In this week's episode, Sandra answers the question: Why do witches ride brooms? It turns out that the history of the witch's broom started back in 1453 when Guillaume Edelin who was a priest from Saint-Germain-en- Laye near Paris confessed to riding a broom. There are those that believe that the witch's broom is also connected to pagan fertility rituals, and because women would use brooms to signal to others that they were away from their homes. They would either place them in the fireplace or outside their door. Regardless of how the idea started, it is no secret that today when you ask someone to think of an image of a witch, they almost always have a broom.

Then, Danielle discusses Ruby Ridge. A shooting in Idaho between the U.S. Federal government and the Weaver family resulted in several deaths considered unnecessary. 

Sandra's Sources:

https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/witches-broomstick-0016883

https://www.history.com/news/why-witches-fly-on-brooms

Danielle's Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/event/Ruby-Ridge

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/incident-at-ruby-ridge

Inspired by Danielle's recent trip to Provincetown, Tony Chop Chop Costa was a local serial killer active in the 1960s and 70s. He was known for inviting girls to his magic garden where he grew marijuana. It was in the garden where Tony would butcher his victims. Thanks to Jose from the Clarendon House for this suggestion!

In this week's episode Sandra talks about Hag Stones. These stones are typically found along dry riverbeds and beaches. They are also known as fairy stones and witch stones. Legend has it that these stones that are usually misshapen with a hole in the middle bring good things and can ward off evil. They have been used to ward off witches and even used to help fertility. One of the most important things about hag stones is that they are supposed to find you, and only work for the person that they find.

Danielle's Sources:

https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/tony-costa-cape-cod-killer

https://newenglandghoststories.com/2021/01/31/s2e08-tony-chop-chop-costa-the-magic-garden-killer/

Sandra's Sources:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1322325911/hag-stones-naturally-occurring-wiccan?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_e-home_and_living-home_decor-rocks_and_geodes&utm_custom1=_k_CjwKCAiAmuKbBhA2EiwAxQnt76ZvqgderBKWUt7zR2BnNQxeovZ-1FQCQNCiYfs7lYoJ7bG8SodaYhoC0kEQAvD_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_12563207656_123128334681_507137765247_pla-302796601822_c__1322325911_566387021&utm_custom2=12563207656&gclid=CjwKCAiAmuKbBhA2EiwAxQnt76ZvqgderBKWUt7zR2BnNQxeovZ-1FQCQNCiYfs7lYoJ7bG8SodaYhoC0kEQAvD_BwE

https://rockyroadminerals.com/blog/hag-stones-and-fairy-stones/

https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/hag-stones

In this week's episode, Sandra talks about the Spider Gates Cemetery in Leicester MA. It is also known as the Friends Cemetery and a private Quaker cemetery, a secluded woodland area south of the Kettle Brook Reservoir. It is named Spider Gates Cemetery because of the low black wrought-iron gates that some believe look like spiders or spider webs, but are actually an art deco of sunny rays. There are several stories that circulate around this cemetery. One legend speaks of a hidden cave where the body of a young girl was found. Today the gates have actually been removed, but there are still those that visit this haunted site.

Then, Danielle discusses Buffalo Jim, a colorful character and businessman from Las Vegas. An ambitious wrestling promoter, Jim made enemies with the wrong people. His neighbor, Rick Rizzolo started sending threatening letters to Jim. Rick also happened to get out of prison one day before Jim was found dead at Motel 8 in Las Vegas. His family and friends are convinced there was foul play. Check out the episode, Death in a Vegas Motel from Unsolved Mysteries on Netflix. 

Sandra's Sources:

https://www.trytoscare.me/legend/spider-gates-cemetery-leicester-massachusetts-2/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/spider-gates-cemetery

Danielle's Sources:

https://allthatsinteresting.com/buffalo-jim-barrier

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/unsolved-mysteries-death-in-a-vegas-motel

Danielle discusses the murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German. The two girls were last seen hiking near train tracks in Delphi, Indiana. Their bodies were discovered the next day near a creek. After five years a suspect has finally been arrested. Richard Allen, a CVS pharmacist and member of the Delphi community is thought to be connected to the murders.

