Dudes VS. Everything

On February 24, 1978, five friends from Yuba City vanished after attending a basketball game in Chico, California. Months later, four of them were found dead under chilling and bizarre circumstances in the Plumas National Forest. One, Gary Mathias, was never found. This case—often dubbed the “American Dyatlov Pass”—remains one of the most confounding unsolved mysteries in U.S. history. In this episode, we unravel the timeline, explore the haunting discoveries, and dig into the theories that attempt to explain why five young men drove 70 miles off course into the snowbound Sierra Nevada, only to meet such a tragic and mysterious fate.

Key Talking Points:

The “Gateway Gators”: Who the five men were (Jack Madruga, Bill Sterling, Ted Weiher, Jackie Huett, and Gary Mathias).

The Night of February 24, 1978: Basketball game in Chico, snack stop at Behr’s Market, and the puzzling detour into the mountains.

Joseph Shones’ Testimony: The heart attack victim who saw strange figures and a car that night.

Discovery of the Montego: Why was the car found operable but abandoned at 4,400 feet in the forest?

The Search: The blizzards, false leads, and the strange Brownsville store sighting.

The Trailer Paradox: Ted Weiher’s prolonged survival, food rations, unused propane, and the eerie bedsheet shroud.

Theories:

Foul play or coercion

Gary Mathias’ potential role and missing fate

Accident/misadventure and the “Snowcat trail” hypothesis

Failed rescue attempts

Dyatlov comparisons and fringe theories (UFOs, paranormal)

Aftermath and Legacy: The grief of the families, investigators’ frustrations, and why the case endures as folklore and mystery.

Contextual Deep Dive:

Witness Account: Shones’ claim of seeing a group—including what looked like a woman with a baby—adds an almost supernatural layer. Was it a hallucination caused by his heart attack, or did he truly encounter the boys that night?

Car Clues: No signs of damage on the undercarriage despite the rough road; windows down, keys missing, snacks and programs left behind. Investigators called the scene “bizarre as hell.”

The Trailer: Ted lived for up to 13 weeks, losing nearly 100 pounds. Shoes swapped with Gary. Matches and wood available, yet no fire. Propane tank untouched. Army rations opened, but a locker with a year’s worth of meals left sealed. Why?

The Brownsville Lead: A credible store clerk insisted four of the men bought snacks the next day with an unknown driver. If accurate, it suggests the boys were alive longer than thought and possibly under someone else’s influence.

Missing Forever: Gary Mathias’ sneakers left behind, but no trace of him. His disappearance fuels theories from foul play to survival to institutionalization under another identity.

Parallels to Dyatlov Pass: Both groups abandoned safety for the elements and perished mysteriously, but Yuba’s case has distinctly human decisions at its core rather than unknown forces.

Summary:

On a humid August evening in 1966, two Brazilian technicians set out on a secretive trip that ended with their lifeless bodies on Vintém Hill—dressed in suits, wearing homemade lead eye masks, and carrying a cryptic note that spoke of “swallowing capsules” and “awaiting a signal.” Nearly six decades later, the Lead Masks Case remains one of the most chilling and confounding unsolved mysteries in true crime and paranormal history.

In this solo episode, Jesus takes listeners through the haunting timeline of Manoel Pereira da Cruz and Miguel José Viana: their strange detour to Niterói, the last purchases they ever made, and the bizarre instructions that led them up the hill. Along the way, we dive into the tangled web of theories—UFO encounters, spiritualist experiments, drug overdoses, and possible foul play—that have kept this case alive in headlines and conspiracy circles for decades.

Key Talking Points:

Discovery of the bodies on Vintém Hill by a young boy.

The eerie crime scene: lead masks, raincoats, wet towels, and a cryptic note.

Timeline of the men’s final days, including their strange purchases and lies to their families.

Witness accounts of UFOs in the skies over Niterói that same evening.

Theories explored:

A failed “scientific spiritualist” experiment to contact aliens or spirits.

Foul play or a deadly scam tied to missing money.

Accidental overdose or misadventure with unknown capsules.

The curious involvement of their friend Élcio Gomes.

