Horrifying History

Imagine for a moment that someone knocks on your door.  It is the police, and they take your son away to give him to another family to appease them.  How would you react, and how far would you go to get your son back?

So get comfortable, my spooky friends.  You are going to hear a tale that would be any parent’s worst nightmare

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My BFF and I have been friends since we were teenagers.  About a thousand years ago, he and I made a joking deal.  If he wanted to have someone killed, I would have to do it so he wouldn’t get implicated.  If I wanted someone dead, he had to do the same.  For years, whenever one of us has a bad day, we text each other saying things like, “You better go out and buy some garbage bag...

We have a special treat for you all, my spooky friends!  Today, we are presenting an episode from the podcast Police Off the Cuff.  The host is former NYPD Sergeant Bill Cannon, who is discussing the Idaho College Case with several true crime experts: Mike Geary (retired NYPD Sergeant and Professor at Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut, USA) and Dr. Joni Johnston (Author, Forensic Psychologist, and host of the podcast Unmasking...

In fiction books and fairy tales, many stepmothers range from being not nice to being evil murderers.  From Snow White’s envy-filled evil queen and Cinderella’s greedy Lady Tremaine, there is no shortage of these types of characters in literature.  At the minimum, these villains are painted as cold, devious, and uncaring.  A great example of this is Lady Tremaine, who forces Cinderella into ba...

Imagine for a moment that it is 1656, and your father just died from an illness.  As you and your family start to mourn, you find out that people believe that your father was not just a vampire.  He was the first vampire in Europe.

So break out the stakes, my spooky friends.  You are about to hear the legend of a man who was the first person to be recorded as a vampire in historical documents.

She was a young actress and model who didn’t act or model.  She lived on the wrong side of town in an apartment she was about to be evicted from, because she couldn’t pay the rent.  Then she met a man thirty-six years older than her, whom she thought would fulfill all her dreams and help her live a stable life.  

Fast forward a few years, and the woman was broke and at her breaking point.

My name is Brenda. Welcome to Horrifying History, where you will hear about the unexplained and supernatural happenings that have stained the pages of history.

It is said that a shadow-like entity has terrified people across different cultures, continents, and generations.  He goes by many names, but most know him as the Hat Man.  

So settle in, and turn down the lights, my spooky friends.  Yo...

In the US state of Massachusetts, there is a place where the paranormal comes out to play.  This approximately 200 square mile or 51,780 square hectare plot of land is known for paranormal activity that includes UFO sightings, cryptid sightings, and ghostly encounters.

So, get your compasses out, my spooky friends.  You are going to hear about a place that has been nicknamed the paranormal Disney World.

Ou...

Long ago, when I still wore pyjamas with mittens and slippers attached, I had a nightmare that I still remember clearly.  I went outside to see what my dad was up to and found him in our barnyard.  When I approached him, he told me to go back inside.  A monster was in the woods, and small children were its favourite food.  That’s when I heard thundering footsteps coming from the n...

Imagine it is the early 1800s, and you are in a penal colony.  The conditions were horrible, and you worked your fingers to the bone.  Would you try to escape for freedom?  If you would, what would you sacrifice for that freedom?

For the men you are going to hear about today, that included cannibalism.  

So, set the table, my spooky friends.  You are going to hear abo...

When someone famous dies, there are a lot of different emotions that a person can feel.  We feel upset because their work and public persona often intertwine with our life experience and identity.  We may feel a strong connection to them due to their work resonating with us or helping us through hard times.  It also reminds us of our mortality.  

When we hear about a famous person...

People love treasure hunts for a variety of reasons.  Some use it as a way to explore their surroundings, and others use it as a way to bond with friends or family.  But let's be honest…the biggest reason is for a payday. 

There is one alleged treasure that many know precisely where it is.  For more than two centuries, treasure seekers have gone to a small island off the coast of ...

In January of this year, I was invited to be a guest on the Family Plot podcast to talk about Ernest Hemingway.  After we had recorded their episode, we all started to talk about various subjects, including cults.  It was Family Plot who told me about a cult that existed near where I currently live and some of their dark deeds.  I had to learn more, and that resulted in today’s episode.

So buc...

War brings out both the best and the worst in people.  It showcases the finest human qualities of idealism, courage, and self-sacrifice.  But it is also barbaric and, at times, futile.  When it looks like one side will win, many will do anything to gain victory.

So get comfortable, my spooky friends.  You are about to hear how the Nazis’ tried to use the occult against their enemi...

We took a deep dive into the Salem Witch Trials in our last two episodes.  We looked at not just what happened but how and why.  This story is not done yet, my spooky friends.  These trials brought pain, fear, and heartache to so many that it stained history.  These stains manifest themselves as the spirits of those who were falsely accused, and in some cases - as the spirits of t...

During the witch trials; everyone in Salem lived in fear, but some used this fear for their own advantage.  After all, if a person accused another of being a witch, and the accused was convicted - that person would be rewarded with the accused property.  Gossip was at an all time high, and while some were trying to continue living their everyday lives, others were looking at property maps to decide who would be the nex...

Life in the American state of Massachusetts during the 1600s was filled with challenges, hardships, and for some - opportunity.  Seeking religious freedom, many Puritans travelled over rough waters to create a new life in a little town outside Boston called Salem.  Once there, the Puritan’s lives revolved around family, work, and most of all - religion.  It was this along with colonial conflic...

Imagine for a moment that it is a beautiful July day.  You wake up excited, because today you are leaving on a road trip.  Over the last few days you packed up your motorhome, and all you need to do is fill up your gas tank before you get on your way.  But what if as soon as you drive away, that was the last time you would be seen again?

So get ready my spooky friends.  You are ab...

The late 1970s was a time of innocence in the American state of California.  Young girls and women could walk the streets or hitchhike without a concern for their own safety.  But this innocence and trust was shattered when five girls made the fatal mistake of accepting a ride from two men, who would later be known as “The Toolbox Killers”.

So stop your work, and put away your tools my spooky friends.