We Would Be Dead

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In late 2021, successful journalist and podcaster Chico Felitti relocated to a quiet, old money neighborhood of the mega city of Sáo Paulo Brazil called Higienópolis. One day while on a walk with his dogs he stumbled on an abandoned old manor house, a ghostly figure, and an unbelievable secret hidden right in plain sight. 

In part 2 we will learn more about Margarida Bonetti's terrible secret. We'll uncover the details of her strange life in America, examine the circumstances that would let her keep such a monumental secret, and ultimately tell the story of the woman she kept in modern day slavery for 19 years: Hilda Rosa Dos Santos.

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The Fugitive Heiress Next Door (WAPO Article)

Abandoned: The Woman in the Decaying House Documentary

Rene's Appeal Documents

Original WAPO article

Hilda reunites with the detective on her case

35 Potluck Ideas (just in case)

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In late 2021, while the waves of deadly corona virus were still cresting and falling, Sao Paulo Brazil, one of the most densely populated cities in the world was a pretty stressful place to be. Desperate to escape the frighteningly close quarters, successful journalist and podcaster Chico Felitti relocated to a quiet, old money neighborhood called Higienópolis. One day while on a walk with his dogs he stumbled on an abandoned old manor house, a ghostly figure, and an unbelievable secret hidden right in plain sight. This story is so shocking an unpredictable that it took me several hours of research to be convinced that it wasn't fiction. At the end of this episode, you may be tempted to think that you've heard everything this case could possibly entail, but hang in there, because remember, there's a part 2. 

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*No peeking! Sources will be listed in full in the show notes of part 2.

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We’re back this week with a rebroadcast of one of our favorites - Nightmare Fuel (Cursed Objects). Unfortunately, Holly’s been under the weather with Covid, so our brand-new episode is on pause. But with Annabelle making headlines again, we figured there’s no better time to revisit the creepy origins and lore behind her (and a few other famously cursed objects). This one’s a fun, spooky ride. Perfect for a re-listen, or a first dive if you missed it the first time around!

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This week the girls dig into the chilling world of cursed objects. Holly exploits everyone's inexplainable (well kind of explainable) fear of creepy dolls with the tales of Annabelle, the doll that launched a thousand nightmares with her series of films, and Robert the Doll. Leslie dips into the weirder side of cursed object with the Dibbuk Box and the painting that haunted Ebay "The hands Resist Him".  This is a fun one, fiends; we hope you enjoy! Special guest appearance by Post Malone!  (Well, he's mentioned; the girls don't actually speak to him.) 

* WWBD regrets to inform you that Warren's Occult Museum is currently closed due to structural issues with the building, which would seem to be the price of doing business with roughly 200 demons. Owners of the estate are looking for a new building to house all of their cursed objects. We hope none of them escape in the intrim. Sleep tight fiends. 

 On Friday May 30th 2025 9 year old Paityn, 8 year old Evelyn, and 5 year old Olivia Decker left their home on what should have been a short outing and never returned. Three days later the girl's bodies were found just outside a local campground. What followed was one of the most chilling and emotionally charged manhunts in recent memory. In this episode, we unravel the tragic story of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker—and the man the world is still searching for: their father, Travis Decker.

 If you see Travis Decker, or anyone matching his description—do not approach him, he is considered armed and dangerous. Call 911 immediately or call the US Marshals Service Tip Line (Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force) at  1‑800‑336‑0102. You can also submit tips and details via the USMS Tips portal at usmarshals.gov/tips. Washington State locals can report tips to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line: 509‑667‑6845

Websleuths feed / timeline

NY Post article

Fox 13 coverage

ABC News Timeline

People News article

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When darkness has reached its Zenith

And the moon floats high and white

When the spirits scream

And knife blades gleam

It’s Shortly After Midnight.

Welcome Fiends, to the darkest time of day! 

