Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

A writer is gifted the rope that hanged a notorious highwayman, and from that night forward, something with a face like impure wax begins following him through London — into his dreams, into his work, and finally into the jury box of a murder trial he was never meant to survive.

Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTR

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Trial For Murder” (October 24, 1977)
00:48:20.210 = CBC Nightfall, “The Wedding” (April 15, 1983) ***WD
01:18:54.528 = Nightmare, “Chance of a Ghost” (March 31, 1945) ***WD
01:40:57.831 = Obsession, “The Hangman” (January 15, 1951) ***WD
02:10:47.211 = Origin of Superstition, “Breaking The Wishbone” (1935)
02:25:03.766 = Pat Novak For Hire, “Lydia Reynolds Case” (November 23, 1947)
02:54:53.127 = Peril, “A Matter of Honor” (1953) ***WD
03:21:57.779 = Mystery Playhouse, “Two Men In a Furnished Room” (September 27, 1946) ***WD
03:45:48.955 = Philip Morris Playhouse, “Night Has a Thousand Eyes” (August 19, 1953) ***WD
04:09:26.274 = Price of Fear, “Fish” (September 1973)
04:38:04.873 = Adventures of Ellery Queen, “Nick Knife” (August 01, 1945) ***WD
05:02:05.115 = 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.
CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0659

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

Long before the modern UFO craze, cowboys, trappers, and even future U.S. presidents reported eerie lights, sky-borne serpents, and crashed crafts with mysterious hieroglyphs—suggesting that the Wild West may have had more than just outlaws lurking in the night.

EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources and full transcript): https://weirddarkness.com/CowboysAndAliens

FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: If you have seen the film, Cowboys and Aliens then the idea of spacecraft in the Wild West will not be so, well, alien to you. Although the film, as enjoyable as it is, is one-hundred percent fiction, there are numerous accounts of UFO and alien encounters in the tentative years of the United States. (Real Encounters of Cowboys And Aliens) *** Michael and Janet wouldn’t report their UFO abduction for ten years out of fear of not being believed. But once they told the story, it would set the Ufology community on fire. (The Buff Ledge Abduction) (The Buff Ledge Abduction) *** What is the Bermuda Triangle? What’s going on in this mysterious patch of the Atlantic Ocean where dozens of ships, planes, and people have disappeared without explanation? (Inside the Bermuda Triangle) *** From the "little green men" of rural Kentucky to a string of lights over Arizona spotted by thousands of people, there are several convincing, real UFO sightings that not only remain unexplained, but might even suggest we’re not alone in the universe. (UFO Sightings That Remain Unexplained)

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:01:41.674 = Show Open
00:03:36.481 = Real Encounters of Cowboys and Aliens
00:14:56.841 = Inside The Bermuda Triangle ***
00:25:04.794 = The Buff Ledge Abduction
00:35:30.437 = UFO Sightings That Remain Unexplained ***
01:00:56.192 = Show Close & Bloopers
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break

LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS:
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

SOURCES and RESOURCES:
“Real Encounters of Cowboys And Aliens” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9b3f2s
“Inside The Bermuda Triangle” by Kaleena Fraga for All That’s Interesting: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8shfn7
“The Buff Ledge Abduction” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9bwuhf
“UFO Sightings That Remain Unexplained” by Austin Harvey for All That’s Interesting: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8wn67f
(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.)

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
Originally aired: March 25, 2024

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

A man broke through a hospital wall and was found in a Pennsylvania park after telling police he needed a walk. Oh, yeah... and he was naked.

SOURCES, LINKS, AND PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/naked-punxsutawney-man

Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://pod.link/1078714736

*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

Australian psychologists invented a secret army of genetically engineered super-raccoons to find out who was actually telling the truth on their conspiracy surveys.

SOURCES, LINKS, AND PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/fake-conspiracy-study

Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://pod.link/1078714736

*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

Five words from a faceless machine end Walter Hayes's career — and send him down a spiral where the only solution he can see is to be worth more dead than alive.

Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTR

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Sorry To Let You Go” (October 21, 1977)
00:45:08.893 = MindWebs, “Letters From Underneath The Earth” (January 24, 1983)
01:15:14.587 = Two On a Clue, “The Case of the Silent Witness” (October 03, 1944) ***WD
01:29:41.774 = Mystery In The Air, “Black Cat” (September 18, 1947) ***WD
01:55:27.900 = Molle’ Mystery Theater, “Creeper” (March 29, 1946)
02:24:33.240 = Mr. Keen, “The Missing Witnesses” (January 13, 1944) ***WD
02:52:57.583 = Murder at Midnight, “Ape Song” (April 13, 1947) ***WD
03:19:33.899 = Black Museum, “Auto Service Card” (March 28, 1952) ***WD
03:45:30.365 = Mysterious Traveler, “It’s Only Money” (January 08, 1952)
04:14:43.412 = Mystery House, “Death Passed My Window” (March 31, 1946) ***WD
04:40:59.457 = Night Beat, “Sanctuary” (June 22, 1951)
05:08:08.740 = 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.
CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0658

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

Centuries ago, fear and superstition led to bizarre and cruel witch trials, where the accused faced impossible tests—from floating in water to being weighed against Bibles — that often sealed their grim fate.

EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources and full transcript): https://weirddarkness.com/CondemnedAsAWitch

FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: We’ve all heard of the Salem Witch Trials – but accusations of witchcraft took place everywhere, not just Massachusetts. But who were these individuals, and were they guilty of what they were convicted of and killed for? (People Killed As Witches) *** Of course, not all those charged with witchcraft died in the 1600s during the witch trial mania – some died much much later, like the 21st century. Yes, it still happens even today. (Modern Witch Killings) *** The ways witches were tested during the mass hysteria of the witch trials resulted in some bizarre and cruel ways to determine if someone was a witch. And I’d bet most all of us would be deemed witches if forced to take the tests today. (How To Test a Witch) *** But before we get into the people who were accused, the tactics used to test them or make them confess, and how many of them were killed, we’ll look at some of the misconceptions of the Salem Witch Trials that you probably think are true. (Salem Witch Trial Misconceptions)

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:01:00.501 = Show Open
00:03:00.571 = Salem Witch Trial Misconceptions
00:11:28.154 = People Killed As Witches ***
00:26:21.262 = How To Test a Witch
00:35:31.660 = Modern Witch Killings ***
00:47:41.080 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break

LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS:
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

SOURCES and RESOURCES:
“Witch’s Brew” poem: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/n7p3j8us
“Salem Witch Trial Misconceptions” by Tamar Altebarmakian for Weird History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/57ah3yw5
“How To Test a Witch” by Tamar Altebarmakian for Ranker’s Witchcraft: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/34vsfs9r
“People Killed As Witches” by Laura Allan for Ranker’s History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3pejpv5c
“Modern Witch Killings” by Greg Beneven for Ranker’s History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/rafzhksz
(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.)

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
Originally aired: March 04, 2023

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

A Louisiana father shot seven of his own children and their cousin dead inside two Shreveport homes on the morning of April 19, 2026, then drove to his former Army mentor's doorstep to die.

SOURCES, LINKS, AND PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/elkins

Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://pod.link/1078714736

*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

Between March 6 and March 10, eight witnesses across Portage County reported the same thing — an upright figure, eight feet tall, moving through the river corridors east of Akron.

SOURCES, LINKS, AND PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/ohio-bigfoot-flap-2026

Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://pod.link/1078714736

*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

A curving Mississippi lake road after sundown, a wedding present on the passenger seat, and a quiet island resort across the water where the ferryman takes fifty cents — exact change only.

Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTR

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Island on Silvertree Lake” (October 19, 1977)
00:46:15.152 = Lights Out, “the Projective Mr. Drogan” (January 26, 1943)
01:15:39.621 = Lux Radio Theater, “Return of Peter Grimm” (February 13, 1939)
02:17:22.687 = Macabre, “Crystalline Man” (January 01, 1962) ***WD
02:45:43.599 = Philip Marlowe, “Bid For Freedom” (January 21, 1950)
03:14:29.567 = Results Inc, “Mummy’s Walk” (December 03, 1944)
03:42:38.776 = Black Mass, “Shidah And Kuziba” (October 16, 1973) ***WD
03:56:34.198 = Michael Shayne, “Date At Cliff House” (April 16, 1945)
04:26:13.554 = Beyond Midnight, “Marble Room” (September 26, 1969) ***WD
04:53:52.211 = 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.
CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0657

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

Two pairs of everything — body parts — turn up in three southern counties before anyone thinks to ask the quiet woman on the hog farm what was buried out behind the barn.

EPISODE PAGE (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/noir-twopairsofeverything

THE REAL CASE BEHIND THIS STORY: THE VIOLA HYATT CASE (1959, ALABAMA)Viola Hyatt was a 30-year-old farm woman living with her father Martin on a hog farm near White Plains, Alabama. Raised by a cruel, sickly mother who told her daily she was a curse, Viola grew up isolated, heavy-set, and physically strong from butchering the family's hogs herself — a job she took over from her father as a teenager. When her father rented a small trailer on the property to two construction workers — brothers Emmett and Lee Harper, both WWII veterans (one a Bataan Death March survivor) — the arrangement turned ugly. The brothers sexually abused Viola, beat her father when he objected, and treated the family with contempt. Viola endured it for months. On the morning of June 27, she loaded her father's 12-gauge shotgun, walked to the trailer, and shot both men in the face. She then used the double-bit axe from the barn to dismember the bodies, loaded the parts into the brothers' own 1957 Ford, and drove all night through three Alabama counties — Calhoun, Etowah, and Cleburne — scattering arms, legs, and torsos along roadsides, in briar patches, and in the Tallapoosa River. The bodies were so disfigured that police couldn't identify them for 17 days. They called the victims "Mr. X" and "Mr. Y." The case broke when the construction foreman recognized police sketches and connected them to a phone call Viola had made claiming the brothers were tending to a sick mother. Police found blood in the trunk of the car, the buried axe, and damage to the trailer door — and after a six-hour interrogation, Viola confessed. She was evaluated at Brice Mental Hospital, found sane, and pled guilty in March of the following year to avoid the electric chair. She received a life sentence. She never explained her motive beyond saying the abuse "wasn't the main reason" — it was "worse than that." She refused interviews for the rest of her life. Paroled in 1970, she lived quietly in a trailer park until her death in 1992, taking whatever the full story was to the grave.

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.

Originally aired: May 12, 2026

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.