In this episode, Cristina tells Carmen about the April 20th, 2026 shooting in Teotihuacan, but also more about how this type of violence was once thought to be only a western problem and has spread to the global south, as well as discussing some conspiracy theories that popped up after the shooting.

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown
The next book club read is Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. If you would like to
purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR


Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to charity.

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

Sources:

https://elpais.com/mexico/2026-04-21/los-25-minutos-de-panico-en-teotihuacan-un-viejo-revolver-una-mente-enferma-y-un-crimen-inspirado-por-el-mas-alla.html

https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2026/04/22/estados/tirador-de-teotihuacan-llego-solo-a-cdmx-en-2018-y-nadie-volvio-a-saber-de-el

https://www.milenio.com/policia/balacera-teotihuacan-arma-usada-agresor-era-antigua-revela-fiscalia

https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2026/04/23/vegano-y-fan-de-lady-gaga-la-otra-cara-del-asesino-de-teotihuacan-antes-de-radicalizarse/

https://www.heraldousa.com/es/mexico/2026/4/21/balacera-en-teotihuacan-circula-en-redes-sociales-video-inedito-del-atacante-en-el-momento-de-los-hechos-con-mensaje-anticolonial-22381.html

https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/how-the-true-crime-community-generates-its-own-killers/

https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/terror-without-ideology-the-rise-of-nihilistic-violence-an-isd-investigation/

https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/czx9d9gxzyqo

https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/en-foco/2026/ataque-en-piramides-de-mexico-fue-una-accion-bien-planeada-de-un-seguidor-de-tiroteos-en-eeuu/

https://elpais.com/mexico/2026-04-20/un-tiroteo-en-teotihuacan-deja-dos-muertos-y-tres-heridos.html

https://www.newsweek.com/gunman-opens-fire-on-tourists-at-mexicos-most-visited-ancient-ruins-11856347

Terror struck the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida in June 12, 2016. The club was hosting their weekly Latin club when a man entered and opened fire. 49 were dead and over 50 were wounded. Over 90 percent of victims were Latinos. 

Today June 12, 2026 is the anniversary of this event and Espooky Tales is re-releasing episode 170 in light of today. 

It's a book club episode! Carmen and Cristina read the Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas. First they recapped the book, then did discussion questions and ended by picking the next book club episode. Here is the synopsis for the Possession of Alba Diaz: 

In 1765, plague sweeps through Zacatecas. Alba flees with her wealthy merchant parents and fiancé, Carlos, to his family’s isolated mine for refuge. But safety proves fleeting as other dangers soon bare their teeth: Alba begins suffering from strange hallucinations, sleepwalking, and violent convulsions. She senses something cold lurking beneath her skin. Something angry. Something wrong.  
Elías, haunted by a troubled past, came to the New World to make his fortune and escape his family’s legacy of greed. Alba, as his cousin’s betrothed, is none of his business. Which is of course why he can’t help but notice the growing tension between them every time she enters the room…and why he notices her deteriorate when the demon’s thirst for blood gets stronger. In the fight for her life, Alba and Elías become entangled with the occult, the Church, long-kept secrets, and each other… not knowing that one of these things will spell their doom.


If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown
The next book club read is Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. If you would like to











purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR


Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to charity.

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

Carmen and Cristina had the pleasure of talking with Cynthia about her new book Muñeca, available 6/2/26 (WE LOVED THE BOOK). Muñeca is a vivid, surreal Gothic about a queer, Latine, working class witch who sets out to rescue a bespelled heiress and loses control of her powers and her heart in the process.

It is 1968 Oakland, and Natalia Fuentes has been hearing rumors about the beautiful Violeta Miramontes. The young heiress to Spanish colonial wealth has been left paralyzed by a mysterious illness. But Nati knows a thing or two about witchcraft, and she is certain that this is the work of dark magic. Armed with a plan to break the spell and earn a handsome reward, Nati works her way into the house as Violeta’s caretaker, and immediately discovers her suspicions are true. But who cursed Violeta? And why? As feelings between the two women bloom into romance, Nati grows more and more reckless, and is forced to face her own ghosts— ones she hoped would stay gone forever.

Cynthia talked to Carmen and Cristina about the inspiration behind the magic that Nati is using, the history behind the Miramontes family living in Orinda and so much more.

