TW: Murder, sexual assault

This time of year is often spent with the ones we love. It’s a time for conversation, connection, laughter, and the comforting chaos of shared traditions. But for some families, this time of year is a reminder of heartbreak and unanswered questions. So for today’s true crime episode, we will be focusing on 2 unsolved cases. These are the perplexing stories of John Woodruff and Karen Mitchell.

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Website

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Have a story to tell or want to request a topic? Email Kaydra at [email protected]

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SOURCES: 

https://medium.com/@aeb2471/he-died-in-the-name-of-conservation-the-murder-of-john-h-woodruff-cd614cfbb0df

https://schenectadyhistorical.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-02-compressed.pdf

https://truecrimediva.com/john-howie-woodruff/

https://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2022/06/fallen-game-wardens-of-new-york/

https://charleyproject.org/case/karen-marie-mitchell

https://int-missing.fandom.com/wiki/Karen_Mitchell

https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1863dfca.html

https://oag.ca.gov/missing/person/karen-marie-mitchell-0

Wikipedia

https://www.cityofschenectady.gov/248/General-History-Settlement-to-1960

https://abcnews.go.com/US/robert-durst-arrest-prompts-questions-unsolved-missing-girl/story?id=29724162

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

https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/lynne-schulze

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/you-cant-imagine-robert-d_b_7777076

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In March 2001, 11-year-old Bethany Leanne Markowski vanished without a trace during a scheduled visit with her father. He claims she walked into the Jackson, Tennessee mall — and then she was simply gone. No witnesses. No confirmed sightings. No answers.

Now, more than two decades later, Missing In Hush Town returns for a powerful second season to re-examine Bethany’s case with fresh ears and renewed urgency. Working alongside Bethany’s family, retired and current law enforcement, journalists, and those who have never stopped searching, this season digs deep into the events leading up to her disappearance, the early investigative missteps, and the haunting question that still hangs over Hush Town:

Where is Bethany Markowski?

Join us as we trace Bethany’s story, amplify the voices of those who love and miss her, and uncover new perspectives that may help bring her home.

Listen to Season Two of Missing In Hush Townwherever you get your podcasts, and learn more at www.missinginhushtown.com.

Listen here on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prologue/id1704565234?i=1000732955557

Listen here on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UUMpAb5AWAbZtfzlfybGQ?si=9bee5134c2c6416f

Follow us on Instagram at @missinginhushtown

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TW: sexual assault, murder, extreme violence

In September of 1978, 15 year old Mary Vincent was hitchhiking in California. She would accept a ride from a man in a blue van by the name of Lawrence Singleton. Little did Mary know, Singleton was a monster. Mary's life would be forever changed. This is an unbelievable and inspiring case of survival, but also of other lives that were senselessly lost due to insufficient California laws against sexual predators. This is the story of the survival of Mary Vincent and the murder of Roxanne Hayes.

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Website

Follow Perplexity on Instagram and TikTok @PerplexityMysteryPodcast.

Have a story to tell or want to request a topic? Email Kaydra at [email protected]

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SHOW NOTES:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Vincent_(artist)

https://www.openceilingsmagazine.com/features/mary-vincent-a-life-of-survival

https://blurredbylines.com/articles/mary-vincent-lawrence-singleton-attack-survival/

Season 4 Episode 1 “I Survived”

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Special thanks to Patrick Thompson for creating this masterpiece! What do you guys think?! Feel free to download and enjoy.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In some versions of the story of the Garden of Eden, there is a third person: a mysterious vampiress. The story of this Dark Queen can be traced all the way back to 2700 BCE. There are endless myths and legends of her that connect to several religious texts. She is known to wear many faces and is too complex to put in a box. She’s also one of the oldest surviving mythological figures in all of Abrahamic mythology. This is the story of Lilith, AKA the first documented vampire.

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WAYS TO SUPPORT & CONNECT:

Join the Patreon for perks and ad free episodes!

Hit that follow button, drop a 5 star review, and spread the word!!!

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Website

Follow Perplexity on Instagram and TikTok @PerplexityMysteryPodcast.

Have a story to tell or want to request a topic? Email Kaydra at [email protected]

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SHOW NOTES:

https://www.tota.world/article/371/

“Embracing Lilith” by Mark H. Williams

https://medium.com/@miainsel2/lamashtu-demon-or-goddess-876c6f1546d6

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mesopotamian-mythology

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHJP0NaU1ws

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1EKccz4fS0

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Listener/viewer discretion is advised. TW for suicide, gun violence, domestic violence, and filicide. 

