Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

A private eye called out to a quiet farm on a still September afternoon finds two sisters poisoned and shot, a brother in the wind, and a barn even the animals won't go near.

THE TRUE CRIME CASE THIS STORY IS BASED ON: On September 5, 1893, on a farm outside Winnebago, Illinois, widow Bridget Hart returned from a brief errand in her potato field to find her twenty-six-year-old daughter Mary lying face-down on the porch steps, bleeding from her mouth and nose, and her twenty-three-year-old daughter Nellie staggering in the barn with a green stain of arsenic-laced Paris green pesticide running down her dress. Before she died the following afternoon, Nellie identified her own brother — thirty-five-year-old John Hart, the family's black sheep, recently returned home after years of drifting and feuding with his siblings over his share of their late father's $50,000 estate — as her attacker. He had forced both sisters to drink the poison and shot each of them at close range, Mary four times. John fled on horseback but was captured that same night in a Rockford barber shop, where he calmly drank a small dose of laudanum as police closed in. He was tried in January 1894, convicted in under an hour despite a defense that blamed his brothers, claimed malaria and mental illness, and accused the dead girls themselves of conspiring to poison him, and was hanged in the Winnebago County jail yard on March 16, 1894 — bringing to a close a case made stranger still by the fact that his father had taken his own life two years earlier with the very same poison.

ORIGINAL CASE SOURCES…
https://www.hauntedrockford.com/the-hart-family-murders/

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

Originally aired: April 27, 2026
EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/noir-parisgreen

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

The quietest place on Earth isn't peaceful — it's a room so silent that within 45 minutes, your own mind turns against you. And that’s just a sample of what complete sensory deprivation will do to you. | #WDRadio APRIL 26, 2026
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HOUR ONE: According to the song, silence is golden. And it really can be; there are plenty of times when we just want to shut everything out and relax in peace and quiet. But silence isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be, either, and too much silence can drive you mad. It all starts with being able to hear your own organs working, and after about 45 minutes, you’ll start to hallucinate. Silence—and other types of sensory deprivation—can do some weird things to the body and mind… and to the planet. (The Disturbing Effects of Sensory Deprivation) *** A U.S. Air-Force chaplain is called to duty not against a human enemy – but a spiritual one. (Air Force Exorcist)
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HOUR TWO: Allegedly, in the fall of 1943 a U.S. Navy destroyer was made invisible and teleported from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Norfolk, Virginia, in an incident known as the Philadelphia Experiment. Records in the Archives Branch of the Naval History and Heritage Command have been repeatedly searched, but no documents have been located which confirm the event, or any interest by the Navy in attempting such an achievement. But then, those who came to this conclusion probably didn’t interview Duncan Cameron and Al Bielek. They were onboard the ship when it happened. The two sides of the Philadelphia Experiment. (Time Traveling Brothers) *** While it may look picturesque during the day, worthy of a post card, the town of Pluckley in Kent, UK is known as a place where you will often hear something go bump in the night. (Paranormal Pluckley) *** A man has a frightening experience after checking into a hotel. But then, what would you expect if the rumor is that the place is haunted? (Haunted Malaysian Hotel Room)
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SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT’S SHOW:
“The Philadelphia Experiment Hoax?” by Shannon Corbeil for Military.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3ztxcv9s
“Time Traveling Brothers” by Ian Matthews: (link no longer valid)
“Extraterrestrials In Chile” posted at Infinity Explorers: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3wuc5tm2
“Paranormal Pluckley” by Sean Doherty, Lauren MacDougall, and Will Rider for Kent Live: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/n62r3mvb, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ntze8vx, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/kekb9rek
“The Haunted Malaysian Hotel Room” from Paranormality Magazine
“Zuni Witchcraft” by Kathy Weiser for Legends of America: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/33khzyfm
“The Disturbing Effects of Sensory Deprivation” by Knowledge Nuts, Debra Kelly for List Verse and Allison P. Davis for The Cut: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5hkbkujc, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yhzp72rf,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/d532kr33
“Flying Saucers In The Clouds” by A. Sutherland for Message to Eagle: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/jexh43uj
“Air Force Exorcist” by Erica Earl for Military.com (link no longer available)
==========(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for material I use whenever possible. If I have overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it immediately. Some links may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
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WeirdDarkness®, WeirdDarkness© 2025
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More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

June and Jennifer Gibbons, twin sisters bound by silence and an eerie connection, lived a haunting life filled with creativity and madness.

FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: Al Adamson, the beloved cult-horror director of such schlocky films as PSYCHO A-GO-GO and DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN – was murdered in what can only be called a scene from one of his movies brought to life. (Murder Of The Horror Movie Maker) *** It’s said that the devout Saint Joseph of Cupertino could fly, he could read people’s thoughts, and could create rain during a drought. So why would the church do everything in its power to hide him from the masses of Christian believers? (The Flying Saint With Telepathic Abilities) *** A man sees two ghostly figures in a window’s reflection – and one of them is holding a strange object. (Shades of White) *** Some suspect a serial killer while others point a finger at the paranormal, but nobody has been able to fully explain the mysterious disappearances from Vermont's Bennington Triangle. (Inside The Unsolved Disappearances Of The Bennington Triangle) *** Chingle Hall is one of Britain's oldest and most haunted buildings. Ghosts and poltergeist activity have been reported for many centuries with visions of monks being the most commonly reported phenomena. (Haunted Chingle Hall) *** June and Jennifer Gibbons displayed unsettling behavior early on, even for twins. They refused to speak despite their ability to do so, and they insisted on never being apart. But that is not the strangest thing that happened between these disturbed twins. (Disturbing Twins)

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:01:14.091 = Show Open
00:03:30.786 = Disturbing Twins
00:08:32.706 = Murder of The Horror Movie Maker ***
00:12:57.068 = Shades of White
00:15:35.395 = The Flying Saint With Telepathic Abilities
00:24:29.551 = Inside The Unsolved Disappearances of the Bennington Triangle ***
0:33:44.902 = Haunted Chingle Hall
00:39:37.131 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break

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

SOURCES and RESOURCES:
“Murder of the Horror Movie Maker” by Troy Taylor: http://bit.ly/2lIuQlh
“The Flying Saint With Telepathic Abilities” by Ellen Lloyd for Ancient Pages: http://bit.ly/2m9CWnl
“Shades of White” by Herman for YourGhostStories.com: http://bit.ly/2lMKFHu
“Inside The Unsolved Disappearances Of The Bennington Triangle” by Ted Kammerer for All That’s Interesting: http://bit.ly/2k6nlnK
“Haunted Chingle Hall” posted at Ghost-Story.co.uk: http://bit.ly/2m3XFsw
“Disturbing Twins” by Jim Harper for Paranorms.com: http://bit.ly/2m8z1al
(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: June 21, 2018

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

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

The hunter never raised his rifle, never raised his voice, and somehow still got called the villain.

LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: 
Look for this podcast on YouTube Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other apps. Get the full list of options here for Weird Darkness: https://pod.link/1078714736. For Church of the Undead episodes specifically, you can find a list of apps here: https://pod.link/1651062114.

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

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
Originally aired: April 26, 2026

SOURCES & TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.com/cotu-hownottoarguewithacryptid

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

A scholar returns from the Indian jungle carrying a bronze idol, a borrowed god, and a body count that will follow him across an ocean. | #RetroRadio EP0641

Look for this podcast on YouTube Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and numerous other podcast apps. Get the full list of options 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 Way To a Duty Death” (September 13, 1977) ***WD
00:45:52.224 = Mr. Keen, “Young Husband Who Thought His Wife Failed Him” (April 17,1941)
01:00:40.882 = Murder at Midnight, “Death’s Worshipper” (March 10, 1947)
01:27:00.036 = The Black Museum, “The Raincoat” (1952) ***WD
01:55:52.412 = Mysterious Traveler, “Hide Out” (December 11, 1951) ***WD
02:26:11.998 = Mystery House, “Murder In Paradise” (November 18, 1945) ***WD
02:52:38.153 = Night Beat, “Search For Fred” (June 08, 1951)
03:20:14.930 = CBC Nightfall, “Private Collection” (March 18, 1983)
03:49:10.159 = Obsession, “A Question of Personality” (December 11, 1950)
04:12:05.964 = Origin of Superstition, “Sing Before Breakfast” (1935) ***WD
04:26:26.474 = Pat Novak For Hire, “Johnny Brown Gambling Ring” (August 03, 1947) ***WD
04:55:45.899 = 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/WDRR0641

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

When a geologist proved that human grief and human joy were being siphoned to the stars as fuel for somebody else's machine, the world spun into cults and suicides and small wars — but the professor had a wooden crate, a Cumberland cottage full of secrets, and a private answer he wasn't ready to share with the man writing the checks. | #RetroRadio EP0640

