Utah is rife with weirdos, and we’ve rounded up some headlines to prove it. This week, we hear about some unusual criminals, including a predatory juggalo and an extremely polite bandit.

Looking for something a little more lighthearted? We’ve got you covered with a sexy bomb scare and (sort of) sovereign nation in the Utah desert. And somehow, not a single one of these stories involves Mormonism.

Sorry, folks — we don’t make the news; we just report it.

Content warning: Child sexual abuse, murder

[Episode guide] bit.ly/badtrip033

[Website] badtrippod.com

[Twitter] twitter.com/badtrippod

[Instagram] instagram.com/badtrippod

We’re back in Utah this week (with a lil detour to visit a Mormon settlement in Wisconsin). Get ready for some more weird law Mad Lubz, and grab your holy water as Taylor takes us to the mysterious grave of Lilly E. Gray, who is said to have died at the hand of “the Beast 666.” No, seriously — her gravestone actually says that.

Then, Shauna takes us 100 years in the past and tells the story of two young Mormon women who fell in love and started a relationship. Unfortunately, Utah in the 20s was not exactly the most welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ people. On top of that, the relationship quickly turned abusive and obsessive — and eventually deadly.

Content warning: Murder, suicide, intimate partner violence, homophobia, religious cult

[Episode guide] bit.ly/badtrip032

[Website] badtrippod.com

[Twitter] twitter.com/badtrippod

[Instagram] instagram.com/badtrippod

When Scott Davion was 15, his mother died, leaving him with no guardian and no place to live. Then one day, he met a family who would change his life — but little did they know, he was hiding something. This week, Taylor tells the story of how one Utah city got a lot more than they bargained for when Scott moved to town.

Then, Shauna takes us to Kay’s Hollow, a spooky site known for demonic dogmen, a haunted cross, and an exceptionally unfortunate episode of Ghost Adventures. (Can someone please tell those guys that berries aren’t evidence of Satan worship?) Join us to get the lowdown on how a polygamist commune turned into a place where goth partygoers and dudes wearing True Religions just casually get possessed.

Content warning: Religious cults, suicide, animal death

---

[Episode guide] bit.ly/badtrip031

[Website] badtrippod.com

[Twitter] twitter.com/badtrippod

[Instagram] instagram.com/badtrippod

Above all, Utah is known for two things: nature and Mormons. There’s no shortage of either in this week’s episode. To kick us off, Shauna explores some natural wonders of Utah, explains why the state is practically run by the LDS Church, and shares some TMI about Mormon underwear.

Then, Taylor regales us with the legend of Montezuma’s Cursed Treasure — a stockpile of gold that has supposedly been hidden somewhere in Utah for the past 500 years. Get ready to go treasure hunting with a quirky cast of characters — including a geologist with a treasure map, some $50,000 snails, and a fella named Lon (who is probably a great dude, so we’re sorry for coming up with a conspiracy theory that involves him being a psycho killer).

This is a weird one, but honestly, what else would you expect from us at this point?

Content warning: Slavery

---

[Episode guide] bit.ly/badtrip030

[Website] badtrippod.com

[Twitter] twitter.com/badtrippod

[Instagram] instagram.com/badtrippod

If there’s one thing we learned about Idaho this week, it’s that they have a lot of giant packages. Not like that, you sicko. We’re talking about humans being mailed, trash bags full of pot, and beavers in boxes (again, not like that).

Join us as we meet a family with, shall we say, an alternative lifestyle and travel back to the early 1900s for some historical shenanigans. These are truly the wackiest, weirdest, taxidermist headlines from the Gem State.

Sorry, folks — we don’t make the news; we just report it.

Content warning: Animal death

---

[Episode guide] bit.ly/badtrip029

[Website] badtrippod.com

[Twitter] twitter.com/badtrippod

[Instagram] instagram.com/badtrippod 

We’re back in Idaho this week for another leg of the world’s most fooked up road trip. First up, Taylor whets our whistles with a long pig sandwich and a side of bizarre Idaho laws, followed by a trip to the state’s most morbid pit stops.

Then, Shauna shares the story of the Potato State Pot Bust, a name that she absolutely did not make up. Picture this: a group of 1960s hippie heathens on a mission to get stoned by any means necessary. Throw in some opium, betrayal, and police corruption, and we’ve got ourselves a ~groovy~ case.

Oh, and grab your hatchet — you’re gonna need it where we’re going.

Content warning: Cannibalism

---

[Episode guide] bit.ly/badtrip028

[Website] badtrippod.com

[Twitter] twitter.com/badtrippod

[Instagram] instagram.com/badtrippod 

College towns in Idaho have issues, y’all. This week, Shauna takes us to Moscow, home to the University of Idaho campus, where a religious cult — um, church — is trying to spread Christianity, bigotry, and (allegedly) COVID.

Then, Taylor takes us all the way across the state to Idaho State University, a school known for its variety of otherworldly residents. Get ready to meet Frank, Alex, and a payroll ghost that has Val from Broad City vibes. Oh, by the way, we’re legally obligated to warn you that these ghost stories may give you b’goosebumps.

Content warning: religious cult, bigotry, mention of child abuse

 ---

[Episode guide] bit.ly/badtrip027

[Website] badtrippod.com

[Twitter] twitter.com/badtrippod

[Instagram] instagram.com/badtrippod

Farts, cowboys, and an erotic eclipse are three staples of Oregon culture. At least, that’s what these bizarre headlines seem to indicate.

This week, we wrap up our tour of Oregon by sharing four real news stories of dumb criminals and Craigslist weirdos. Come for the ill-advised parenting tips; stay for the Great Fart Debacle of 1986.

Sorry, folks — we don’t make the news; we just report it.

---

[Episode guide] bit.ly/badtrip025

[Website] badtrippod.com

[Twitter] twitter.com/badtrippod

[Instagram] instagram.com/badtrippod

---

Logo by Ariel Ferrante