In this week's episode, Sandra talks about the History of Mischief Night. This night is most commonly celebrated on October 30th, the night before Halloween. It is currently a holiday where people, usually teenagers, run around their neighborhoods and vandalize houses. It turns out that Mischief Night started around 1790, and became more popular in the United States during the 1930s to relieve stress after the Great Depression. Mischief Night is also known as Devil's Night, Goosey Night and Cabbage Night.

Danielle's Source:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/delphi-bar-owner-recalls-murder-suspect-richard-allen-sitting-inches-away-from-wanted-sketch-in

Sandra's Source:

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

https://time.com/4093505/mischief-night-history/

https://www.merazone.com/2022/10/mischief-night-2022-history.html

In this week's episode, Sandra talks about the end of the Salem Witch Trials. After a little over a year of living in fear, the Salem Witch Trials suddenly came to an end. The end result was that two hundred people were accused of being witches, and of those two hundred, twenty were executed.

Then, Danielle discusses the disappearance of Tara Calico. On September 20, 1988, Tara disappeared near her home while on a bike ride in New Mexico. It has been decades since Tara was last seen and the only potential leads were from unsettling Polaroid pictures. In one photograph young woman and a young boy were tied up with tape over their mouths. They were fully clothed on a mattress in what looked to be the back of a van. Tara's mother was convinced this was her daughter, but this was not conclusively determined. What happened to Tara Calico?

Sandra's Sources:

https://www.learnreligions.com/facts-about-the-salem-trials-2562897

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

https://www.salem.org/salem-witch-trials/

Witches of Salem. Documentary on Discovery Plus. Travel Channel. https://www.discoveryplus.com/show/witches-of-salem

https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/massachusetts-formally-exonerates-last-witch-wrongfully-condemned-during-salem-hysteria-will-connecticut-follow-suit

https://salemwitchmuseum.com/locations/path-from-jail-to-execution/

https://thehistoryjunkie.com/abigail-williams-biography-and-facts/

https://thehistoryjunkie.com/mercy-lewis/

https://thehistoryjunkie.com/mary-walcott-and-the-salem-witch-trials/

https://thehistoryjunkie.com/ann-putnam-jr-biography/

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

https://www.nesl.edu/blog/detail/a-true-legal-horror-story-the-laws-leading-to-the-salem-witch-trials#:~:text=During%20the%20Salem%20Witch%20Trials%20of%201692%2C%20more%20than%20200,were%20executed%2C%20most%20by%20hanging.

https://screenrant.com/films-shows-inspired-salem-witch-trials-ranked-imdb/

Salem Cast. 2014-2017. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2963254/

Danielle's Source:

https://allthatsinteresting.com/tara-calico

Happy spooky season! Danielle starts this episode by covering one of the most well-known unsolved mass murders in the United States; the Villisca Axe Murders. Eight people were brutally murdered in the early hours of June 10, 1912 in Villisca, Iowa. This case still leaves people perplexed by the number of unanswered questions. There is no known motive or idea of the possible killer(s). The house still exists today for people to visit if they desire. 

In this week's episode Sandra talks about the first part of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. What started out as a few young girls accusing others of witchcraft spiraled out of control. Today we know Salem, MA is home to the horrific Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Listen as Sandra talks about what started the Witch Trials and how one action made by several young girls turned a town upside down.

Danielle's Source:

https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/villisca-axe-murders/

Sandras's Sources:

Witches of Salem. Documentary on Discovery Plus. Travel Channel. https://www.discoveryplus.com/show/witches-of-salem

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

https://www.salem.org/salem-witch-trials/

In this week's episode, Sandra talks about the story of the Witch of North Pepperell MA. Legend has it that a woman named Mrs. Lovegood was convicted of being a witch. As punishment for being convicted and branded on the forehead, she set a curse upon the town. After she ran off into the woods and disappeared never to be seen again strange occurrences started to happen in the town. From random fires to people dying from mysterious circumstances. Soon after people left the city and never returned, today it is an abandoned part of the town of Pepperell MA.

