Appalachian Mysteria

In one month, the killers of Julie Williams, Lollie Winans and at least two victims of the Colonial Parkway murders are identified. Bill Thomas joins us to discuss the details, and why there are still so many questions unanswered. Meanwhile the grave of Harry Spitz, which inexplicably exploded in 1975, has its headstone stolen by thieves. A Morgantown resident and Appalachian Mysteria producer step up to set things right.

Harry Spitz Gravestone GoFundMe

1:30 – The FBI Press Conference

6:25 – The Annes

9:37 – Questions Unanswered

12:35 – Don’t Talk to Bill Thomas

14:13 – Darrell Rice…

19:26 – …Is Dead

22:54 – Colonial Parkway Killer Identified

31:05 – The Harry Spitz Gravestone Saga

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second of this 2-part series, Jack Edward Hawkins is put on trial without physical evidence for three assaults committed by the Sunnyside rapist, but prosecutors refuse to claim he is a suspect in any others. Neighbors of the Hawkins family come forward to describe their experience with Jack and his children.

As Hawkins’ involvement in a 1975 incident comes to light, the Mysteria team learns that a new West Virginia law now makes it impossible to learn details about any sexual assault cases. And a team of New Zealand researchers is hired by the defense to explain the problems with the eyewitness testimony used against Hawkins.

Jack Hawkins’ letter to the judge explaining his side of the events

1:25 – Who is Jack Hawkins?

3:50 – Neighbors speak out

13:48 – Oklahoma, 1975

16:35 – Charges filed

17:25 – The death of FOIA and Geoff’s insider info

22:17 – The first trial

27:02 – Judge misconduct and the second trial

32:28 – Memories distorted?

48:30 – Final notes

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fifteen years after the events of Season 1 (The WVU Coed Murders), Morgantown women are faced with a new predator: a rapist so meticulous and organized that he vanishes through police checkpoints and neighborhood lockdowns every summer.

In the first of this two part series, we speak with two women who met the Sunnyside rapist face-to-face at both ends of his 10-year crime spree. Geoff Fuller (season 1) returns to help set the scene for a trial that will become studied internationally.

Elaine’s Daughter Sexually Assaulted Years After Her Own Attack

2:09 – The first victim

16:15 – WVU basketball rape scandal

19:00 – 1985 - 1991

38:57 – The arrest

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the last of this 3-part series, we examine Mabel’s top suspects in the murder of Walter Curnutte. Years later, Tim and Becky discover an entirely new motive connected to a forged document, a federal racketeering case, South American cocaine, and, potentially, the West Virginia mafia.   

1:30 – Mabel’s top suspects

15:54 – Modern day rumors

18:41 – The Spadafore Conspiracy

24:05 – The Puerto Rican doctor

28:30 – A landing strip?

33:23 – The mob

Thank you to our sponsor June’s Journey! Discover your inner detective when you download June’s Journey for free on iOS and Android. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Walter Curnutte’s murder, his sister Mabel takes on the case, recording interviews, writing letters to powerful officials, and hiring a private detective. The community’s war on Walter comes to light – from protests to arson to civil disobedience. We look back at the strange month preceding Walter’s death – including his hiring of Herb Willie, the man tried for his murder. Was Herb a drunken liar, a murderer, or both? A state trooper who investigated the case has an opinion. Tim and Becky beg to differ.

1:55 – Mabel’s obsession

5:30 – Mining and dumping

12:35 – Walter’s last month alive

17:15 – Trooper Wick

26:00 – Herb Willie’s Confessions & Trial

Thank you to our sponsor June’s Journey! Discover your inner detective when you download June’s Journey for free on iOS and Android. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the Mysteria crew receives a concerned email from a professional working on sexual assault issues, we invite her on the show to critique Season 2, Big Savage. What follows is a discussion of Megan Shaffer’s poor defense, the biological response to trauma, how the absence of expert testimony may have worked against her, and some ways that language affects how we perceive issues surrounding rape.  

Thank you to our sponsor June’s Journey! Discover your inner detective when you download June’s Journey for free on iOS and Android. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the beginning of a 3-part story about one square mile of the West Virginia mountains. The story winds its way through a savage war between Indians and settlers, a poor boy adopted into wealth for his ruthlessness, more than one murder trial, the infamous black hand mafia, environmental protests, and international cocaine smuggling.

In Part 1, the descendants of West Virginia’s first white settlers find themselves at war with Indian tribes, eventually building a home that will become the center of a web of controversy, violence and crime.

1:40 - In the beginning

3:24 - Introducing Tim & Becky

5:12 - Warring with Indians

10:37 - The Morgan house

12:27 - Walter Curnutte’s youth

14:20 - Watler’s first brush with murder

20:15 - The murder of Walter Curnutte

27:53 - Walter’s life and controversies

36:00 - Mabel’s quest begins

Thank you to our sponsor June’s Journey! Discover your inner detective when you download June’s Journey for free on iOS and Android. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A WVU alum working for the state prosecutor’s office suddenly finds herself on the scene of a very personal tragedy that could be much more sinister. Much to her dismay, her forensic investigation training is not being employed by authorities in the real world. Meanwhile, the victim’s sister is conducting her own investigation, releasing all of her findings to the public. Was the death of Amber Whitelaw a case of accidental fire or murder? Welcome to the first episode of Season 4! The full season launches in April.

Justice for Amber Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justiceforamber2.18.18

1:35 – Highland County & Amber Whitelaw

4:36 – Wearing a Wire?

11:04 – One and One on the Side

13:00 – Night of the Incident

15:17 – The 911 Call

25:02 – 8 Red Flags

41:25 – Not Having Closure

Thank you to our sponsor Seeker's Notes! Keep Your Mind Sharp! Download Seekers Notes Now!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thank you to our sponsor Factor75! Use code mysteria50 for 50% off ready to eat fresh meals!

Thank you to our sponsor Brilliant Earth! Check out all of their beautiful pieces on their website!

Thank you to our sponsor Seeker's Notes! Keep Your Mind Sharp! Download Seekers Notes Now!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This two-part special introduces the life and death of Arthur Bagenda, an international student at WVU who drowned in a ditch within sight of the Morgantown Police station.

In this first episode, we visit the Walnut Street bridge, where a long-time local explains her problems with hard drug users at the site of Arthur's death. We review forensic photographs from the scene, hear from Arthur’s mother about the 19-year-old son she lost, and explain the first 72 hours following the discovery of his body.

Over the course of two episodes, Unattended Death will examine police reports, drone footage, forensic photographs, surveillance video, audio of police questioning, and interviews with those involved to craft a previously-untold West Virginia story.

###

We have been trying to report this story for a long time. After covid interrupted our interview process, we decided to focus on other work, but three years later we’re finally ready to share the case of Arthur Bagenda.  

Unattended Death is the third Morgantown-centered story produced by Appalachian Mysteria (WVU Coed Murders / Cradle Will Rock).

The last known sighting of Arthur Bagenda was made by a video surveillance camera mounted in front of the Morgantown police station. He would be found drowned alongside Morgantown’s recreational Rail Trail – within sight of the MPD building – a few hours later.

The group of people who appear on camera seconds before Arthur seem to be carrying items found at the scene of his death, but were they involved? A private investigator hired by Arthur’s mother thinks so, but police have ruled out foul play. Like all the stories we cover, a definitive truth seems just out of reach.

[00:03:14] A WVU student's death.

[00:07:19] Under the Walnut Street Bridge.

[00:08:15] Arthur's body found beside pipe.

[00:14:01] Homelessness and drug addiction.

[00:18:00] A suspicious backpack.

[00:21:33] Crime scene photographs.

[00:23:28] The pain of losing a son.

[00:27:13] Meth-making materials found.

[00:32:28] Cause of death was drowning.

Thank you to our sponsor Factor75! Use code mysteria50 for 50% off ready to eat fresh meals!

Thank you to our sponsor Brilliant Earth! Check out all of their beautiful pieces on their website!

Thank you to our sponsor Seeker's Notes! Keep Your Mind Sharp! Download Seekers Notes Now!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices