The Book of the Dead

This Halloween, we're taking a break from true crime and stepping into the twisted world of John Kramer and the Saw franchise!

For this special Halloween bonus episode of The Book of the Dead Podcast, I'm joined by my friends to take on 10 iconic Saw traps from across the movies and debate one very important question: Would we actually survive?

From the infamous Reverse Bear Trap and the brutal Pound of Flesh trap to the terrifying bathroom game from the original Saw movie, we're putting ourselves in the shoes of Jigsaw's victims to find out who has what it takes to make it out alive.

But surviving isn't just about beating the clock. Would we be willing to override our own morality to save ourselves? How far would we go when faced with an impossible choice? And when John Kramer puts us to the test, would we make it through his twisted games or become another victim of his idea of justice?

Join us for a darkly entertaining deep dive into the Saw movies, iconic horror traps, impossible moral dilemmas, and plenty of questionable survival strategies. It's a little horror movie nostalgia, a little psychological torture, and a lot of arguing over who would die first.

Because sometimes, even true crime podcasters need a break from real-life murder mysteries to find out how badly they'd fare in a fictional nightmare.

The game is simple. The rules are brutal. Do you want to play a game?

Happy Halloween from The Book of the Dead Podcast!

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In December 2017, the case of Margarita Gracheva shocked Russia and drew international attention to the devastating consequences of domestic violence. After enduring abuse at the hands of her estranged husband, Dmitry Grachev, Margarita became the victim of a horrific attack that would change her life forever.

In this episode of The Book of the Dead Podcast, we investigate the case of Margarita Gracheva, examining the history of domestic abuse that preceded the attack, the police response to earlier warnings, the criminal investigation, and the legal proceedings that followed. We also explore the wider issue of domestic violence in Russia.

Margarita's story is more than a true crime case. It is a reminder of the importance of listening to survivors, recognizing warning signs, and taking domestic violence seriously before it escalates.

Content warning: This episode discusses domestic violence, intimate partner abuse, and a severe act of physical violence.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, abuse, or coercive control, support is available. You deserve safety, support, and the opportunity to make your own decisions.

RUSSIA

UNITED STATES

NEW JERSEY

If you are in immediate danger in the United States, call 911. In Russia, call 112 or the local emergency services number.

If you are concerned that someone may be monitoring your phone or internet activity, consider using a safer device when seeking help. Visiting a website or deleting browser history cannot guarantee that your activity will remain private.

BBC News. (2021, December 14). Russia told to pay compensation to woman whose hands were cut off. 

Brown, C. (2020, March 1). Russian advocates against domestic violence branded 'enemies of the family' CBC. 

Brown, C. (2021, March 26). Margarita Gracheva's ex-husband cut off her hands. Now, her own TV show is helping other victims of violence. CBC. 

EHRM, 14-12-2021, nr. 55974/16, nr. 53118/17, nr. 27484/18, nr. 28011/19 | InView. (n.d.). InView. 

Ferris-Rotman, A. (2019, December 6). Her husband chopped off her hands. Now, she’s on Russian TV and speaking out about domestic violence. The Washington Post. 

Law not on side of Russia’s domestic violence victims. (2020, October 28). Human Rights Watch. 

Man who allegedly cut off wife’s hands has parental rights taken away. (2018, October 2). Yahoo News Australia.

Mia. (2026, August 12). She warned police her husband would kill her. Days later, he cut off her hands. Medium.

Naylor, A. (2021, August 24). Russia’s Domestic Violence Epidemic. CEPA. 

Parfitt, T. (2017, December 14). Jealous husband Dmitiri Grachev chops off wife Margarita’s hands with axe. The Times. 

Russia: Domestic violence law puts women at greater risk. (2017, February 9). Amnesty International. 

Tass. (2018, November 15). Jealous husband who cut off wife’s hands sentenced to 14 years behind bars. TASS. 

Walker, S. (2017a, November 28). Fury at Russian move to soften domestic violence law. The Guardian. 

Walker, S. (2017b, November 28). Putin approves legal change that decriminalises some domestic violence. The Guardian. 

