The Dark Oak

Welcome to Oaktober Fest, our annual celebration of spooky season lasting the entire month of October!

Lizzie Borden took an ax… Or did she? In this special Oaktober Fest Episode we discuss what you may not have heard about the Lizzie Borden case. Was a Victorian era woman capable of murder? At the time, scientist didn’t think so. We have learned so much in the last 130 years about the evil lengths women can go to…. was Lizzie saved by her moment in time or an innocent victim wrongly accused?

Join The Dark Oak discussion:

The Dark Oak Podcast Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Youtube

Sources:

Magazine, S. (2019, July 23). Why 19th-Century axe murderer Lizzie Borden was found not guilty. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-19th-century-axe-murderer-lizzie-borden-was-found-not-guilty-180972707/

Lizzie Borden case: Images from one of the most notorious crime scenes in history. (2021, August 1). CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/lizzie-borden-case-images-crime-scene/

Lizzie Andrew Borden Virtual Museum and Library. (n.d.). https://lizzieandrewborden.com/

What made Lizzie Borden kill? (n.d.). AMERICAN HERITAGE. https://www.americanheritage.com/what-made-lizzie-borden-kill

Robertson, C. (2020). The trial of Lizzie Borden. Simon & Schuster.

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

Welcome to Oaktober Fest, our annual celebration of spooky season lasting the entire month of October!

Is there anything creepier than being surrounded by bugs? We will delve in the wild, wonderful and terrifying world of bugs... bugs that torture us, bugs that disgust us and bugs that flat out scare us.

Giant spiders, disgusting bot flies, exotic ants, and deadly caterpillars make this episode everything you love about Halloween. Some insects might sound familiar, and some are so rare that only the unfortunate may have heard of them. Whatever the case, take a deep breath, press play and follow us to the world of haunting bugs.

Join The Dark Oak discussion:

The Dark Oak Podcast Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Youtube

Sources:

Myseo, Pestco, & Myseo. (2019). 12 Of The World’s Scariest Skin-Crawl-Worthy Insect Pests. Pestco Professional Services. https://www.pestco.com/12-of-the-worlds-scariest-insect-pests/

Veliz, L. (2023). What You Might Not Know About The Giant Japanese Hornet. Grunge. https://www.grunge.com/599051/what-you-might-not-know-about-the-giant-japanese-hornet/

Insectic. (2022, January 11). 10 facts about Emerald cockroach wasp - Insectic. Insectic. https://insectic.com/emerald-cockroach-wasp-facts/

Shields, J. (2023, March 8). Parasitic wasp larvae eat host from inside out. HowStuffWorks. https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/parasitic-wasp-larvae-eat-host-from-inside-out.htm

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

Welcome to Oaktober Fest, our annual celebration of spooky season lasting the entire month of October!

This episode highlights the tragic death of Yoshihiro Hattori, a 16-year-old Japanese student on an exchange program to the United States. 

Give: Yoshi Hattori Memorial Scholarship (afsusa.org)

Sources:

Mascia, J. (2022). How the Death of a Japanese Exchange Student Changed the U.S. Gun Debate. The Trace. https://www.thetrace.org/2022/11/yoshihiro-hattori-webb-haymaker-brady/

Taylor, A. (2023, April 20). Mistaken address shootings echo killing of Japanese teen 30 years ago. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/20/yoshihiro-hattori-mistaken-address-shooting-japan/

Luckhurst, B. T. (2019, October 19). Yoshihiro Hattori: The door knock that killed a Japanese teenager in US. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50063364

Join The Dark Oak discussion:

The Dark Oak Podcast Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Youtube

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

Welcome to Oaktober Fest, our annual celebration of spooky season lasting the entire month of October!

In this episode we cover stories of lycanthropy, the belief that one can transform into a wolf. Before the Salem Witch trials, the Werewolf Trials were paving the way across Europe. 

Lycanthropy is not a new concept but was originally in the works as early as 2,100 BC. The true werewolf hunt, though, began in earnest in the 15th and 16th centuries. We will cover the historical lives, trials and punishments of Peter Stump, Gilles Garnier, and a more recent case of Manuel Blanco Romasanta who became Spain’s first documented serial killer known as the Werewolf of Allariz.

Sources:

Werewolf Legends. (2017, August 23). HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-the-werewolf-legend

Florence, M. M. (2022, October 13). Under torture, Peter Stumpp confessed to savage crimes—leading to perhaps the harshest trial during Germany’s werewolf panics. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2022/10/a-german-werewolfs-confessions-horrified-1500s-europe

Koosmen, T. (n.d.). The ancient origins of werewolves. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-ancient-origins-of-werewolves-104775#:~:text=The%20earliest%20surviving%20example%20of,ethnographic%2C%20poetic%20and%20philosophical%20texts.

