In June 1912, the Moore family of Villisca, Iowa—and two young houseguests—went to bed after a church service. By sunrise, all eight were dead, bludgeoned in their sleep with an axe that belonged to the father of the house.
The crime scene? Contaminated by half the town before investigators could even blink.
The suspects? A local senator, a possible serial killer, and a deeply suspicious traveling preacher who couldn’t stop talking about the murders.
The verdict? Still missing, more than a century later.
Today, the Villisca Axe Murder House is a hotspot for ghost hunters, thrill seekers, and people who think “haunted Airbnb” sounds like a good time. From shadow figures in the attic to EVPs whispering “I killed six kids,” the paranormal claims are as persistent as the mystery itself.
In this episode of Duck Duck Ghouls, we dig into the facts, the suspects, the botched investigation, and the alleged hauntings—armed with logic, sarcasm, and just enough cynicism to keep the ghosts at bay.
Because sometimes the scariest thing isn’t the supernatural. It’s human incompetence.
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