Wood Island, Maine | Wood Island is so haunted, even bestselling horror writer J.D. Barker won’t stay the night - and he’s here to share how its chilling history inspired his upcoming book, Something I Keep Upstairs.  Just as the Stanley Hotel inspired Stephen King’s The Shining (and J.D. shares a terrifying story from his own stay there!), Wood Island’s dark past—plagued by disease, starvation, vanished bodies, and eerie paranormal activity—laid the foundation for his latest novel.  Most chilling is J.D.'s revelation that while writing the novel, he repeatedly created fictional scenes only to later discover he had accurately described actual historical events—information he had no prior knowledge of.

You can preorder a signed copy of Something I Keep Upstairs at dbarker.com. If you are not entirely terrified of Wood Island by the end of this episode, you can enter the contest to stay overnight at https://woobox.com/vcevs2.  If you win, you have to write to us at [email protected] and share all of the details!

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Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | What did Christa Helm know that got her killed? Or was she the victim of a jealous rage? On February 12, 1977, Christa was brutally stabbed to death in a quiet West Hollywood neighborhood. The night she was murdered, she carried a personal diary filled with high-profile names, secrets, and scandals—one that mysteriously vanished and has never been found. Decades later, her killer remains unknown. The eerie coincidences surrounding her death are just as numerous as the people who may have had a motive to silence her. Joining us to unravel the mystery is Jamey DuVall, Christa’s biographer and producer of the podcast Movie Geeks United.

You can submit a tip or stay updated on Jamey’s work and his upcoming book at www.whokilledchristahelm.com, or follow him on Instagram and Facebook @whokilledchristahelm.

Follow us for episode photos and more at:
📷 Instagram: instagram.com/darkcity.podcast 
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✉️ Email:  [email protected]  

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | How does a cafeteria owner in 1930s Los Angeles, dedicated to providing affordable meals for all, become the driving force behind exposing and dismantling corruption? Today we are joined by Robert Petersen, host of the podcast The Hidden History of Los Angeles, to talk about Clifford Clinton—a man who took on the city’s power structure and won, but whose own personal life tells a far more complicated story.

You can check out Robert’s podcast The Hidden History of Los Angeles at podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hidden-history-of-los-angeles/id666596114, or follow him on Instagram @hiddenhistoryla.  

Follow us for episode photos and more at:
📷 Instagram: instagram.com/darkcity.podcast 
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✉️ Email:  [email protected]  

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | Was Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle a scapegoat or a villain? Did George Reeves take his own life, or was there something more sinister at play? In this episode, we dive into two of Hollywood’s most infamous tragedies—Arbuckle’s scandalous trial that destroyed his career and Reeves’ mysterious death that still fuels conspiracy theories. Decades apart, both cases captivated the public and left behind more questions than answers. And even though Arbuckle received an official verdict and Reeves’ death was ruled a suicide, both stories remain unsettled to this day.

Follow us for episode photos and more at:
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✉️ Email:  [email protected]  

