The New York Mystery Machine

In 1587, more than a hundred English settlers vanished without a trace from an isolated island off the coast of North Carolina. When their governor, John White, returned three years, the only clue was a single word carved into a post: CROATOAN. In this episode, we unravel the enduring mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. We explore who these settlers were, what they endured, and what may have be...

Experience the magic of the holiday season in New York City! From the sparkling lights of Rockefeller Center to the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, discover how New York’s traditions have helped shape how America celebrates Christmas. Meet the Rockettes at Radio City, visit Santa Claus, and ring in the New Year in Times Square. From the creators of The New York Mystery Machine , this is A V...

Beneath the streets of Lower Manhattan lies a legacy built on corruption, misery, and decay. Known for nearly two centuries as “The Tombs,” New York City’s infamous municipal jail has seen it all — from public hangings and botched escapes to riots, suicides, and scandals that shook the city’s justice system to its core. We trace The Tombs’ story from its foundations atop the poisoned remains of Co...

Polly Bodine was everything a woman shouldn't be in the 1840s: a single mother with a boyfriend who drank gin. When her sister-in-law and niece are brutally murdered, it doesn't take long for her neighbors to pin it on Polly. But did Polly do it? What could possibly have motivated her? Tune in this week to hear all about the three trials of Polly Bodine, and tell us what you think happened...

We are uncovering the chilling true story of Borley Rectory — the most haunted house in England. From the first whispers of ghostly nuns along a quiet Essex lane to the séance messages that seemed to foretell the rectory’s fiery end, every corner of this story is steeped in mystery. Through documented testimonies, Harry Price’s meticulous records, and modern accounts from the churchyard that still...

Louise Pietrewicz said goodbye to her daughter Sandy as she boarded her school bus one morning, and then disappeared. For decades her family searched for her and wondered what had happened. Answers seemed impossible until one day a renewed interest in the case sent investigators digging in the former house of Louise's boyfriend. Learn about Louise's disappearance and tragic end on this week's epis...

Opened in 1906 by John Jacob Astor IV, the Knickerbocker Hotel was once the height of New York luxury, hosting celebrities, tycoons, and artists in the heart of Times Square. But its history is also marked by jewel heists, strange scandals, and enduring ghost stories. In this episode, we uncover the hotel’s glamorous rise, mysterious decline, and the hauntings said to linger within its walls. Be s...

This week we are talking about the horrific murders of four Indigenous women in Winnipeg, Canada and contextualizing their story within the larger epidemic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people (MMIWG2S) throughout the United States and Canada. In 2022, the remains of Rebecca Contois were discovered, leading to an arrest and the discovery that Rebecca was not the o...

On a spring night in 1974, young musician Valarie Cuccia vanished from a Brooklyn nightclub. This episode delves into her life, the people she was last seen with, the investigation’s challenges, and the enduring mystery that has haunted her family for nearly 50 years. Be sure to Subscribe, Rate, & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Audible! Support the show by becoming a sponsor on our Pat...

Labor Day weekend 1895: Evelina Bliss ate the very normal, not at all disgusting meal of New England Clam Chowder and lemon meringue pie. Shortly after, she had terrible stomach pains and vomiting, and soon died. In her last recorded moments, she blamed her daughter....but is there any proof? Be sure to Subscribe, Rate, & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Audible! Support the show by beco...

In this episode, we dive into one of the most enduring and bizarre conspiracy theories in music history: the claim that Paul McCartney of The Beatles secretly died in 1966 and was replaced by a lookalike. From “clues” hidden in album covers and backward messages in songs, to the cultural paranoia of the late 1960s, we unpack how this rumor took hold and why it refuses to fade. Was it an elaborate...

It's time to dust off the Mulder to Scully Scale, because this week Adam and Christina are exploring El Chupacabra, the Goat Sucker. This is an immensely popular cryptid, known for doing exactly what its name promises: exsanguinating goats (and other livestock), presumably drinking their blood. But what are the origins of this creature? When did it make its presence known? And what are the the...

