Happy Halloween! This is the perfect time of year to talk about the curse surrounding the Poltergeist movies. There is an inordinate amount of tragedy and death that surround these movies. All 3 movies lost members of the cast between the time of filming and the release of the movies. Let's take a look at this theory for the spookiest day of the year and you decide, Is it cursed?

Source Notes:

Poltergeist (franchise) - Wikipedia

The Poltergeist Curse: Here's the Real Story Behind the Movie Myth (yahoo.com)

The 'Poltergeist' Curse: Inside the Mysterious Cast Deaths and Oddities On Set - Biography

The 'Poltergeist' Curse: The Deaths Of Dominique Young, Julian Beck, Will Sampson | True Crime Buzz (oxygen.com)

Hollywood's 'Poltergeist' curse after four film stars died mysteriously including 80s child star Heather O'Rourke | The US Sun (the-sun.com)

And That’s Why We Drink Podcast: episode 163 The Valedictorian of space camo and an alien princess release 3/15/2020

Local Actor Lou Perryman Murdered: The body of Lou Perryman, a longtime fixture in the Austin film and theatre community, was found by Austin Police Thursday morning - Screens - The Austin Chronicle

Today I'm going to tell you about the Von Erich's, a wrestling family that was full of success but warped by tremendous tragedy. The father of the family was Fritz and he began his wrestling career in the early 50s an evil nazi villian. When he was ready to retire and raise his family he began work as a promoter with the WCCW. Fritz would have 6 sons and all but 1 passed away tragically early. Join for me as I tell about the sons, their lives, accomplishments, and tragic fates. It's described as a story of incredible success or a cautionary tale depending on who you talk too. 

Source notes:

Dark side of the ring: season 1 episode 4 aired 05/01/2019

Von Erich Wrestling Family Tragedy And Curse, Explained | True Crime Buzz (oxygen.com)

The Von Erich Family: Wrestling's Most Unheralded Megastars (thesportster.com)

Von Erich family - Wikipedia

Fritz Von Erich - Wikipedia

Kevin Von Erich - Wikipedia

David Von Erich - Wikipedia

Mike Von Erich - Wikipedia

Chris Von Erich - Wikipedia

Kerry Von Erich - Wikipedia

Robert Rozier was an incredible athlete in his youth with nothing but fame and fortune in his future. Down on his luck he runs into the leader of a black supremacist cult whose way of dealing with conflict is through murder. He falls under the spell of Yahweh ben Yahweh the leader of the Nation of Yahweh and commits 7 murders. His story doesn't end there though, he gets a second chance that is blown when his old habits come back to bite him in the butt. Join me in this intertwining tail of football, cults, murder, and... check fraud. 

Source notes:

People magazine investigates: Cults season 1 episode 4 Yahweh Nation released June 25th 2018

Yahweh ben Yahweh | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Robert Rozier | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Robert Rozier - Wikipedia

Welcome to the final episode about Marvin Gaye's life. We have already talke about his childhood and rise to fame so this time it's about the fall from grace leading up to his murder. In the last few years of his life his drug use had taken over not only his life but his personality. He lived in a drug fueled paranoia that was incredibly difficult for those around him to bear witness to. Oddly enough he would predict how he would die the year before but just couldn't predict by whom. If only that foresight was all encompassing, he could've prevented the event that he was trying to protect himself from. He was an incredible musical talent that wrote from his soul. He wanted to share his life in the only way he knew how. Unfortunately, there was so much pain and suffering that he held within.  Just a warning that this episode does contain discussions about suicide, drug use, sex, and violence so please keep that in mind if you choose to listen. I hope you enjoy the conclusion to this 3-part series on Marvin Gaye's life.

Source notes:

Divided Soul: the life of Marvin Gaye by David Ritz published in 1985

Marvin Gaye - Wikipedia

Today we are picking up where we left off in our last episode, Marvin had just gotten married and was beginning to see some success with his music. During this episode his career really takes off but with that so does his battles within. As his music becomes more successful, he becomes more reclusive after an on-stage incident with his duet partner Tammi Terrell. He manages to keep his tulmutous marriage together until a 16 year old walks into the Motown recording studio and catches his eye. Once this happens it seems he is in a gentle balance of bliss and chaos. We will end this episode in the year 1978 with just 10 years left in his too short life that will be discussed in part 3. 

Just a warning this does include mentions of suicide, mental health, and sex so please be aware if this is something you aren't interesting in listening to. 

