Lucid Lab Podcast

This week, Jessica brings us the disturbing case of Daniel LaPlante, a troubled teenager whose crimes shocked New England in the late 1980s. We'll delve into LaPlante's bizarre stalking and terrorizing of the Bowen family in 1986, where he hid inside their home for months on and off, leaving eerie messages and playing mind games that pushed them to the brink of sanity.

Then we'll examine how LaPlante's criminal behavior escalated horrifically in 1987, culminating in the brutal triple homicide of Priscilla Gustafson and her two young children in Townsend, Massachusetts. How did a seemingly routine burglary turn into a nightmare of rape and murder that devastated a family and community? Daniel was not a normal teenager. He is the epitome of evil.

This case is riddled with misinformation - we hope to clear up some details in this episode that made this story an urban legend. 

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Follow Lucid Lab Podcast on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube) @lucidlabpodcast

Support Lucid Lab on Patreon! Join the Lab Rat Clan - https://www.patreon.com/LucidLabPodcast

Send your questions and episode suggestions to [email protected] 

Have a special experience you want to share? Send us anything! True crime, paranormal, alien encounters, spiritual experiences, dreams, etc. We might read it in our Lab Reports episode!

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Sources:

Allan, L. (2023, June 22). Daniel LaPlante Terrorized A Family While Living In The Walls Of Their House. https://www.ranker.com/list/danny-laplante-facts/laura-allan

Andrew Gustafson Obituary. (2014, May 31). https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/fitchburg/name/andrew-gustafson-obituary?id=18545173

Kennedy, D. (2020, May 20). Man Who Found Slain Family Learns to Rebuild His Life From Tragedy. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-20-mn-297-story.html

Patmore, N. & Silverman, L. (2022, October 4). The Chilling Case Of Daniel LaPlante, The 17-Year-Old Who Raped And Murdered A Pregnant Mom — Then Drowned Her Two Kids. https://allthatsinteresting.com/daniel-laplante#:~:text=The%20evening%20after%20the%20Gustafson%20murders%2C%20LaPlante%20was,arrested%20on%20the%20evening%20of%20Dec.%203%2C%201987.

Wood, A. (2024, February 23). Episode 59 | Stranger Than Fiction: The Truth About The Crimes of Daniel LaPlante, Townsend, Massachusetts, with author Joe Turner (crimeofthetruestkind.com)

Young, M. (2018, April 21). Devonte Hart's mother: tracing her life from the Midwest to her drive off the California cliff. Devonte Hart's mother: tracing her life from the Midwest to her drive off the California cliff - oregonlive.com

Happy Halloween Lab Rats! We are spending some time in honor of the holiday to discuss Halloween Sadism, the worry and sometimes actuality that a stranger will tamper with the treats they hand out on Halloween causing harm to innocent trick or treaters. On this episode, Kendra discusses a few of the tales that fueled this fear including the main culprit, Ronald Clark O’Bryan who was convicted in the death of his own child using tainted candy and dubbed The Candyman or The Man Who Killed Halloween. 

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Follow Lucid Lab on social media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube @LucidLabPodcast

Send your questions, personal stories and episode ideas to [email protected]

Please subscribe to and rate our Podcast on your favorite platform!

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Sources:

Halloween sadism: the history behind the myth of poisoned treats – Voices of Monterey Bay

Poisoned candy myths - Wikipedia

How Americans Became Convinced Their Halloween Candy was Poisoned | HISTORY

Ronald Clark O'Bryan - Wikipedia

In this episode, we discuss the ongoing conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a nation rich in natural resources but plagued by war and exploitation. From diamonds and gold to coltan and cobalt, Congo’s vast wealth has become a curse, fueling battles between armed groups, corrupt officials, and international corporations. But the human cost is staggering, as civilians, particularly women and children, bear the brunt of the violence.

We explore how the pursuit of valuable minerals has led to widespread sexual violence, with rape and assault used as tools of war to displace communities and assert control over resource-rich territories. Join us as we unpack the complex relationship between natural resources, armed conflict, and the ongoing fight for justice and peace in Congo.

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Donate Today:

City of Joy - https://cityofjoycongo.org/

Focus Congo - https://www.focuscongo.com/

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Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and anywhere else you listen to podcasts!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Follow Lucid Lab Podcast on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube) @lucidlabpodcast

Support Lucid Lab on Patreon! Join the Lab Rat Clan - https://www.patreon.com/LucidLabPodcast

Send your questions and episode suggestions to [email protected] 

Have a special experience you want to share? Send us anything! True crime, paranormal, alien encounters, spiritual experiences, dreams, etc. We might read it in our Lab Reports episode!

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Sources:

“In My Village” Spoken Word by Ntumba Yvette. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlo68g9-IK4

Anna, C. (2022, June 16). EXPLAINER: Why Rwanda and Congo are sliding toward war again.https://apnews.com/article/politics-east-africa-rwanda-united-nations-49c5e58469496e272286dc5b82baa1a2

Cascais, A. (2021, November 11). Renewed fighting flares in eastern Congo. https://www.dw.com/en/renewed-fighting-flares-in-eastern-congo/a-59789397

Cordell, D. & Payanzo, N. (2024, October 21). Resources and Power. https://www.britannica.com/place/Democratic-Republic-of-the-Congo/Resources-and-power

Dizolele, M. (2019, January 25). Why Joseph Kabila Lost the Election. https://www.csis.org/analysis/why-joseph-kabila-lost-election

Haider, H. (2017, March 2). Modern Slavery in the DRC. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b9a541be5274a138ea54232/052_Modern_slavery_in_the_DRC.pdf

Increased Fighting in Democratic Republic of Congo Exacerbating Security Woes Threatening Regional Conflagration, Special Envoy Warns Security Council. (2024, April 24). https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15677.doc.htm

Nantulya, P. (2024, May 20). Understanding the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Push for MONUSCO’s Departure. https://africacenter.org/spotlight/understanding-drc-monusco/

Pietromarchi, V. (2024, March 29). Eastern DRC ‘at breaking point’ as security, humanitarian crises worsen. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/29/eastern-drc-at-breaking-point-as-security-humanitarian-crises-worsen

Prashad, J. (2020, May 19). Realizing Children’s Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Children of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - Humanium

The harms of Glencore’s corruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. (2023, December 12). https://www.spotlightcorruption.org/glencores-corruption-drc-and-nigeria/

Q&A: Democratic Republic of Congo Conflict in North Kivu Province. Abuses by the Congolese Army, Rwandan Forces, M23, and Other Armed Groups. (2024, September 26). Q&A: Democratic Republic of Congo Conflict in North Kivu Province | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org)

Vesperini, H. (2018, January). Women Displaced by Brutal Violence in the DR Congo Tell Their Harrowing Stories. https://storyteller.iom.int/stories/women-displaced-brutal-violence-dr-congo-tell-their-harrowing-stories

Why sexual violence is on the rise in Goma's displacement camps. (2023, September 18). Why sexual violence is on the rise in Goma’s displacement camps - Democratic Republic of the Congo | ReliefWeb

On Valentine’s Day of 2013, the world was shocked by the news coming out of South Africa. Reeva Steenkamp, an A-list model and reality show star had been killed in the middle of the night and her boyfriend, the famous double amputee Olympian, Oscar Pistorius had admitted to shooting her four times. The following year would be one of twists and turns as authorities tried to get to the bottom of what happened that fateful night. 

Oscar would claim it was a tragic accident of mistaken identity, he thought Reeva was an intruder to his home. The prosecution would bring a case against him for premeditated murder, attempting to prove that he killed her in a fit of rage after an argument. 

Listen now as Kendra brings you the details of this case, what was decided in the trial and where Oscar Pistorius is today. 

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Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and anywhere else you listen to podcasts!!

Follow Lucid Lab Podcasts on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube) @ lucidlabpodcast

Have a story you want to share? An episode suggestion? We might read it on our special Lab Reports episode. Please send any messages to [email protected]. We love to hear from you!

Sources:

https://people.com/where-is-oscar-pistorius-now-former-olympic-runner-8638022

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

Netflix. 30 for 30: The Life and Trials of Oscar Pistorius. 2020. ESPN.

In this episode, Jessica brings us the heartbreaking and disturbing story of the Hart family. Sarah and Jennifer Hart adopted six Black children with the promise of providing them a loving and safe home. But beneath the surface, their seemingly perfect family facade hid a darker reality. On March 26, 2018, this tragic story took a horrific turn when Jennifer drove their SUV off a cliff in Mendocino County, California, killing themselves and the children - Markis, Hannah, Devonte, Abigail, Jeremiah, and Ciera. We explore the events leading up to this devastating act, the signs that were missed, and the questions that still linger. Join us as we examine the complexities of this case and its lasting impact on those who knew the Hart family and the birth families of the children gone too soon.

