Lurk

The Chesapeake Bay has claimed thousands of ships, but some believe it has never truly released everyone who sailed its waters.

In Part 2 of our journey, we leave Maryland behind and head south into Virginia, where lonely offshore lighthouses have stood watch for more than two centuries. Far from shore, lighthouse keepers endured crushing isolation, violent nor'easters, thick fog, hurricanes, and months cut off from the mainland. Their stories became part of Chesapeake folklore—and according to many witnesses, some of those keepers may still be tending their lights.

Join us as we investigate the legends, eyewitness accounts, and unexplained mysteries surrounding some of Virginia's most historic lighthouses.

In This Episode

• Point Lookout Lighthouse
• Piney Point Lighthouse
• Fort Washington Lighthouse
• Smith Point Lighthouse
• Wolf Trap Lighthouse
• New Point Comfort Lighthouse
• Thimble Shoal Lighthouse
• Old Point Comfort Lighthouse
• Newport News Middle Ground Lighthouse
• Cape Charles Lighthouse
• Old Cape Henry Lighthouse

Featured Stories

• The infamous hauntings of Point Lookout Lighthouse and the Civil War prison camp
• The bizarre "ghost hoe-down" reported in an 1882 newspaper
• Phantom keepers seen standing watch after automation
• Mysterious lantern lights appearing over the Chesapeake
• Watermen's tales of ghostly voices drifting across calm water
• The haunted reputation of America's first federally funded lighthouse at Cape Henry
• Maritime folklore, shipwrecks, and the enduring mysteries of Virginia's lighthouse coast

If you enjoy history wrapped in mystery, this episode explores the fascinating intersection of documented events, local folklore, and eyewitness paranormal experiences that have surrounded Virginia's lighthouses for generations. While some stories can be traced to historical records and newspaper accounts, others have been passed from keeper to keeper, sailor to sailor, becoming part of the Chesapeake's enduring maritime legends.

Interested in following the restoration of several historic Chesapeake Bay lighthouses, including Wolf Trap and Hooper Island?

Visit: The Lighthouse Center

We'd Love to Hear From You

Have you visited one of these lighthouses? Have you experienced something unexplained along the Chesapeake Bay?

Share your story with us—we may feature it in a future episode of Lurk.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider:

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• Following the show so you never miss an episode
• Sharing Lurk with friends who love ghost stories, history, and the unexplained

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On the morning of January 7, 1998, five-year-old Brittany Lynn Locklear stood at the end of her family's driveway in rural Raeford, North Carolina, waiting for her school bus—just as she had so many mornings before.

When her mother stepped inside for only a few moments, Brittany disappeared.

What followed was one of North Carolina's most heartbreaking child abduction cases. Less than twenty-four hours later, Brittany's body was discovered only a few miles from her home. Despite an enormous search effort, hundreds of tips, and decades of investigation, her killer has never been identified.

In this episode of Lurk: Stab & Gab, we examine Brittany's final morning, the eyewitness accounts that helped shape the investigation, the physical evidence that detectives still believe could solve the case, and the enduring hope that advances in DNA technology may finally bring justice to a little girl whose life was stolen far too soon. 

In This Episode

•  Brittany Locklear's life and family 
•  The timeline of January 7, 1998 
•  The terrifying abduction from her school bus stop 
•  The massive search that followed 
•  Discovery of Brittany's body 
•  Physical evidence recovered by investigators 
•  The mysterious pickup truck witnesses reported seeing 
•  Persons of interest and investigative leads over the years 
•  Advances in DNA technology and why investigators remain hopeful 
•  How Brittany's case continues to impact her family and the Lumbee community 
•  What listeners can do if they have information 

Listener Discretion

This episode discusses the kidnapping and murder of a young child. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

If You Have Information

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate Brittany Locklear's murder. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the SBI at (800) 334-3000. Investigators believe even information that may seem insignificant could prove valuable. 

Follow Lurk

If you enjoy Lurk: Stab & Gab, please consider:

•  Following the podcast 
•  Leaving a five-star review 
•  Sharing this episode to help keep Brittany's story alive 
•  Joining the conversation on Facebook for behind-the-scenes discussions and upcoming episode announcements 

Justice delayed is not justice denied. Someone knows what happened that January morning in Raeford, North Carolina.

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For centuries, the lighthouses of the Chesapeake Bay have stood as silent guardians, guiding ships safely through storms, fog, and dangerous shoals. But according to generations of lighthouse keepers, watermen, Coast Guard crews, and visitors, some of these lonely beacons may still be occupied by those who once tended their lights.

In Part 1 of this special two-part series, we begin our journey at the northern reaches of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and travel south, exploring the history, folklore, and reported paranormal activity surrounding some of the region's most historic lighthouses.

From phantom keepers climbing empty staircases to mysterious lanterns appearing in abandoned towers, we'll uncover eyewitness accounts, historical records, local legends, and forgotten stories that have echoed across the Bay for generations.