Source notes:

Divided Soul: the life of Marvin Gaye by David Ritz published in 1985

Marvin Gaye - Wikipedia

Who was Marvin Gaye? We all know he was an incredible singer songwriter who rose to fame during the time of Motown. We all know he was killed by his father as well. But who was he and what was he like? I read the biography Divided Soul: the life of Marvin Gaye by David Ritz and I got some powerful insight. his childhood was terrible, he was always fighting his inner demons, and always hungry for more success. The first part of his multi episode story starts with his childhood and ends at his initial success in Motown and first marriage. Let's discover together what created the legend that is Marvin Gaye.

Source notes:

Divided Soul: the life of Marvin Gaye by David Ritz published in 1985

Marvin Gaye - Wikipedia

Today I bring you 3 stories of young people who were on popular content creation platforms whose personal lives were taking a turn for the murderous. Jared Loughner spiraled after a high school break up and targeted his local representative to take out his disillusioned hatred for the government on. He took many lives that day except his actual target. Pekka eric Auvinen brought his legally purchased gun to school to take out what we can only assume was his revenge for being bullied. The attempts to prevent this tragedy by his parents were never taken as seriously as they should have. Lastly Claire Miller took the life of her disabled sister for reasons only she knows and that we can assume. They could’ve used their platforms for good but instead they are now an example of warning signs to look out for. 

Source notes:

Jared Loughner

(2451) The Sinister Story Of Jared Lee Loughner - YouTube

Jared Loughner | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Jared Lee Loughner - Wikipedia

Pekka Eric Auvinen

Jokela school shooting - Wikipedia

Pekka-Eric Auvinen | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Claire Miller

(2451) The 14-Year-Old TikTok Murderer: Claire Miller - YouTube

Teen TikToker allegedly murdered sister day after going viral (nypost.com)

What do you think about when you hear bodybuilder? For me it’s people like Lou Ferrigno who became the embodiment of the hulk. Arnold Schwarzenegger who became an action star and the governor of California. Oh, and you can’t forget muscles on muscles and dark fake tans to show them off. For this couple of bodybuilders, they had it all from incredible physiques, fame and fortune, and each other. They were looking to start a business which prompted them to hire an assistant, but little did they know this decision would eventually destroy the future they were planning when they brutally murdered her. Today I want to tell you about Craig Titus and Kelly Ann Ryan who murdered their assistant Melissa James and set her on fire. The fall from the top sure hits hard once you reach the bottom. 

Source notes:

Craig Titus Steroid Cycle – Evolutionary.org

Craig Michael Titus | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Bodybuilders Kelly Ryan And Craig Titus Taser Assistant, Torch Body | Crime News (oxygen.com)

Kelly Ryan | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Killer Couples: Kelly Ryan & Craig Titus Season 10 ep 1 aired 10/7/2018

Today we are going to talk about how one man went from the top of his game straight to prison. What makes you destroy everything you worked so hard for? As a child we all dream of being something big, an astronaut, a ballerina, or a professional football player. Very few of us reach those dreams in adulthood but what if you did and then it all went wrong? Who am I talking about you ask? Well, I’m going to discuss Rae Carruth’s fall from grace. He was considered a rookie stand out in the NFL and his girlfriend Cherica Adams was pregnant with his baby. That should’ve been an exciting time for the young couple, but Rae had other plans. He didn't want another child and was willing to go as far as murder to make sure this child didn't make it. 

Source notes: 

The Boy They Couldn't Kill: How Rae Carruth's son survived and thrives - Sports Illustrated

Rae Carruth, Ex NFL Star Gives New Details On Cherica Adams' Murder | Crime News (oxygen.com)

Rae Carruth | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Charlotte Observer Documentary: Carruth - Bing video

Ex-NFL player Rae Carruth released after nearly 20 years in prison over girlfriend's murder - ABC News (go.com)

We're going to pick up where we left off in 1942 to finish the last part of Tallulah's life. She acted up until the last few years of her life making friends and enemies along the way. The adoration for her was what gave her life meaning in the end. Tallulah packed so much into her 66 years of life and you have to admire her for being unapologetically herself. She is considered an icon of the flapper era, crude, prone to tantrum, passionate, caring, trouble, and scandalous. Maybe they just weren't ready for a women like her. Join me for the rest of her story and decide for yourself, was she a menace or an emboldened women before her time?

Source Notes:

Tallulah, Darling : A biography of Tallulah Bankhead by Dennis Brian

Tallulah Bankhead - Wikipedia