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Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and anywhere else you listen to podcasts!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Follow Lucid Lab Podcast on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube) @lucidlabpodcast

Support Lucid Lab on Patreon! Join the Lab Rat Clan - https://www.patreon.com/LucidLabPodcast

Send your questions and episode suggestions to [email protected] 

Have a special experience you want to share? Send us anything! True crime, paranormal, alien encounters, spiritual experiences, dreams, etc. We might read it in our Lab Reports episode!

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Sources:

Asgarian, R. (2023, March 14). We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Lusk, V. (2018, March 30). Women killed in California cliff crash had Aberdeen ties Women killed in California cliff crash had Aberdeen ties (aberdeennews.com)

Oregon Department of Human Services 7/18/23 Assessment Summary: 2013.07.23.cps-report_redacted[5].pdf (cnn.com)

Smiley, L. (2018, Sept 6). Two White Moms. Six Black Kids. One Unthinkable Tragedy. A Look Inside the ‘Perfect’ Hart Family. Jen and Sarah Hart: Inside the World of Two Mothers Who Drove Their Six Kids Off a California Cliff | Glamour

Turnquist, K. (2021, May 18). ‘Broken Harts’ tells the shocking story of the Hart family, whose supposedly ideal NW life ended in death. ‘Broken Harts’ tells the shocking story of the Hart family, whose supposedly ideal NW life ended in death - oregonlive.com

Young, M. (2018, April 21). Devonte Hart's mother: tracing her life from the Midwest to her drive off the California cliff. Devonte Hart's mother: tracing her life from the Midwest to her drive off the California cliff - oregonlive.com

We are up to #10 for our Lab Reports this week! We will be sharing two listener tales on this episode, one about a creepy camping nightmare and the other about an experience with a seemingly friendly Incan ghost. 

For our first mini-episode, Kendra talks about Macchu Picchu, the mystical city of the Incans found in the Southern mountains of Peru. 

For the 2nd mini episode, Jessica brings to light a tragic tale about what happens when a family member's obsession with conspiracies takes them down a very dark path.

Please send in your own stories to be featured on this special episode to [email protected]!

Also, if you enjoy our show, please rate and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Share with a friend that loves true crime, paranormal and crazy history stories!

In this episode, Kendra delves into the mysterious phenomenon of spontaneous human combustion (SHC)—the bizarre and controversial claim that people can burst into flames without an external ignition source. We explore the history of reported cases, from the chilling accounts of individuals found mysteriously charred to the scientific explanations that attempt to explain this phenomenon.

Tune in for a captivating discussion to ignite your curiosity and pose the question on if there really is a scientific explanation for this or if it is something paranormal causing humans to burst into flames. 

Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and anywhere else you listen to podcasts!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Follow Lucid Lab Podcast on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube) @lucidlabpodcast

Support Lucid Lab on Patreon! Join the Lab Rat Clan - https://www.patreon.com/LucidLabPodcast

Send your questions and episode suggestions to [email protected] 

Have a special experience you want to share? Send us anything! True crime, paranormal, alien encounters, spiritual experiences, dreams, etc. We might read it in our Lab Reports episode!

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Sources:

https://www.history.com/news/is-spontaneous-human-combustion-real

https://www.livescience.com/42080-spontaneous-human-combustion.html

https://www.britannica.com/story/is-spontaneous-human-combustion-real

https://www.bowdoin.edu/news/2019/01/spontaneous-human-combustion-and-the-enlightenment.html

https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/unexplained-phenomena/shc.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/158853.stm

In this episode, we delve into the eerie past of the Whaley House, one of the most infamous haunted locations in the United States. Built in 1857, this historic San Diego home is steeped in tragedy and paranormal legend. From the tragic deaths of Thomas Whaley's family members to the house's unsettling ties to San Diego’s first public execution spot, the Whaley House has seen its share of sorrow—and perhaps, restless spirits. Join us as we explore the haunted history, the ghostly encounters reported by visitors, and the enduring mysteries of this legendary residence. Could the Whaley House really be America’s most haunted home? Tune in to find out!

