The Grim Curriculum

This is the first episode of our series on Fred and Rose West and we're diving right in. This is one of the most disturbing and haunting cases in British true crime history. Fred and Rose weren’t just serial killers, they were a couple who committed their crimes together, turning their family home into a house of horrors. In part one, we are going back to the start; looking at Fred’s troubled...

We are exploring some more true stories that are stranger than fiction, real-life horror plots, the ethics behind the Harvard morgue scandal, and the risks of snowboarding Everest. We also dig into a game-changing dinosaur discovery, the twisted tale of the Casanova Killer and his recent execution, and the ultra-rare old timey case of death by meteorite. PUT OUR MERCH ON YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR HOME...

In part two of our series on Richard Chase, we examine the tragic outcome of his untreated mental illness and escalating behavior. Over the course of just one month in early 1978, Chase took the lives of six random people in a series of deeply troubling acts. Thankfully, community members and law enforcement were able to come together to find the monster responsible for these heinous acts. In our...

Before he became known as the “Vampire of Sacramento,” Richard Chase was a young man showing clear signs of severe mental illness and violent tendencies. We are starting this series tracing his early life; from a dysfunctional home and troubling teenage behavior, including animal cruelty and substance abuse, to his eventual diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. As his delusions worsened, believing...

In this episode, Dina takes us through three unusual cases where methamphetamines and animals intersect in ways you truly wouldn't expect. One involves a cannon, another a raccoon, and the third features a cheeky corgi. You can guess for yourselves (or just listen to the episode, silly) which cases involve the meth. These stories highlight the bizarre consequences of drug use and questionable...

We thought it was time for a UFO story and we are taking a wild ride into one of the most famous alien abduction stories out there: The Case of Travis Walton. Back in 1975, Travis vanished from an Arizona forest while working with a logging crew, only to reappear five days later with a bizarre tale of being taken aboard a UFO. We break down what happened, the crew's polygraphs, public reaction...

In this episode, we dive into the heartbreaking and deeply disturbing case of Andrea Yates, the Texas mother who drowned her five children in a bathtub in 2001. We explore the events leading up to that tragic day, including her struggles with severe postpartum mental illness, and examine how the legal system handled one of the most shocking maternal filicide cases in American history. **Editor not...

This week, the title says it all... more or less. We’re not sure how we feel about Scott Peterson getting help from The Innocence Project, but we are definitely curious to see how it all plays out. Then, we throw it back to 1907 with the case of Bertha Beronda, the "old-timey Lorena Bobbitt," who made headlines after attacking her husband with a razor. We also cover the troubling discove...

After years of targeting young women, we watched Edmund Kemper’s story take a shocking turn when he murdered his own mother, Clarnell, and her friend, Sara Hallett. Ed staged it to look like a burglary gone wrong and fled to Colorado. Feeling the pressure, Kemper tried to turn himself in by calling the police multiple times, but at first, they did not believe him. Only after he insisted to an offi...

Before the murder of his mother, Clarnell, Edmund Kemper targeted female college students in the Santa Cruz area. Between 1972 and early 1973, he murdered six young women, most of whom he picked up while they were hitchhiking. Kemper used his size, calm demeanor, and articulate speech to appear non-threatening. Once the victims were in his car, he killed them—often through strangulation or shootin...

From the latest Titanic documentaries to the science behind bringing extinct animals back to life (yep, we’re talking about the dire wolf!). We also get into some more intense true crime stories, including a heartbreaking murder committed by a 13-year-old girl in the UK. Things take a really cool turn when we talk about legendary forensic artist Lois Gibson, who’s helped crack over 1,266 cases. An...

We told you we had BIG plans for episode 150. To kick off, we’re diving into the early life of Edmund Emil Kemper III. Long before the headlines and the horrifying crimes, there was a kid growing up in a deeply dysfunctional home. From a rocky relationship with his overbearing mother to some seriously disturbing behavior as a child, Kemper’s story raises big questions about what really shapes a ki...

This week, we’re taking a break from our usual gruesome true crime tales to explore the weirder side of the unexplained! We've talked about many well known cryptids before but what about some of the lesser-known (and seriously bizarre) creatures out there, like the Underwater Abominable Snowman, the Dover Demon, the Snallygaster, and the Pope Lick Monster? From spooky sightings to downright st...

