A Study of Strange

A re-release of a classic episode. In 1921 police caught Carl Großmann in a frightening, murderous act that caused the papers to label him the "Berlin Butcher".  Großmann is a notorious serial killer but his claim to fame today (selling sausages made of human meat) may be entirely made up.

This episode is released in memory of our special guest, Sarah Lovett, co-host of "True Crime ABCs" who recently passed away. Her show is still available to enjoy at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-abcs/id1698385786  

Subscribe to "A Study of Strange" on your favorite podcast platform! Rate and Review to help us reach more listeners!

Substack https://astudyofstrange.substack.com/

Theme Music by Matt Glass

Instagram: @astudyofstrange

Hosted by Michael May

Email stories, comments, or ideas to [email protected]

©2026 Convergent Content, LLC  

LINKS: https://www.thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/the-berlin-butcher/ https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Carl_Gro%C3%9Fmann https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtDxdt5L2aQ https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/grossmann-georg.htm https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Extreme-Violence-Clare-Allely/dp/036748093X/ref=asc_df_036748093X/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=533463736693&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=730500286153011470&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031201&hvtargid=pla-912353148443&psc=1&mcid=7b1b02f229193eb48ace7e3fc08875f5&gclid=CjwKCAiAlcyuBhBnEiwAOGZ2S8EGOvGTdlBw5bDqY06TbDBPwPOInPNrs-T7gbtVYlgs1Kn42CjYmRoCD_4QAvD_BwE

Dive deeper into true crime, unsolved mysteries, and tales of high strangeness each week on A Study of Strange. Hosted by filmmaker Michael May, exploring the dark crossroads of history, folklore, and the unexplained.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

An internet video mystery that began as a VHS mystery. "Grave Robbing for Morons" is video that was released as part of an anthology of amateur, shock videos. It shows a young man presenting a how-to about grave robbing. While the video is of low quality, what jumps out is that the skull the man holds throughout the video appears very real. However, no one has been able to confirm if the video is a hoax, the identify the young man, or where it originated.

With Special Guest Bill Whirity of Geek Garage: https://shopthegeekgarage.com/en-usd

https://www.youtube.com/@thegeekgarage

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ 

Instagram: @astudyofstrange

Website: www.astudyofstrange.com 

Hosted by Michael May 

Email stories, comments, or ideas to [email protected]

©2025 Convergent Content, LLC 

LINKS:

Grave Robbing for Morons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWFosb98Kec&list=PL5hCh13_NPeqPP5MH2fR2zaLAgtapJT87&index=1

https://www.reddit.com/r/nonmurdermysteries/comments/1hpumet/grave_robbing_for_morons_vhs_tape_the_search/

https://cnycentral.com/news/local/fulton-man-used-crowbar-to-break-into-casket-steal-human-skulls

Magazine seen in video: https://www.45cat.com/magazine/issue/fangoria-presents-cinemagic-horror-fx-1#google_vignette

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-19-mn-2308-story.html

Dive deeper into true crime, unsolved mysteries, and tales of high strangeness each week on A Study of Strange. Hosted by filmmaker Michael May, exploring the dark crossroads of history, folklore, and the unexplained.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In the early 1980s, a killer targeted the homeless in India's largest cities. Dozens of victims were found in Mumbai and Kolkata, their skulls crushed with large stones while they slept. The press called him "The Stoneman".

In this episode of A Study of Strange, we trace India’s most unsettling unsolved crime spree and discuss the possibility that this was one serial killer or several. And, why did the killings stop? The case is still cold, and the story lingers in the shadows between urban legend and horrific true crime.

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ 

Instagram: @astudyofstrange

Website: www.astudyofstrange.com 

Hosted by Michael May 

Email stories, comments, or ideas to [email protected]

©2025 Convergent Content, LLC 

Dive deeper into true crime, unsolved mysteries, and tales of high strangeness each week on A Study of Strange. Hosted by filmmaker Michael May, exploring the dark crossroads of history, folklore, and the unexplained.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Death comes for us all, and sometimes it sneaks up through a series of bizarre coincidences or accidents. In this episode of "A Study of Strange", we cover five of the strangest deaths including a parachute test from the Eiffel Tower, a baseball accident, a movie star catching on fire, a killer toothpick, and a horrendous blood transfusion. We unpack how hubris, curiosity, and sheer misfortune turned ordinary moments into extraordinary exits.

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ 

Instagram: @astudyofstrange

Website: www.astudyofstrange.com 

Hosted by Michael May 

Email stories, comments, or ideas to [email protected]

©2025 Convergent Content, LLC 

Dive deeper into true crime, unsolved mysteries, and tales of high strangeness each week on A Study of Strange. Hosted by filmmaker Michael May, exploring the dark crossroads of history, folklore, and the unexplained.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In 1925, Cora Stallman's body was discovered in a cistern on her sister's farm. Despite the coroner's findings, that she had not drowned and showed minimal signs of physical injury, her death was swiftly ruled a suicide. This case, the strangest ever featured on A Study of Strange, remains a provocative unsolved mystery. It involves many cryptic details like threatening letters, a coded diary, suspicious behavior, and an unexplained gunshot.