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Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and anywhere else you listen to podcasts!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Follow Lucid Lab Podcast on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube) @lucidlabpodcast

Support Lucid Lab on Patreon! Join the Lab Rat Clan - https://www.patreon.com/LucidLabPodcast

Send your questions and episode suggestions to [email protected] 

Have a special experience you want to share? Send us anything! True crime, paranormal, alien encounters, spiritual experiences, dreams, etc. We might read it in our Lab Reports episode!

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Sources:

Cdnc.ucr.edu. Hanging Yankee Jim. Los Angeles Herald. Oct 7, 1873, Vol 1, Number 5, Page 4.

Wlodarski, R. (2004, January 1). The Haunted Whaley House II: A History and Paranormal Guide to America's Most Haunted House in Old Town, San Diego, California. G-Host Publishing.

Yagi, G. (2017, October 11). The Battle for San Diego. The Battle for San Diego (historynet.com)

Jessica & Kendra are on break for a couple of weeks. This week we are revisiting the DeFeo family murders and the Amityville Horror. The original has been remastered for a hopefully more enjoyable listen compared to our first attempts at editing way back when!

Amityville Horror - we’ve all heard the story, read the books, and watched the movies. But have you heard the real story of 112 Ocean Avenue? The true horror of that home is far more sinister and interesting than some spooky place with a so-called pig demon looking into the windows.

The Defeo family. Six family members were murdered on November 13, 1974. And the murderer was the only surviving family member - Ronald “Butch” Defeo, Jr. Or was he? Join in as we discuss this crazy family and try to get down to the bottom of what really happened. Jessica provides all the details and you get to decide. And yes, we will cover the Amityville Horror we all know and love as well — but we’ll challenge that too! 

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Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and anywhere else you listen to podcasts!! Follow Lucid Lab Podcast on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube) @lucidlabpodcast

Email us with any questions, suggestions or lab reports (listener stories) @ [email protected]

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Sources:

Braden, B. (n.d.) Amityville: Inside the Case that Rattled a Seasoned Paranormal Investigator. Travel Channel. Amityville: Inside the Case that Rattled a Seasoned Paranormal Investigator | Travel Channel

Lorite, J. (2022, January 10). The brutal truth about Amityville: It wasn’t ghosts but something worse. El Pais. The brutal truth about Amityville: It wasn’t ghosts but something worse | U.S. | EL PAÍS English (elpais.com)

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ronald DeFero Jr. Ronald DeFeo Jr. - Wikipedia

Osuna, R. (n.d.) The Night the Defeos Died, the story of the Amityville hoax. The Amityville murders.  The Night the Defeos Died, the story of the Amityville hoax (amityvillemurders.com)

Osuna, R. (2006, March 7). The Night the Defeos Died. Booksurge Publishing.

Jessica & Kendra are on break for a couple of weeks so we are introducing our first rerun episode and it’s a classic! Revisit The Stanley Hotel with us, we have remastered our original 2-parter to be just one episode and added in some new intro content. 

In this episode, Kendra explores one of our favorite places in Colorado, The Stanley Hotel, considered one of the most haunted places in the world. Hear the incredible backstory of Freelan & Flora Stanley and how they ended up building this iconic hotel in Estes Park, CO. While visiting their history, we will meet a few of the people who are still rumored to be spending their afterlives in the halls of the hotel…

We will explore the connection this hotel has to Stephen King’s famous book and movie “The Shining” and the many tales of haunted sightings throughout the hotel and its grounds. You do not want to miss this episode!

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Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and anywhere else you listen to podcasts!! Follow Lucid Lab on social media, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube @lucidlabpodcast

Send in your stories and episode ideas, you might even be featured on our special Lab Reports episode where we share our listener tales. Send those to [email protected] 

Support Lucid Lab on Patreon! Join the Lab Rat Clan - https://www.patreon.com/LucidLabPodcast

Sources:

Pickering, James H. (2000). Mr Stanley of Estes Park. Stanley Museum.

Jessen, Kenneth (2018) The inventive Freelan O. Stanley made his mark on Estes Park. Loveland Reporter-Herald.

https://www.reporterherald.com/2018/08/18/the-inventive-freelan-o-stanley-made-his-mark-on-estes-park/amp/

Stanley Museum. The Stanleys. https://stanleymuseum.org/the-stanleys/ (accessed March 14, 2023)