🔎 Want to see how deep this story really goes? Here’s the full set of sources we used:
-Alexandra, R. (2018, July 9). The Superman curse: A look at all the death, destruction and destitution. KQED. https://www.kqed.org/pop/101544/the-superman-curse-a-look-at-all-the-death-destruction-and-destitution
-Barile, L. A. (2025, January 8). Who killed George Reeves? The mystery surrounding the ‘Adventures of Superman’ actor’s death. Yahoo!. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/killed-george-reeves-mystery-surrounding-150524659.html
-Brody, R. (2016, February 3). The Coen Brothers’ marvellous “Hail, Caesar!” The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/the-coen-brothers-marvellous-hail-caesar
-Dotinga, R. (2014, February 28). 'Room 1219' author Greg Merritt discusses what really happened in the 1921 Fatty Arbuckle case. The Christian Science Monitor. 
-Eagan, D. (2011, November 16). More on Fatty Arbuckle: His films and his legacy. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/more-on-fatty-arbuckle-his-films-and-his-legacy-1-251402/
-Gross, E. (2024, November 2). George Reeves on Superman, fame and life’s struggles: “He never knew how loved he was”. Woman’s World. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/george-reeves-the-life-of-tvs-first-superman
-Los Angeles Times. (1959, June 17). From the archives: George Reeves, Superman of TV, kills himself in his home. Obituaries. 
-The Los Angeles Times. (1959, June 24). Coroner finds shooting of Superman suicide. Newspapers.com. 
-The Los Angeles Times. (1959, June 26). Two more bullet holes part 1. Newspapers.com. 
-Moran, T. (2013, October 4). Book review: 'Room 1219' by Greg Merritt. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304213904579095361344867906
-Murray, E. A. (2015). Forensic history: Crimes, frauds, and scandals [Guidebook]. Wondrium. 
-Patterson, J. (2013, September 6). 'Room 1219,' by Greg Merritt. SFGATE. https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/room-1219-by-greg-merritt-4793811.php
-Schulman, M. (2021, October 4). Fatty Arbuckle and the birth of the celebrity scandal. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/10/11/fatty-arbuckle-and-the-birth-of-the-celebrity-scandal
-The State Bar of California. (2019, January 24). The many trials of Fatty Arbuckle. The State Bar of California. https://www.sfbar.org/blog/sfam-the-many-trials-of-fatty-arbuckle/
-Superman’s estate left to wife of friend. (1959, June 23). Los Angeles, California. Newspapers.com. 
-The case of Virginia Rappe (2022, June 6). Morbid [Podcast episode 323].

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles is burning, and the impact is personal.  We delve into the current status of the devastating fires, discuss the factors that made them so catastrophic, and explore what they mean for the city's future.

Linked Resources/How to Help:
California Wildfires: Palisades and Eaton Fires (AP)
L.A. Wildfires: Help and Resources List (KCRW)
Mental Health Support for Fire Victims (LAist)
How to Help L.A. Fire Victims (LAist)
Wildfire Awareness Post on Instagram (PBS SoCal)

Linked Sources Referenced:
Palisades Fire Wednesday Live Updates (KTLA)
Wildfire Destroys Historic Home, Structures at Southern California State Parks (KTLA)
Southern California Wildfire History (LAist)
California Fires: Possible Causes (AP)
California Fires: Victims and Aftermath (NYT)
Weather Factors in L.A.’s Fires (LA Times)
Santa Ana Winds and Wildfires (NPR)
Federal Aid Amid Fires (LA Times)
Maps and Visuals of L.A. Wildfires (CNN)
Why L.A. Struggled With Modern Fires (NPR)
History of Wildfires in Los Angeles (Wildfire LA)
Fire Spike in L.A. (NBC Los Angeles)
Bunny Museum Rebuild After Fire (LA Times)
Power Lines and Fire Causes (LA Times)

The title of this episode is inspired by a post from Blair Imani Ali, auth

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | Former LAPD homicide detective Steve Hodel once asked himself the unthinkable: Could his own father have killed Elizabeth Short? In this episode, we conclude the tragic story of Short’s 1947 murder with Steve Hodel, now a New York Times bestselling author, as he shares the chilling evidence that turned suspicion into conviction. Steve's investigation reveals a complex web of connections linking Dr. Hodel to the art world, the disturbing crime scene, and widespread corruption within the LAPD.  You can see the works of art referenced in this episode by clicking on the linked titles below. NOTE: Viewer Discretion Advised - These links contain graphic and upsetting material related to the Black Dahlia case.
The Lovers by Man Ray
Minotaur by Man Ray
Q - Quarrel by Man Ray
It's Midnight Dr. _____ by William Copley