Much of the information available in this true-crime adjacent case was meticulously researched by Tori Brovet of graveyardsnoop.com, who shares her expertise on the story.

Visit https://graveyardsnoop.com/

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ 

Instagram: @astudyofstrange

Website: www.astudyofstrange.com 

Hosted by Michael May 

Email stories, comments, or ideas to [email protected]

©2025 Convergent Content, LLC 

Dive deeper into true crime, unsolved mysteries, and tales of high strangeness each week on A Study of Strange. Hosted by filmmaker Michael May, exploring the dark crossroads of history, folklore, and the unexplained.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On October 28, 1943, the USS Eldridge allegedly vanished from the Philadelphia Naval Yard, creating a legend of teleportation, time travel, and government cover-ups that refuses to die. This popular legend dominates historical mystery TV shows, podcasts, and forums, but how did the story really begin? This episode dives into the strange letters sent to UFO author Morris Jessup, the mysterious figure who called himself Carlos Allende, and the convoluted history of “Project Rainbow".

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ 

Instagram: @astudyofstrange

Website: www.astudyofstrange.com 

Hosted by Michael May 

Email stories, comments, or ideas to [email protected]

©2025 Convergent Content, LLC 

Dive deeper into true crime, unsolved mysteries, and tales of high strangeness each week on A Study of Strange. Hosted by filmmaker Michael May, exploring the dark crossroads of history, folklore, and the unexplained.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The St. Augustine Lighthouse is considered one of the most haunted sites in the U.S. due to a history marked by death and tragedy, including a fatal accident involving children. For over a century, visitors have reported unexplained phenomena, often linking these occurrences to the true, tragic stories of those who died at the Lighthouse. From apparitions, shadow people, and poltergeist activity, this place allegedly has it all. 

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ 

Instagram: @astudyofstrange

Website: www.astudyofstrange.com 

Hosted by Michael May 

Email stories, comments, or ideas to [email protected]

©2025 Convergent Content, LLC 

Dive deeper into true crime, unsolved mysteries, and tales of high strangeness each week on A Study of Strange. Hosted by filmmaker Michael May, exploring the dark crossroads of history, folklore, and the unexplained.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Re-release of a classic episode.

Considered to be the first American serial killers, Micajah and Wiley Harpe were born in North Carolina in the mid to late 1700s and became notorious for their violent crimes in Kentucky and Tennessee. They are known for committing a series of brutal murders. We dive into the fascinating and dark history of the Harpe Brothers, their crimes, and the rumors and legends that have grown up around them. 

The Harpes proved to be an immensely hard subject to research and pinpoint exact details. Both because of the time the Harpes lived and because of rumors and folklore surrounding them. But they were real and they were terrifying.

Visit guest Amy Schloerb's site! www.thealignedactor.com

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ 

Instagram: @astudyofstrange

Website: www.astudyofstrange.com 

Hosted by Michael May 

Email stories, comments, or ideas to [email protected]

©2025 Convergent Content, LLC 

Links: https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Brothers-Biography-Americas-Killers/dp/1482771810 https://www.amazon.com/Harpes-Rampage-Americas-Serial-Killers-ebook/dp/B004DCB5YQ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2N77YSMEWKN7N&keywords=harpe+brothers&qid=1681747634&s=books&sprefix=harpe+brothers%2Cstripbooks%2C133&sr=1-3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpe_brothers https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-harpes/ https://murderpedia.org/male.H/h/harpe-brothers.htm https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/harpe-brothers-scots-who-became-usas-first-serial-killers-1433832 https://www.theministryofhistory.co.uk/historical-biographies/the-harpe-brothe https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-harpe-brothers-americas-first-serial-killers-8741fbc7fad2

Dive deeper into true crime, unsolved mysteries, and tales of high strangeness each week on A Study of Strange. Hosted by filmmaker Michael May, exploring the dark crossroads of history, folklore, and the unexplained.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Three weeks after the grisly Black Dahlia murder, Los Angeles was hit with another brutal homicide. This time with a message scrawled in red lipstick across the body. How did Jeanne French end up the victim of a crime that remains unsolved all these decades later, and was the case related to the Black Dahlia?

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/  

Instagram: @astudyofstrange 

Website: www.astudyofstrange.com  

Hosted by Michael May  

Email stories, comments, or ideas to [email protected]! 

©2025 Convergent Content, LLC

Dive deeper into true crime, unsolved mysteries, and tales of high strangeness each week on A Study of Strange. Hosted by filmmaker Michael May, exploring the dark crossroads of history, folklore, and the unexplained.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Five women were found brutally murdered in the Cumminsville area of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the early 20th century. The serial killer was never caught, the murders remain unsolved, and no viable suspects were ever questioned, which is especially strange because multiple women survived the assailant's attacks. The one detail witnesses noticed was that the killer wore a "slouch hat." The area where the murders took place was soon called The Murder Zone.

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/  

Instagram: @astudyofstrange 

Website: www.astudyofstrange.com  

Hosted by Michael May  

Email stories, comments, or ideas to [email protected]! 

©2025 Convergent Content, LLC

Dive deeper into true crime, unsolved mysteries, and tales of high strangeness each week on A Study of Strange. Hosted by filmmaker Michael May, exploring the dark crossroads of history, folklore, and the unexplained.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy