In 1986, four-year-old Jessica Gutierrez disappeared from her South Carolina home in the middle of the night, leaving behind only a few strange clues and a single chilling statement from the sister who slept beside her... Her sister insisted that a man in a “wizard hat” carried Jessica away. After massive searches and years of dead ends, Jessica’s case refused to fade from the community’s memory. This episode breaks down what happened that night, the troubling investigation that followed, and the decades-long fight to uncover the truth.

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Website: https://www.suspectsandspirits.com/

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Sources:

https://www.lexingtonscsheriff.com/news-releases/man-sentenced-to-life-in-1986-cold-case-child-abduction-murder

 https://www.abccolumbia.com/2024/02/08/jury-finds-thomas-mcdowell-guilty-of-murdering-kidnapping-4-year-old-girl

 https://www.wistv.com/2024/02/08/prosecutors-present-impactful-evidence-jurors-day-3-thomas-mcdowell-murder-trial

 https://www.wistv.com/2024/02/08/state-defense-rest-thomas-mcdowell-murder-trial-day-4

 https://www.lexingtonscsheriff.com/news-releases/suspect-arrested-in-1986-child-kidnapping-killing

 https://www.wcax.com/2022/01/07/child-kidnapping-killing-cold-case-coming-close-police-arrest-suspect-35-years-later

 https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/thomas-mcdowell-charged-in-1986-murder-of-jessica-gutierrez

 https://www.koat.com/article/jessica-gutierrez-man-arrested-1986-kidnapping-murder/38700491

 https://truecrimenews.com/2024/02/09/south-carolina-jessica-gutierrez-thomas-mcdowell-kidnapping-murder-missing-child-lexington-county

 https://www.lexingtonscsheriff.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2024-Annual-Report-FINAL2.pdf

In 1988, a young mother in San Pedro, California, became the center of one of the most unsettling hauntings ever documented. After moving into a small bungalow, Jackie Hernandez was confronted with violent paranormal activity that drew the attention of investigator Dr. Barry Taff and his team. What began as strange noises escalated into physical attacks, eerie apparitions, and a terrifying incident in the attic that nearly turned fatal. This episode explores the true story behind the San Pedro Haunting — one of the most disturbing cases ever recorded.

Got a story to tell? Send it in for the next episode of Boo's Clues!

And help spread the word! Share the podcast with your true crime coven of friends and family or your paranormal pals.

Website: https://www.suspectsandspirits.com/

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Sources:

An Unknown Encounter: A True Account of the San Pedro Haunting (1997 documentary) — IMDb

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5036874/ IMDb

https://www.thinkanomalous.com/jackie-hernandez.html Think Anomalous

https://www.ghosttheory.com/2009/02/07/the-haunting-of-jackie-hernandez-a-haunting-in-san-pedro-ca Ghost Theory

https://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2011-03-18-show/ Coast to Coast AM

https://kaimuegge.com/the-san-pedro-poltergeist-disturbances/ Kaimuegge

https://scarepop.com/2016/04/08/watch-the-san-pedro-poltergeist-case-or-the-haunting-of-jackie-hernandez/ ScarePop

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-03-23-vw-14352-story.html Los Angeles Times

Buckle up, True Crime Coven — this one’s a wild ride. Today we’re diving into the twisted story of Katherine Knight, the Aussie woman with a fiery temper, a love of knives, and one of the most disturbing crime scenes in history. After years of chaos and violent relationships, Katherine murdered her partner John Price in a scene so horrific it left even the most seasoned detectives physically ill. Listener discretion is advised — this story is not for the faint of heart.

Got a story to tell? Send it in for the next episode of Boo's Clues!

And help spread the word! Share the podcast with your true crime coven of friends and family or your paranormal pals.

Website: https://www.suspectsandspirits.com/

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Sources:

"Blood Stain: The True Story of Katherine Knight“ by Peter Lalor — https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Stain-Peter-Lalor/dp/1865088781

"Lady Cannibal: The True Story of Katherine Knight“ by Natalie Marshall — Barnes & Noble listing: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lady-cannibal-natalie-marshall/1123372838

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

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/mar/18/story-of-australian-woman-who-skinned-and-cooked-partner-to-be-told-in-film

https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/articles/katherine-knight-killer-cannibal

https://crown.rdhs.org/the-crime-that-rattled-australia-an-overview-of-katherine-knights-gruesome-murder-of-her-boyfriend/

https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/18992/1/2011006119.pdf

https://www.thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/katherine-knight/

In 1955, a quiet Kentucky farmhouse became the center of one of America’s strangest events. When glowing, otherworldly beings surrounded the Lankford family home, a night of chaos and fear unfolded. This story has gone down in history as one of the most compelling and controversial UFO encounters ever recorded. Today, we revisit the 1955 Kelly–Hopkinsville encounter.

Got a story to tell? Send it in for the next episode of Boo's Clues!

And help spread the word! Share the podcast with your true crime coven of friends and family or your paranormal pals.

Website: https://www.suspectsandspirits.com/

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Sources:

Alien Legacy: A View from Inside by Geraldine Sutton Stith, AuthorHouse, 2007. Barnes & Noble link

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly%E2%80%93Hopkinsville_encounter

https://www.history.com/articles/little-green-men-origins-aliens-hopkinsville-kelly

https://www.wymt.com/2024/08/15/69th-anniversary-kelly-hopkinsville-encounter/

https://www.southernthing.com/this-tiny-kentucky-town-celebrates-alien-encounter-with-little-green-men-festival-2638703398.html

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/35095

https://www.discoveryuk.com/mysteries/the-kelly-hopkinsville-encounter-a-close-extraterrestrial-call/

https://www.iflscience.com/the-kelly-hopkinsville-encounter-indisputable-evidence-of-aliens-or-a-mislabelled-owl-67683

https://allthatsinteresting.com/history-uncovered/kelly-hopkinsville-ufo

Happy Halloween, Ghouligans! Today our countdown goes out with a bang — because we’re back with another round of terrifying Boo's Clues submissions. From a séance gone wrong, to trick-or-treating at a killer’s house, and eerie encounters with black-eyed kids. These true tales prove Halloween isn’t just costumes and candy. Sometimes, the spirits show up too. So, lock the doors, light a candle, and settle in...it’s story time.

Got a story to tell? Send it in for the next episode of Boo's Clues!

And help spread the word! Share the podcast with your true crime coven of friends and family or your paranormal pals.

Website: https://www.suspectsandspirits.com/

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No sources needed today. Just listener trauma.

This week we end our countdown to Halloween with cases from New Orleans’ French Quarter, where vampire legends and true crime collide. From the mysterious arrival of the Casket Girls to the brutal crimes of the Carter Brothers, we uncover how fear, folklore, and bloodshed gave rise to one of America’s darkest supernatural legends.

Got a story to tell? Send it in for the next episode of Boo's Clues!

And help spread the word! Share the podcast with your true crime coven of friends and family or your paranormal pals.

Website: https://www.suspectsandspirits.com/

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Sources:

https://www.neworleans.com/things-to-do/history/the-casket-girls-of-new-orleans/

https://ghostcitytours.com/new-orleans/ghost-stories/truth-casket-girls/

https://wams.nyhistory.org/settler-colonialism-and-revolution/casket-girls/

https://locationsoflore.com/2022/08/06/casket-girls-new-orleans-vampire-tale/

https://neworleansghosttour.com/the-casket-girls-vampires-new-orleans/

https://yesterdaysamerica.com/the-forgotten-history-of-two-new-orleans-vampires/

https://www.hauntjaunts.net/how-deathpenaltyusa-org-helped-debunk-a-new-orleans-vampire-tale/

https://thevampireproject.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-carter-brothers-new-orleans-vampire.html

https://www.neworleanslegendarywalkingtours.com/blog/new-orleans-vampires

https://douglasjwood.com/the-new-orleans-vampires/

https://www.historyshomes.com/detail.cfm?id=882

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDPJzlRod2s

As we continue our countdown to Halloween, Taylor brings you aboard one of America’s most haunted ships — the RMS Queen Mary. From her glittering past as a luxury ocean liner to her darker legacy as a floating ghost ship, the Queen Mary carries stories that refuse to sink. We’ll dive into the legend of Jackie, the little girl said to haunt the ship’s drained pool, explore the famous Dark Harbor Halloween event, and uncover why this historic vessel has become a beacon for paranormal believers around the world.

Got a story to tell? Send it in for the next episode of Boo's Clues!

And help spread the word! Share the podcast with your true crime coven of friends and family or your paranormal pals.

