In the late nineteenth century, illness inside the home was often indistinguishable from something far more sinister. Limited medical knowledge, common household poisons, and deeply ingrained social fears created a perfect environment for suspicion to thrive.

This episode examines the case of Euphemia Mondich, a Michigan woman whose marriages ended repeatedly in prolonged illness and death. As rumors spread and authorities became involved, Mondich was transformed in the public eye from a grieving widow into a symbol of domestic danger.

Through contemporary reporting, historical context, and careful examination of what can and cannot be known, this episode explores how accusation, uncertainty, and gendered assumptions shaped one of Michigan’s most unsettling nineteenth-century cases.

A companion research document for this episode is available for listeners who want to go deeper.

Link below:

https://tracypreston4.gumroad.com/l/vkqae 

Researched, written, recorded and edited by Tracy Preston

Music created by Tracy Preston

Original artwork by Todd Preston

Sources:

Detroit Free Press. Trial Coverage and Crime Reports on Euphemia Mondich. 1919–1922. Detroit Free Press Archives.

Detroit News. Poisoning Investigation and Court Proceedings. 1921–1922. Detroit News Archives.

Michigan Department of Corrections. Historical Prison Records: Michigan State Prison (Jackson). State of Michigan.

Schechter, Harold. The A–Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. Simon & Schuster, 1996.

Federal Bureau of Investigation. Behavioral Perspectives on Female Serial Offenders. FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit, archival reference material.

Vronsky, Peter. Female Serial Killers: How and Why Women Become Monsters. Berkley Books, 2007.

#MaliceInTheMitten

Step into the frozen heart of Michigan with Michigan's Col Spirits & Yuletide Shadows an original dark-winter theme crafted for true folklore, fables and supernatural storytelling.  Inspired by icy forests, haunted legends, and bone-cold nights of the Great Lakes. 

Theme song written and recorded by Alan Hunt

Story and Todd Preston original artwork by Todd Preston

Recorded, edited and original music by Tracy Preston

#MichiganFolklore #WinterSpirits #YuletideShadows #GreatLakesLegends #MichiganMyth #HolidayHorror #MichiganGhosts #WinterHauntings

On this festive Round Robin, we're taking Christmas off the nice list and digging into the weirdest holiday facts you’ve probably never heard. Why do Catalonians hide a pooping figurine in their Nativity scenes? Why does Japan eat KFC for Christmas dinner? And why did Massachusetts once make Christmas illegal?

From Victorian ghost storytelling traditions to Iceland’s 13 mischievous Yuletide trolls, we’re bringing you bizarre global customs, strange history, Santa lore, and some jaw-dropping holiday trivia that’ll wow your family at dinner. Funny, weird, and unexpectedly dark — this is Christmas like you’ve never heard it before.

Perfect for holiday car rides, dinner table interventions, or just flexing your festive knowledge.

#ChristmasHistory #StrangeTraditions #ChristmasPodcast #HolidayEpisode #UnusualChristmas #FunChristmasFacts #RoundRobinShow #HolidayWeirdness

Sound effects from Uppbeat:  ba-dum-tss-drum-rimbshot-om-fx-1-00-14.mp3 / trombone-squeak-danijel-zambo-low-2-00-02.mp3

Original music created by Tracy Preston

Original artwork created by Todd Preston

Recorded and edited by Tracy Preston

In November 2025, 22-year-old Rebecca “Becca” Park — 38 weeks pregnant — vanished from Boon Township, Michigan. Days later, volunteer searchers found her body in the woods of the Manistee National Forest. Prosecutors allege that her biological mother, Cortney Bartholomew, and Cortney’s husband, Brad, lured her into a vehicle, forced her into the forest, and brutally murdered her — allegedly removing her unborn baby from her womb.

This episode chronicles Becca’s life, the desperate community search, the gruesome discovery, and the early days of a legal case that has shaken Michigan. We speak her name, we honor her life, and we present the known facts with care and respect.

