Before Jonestown… before the poison… there was a man people believed in.

In this episode, we dive into the life and rise of Jim Jones—a charismatic preacher who built the People’s Temple on promises of equality, community, and hope during one of the most divided times in American history.

But behind the image of a progressive leader, something darker was taking shape.

As his influence grew, so did his control. From faith healings and political power to manipulation, fear, and isolation, we follow the path that led hundreds of people to a place called Jonestown… and to the Jonestown Massacre.

This isn’t just the story of what happened.

It’s the story of how it happened.

Because cults don’t start with control…

they start with trust.

And sometimes…

the devil doesn’t come with horns.

He comes as someone you believe in.

A devil in disguise.

New Orleans is a city where music drifts through the streets, magic lingers in the air, and monsters are never too far from the shadows.

In this episode of The Girl in the Dark, we take a walk through one of the most mysterious cities in America. A city where history, legend, and spirituality blur together until it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.

First, we step into the terror of the Axeman of New Orleans, the mysterious killer who stalked the city in the early 1900s and sent a chilling letter demanding that jazz be played throughout the night.

Then we travel back to the French colonial era to uncover the eerie legend of the Casket Girls, whose arrival in New Orleans sparked rumors of sealed attic windows, missing luggage, and whispers of vampires in the French Quarter.

Finally, we explore the life and legacy of the legendary Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen whose influence shaped the spiritual traditions of the city and whose presence some believe still lingers in New Orleans today.

From killers to vampires to voodoo queens, these are the stories that helped make New Orleans the most haunted and fascinating city in America.

Because in New Orleans… myth becomes legend, and killers become lore.

In November 1986, Helle Crafts vanished from her home in Newtown, Connecticut. She was a mother, a flight attendant, a traveler, and a woman preparing to leave a dangerous marriage. What followed was one of the most disturbing and groundbreaking investigations in American criminal history.

This episode tells the full story of Helle’s life, her growing fear, and the meticulous police work that ultimately led to the conviction of her husband, Richard Crafts — despite the fact that only fragments of her remains were ever recovered. It became the first murder conviction in Connecticut history without a body, proving that evidence can be destroyed, but truth cannot be erased.

⚠️ Content Warning:
This episode contains discussion of domestic violence, murder, and graphic subject matter. Please listen with care.

If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You are not alone.

One year ago, The Girl in the Dark was born—and today, we’re celebrating the shadows we’ve shared together.

In this special one-year anniversary episode, I’m answering your questions about the podcast, the cases, and the journey so far. We’re also diving into listener-submitted spooky stories—real encounters, chilling moments, and experiences that prove the dark is never as quiet as it seems.

Thank you for walking these paths with me for an entire year. For listening, for sharing, for believing—and for not turning away when things get uncomfortable.

Light a candle, get comfortable, and settle in.

This is A Year in the Dark. 🖤✨

January 17th marks one full year of The Girl in the Dark, and for my anniversary episode, I want to hear from you.

This is a short mini-episode inviting listeners to submit:

• Questions about the podcast, the stories, or me.

• True scary stories—paranormal encounters, unexplainable moments, or experiences that still give you chills.

You don’t need to be a writer.

You can remain anonymous.

Just tell it the way it happened.

📩 Email: [email protected]

📲 Or DM the podcast on Instagram: @thegirlinthedarkpod

Even if you’ve never commented before, this invitation is for you.

Thank you for walking in the dark with me for a year 🖤

For years, Robert Hansen was seen as a quiet small-business owner, a devoted husband, and a father in Anchorage, Alaska. But beneath the surface, he was hiding something far darker.

In this episode of The Girl in the Dark, we trace Hansen’s life before the monster was revealed — the warning signs that were missed, the system that repeatedly let him walk free, and the devastating consequences that followed.

Everything changed in 1983, when a teenager named Cindy Paulson escaped and refused to stay silent. Her courage didn’t just save her own life — it exposed a killer and stopped years of violence.

This episode centers the victims, calls out systemic failure, and honors the woman who broke the case open.

The Lemp family built an empire… and then lost everything.
In this episode, we dive into the tragic history behind the Lemp Mansion, the tunnels beneath St. Louis, and the spirits said to still linger in the halls. I also share my own personal experience inside the mansion — one I’ll never forget.

December 25, 1996—six-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey is found dead in the basement of her Colorado home. Decades later, the case still haunts the world, shrouded in unanswered questions, mysterious ransom notes, and a family under intense scrutiny. In this special 20th episode, we unravel the twists, the theories, and the dark secrets behind one of America’s most infamous unsolved murders. Who had the motive? Who had the opportunity? And what really happened that fateful night in Boulder?

Step into the shadows, where innocence collides with suspicion—and the truth remains elusive.

In 2008, 19-year-old Brandon Swanson called his parents after his car slid into a ditch on a dark Minnesota back road. They stayed on the phone for nearly an hour as he tried to find his way home—until his final words: “Oh, shit.” Then, silence. Seventeen years later, Brandon has never been found.

👉 In this episode of The Girl in the Dark, we trace his last known steps, the search that followed, and the haunting theories that still surround his disappearance.

In the summer of 1994, Alison Botha was abducted, assaulted, and left for dead on a deserted stretch of road in South Africa. But she didn’t just survive—she fought her way back from the edge, identified her attackers, and reclaimed her life. This is the story of a woman who turned horror into hope... and made sure her attackers would never hurt anyone again.