Today's terrifying tale takes us to the sleepy little town of Marrow Hill. Nestled in cornfields of middle America, Marrow Hill was the kind of town that songs were written about. In fact, it was often said that Marrow Hill must have had the greenest grass in the country because no one ever wanted to leave...That is until a tragic accident occurred, and the town's residents began slowly and inexplicably killing each other, one by one.  What caused this idyllic little community to fall into a sudden and violent trance, and what, if anything, can break it?

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They were called “The Lethal Lovers” — two nurse’s aides, Cathy Wood (25) and Gwendolyn Graham (34), whose twisted relationship would leave a trail of death behind the quiet walls of a Michigan nursing home. When Cathy’s ex-husband walked into a police station in 1988 with a chilling confession, investigators uncovered a string of suspicious deaths among Alpine Manor’s most vulnerable residents. What emerged was a story of obsession, manipulation, and murder — and one of the most disturbing cases of female serial killers in U.S. history. 

Medium Article

Forever and 5 days on Amazon, Also Available to borrow on internet archives for free, and in most libraries.

Oxygen original article 

People Magazine update article

Oxygen update article.

Original New York Times article

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Happy Pride Month Fiends! This week we are going to rebroadcast some of our previous pride month episodes before releasing a brand new episode. If you are all caught up with WWBD, please take the time to relisten to this tragic episode on kitty Genovese and historical significance of her case. 

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On March 27th 1964, the headline: "37 Who Saw Murder Didn't Call the Police; Apathy at Stabbing of Queens Woman Shocks Inspector" was splashed across the cover of the New York times. The story behind it was the horrific rape and murder of a young woman named Kitty Genovese. But the story doesn't focus on Kitty, or even her murderer, it focuses on her neighbors, who allegedly saw the murder in real time and did nothing. This story stirred an enormous reaction to a phenomenon that was dubbed Urban Apathy. This case also inspired all the research that lead to a psychosocial theory called "the Bystander Effect". There's just one problem, the New York Times lied. 

Most of you will know this case, but there is so much about it that has been hidden from the public for so long that we felt it deserves re-examining. Kitty, her devoted family and long time girlfriend Mary Ann lived their lives for a great many years believing that Kitty was the girl no one cared about, but she wasn't. She isn't. We decided to take a fresh look at this classic morality tale and find the truth behind the lessons.  

Original New York Times Article

LA Times article on Sophia Ferrar

Winston Moseley's NYT Editorial

*The Witness - Documentary on Amazon Prime

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We've all heard the sinister stories of mental healthcare's terrifying past. The Snake Pits, the cages, the overmedication, but nothing is cloaked in more mystery and dread than the ice pick lobotomy. Whether it's that terrifying scene in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or the heartbreaking story of Rosemary Kennedy, we all can conjure up a horrifying image of this barbaric procedure with little effort. The Man in the white lab coat and cap, his sunglasses gleaming, ice pick in hand. The patients with black eyes and blood mottled tears. That's gold standard nightmare fuel, and it's hard to believe any of it was real, but it was.

So how did the mental health care industry end up taking a dip in the darkest of places? Well, hang on because we're going to tell you. In this week's episode we explore the history of the lobotomy, begininning with mankind's earliest attempts to sooth a savage brain, and culminating in the story of the ice pick lobotomist himself, Walter Freeman Jr. 

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In the summer of 1726, In the little Village of Godalming, a 25 year old servant woman claimed to give birth to rabbits. Surgeons, nobles, and even the King believed her at first, but the truth, or a version of it that the public can embrace, always has a way of coming out.

For years, history thought they had solved the mystery of "The Rabbit Breeder", but beneath the hoax lies a darker tale of pain, power, and control.This is the true story of monstrous birth — and the woman behind it. This is the story of Mary Toft.

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Mary Toft, Monster and Mason By Karen Harvey

University of Glasgow Library — The Curious Case of Mary Toft A digital exhibition exploring the archival material and cultural impact of the Toft hoax.

The Public Domain Review — Mary Toft and Her Extraordinary Delivery of Rabbits

History Extra — Who Was Mary Toft & How Did Her Rabbit Hoax Capture Georgian Society?

Nathaniel St. André — A Short Narrative of an Extraordinary Delivery of Rabbets (1726)

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