Content warning: This episode contains discussion of extreme violence, including murder of a pregnant woman and death of an unborn child. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

— Malice in the Mitten

If you have information related to the case, contact the Wexford County Sheriff’s Office tip-line. 

Tips & Information

Theme song written and recorded by Alan Hunt.

Story researched by Tracy Preston

Original artwork by Todd Preston

Recorded and edited by Tracy Preston

Original music created by Tracy Preston

#RebeccaPark

#TrueCrime

Sources:

“Two Charged with Murder of Rebecca Park.” Michigan Attorney General, 2 Dec. 2025, michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2025/12/02/two-charged-with-murder-of-rebecca-park. Michigan.gov

Spargo, Chris. “Rebecca Park Murder: Mother Accused of Torturing Pregnant Daughter but Keeping Her Alive Until She Cut Out Baby.” PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025, people.com/rebecca-park-mother-cut-out-pregnant-daughters-baby-after-murder-da-11861411. People.com

“Mother and Stepdad Charged with Murder, Torture of Missing Pregnant Woman Rebecca Park.” WDIV ClickOnDetroit, 3 Dec. 2025, clickondetroit.com/news/local/2025/12/03/biological-mom-stepdad-accused-of-murdering-pregnant-daughter-unborn-child-in-michigan-forest. WDIV

“‘Evil’: Mom, Stepfather Charged with Murder in Death of Pregnant Woman, Her Unborn Child.” Associated Press, 3 Dec. 2025. UpperMichiganSource.com. https://www.uppermichiganssource.com+1

“Wexford County Bands Together to Support and Pay Tribute to Rebecca Park and Family.” 9&10 News, 4 Dec. 2025. 910News.com

“Michigan Couple Arraigned on Murder, Torture Charges in Death of Pregnant Manton Woman.” Big Rapids News, 3 Dec. 2025. Big Rapids Pioneer

“Mom, Stepfather Charged in Rebecca Park’s Death; Baby Dead.” Detroit Free Press, 2 Dec. 2025. Detroit Free Press

Krampus is coming to Michigan . . . and he's not bringing gifts.

In this chilling episode of F-Bomb: Fables, Fiction, Folklore & Frights, we dive into the terrifying legend of Krampus - the horned winter demon who punishes the naughty and prowls the snow-covered nights of December. From European origins to Great Lakes lore, explore how this monstrous Christmas figure found his way into MIchigan storytelling, winter festivals and dark holiday tradition. 

We unravel the ancient alpine roots of Krampus.  Why he appears with chains, bells and a sack of stolen children.  How Krampushnacht and Yule traditions shaped modern fear. Michigan sightings, folklore versions & festive Krampus runs. The darker side of Christmas legends - and why we love them.  

If the jingle of bells in the dark makes your blood run cold, this episode is for you.

Listen if you dare - and remember . . . Santa rewards, but Krampus collects.

New episodes every Friday.  Follow for more legends, myths & creepy holiday tales.

Theme song written and recorded by Alan Hunt

Story researched and written by Todd Preston

Original artwork by Todd Preston

Original music created by Tracy Preston

Recorded and edited by Tracy Preston

Sources:

Get ready for one of the funniest, quirkiest Round Robin episodes ever. Today we’re diving into 14 strange, unbelievable, and completely real facts about the world around us — the stuff you absolutely don’t need in your life but will definitely tell someone later.

Original music by Tracy Preston

Original artwork by Todd Preston

Recorded and edited by Tracy Preston

Murder, poison, and deception inside a quiet Grand Rapids home.

In this episode of Malice in the Mitten, we dive deep into the shocking true story of the Peck family poison plot — a scandal involving morphine, atropine, false diagnoses, secret vials, and a slow, methodical attempt to kill a husband from the inside out.

Based on historical records and Robin T. Buhk’s Poisoning the Pecks of Grand Rapids, this episode explores how manipulation, obsession, and trust turned deadly in early 20th-century Michigan.