In this episode, Kaydra sits down with Hope Hooton, a mother who has endured the unimaginable loss of her 2 children, Alec and Lydia, to filicide, the act of killing your own child. Hope shares the story of her relationship, the abuse she experienced, the steps she took to protect herself and her children, and how the legal system failed her family. 

Through her heartbreak, Hope is turning her pain to purpose. Her goal now is to spread awareness of filicide and advocate for change. She has started a podcast, Voices Against Filicide to share her story and others. 

Support Hope by following her on social media at Hope_in_the_pain on Instagram and Hope.in.the.pain on TikTok. 

Hope’s website: https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com 

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or text “START” to 88788 to be connected to free and confidential support 24/7. 

If you are struggling with thoughts of self harm or suicide, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

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WAYS TO SUPPORT & CONNECT:

Join the Patreon for perks and ad free episodes!

Hit that follow button, drop a 5 star review, and spread the word!!!

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Subscribe to the YouTube channel! 

Website

Follow Perplexity on Instagram and TikTok @PerplexityMysteryPodcast.

Have a story to tell or want to request a topic? Email Kaydra at [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To ring in 150 EPISODES, Kaydra invites some friends to the show to read some of their favorite perplexing stories from the internet. Happy Halloween!

This episode was produced and edited by Kaydra Brannan, the host of Perplexity: A Mystery Podcast. https://www.perplexitymysterypodcast.com/

Show Notes:

Perplexity: A Mystery Podcast https://www.perplexitymysterypodcast.com/

Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/Glitch_in_the_Matrix/comments/1dgll4w/my_wife_and_i_saw_our_5_year_old_daughter_but/

Believing the Bizarre https://believingthebizarre.com/

Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalEncounters/s/pSiiHaLfSw

Lets Get Haunted: letsgethaunted.com 

Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/BackwoodsCreepy/comments/esx890/my_first_time_backpacking/ 

All video assets purchased/licensed from here: https://www.pexels.com 

All sound effects purchased/licensed from here: https://artlist.io/sfx  

Music: “Scary Forest Ambience” by DL Sounds, purchased here: https://www.editingsounds.com/royalty-free-music/scary-forest-ambience/

Drinking the Koolaid https://www.dtkpod.com/

Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/s/ecZb8zhu6R

Live, Laugh, Larceny https://www.livelaughlarceny.com/

Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/creepyencounters/comments/lv0ifn/i_heard_a_creepy_voice_whisper_help_while_walking/ 

Music: Experia / Brain Hurts from the Memories / Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Serial Napper https://serialnapper.com/

Story: https://www.wattpad.com/594413960-short-horror-stories-look-at-me

Scare You To Sleep https://www.scareyoutosleep.com/

Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/Glitch_in_the_Matrix/comments/ke896c/i_died_last_night_but_im_still_here/

Lets Not Meet https://letsnotmeetpodcast.com/

Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalEncounters/comments/16uxnlg/something_in_my_house_perfectly_mimicked_my_sons/

Truly Twisted, Twisted & Uncorked Podcast  https://open.spotify.com/show/6Pvr5mpNCgvToOehPV8xEE

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truly-twisted-where-real-stories-take-a-twisted-turn/id1800597032?i=1000700047299

https://www.twistedanduncorked.com/

Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/s/8kh2WHUxet

Scared All The Time Podcast https://scaredallthetimepodcast.com/

Story: http://web.archive.org/web/19981203004349/http:/www.ghosts.org/stories/tales/evil-kids.html

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s conversational episode, Kaydra brings back her from Adam from the Houston Strange podcast and Weekly Creep podcast for a fun and spooky conversation! They discuss season 2 of Houston Strange, their own personal paranormal encounters including ones never told on the show, and media we do (and do NOT) recommend you watch and read this spooky season! 

Adam’s links:

houstonstrange.com 

Email Adam if you have an encounter story: [email protected] 

Follow Adam @houstonstrange on social media

Weekly Creep: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weekly-creep-true-crime-and-ghost-stories/id1527820054

TV shows and movies recommended in this episode included:

Hellier, Weapons, Barbarian, The Ritual, Hell House LLC, Haunting of Hill House, House on Eden, Good Boy, Oddity, Incantation, Wayward, Midnight Mass, Coraline.

Book recommendations in this episode included:

“The People in the Attic” by Doretta Johnson, “Hidden Pictures” by Jason Rekulak, and “The Boy They Tried to Hide” by Shane Dunphy. 

