In this week's episode, Sandra talks about the history of the Nutcracker. Originated in Germany in the mid 17th century, Nutcrackers were designed as toy soldiers and believed to be protectors of the house against malevolent spirits. Today they are more commonly used as decorations, and are most known for being featured in the beloved ballet entitled "The Nutcracker."

Later, Danielle covers a dark and sinister crime that took place on December 24, 1881. The Ashland Tragedy occurred in Ashland, Kentucky when three teenagers were murdered. Robert and Fannie Gibbons and Emma Carico were found dead by neighbors who ran over to the Gibbons household after spotting it ablaze. The community of Ashland felt horrified by the brutality of this crime. Were the right men put behind bars?

Sandra's Sources:

https://www.liveabout.com/what-is-a-nutcracker-1007002

http://www.nutcrackermuseum.com/history.htm

https://www.pnb.org/nutcracker/

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

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

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

Danielle's Sources:

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~kycarter/journals/neal_craft_murder.htm

https://thoughtcatalog.com/natalia-vela/2017/12/10-of-the-most-shocking-murder-cases-that-happened-during-the-holidays/

Happy Holidays! In this episode, Danielle covers the Santa Claus Bank Robbery of 1927. On December 23, 1927, Marshall Ratliff borrowed a Santa Claus suit and along with three others robbed the First National Bank in Cisco, Texas. Ratliff thought dressing as Santa Claus was the perfect disguise, but it ended up drawing more attention to him. Unfortunately for Ratliff, the public wanted to get the $5000 reward that was placed on any bank robber's head. Luck was not on their side, and after a manhunt with multiple shoot-outs, the group was eventually caught. 

Later, Sandra talks about the legend of Krampus. This European legend is now known around the world. Krampus, a German legend is a half-goat, half-demon monster that punishes the children who misbehaved all year. Find out his relation to Santa Claus and how he has become a cultural phenomenon.

Danielle's Source:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/609749/santa-claus-bank-robbery-1927

Sandra's Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Krampus

https://enchantedlivingmagazine.com/the-krampus-and-the-old-winter-ways/

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

https://news.usc.edu/90213/have-you-been-naughty-then-beware-krampus-is-coming/

In this week's episode, Sandra talks about the Iditarod Trail. The Iditarod Trail is an annual long-distance sled dog race that is run in early March from Anchorage to Nome in the Alaskan wilderness. The main route of the Iditarod trail extends 938 miles (1,510 km), and can take between 8-15 days or longer to complete. It is said that the mushers who participate in this race have strange encounters. Could it be ghosts, or are their minds playing tricks on them?

Later, Danielle discusses the Night Witches. An all-female squadron started by Marina Raskova, also known as the Soviet Amelia Earhart. Raskova was able to convince Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin, to provide them with the necessary supplies. They were called the Night Witches because the women were forced to fly at night to remain undetected while bombing Nazis. 

Sandra's Sources:

https://www.adn.com/features/article/ghosts-alaskas-iditarod-trail/2011/10/31/

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

https://www.thoughtco.com/the-iditarod-overview-1434917

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

https://spkennel.com/2020/07/aliy-cam-iditarod-2020-episode-11/

Danielle's Source:

https://www.history.com/news/meet-the-night-witches-the-daring-female-pilots-who-bombed-nazis-by-night

This week Danielle discusses the Axeman of New Orleans. A killer who terrorized citizens, specifically the Italian immigrant grocer community of New Orleans from May 1918 to October 1919. Due to tensions building over time towards any group of people who were different from what was considered the majority of New Orleans citizens. Initial blame was placed on the influx of Italian immigrants and their vendettas, but this was never actually proven.

Later, Sandra talks about the Icelantic legend of the Huldufólk. The Huldufólk are the "hidden people" or the "elves" of the Icelantic region. Stories about the Huldufólk have been around for centuries. Although most people in Iceland no longer believe in them, they are still a popular folklore and the stories are still continuing onto the next generation.

Danielle's Source:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/axeman-new-orleans-preyed-italian-immigrants-180968037/

Sources:

https://forvo.com/word/hulduf%C3%B3lk/#is

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulduf%C3%B3lk

http://mothersbloodsistersongs.com/professor-terry-gunnell-irish-and-icelandic-folklore-and-folktales/

https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/wow/t/huldufolk-the-hidden-people/158399

In this week's episode, Sandra tells the history of the Sandman. What started out as a simple idea of a man coming to help children fall asleep quickly turned into a tale that people still speak of today. Find out how the origin of the Sandman started and how it is still present in pop culture today.

Later, Danielle dives into the disappearance of Judge Joseph Force Crater. It's New York City in the 1930s. Corrupt politicians, showgirls, illicit affairs. What more could you ask for from a classic whodunit? Learn about the unsolved mystery involving a powerful judge and his suspicious behavior shortly before he disappeared. 

Sandra's Sources:

http://hca.gilead.org.il/ole_luk.html

http://monstersherethere.com/monster/sandman

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/316307573799794258/

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

Danielle's Sources:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/joseph-force-crater-becomes-the-missingest-man-in-new-york

https://untappedcities.com/2021/08/06/joseph-force-crater/

This week Danielle covers the mysterious Dyatlov Pass Incident. In 1959 nine Russian hikers ventured out to the Ural mountains but never made it back. The entire group was found dead by rescue teams who were notified of their disappearance. The hiking group, led by Igor Dyatlov, was found under strange circumstances. Some members of the group were found in their underwear in the snow. Others were found with unexplainable brutal injuries. Whatever happened to this group has been discussed for decades, and there continues to be no concrete answer to their cause of death. 

Later, Sandra talks about what a Fetch is. It turns out that in old Irish folklore a "Fetch" or as we would say doppelganger can be both a good open or a bad omen. Find out its connection to wraiths and we will discuss if a Fetch appeared in the pilot episode of Outlander.

