Between 1960 and 1967, three children disappeared without a trace from the small city of Pirmasens, in southwest Germany. Walter Broschat. Klaus-Dieter Stark. Eveline Lübbert. All of them were between 9 and 10 years old. All vanished on a Friday. And to this day, not a single clue has been found.

In this episode, we revisit one of Germany’s most haunting cold cases. We’ll examine what we know about the disappearances, the man once known as the Waldmensch, the theories that still linger, and a documentary project by Eveline’s own cousin that’s keeping the case in the public eye more than 60 years later.

This is the story of a town that never got its answers—and of three families left with nothing but silence.

Fresh Hell Podcast, True Crime Germany, Pirmasens, Walter Broschat, Klaus-Dieter Stark, Eveline Lübbert, Missing children, German cold cases, 1960s, Waldmensch, Rasterfahndung, Southwest Germany, Unsolved mysteries, Child disappearances, German true crime, Henry Hauck, Spurlos Doku, Pfalz

In this episode, we look at the brief and heartbreaking life of Dorothy Stratten—Playmate of the Month in August 1979, aspiring actress, and the victim of one of Hollywood’s most disturbing murder cases. We trace Dorothy’s rise from a Dairy Queen in Vancouver to the pages of Playboy, her toxic relationship with Paul Snider, her affair with director Peter Bogdanovich, and the events that led to her brutal murder in 1980 at just 20 years old.

We also talk about the dangerous power dynamics behind the glamour of the Playboy Mansion, Bogdanovich’s fierce criticism of Hugh Hefner, and the lasting legacy of a young woman whose life was cut short by control, obsession, and violence.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence (DV), it's crucial to seek help. Below are resources available in the United States, Austria, and internationally:

United States:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: Available 24/7 for confidential support. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org. ​

• Office on Violence Against Women (OVW): Provides resources and information for survivors. Visit justice.gov/ovw/resources-for-survivors. ​

• DomesticShelters.org: Offers a comprehensive directory of shelters and service providers across the U.S. Access it at domesticshelters.org. ​

Austria:

• Women's Helpline Against Violence (Frauenhelpline): A 24/7 confidential service for women experiencing violence. Call 0800 222 555 or visit frauenhelpline.at.​

International:

• UN Women – Ending Violence Against Women: Offers global resources and information on combating gender-based violence. Visit unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women.​

• International Directory of Domestic Violence Agencies: A global listing of DV agencies for various countries. Access it at hotpeachpages.net.​

Remember, reaching out is a vital step toward safety and support. These organizations are equipped to assist and guide you through the process.

Dorothy Stratten, Paul Snider, Peter Bogdanovich, Playboy, Hugh Hefner, Playmate of the Year, They All Laughed, STAR 80, femicide, domestic violence, true crime, Hollywood murder, 1980s, Playboy Mansion, Hefner criticism, Great Playmate Hunt, murder-suicide, exploitation of women, tragic celebrity deaths, Fresh Hell Podcast

In this fifth and final part of the Lizzie Halliday story, Lizzie escapes the electric chair—but not justice. She continues to lash out, nearly killing the sheriff’s wife, and ultimately stabbing a beloved young nurse more than 200 times in what would become the first recorded line-of-duty death of a female law enforcement officer in the U.S.

Along the way, Lizzie makes a claim to her murdered husband’s pension, attempts to set multiple fires, and spins wild tales of murderous gangs and poisoned whiskey. We also hear from journalist Nellie Bly, who sits face-to-face with Lizzie—and walks away unconvinced by her claims of madness.

How many people did Lizzie really kill? We may never know. But it’s clear that, even behind bars, she was never finished causing harm.

Lizzie Halliday, female serial killer, true crime, historical crime, 19th-century crime, Matteawan Asylum, Nellie Bly, Paul Halliday, Sarah Jane McQuillan, Margaret McQuillan, Nelly Wickes, first woman electric chair, American history, murder trial, criminally insane, Fresh Hell Podcast

After the discovery of two women’s bodies buried in the manure pile of the Halliday barn, the search for Paul Halliday continues. But as authorities dig deeper—literally and figuratively—they uncover even more horrors. Lizzie Halliday remains in custody, shifting between moments of eerie calm and violent outbursts, but she isn’t done hiding evidence just yet.

Meanwhile, the identities of the two murdered women are finally revealed, linking Lizzie’s crimes back to an old family connection. And as investigators follow the trail of missing persons, the question remains—just how many victims did Lizzie leave in her wake?

Lizzie Halliday, serial killer, true crime, historical crime, 19th-century crime, female killers, New York murders, Paul Halliday, Sarah Jane McQuillan, Margaret McQuillan, hidden bodies, buried secrets, mental asylum, insanity plea, arson, fraud, deception, crime history, Fresh Hell Podcast

Lizzie Halliday has left a trail of destruction behind her...arson, theft, fraud, and at least one suspicious death! But in this episode, her crimes take a truly horrifying turn. After a year in a mental institution, Lizzie is released back into the care of her much older husband, Paul Halliday. His family and neighbors are already wary of her, and with good reason. Fires, violent outbursts, and unexplained disappearances follow wherever Lizzie goes.

