Pretty Wicked

Spring, 1943. In the quiet woods of Hagley, four boys stumble upon something no child should ever find—a skull, staring out from the hollow of a wych elm. Her hand is missing. Her name is unknown. But soon, questions begin to bleed through the brickwork of Birmingham and beyond: Who put Bella in the Wych Elm?

In this bonus episode of Macabrium, we unravel one of England’s most eerie and enduring mysteries. Was Bella a spy tangled in wartime secrecy, a victim of dark ritual, or something else?

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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Episode Reference Material

Who Put Bella In the Wych Elm? - CrimeReads

Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm? | Tales of History and Imagination

A Digital Reconstruction Reveals the Face of Famed Murder Victim 'Bella in the Wych Elm'

Revealed after 75 years: The face of Bella in the Wych Elm - Birmingham Live

The Unsolved Mystery of Bella in the Wych Elm - Historic Mysteries

Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm? The Unsolved Murder That Still Haunts Britain - The Guardian

Bella in the Wych Elm: A Midlands Murder Mystery - BBC News

The Strange Case of Bella in the Wych Elm - Strange Remains

Who Put Bella In the Wych Elm? - Stuff You Should Know | iHeart

‘Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?’: Espionage, Witchcraft, and other Theories - Curious Archive

BBC investigator asks museums for help tracing remains of murder victim

‘Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?’: Espionage, Witchcraft, and other Theories

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It began with a sound—low, then rising. A groan like steel bending under a terrible weight. Then came the rush. Not of water, but something thicker. Darker. A wall of molasses, fifteen feet high, traveling at the speed of a freight train. It shattered buildings, snapped beams like twigs, and swept horses, wagons, and people into its syrupy current. In mere moments, a neighborhood was drowned in sweetness… and death.

They called it the Great Molasses Flood. Some said on hot summer days, the scent still lingers in the air, clinging to the city like a ghost. But what really caused a tank to explode with such fury? Was it poor engineering—or a corporate cover-up? And why does this sticky disaster still seep into Boston’s memory more than a century later?

* This episode's audio has been updated to reflect the correct timeline of the Cold War and the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Thank you for your understanding as we strive for historical accuracy!

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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Episode Reference Material

The Great Molasses Flood by Susan Donnelly 

Without Warning, Molasses in January Surged Over Boston by Edwards Park 

12 Killed When Tank of Molasses Explodes by The New York Times

Anarchists, Horses, Heroes: 12 Things You Didn’t Know about the Great Boston Molasses Flood by Spencer Bull

The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 killed 21 After 2 million gallon tank exploded by Ben Kesslen

100 Years Ago Today: Molasses Crashes Through Boston’sNorth End by Archives and Records Management of the City of Boston

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She came back wearing the same dress they buried her in. Pale. Still. And when she spoke, the truth spilled out like a frostbitten breath: “He broke my neck.”

In this haunting tale from the hills of 19th-century West Virginia, a grieving mother claims her dead daughter returned—not for revenge, but for justice. What followed would become the only known U.S. murder trial where ghostly testimony played a part in the conviction.

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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Episode Reference Material

The Full Tale of West Virginia's Remarkable Greenbrier Ghost - West Virginia Explorer

Greenbrier Ghost Historical Marker - Historical Marker Database

Greenbrier County Courthouse - Atlas Obscura

The Greenbrier Ghost: A Haunting Tale of Murder and the Supernatural - Heart Starts Pounding

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In 1925, British explorer Percy Fawcett vanished into the Amazon jungle with his son and a close friend. He was searching for a lost city he called “Z”—a hidden civilization he believed would rewrite the history of the Americas.

Mocked by scholars and dismissed by the Royal Geographical Society, Fawcett pressed on, convinced of Z’s existence. He was never seen again.

What happened to him remains one of the Amazon’s great unsolved mysteries.

*A previous version of this episode included an incorrect pronunciation of Raleigh Rimmel . The episode has since been updated with the correct pronunciation.

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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Episode Reference Material

The Lost City of Z by David Grann

Percy Fawcett and The Lost City by Alexander Lee

The Enduring Mystery Behind Percy Fawcett’s Disappearance by Evan Andrews

Percy Fawcett by Spike Island

Col. P.H. Fawcett: the ultimate Amazon explorer by Jerome Jennings

The Lost City of Z is a very long way from a true story – and I should know by John Hemming

Veil lifts on jungle mystery of the colonel who vanished by The Observer (republished in The Guardian)
Lost Cities of the Amazon Discovered From the Air by Brian Handwerk

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In 16th-century Scotland, the legend of Sawney Bean unfolds as a chilling tale of savagery and retribution. Set against the rugged cliffs of Bennane Head, this dark folktale follows a pair of outcasts who forge a brutal existence far from society’s reach. Their choices spark a reign of terror that grips the coastal lowlands, leaving a trail of fear and mystery in their wake. As whispers of their deeds spread, the forces of justice, driven by a resolute king, set out to confront the horror hidden in the shadows. Vividly capturing the era’s unrest and superstition, the story weaves a gripping narrative of survival, defiance, and the consequences of abandoning humanity’s bonds. This haunting saga, rooted in Scottish lore, explores the thin line between civilization and chaos, culminating in a dramatic reckoning that echoes as a cautionary fable.

