A ghost story, an Old West shootout, a historical mystery, and an episode of CSI all rolled into one. We share the dramatic tale of Rattlesnake Jake and Buckskin Owens, two outlaws who attempted to terrorize the citizens of Lewistown, Montana, on July 4th, 1884, only to find themselves on the wrong end of a hail of bullets. But the story does not end there. When Susan Craun, a Forensic Anthropology graduate student at the University of Montana, discovered that a local museum had displayed a skull purported to be the remains of Rattlesnake Jake for decades, she embarked on a quest to verify its authenticity. Susan joins us to share her compelling findings and provide insights into working with the potential remains of a local legend.
Read Susan Craun’s master’s thesis: Case of Historical Forensics: The Identification of Rattlesnake Jake
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Episode 141 – Solving the Somerton Man Mystery
Episode 128 – The Very Strange Afterlife of Elmer J. McCurdy
When the Mary Celeste was found off the Azores in 1872, it was immediately clear that something was wrong. The ship was deserted. What happened? Did the crew stage a mutiny? Attacked by pirates? Caught in a storm or some other freak weather event? Stories of this “ghost ship” quickly began to spread around the world, as did the fanciful stories of her fate. Join us as we set sail to explore one of the greatest unsolved nautical mysteries of all time!
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Ep 152 – Premonitions of the Titanic Disaster
Ep 136 – Ghost Ship of Niagara Falls
The Hope Diamond, a mesmerizing blue diamond that weighs a staggering 45 carats, has a strange history that stretches back centuries. But beyond its stunning beauty lies a tale of intrigue, tragedy, and a supposed curse that has fascinated generations. Legends tell us that the origins of this exceptional gem can be traced back to the mines of India. From there, it made its way through a labyrinth of owners and countries, leaving a trail of misfortune in its wake. Some believe that this precious stone carries an ancient curse, bringing tragedy, despair, and even death to those who possess it. Its potential victims include some of history’s most recognizable names. Is it all coincidence? Urban legends manufactured by the press? Or something much more sinister? Join us as we go looking for answers.
For more about cursed objects, check out Episode 26 – Curses!
In December 2003, the body of Joyce Carol Vincent was discovered in her London apartment. She had been dead for over two years. When the remains were found, her television set was still on and flickering away in the corner, Christmas presents were wrapped for the big day, and dishes were piled and patiently waiting to be washed in the sink. How did this happen? Who was this woman? How did no one notice that she had vanished from life? As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there were darker forces at play in Joyce’s life, and that her isolation was not entirely by choice.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone and help is available in Canada, the US, and all over the world.
New to the case? We recommend starting with Episode 141 – Solving the Somerton Man Mystery first, before listening to this episode.
See more family photos of Charles Webb - the Somerton Man.
For over 70 years, investigators have sought to identify the unknown man found dead on an Australian beach in 1948. There were no signs of foul play and an examination of the victim’s stylish clothing strangely revealed that all of the labels had been removed. In his pocket was found a passage from a rare book that eerily translates to: It is ended. Was this a suicide or something much more complicated? We are joined by Dr. Lars Petersen to discuss how newly collected DNA evidence may finally reveal the identity of the Somerton Man.
Ready to learn the identity of the Somerton Man? Join us for Episode 142 – The Somerton Man Mystery: SOLVED!
Shortly after 4am, on July 6th, 2022, an explosion rocked the hilltop pasture on which “America’s Stonehenge” stood for over 40 years. One of the monument’s mysterious columns was destroyed and the capstone on top was badly cracked. The blast caused the remaining columns to become unstable and the entire monument was brought down by county officials later the same day. Who would want to destroy the roadside curiosity that had brought tens of thousands of tourists (and their money) to the rural community each year? We examine the strange history of the monument and explore who may be responsible for the crime.
View the surveillance footage from the site on the night of the explosion.
See the tweets by Kandiss Taylor calling for the Guidestones to be demolished and then celebrating afterwards.
Be sure to get your Haunted Holiday Cards before they sell out!
The Beast of Gévaudan is a true story about a vicious monster that terrorized the French countryside in the 18th century. It was a creature that was so difficult to describe that most of the eyewitnesses could not agree about what had attacked them. A wolf? A man? Or was it something else entirely? Despite many theories over the last 250 years, no satisfactory explanation has ever been found. We attempt to separate the fact from the fiction and ponder if this fanciful-sounding beast was humanity’s most terrible nightmare come true.
For more details about our new ghost tours: Ghosts of Queen’s University (Kingston), Tales from the Mausoleum at Beechwood Cemetery (Ottawa), and Toronto’s Haunted Harbour.
When the Mary Celeste was found off the Azores in 1872, it was immediately clear that something was wrong. The ship was deserted. What happened? Did the crew stage a mutiny? Were they attacked by pirates? Caught in a storm or some other freak weather event? Stories of this “Ghost Ship” quickly began to spread around the world, as did the fanciful stories of her fate. Join us as we set sail to explore one of the greatest nautical unsolved mysteries of all time!
We celebrate our 100th episode with a blockbuster interview! Professor Alexander Puzrin recently made international headlines for a paper he co-wrote in the Communications Earth & Environment academic journal about the Dyatlov Pass Incident. He joins us from Zurich to explain the new scientific discoveries that may finally solve one the world’s most famously frustrating unsolved mysteries. Follow us as we head deep into the Ural Mountains looking for answers.
Due to the unsettling nature of the tragedy, and descriptions of significant injuries, listener discretion is advised.
Has the Dyaltov Pass Incident, one of the world’s most chilling mysteries, been solved? What could explain why a group of expert Russian skiers cut their way out of their own tent in the middle of a freezing cold night and wandered off into the dark without jackets and in bare feet? Avalanche? Animal attack? Military testing? Or…something much more sinister? Join us as we look back at the bizarre story before our big interview next week with one of the authors of the new headline making report.
The truth is out there. Historical detectives like Lorine McGinnis Schulze use genealogy to solve mysteries. They hunt down old and often forgotten documents and records, looking for clues and new leads. In the episode, Lorine shares the tricks of the trade and three of her most intriguing cases, involving: a missing Grandmother, the burial of a foot, and a photo found lodged in the pages of an old book.
Headlines from around the world recently declared a major breakthrough in the Amelia Earhart mystery. We are joined by Keith O’Brien, author of “Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History" as we explore the life and disappearance of an American Icon, and the powerful new report which claims to know her fate.