May 27, 2025 • 9 mins
In the wide Nebraska plains, a polished drifter named Stephen D. Richards hid a killer’s heart beneath his handsome exterior.
Between 1876 and 1878, Richards—later dubbed “The Nebraska Fiend”—confesses to murdering at least nine lone travelers across Nebraska and Iowa before fleeing from authorities.
In this upcoming episode, we trace his first fatal duel by the Platte River, the brutal slaying of the Harlson family, and the manhunt that ensues.
This episode may run a little later due to issues in our studio, Room 1, but it should still drop early in June! We're crossing our fingers and hoping it releases next Tuesday, but we appreciate your patience in the event it falls a little bit behind.
Let us know what you think! Please rate, review, subscribe & tell a friend. Every little bit helps! Lucky reviewers have a chance of scoring some free LT swag!
Write to us - lesstakenpod@gmail.com
FOLLOW US BEFORE WE FOLLOW YOU!
FB & IG - @lesstakenpod
Discover more and check out our merch - www.lesstakenpod.com
Submit your ideas for future episodes - www.lesstakenpod.com/ideas
Dear Google Podcast Listeners: Sadly, Google Podcasts is going away, but you can still find the show in many other great places - lesstakenpod | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Some sound effects & background music are supported by www.pixabay.com and Audio Jungle/Envato Elements, providers of copyright and royalty-free media for content creators.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/less-taken--5431283/support.
Between 1876 and 1878, Richards—later dubbed “The Nebraska Fiend”—confesses to murdering at least nine lone travelers across Nebraska and Iowa before fleeing from authorities.
In this upcoming episode, we trace his first fatal duel by the Platte River, the brutal slaying of the Harlson family, and the manhunt that ensues.
This episode may run a little later due to issues in our studio, Room 1, but it should still drop early in June! We're crossing our fingers and hoping it releases next Tuesday, but we appreciate your patience in the event it falls a little bit behind.
Let us know what you think! Please rate, review, subscribe & tell a friend. Every little bit helps! Lucky reviewers have a chance of scoring some free LT swag!
Write to us - lesstakenpod@gmail.com
FOLLOW US BEFORE WE FOLLOW YOU!
FB & IG - @lesstakenpod
Discover more and check out our merch - www.lesstakenpod.com
Submit your ideas for future episodes - www.lesstakenpod.com/ideas
Dear Google Podcast Listeners: Sadly, Google Podcasts is going away, but you can still find the show in many other great places - lesstakenpod | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Some sound effects & background music are supported by www.pixabay.com and Audio Jungle/Envato Elements, providers of copyright and royalty-free media for content creators.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/less-taken--5431283/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
This take and contains content that may not be suitable
for all audiences.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Listeners discretion is advised.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Less guesses.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I met a man while traveling on horseback through the
Nebraska countryside. As the pair decided to camp for the
night near Dobbytown. Settling down, the two begin gambling a
game of cards, with Richards winning most of the stranger's money.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Night has fallen hard beneath the low, gun metal sky.
The Platte River's lazy roar presses close to the camp.
It's current unseen but always present around them. The sand
hills rise like dark waves frozen in time, rolling crest
of scrub and grass that's sway in the chill wind,
(01:05):
their black silhouettes jagged against the sky. Richards sits in
an upturned saddle, shoulders hunched against the cold. His breaths
are deep and puff out in ragged clouds that drift
away as soon as they form across from him. The stranger,
(01:27):
gone almost gone enough to pass for a shadow, counts
the coins in his palm. Each metal disc catches the
lantern's pale glow, then clatters onto a split log. The
cards lie face down on the dirt, smeared porcelain white
with dust and pine sap. Richard flicks one over Jack
(01:53):
of spades. The stranger's jaw tightens. He's realizing just how
many hands he's lost. As the fire turns, the embers
like glow, now a little more than a pinprick in
the night. It all cries out somewhere upwind, a keening
(02:16):
that sends the stranger's fingers curling in the fist. He
looks like Richard's neither speaks the waiting. The silence stretches
out like a bowstring. Richard shoves his cards toward the stranger.
(02:38):
The man's lips curl into a snarl. He flips over
his last coin, a tarnished half dollar, and lets it
drop onto the log. He says, his voice low and brittle,
and shake. The stranger's card lands face up, Queen of Hearts.
(03:04):
Richard flips his ace of diamonds. A sliver of triumph
slides into Richard's gaze. In this, Stranger's hand trembles as
he pushes the silver pile forward. Richard watches, stone faced,
while the Stranger's eyes flicker with something dark. Is a
(03:24):
fear fury, It's hard to tell. After the final hand.