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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Episode Reference Material

Sawney Bean - Wiki Ancient Origins: Cannibalism in Scotland

Historic UK: The Story of Sawney Bean

The Scotsman: Sawney Bean and his family

Undiscovered Scotland: Alexander "Sawney" Bean

Fonthill Media: Sawney Bean: Dissecting the Legend

All That’s Interesting: The Legend Of Sawney Bean

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Hi Friends!

We’ve dropped something a little different into your feed today.

It’s an episode from Haunted American History, a podcast created and narrated by Chris Feinstein. The show explores eerie moments from America’s past — blending history with ghost stories and folklore in a way that complements the kind of stories we tell here on Macabrium.

If you’re into dark history and lingering legends, this one’s worth a listen.

Check it out — and if it pulls you in, you can find more episodes of ⁠Haunted American History wherever you get your podcasts!

Listen to Haunted American History HERE!

Show Notes:

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Greencastle, Indiana, 1896. Pearl Bryan, young and full of promise, vanished without a trace. Days later, her mutilated body was discovered in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. The crime was gruesome, the motives shrouded in mystery. Whispers of betrayal and horror spread, leaving communities frozen in fear.

What happened to Pearl Bryan? And who could commit such a heinous act?

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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Episode Reference Material 

Pearl Bryan: A Murder Story by the Putnam County Public Library

Jackson and Walling Die by The New York Times

Our Rich History: Shoe dealer solves ghastly murder of Pearl Bryan, found missing her head, in 1893 by Andrew Young

The Mysteries of Pearl Bryan by Robert Wilhelm

Pearl Bryan by Bluegrass Messengers

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In the second episode of this series on the hauntings at Ireland’s most haunted castle, known as Leap, two more tales from its many mysteries emerge.

When an investigator named Michael visits Leap Castle, drawn to its haunted history, he is confronted by the spirits of two small children, young girls, Emily and Charlotte.  Their ghostly presence is marked by the sound of footsteps—Charlotte’s with a distinctive limp—echoing through the corridors and the Bloody Chapel. What is their story? Are they real victims of the violent history of Leap Castle, or a malevolent manifestation?

Then, in the early 1900s, “secret” occult author Mildred Darby’s encounter with a mysterious, foreboding room unearths new horror. As she explores the oppressive shadows and unsettling noises of the chamber, Mildred senses a dark history that seeps into her very bones, forever altering her life within the castle’s ancient walls, and instilling a curiosity that turns dangerous.

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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Visit us at ⁠www.macabriumpod.com⁠ to learn more!

Episode Reference Material 

Leap Castle: A History" by James H. Murphy

⁠The Haunted Castles of Ireland⁠⁠ ⁠

⁠Leap Castle Official Website⁠

⁠The Red Lady - Leap Castle⁠

⁠The Ghosts of Leap Castle, Roscrea, Co. Offaly⁠

⁠Leap Castle - Terri Reid⁠

⁠Léim Uí Bhanáin – Leap Castle, Ireland⁠

⁠Emily & Charlotte⁠

⁠Leap Castle | Visiting The World's Most Haunted Castle⁠

⁠The Ghosts of Leap Castle, Roscrea, Co. Offaly⁠

⁠Mysteries of The Most Haunted: Leap Castle⁠

⁠Leap Castle Ghost Story⁠

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They call it "The Valley of Headless Men," or sometimes "Deadmen Valley", names that linger with an unsettling weight. Hidden deep in the untamed Nahanni Valley, an eerie mystery waits. Over the years, travelers have vanished without a trace, their bodies later found headless and broken, the stories around them only adding to the dark legend.

Those who’ve entered often don’t return, leaving this place and its haunting secrets as wild and unknowable as the wilderness itself.

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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Episode Reference Material 

Legends of the Nahanni Valley by Hammerson Peters

Canada: Northwest Territories: Home of the Devil? By TIME Magazine

Secrets of the Nahanni by Dana Bowen

The Story of the Maps by Ian Rowe

The Haunting History of this Canadian National Park by Chloe Berge

Valley of the Headless Men by Aleksa Vuckovic

Hikers Lost Their Heads: Inside Canada's Most Supernatural National Park by Lakeisha Ethans

Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada by PeakVisor

Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada Natural Wonders & Cultural Treasures by Parks Canada

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Leap Castle in Ireland is home to numerous stories of real-life hauntings. In this first episode of a multi-part series, the two legends known as “The Bloody Chapel” and “The Red Lady,” two of its earliest tragedies, help to create the malevolent energy bound to the castle’s limestone halls.

In “The Bloody Chapel,” the O’Carroll family’s heir, a gentle priest, is murdered by his brother over the inheritance of the castle’s lordship - during Mass, right in front of the congregation.

In “The Red Lady,” centuries later, another lord of the O’Carroll dynasty continues the murderous tradition when his wife discovers his infidelity, unleashing her spirit eternally upon the halls where she is still seen today.

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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• Subscribe on Youtube
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Visit us at www.macabriumpod.com to learn more!

Episode Reference Material 

Leap Castle: A History" by James H. Murphy

The Haunted Castles of Ireland

Leap Castle Official Website

The Red Lady - Leap Castle

The Ghosts of Leap Castle, Roscrea, Co. Offaly

Leap Castle - Terri Reid

Léim Uí Bhanáin – Leap Castle, Ireland

Emily & Charlotte

Leap Castle | Visiting The World's Most Haunted Castle

The Ghosts of Leap Castle, Roscrea, Co. Offaly

Mysteries of The Most Haunted: Leap Castle

Leap Castle Ghost Story

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