Truth in the Shadows: Crime, Mystery, and Politics

Freedom has never been a gift. It has always been an act of courage, strategy, and resistance. This Black History Month feature traces the fight for liberation through the lives of Robert Smalls and Bayard Rustin, and through the uprising at Attica Prison—revealing how each moment exposed the limits of American freedom. By connecting these histories to today’s policy debates, the story reminds us that freedom must be claimed, protected, and practiced in every generation.

References

Robert Smalls

National Park Service. “Robert Smalls.” Smithsonian Magazine. Terrorized African Americans Found Their Champion in Robert Smalls. PBS. Which Slave Sailed Himself to Freedom?

Bayard Rustin

Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute, Stanford University. “Bayard Rustin.” National Museum of African American History and Culture. “Bayard Rustin Biography.”

Attica Prison Uprising

Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Attica Prison Uprising.” American Friends Service Committee. History of the Attica Uprising. JSTOR Daily. After Attica: The McKay Report.

In November 2003, 33-year-old Mont Highley IV left his family’s Thanksgiving dinner and was never seen again. His truck was later found abandoned, his rifle, cash, and briefcase still inside. Seven weeks later, Mont’s body was discovered inside an unused grain silo behind a restaurant in Macon County, Alabama. A pair of neatly folded jeans found on him did not belong to Mont. More than twenty years later, no one has been charged—and the truth remains buried.

References

Alabama Cold Case Advocacy. “Unforgotten: Mont Highley IV.” Alabama Cold Case Advocacy, 18 May 2023, https://alcoldcase.com/2023/05/18/unforgotten-mont-highley/.

Snyder, Sherri. “Unsolved Alabama: Mont Highley IV.” ABC 33/40 News, 2 July 2025, https://abc3340.com/news/unsolved-alabama/unsolved-alabama-mont-highley-unsolvedmurder-alabamamurder-monthighley-montgomerymurdercase.

Vinuela, Nicole. “20 Years Later: Alabama Man Mont Highley IV’s Death Still a Mystery.” NBC News, 19 Nov. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/cold-case-spotlight/20-years-later-alabama-man-mont-highley-ivs-death-still-mystery-rcna125779.

Many Alabama cold cases still lack digital records due to decades of paper-based reporting, uneven modernization, and no statewide digital system. Major agencies began transitioning around 2008–2012, but older homicide files were rarely converted. This Fast Facts report explains how uneven digitization impacts investigations and why some cases remain buried in archives today.

For References, please visit our Blog at truthintheshadowscmp.com/blog

CALL TO ACTION

WILLIE EDWARDS JR.

If your family ever discussed this case, or if passed-down stories exist that were never recorded, please come forward.

📞 Montgomery Police Cold Case Unit: (334) 625-2831 🔗 Equal Justice Initiative: https://eji.org

JOETTE & ELMER THRASHER

If you remember anything from that week — even a rumor — speak up.

📞 Winston County Sheriff’s Office: (205) 489-2115 📞 Crime Stoppers: (205) 254-7777

RANDY WHITFIELD

If you saw Randy, his truck, or heard anything about that weekend — speak up.

📞 Haleyville Police: (205) 486-5201 🔗 https://www.solvethecase.org

LT. COL. McGHEE

If you lived on or near St. Clair Avenue in 2013 — you may remember something crucial.

📞 Huntsville Police Major Crimes: (256) 427-7009 📞 Crime Stoppers: (256) 53-CRIME

KELDRICK TALLEY

If you know who Keldrick trusted — or who betrayed him — step forward.

📞 Montgomery Police Homicide: (334) 625-2831 📞 Crime Stoppers: (334) 215-STOP

DEREK & DARRYL BURPO

If you know anything — even if it feels insignificant — speak.

📞 Birmingham Police Cold Case Unit: (205) 254-1764 📞 Crime Stoppers: (205) 254-7777

The legend of La Pascualita didn’t appear out of nowhere. From death masks to wax effigies, lifelike figures have a long, eerie history. Dive into the unsettling art behind the “bride who never died” in this week’s Fast Facts.

REFERENCES

1. HowStuffWorks – La Pascualita: The Corpse Bride of Mexico
2. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! – The Corpse Bride: La Pascualita
3. History.com – Chihuahua, Mexico
4. Victoria & Albert Museum – Wax Effigies in Europe
5. Smithsonian Magazine – History of Death Masks
6. Encyclopaedia Britannica – Roman Funerary Practices
7. Museum of International Folk Art – Mexican Folk Art & Death Traditions
8. National Funeral Directors Association – History of Embalming

As the 2025 shutdown dragged on for 43 days, millions of Americans went without pay while Congress continued cashing their checks. This post breaks down what that imbalance reveals about power, privilege, and accountability in Washington.

References

Hsu, Andrea. “How Trump Is Decimating Federal Employee Unions One Step at a Time.” NPR, 1 Sept. 2025, www.npr.org/2025/09/01/nx-s1-5515633/trump-federal-workers-labor-unions-va.

