Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

When a Maine radio reporter counted 30 unmarked jets laying persistent white trails across the sky in 45 minutes and an air traffic controller admitted off-record he'd been ordered by "higher civil authority" to reroute commercial flights away from a military exercise no one would explain, it sparked a global debate that would divide scientists, military officials, and millions of observers across 14 countries for the next two decades.

IN THIS EPISODE: The chemtrail conspiracy theory posits the belief that long-lasting condensation trails, also known as “contrails” are in fact "chemtrails" consisting of chemical or biological agents purposefully left in the sky by high-flying aircraft, sprayed for nefarious purposes and undisclosed to the general public. The scientific community has dismissed the theory, but others insist the truth is simply being covered up. Who is telling the truth? What is the truth? We’ll look at the controversy over contrails. (Contrary Chemtrails) *** In 1947, Major Jesse Marcel was sent to a crash site near Roswell, New Mexico to investigate what happened. We all know the story from there – the strange metal, the alien bodies, the confiscated extraterrestrial technology, the weather-balloon story we initially believed and then didn’t believe. Now, more than seven decades later, Jesse Marcel’s grandchildren are speaking up about their knowledge of what happened at Roswell. (The Roswell Grandchildren) *** If you look up the term “water babies” on the net, you might find something akin to swim classes for newborns and toddlers. But if you mention the term “water babies” near Pyramid Lake in Nevada, a much, much darker scene comes to mind. (Water Babies Aren’t As Cute As They Sound) *** According to the Bible, no man knows the day Christ will return. But that didn’t stop William Miller from predicting anyway. Not once, but three times – and he was wrong, three times. (William Miller’s Great Disappointment) 
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:02:40.402 = Contrary Chemtrails
00:24:02.374 = ***The Roswell Grandchildren
00:31:22.925 = Water Babies Aren’t As Cute As They Sound
00:38:02.586 = ***William Miller’s Great Disappointment
00:48:57.748 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break
SOURCES and RESOURCES:“Water Babies Aren’t As Cute As They Sound” by David Clarke for Standard News https://tinyurl.com/rm7pouxz, and Weird U.S. https://tinyurl.com/yfhnphpy
“Contrary Chemtrails” from Duncan Phenix for Mystery Wire https://tinyurl.com/1ogrr2es, and Earth Island Journal https://tinyurl.com/2z4569ea
“The Roswell Grandchildren” from Newsweek: https://tinyurl.com/jq96lzxo
“William Miller’s Great Disappointment” by Dr. Romeo Vitelli for Providentia: https://tinyurl.com/2r6ovl8f=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: February 02, 2021
EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/contrails
ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
#WeirdDarkness #Chemtrails #Contrails #WeatherModification #Conspiracy #Geoengineering #MilitarySecrets #AtmosphericScience #SkyShield #ClimateEngineering

A $70 online psychic reading nearly destroyed a marriage in China when a wife believed a stranger's predictions over her husband's protests.

READ or SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/wuhu-fortune-teller-cheating-accusation/

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness #FortuneTellerScam #OnlinePsychicFraud #MarriageDisaster #PsychicGoneWrong #ChinaNews #BizarreStories #FakePsychic #RelationshipDrama #StrangeButTrue

A foreclosure auction led to a grim discovery in a Texas townhome where neighbors noticed warning signs but never knocked on the door.

READ or SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/pauline-williams-body-found-foreclosure

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness #TrueCrime #AddisonTexas #ForeclosureHorror #UnsolvedMystery #BodyDiscovered #TexasCrime #DeadBodyFound #SuspiciousDeath #TrueCrimeStory

A family's day at Sydney's Luna Park ended in flames when a Ghost Train fire killed seven people—including six children—but the last photograph taken before the tragedy has sparked theories of something far more sinister than an accident.