Are these simply tales born from isolation and the harsh realities of lighthouse life...

or are some keepers still standing watch?

In this episode we visit:

• Turkey Point Lighthouse
• Concord Point Lighthouse
• Pooles Island Lighthouse
• Baltimore Harbor Light
• Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse
• Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse
• Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse
• Bloody Point Bar Lighthouse
• Hooper Strait Lighthouse
• Sharps Island Lighthouse
• Cove Point Lighthouse
• Drum Point Lighthouse
• Hooper Island Lighthouse
• Holland Island Bar Lighthouse
• Point No Point Lighthouse
• Solomons Lump Lighthouse

Featured Topics

• Haunted lighthouse keepers
• Ghostly apparitions
• Phantom lanterns
• Unexplained footsteps
• Maritime folklore
• Chesapeake Bay history
• Historic lighthouse keepers
• Lighthouse legends
• Eyewitness paranormal encounters
• Maryland ghost stories

Interested in following the restoration of several historic Chesapeake Bay lighthouses, including Wolf Trap and Hooper Island?

Visit: The Lighthouse Center

Coming Up in Two Weeks...

Our journey continues in The Haunted Lighthouses of the Chesapeake Bay – Part 2 as we cross into Virginia and investigate some of the Bay's most legendary paranormal locations, including:

• Point Lookout Lighthouse
• Piney Point Lighthouse
• Fort Washington Lighthouse
• Smith Point Lighthouse
• Wolf Trap Lighthouse
• New Point Comfort Lighthouse
• Thimble Shoal Lighthouse
• Old Point Comfort Lighthouse
• Newport News Middle Ground Lighthouse
• Cape Charles Lighthouse
• Cape Henry Lighthouses

Including one location that many paranormal investigators consider among the most haunted places in America.

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If this episode stirred something in you, consider:

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• Sharing it with someone 
• Following us so you never miss a story from the shadows

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Maine – Where the Appalachian Trail Ends... and Something Else Begins

The Appalachian Trail ends in Maine—but for many hikers, the stories begin there.

In this episode of LURK, we travel into the most remote section of the Appalachian Trail, where ancient mountains, endless forests, and miles of wilderness have given rise to legends that refuse to die.

We'll explore:

• The eerie isolation of the Hundred-Mile Wilderness
• The ancient Wabanaki legend of Pamola, the powerful guardian spirit of Mount Katahdin
• The unsettling folklore surrounding Gulf Hagas, known as the "Grand Canyon of Maine"
• Mysterious lights, unexplained voices, and the feeling of being watched in one of America's wildest landscapes
• Why many experienced hikers say Maine isn't just physically demanding—it's spiritually unsettling

Whether you're fascinated by paranormal encounters, Appalachian folklore, or the mysteries hidden in America's last great wilderness, this episode ventures into one of the most haunting stretches of trail you'll ever hear about.

Have your own haunted hiking story or unexplained encounter?

Share your story at lurkpodcast.com. Your experience might appear in a future episode!

🎧 Listen & Follow

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If this episode stirred something in you, consider:

• Leaving a five-star review
• Sharing it with someone 
• Following us so you never miss a story from the shadows

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This Valentine’s Day, we’re stepping off the beaten path and into something deeper… something older.

Have you ever met someone and felt like you already knew them? Like your soul recognized theirs before your mind could catch up?

In this special episode of Lurk, we explore the eerie space where romance meets the paranormal—diving into the lore of soulmates, twin flames, past-life connections, and the ghostly lovers who refuse to let death be the end of their story.

From ancient skeletons buried in eternal embrace to modern encounters with lost loves who appear in dreams, whispers, and shadows… this episode asks a chilling question:

What if some love stories don’t belong to just one lifetime?

🌹 Featured Lore & Legends

• The Lovers of Valdaro (Italy)
• Héloïse and Abelard
• The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall
• La Llorona
• Resurrection Mary
• Percy & Mary Shelley

🕯 Listener Invitation

Have you experienced a soulmate connection, twin flame intensity, or a visitation from a lost love?

Share your story at lurkpodcast.com.
Your experience might appear in a future episode.

🎧 Listen & Follow

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If this episode stirred something in you, consider:

• Leaving a five-star review
• Sharing it with someone who still lives in your heart
• Following us so you never miss a story from the shadows

Some love stories end.  Some burn out. And some…

linger.

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Nestled at the edge of the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, India, the ruins of Bhangarh Fort have earned a reputation so chilling that visitors are legally forbidden from entering after sunset. Declared one of the most haunted locations in the world, this 17th-century fort is wrapped in legends of curses, obsession, and restless spirits.

In this episode of Lurk, we explore the rise and fall of Bhangarh Fort—from its royal origins under the Kachwaha dynasty to the eerie silence that now blankets its temples, palaces, and marketplaces. Locals whisper of shadowy figures, disembodied screams, sudden drops in temperature, and an overwhelming sense of dread felt by those who linger too long.