Look for this podcast on YouTube Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and numerous other podcast apps. Get the full list of options 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, “First Childhood” (September 12, 1977)
00:46:21.651 = Philip Marlowe, “Torch Carriers” (January 07, 1950)
01:15:58.500 = Pursuit, “The Loch Ness Killer” (ADU) ***WD
01:40:29.807 = The Black Mass, “Bartleby the Scrivener” (September 14, 1965) ***WD
02:14:04.032 = Michael Shayne, “Meet Me AT Oakland Depot” (April 02, 1945)
02:43:45.557 = Beyond Midnight, “The Locked Room” (1969) ***WD
03:13:19.062 = MindWebs, “The Machine In Shaft Ten” (1975-1984) ***WD
03:41:42.191 = The Humphrey Bogart Theater, “Dead Man / Pilot Episode” (September 17, 1949)
04:12:46.534 = Mystery in the Air, “Mask of Medusa” (September 04, 1947) ***WD
04:41:44.987 = Molle Mystery Theater, “Red Wine” (March 08, 1946)
05:11:00.140 = 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/WDRR0640

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

Beverley Allitt was trusted to care for the most vulnerable patients, but under her nurse’s uniform hid an evil monster that turned a children's ward to a scene of nightmares.

FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: Beverly Allitt was a children's nurse… and also one of Britain's most notorious killers. (Angel of Death: Inside the Mind of a Serial Child Killer) *** It was John Wilkes Booth who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln… but Booth had an assassin as well, coming after him. (The Man Who Murdered The Assassin) *** Many haunted locations are popular with ghost hunters and fans of the paranormal – but what if your business is being destroyed because ghosts are scaring off your customers? (Popular Australian Tourist Attraction Has a Ghost Problem) *** Imagine having a strange dream about being in the hospital, and the doctors taking a blood sample from you – then you wake up in bed to find a needle mark in your arm? And your spouse has one too! (What Happened To Us) *** A contractor tells his personal story of a strange creature he came across while working with the U.S. Navy and NATO in 1954 Spain. (Reptile Confrontation) *** We’ve all had songs stuck in our heads at one time or another – but what happens when it’s a name that gets stuck in your brain? A name you haven’t heard in decades? (Nick Adonidas)

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:00:40.025 = Show Open
00:02:34.123 = Angel of Death: Inside The Mind of a Serial Child Killer (Beverly Allitt)
00:08:27.123 = Popular Australian Tourist Attraction Has a Ghost Problem ***
00:12:27.643 = What Happened To Us?
00:16:15.327 = Reptile Confrontation
00:21:32.535 = Nick Adonidas
00:23:59.916 = The Man Who Murdered The Assassin ***
00:39:47.324 = Show Open
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break

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

SOURCES and RESOURCES:“Popular Australian Tourist Attraction Has a Ghost Problem” by Brent Tingley for Mysterious Universe: http://bit.ly/2kyQXKL
“What Happened To Us?” by RJ from PhantomsAndMonsters.com: http://bit.ly/2m6O7Ny
“Reptile Confrontation” by H.Y.: (link no longer available)
“Nick Adonidas” by Joanne Noseworthy, submitted directly to WeirdDarkness.com
“Angel of Death: Inside The Mind of a Serial Child Killer” by Carissa Chesanek for The Line Up: http://bit.ly/2lDbDSa
“The Man Who Murdered The Assassin” by Troy Taylor: http://bit.ly/2k4n1G4
(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: June 20, 2018

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



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

When kids write horror, they don't pull their punches. Four original stories from listeners aged 8 and 9 — featuring a dad who isn't quite himself, a missing little sister, a school principal hiding something in a locked hallway, and a hand reaching up through the dirt.

