In 1892, a family in Rhode Island was dying one by one. Locals believed something—or someone—was feeding from the grave.
When the coffin of 19-year-old Mercy Brown was opened, what they found sparked one of the most chilling vampire legends in U.S. history.

Host Robert Barber uncovers the real story behind New England’s vampire panic, tuberculosis, and the ritual that made Mercy a legend.

🧛‍♀️ Love dark history and forgotten folklore? Follow State of the Unknown and share this episode with someone who still checks behind the closet door.

Send us a text

Support the show

State of the Unknown is a documentary-style podcast tracing the haunted highways, forgotten folklore, and unexplained phenomena across America’s 50 states.

👁️‍🗨️ New episodes every Tuesday — with full-length stories every other week, and shorter mini tales in between.
📬 Reach out: [email protected]
📣 Follow the strange: @stateoftheunknownpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Threads
🔍 Want more? Visit stateoftheunknown.com to explore show notes and submit your own story.

## Join the Conversation ##
Join the conversation! Head to our Facebook group at State of the Unknown Listeners to connect with other listeners, suggest topics, and get behind-the-scenes updates.

Some stories don’t stay buried.
We go looking anyway.