The confession of Hamilton Bezani and why investigators dismissed it.

Why the lack of autopsy and toxicology doomed the case from the start.

How this mystery lingers as a modern myth—blurring the line between science, faith, and the unexplained.

Contextual Deep Dive:

Background on Spiritism in Brazil during the 1960s and how it shaped beliefs about extraterrestrial contact.

Cultural fascination with UFOs during the Space Race era and how that influenced local narratives.

Investigative failures: how delays, decomposition, and bureaucratic backlog erased crucial forensic evidence.

Parallels to other unexplained “lead mask” deaths in Brazil, including a similar case from 1962.

The enduring legacy of the case in books, podcasts, and UFO literature.

Listener Prompts:

Do you think Manoel and Miguel died as a result of their own experiment gone wrong—or were they tricked by someone else?

How much weight do you give to the UFO witness sightings? Coincidence, embellishment, or genuine phenomenon?

If you were an investigator in 1966, which theory would you have pursued first?

Part of Hosts Jesus' story Arc #1 series

In 2013, 21-year-old Elisa Lam vanished from the infamous Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Weeks later, her body was discovered floating inside a rooftop water tank. The only clue? A haunting piece of elevator footage that went viral, triggering global conspiracy theories, ghost stories, and internet sleuth hysteria.

In this eerie deep dive, Jesus breaks down the disturbing timeline, chilling theories, and tragic truth behind one of the internet’s most enduring mysteries. We explore the real Elisa — her mental health struggles, her vulnerable writings — and the cursed legacy of the Cecil Hotel, where death and darkness have long checked in.

• Elisa Lam’s solo journey down the West Coast
• Her final days inside the Cecil Hotel
• The viral elevator footage: frame-by-frame breakdown
• Discovery of her body and the hotel’s disturbing water issue
• Autopsy report and inconsistencies

• Deep dive into theories:
• The Elevator Game
• LAM-ELISA TB test connection
• Cover-up and missing elevator footage
• Supernatural claims tied to the hotel
• The internet’s obsession and the harassment of Pablo Vergara (Morbid)
• The modern-day Cecil Hotel: supportive housing or still haunted?
• Final reflections: trauma, spectacle, and remembering Elisa as a person

• The Cecil Hotel has a long and bloody history, including ties to serial killers Richard Ramirez and Jack Unterweger.
• Elisa’s Tumblr (nouvelle-nouveau) gave the world insight into her inner world — from poetic quotes to cries for help.
• Her death sparked a cultural phenomenon that blurred lines between true crime, horror, and viral content, raising questions about mental health, media ethics, and the internet’s thirst for darkness.
• The Netflix documentary (2021) introduced new witnesses and controversies — including hotel staff perspectives and accusations of mishandled footage.
• The LAM-ELISA tuberculosis test, real and active during a nearby outbreak, added fuel to biowarfare conspiracies.
• Morbid (Pablo Vergara) was falsely accused by internet sleuths, leading to real psychological harm.
• As of 2024–2025, the Cecil Hotel is partially reopened as supportive housing, but much of it remains sealed off and vacant — its haunted reputation far from gone.

• Do you think Elisa Lam’s death was purely accidental… or something more sinister?
• What do you believe happened in the elevator?
• Should internet sleuths be held accountable when real lives are affected?
• Have you ever stayed somewhere with a dark history? Would you stay at the Cecil Hotel today?

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a35480838/elisa-lam-tumblr-nouvelle-nouveau-blog-crime-scene-online/

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-02-10/netflix-the-vanishing-at-the-cecil-hotel-crime-scene-elisa-lam

https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/elisa-lam-elevator-video-at-cecil-hotel-spawned-wild-theories

https://people.com/what-happened-to-elisa-lam-cecil-hotel-11680025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Hotel_(Los_Angeles)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Elisa_Lam

https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/elisa-lam-wrote-tumblr-posts-ahead-of-her-death-at-the-cecil-hotel