Steve Hodel is a New York Times bestselling author. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he spent twenty-four years with the LAPD, where, as a homicide detective, he worked on more than three hundred murder cases and achieved one of the highest “solve rates” on the force. His first book, Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder, was a NYT bestseller and was nominated for an MWA Edgar Award in the Best Fact category. Steve’s investigations and nine books, now spanning two decades, have been featured on NBC Dateline, CBS 48 Hours, Court TV, and Bill Kurtis Cold Case Files, CNN Anderson Cooper, and Discovery Channel. In 2019, Steve appeared on The Today Show, as well as Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz, where he and other family members discussed the making of the hit podcast Root of Evil: The True Story of the Hodel Family and the Black Dahlia Murder. This podcast was the companion piece and true story to the Patty Jenkins/Chris Pine fictionalized six-part miniseries I Am the Night (2009). Steve was not consulted, nor did he participate in the fictional version, but he did provide extensive interviews in the Root of Evil podcast. In 2022, Steve moved to Birch Bay, Washington State, and now resides there.

To read more about Steve’s work, visit his website at stevehodel.com/ and explore his collection of published books at stevehodel.com/books/.

Follow us for episode photos and more at:
📷 Instagram: instagram.com/darkcity.podcast 
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✉️ Email:  [email protected]  

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | Join us for an audio tour of Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles’ most haunted locations and infamous crime scenes with James T. Bartlett, journalist and author of Gourmet Ghosts Volumes 1 & 2. From the lingering spirit of Marilyn Monroe to the poetic capture of a murderer, this journey will give you a new perspective on these iconic locations. 

To read more about James’ work and order Gourmet Ghosts (there are many more locations we could not cover in the episode!), visit his website at gourmetghosts.com and follow him on Instagram at instagram.com/gourmetghosts/.

A quick list of the locations we cover: 
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Roosevelt Hotel
Barclay Hotel
Biltmore Hotel
Holland Hotel
The Suicide Triangle (Cecil Hotel, Haywood Hotel, Rosslyn Hotel)

Follow us for episode photos and more at:
📷 Instagram: instagram.com/darkcity.podcast 
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✉️ Email:  [email protected]  

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los Angeles, CA | Elizabeth Short’s 1947 murder (also known as the Black Dahlia) still haunts Los Angeles. We press closer to the truth, tearing into the most gripping theories about who claimed Elizabeth Short’s life.

*Note: Since the troubled teen industry came up at the beginning of the episode, we wanted to take the opportunity to share a few links on how you can help stop the abuses in this system:  stopinstitutionalchildabuse.com and unsilenced.org.  It's a cause we are passionate about and we will continue to bring awareness and advocate for change wherever we can!

Follow us for episode photos and more at:
📷 Instagram: instagram.com/darkcity.podcast 
🪡 Threads: threads.net/@darkcity.podcast 
👤 Facebook: facebook.com/darkcitypod
✉️ Email:  [email protected]  

🔎 Want to see how deep this story really goes? Here’s the full set of sources we used:
-Eatwell, Piu. Black Dahlia, Red Rose: The Crime, Corruption, and Cover-Up of America's Greatest Unsolved Murder. Liveright. Kindle Edition. Publication Date: 2017
-Hodel, Steve. Black Dahlia Avenger I: One of the Most Notorious Murders of the Twentieth Century…Solved. Kindle Edition. Publication Date: 2012
-Hodel, Steve. Black Dahlia Avenger II: Presenting the Follow-Up Investigation and Further Evidence Linking Dr. George Hill Hodel to Los Angeles' s Black Dahlia and other 1940s Lone Woman Murders. Thoughtprint Press. Kindle Edition. Publication Date: 2014
-https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/the-black-dahlia
-https://www.abc10.com/article/news/crime/true-crime/black-dahlia-murderer-zodiac-killer-retired-lapd-detective-unsolved-california/103-e8765852-ed94-4f0e-8431-aaffd7c551ce
-https://allthatsinteresting.com/black-dahlia-killer/7
-https://www.britannica.com/art/Surrealism
-https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/black-dahlia-murder-solved-shocking-new-details-about-aspiring-actress-elizabeth-shorts-life-and-gruesome-death
-https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-dec-19-me-knowlton19-story.html
-https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-11-me-lopez11-story.html
-https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-13-me-lopez13-story.html
-https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-01-06-mn-15889-story.html
-https://www.pbssocal.org/history-society/a-los-angeles-primer-leimert-park
-https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/has-the-black-dahlia-murder-finally-been-solved-198247
-https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/elizabeth-short-george-hodel-suspects-clues-13354993.php
-https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/fresh-look-black-dahlia-murder-180967953/
-https://southpasadenan.com/black-dahlia-murder-retired-lapd-detective-reveals-new-evidence-pointing-to-prime-suspect-his-father/
-https://sowdenhouse.com/history/
-https://kfiam640.iheart.com/featured/unsolved-with-steve-gregory/content/2022-01-19-episode-109-the-black-dahlia/
-https://stevehodel.com/2019/04/12/director-screenwriter-david-lynch-reveals-new-old-clue-to-black-dahlia-investigation-in-dinner-with-john-john/
-https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/26/black-dahlia-murder-steve-hodel-elizabeth-short
-https://www.thetimes.com/article/review-black-dahlia-red-rose-solved-piu-eatwell-lhvptx2pn
-https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/Black-Dahlias-Unsolved-Death-Elizabeth-Short

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Los, Angeles, CA | In the shadowy landscape of 1940s Los Angeles, one murder would captivate and horrify a nation. Elizabeth Short—forever immortalized as the Black Dahlia—represents more than just a gruesome crime. She was a young woman whose tragic end became a dark legend, a mystery that has haunted investigators and true crime enthusiasts for generations. We’re peeling back the layers of sensationalism and diving deep into the forensic details, cultural context, and shocking evidence that might finally answer the question: Who killed Elizabeth Short? 

Follow us for episode photos and more at:
📷 Instagram: instagram.com/darkcity.podcast 
🪡 Threads: threads.net/@darkcity.podcast 
👤 Facebook: facebook.com/darkcitypod
✉️ Email:  [email protected]  

🔎 Want to see how deep this story really goes? Here’s the full set of sources we used:
-Eatwell, Piu. Black Dahlia, Red Rose: The Crime, Corruption, and Cover-Up of America's Greatest Unsolved Murder. Liveright. Kindle Edition. Publication Date: 2017
-Hodel, Steve. Black Dahlia Avenger I: One of the Most Notorious Murders of the Twentieth Century…Solved. Kindle Edition. Publication Date: 2012
-Hodel, Steve. Black Dahlia Avenger II: Presenting the Follow-Up Investigation and Further Evidence Linking Dr. George Hill Hodel to Los Angeles' s Black Dahlia and other 1940s Lone Woman Murders. Thoughtprint Press. Kindle Edition. Publication Date: 2014
-https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/the-black-dahlia
-https://www.abc10.com/article/news/crime/true-crime/black-dahlia-murderer-zodiac-killer-retired-lapd-detective-unsolved-california/103-e8765852-ed94-4f0e-8431-aaffd7c551ce
-https://allthatsinteresting.com/black-dahlia-killer/7
-https://www.britannica.com/art/Surrealism
-https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/black-dahlia-murder-solved-shocking-new-details-about-aspiring-actress-elizabeth-shorts-life-and-gruesome-death
-https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-dec-19-me-knowlton19-story.html
-https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-11-me-lopez11-story.html
-https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-13-me-lopez13-story.html
-https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-01-06-mn-15889-story.html
-https://www.pbssocal.org/history-society/a-los-angeles-primer-leimert-park
-https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/has-the-black-dahlia-murder-finally-been-solved-198247
-https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/elizabeth-short-george-hodel-suspects-clues-13354993.php
-https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/fresh-look-black-dahlia-murder-180967953/
-https://southpasadenan.com/black-dahlia-murder-retired-lapd-detective-reveals-new-evidence-pointing-to-prime-suspect-his-father/
-https://sowdenhouse.com/history/
-https://kfiam640.iheart.com/featured/unsolved-with-steve-gregory/content/2022-01-19-episode-109-the-black-dahlia/
-https://stevehodel.com/2019/04/12/director-screenwriter-david-lynch-reveals-new-old-clue-to-black-dahlia-investigation-in-dinner-with-john-john/
-https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/26/black-dahlia-murder-steve-hodel-elizabeth-short
-https://www.thetimes.com/article/review-black-dahlia-red-rose-solved-piu-eatwell-lhvptx2pn
-https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/Black-Dahlias-Unsolved-Death-Elizabeth-Short

