Ghost Bites

This week on Ghost Bites, Mike and J.T. delve into one of the most baffling and bizarre phenomena in paranormal history: Spontaneous Human Combustion! Imagine going about your day when, without warning, you burst into flames, leaving behind little more than a pile of ash and a completely charred crime scene. Was it a scientific oddity, a vengeful spirit, or just a really, really bad case of heartburn? Join us as we explore the strange cases and even stranger theories behind this fiery mystery, and try to figure out why some people literally go out with a bang.

Sources used for this episode:

Ablaze!: The Mysterious Phenomenon of Spontaneous Human Combustion by Larry E. Arnold

The official police and fire department reports on well-known cases like Mary Reeser and Dr. John Irving Bentley

Scientific articles and skeptical analyses debunking the supernatural theories

News reports and folklore documenting historical and modern accounts of the phenomenon.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Ghost Bites, Mike and J.T. dim the lights and light a single candle as they explore the life, mysterious death, and enduring ghostly legacy of master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe! From his tales of raven-haunted chambers and premature burials to his own tragic and perplexing demise, Poe's life was arguably as dark and twisted as his fiction. Join us as we delve into the haunting whispers surrounding his final days, the spectral sightings reported at his various residences, and wonder if the man who perfected dread might still be lurking in the shadows, looking for inspiration, or perhaps just a really good editor.

Sources used for this episode:

Edgar Allan Poe: A to Z by Dawn B. Sova

Poe's Final Stanzas: The Gripping Story of Poe's Final Days by Dale Bailey

Accounts from various historical societies and museums dedicated to Poe (e.g., The Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, VA)

Literary analyses and biographies of Edgar Allan Poe focusing on his life and death.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Ghost Bites, Mike and J.T. venture into the eerie legends surrounding Old Stony Brook and the tragic tale of Annette Williamson. Nestled within the picturesque, yet undeniably haunted, landscapes of Long Island, Stony Brook has long been a hotbed of paranormal activity, with Annette's sorrowful spirit often cited as one of its most prominent residents. Her story, a haunting mix of heartbreak and enduring presence, has been whispered through generations, suggesting that some loves, and some lives, are too powerful to simply fade away. Join us as we explore the tragic circumstances that tie Annette to this historical locale and wonder if her restless spirit is still searching for solace, or perhaps just a good cup of coffee.

Sources used for this episode:

Ghosts of Long Island: Stories of the Paranormal by Kerriann Flanagan Brosky (features Annette Williamson)

Local historical societies and archives related to Stony Brook and the surrounding areas

Oral traditions and collected folklore from Long Island residents

Haunted Long Island: Famous Phantoms, Witches and Vampires by Paul J. DiStefano

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Ghost Bites, Mike and J.T. check into the opulent, yet unsettling, Brown Hotel and Brown Theatre in Louisville, Kentucky. Beyond its stunning architecture and famous "Hot Brown" sandwich, this historic landmark is reportedly teeming with spectral guests who never quite checked out, including a well-dressed man on the mezzanine and various playful poltergeists. Join us as we explore the elegant haunts and spine-tingling tales of this iconic location, and try to figure out if we're more scared of the ghosts or getting locked in a room with unlimited "Hot Browns." (It's a tough call.)

Sources used for this episode:

Louisville's Haunted Hotels by Alan Brown

"Haunted Louisville" ghost tours and historical accounts

Employee and guest testimonials compiled by local paranormal researchers

Ghost Hunters - "Return to the Brown Hotel" episode

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Ghost Bites, Mike and J.T. bundle up for a chilling tale that proves even animated princesses can get a little... possessive. We're diving into the story of the Haunted Elsa Doll, a seemingly innocent "Frozen" toy that reportedly kept returning to its bewildered owners even after being thrown out multiple times. Join us as we try to figure out if this doll just really loved its family, or if a mischievous spirit decided to "Let It Go" right back onto their couch. Either way, it's enough to make you think twice about buying toys from a yard sale.