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/02/10293283/what-happened-to-elisa-lam-cecil-hotel-timeline

https://medium.com/matter/haunted-947d642a6d59

https://people.howstuffworks.com/did-elisa-lam-end-up-dead-in-hotel-water-tank.htm

https://www.etonline.com/former-cecil-hotel-manager-talks-netflixs-crime-scene-doc-and-elisa-lam-exclusive-160413

https://www.tyla.com/news/cecil-hotel-manager-leaving-984735-20230103

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2023-08-24/cecil-hotel-housing-homeless-tenants-problems

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-03-09/infamous-cecil-hotel-currently-providing-affordable-housing-up-for-sale

We're back. After some time away, Dudes VS Everything returns with new stories, fresh chaos, and the same two dudes ready to tackle whatever's weird, dark, or completely unexplainable. In this comeback episode, Jesus breaks down the mysterious disappearance of Brandon Lawson, a case that's haunted the internet for over a decade. Meanwhile, Rudy dives into the Pascagoula Abduction—an alien encounter so bizarre that even the cops believed it. This episode is part personal catch-up, part true crime, part high strangeness. No matter how you found us, we're glad you're here. Let's get weird again.

• Why we took a break
• Real-life updates from Jesus and Rudy
• What’s changing with the podcast moving forward
• New website, new polls, new community stuff
• The vibe check: where we’re at mentally, creatively, and with the world

• Timeline breakdown: August 8–9, 2013
• The chilling 911 call and its possible interpretations
• The confusing movements the night he vanished
• Drug use, paranoia, and the possibility of being chased
• Police response and missed opportunities
• His phone activity hours after the call
• 2022: His remains are found. But does it answer anything?
• The internet theories: cartel, cops, hallucination, or cover-up?
• What makes this case stick with so many people a decade later?

• 911 Call Audio and Analysis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f26k-5lX1g

• Written Transcript:

https://deadrunkcrime.home.blog/2019/12/13/episode-24-brandon-lawson

• Official Family Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/helpfindbrandonlawson

• News Coverage of Remains Discovery (2022):

https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/dna-confirms-remains-of-missing-texas-man-brandon-lawson/504-227b3261-9918-4e4b-b1f0-632e60341979

• Wikipedia Summary:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Brandon_Lawson

• October 11, 1973: Calvin Parker and Charles Hickson are fishing
• Their claim: they were paralyzed, floated into a spacecraft
• Description of the beings: robotic, no neck, crab-like claws
• Physical marks left on their bodies
• Hypnosis sessions and polygraph tests
• Skeptics vs believers: who was right?
• The secret police tape: what they said when they thought no one was listening
• Calvin Parker’s later life, public appearances, and final interviews

• Wikipedia Overview:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascagoula_Abduction

• Original Police Secret Tape Audio:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88mzsnvQm4E

• 2019 Documentary-Style Coverage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCtU_mOseTc

• News Breakdown of Police Tape:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5517215/secret-police-audio-files-prove-men-who-claim-they-were-abducted-by-alien-creatures-with-lobster-like-claws-in-craziest-ufo-sighting-ever-recorded-were-telling-the-truth-researcher-claims

• Reddit Discussion of Police Belief and Audio:

https://www.reddit.com/r/HighStrangeness/comments/155soi2/in_1973_two_men_went_to_police_claiming_to_have/

Release Date: March 27, 2023

Summary: Is the government looking out for you—or just

taking your wallet? Rudy and Jesus debate how U.S. veterans, workers, and

everyday people are treated in the face of inflation, economic policies, and

protests around the world.

- Economic pressure on veterans

- France’s pension riots and comparison to the U.S.

- Distrust in government institutions

- Financial anxiety and social movements

- France’s 2023 pension protests erupted after Macron raised

the retirement age without a vote, sparking nationwide unrest.

- U.S. veteran support systems like the VA are often underfunded or

inefficient, leading to ongoing frustration.

- Inflation rates in the U.S. have spiked post-COVID, especially in housing and

food sectors.

- Economic protests often ignite larger ideological movements about fairness,

taxation, and representation.

- Do you feel your government supports you financially?

- Would Americans ever riot the way France does?

- What financial pressure has hit you hardest?