Юртова, К. (n.d.). Маргарита Грачева о страхе перед бывшим мужем, который отрубил ей руки, пиаре на горе и алиментах в 200 рублей. StarHit (СтарХит). 

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Welcome to Stories Mummy Never Told You, a compilation of dark tales perfect to set the mood ahead of Halloween! Featuring scary stories, creepy pastas, and folklore from around the world from the very best of indie podcasting.

Grab your candy, settle in, and get ready for all sorts of stories of things that go bump in the night.

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What really happened to 36-year-old Jennifer Kelly?

In September 2015, Jennifer Kelly died by hanging in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her death was classified as a suicide, but questions remained and her daughter, Emily, was not ready to stop searching for answers.

In this investigative episode of The Book of the Dead Podcast, I work closely with Emily to take a closer look at the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death. Through obtaining police records and tracking down a witness, we began piecing together information that deserves a closer look.

This episode examines the available records, the questions surrounding Jennifer’s death, and Emily’s determination to seek answers. While questions and concerns remain, it is important to distinguish documented evidence from unanswered questions and theories.

Jennifer was more than the circumstances of her death. She was a mother, a daughter, and a person whose story deserves to be heard.

Read the Substack article on Jennifer's case written by Megan Van Loon

Content warning: This episode discusses domestic violence, death by hanging, and a potentially traumatic death investigation.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please see the confidential support resources below. You are not alone.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT & IMPORTANT CONTACTS

If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, confidential help and support are available.

Colorado Springs & Colorado Resources

National Domestic Violence Resources

If you are in immediate danger, call 911 when it is safe to do so.

Important: If you are concerned that an abusive partner may monitor your phone or internet activity, consider contacting an advocate from a safer device.

Featuring a promo for Bite-Sized Crime

Arismendy, E., & Arismendy, E. (2025, April 11). The violent reality of strangulation. The SAFE Alliance. 

Dhingra, V. (2019, February 13). Some meaningful points on suicidal death crime scene investigation. Lupine Publishers. 

Glass, N., Laughon, K., Campbell, J., Chair, A. D. W., Block, C. R., Hanson, G., Sharps, P. W., & Taliaferro, E. (2007). Non-fatal strangulation is an important risk factor for homicide of women. The Journal of Emergency Medicine, 35(3), 329–325. 

Kadali, L., & Turley Jr., R., PA-C. (n.d.). Ethanol (Blood). URochester Medicine. 

McEachern, A. (2009, June 5). Local bride shows this Sunday. Herald-Zeitung. 

Mcquown, C., MD, Frey, J., PhD, Steer, S., MD, Fletcher, G. E., MD, Kinkopf, B., MD, Fackler, M., MD, & Prulhiere, V. (2016). Prevalence of strangulation in survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 34(7), 1281–1285. 

Supporting someone who keeps returning - the hotline. (2025, March 6). The Hotline. 

The seven major mistakes in suicide investigation. (n.d.). 

Women’s Aid. (2026, July 15). Myths about domestic abuse - Women’s Aid. 

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In this follow to Chapters 31 and 32 of The Book of the Dead, I sat down to discuss Christa Pike and the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer in Knoxville, Tennessee on the eve of Christa's execution, 3 decades after she brutally took Colleen's life. This is in response to the countless posts and videos I've seen calling for clemency and why this is a situation where the death penalty is a fitting punishment. At the end of the day, Christa got 32 more years than Colleen would ever have, and she has, not once, shown any real remorse.

For more background information on this case, you can listen to:

Chapter 31: Christa Pike- The She Devil of Tennessee Part 1

Chapter 32: Christa Pike-The She Devil of Tennessee Part 2

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Clemency | Christa Pike. (n.d.). My Site 1. 

Creekmore, B. (2018, October 8). Job Corps Student Murdered on Agriculture Campus - Volopedia. Volopedia. 

FindLaw. (n.d.). FindLaw’s Supreme Court of Tennessee case and opinions. Findlaw.

Freeman, R., PhD. (2019, January 17). Are women with Borderline Personality Disorder & Psychopathy similar in Relationships? Neuroinstincts | Dr. Rhonda Freeman. 

Gross, G., & Pike, C. (2019). Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In United States Court of Appeals (No. 1:12-cv-00035). Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Holt, E. (2012, March 22). Christa Pike woos Donald Kohut and Justin Heflin to help plan escape. 5KSDK.  

Lejserowits, A. (2022, January 26). America’s Youngest Woman Sentenced to Death: Christa Pike. Living Magazine. 

Lyon, R. (2022, January 7). The Sacrifice and Mutilation of Colleen Slemmer - Rivy Lyon - Medium. Medium. 

Margaritoff, M. (2022, October 5). Christa Pike: The Youngest Woman Ever Sentenced To Death In America. All That’s Interesting. 

Mother of Christa Gail Pike’s slaying victim outraged over for-profit website. (n.d.). 

Ng, C. (2012, March 22). Tennessee Death Row Woman’s Escape Plot Foiled. ABC News. 

North, J., & Matheny, J. (2020, January 31). The Job Corps killing: Passage of time can’t erase Christa Gail Pike’s savage crime. 10News 

Pike ’s own words did her in - Court not convinced killer reacted to save another inmate’s life. (n.d.).

Rahman, K. (2021, June 15). Colleen Slemmer’s Mom Wants Christa Pike, Only Woman On Tennessee’s Death Row, Executed. Newsweek. 

Staff, C. (2012, March 21). Two men arrested in alleged attempt to break out Tenn. death row inmate Christa Gail Pike. CBS News. 

Times-Union, K. M. H. F. (2012, March 23). Tennessee says it foiled Death Row breakout plot; victim was Orange Park woman. Florida Times-Union. 

Travis Dorman, Knoxville News Sentinel. (2021, June 13). How young is too young for a death sentence? Christa Pike fights move to set execution date. Knoxville News Sentinel. 

Trusting others too much cost Colleen Slemmer her life. (n.d.). 

Victim begged for life as killer panicked, tape says. (n.d.). 

Women on Death Row. (n.d.). 

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Rhonda Hinson was a young woman whose life was brutally cut short in North Carolina in 1981. Decades later, the circumstances surrounding her murder remain shrouded in unanswered questions.

In this episode of The Book of the Dead Podcast, we take a closer look at the murder of Rhonda Hinson, the investigation that followed, the evidence and theories surrounding her death, and the questions that have persisted for decades.

Who killed Rhonda Hinson? Why was her murder never solved? And after more than 40 years, could the answers to this North Carolina cold case still be out there?

Anyone with information about the murder of Rhonda Hinson is urged to call:

Cold Case Tip Line- Burke County Sheriff's Office- Phone: 828-764-9549

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Folklore. Fear. Dark Psychology.Psychology of the Strange is a narrative psychology podcast that explores the eerie, the uncanny, and the deeply human. Every episode begins with an original atmospheric story rooted in dark folklore, superstition, or real events and then shifts into a psychological analysis that unpacks why these tales grip the human mind. 

Bollinger, C. (2001a, September 3). What happened to Rhonda. The News Herald, 1.

Bollinger, C. (2001b, September 4). Family exhausts every avenue. The News Herald, 1.

East, M. (2024, July 8). A teen in North Carolina was driving home from a work Christmas party when she was shot dead. But, who pulled the trigger? Front Page Detectives. 

Graeter, K., & Carter, J. (2025, December 23). 1981 case of teen killed by bullet that went through her car remains unsolved in Burke County. 

Griffin, L. J. (2024, December 13). THE KILLING OF RHONDA HINSON December 13, 2024—Rhonda’s 62nd Birthday. Facebook. 

Griffin, L. J. (2025a, March 4). THE KILLING OF RHONDA HINSON Evolution of a Break-Up. Facebook. 

Griffin, L. J. (2025b, May 21). THE KILLING OF RHONDA HINSON Evolution of a Break-Up—Part VII. Facebook. 

Griffin, L. J. (2025c, May 31). THE KILLING OF RHONDA HINSON Evolution of a Break-Up—Part VIII. Facebook. 