Hsu, Andrea. “‘I’m Done Being Afraid’: How the Shutdown Has Led Federal Workers to Speak Out.” NPR, 10 Oct. 2025, www.npr.org/2025/10/10/nx-s1-5565228/government-shutdown-federal-employees-congress.

Johasen, Ben. “Trump Promises Cuts to Programs Favored by Democrats.” Politico, 9 Oct. 2025, www.politico.com/news/2025/10/09/trump-promises-cuts-democrats-programs-00599884.

Sentner, Irie, and Jennifer Scholtes. “Vought Sounds Layoff Siren: ‘The RIFs Have Begun.’” Politico, 10 Oct. 2025, www.politico.com/news/2025/10/10/vought-sounds-layoff-siren-the-rifs-have-begun-00602262.

Macias, Amanda. “Government Shutdown 101: We’ve Been Here Before—Here’s What Happens Next.” Fox News, 8 Oct. 2025, www.foxnews.com/politics/government-shutdown-101-weve-been-here-before-heres-what-happens-next.

Congressional Budget Office. Economic Effects of Federal Government Shutdowns. Congressional Budget Office, www.cbo.gov.

Government Accountability Office. Effects of Government Shutdowns on Federal Agencies and Employees. U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov.

Congressional Research Service. Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects. Library of Congress, crsreports.congress.gov.

“Twenty-Seventh Amendment.” U.S. Constitution, National Archives, constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-27/.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Pay and Leave During a Government Shutdown. www.opm.gov.

United States House of Representatives, Office of the Historian. Congressional Salaries and Terms. history.house.gov.

United States Senate Historical Office. Senate Salaries and Tenure. www.senate.gov/history.

Daily cost estimates reflect ranges reported by the Congressional Budget Office and Government Accountability Office based on prior shutdown analyses. Exact totals vary by duration, scope, and secondary economic effects.

We’re exploring the stories that have always lived beside the holiday season — the myths built to control, the history built on defiance, and the voices that were never heard. These tales remind us that winter is not just about celebration. It is about survival, consequence, fear, and sometimes… hope breaking through when it shouldn’t be possible.

Dark side of Christmas, Holiday Shadows, Truth in the Shadows podcast, Krampus folklore, Yule Cat Iceland, Christmas Truce of 1914, World War I Christmas ceasefire, forgotten Christmas history, narrative history podcast

References

Björnsson, Á. (1993). Jól á Íslandi: Christmas in Iceland. Reykjavík, Iceland: Mál og menning.

Bowler, G. (2004). The world encyclopedia of Christmas. McClelland & Stewart.

Bruce, M. (1951). The Krampus in Alpine folklore. Folklore, 62(4), 189–203.

British Broadcasting Corporation. (2014). The Christmas Truce. BBC History. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history

Imperial War Museum. (n.d.). The Christmas Truce, 1914. https://www.iwm.org.uk

Iceland Magazine. (2023, December). The giant Christmas cat of Reykjavík. https://icelandmag.is

Library of Congress. (n.d.). Frank H. Hitchcock and the birth of Operation Santa. Postal History Collection. https://www.loc.gov

National Archives (UK). (n.d.). The Christmas Truce, 1914. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

National Geographic History. (2018, December). Fear and festivity: The dark origins of Christmas traditions. National Geographic History.

National Museum of Iceland. (2019). Christmas creatures: Grýla, the Yule Lads, and the cat [Exhibit notes]. https://www.thjodminjasafn.is

National Public Radio. (2020, December 24). Operation Santa: The letters that keep coming. https://www.npr.org

Ridenour, A. (2016). The Krampus and the old, dark Christmas. Feral House.

Siefker, P. (1997). Santa Claus, last of the wild men: The origins and evolution of Saint Nicholas, spanning 50,000 years. McFarland.

Smithsonian Magazine. (2015, December). The origin of Krampus, Europe’s evil twist on Santa. https://www.smithsonianmag.com

Smithsonian National Postal Museum. (n.d.). Writing to Santa: A history of hope and the mail. https://postalmuseum.si.edu

The New York Times. (1947, December 21). Post office investigates irregularities in Santa mail. The New York Times.

United States Postal Service. (n.d.). Operation Santa history. USPS Archives. https://about.usps.com

Weintraub, S. (2001). Silent night: The story of the World War I Christmas Truce. Simon & Schuster.

In September 2025, a speech by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reignited a national debate over military standards and who belongs on the battlefield. Praised by some as a return to readiness and criticized by others as a step backward, its impact continues to shape recruitment, leadership, and the lives of those in uniform. In this episode, we look beyond the politics to examine what these decisions mean for the soldiers who must live with them.

Sources

• U.S. Department of War — Hegseth Official Remarks
• U.S. Department of Defense — Army War College Speech
• Reuters — Pentagon Diversity Coverage
• Army.mil — War Department Reform Announcements
• AP News — National Military Policy Reactions

Family is supposed to be your first line of protection. But what happens when the danger comes from inside the home?

In this chilling episode, we uncover the disturbing case of Poonam - a woman accused of orchestrating the brutal murder of her own niece, driven by jealousy, control, and deep-rooted family conflict.