When Paul vanishes without a trace, his family and neighbors start asking questions. The authorities arrive at the farm to search for him, but what they uncover is far worse than anyone imagined. And Paul? He isn’t the only one missing.

Listen now on your favorite podcast app. #FreshHellPodcast

Lizzie Halliday, serial killer, true crime, historical crime, 19th-century crime, female killers, New York murders, arson, horse theft, con artist, insurance fraud, Paul Halliday, missing persons, farm murder, asylum escape, violent outbursts, hidden bodies, Fresh Hell Podcast

Lizzie Halliday is back, and somehow, she’s only getting started. In this episode, we pick up where we left off—with Lizzie abandoning another husband, scamming her way into new homes, and setting literal fires along the way. She takes her insurance fraud scheme to new levels, makes a scene at her father’s grave, and leaves a path of destruction across the Northeast. Meanwhile, a traveling peddler is found murdered in the Shawangunk Mountains, and Lizzie starts spending time with a new crowd. By the time she crosses paths with Paul Halliday, her next husband and soon-to-be victim, things are about to get much, much worse.

Lizzie Halliday, serial killer, true crime, 19th-century crime, female killers, historical murder, New York crime, arson, insurance fraud, con artist, scammer, peddler murder, Shawangunk Mountains, Romani history, Paul Halliday, Philadelphia fire, prison escape, Fresh Hell Podcast

Lizzie Halliday is often called America’s first female serial killer, but long before she made headlines, she was already leaving a trail of chaos behind her. In this episode, we look at her early years—from her family’s immigration from Ireland to her first marriages and the, let’s say, unfortunate fates of the men in her life. Lizzie had a habit of marrying quickly, fighting dirty, and possibly poisoning anyone who got in her way. With lawsuits, accusations, and more than a few suspicious deaths, it’s clear that Lizzie was not your average 19th-century housewife.

Lizzie Halliday, serial killer, true crime, 19th-century crime, historical murder, female killers, New York history, Irish immigrants, Victorian crime, marriage scams, arsenic, Nellie Bly, Fresh Hell Podcast

In this episode of Fresh Hell, we’re heading up to the remote and brutal heights of the Säntis mountain in Switzerland, where, in February 1922, Heinrich and Magdalena Haas were found murdered in their isolated weather station. Their killer? A man they knew, a man who had once wanted Heinrich’s job, and a man who decided to settle his grudge in the most violent way possible.

Säntis double murder, Gregor Kreuzpointner, Heinrich Haas, Magdalena Haas, 1922 murder, Swiss true crime, historical crime, mountain murder, jealousy and revenge, Swiss mystery, double homicide, Säntis weather station, true crime podcast, Fresh Hell, Annie and Johanna, alpine tragedy, Switzerland murder case, orphaned daughters, historical investigation, man without a grave, snow-covered secrets.

In our final episode on the world of Freak Shows, we’re closing the curtain with the incredible, tragic, and sometimes triumphant stories of the performers themselves. Meet Schlitzie, the performer who inspired Freaks (1932), a beloved and misunderstood figure of the sideshow world. Krao, the so-called “Missing Link,” whose life challenges the cruel narratives forced upon her. Myrtle Corbin, the "Four-Legged Girl from Texas," who defied expectations and lived on her own terms. And the Two-Headed Nightingale, Millie and Christine McKoy, twin sisters who endured slavery, exploitation, and eventually reclaimed their voices—literally and figuratively.

These were real people with real lives beyond the stage. Their stories are heartbreaking, shocking, and sometimes unexpectedly uplifting. Who profited from their existence? How did they navigate a world that both exploited and celebrated them? And what became of them after the applause faded?

Step right up for the final chapter in our exploration of the history, myths, and realities of the sideshow.

Freak Shows, human oddities, sideshow history, Schlitzie, Freaks (1932), microcephaly, exploitation, circus history, Victorian sideshows, 19th-century performers, 20th-century sideshows, freak show ethics, missing link hoaxes, Krao Farini, human zoos, Myrtle Corbin, dipygus, conjoined twins, Two-Headed Nightingale, Millie and Christine McKoy, P.T. Barnum, medical anomalies, disability and entertainment, tragic lives, forgotten history, sideshow legends, circus performers, American history, human curiosity, spectacle vs. humanity.

This week, we’re bringing you two of the most fascinating and deeply unsettling stories from the world of freak shows: Chang & Eng Bunker, the original Siamese twins, and Julia Pastrana, the so-called ‘Bear Woman.’

Chang and Eng weren’t just a medical curiosity—they were brilliant businessmen, plantation owners, and, oh yeah, enslavers. Their story is full of contradictions—two men who were once paraded as human oddities but ended up profiting off of the very same system that exploited them.

And then there’s Julia Pastrana. Her story? No happy endings. Labeled “The Ugliest Woman in the World”, Julia was abused, exploited, and even put on display after her death—because apparently, 19th-century showmen didn’t believe in letting their performers stay dead.

These are the stories of three performers whose lives couldn’t have been more different—but both prove one thing: once the world decides you’re an exhibit, getting your humanity back is nearly impossible!