At the heart of the haunting are two enduring legends:
 • A powerful curse laid by a holy ascetic after his land was violated
 • A sorcerer whose obsession with a princess may have doomed an entire city

We’ll examine how these stories intertwine with historical records, why the Archaeological Survey of India enforces strict nighttime bans, and what modern investigators and visitors claim to have experienced among the ruins.

Is Bhangarh Fort truly cursed—or is fear itself the most powerful force haunting its walls?

Press play, and step carefully. Some places don’t like to be remembered.

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We explore the haunting 1988 disappearance of Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey—no bodies ever found—and the 1989 murders of Annamaria Phelps and Daniel Lauer, whose remains were discovered weeks later in woods near I-64. These cases close out the Colonial Parkway series, with lingering questions about connections to the earlier killings. We cover investigative challenges, family perspectives, and 2024–2026 breakthroughs linking deceased suspect Alan Wade Wilmer Sr. to multiple victims (including recent resolutions for Thomas/Dowski). Some justice delivered, but closure remains elusive for these families. Tips? Contact FBI Norfolk or Virginia State Police.

Resources

A Special Kind of Evil: The Colonial Parkway Killings by Blaine Pardoe and Victoria Hester

Lovers Lane: The Colonial Parkway Murders by Matt Stokes

Mind Over Murder Podcast

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Between 1986 and 1987, two young couples vanished or were found murdered along one of Virginia’s most scenic and historic roadways. What initially appeared to be isolated tragedies would later become the opening chapter of one of the most chilling and enduring unsolved serial murder cases in American history.

In Part One, we examine the first two confirmed crime scenes connected to the Colonial Parkway Murders — cases that set a disturbing pattern investigators are still trying to understand decades later.

Case One: Cathy Thomas & Rebecca Dowski (1986)

Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski were a young couple spending a night together near the Colonial Parkway. When they failed to return home, concern quickly turned into fear. Their car and bodies were eventually found.

Case Two: David Knobling & Robin Edwards (1987)

Less than a year later, David Knobling and Robin Edwards disappeared after an evening together near the James River. Their car was found parked near the water, keys still inside. What followed was a discovery that would escalate fear across the region — both had been brutally murdered, shot at close range.

The similarities between the two cases were impossible to ignore. Couples. Secluded locations. A killer who appeared calm, deliberate, and confident.

In This Episode

• The early timeline of the Colonial Parkway Murders
• Detailed breakdowns of the first two crime scenes
• Behavioral patterns emerging from the earliest attacks
• Initial law enforcement theories — and early missteps

These cases would mark the beginning of a terror that stretched over years, jurisdictions, and generations of unanswered questions.

In Part Two, we’ll examine the next murders attributed to the Colonial Parkway killer — and how the case began to unravel under mounting pressure, conflicting theories, and devastating loss.

Resources

A Special Kind of Evil: The Colonial Parkway Killings by Blaine Pardoe and Victoria Hester

Lovers Lane: The Colonial Parkway Murders by Matt Stokes

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Rising sharply from the Arizona desert, the Superstition Mountains are as beautiful as they are deadly. For centuries, these jagged peaks have been wrapped in stories of curses, lost gold, disappearances, and something far darker lurking among the canyons.

In this episode of Lurk, we descend into the legends that made the Superstitions infamous—from the tale of the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine to the countless hikers and prospectors who entered the mountains and were never seen again. Indigenous warnings, brutal terrain, unexplained deaths, and whispers of shadowy figures all collide in a landscape many believe is cursed.

Are the Superstition Mountains simply unforgiving wilderness, or is there something watching from the cliffs and ravines? As history blurs into folklore, one thing becomes clear: these peaks don’t give up their secrets easily.

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In September 2005, 17-year-old college freshman Taylor Behl left her dorm at Virginia Commonwealth University for a short late-night drive—and never returned. What began as a routine missing-person report quickly spiraled into a massive search effort that drew national attention and exposed a disturbing web of relationships, manipulation, and obsession.

In this episode of Lurk, we retrace Taylor’s final hours, the frantic investigation that followed, and the unexpected suspect who had been hiding in plain sight. From downtown Richmond to the quiet backroads of Mathews County, we follow the trail that ultimately led to the heartbreaking discovery of Taylor’s body—and the truth behind her murder.

Join us as we explore:

• Taylor Behl’s life and first weeks at VCU
• Her sudden disappearance and the initial response
• The digital clues and MySpace connections that shaped the investigation
• The eerie behavior of amateur photographer Benjamin Fawley
• How search teams uncovered the location of Taylor’s remains
• The case’s resolution and the legal aftermath

This is the story of a promising young woman whose life was stolen—and of the dogged investigators, family members, and volunteers who refused to stop searching.

Listener discretion is advised.

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