city was abuzz with holiday makers, while residential neighbourhoods were filled with children off school for the holidays. On the 25th of July, everything changed, as the...

"From Wondery, and hosted by Laura Beil - The new season of Dr. Death, BAD MAGIC is a story of miraculous cures, magic and murder. When a charismatic young doctor announces revolutionary treatments for cancer and HIV, patients from around the world turn to him for their last chance. As medical experts praise Serhat Gumrukcu’s genius, the company he co-founded rockets in value to over half a billio...

The trend of online dating continues to surge in popularity each year. Yet, alongside its widespread appeal, the realm of online dating harbours its own set of dangers. The veiled nature of interactions through digital screens allows individuals to craft personas that may diverge significantly from their actual identities. Women could be meeting the man of their dreams, or their worst nightmare. I...