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WAYS TO SUPPORT & CONNECT:

Join the Patreon for perks and ad free episodes!

Hit that follow button, drop a 5 star review, and spread the word!!!

Buy Kaydra a coffee and get a shoutout!

Merch! Be sure to tag us on Instagram in your merch!

Subscribe to the YouTube channel! 

Website

Follow Perplexity on Instagram and TikTok @PerplexityMysteryPodcast.

Have a story to tell or want to request a topic? Email Kaydra at [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On April 11, 2005, a 56 year old man named Wu Shan left his townhome in the Gushan District of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Over the past few months, the Wu Family had been very reclusive. Nobody had seen Shan leave his household in over a month, so neighbors took notice. Shan Wu then approached a neighbor. He was dirty, disheveled, and he appeared emaciated. He said just a few words to the neighbor: call an ambulance.

What the neighbor and police would discover would shock the country and the world and go onto inspire the 2022 movie “Incantation.” This is the story of the Wu Family.

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Get 15% off your Comfrt order today! https://www.comfrt.com/KAYDRA48805

------

WAYS TO SUPPORT & CONNECT:

Join the Patreon for perks and ad free episodes!

Hit that follow button, drop a 5 star review, and spread the word!!!

Buy Kaydra a coffee and get a shoutout!

Merch! Be sure to tag us on Instagram in your merch!

Subscribe to the YouTube channel! 

Website

Follow Perplexity on Instagram and TikTok @PerplexityMysteryPodcast.

Have a story to tell or want to request a topic? Email Kaydra at [email protected]

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SOURCES:

https://rogue-universe.fandom.com/wiki/2005_Kaohsiung_Incident

Reddit

https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/3qros_47goc.html

https://news-ltn-com-tw.translate.goog/news/society/paper/12696?_x_tr_sl=zh-TW&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

https://www-storm-mg.translate.goog/lifestyle/4252427?_x_tr_sl=zh-TW&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

https://www-storm-mg.translate.goog/lifestyle/4252427?_x_tr_sl=zh-TW&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Wikipedia

https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/paper/12696

https://acujin.com/f/talisman-water

https://www.shamansmarket.com/blogs/musings/charms-and-talismans?srsltid=AfmBOoqimfbqamsXw4Jiuo3OTgPzX0OglzppJcrg4oKHqyhqchmhWQ5z

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we’re opening the vault of the unwanted, the uncanny, and the utterly cursed. From a box that plagued multiple owners with nightmares and faulty technology, to a chest that killed multiple recipients, these cursed objects carry with them the weight of tragedy—and the promise of terror.

So pour yourself a drink, dim the lights, and join me... if you dare. Because for today’s episode, we’re peeling back the cobwebs and stepping into the shadowed world of cursed objects—where once you touch them, they never really let you go.

Today’s episode is all about the legends of the dybbuk box and the conjured chest.

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Merch link: https://www.bonfire.com/store/perplexity-mystery-podcast/?srsltid=AfmBOor6jObuW4_jmnFoT3ibyFfIxBL1hI50LlthjheMTo6emgBneRcQ

Get 15% off your Comfrt order today! https://www.comfrt.com/KAYDRA48805

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WAYS TO SUPPORT & CONNECT:

Join the Patreon for perks and ad free episodes!

Hit that follow button, drop a 5 star review, and spread the word!!!

Buy Kaydra a coffee and get a shoutout!

Merch! Be sure to tag us on Instagram in your merch!

Subscribe to the YouTube channel! 

Website

Follow Perplexity on Instagram and TikTok @PerplexityMysteryPodcast.

Have a story to tell or want to request a topic? Email Kaydra at [email protected]

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SOURCES:

https://usghostadventures.com/haunted-stories/31-days-of-halloween/the-legend-behind-dybbuk-boxes/

https://paranormal.fandom.com/wiki/Conjured_Chest

https://history.ky.gov/news/new-details-about-the-cursed-chest

https://jewitches.com/blogs/blog/the-deal-with-the-dybbuk?srsltid=AfmBOooZKOiFT2H_HML8yRelIXPvKVUR2lM1SDePQRXJk4z-6ojWQw4k

https://www.thejc.com/judaism/how-to-deal-with-a-dybbuk-p3c4sgkb

https://kyhistory.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/CEB4DAFD-A8B8-4C04-BE82-852028911488

https://momentmag.com/jewish-word-dybbuk/

Reddit

https://www.spiritshack.co.uk/

https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=lrs8

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.