Then, Danielle talks about the Murder of Marleen Warren, the Killer Clown. This is an unbelievable story with many twists and turns. A clown shows up in an affluent area of Palm Beach, Florida, in May of 1990 and presents a gift basket to Marlene then proceeds to shoot her in the face. The clown then turns around and vanishes into thin air. Listen to find out what happens to this killer clown and if their identity was ever discovered.

http://newenglandfolklore.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-cursed-village-witch-of-north.html

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4bng2fKST8UBuo8o5GXwWn-

https://jeffbelanger.com/podcast/the-witch-of-pepperell/

Danielle's Sources:

https://patch.com/florida/west-palm-beach/florida-killer-clown-trial-delayed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjIRGhgH8MM

Welcome back to another episode! Danielle and Sandra start getting into the Halloween season in this episode. Firstly, Danielle discusses the mysterious death of 17-year-old, Kurt Sova. His body was found in a ravine 500 feet away from the Halloween party he attended a few nights earlier. But, the coroner determined Kurt had died between 24 to 36 hours before his body ended up in the ravine, but Kurt had already been missing for 5 days. Was his body placed in the ravine? What happened during the time period when he was missing?

Then, Sandra talks about the Grim Reaper. The Grim Reaper is also known as " The Reaper" is one of many personified versions of Death. Described as a prominent figure with a dark black hood covering their face and carrying a scythe, the Grim Reaper is one of the most famous images of death. From being featured in famous movies, and music.

Danielle's Sources:

https://www.cleveland19.com/2021/10/28/40-years-since-suspicious-death-teenager-kurt-sova-case-goes-cold-again/

https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Kurt_Sova

Sandra's Sources:

https://parade.com/living/halloween-monsters

https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/Grim_Reaper_(folklore)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grim_Reaper_(disambiguation)

In this week's episode, Sandra talks about the history of changelings. A changeling is believed to be a fairy that had been left in place of a real human, typically a child that other fairies have stolen. The legend of changelings can be found in Scottish and Irish folklore but has also been connected to African and German folklore. Changelings have been featured in modern media, such as an episode of Outlander.

Then, Danielle discusses the idea of repressed memories specifically involving Eileen Franklin. Eileen claimed she suddenly remembered a traumatic experience involving her dad raping and murdering her childhood best friend from 20 years earlier. The idea of repressed memories continues to be hotly debated about whether it can be considered a plausible defense in the justice system.

Sandra's Sources:

https://ew.com/recap/outlander-season-1-episode-10/

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

https://warriorsofmyth.fandom.com/wiki/Changeling

Danielle's Sources:

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/alessadominguez/buried-showtime-eileen-franklin-review

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/10/true-crime-documentary-buried

Cruises, family vacations, and human trafficking. This is the disappearance of Amy Lynn Bradley. After going on a cruise with her family from Puerto Rico to Curacao she disappeared while their ship was docked at their final destination. Amy was last seen talking to a man named Alister Douglas on the morning of March 24, 1998, a bass player for the ship's band. After Amy returned to the family cabin with her brother after a night of dancing she was never seen again. The only items missing from her room were a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. A common theory is that Amy was a victim of human trafficking. The FBI is still investigating Amy's disappearance and her family is offering a sizeable reward for any information which can move it forward. 

In this week's episode, Sandra talks about Minotaurs. It is defined as a mythical creature with a man's body and the head and tail of a bull. The legend of the Minotaur has been around for centuries. Starting from the Greek myth featuring Theseus. The minotaur is still popular enough to be featured in modern media ranging from Dante's Inferno to a painting called Vollard Suite that Pablo Picasso painted.

Sandra's Sources:

https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/mythical-creatures

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