Hamilton, B. (2025, December 22). “Family deserves answers”: Investigation continues into 44-year-old case of slain teen. Spectrum News 1. 

Hensley, M. (2011, December 23). Teen’s death remains unsolved. The News Herald, 1.

Nicholas, W. (1982a, January 23). Projectile hits bus near Valdese. The Charlotte Observer, 2B.

Nicholas, W. (1982b, January 23). Slain teen’s family still asks why. The Charlotte Observer, 2B.

Poynter, R. C. (n.d.). Rhonda Annette Hinson. Find a Grave. 

The Associated Press. (1989, September 13). What happened to Rhonda Hinson? Rocky MountTelegram, 12.

The Burke County Sheriff’s Office. (2025, December 22). 44th Anniversary of Rhonda Hinson’s Murder [Press release]. 

Unsolved Mysteries. (2020, September 7). Rhonda Hinson - Unsolved Mysteries. 

York, J. (1982, May 23). Daughter’s murder creates backwash of grief and anger. The Charlotte Observer, 1E-9E.

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In 19th-century New England, fear of tuberculosis collided with an older, darker belief: that the dead could return from the grave to prey upon the living.

In this episode, I join Family Plot Podcast to explore the New England Vampire Panic — a chilling period when families, desperate to explain devastating outbreaks of illness, began to suspect that their deceased loved ones were actually vampires.

Across New England, graves were opened, bodies examined, and desperate measures were taken in the belief that the dead were somehow responsible for the suffering of those still alive. What we now understand as tuberculosis was once interpreted through a supernatural lens, creating one of the strangest chapters in American history.

From exhumations and suspected vampires to the real-life fear and tragedy behind the legends, we're digging into the history of the New England Vampire Panic and asking how a community's desperation can transform disease, death, and grief into something truly terrifying.

I'm so excited to have been a guest on Family Plot Podcast for this fascinating journey into one of America's most obscure historical panics.

🩸 Rare history. Dark folklore. Real fear.

Check out The Family Plot Podcast here

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Rico Omarr Harris had once seemed destined for a life in basketball.

Standing 6-foot-9, Rico was a standout player who attracted attention from college scouts, led Los Angeles City College to a state championship, and eventually played briefly for the Harlem Globetrotters. But years after his basketball career had taken an unexpected turn, Rico was preparing for a new chapter of his life.

On October 10, 2014, 37-year-old Rico Omarr Harris left his mother's home in Alhambra, California, and began driving north toward Seattle, where he planned to reunite with his longtime girlfriend and start a new life. He spoke with his mother while driving through the Sacramento area and later left a voicemail for his girlfriend.

Then, he vanished.

Three days later, Rico's black Nissan was discovered abandoned at a remote Yolo County Regional Parks location along State Route 16. His vehicle was there, but Rico was nowhere to be found. Extensive searches of the surrounding area produced no trace of him, and despite the passage of more than a decade, Rico Harris remains missing.

What happened to the former basketball star in Yolo County? Why did he leave his vehicle behind? And how does a man who stood nearly seven feet tall seemingly disappear without a trace?

Anyone with information about the disappearance of Rico Harris can contact:

Yolo County Sheriff's Department at (530) 666-8282

The case number to reference is 14-2964

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Join hosts CJ and Carmita as they set out to cover cases of grizzly serial killers who have brought their nefarious crimes to our beautiful area of the PNW for many years. 

Listen Here

Fenno, N. (2017, March 18). His dreams of basketball stardom vanished first. Now his mother says, ‘I am not giving up on finding my son’ - Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times.

Mertz, A. (2014, October 22). Seattle girlfriend of missing former Harlem Globetrotter confident he will “come home.” FOX 13 Seattle. 

MISSING IN AMERICA: Rico Omarr Harris. (2015, June 11). NBC News. 

Rico Harris College Stats | College basketball at Sports-Reference.com. (n.d.). College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. 

Rico Omarr Harris. (2017, July 21). State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.

The disappearance of Rico Harris. (2019, June 27). Stories of the Unsolved. 

Vanishing Man: The Disappearance of Rico Harris. (n.d.). FOX Sports. 

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