IN THIS EPISODE: Some of the most unsettling of urban legends can take place in some of the happiest places on earth. Ghostly children swinging in a playground, phantom-like warriors coming out at night in beautiful Hawaii, but there’s one I never heard of until just this morning that I had to look up… it has to do with a boy, a theme park, and a man with horns, (Damien and the Horned Man) *** In 1944 Dorothy Forstein came home from shopping and was attacked by an intruder, beat within an inch of her life. Nothing was stolen, no fingerprints left, no clue as to how the person entered the house to begin with. Dorothy recovered from her injuries… but years later she found her grim fate wasn’t done with her. (The Disappearance of Dorothy Forstein) *** SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence is continually scanning the heavens on the lookout for life elsewhere in the universe. But is it possible that somewhere on another planet out there, those beings are doing the same thing – and could actually be watching us? Scientists say that not only is it possible, but they suspect it could be over 1,000 extraterrestrial space stations are watching our every move! (Are We Being Watched By Alien Space Stations?) *** Eighteen-year-old Ellen Lucas was to be married on October 3rd – but the evening of October 2nd she went out with her fiance, never to be seen alive again. Did a horrible accident destroy the chances of this couple’s happy life together? A random act of violence? Or was it something even more sinister? (The Bridgeport Tragedy) *** She seemed the perfect American, even born to a US military doctor, graduating from a prestigious American college, and working tirelessly, doing her part to serve her country as a military analyst. What would cause this seemingly patriotic citizen to become a spy for the enemy? (Havana Ana, The Cuban Spy)
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:03:02.114 = Damien and The Horned Man
00:07:26.527 = Disappearance of Dorothy Forstein
00:17:00.668 = ***Are We Being Watched By Alien Space Stations?
00:25:03.622 = The Bridgeport Tragedy
00:31:43.824 = ***Havana Ana, The Cuban Spy
00:43:16.706 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break
SOURCES and RESOURCES:“Damien and the Horned Man” by Jacqueline Vesey-Wells for Medium.com: https://tinyurl.com/1cexmhwy
“The Disappearance of Dorothy Forstein” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe: https://tinyurl.com/4mvkogtk
“Are We Being Watched By Alien Space Stations?” by Cynthia McKanzie for Message to Eagle: https://tinyurl.com/1w50oyvq, https://tinyurl.com/85aloaw4
“The Bridgeport Tragedy” by Robert Wilhelm for Murder By Gaslight: https://tinyurl.com/3q58xd6f
“Havana Ana, The Cuban Spy” by Kieran W for Mystery Confidential: https://tinyurl.com/573j4u6e=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: February 01, 2021
EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/hornedman
ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
#WeirdDarkness #LunaParkFire #GhostTrainTragedy #SydneyUrbanLegend #TrueCrimeAustralia #HauntedAustralia #ParanormalStories #DarkHistory #UnsolvedMysteries #CreepyTales

Dogs roaming near the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster suddenly turned bright blue, baffling caretakers.

READ or SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/blue-dogs-chernobyl/

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness #ChernobylDogs #BlueDogs #NuclearDisaster #ChernobylExclusionZone #RadioactiveDogs #ChernobylMystery #AbandonedAnimals #StrangePhenomena #ChernobylWildlife

A diapered primate turned a Texas Halloween store into its personal jungle gym.

READ or SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/monkey-loose-spirit-halloween/

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness #MonkeyEscape #SpiritHalloween #PlanoTexas #ViralMonkey #HalloweenStoreChaos #ExoticPets #MonkeyVideo #TexasNews #CaughtOnCamera

When a father relocates his family to an isolated cabin in the Hartz Mountains to escape his dark past, a mysterious white wolf begins stalking them—but the real horror lies in discovering what connection the creature has to their bloodline. | #RetroRadio EP0550

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The White Wolf” (January 26, 1977)
00:47:00.127 = Two Thousand Plus, “The Green Thing” (September 27, 1950) ***WD
01:16:39.869 = The Unexpected, “Easy Money” (July 11, 1948) ***WD
01:31:31.008 = Unsolved Mysteries, “Writing On The Wall” (1936) ***WD
01:46:12.920 = Dark Venture, “Chase” (August 03, 1946) ***WD (LQ)
02:14:32.456 = The Weird Circle, “Diamond Lens” (December 31, 1944)
02:41:47.773 = The Whistler, “Twin” (November 06, 1944) ***WD
03:13:03.444 = Witch’s Tale, “Knife of Sacrifice” (August 27, 1935)
03:38:12.351 = X Minus One, “The Old Die Rich” (July 17, 1956)
04:05:34.020 = Zero Hour, “Bye Bye Narco” (April 29, 1974)
04:23:03.854 = Strange Adventure, “Blue Water Andy” (1945) ***WD
04:26:23.478 = Appointment With Fear, “My Fate Cries Out” (December 04, 1976) ***WD
04:53:58.408 = Show Close

