Witches, Magic, Murder, & Mystery

Back in the Victorian era, families took photos of their relatives after death as a way to honor and remember them. While this practice seems particularly morbid and creepy by today’s standard, it’s pretty fascinating to explore it in the context of the time. If you want to view authentic postmortem photography, check out the Thanatos Archive at https://thanatos.net/.  A listener sent us some of h...

Part One of our Whitewater coverage was full of witchy magic and lore. This one is darker. In Part Two, we’re telling you about four different murder cases attached to Whitewater, Wisconsin. (Be sure to listen to Part One first!)  Want more content? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesmagicmurdermystery  Looking for merchandise? Check out our store!...

Whitewater, Wisconsin a city sometimes called “Second Salem” due to its association with witchcraft and the paranormal. From a spiritualism school to a cursed witch’s book to spooky cemeteries, we’re covering all the magical, witchy lore we can find in Whitewater. This is part one in a two-part series, tune in tomorrow for more! (If you’re a Patreon subscriber, part two is available in your feed t...

Everyone who knew Bill and Dorothy Wacker said they were a sweet, pleasant old couple living a completely normal life. There was no reason to suspect they had any enemies, until one day they came home to discover someone had clearly been inside their house. And so began a years-long harassment of the Wackers—who was behind it, and why? Want more content? There’s bonus content and other perks on ou...

Spooky season calls for spooky stories—meet Resurrection Mary, Chicago’s most famous ghost. This story was suggested by Toni, one of our listeners. Thanks so much for telling us about Mary!  Want more content? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesmagicmurdermystery  Looking for merchandise? Check out our store! https://witches-magic-murder-mystery-po...

Ok, this one is more of an oddity than anything else, but we’re going to file it under Mystery because WHY WAS THIS EVER OKAY?! **The audio quality on this one is rough, we know. We've reworked it a million times and this is the best we can get it. Thanks for being patient with us! Want more content? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesmagicmurdermy...

Minnesota’s Glensheen Mansion is on the National Registry of Historic Places, due to the size and beauty of the home, as well as the notable contributions of the family that once called it home. Unfortunately, its also the site of a double murder that took place in 1977. Want more content? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesmagicmurdermystery Looki...

TRIGGER WARNING: child abuse    This one is right up there with Sylvia Likens in terms of how much we hate it, but the fact that it’s been nearly 70 years since a young boy died in Philadelphia and people are still trying to do the right thing for him made us want to cover this one anyway.    Want more content? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesma...

Meet Isobel Gowdie, a Scottish woman who confessed to witchcraft in 1662, and possibly the most entertaining witch we've covered yet.  Want more content? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesmagicmurdermystery  Looking for merchandise? Check out our store! https://witches-magic-murder-mystery-podcast-store.myshopify.com  If you’re watching us on YouT...

Charles Domery was a very, very hungry man. You guys aren’t gonna believe the stuff he ate.  Want more content? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesmagicmurdermystery  Looking for merchandise? Check out our store! https://witches-magic-murder-mystery-podcast-store.myshopify.com  If you’re watching us on YouTube, our channel is filled with the unedit...

In 1488, a baby was born in a cave in the middle of a thunderstorm. She went on to live such an extraordinary life that her cave is now England’s oldest tourist attraction. This episode was suggested by Rachel via Anchor Voicemail! If you want to leave us a voicemail, just download the Anchor app and look us up!   Want more content? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www...

NOTE: Some more adult language than usual is in this episode—watch out for kids listening or listening at work! Sue Logue was the first (and only) woman to be executed by electric chair in South Carolina. This is her story, also known as that time a mule kicked a calf and eight people died.    Want more content? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesm...

Kentucky’s Sleepy Hollow Road is just a two-mile stretch of blacktop near Louisville, but those two miles are home to several creepy stories.  Our Tuesday episodes are known as Sidepieces—these are the stories we don’t usually have enough info on for a full episode, and are often sent in by you guys!  Have you checked out our Patreon? We’d love you to join us there, where we’re creating even more...