Theme song written and recorded by Alan Hunt

Original artwork by Todd Preston

Story written and researched by Tracy Preston

Recorded and edited by Tracy Preston

Original music Slow Murder by Tracy Preston

Sources: 

Buhk, Tobin T. Poisoning the Pecks of Grand Rapids: The Scandalous 1916 Murder Plot. History Press, 2020.

Grand Rapids Herald,” June–August 1916 archives.

Grand Rapids Press,” 1916 coverage of the Peck case.

Butterfield, L. C. Medical testimony, Grand Rapids Court Records, 1916.

Kendallville Police Arrest Report, Albert Sweet, 1916.

Sound effects from Uppbeat:  restuarant-ambiance-restaurant-crowd-walla-fascinatedsound-1-00-45.mp3 / train-horn-distance-fascinatedsound-1-01-22-mp3 / typewriter-keyboard-typing-bell-tomas-herudek-medium-1-00-09.mp3 / trailer-impact-heartbeat-clock-ticking-tomas-herudek-1-00-25.mp3 / transition-heartbeat-tension-fast-the-foundation-1-00-19.mp3 / kettle-whistling-steam-jeff-kaale-2-00-09.mp3 / kitchen-room-tone-ambience-gfx-sounds-3-3-01-27.mp3 / old-clock-ticking-in-museum-ivo-vicic-1-00-34.mp3 / winter.breeze-blowing-trees-in-forest-ivo-vicic-1-02-38.mp3 / fire-in-a-large-hall-gfx-sounds-3-3-02-08.mp3

There are stories carved into the old logging camps: tales of a Thanksgiving guest who never eats, never speaks… just watches.

Theme song written and recorded by Alan Hunt

Story researched and written by Todd Preston

Recorded and edited by Tracy Preston

Sound effects from Uppbeat:  wind-howling-low-intense-smartsound-fx-1-00-57.mp3

Sources:

Stories from the Woods— Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center, Northern Michigan University. This archive is foundational for U.P. oral traditions.

Haunted stories in the Upper Peninsula — comlists a variety of local ghost lore.

Paranormal phenomena in the Upper Peninsula — Hideaway Tiny Acres documents U.P. ghostly encounters.

Folklore and culture of the U.P. — NMU’s Upper Peninsula Studies program collects foods, stories, and cultural traditions.

Heikki Lunta — while not directly connected to the “Visitor,” this Finnish-U.P. snow-spirit figure illustrates how Finnish immigrant traditions play into U.P. seasonal folklore.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Let's spatchcock!!

Music by Tracy Preston

Original artwork by Todd Preston

Recorded and edited by Tracy Preston

Sound effects from uppbeat: turkey gobble

Mackinac Island.

Theme song written and recorded by Alan Hunt

Original artwork by Todd Preston

Story researchd and written by Tracy Preston

Recording/editing by Tracy Preston

If you have any information on the murder of Frances Lacey, please contact the Michigan State Police - Cold Case Unit

Tip Line: 313-215-06785 / www.michigan.gov/msp

Author Reference

“Cold Case: 1960 Mackinac Island Murder of Frances Lacey.” 9&10 News, Heritage Broadcasting, 2024.

“The Island’s Only Homicide.” Sun Times News, 2025.

“Unsolved Michigan: Mackinac Island’s Only Known Murder.” The Michigan Enjoyer, 2025.

Murder on the Island: The Death of Frances Lacey. WGRD 97.9 / Townsquare Media, 2024.

“Murder of Dawn Lee Magyar.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, last modified 2025.

People v. Jerald L. Wingeart. Michigan Court of Appeals Records, 2003.

Sadler, Rod. Interview with UP Notable Books Club, April 2024.

Sounds from uppbeat:  vier-siscretion-is-advised-film-clip-movie-guy-1-00-02.mp3 / Horse-shorting-galloping-gfx-sounds-1-00-13.mp3 / foghorn-blowing-on-boat-felix-blume-1-00-04.mp3 / ocean-breeze-seagulls-ambience-gfx-sounds-1-1-02-56.mp3