Keep up with Cynthia on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cynthiasaysboo.bsky.social

and on her website: https://cynthiasaysboo.wpcomstaging.com/

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown

The next book club read is the Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas. If you want to purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR


Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to charity. 

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

Carmen shares the legend of the ghost bride of Patos and other legends from the Mexican state of Coahuila. Then, they end with spooky recs. Carmen's recommendation is the book Malas by Marcela Fuentes and Cristina recommended McFarland USA and El Norte (neither is spooky, but they are Latinx movies).

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown

The next book club read is the Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas. If you want to purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR


Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to charity. 

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

The Satanic Panic was still very alive in the 1990s and in the midst of this, ABC's 2020 aired the alleged real exorcism of a Colombian American teen named Gina. Carmen and Cristina share the context in which her exorcism took place and then discuss the exorcism itself. First, they read a listener story and they end with spooky recs. Carmen recommended the zombie romance called Dating after the End of the World by Jeneva Rose and Cristina recommended Tubi's newest original horror HIVE. They also shared their brief interview with the director of HIVE. Stay espooky! 

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown

The next book club read is the Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas. If you want to purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR

Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to charity. This month's donation went to CLEAN, carwash worker center, an org that has been helping car wash workers who are unable to leave their homes due to increasing ICE raids in LA county, by providing groceries to over 200 car wash workers. Follow @carwasherxs on instagram

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

Sources

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/03/05/Cardinal-Two-devil-exocisms-recently-blames-heavy-metal/1575636613200/ 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMartin_preschool_trial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCv-oWhPdrY 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Keith_Symons#Bishop_of_Palm_Beach
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Sellers

Isabel Cabanillas de la Torre era artista y muy conocida en su comunidad. Todos los vendedores de comida la conocían. También era activista en un grupo llamado Mesa de Mujeres, una agrupación centrada en la violencia de género. Asimismo, era integrante de Puro Borde, un colectivo artístico de la ciudad. Algunos de sus murales aún pueden encontrarse en Ciudad Juárez. Salió de un bar en el centro de Juárez pasada la medianoche del 18 de enero de 2020, y esa fue la última vez que sus amigos la vieron con vida. Antes de hablar sobre Isabel, Cristina le cuenta a Carmen parte de la historia de Juárez, abordando el tema de las maquiladoras y el TLCAN.

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown

The next book club read is the Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas. If you want to purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR

Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to charity. This month's donation went to CLEAN, carwash worker center, an org that has been helping car wash workers who are unable to leave their homes due to increasing ICE raids in LA county, by providing groceries to over 200 car wash workers. Follow @carwasherxs on instagram

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femicide_in_Ciudad_Ju%C3%A1rez
https://www.calonews.com/communities/los-angeles/ni-una-m-s-how-mexico-s-femicide-crisis-fuels-activism-for-latinos-in-the/article_542c7a01-5c76-49b9-bd79-ffa9ee8d32d0.html
https://desinformemonos.org/lomas-de-poleo-un-campo-de-concentracion-en-la-frontera/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campo_Algodonero_in_Cd._Juarez
https://web.archive.org/web/20151031181854/
http://www.fronterasdesk.org/news/2011/nov/08/border-slain-unsolved-women-disappeared-mexico/
https://web.archive.org/web/20160313142858/
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5683793
https://cja.org/what-we-do/litigation/amicus-briefs/campo-algodonero-v-the-united-mexican-states/
https://www.infobae.com/america/mexico/2020/01/12/ciudad-juarez-la-localidad-marcada-por-la-violencia-que-busca-erradicar-los-feminicidios/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Isabel_Cabanillas
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/11/mexico-war-on-women-artist-isabel-cabanillas-ciudad-juarez
https://desinformemonos.org/asesinatos-mujeres-ciudad-juarez-la-guerra-sigue/
https://archive.ph/knNKK

On June 11th, 2018, Fabian Caceres left his home and enated the double femicide of Gabriela Alcaíno Donoso and Carolina Donoso. This led to the passing of Gabriela's law in Chile, changing the way femicide is classifed forever. 

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown

The next book club read is the Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas. If you want to purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR

Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to charity. This month's donation went to CLEAN, carwash worker center, an org that has been helping car wash workers who are unable to leave their homes due to increasing ICE raids in LA country, by providing groceries to over 200 car wash workers. Follow @carwasherxs on instagram

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

sources

https://www.infobae.com/en/2022/04/22/chile-femicide-who-killed-his-ex-girlfriend-and-mother-was-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment-in-a-case-that-inspired-a-new-law/
https://www.newsweek.com/man-jailed-shocking-murder-mom-daughter-that-changed-femicide-law-chile-1701124
https://www.theclinic.cl/2020/03/02/padre-de-gabriela-alcaino-reacciona-a-dichos-de-pinera-es-no-escuchar-es-no-entender-que-aca-la-culpa-no-es-de-la-mujer/
https://www.theclinic.cl/2020/01/30/podcast-poderosas-gabriela/
https://www.elmostrador.cl/braga/2022/04/21/justicia-para-gabriela-tribunal-condena-a-fabian-caceres-a-presidio-perpetuo/
https://www.pagina12.com.ar/252303-en-el-nombre-de-todas/
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ley_Gabrielahttps://hiplatina.com/chile-femicides-revolution/
https://apnews.com/general-news-f62aaccb03cd3749ec969924f8b5506f

On 3/18, the NYT dropped its years-long investigation into Cesar Chavez, and in it, survivors told their stories for the first time. It revealed that he abused them when they were minors. In this episode, we share the new allegations, but also discuss a troubling past that involves anger issues, being controlling, the wet lines, his admiration for a cult leader, and more.

sexual assault resources:https://doloreshuerta.org/sexual_assault_resources/

Historias Unknown: https://www.historiasunknown.com/

sources: 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/us/cesar-chavez-sexual-abuse-allegations-ufw.html?smid=url-share
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/us/cesar-chavez-sexual-assault-allegations-takeaways.html?rsrc=flt&smid=url-share
https://medium.com/@dolores_huerta/march-18-2026-e74c20430555
The Crusades of Cesar Chavez by Miriam Pawel
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/07/the-madness-of-cesar-chavez/308557/
https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/cesar-chavez-complicated-legacy-united-farm-workers-immigration/
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-03-29/cesar-chavez-problematic-miriam-pawel

Isabel Cabanillas de la Torre was an artist and so well known in her community. Every food vendor knew her. She was also an activist with a group called Mesa de Mujeres, a group that focused on gender violence. She was also a member of Puro Borde, an art collective in the city. Some of her murals can still be found in Ciudad Juarez. She left a bar in downtown Juarez after midnight on Jan 18, 2020 and that was the last time her friends saw her alive. Before tallking about Isabel, Cristina tells Carmen some of the history of Juarez, involving the maquiladoras and NAFTA. 

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown

The next book club read is the Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas. If you want to purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR

Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to charity. This month's donation went to CLEAN, carwash worker center, an org that has been helping car wash workers who are unable to leave their homes due to increasing ICE raids in LA country, by providing groceries to over 200 car wash workers. Follow @carwasherxs on instagram

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femicide_in_Ciudad_Ju%C3%A1rez
https://www.calonews.com/communities/los-angeles/ni-una-m-s-how-mexico-s-femicide-crisis-fuels-activism-for-latinos-in-the/article_542c7a01-5c76-49b9-bd79-ffa9ee8d32d0.html
https://desinformemonos.org/lomas-de-poleo-un-campo-de-concentracion-en-la-frontera/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campo_Algodonero_in_Cd._Juarez
https://web.archive.org/web/20151031181854/
http://www.fronterasdesk.org/news/2011/nov/08/border-slain-unsolved-women-disappeared-mexico/
https://web.archive.org/web/20160313142858/
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5683793
https://cja.org/what-we-do/litigation/amicus-briefs/campo-algodonero-v-the-united-mexican-states/
https://www.infobae.com/america/mexico/2020/01/12/ciudad-juarez-la-localidad-marcada-por-la-violencia-que-busca-erradicar-los-feminicidios/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Isabel_Cabanillas
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/11/mexico-war-on-women-artist-isabel-cabanillas-ciudad-juarez
https://desinformemonos.org/asesinatos-mujeres-ciudad-juarez-la-guerra-sigue/
https://archive.ph/knNKK