Baba Anujka was really into chemistry and potions and hating men. She’s been called the Banat Witch or the Witch of Vladimirovac, but for today’s episode, she’s known as The World’s Oldest Serial Killer.  Want more content? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesmagicmurdermystery  Looking for merchandise? Check out our store! https://witches-magic-mur...

Marie Laveau was a New Orleans Voodoo Queen, herbalist, and midwife whose tomb is the most visited grave site in New Orleans. She's the perfect witch to kick off our October episodes!  Want more content? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesmagicmurdermystery  Looking for merchandise? Check out our store! https://witches-magic-murder-mystery-podcast-...

We’re talking about the possibility of the CIA using drugs to hypnotize assassins to carry out attacks. Allegedly.  Our Tuesday episodes are known as Sidepieces—these are the stories we don’t usually have enough info on for a full episode, and are often sent in by you guys!  Have you checked out our Patreon? We’d love you to join us there, where we’re creating even more content for you. https://ww...

In 1974, a young girl stumbled upon the dead body of a woman. Nearly 50 years later, we still have no idea who she was, who’s responsible for her death, and why she was killed.  Want more content? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesmagicmurdermystery  Looking for merchandise? Check out our store! https://witches-magic-murder-mystery-podcast-store.m...

Grab your shortwave radio and tune in to MDZHb, a strange radio station that’s been broadcasting a mix of random words and sounds for over 50 years. You can listen from anywhere in the world, but your guess as to what you’re listening to is as good as anyone’s—no one knows who’s behind the broadcast or why it exists.  Our Tuesday episodes are known as Sidepieces—these are the stories we don’t usua...

When the Broaddus family bought their dream home, they were so excited to complete some renovations and move in. And then, the first letter arrived.  Want more from us? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesmagicmurdermystery  Looking for merchandise? Check out our store! https://witches-magic-murder-mystery-podcast-store.myshopify.com  If you’re watc...

Gloria Ramirez went to the hospital hoping for some sort of pain relief. Diagnosed with late stage cancer, it really isn’t much of a mystery as to what killed her. The unexplained part is why medical personnel started dropping like flies as soon as someone started an IV on her.  Our Tuesday episodes are known as Sidepieces—these are the stories we don’t usually have enough info on for a full episo...

Michelle Von Emster was a free spirit who loved the ocean. When her bruised and disfigured body was found floating in the water, it spawned a mystery that continues to this day: how exactly did Michelle Von Emster die?  Want more from us? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesmagicmurdermystery  Looking for merchandise? Check out our store! https://wi...

The legend of Liver-Eating Johnson is a big one. He’s known for murdering 300 native Americans as he sought revenge for the murder of his wife and unborn child. As for the liver eating part, you’ll just have to tune in for the details.  Our Tuesday episodes are known as Sidepieces—these are the stories we don’t usually have enough info on for a full episode, and are often sent in by you guys!  Hav...

Karen Silkwood was in charge of making sure the plutonium was handled correctly in the plant where she worked, and she was very good at her job. Too good, possibly. When she discovered some unsafe practices, she became part of an investigation that may have gotten her killed.  Want more from us? There’s bonus content and other perks on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witchesmagicmurdermystery...

Typhoid Mary was the most famous asymptomatic carrier of a disease known as Typhoid Fever. The idea that a person could feel perfectly fine and still infect a lot of other people with a deadly virus was as confusing in the early 1900s as it is today.  Our Tuesday episodes are known as Sidepieces—these are the stories we don’t usually have enough info on for a full episode, and are often sent in by...

In 1935, a peculiar young man named Roland T. Owen checked into room 1046 at the Hotel President in Kansas City, Missouri. Two nights later, he was dead. This is no typical murder story. As it turns out, Roland T. Owen was a fake name, and even when they learned the true identity of the dead man, that didn’t shed any light on what he was doing in Kansas City, why he was murdered, or who might want...