Richard stands up and stretches. The stranger remains seated, shoulders slumped.
Richard slaps the deck closed and slides it into his coat.
He crouches to feed the fire, stirring smoldering coals into
(03:46):
a weak flame. Hisses the life. Shadows scramble across the
tree lines. They set out blankets on the ground, ranging
his so that one edge catches the breeze and flutters
like a dying flow. The stranger lies down without another word,
eyes fixed on the dull glow of the embers. Richard
(04:09):
slides beside him, back to back, and settles into the
strange half sleep you get when the sky above feels
too fast and the earth too empty. Minutes pass, the
wind picks up again, carrying with a descent of wet
earth and distant cedar. Somewhere, a pack of coyotes hips
(04:32):
and circles, the sound faint and mocking, and the hush.
Every tweak snap feels like a footstep, Every rustle becomes
something alive. Then, before dawn breaks, Richard wakes up, cold
and alert. The stranger sits up, pressing his hand against
(04:55):
his temples. He pulls his coat tighter as the morning
air sharpens, Richard remains still gaging him in the dim
wash of the lantern glow. As the morning sun crosses
over them. Neither man moves for a long moment. Richards
(05:19):
reaches out and tips the lantern so its flame flickers
and then dies. The river's murmur grows louder as the
night loses its hold on the morning. The stranger pushes
to his feet. He kicks out the dirt, eyes.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Wild, Give me back, what's mine.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
He hisses, his voice worn. He thrust his hand toward
Richard's empty save for a scuffed leather pouch. Richard's gaze
locks on the pouch. He tilts his head, listening to
the stranger's rapid breaths. The river sounds distant, now drowned
(06:04):
out by the pounding in both their chests. The stranger
stare flickers on something behind Richard's some kind of dust
devil swirling through the grass and trees, and the stranger
glances away for a moment. Richard moves his hand, draps
to the leather pouch at his side, then slides past
it to the single shop pistol tucked underneath his coat.
(06:27):
The stranger spins panic in his eyes, but it's too late.
Richard brings the barrel up in one practiced motion, and
then thank you so much for checking out this preview
(07:18):
of story number three, called The Nebraska Fen from Less
Taken Season four, Hollow Land. In the wide Nebraska Plains,
a polished drifter named Stephen D. Richards hides a killer's
heart beneath his handsome exterior. Between eighteen seventy six and
(07:40):
eighteen seventy eight, Richards, later dubbed the Nebraska Fien, confesses
to murdering at least nine lone travelers across Nebraska and
Iowa before fleeing east. In this upcoming episode, we'll explore
and trace his first fatal duel by the Platte River,
brutal slang of the Harrelson family, and the ensuing manhunt.
(08:05):
The full episode drops next Tuesday. Until then, be sure
to let us know what you think of this preview
or any of our episodes by leaving a fair rating
and review. Wherever you're listening. You can also leave reviews.
Check out all things Less Taken, including our merch at
lesstakenpod dot com. Follow us before we follow you on Facebook,
(08:27):
Instagram and threads under the handle at Less Taken Pod,
and a quick note on our storytelling. While we do
our best to stick to the fects, we sometimes take
creative liberties to maintain narrative cohesiveness. I'm Steem Humphreys and
this is Less Taken real life horror stories from the Midwest.
(08:49):
Once again, thanks for listening, and I hope you joined
us next Tuesday for the full version of the Nebraska Fiend.
(09:28):
Chas
This take and contains content that may not be suitable
for all audiences.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Listeners discretion is advised.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Less guesses.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I met a man while traveling on horseback through the
Nebraska countryside. As the pair decided to camp for the
night near Dobbytown. Settling down, the two begin gambling a
game of cards, with Richards winning most of the stranger's money.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Night has fallen hard beneath the low, gun metal sky.
The Platte River's lazy roar presses close to the camp.