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)

Bridgeport, CT | With a remarkable range of witnesses—police, firefighters, religious leaders, and neighbors—reporting impossible events, this might be one of the most convincing cases of poltergeist activity.  We are breaking from our current season on Los Angeles and taking a trip to 1974 Bridgeport, Connecticut to tell the story of the Goodin family haunting on Lindley Street.

Follow us for episode photos and more at:
📷 Instagram: instagram.com/darkcity.podcast 
🪡 Threads: threads.net/@darkcity.podcast 
👤 Facebook: facebook.com/darkcitypod
✉️ Email:  [email protected]  

🔎 Want to see how deep this story really goes? Here’s the full set of sources we used:
-Associated Press. (1974, November 28). Girl admits hoax: some not convinced. Brandon Sun.
-Byrnes, P. (2013, July 12). The devil among us. The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Publishing. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
-Cop Says Girl Tells of Hoax. (1974). Used by permission of Connecticut Post, Hearst Conn. Media Group.
-DaRosa, A., & Figueroa IV, D. (2022, October 28). Inside the Warrens' Occult Museum in CT where Annabelle 'lives'. CT Insider. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
-Geller, H. (1976, January 18). All's quiet with Goodins on Lindley but who knows? The Bridgeport Post. https://www.newspapers.com/image/60537788/
-Hall, W. J. The world's most haunted house: The true story of the Bridgeport Poltergeist on Lindley Street. Red Wheel/Weiser. Kindle Edition.
-https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/warner-bros-settles-900m-lawsuit-conjuring-1067445/
-http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2015/04/13/marsha-godin-next-kin/25731001/
-https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2015/04/13/marsha-godin-next-kin/25731001/
-https://www.newspapers.com/image/60637268/?match=1&terms=lindley%20street%20goodin%20poltergeist
-https://www.newspapers.com/image/971726315/?match=1&clipping_id=157626236
-https://www.ranker.com/list/ed-lorraine-warren-controversies/christopher-shultz
-https://www.travelchannel.com/shows/devils-road-the-true-story-of-ed-and-lorraine-warren/articles/11-things-you-need-to-know-about-legendary-paranormal-investigat
-https://www.vox.com/culture/23939024/ed-lorraine-warren-cases-hoax-real-conjuring-amityville
-Morbid | Podcast. The Alleged Smurl Family Haunting, Part 1 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjTP68JswXc
-Morbid | Podcast. The Amityville Horror Conspiracy [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SQfRjdr2k4
-Morbid | Podcast. The Snedeker Haunting: A Haunting in Connecticut [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdJ0u53UaAU
-Officials Close Books on Lindley Street Hoax. (1974). Used by permission of Connecticut Post, Hearst Conn. Media Group.
-Patrick, M. (1997, October 24). Truth or scare? Ghost hunters' stories fail to rattle skeptics. Connecticut Post, 6, Front Page, A14.
-The true story of the Bridgeport Poltergeist, Midday Author Program. (2017, October 13). Newtown Bee, p. 6A. Available from NewsBank: Access World News. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/167A6240F998EB38

Have ideas or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! Send us a text via this link.

👏 Special thanks to our talented partners:
Paolo Sbrighi for Musical Composition (instagram.com/paulosbrighi/)
Mario Cintra for Logo Design (instagram.com/alacarala/)