Sources used for this episode:

News reports and viral articles detailing the original Elsa doll story (e.g., from The Sun, Fox News affiliates)

Online forums and social media discussions where the family shared their experiences

Paranormal investigator blogs discussing "object attachment" and "residual haunting"

"Toy Story 4" (for research into dolls who just really don't want to be discarded – strictly for laughs, folks!)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Ghost Bites, Mike and J.T. venture to the hauntingly beautiful, and just plain haunting, Hotel del Salto in Colombia. Perched precariously near a massive waterfall, this once-grand mansion was abandoned and quickly became a magnet for urban legends, desperate souls, and perhaps a few lingering spirits who just loved a good view. Join us as we explore the tragic tales and eerie atmosphere of this real-life haunted house, and wonder if anyone ever actually checked out of this place, or just, you know, fell.

Sources used for this episode:

"The Haunting Beauty of the Abandoned Hotel del Salto" (Atlas Obscura article)

Local Colombian folklore and historical accounts of the Tequendama Falls

Photography essays and exploration blogs documenting the hotel

Mysteries of the Abandoned - "Colombia's Suicide Hotel" episode (Discovery Channel)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Ghost Bites, Mike and J.T. take a grim tour of the Villisca Axe Murder House, where in 1912, an entire family and two guests were brutally murdered in their sleep by an unknown assailant. With over a century of unanswered questions, botched investigations, and alleged paranormal activity, this house isn't just a historical site—it's a full-blown nightmare fuel factory. Join us as we try to make sense of the senseless, and ponder why anyone would willingly spend a night in a place where an axe-wielding murderer might still be looking for a roommate.

Sources used for this episode:

The Villisca Axe Murders of 1912: A Century of Suspicion by Edgar V. Epperly

"Villisca: Living with a Mystery" (documentary by Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle)

Official Villisca Axe Murder House website and historical records

Iowa cold case files and newspaper archives from 1912

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Ghost Bites, Mike and J.T. get lost—literally and figuratively—in the labyrinthine halls of the Winchester Mystery House. Built by the eccentric heiress Sarah Winchester, this mansion is a sprawling architectural oddity with stairs that lead to ceilings, doors that open onto walls, and a general air of "what even is going on here?" Join us as we explore the 160-room testament to grief, spiritualism, and maybe just a touch of "I have too much money and too many contractors."

Sources used for this episode:

The Winchester Mystery House: A Pictorial History by Mary Jo Ignoffo

"Winchester Mystery House" official website and archives

"America's Most Haunted Houses" (Travel Channel special)

House of Mystery: An Original Screenplay by Peter L. Brosnan (unproduced screenplay based on extensive research)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Ghost Bites, Mike and J.T. crack open the creepy tale of the Dybbuk Box. Allegedly a wine cabinet possessed by a restless, dislocated spirit, this little antique has a reputation for bringing misfortune, nightmares, and even physical harm to anyone who dares to own it. Join us as we explore this potentially furniture-based evil entity and ponder if buying haunted antiques on eBay is ever a good idea. Spoiler: it's not.

Sources used for this episode:

The Dibbuk Box by Jason Haxton

"A Nightmare on Elm Drive: The True Story of the Dibbuk Box" (documentary)

"The Haunted Dybbuk Box: A True Story of Possession?" (All That's Interesting article)

The Possession (2012 film, for entertainment purposes only, definitely not a documentary)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Ghost Bites, Mike and J.T. delve into the most famous haunting in British history: the Enfield Poltergeist. From beds shaking on their own to children levitating and a young girl speaking in a gruff, old man's voice, this case has it all—except maybe a perfectly rational explanation. Join us as we explore a spooky squatter who apparently just wanted to be a real jerk, and find out if it was a ghost, or just a couple of kids who were really, really good at pranking.

Sources used for this episode:

This House is Haunted: The Amazing Inside Story of the Enfield Poltergeist by Guy Lyon Playfair

"The Enfield Poltergeist" documentary series (Apple TV+)

"Five reasons why London's most famous poltergeist case is a hoax" (Time Out article)

Police officer's official report from the night of the first incident

Intro Music by - Jayme McDonald (Chatterless) Spotify, Linktree

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices