The Vibes Were Off

In 1978, 24-year-old Steven Kubacki set out on a solo cross-country ski trip near the icy shores of Lake Michigan. When his abandoned skis and tracks leading straight onto the frozen lake were discovered, it appeared he had fallen through the ice and died. Despite an extensive search, no body was ever found. Then, 15 months later, Steven suddenly reappeared over 700 miles away in Massachusetts—wit...

Lisa McVey was 17 years old, riding her bicycle home from work, when a car slowly pulled up beside her. Moments later, she was kidnapped by a man who had already murdered multiple women—and she was convinced she would never make it home again. But instead of giving in to fear, Lisa did something extraordinary. She stayed calm, studied her captor, memorized every detail she could, and used psycholo...

In Part 2 of House of Horrors, we dive deeper into the nightmare unfolding inside Gary Heidnik's Philadelphia basement. As the abuse escalates, Heidnik uses fear, starvation, and psychological manipulation to maintain control over the women he has imprisoned. Under constant threats and brutal punishment, trust becomes a luxury none of them can afford. This episode explores the impossible choic...

At first glance, Gary Heidnik seemed like an unlikely predator—a self-proclaimed preacher who appeared to have wealth, influence, and a quiet life in Philadelphia. But behind closed doors, he was carefully searching for vulnerable women he believed no one would miss. In Part 1, Kathryn and Meg dive into the beginning of Heidnik's horrifying crimes. From the warning signs that were overlooked t...

A single headlight appeared in Sharon Komlos's rearview mirror late one night. Assuming the driver wanted to get around her, she slowed down and pulled over. Seconds later, a bullet tore through her head. You won't believe what happened next. Bleeding and terrified, Sharon found herself trapped in a nightmare of kidnapping, assault, and unimaginable cruelty. And when a man appeared who see...

For years, Whitney Temple lived in a relationship that looked normal from the outside, but behind closed doors, she endured relentless abuse. In this episode of The Vibes Were Off, Kathryn and Meg explore Whitney's powerful survival story. We discuss how emotional, mental and physical abuse can slowly chip away at a person's confidence, the warning signs that are often overlooked, and the...

Imagine climbing into your car for a normal custody exchange and realizing way too late that you’ve just walked into a trap. That’s exactly what happened to Teri Jendusa-Nicolai on January 31st, 2004. After years of trying to escape her abusive ex-husband, Teri was brutally attacked, taped up, and locked inside a plastic storage bin packed with snow in the back of a pickup truck. For the next 26 h...

In Part 2, we dive deeper into the horrifying true story of Jan Broberg and the second kidnapping that shattered what little normalcy she had left. Just when the Broberg family thought the nightmare was over, Robert “B” Berchtold manipulated his way back into their lives — using lies, guilt, religion, and psychological control to pull Jan away from everyone who was trying to protect her. We talk a...

Jan Broberg: Part 1 Okay, this story is one of those where you keep asking yourself, how did no one stop this? In Part 1, we’re getting into the first abduction of Jan Broberg — and it starts way more normal than you’d expect. A family friend, someone everyone trusted, someone who slowly became part of their everyday life. Nothing about it feels off at first… until it really, really is. We’re goin...

In this episode, we dive into the terrifying true story of the Trashman sailboat sinking, where a group of friends set out on what was supposed to be an unforgettable journey—only to find themselves stranded in the open ocean after disaster strikes. Left without supplies, far from land, and exposed to the elements, they are forced into a desperate fight for survival. As the days pass, exhaustion,...

What starts as a troubled relationship slowly unravels into something much darker. In this episode, we’re diving into the case of Susan Walters. A story filled with tension, control, and a truth that didn’t come out until it was too late. On the outside, things may have looked normal… but behind closed doors, something wasn’t right. As investigators begin to piece together what really happened, th...

What started as a normal lunch at Luby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas turned into one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history. In a matter of minutes, a man crashed his truck through the front window and opened fire—leaving 23 people dead and a community forever changed. In this episode, we dive into the chaos, the heartbreaking losses, and the stories of survival and bravery that came out...