Release Date: March 20, 2023

Summary: Rudy and Jesus go off the rails in this

relationship-based discussion, infused with cosmic wonder, artificial

intelligence, and the possibility of interstellar romance.

- Talking relationships and love in the modern age

- Ridiculous but fun theories about alien love and space MILFs

- GPT-4, AI companionship, and human emotion

- Balancing absurdity and introspection

- AI language models like GPT-4 have sparked new

conversations about digital companionship and emotional relationships with

machines.

- NASA and Pentagon officials have admitted to unusual aerial phenomena in our

solar system.

- “MILF” culture has evolved into both meme and mainstream commentary on

sexuality and taboo.

- Romantic relationships have increasingly been affected by parasocial dynamics

and sci-fi escapism.

- Would you ever date an AI if it could understand you

completely?

- Do aliens feel love?

- Can sci-fi fantasies tell us something real about our needs?

Release Date: March 13, 2023

Summary: A hard look at a disturbing U.S. immigration

operation in 1954 known as "Operation Wetback." The episode explores

its racist undertones, government complicity, and lasting effects on

Mexican-American communities.

- What Operation Wetback was and its historical context

- Mass deportation and civil rights abuses

- How xenophobia shaped American policy

- Personal connections and reflections as Latino veterans

- Operation Wetback was initiated by the Eisenhower

administration to deport Mexican laborers and undocumented immigrants.

- Over 1 million people were forcibly removed, many of whom were U.S. citizens

or legal residents.

- The operation has been widely criticized for violating constitutional rights

and human dignity.

- Its legacy continues to influence modern immigration rhetoric and policy

debates.

- Were you aware of Operation Wetback before this?

- How do you think past immigration policies affect today’s climate?

- What responsibility does a nation have in acknowledging historical

injustices?

Release Date: March 6, 2023

Summary: Ghosts, ghouls, and Gen Z apparitions? This episode

explores the legendary Stanley Hotel in Colorado and its creepy connection to

popular culture, including a few unfiltered traumatic flashbacks from

childhood.

- History of the Stanley Hotel and its haunted legacy

- Gen Z’s humor and ghost lore

- Fast food cravings and the mystery of the McRib

- Childhood trauma as comedic relief

- The Stanley Hotel inspired Stephen King’s "The

Shining" after he stayed there in 1974.

- Modern ghost culture often blends memes and dark humor, especially in younger

generations on platforms like TikTok and Reddit.

- The McRib is a seasonal sandwich by McDonald’s with cult status and has often

been linked with conspiracy-like product cycles.

- Using humor to process trauma is a common coping mechanism, often reflected

in podcasting and online storytelling.

- Have you ever visited a famously haunted place?

- Do you think Gen Z would make fun ghosts or terrifying ones?

- What was your weirdest childhood fear?

Release Date: February 27, 2023

After another long break, the DvE crew returns to relaunch

the podcast with Season 6. They catch up on recent life events and tease topics

for the year ahead while joking about their inconsistent upload schedule.

• What caused the latest hiatus?

• Preview of Season 6 themes

• Meta discussion on podcasting

consistency

• Consistency in podcasting is a

major factor for audience growth, but many indie podcasts follow passion-based

schedules.

• Season launches often help reset

and rebrand a podcast’s tone, giving both creators and audiences a sense of

renewal.

• What would make DvE a

must-listen podcast for you?

• Do you care more about frequency

or quality?

• What do you want more of this

season?

Release Date: March 22, 2022

This episode explores Rudy's frustrations with gaming,

Jesus' theory on brain connections between people, and the weaknesses of public

transit. A mix of existential curiosity and pop culture rants.

• Are our minds connected?

• Gaming industry burnout and

expectations

• The failure of public transit

systems

• Emerging neuroscience suggests

‘brain-to-brain’ communication may be theoretically possible using interfaces

(source: Nature Neuroscience).

• Frustration with the gaming

industry reflects common gamer sentiment regarding monetization and lack of

innovation.

• Do you believe in any form of

telepathy or collective consciousness?

• What’s your biggest complaint

about modern gaming?

• Would you use public transit

more if it worked better in your city?