(ADU) = Air Date Unknown
(LQ) = Low Quality
***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.
Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library

ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.
= = = = =
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
= = = = =
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
= = = = =#ParanormalRadio #ScienceFiction #OldTimeRadio #OTR #OTRHorror #ClassicRadioShows #HorrorRadioShows #VintageRadioDramas #WeirdDarkness
CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0550

He robbed 28 stagecoaches without firing a single shot, left poetry at crime scenes, and vanished into legend—this is the strange tale of Black Bart, the gentleman bandit.

IN THIS EPISODE: Black Bart – just the name conjures up an image of a rugged man willing to mow you down in a hail of bullets if you looked at him wrong, especially during one of his infamous stagecoach robberies. But legends can be wrong, and the real Black Bart might not have been so black in the heart as we’ve been led to believe. (Black Bart: The Poet Outlaw) *** In 1957, eleven-year-old twins Jacqueline and Joanna were killed in a car accident. But the next year, some people say they were "reincarnated". (The Perplexing Pollocks Problem) *** For over a century, reports of abuse and murder came pouring out of the Topeka Insane Asylum. The tortures that took place within are nothing short of grotesque, and it makes one wonder how anyone could have possibly thought the so-called “treatments” would do anything other than cause the patients terrible suffering and horrific nightmares. (Horrors of the Topeka Insane Asylum) *** A newlywed woman goes sightseeing in a new town while her husband attends a conference nearby. Completely normal behavior for a newly married couple – but nothing that happens after these events makes any sense at all. We’ll look at the confusing case of Judy Smith. (The Confusing Case of Judy Smith) 
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:02:10.119 = Black Bart: The Poet Outlaw
00:14:11.560 = ***Horrors of the Topeka Insane Asylum
00:24:58.082 = The Perplexing Pollocks Problem
00:31:44.871 = ***Curious Case of Judy Smith
00:50:54.478 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break
SOURCES and RESOURCES – and/or --- PRINT VERSION to READ or SHARE:“Black Bart: The Poet Outlaw” by Kathy Weiser for Legends of America: https://tinyurl.com/59g6rldu
“Horrors of the Topeka Insane Asylum” by Elizabeth Yetter for ListVerse: https://tinyurl.com/1ak6t8wa
“The Confusing Case of Judy Smith” by Crystal Dawn for Lost N Found Blogs: https://tinyurl.com/43zvka2l
“The Perplexing Pollocks Problem” by Jessica Staveley for Mama Mia: https://tinyurl.com/2d85hkuv=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: January 29, 2021
EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/BlackBart
ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
#WeirdDarkness #BlackBart #TrueCrime #OldWest #HistoricalTrueCrime #WildWest #Outlaws #UnsolvedMysteries #WellsFargo #AmericanHistory

A computer glitch transforms routine mail into premature obituary notices for over 500 very-much-alive people.

READ or SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/mainhealth-mail-death-notices/

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness #HospitalError #MedicalMistake #BizarreNews #DeathNoticeFail #HealthcareBlunder #StrangeButTrue #DarkHumor #MaineHealth #ComputerGlitch

An Ohio lawmaker has introduced a bill that would make it illegal to marry artificial intelligence. Yes, this is a real problem someone felt needed addressing. It's just one more step into humanity's weird relationship with our electronic overlords-in-waiting, and now at least one state has decided to draw the line at "I do" with your chatbot.

READ or SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/ohio-law-ai-marriage

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness #AIMarriageBan #OhioLaw #ArtificialIntelligence #RobotMarriage #AIPersonhood #TechLegislation #ChatbotRomance #FutureOfAI #AIRights