Moonlight. (2010). The Many Ways To Become A Werewolf | Werewolves. Werewolves. https://www.werewolves.com/the-many-ways-to-become-a-werewolf/

Tietz, V. a. P. B. T. (2021, October 28). Peter Stumpp – The Werewolf of Bedburg | SCIHI Blog. http://scihi.org/peter-stumpp-werewolf/

Join The Dark Oak discussion:

The Dark Oak Podcast Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Youtube

Our Patreon

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

In February 1959, a group of nine experienced hikers in the Russian Ural Mountains died mysteriously on an elevation known as Dead Mountain. In part 1 of this 2-part series, Stefanie will provide details about the rescue and recovery mission to find the lost hikers as well as theories into their causes of death. Was it nature, man or beast? Could their deaths be attributed to an acute event of were the hikers doomed from the start of their adventure. We follow the breadcrumbs left by the hikers in the true story of the Dyatlov hikers.

Eichar, D. (2013). Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident. Chronicle Books.

An Unknown Compelling Force. Directed, produced and written by Liam Le Guillou.

Produced by Just Us Gals, with Artwork by Justyse Holmes, and Music by Ryan Creep

In February 1959, a group of nine experienced hikers in the Russian Ural Mountains died mysteriously on an elevation known as Dead Mountain. In part 1 of this 2-part series, Stefanie will introduce you to the nine hikers and guide you through the hiker's last days. Where did they go? Who did they meet? Where were they headed? What were their motives? Was someone following them? Should they have even been on the hike from the start? Are there any clues we can gather to help us solve their deaths? We follow the breadcrumbs left by the hikers in the true story of the Dyatlov hikers.

Eichar, D. (2013). Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident. Chronicle Books.

An Unknown Compelling Force. Directed, produced and written by Liam Le Guillou.

Produced by Just Us Gals, with Artwork by Justyse Holmes, and Music by Ryan Creep

Things that go bump in the night may be closer than you think. In this episode we will take a hard look at expert opinions, current data and provocative research that combat the hard questions. Is Bigfoot real? And if so, how close are we to finding one?

Report your Bigfoot Sighting - http://www.bfro.net/

Patterson-Gimlin Film 1967 - Patterson Gimlin Film in Full HD 1967 BIGFOOT SASQUATCH - YouTube

Sources:

Jones, R. (2021b). The Appalachian Bigfoot. Beyond the Fray Publishing.

Bigfoot/Sasquatch-related Sound Recordings. (n.d.). http://www.bfro.net/avevid/SierraSounds/911.asp#howls

Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization. (n.d.). http://www.bfro.net/

Watson, T. (2021b, May 3). 86 Percent of Earth’s Species Still Unknown? Science. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/110824-earths-species-8-7-million-biology-planet-animals-science

Survivorman - Les Stroud. (2020, December 14). Survivorman Bigfoot | Willow Creek | Episode 5 | Les Stroud [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_akddzGiPsU

Produced by Just Us Gals, Artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

Impeccably dressed and put together, Dana Sue Gray spared no expense on herself. Dropping thousands of dollars on a shopping binge or a luxurious day spa was nothing out of the ordinary for Dana-nor for many wealthy women. But Dana wasn't wealthy-she was an unemployed nurse. She was also a serial murderer, who preyed upon elderly women, violently killed them, then used their credit cards to embark on wild, post-murder spending sprees.

Sources:

D, J. E. J. P. (2022, January 6). An armchair analysis of female serial killer Dana Sue Gray. Medium. https://joniejohnston.medium.com/an-armchair-analysis-of-female-serial-killer-dana-sue-gray-1f7d7b642b7b

Blanco, J. I. (n.d.). Dana Sue Gray | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. https://murderpedia.org/female.G/g/gray-dana-sue.htm

NY Daily News - (n.d.). https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/justice-story-dana-sue-gray-article-1.1810400

Produced by Just Us Gals, Artwork by Justyse Holmes, Music by Ryan Creep

We cover a lot of dark material here at The Dark Oak. Join us as we indulge in stories of the most outrageous, the most awkward, the most bizarre, and the absolute most clueless criminals we could find. Enjoy a good laugh with us!

Sources:

Atkin, H. (2010, July 26). Man Dressed in Wig, Clown Pants and Fake Breasts Robs Bank with BB Gun, Say Cops. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-dressed-in-wig-clown-pants-and-fake-breasts-robs-bank-with-bb-gun-say-cops/

Daily, & Reporter, B. D. M. (2011, July 11). Robber caught after planning hold-up in his diary. Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2013349/Robber-caught-planning-hold-diary.html

Cnn, B. G. F. (n.d.). Bank robbery suspect calls ahead with demand for cash - CNN.com. http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/24/phone.in.robbery/index.html

BBC News. (2015, April 10). Facebook boast Tesco robber Andrew Hennells jailed. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-32256720

Wanted fugitive gets caught after applying for job at NJ Sheriff’s Office. (2022, October 8). NBC New York. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/wanted-fugitive-gets-caught-after-applying-for-job-at-nj-sheriffs-office/3899135/

BBC News. (2016, January 11). US fugitive sends selfie to police after “terrible” mugshot’. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35284225