TwistedPhilly

Episode 17 – Originally Published in 2017

Trigger warning – discussions about murder

You may be familiar with one of the most notorious serial killers in American history: H. H. Holmes. But you may not know about the crimes he committed in Philadelphia.

Holmes spend the last year of his life incarcerated in Moyamensing prison in South Philadelphia. While the prison is gone and an ACME grocery store stands in it’s place, Philly is where Holmes stood on a scaffolding and spoke his last words before a noose slipped around his neck.

That wasn’t the end of Holmes legacy. Suspicious deaths surrounded many of the players associated with H. H. Holmes for almost 20 years after his execution.

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts.

Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly To see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

The post H. H. Holmes in Philadelphia appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 16 – Originally Published in 2016

Trigger warning – discussions about abuse and murder

For those who celebrate Christmas, it’s a time for joy, a time for family celebrations and traditions. On Christmas Eve in 2002 in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Jean Wholaver and her daughters, 20 year old Vicky and 15 year old Izzy, packed Jean’s car for a trip to visit family for the holidays. They never made it to Jean’s parent’s house.

Their estranged husband and father, Ernest Wholaver, who was just a month away from a trial for allegedly sexually abusing his daughters, devised a plan to prevent his family from testifying against him. Instead of being tried for assault, Ernest Wholaver was tried for murder.

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts.

Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly To see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

The post A Murder Before Christmas: The Wholaver Family appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 15 – Originally published in 2016

Trigger warning – discussions about murder

In the 1930s Philadelphia, like the rest of the country, was suffering from the great depression.  While the rest of the country was at a 15% unemployment rate, Philly was doing much worse at 25% unemployment.  With a population of about 2 million people, a half million people were unemployed in the ’30s, which created an atmosphere of desperation. As a result, Philadelphia was rife with opportunity for those who pray on the desperation of others to make money.

What began as two men trying to make a quick buck, running insurance scams and counterfeiting money, quickly became the largest poison ring in history.  The Petrillo cousins business was murder, and business was good.  With help from Dr. Morris Bolber – a faith healer, and Carina Favato – sometimes referred to as a marriage consultant, other times referred to as a witch, 16 people were eventually arrested for the murders of over 50 immigrant Philadelphians between 1932 and 1938. 

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts.

Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly To see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

The post Arsenic Incorporated: The Philly Poison Ring appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 14 – Originally Published in 2016

Trigger warning – discussions about spree killing and gun violence

To recap part one, Sylvia Seegrist was a resident of Springfield, Pennsylvania, a suburb about 10 miles outside the city of Philadelphia.  On Wednesday, October 30, 1985, Sylvia brought an automatic rifle to the Springfield mall and in a span of less than 15 minutes killed 3 people, and seriously wounded 7 others. 

Sylvia was diagnosed with Schizophrenia in 1975 when she was just 15 years old. Over the next ten years, Sylvia was institutionalized a dozen times.  In the years leading up to the massacre at the Springfield Mall, Sylvia’s behavior continued to decline.  She was frequently escorted out of local businesses for scaring patrons and making threats against society. 

Part 2 discusses Sylvia’s trial and incarceration, taking a deeper look at the mental health system with help from TwistedPhilly listener Jen.  Too often cases like these are sensationalized to focus only on the violent crimes, when we also need to consider the needs for mental health support in preventing stories like Sylvia’s.

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts.

Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly To see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

The post “Ms. Rambo” – Sylvia Seegrist: Part 2 appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 13 – Originally Published in 2016

Trigger warning – discussions about spree killing and gun violence

About 10 miles outside of Philadelphia sits the Springfield Mall in Springfield, Pennsylvania. It opened in 1974 and was a hangout for thousands of Gen Xers through the 80s. The Springfield Mall was frequented by Sylvia Seegrist, a young woman the locals called “Ms. Rambo” who struggled with severe mental health issues.

She was often seen marching in the mall in military fatigues, ranting and yelling at passersby.  On Wednesday, October 30, 1985, while parents put finishing touches on Halloween costumes, and made last minute grocery store runs for candy, Sylvia Seegrist prepared to unleash her demons in a local mall.  Before the day was out, three people were dead, and seven more seriously inured. 

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts.

Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly To see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

The post “Ms. Rambo” – Sylvia Seegrist: Part 1 appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 12 – Originally Released in 2016

I love a good legend.  I believe the legends hold some element of truth to them. For example I don’t believe in unicorns today, but is it possible that hundreds or even thousands of years ago there was some weird horse like creature with a horn on it’s head?  Sure I think that’s possible.

Recently I’d been researching some Philly and Pennsylvania legends, trying to pick something that might be a little less well known when I stumbled upon a legend I knew – but it wasn’t familiar to me because of where the legend originated, it was familiar to me because I heard this story when I was about 6 years old, and I heard happened somewhere else.

This is the story of a crazy, creepy, bizarre park with stories of ghosts and princesses, of lost love and hairy little men.  All that weirdness in one spot?  You bet, after all this is Twisted Philly.

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts.

Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly To see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

The post The Legends of Chickie’s Rock appeared first on TwistedPhilly.