What started as an innocent obsession with an internet legend turned into something unthinkable. In this episode, we dive into the chilling case of the Slenderman stabbing—where two young girls lured their friend into the woods and committed a brutal attack, all to impress a fictional character. How did a creepy online myth spiral into real-life violence? And what does this case reveal about the b...

This episode starts with something that feels almost impossible. A woman… being watched for years… without ever knowing it. We’re talking about Mary Stauffer and her 8-year-old daughter Beth—taken in broad daylight by someone who had been obsessing over Mary since he was her student. No warning. No chance to prepare. Just gone. And what follows is 53 days trapped in a space so small, so controlled...

Today’s episode… it’s a heavy one—but it’s also one of the most unbelievable survival stories you’ll ever hear. We’re talking about Alison Botha, a woman who went through something so brutal, most people wouldn’t even survive minutes of it… and somehow, she did. In 1994, Alison was just going about her normal night, heading home, when she was abducted by two men. What happened next is honestly har...

In this episode, we tell the incredible story of Cassidy Stay, a teenager who survived a horrific family massacre in Texas. After a gunman murdered most of her family in their home, Cassidy was shot and left for dead—but miraculously survived. Despite unimaginable loss, she showed extraordinary courage, helping police identify the killer and later inspiring millions with her strength and resilienc...

Have you ever driven past a billboard that caught your eye or made you think? In todays episode, a listener request, Meg takes us through the incredibly frustrating case of Kathy Page. Who killed Kathy and why didn't the police investigate it? Will her family ever get justice? Listen and watch to find out! Resources: https://kfdm.com/news/local/unsolved-setx-vidor-police-chief-says-its-time-fo...

In 1999, Cynthia Vigil did the impossible: she escaped the Toy Box, a high-tech torture chamber operated by David Parker Ray. After three days of unimaginable horror, Cynthia seized a moment of distraction, fought off her captor with an ice pick, and fled into the New Mexico desert wearing nothing but a padlocked metal collar. This episode explores her harrowing abduction, her heart-pounding escap...

In this episode we discuss a 15th century tale full of demons, possessions, political espionage and exorcisms. Resources: Jeanne des Anges. (1644). Autobiography.  Jeanne des Anges. (n.d.). Relation de la possession des Ursulines de Loudun.  Jean-Joseph Surin. (c. 1655). Science expérimentale des choses de l'autre vie.  Procès d’Urbain Grandier. (1634). Trial records, Loudun, France.  de Certeau,...

During this episode we discuss some of the high value celebrity kidnappings of the last century. We discuss Frank Sinatra Jr. and the team who kidnapped him to gain start up money for a new business venture. The abduction of Juan and Jorge Born including the most ransom demand paid up until that point. Alfred Heineken and his driver, who were kidnapped for three weeks before being rescued after th...

In this episode, we dive deep into the realities of grizzly bear behavior and human/bear encounters, looking at both what the science says and what has actually happened in real-life cases. We begin with an overview of grizzly bears, including their natural habits, habitat, and how interactions with people typically unfold. According to wildlife experts, grizzly attacks are rare but serious, and m...

In this episode, we recount the harrowing 2009 attack on Charla Nash by Travis, a 200-pound chimpanzee raised as a human pet. We break down the terrifying sequence of events in Stamford, CT and the medical miracles that followed, including Charla’s historic full-face transplant. Finally, we look at how this tragedy exposed the dangers of the exotic pet trade and pushed for critical legislative cha...

In this episode of The Vibes Were Off, we delve into the tragic events of the 1984 San Ysidro McDonald's massacre, one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history. We explore the background of the perpetrator and the harrowing timeline of the attack that forever changed the community and law enforcement protocols. Join us as we honor the victims and discuss the lasting impact this sens...

Following the death of co-founder Bonnie Nettles, Marshall Applewhite Jr. had to come up with a new theology from physical space travel to the belief that they must "shed their human vehicles" through suicide to ascend. The group maintained extreme control over members through check partners, enforced androgyny—including surgical castrations—and intense indoctrination involving sci-fi media like S...

Founded in the early 1970s by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, the group initially known as "The Two" began by traveling across the United States to recruit followers through a message that blended Christian theology with science fiction. They convinced early converts that they were extraterrestrial beings in human bodies who could help others achieve a physical transformation to...