Small Town Mysteries

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This episode has so many twists and turns that if it was a novel, someone on Goodreads would complain about it being "unrealistic". 
A whole family was murdered one night in the 1870s. The motive was clear, but the perpetrator was (and still is) a mystery. Though a trial ensues, the town decides to take matters into their own hands. 

Otherwise known as The Horsey Episode. 

Sources: 
1) https://johnbrassardjr.com/2020/01/11/the-spencer-family-massacre-part-1/ 
2) https://johnbrassardjr.com/2020/01/25/the-spencer-family-massacre-part-2/
3) https://khqa.com/news/local/family-of-five-brutally-murdered-in-clark-county-in-1877
4) https://www.mississippivalleypublishing.com/group-takes-another-look-at-125-year-old-murder-case/article_b57f4759-a9c7-5ef7-89f9-0be4783df114.html

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Today, Christine covers the heartbreaking murders of Jack and Paul, two young boys who were killed by their father. Despite evidence and testimony from the boys' mother that their father was a dangerous man capable of killing his own sons, the judge awarded him 5 hours of unsupervised contact each week. This decision would sadly prove to be fatal for the 9 and 12-year old brothers.

Sources:
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pD1Yt34vqw
2) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/01/paul-and-jack-were-murdered-by-their-abusive-father-why-had-the-family-courts-granted-him-contact 
3) https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/apr/07/he-saw-our-children-as-possessions-my-husband-killed-our-sons 

*Consider signing this petition!*
Child First Campaign Petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/child-first-safe-child-contact-saves-lives 

• In the UK, the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid.
• In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. 
• In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732
• Other international helplines can be found via befrienders.org or at Child Helplines International.

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This case if not covered enough. Have you heard of Paul Revere's Midnight Ride? Probably. But there is a horrific detail of that midnight ride that most do not know about. Learn about it here on Small Town Mysteries, then tell all your friends to listen...because this one is important.

Sources:
1) https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/salem-witch-trials
2) https://www.loc.gov/resource/llst.023/?sp=1&st=image
3) https://www.paulreverehouse.org/mark-hung-in-chains-slavery-paul-reveres-midnight-ride/

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The tragic murder of 5-year-old Farah Khan is discussed in this week's podcast. 

Sources:
1) https://globalnews.ca/news/6276192/farah-khan-murder-toronto/
2) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/father-stepmother-convicted-of-murdering-5-year-old-farah-khan-1.496891
3) https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA112724200&sid=sitemap&v=2.1&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=mlin_oweb&isGeoAuthType=true&aty=geohttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/murder-convictions-for-farah-s-parents-1.496223
4) Crime Beat - Season 1 episode 2- “Farah Khan: A City’s Lost Child

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What killed Kathy Wangler is known. Kathy, a wife and mother of two, was found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning in her upstairs bedroom on September 4, 2006. 

What is not so clear is how this happened.

Some believe it was a tragic accident set off by a faulty water heater inside the home. Others believe it was something more sinister and calculated.

Sources: 
1) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15657786/kathleen_s-wangler
2) https://www.oxygen.com/dateline-secrets-uncovered/crime-news/mark-wangler-convicted-of-killing-wife-kathy-with-carbon
3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lima,_Ohio
4)https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/1bi8jxs/did_ohio_anesthesiologist_mark_wangler_gas_his/ 
5) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-killers-son-wife-continue-innocence-crusade/
6) https://casetext.com/case/state-v-wangler
7) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/did-ohio-anesthesiologist-gas-his-wife-to-death/

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Rachael talks about our last three cryptids of this spooky season: the Black Annis, the Jersey Devil, and The Dover Demon. Which one will become Small Town Mysteries' Cryptid Congeniality?

Sources:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Annis
2) https://monster.fandom.com/wiki/Black_Annis
3) https://astonishinglegends.com/astonishing-legends/2023/10/15/black-annis
4) https://pinelandsalliance.org/learn-about-the-pinelands/pinelands-history-and-culture/the-jersey-devil-and-folklore/
5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dover_Demon
6) https://cryptozoologycryptids.fandom.com/wiki/Dover_Demon

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A Halloween party turned sour. What happened to Arpana Jinaga? And why did the cops immediately zero in on one suspect, when several people at the party exhibited suspicious behaviors?

Sources:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redmond,_Washington
2) https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/emanuel-fair-trial-lawsuit-dna-murder-charge-1330251/
3) https://www.crimescenecleanup.com/arpana-jinaga-halloween-party-murder/
4) https://unresolved.me/arpana-jinaga
5) https://people.com/crime/suspect-podcast-explores-unsolved-2008-halloween-party-murder-arpana-jinaga/
6) https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/halloween-horror-woman-found-dead-after-hosting-costume-party-at-her-apartment

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Tonight, Christine transports us all to prom. But there are no humans to be found at this prom. Oh no. This is a prom for the Cryptids. The theme? Under the Sea. And it is up to us and YOU to decide who is crowned our Cryptid King!
Get out your writing utensils or note app on your phone and decide which of our contenders deserves the esteemed title. 
Let us know your thoughts and who was your "Cryptid King" by DMing us or commenting @smalltownmysteriespod on Instagram!

Sources:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizard_Man_of_Scape_Ore_Swamp
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browntown,_South_Carolina
3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champ_(folklore)
4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loveland_frog

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Sometime between late October 30th and early Oct 31, 2010, William “B.J.” Liske murdered his father, stepmother, and his stepbrother. The family was murdered in their own home located in Martin, Ohio.

Sources:
1) https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2011/09/15/Liske-gets-life-for-deaths-of-3/stories/201109150097
2) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-triple-murder-teen-thought-it-was-halloween-prank/
3) https://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/story/news/local/2015/04/07/man-killed-family-found-dead-prison-cell/25420415/
4) https://sanduskyregister.com/news/1672/liske-pleads-guilty-to-triple-homicide/
5) https://www.oxygen.com/homicide-for-the-holidays/crime-news/bj-liske-kills-3-family-members-in-halloween-murders
6) https://www.wtol.com/article/news/family-grapples-with-loss-of-4-relatives-in-24-hours/512-0da1e144-353c-49a7-867f-8daebce189fd
7) https://sanduskyregister.com/news/40338/tragic-timeline-details-surface-on-halloween-family-killings/
8) https://www.crosserpriesmanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/William-E-Liske-Jr?obId=4107444
9) https://www.crosserpriesmanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Susan-M-Liske?obId=4107443
10) https://www.crosserpriesmanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Derek-L-Griffin?obId=4107442
11) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/228968455/william_j-liske/photo
12) https://www.unitedstateszipcodes.org/43445/
13) https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/1048948

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This week on Cryptid Chaos, Kate talks about Chupacabra and Mothman!

Sources:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chupacabra
2) https://www.britannica.com/topic/chupacabra
3) https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mythic-creatures/land/modern-myths
4) https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/ology-cards/281-chupacabra
5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Bridge
6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothman
7) https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/mothman-point-pleasant-west-virginia
8) https://www.mothmanmuseum.com/
9) https://www.mothmanfestival.com/
10) https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1418

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