Look for this podcast on YouTube Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and numerous other podcast apps. Get the full list of options here: https://pod.link/1655277373

Find more family-friendly frights and creepy games to play on our website at http://MicroTerrors.com!
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/microterrors
Other stories, novels, and more from author Scott Donnelly: https://amzn.to/3LymHaU
Other narrations, podcasts, and audiobooks from voice artist Darren Marlar: https://WeirdDarkness.com
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Weird Darkness©, 2026
Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids™, 2026#MicroTerrors #WeirdDarkness

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

For seventy years the woman in the green silk dress hung quietly in an old man's house — long enough, as it turned out, to learn how to step down off the wall. | #RetroRadio EP0639

Look for this podcast on YouTube Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and numerous other podcast apps. Get the full list of options 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 Woman In The Green Dress” (September 09, 1977)
00:46:22.185 = The Haunting Hour, “Bird of Death” (March 31, 1945)
01:11:12.112 = Hermit’s Cave, “The Spirits of Vengeance” (March 16, 1947)
01:35:56.698 = Mystery is My Hobby, “Death Has a Hot Foot” (December 24, 1947)
02:00:49.021 = Sherlock Holmes, “The Coptic Compass” (December 07, 1946)
02:30:00.596 = The House of Mystery, “Haunters And Haunted” (June 13, 1945) ***WD
02:44:21.540 = Incredible But True, “Death Has a Will” (1950-1951)
02:48:07.969 = Inner Sanctum, “Black Seagull” (March 07, 1943)
03:17:50.145 = The Key, “Alexis” (1956) ***WD
03:44:01.024 = Lights Out, “Poltergeist Gravestone” (October 20, 1942)
04:09:27.539 = Macabre, “Midnight Horseman” (December 11, 1961) ***WD (LQ)
04:36:36.346 = 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/WDRR0639

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

Annabelle is the doll everyone knows — but she's far from the only one locked behind glass for a reason. From a marionette that screamed to be let out of a car trunk to a porcelain figure that reportedly killed a man for mocking her, these are the dolls that move on their own, scratch their owners in the dark, and refuse to stay where they're put.

FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: Haunted dolls seems to be a dime a dozen, and can even be found on sale, but for all of the strange phenomena surrounding these creations, surely the most frightening of all, are dolls that are not only haunted, but also the residences of hateful, violent forces that seek to harm or destroy us. (Sinister Accounts of Evil Haunted Dolls) *** A woman who had never experienced anything paranormal, suddenly has odd things happen around her after visiting a spiritualist. (Has Our Home Been Invaded By A Paranormal Entity Since Visiting a Spiritualist?) *** He’s tall, he takes over your thoughts and movements – removing all free will. He has several arms… and no face. Slenderman came into being around 2009 – so what were people seeing thousands of years ago that has the same description? (Mystery of the Faceless Creature) *** Between 1986 and 1989, at least eight individuals and possibly an additional four more were killed in the Colonial Parkway area of Virginia. The serial killer has never been found and the Colonial Parkway murders remain unsolved. (The Colonial Parkway Killer) *** It is said that if she is hailed by another ship, her crew will often try to send messages to land or to people long since dead. In ocean lore, the sight of this phantom ship is reckoned by seafarers to be a sign of impending doom. Her name is The Flying Dutchman. (The Legend of the Flying Dutchman) *** The body of a young woman is found floating in the Miami River outside of Dayton, Ohio. The coroner found nothing to indicate violence; the police believed otherwise. Even after digging her body out of the grave twice, there are still questions about what happened. (The Bessie Little Mystery)

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:02:14.564 = Show Open
00:04:54.201 = Evil Haunted and Cursed Dolls
00:44:05.161 = Has Our Home Been Invaded By a Paranormal Entity Since Visiting a Spiritualist? ***
00:46:12.270 = Mystery of the Faceless Creature
00:53:06.897 = The Flying Dutchman
00:57:23.269 = The Colonial Parkway Killer ***
01:03:13.971 = The Bessie Little Mystery
01:10:34.146 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break

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

SOURCES and RESOURCES:“Sinister Accounts of Evil Haunted Dolls” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe: http://bit.ly/2m5AQor
“Mystery of the Faceless Creature – Ancient and Modern Sightings” by Ellen Lloyd for Ancient Pages: http://bit.ly/2lGveAL
“The Colonial Parkway Killer” by Jim Harper for Historic Mysteries: http://bit.ly/2kboNW8
“The Legend of the Flying Dutchman” posted at Ghost-Story.co.uk: http://bit.ly/2kyNZWD
“The Bessie Little Mystery” by Robert Wilhelm for Murder By Gaslight: http://bit.ly/2k5Ixu3
“Has Our Home Been Invaded By A Paranormal Entity Since Visiting a Spiritualist?” by Jane Lois Collins, posted at MyHauntedLifeToo.com: http://bit.ly/2k5Inmr
(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: June 19, 2018

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



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