Website: https://www.suspectsandspirits.com/

Follow the podcast on IG, Facebook, and TikTok

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Sources:

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

https://www.queenmary.com/ship-history.htm

https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/printout/0%2C29239%2C1855221_1855285_1855252%2C00.html

https://ghostcitytours.com/hollywood/haunted-places/queen-mary/

https://usghostadventures.com/haunted-stories/hauntings-of-the-rms-queen-mary/

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/queen-mary-a-haunting-like-no-other/

https://folklore.usc.edu/the-queen-marys-haunted-pool-ghost-story/

https://www.visitlongbeach.com/blog/spooky-season-on-the-queen-mary/

https://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/editors-corner/rms-queen-mary-corporate-haunting

On Halloween night in 2002, 21-year-old Christopher Jenkins vanished after leaving a Minneapolis bar. Four months later, his body was found in the Mississippi River — still wearing his costume. What began as a tragic accident soon revealed darker possibilities. On this episode of Suspects & Spirits, we revisit that cold Halloween night to uncover the mysteries surrounding Christopher’s death. What really happened in the final hours before he disappeared.

Got a story to tell? Send it in for the next episode of Boo's Clues!

And help spread the word! Share the podcast with your true crime coven of friends and family or your paranormal pals.

Website: https://www.suspectsandspirits.com/

Follow the podcast on IG, Facebook, and TikTok

IG: suspectsandspiritspodcast

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Sources:

Breaking Homicide – Investigation Discovery (2018 episode on Christopher Jenkins)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/minneapolis-murder-mystery/

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2006/11/20/jenkins

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=4738621&page=1

https://www.twincities.com/2009/09/23/jenkins-family-continues-push-for-awareness-in-case-of-murdered-son/

https://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/20/smiley.face.killer/

https://mndaily.com/255833/uncategorized/u-students-death-declared-homicide/

https://mndaily.com/206679/uncategorized/examiners-complete-jenkins-autopsy/

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/GHB

https://www.limitless-news.com/local/minnesotamissingcases

https://nypost.com/2025/10/10/us-news/texas-rules-out-serial-killer-after-16-bodies-found-in-houston-bayous/

On Halloween night, legends say the Devil himself walks among us. Sometimes disguised as a charming stranger on the dance floor. In honor of Spooky Season, this episode of Suspects & Spirits traces the Devil’s footsteps through scripture, theology, history, and lore. From a haunted barn dance to the creation of The Devil’s Bible, and even a cursed tree said to bear his name. These legends help us explore why Halloween is — and perhaps always will be — the Devil’s favorite night of the year.

Got a story to tell? Send it in for the next episode of Boo's Clues!

And help spread the word! Share the podcast with your true crime coven of friends and family or your paranormal pals.

Website: https://www.suspectsandspirits.com/

Follow the podcast on IG, Facebook, and TikTok

IG: suspectsandspiritspodcast

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Sources:

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/satan-and-demons/

https://www.mbts.edu/magazine/10-truths-about-a-liar-a-biblical-theology-of-satan/

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil%27s_Tree

https://patch.com/new-jersey/baskingridge/devils-tree-spooky-legend-basking-ridge

https://www.mrlocalhistory.org/basking-ridge-devil-tree/

https://lausanne.org/content/a-systematic-theological-view-of-spiritual-conflict-an-excerpt

https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/context/lucifer_file/article/1000/viewcontent/auto_convert.pdf

https://christforus.org/NewSite/index.php/2021/02/15/the-conflict-between-god-and-the-devil/

Just days before Halloween in 2014, the body of Patricia Ward, a beloved professor, was discovered outside her home. At first, some mistook the gruesome scene for a Halloween decoration. But what looked like a macabre display was, in fact, a real-life horror. In this episode, we examine Patricia’s life, the shocking events of that night, and the tragic story behind one of the most disturbing Halloween cases in recent memory.

Got a story to tell? Send it in for the next episode of Boo's Clues!

And help spread the word! Share the podcast with your true crime coven of friends and family or your paranormal pals.

Website: https://www.suspectsandspirits.com/

Follow the podcast on IG, Facebook, and TikTok

IG: suspectsandspiritspodcast

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Sources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/police-probe-possible-link-between-womans-murder-train-fatality-in-farmingdale/

https://www.reuters.com/article/world/uk/new-york-man-beheads-his-mother-steps-in-front-of-a-train-police-idUSKBN0II2BX/

https://www.newsday.com/long-island/patricia-ward-remembered-as-dedicated-educator-struggled-in-her-home-life-i24796

https://abc7ny.com/post/farmingdale-murder-suicide-victim-identified-as-suny-professor/370590/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/national/wp/2014/10/29/reports-woman-found-beheaded-in-long-island-her-killer-may-have-jumped-in-front-of-a-train/

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/man-kills-beheads-woman-suicide-lirr-train-farmingdale/860831/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-did-a-son-behead-his-mother-on-long-island-1030/

https://morbidology.com/the-halloween-beheading-murder-of-patricia-ward/