It’s our 50th episode of Extra Credit and it's also our THIRD birthday! Not to mention we are just a couple of episodes away from 150 of The Grim Curriculum regular show. To celebrate, we’re diving into a mix of the strange, the shocking, and the downright bizarre (Let's be honest, this is really nothing new). We chat about Yolanda Saldívar’s denied parole (yep, she’s still behind bars for...

In this final part of our Ed Gein series, we dive into the disturbing discoveries made inside his "home of horrors" and follow the investigation that ultimately led to his arrest. We break down the details of his trial and explore the eerie legacy he left behind. We examine the impact Gein’s crimes had on society and still have, which is why his story continues to grip the public decades...

Things are unraveling fast for Ed Gein. With his entire family gone, most notably his domineering mother, Augusta, there’s no one left to rein in his descent into madness. And descend he does. In this episode, we explore the dark path Ed takes without his mother’s oppressive presence to keep him “on the straight and narrow.” His mental and physical state deteriorate rapidly, and before long, the q...

This week Dina dives into the recent story of a man’s harrowing escape from allegedly horrific conditions at the hands of his stepmother. Plus, South Carolina has carried out its first firing squad execution in 15 years, reigniting debate around capital punishment. But don't worry, it’s not all heavy. We’re lightening things up with some fascinating bird-related language trivia (Charlotte says...

This episode kicks off our series on American murderer and grave robber Ed Gein. We delve into his troubled childhood and disturbing family life, discussing how his strict, overbearing mother, a deeply religious woman obsessed with sin and punishment, shaped his warped perception of the world. Isolation and an upbringing in an extremely dysfunctional household proved to be a toxic combination. Tel...

We love ghosts around here and we especially love a haunted house but what about an entire haunted town? Well as it turns out the globe is riddled with haunted towns, cities and even islands. So today we ask you to join with us (mentally) on a trip to travel all over the planet to some of our favourite haunted destinations. Poveglia Close Up of Hospital (Youtube Thumbnail) By Chris 73 / Wikimedia...

Dina kicks things off this episode with her account of a truly eerie experience at a sketchy "estate sale" that felt ripped straight from a horror movie. We also break down the latest updates in the Menendez brothers’ case and how a newly appointed Los Angeles County DA is likely going to make their fight for freedom a lot harder. The seemingly suspicious death of legendary actor Gene Hackman, and...

We are delving into one of history’s most bizarre and chilling true crime cases—the story of Carl Tanzler, a man whose creepy fixation led to a shocking crime. When 22 year old Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos succumbed to tuberculosis in 1931, Tanzler’s obsession took an even more disturbing turn. What followed was a ghastly tale of a crime so unsettling it defied comprehension. Tell YOUR stories on...

In this episode, we dive into the complex phenomenon of Hybristophilia—the attraction to criminals, particularly those who have committed heinous acts. Through case studies of infamous figures like Ted Bundy and Richard Ramirez, we explore the psychological motivations behind this fascination, the allure of danger, and the often tragic consequences of such relationships. We also examine the blurre...

We've got ancient Roman tax fraud and why it's significant, A tragic story involving a very bad trip that ended in violence. Worry not though because we will bring you back up with the heartwarming story of Pelorus Jack. Tell YOUR stories on the next episode of Grim Encounters! Email us your strange, unusual or hair-raising experience to ⁠thegrimcurriculum@gmail.com⁠ For the video of this...

We have another Old Timey Hollywood case for you today. In 1922, Clara Phillips, known as the 'Tiger Woman,' was convicted of a shocking crime fueled by jealousy. Believing her husband was unfaithful, she lured and attacked 19 year old widow, Alberta Meadows. Her case became one of the most infamous true crime stories of the era, often being compared to other prolific Hollywood cases, The...

It was about time we flipped the script again and told your stories on the show! We have some potential paranormal encounters, a near miss with a mountain lion and an unexpected run in with a car jacker and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Enjoy! (and remember you're a Womble) Tell YOUR stories on the next episode of Grim Encounters! Email us your strange, unusual or hair-raising experience...