In the heart of the city stands Clinton Court — a tucked-away enclave with a façade of old-world charm and a history steeped in shadows. From mysterious footsteps echoing in empty hallways to ghostly figures glimpsed in candlelight, its past is bound to séances, spiritualists, and one of New York’s most prolific ghost hunters, Hans Holzer. In this chilling episode, we unravel over a century of spe...

She should be ashamed to admit it, but Christina has never seen Good Fellas! As a result, everything about Scorsese's source material was a surprise to her - including that it really happened. Learn all about the airport insiders who teamed up with the mob to get a whole lot of cash in one of America's biggest heists. Be sure to Subscribe, Rate, & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and...

Today we dive deep into the twisted mind of Charles Manson and the brutal crimes committed by his cult-like Family. From the eerie beginnings at Spahn Ranch to the Tate-LaBianca murders that shocked a nation, we unravel the full story — with chilling testimonies, verified news reports, and rare historical details. We explore the mysterious deaths linked to the Family, their bizarre ideology, the h...

We're back! And we're kicking off our season with a look at a series of interconnected cases that space decades. Kathie Durst goes missing in 1982; Susan Berman and Morris Black are killed in the early 2000s. The only connective tissue between the three is real estate empire heir Robert Durst. Find out on this week's episode how investigators finally closed in on him. Be sure to Subscr...

Surprise! We may be on hiatus for a few weeks but we are also in the midst of an intense mayoral campaign. So, we thought we should chime in a chat about some of the most controversial and scandal-filled mayors in NYC history! Be sure to Subscribe, Rate, & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Audible! Support the show by becoming a sponsor on our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

We did it! Four full seasons! Today we are investigating some new information on the Long Island Serial Killer. There's is new info and a brand new documentary all about Rex Heuermann that Adam is brreaking down. Plus, a Son of Sam update, a Harvey Burdell song, and the 2025 Tammany Awards! Be sure to Subscribe, Rate, & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Audible! Support the show by be...

In the heart of Carroll Gardens during the infamous 1977 New York City blackout, 17-year-old Dominick Ciscone was shot dead on a Brooklyn street corner — the only confirmed murder of that chaotic night. Forty-eight years later, his case remains unsolved. We unravel the mystery behind Dominick’s death, exploring the culture of silence in tight-knit neighborhoods, the overwhelmed NYPD of the 1970s,...

In 1961, Betty and Barney Hill were on their way back from honeymooning in Montreal when a strange craft appeared over them and followed them in the dark New Hampshire night. They rushed down the highway, trying to escape it, arriving home with two hours of unaccounted for time. As strange memories surfaced, physical ailments emerged, and mechanical failures occurred, all signs pointed towards som...

Richard Rogers Jr.  was a dangerous man in the late 80s and 90s, having murdered and dismembered queer men in NYC. What started his desire to attack men in the LGBTQ community and was he ever stopped? Be sure to Subscribe, Rate, & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Audible! Support the show by becoming a sponsor on our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

You may think you know everything about spies. But, did you know that America's first covert espionage group worked out of New York City in 1778? The Culper Spy Ring was George Washington's personal network of spies and his secret advantage in winning the Revolutionary War. Be sure to Subscribe, Rate, & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Audible! Support the show by becoming a spon...

The Sullivan Institute for Research in Psychoanalysis was a radical psychoanalytic group that operated in New York City from the late 1950s until the early 1990s. The group was founded by Saul B. Newton and Dr. Jane Pearce, and began with unconventional ideas about therapy and society, promising liberation and emotional freedom. But over time, it evolved into a tightly controlled and manipulative...

This week we're in Syracuse, the Salt City, covering two confounding cold case homicides. Jill-Lyn Euto was brutally killed in her own home on Super Bowl Sunday 2001; Terry Cornell was killed at an unknown location before having her body left on the side of the road. What happened to these young women? And why has there been such a paucity of leads in these cases?  Be sure to Subscribe, Rate,...

We are in Chicago, 1893. The city is buzzing with the excitement of the World’s Columbian Exposition. But, not too far from the Expo grounds was a hotel...but not an ordanry hotel. It was a Murder Castle owned by the monster known as H.H. Holmes. Be sure to Subscribe, Rate, & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Audible! Support the show by becoming a sponsor on our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...