Danielle's Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/paidpost/facebookwatch/limetown-dyatlov.html?searchResultPosition=1

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-may-have-finally-unraveled-mystery-dyatlov-pass-incident-180976886/

Sandra's Sources:

https://www.astonishinglegends.com/astonishing-legends/2018/11/24/the-fetch

https://emeraldisle.ie/the-fetch

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetch_(folklore)#Appearances_in_popular_culture

https://fashionbehindthescene.com/tv-movies/is-jamies-ghost-in-outlander-a-fetch/

https://www.icysedgwick.com/fetch-folklore/

In this week's episode, Sandra talks about the Midnight Bus 375 that happened in Beijing. The legend says that on November 14, 1995, in Beijing the 375 bus was on its last route of the night when it mysteriously disappeared and reappeared several days later in an area that it was not supposed to be. The other strange part of the story is that there were several bodies found on the bus that were severely decomposed. Listen to the story to find out what happened on its last route.

Later, Danielle covers the Hong Kong Hello Kitty murder from 1999. This is one of the more gory and horrific stories told so far on the podcast. A 14-year-old girl speaks to police about being haunted by the ghost of a young woman. At first, the police brush off the girl's story, until the girl reveals some startling details about the ghost. When the police accompany the girl to a nearby apartment they discover a skull stuffed inside a life-sized mermaid Hello Kitty doll. 

Sandra's Sources:

https://mysteriesrunsolved.com/2018/08/the-last-midnight-bus-for-route-375.html

https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2020/09/04/bizarre-beijing-last-bus-fragrant-hills

http://www.thatsmags.com/beijing/post/13130/tales-from-the-chinese-crypt-beijing-s-ghost-bus-

Danielle's Sources:

https://allthatsinteresting.com/hello-kitty-murder

https://medium.com/the-mystery-box/the-hello-kitty-murder-case-7017c79ff968

We're back, back again for episode 34! Firstly, Danielle talks about the classic and unsolved Black Dahlia case from Los Angeles. Elizabeth Short was an aspiring actress working as a waitress to pay the bills. On January 15, 1947, her mutilated body was found near an empty lot by a woman who initially mistook her for a store mannequin. This case has stumped detectives and a killer was never found. An unusual detail about this case is the lack of blood at the location of the body. This made detectives believe her blood was drained at a different location and then brought to the lot.

Secondly, Sandra talks about the story of "the Witch Girl of Pilot's Knob." This story takes place in Marion, KY, as Sandra tells the tale of how a mother and her daughter Mary Evelyn Ford were accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake in 1916. Today, there are tales of spooky stuff happening around the young girl's gravestone. Find out the truth behind the legend. It turns out not everything is as it seems.

Danielle's Sources:

https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/black-dahlia

https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/the-black-dahlia

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/572113/the-black-dahlia-murder-facts

Sandra's Sources:

https://www.timesleader.net/opinion/myth-of-the-witch-girl-next-door/article_accafcd4-d957-11e8-a852-2bf2236a2e10.html

https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/creepiest-urban-legend-in-every-state-american-folklore

Welcome back! In this week's episode Sandra talks about the history of Halloween and more specifically the legend of "Stingy Jack." This legend tells the tale of a man by the name of "Stingy Jack" who tricked the Devil several times. As punishment he is doomed to wander the earth forever with only a burning coal to light his way. The Irish referred to him as "Jack O’Lantern." Today it is simply Jack-O-Lantern.

Later, Danielle talks about Sarah Winchester and her mystery house. There is much speculation surrounding the Winchester Mystery Home and Sarah Winchester herself. Was Sarah a true believer of the spirit world or was she simply a woman who wanted peace and quiet? The untimely death of her daughter and husband led Sarah on a mission to appease the restless spirits who may have lost their lives from Winchester rifles. The ever-expanding home led to more and more questions by the public. Stairways that led to ceiling and doors that opened up to walls were constructed, but the unending construction crew maintained Sarah's lucidity and sanity. 

Sandra's Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-we-carve-pumpkins-at-halloween

https://www.halloweenexpress.com/the-history-behind-pumpkins-and-halloween/

https://www.history.com/news/history-of-the-jack-o-lantern-irish-origins

Danielle's Sources:

www.biography.com/.amp/personality/sarah-winchester

https://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/a-haunted-history/

This week Danielle starts off the episode discussing the murder of Martha Moxley. A fifteen-year-old girl from Greenwich, CT whose body was found in front of her house on Halloween day in 1975. A golf club determined to be the murder weapon was found nearby. It was determined the golf club belonged to the Skakel household, one of her neighbors. Their son Michael Skakel was considered the prime suspect. Skakel, a nephew of Ethel Skakel Kennedy, was able to fight his conviction for decades. 

Later, Sandra talks about the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was written by Washington Irving and was first published in 1819. The story tells a young teacher in Sleepy Hollow NY, on Halloween night while he was on his way home he encounters the headless horseman in the woods and is never seen again. This story has not only inspired the Disney version of " The Adventures of Icabod and Mr. Toad" but has also inspired the Halloween festival in Sleepy Hollow, NY.

Danielle's Sources:

https://medium.com/the-connecticut-crime-watch/the-murder-of-martha-moxley-354f1012d7b0

https://www.nytimes.com/article/skakel-moxley-murder-case.html

Sandra's Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Ichabod-Disney-Classic-Collection/dp/B00004R99Y

https://d23.com/a-to-z/headless-horseman/

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Ichabod_and_Mr._Toad

https://visitsleepyhollow.com/halloween-in-sleepy-hollow/

https://www.history.com/news/legend-sleepy-hollow-headless-horseman

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