It's current unseen but always present around them. The sand
hills rise like dark waves frozen in time, rolling crest
of scrub and grass that's sway in the chill wind,
(01:05):
their black silhouettes jagged against the sky. Richards sits in
an upturned saddle, shoulders hunched against the cold. His breaths
are deep and puff out in ragged clouds that drift
away as soon as they form across from him. The stranger,
(01:27):
gone almost gone enough to pass for a shadow, counts
the coins in his palm. Each metal disc catches the
lantern's pale glow, then clatters onto a split log. The
cards lie face down on the dirt, smeared porcelain white
with dust and pine sap. Richard flicks one over Jack
(01:53):
of spades. The stranger's jaw tightens. He's realizing just how
many hands he's lost. As the fire turns, the embers
like glow, now a little more than a pinprick in
the night. It all cries out somewhere upwind, a keening
(02:16):
that sends the stranger's fingers curling in the fist. He
looks like Richard's neither speaks the waiting. The silence stretches
out like a bowstring. Richard shoves his cards toward the stranger.
(02:38):
The man's lips curl into a snarl. He flips over
his last coin, a tarnished half dollar, and lets it
drop onto the log. He says, his voice low and brittle,
and shake. The stranger's card lands face up, Queen of Hearts.
(03:04):
Richard flips his ace of diamonds. A sliver of triumph
slides into Richard's gaze. In this, Stranger's hand trembles as
he pushes the silver pile forward. Richard watches, stone faced,
while the Stranger's eyes flicker with something dark. Is a
(03:24):
fear fury, It's hard to tell. After the final hand.
Richard stands up and stretches. The stranger remains seated, shoulders slumped.
Richard slaps the deck closed and slides it into his coat.
He crouches to feed the fire, stirring smoldering coals into
(03:46):
a weak flame. Hisses the life. Shadows scramble across the
tree lines. They set out blankets on the ground, ranging
his so that one edge catches the breeze and flutters
like a dying flow. The stranger lies down without another word,
eyes fixed on the dull glow of the embers. Richard
(04:09):
slides beside him, back to back, and settles into the
strange half sleep you get when the sky above feels
too fast and the earth too empty. Minutes pass, the
wind picks up again, carrying with a descent of wet
earth and distant cedar. Somewhere, a pack of coyotes hips
(04:32):
and circles, the sound faint and mocking, and the hush.
Every tweak snap feels like a footstep, Every rustle becomes
something alive. Then, before dawn breaks, Richard wakes up, cold
and alert. The stranger sits up, pressing his hand against
(04:55):
his temples. He pulls his coat tighter as the morning
air sharpens, Richard remains still gaging him in the dim
wash of the lantern glow. As the morning sun crosses
over them. Neither man moves for a long moment. Richards
(05:19):
reaches out and tips the lantern so its flame flickers
and then dies. The river's murmur grows louder as the
night loses its hold on the morning. The stranger pushes
to his feet. He kicks out the dirt, eyes.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Wild, Give me back, what's mine.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
He hisses, his voice worn. He thrust his hand toward
Richard's empty save for a scuffed leather pouch. Richard's gaze
locks on the pouch. He tilts his head, listening to
the stranger's rapid breaths. The river sounds distant, now drowned
(06:04):
out by the pounding in both their chests. The stranger
stare flickers on something behind Richard's some kind of dust
devil swirling through the grass and trees, and the stranger
glances away for a moment. Richard moves his hand, draps
to the leather pouch at his side, then slides past
it to the single shop pistol tucked underneath his coat.
(06:27):
The stranger spins panic in his eyes, but it's too late.
Richard brings the barrel up in one practiced motion, and
then thank you so much for checking out this preview
(07:18):
of story number three, called The Nebraska Fen from Less
Taken Season four, Hollow Land. In the wide Nebraska Plains,
a polished drifter named Stephen D. Richards hides a killer's
heart beneath his handsome exterior. Between eighteen seventy six and
(07:40):
eighteen seventy eight, Richards, later dubbed the Nebraska Fien, confesses
to murdering at least nine lone travelers across Nebraska and
Iowa before fleeing east. In this upcoming episode, we'll explore
and trace his first fatal duel by the Platte River,
brutal slang of the Harrelson family, and the ensuing manhunt.
(08:05):
The full episode drops next Tuesday. Until then, be sure
to let us know what you think of this preview
or any of our episodes by leaving a fair rating
and review. Wherever you're listening. You can also leave reviews.
Check out all things Less Taken, including our merch at
lesstakenpod dot com. Follow us before we follow you on Facebook,
(08:27):
Instagram and threads under the handle at Less Taken Pod,
and a quick note on our storytelling. While we do
our best to stick to the fects, we sometimes take
creative liberties to maintain narrative cohesiveness. I'm Steem Humphreys and
this is Less Taken real life horror stories from the Midwest.
(08:49):
Once again, thanks for listening, and I hope you joined
us next Tuesday for the full version of the Nebraska Fiend.
(09:28):
Chas
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