Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

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Can Reading About The Paranormal Be Dangerous To Your Soul? Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

Can reading about the paranormal actually open a door to something otherworldly? Some real-life accounts suggest the act of delving into the supernatural may invite more than just stories – it may invite something far darker.
FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: As long as there has been talk of evil spirits, ghosts, and demons, there have been tales of ways to bind, subdue, and imprison them. (Bizarre Real Demon Traps) *** Is it possible that reading about the world of the paranormal can somehow expose a person to it? (Can Reading A Book Open a Paranormal Door?) *** A truck driver passes a specter on a night road. (Night Driving In Alabama Left Me Speechless) *** The 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese – killed in front of 38 people, yet no one came to her aid - became an American legend. But how much of the story is true? (The Woman Killed In Front Of 38 Witnesses) *** The skeleton of a young boy was found on the side of a road and eventually a man named Marcellus Bunch was arrested for the crime – yet he seemed completely unconcerned about himself, the trial, or his fate. (A Hidden Skeleton) *** You don’t have to be sleeping with someone to be the victim of a blanket hog. You only need an invisible entity to give you those chills. (The Phantom Blanket Puller) *** Beloved horror author Edgar Allan Poe was a master of terror and mystery – but his greatest mystery may not have been in the pages of his writings, but in the days immediately before his death. (The Last Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe)
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:00:40.612 = Show Open
00:02:50.945 = The Last Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe
00:06:17.849 = Can Reading a Book Open a Paranormal Door?
00:12:47.692 = The Phantom Blanket Puller ***
00:14:02.393 = A Hidden Skeleton
00:16:43.963 = Night Driving in Alabama Left Me Speechless
00:17:48.486 = The Woman Killed In Front of 38 Witnesses
00:26:42.524 = Bizarre Demon Traps ***
00:34:24.358 = 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:
“The Last Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe” by Doug MacGowan for Historic Mysteries: http://bit.ly/2lGCHQk
“Can Reading A Book Open a Paranormal Door” by Nick Redfern for Mysterious Universe: http://bit.ly/2m414Yk
“The Woman Killed In Front of 38 Witnesses” by Stephanie Merry for the UK’s Independent: http://bit.ly/2lFt7xe
“A Hidden Skeleton” by Robert Wilhelm for Murder By Gaslight: http://bit.ly/2lHB1pI
“The Phantom Blanket Puller” by Megan Amos for MyHauntedLifeToo.com: http://bit.ly/2k7NfYf
“Night Driving In Alabama Left Me Speechless” by Alan Orr for MyHauntedLifeToo.com: http://bit.ly/2m0IkZI
“Bizarre Real Demon Traps” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe: http://bit.ly/2m9HDNZ
(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: November 06, 2022
EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources and full transcript): https://weirddarkness.com/ReadingParanormal

The Shocking True Murder Case That Inspired TV’s Twin Peaks Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

Long before ‘Twin Peaks’ captivated audiences with its eerie small-town secrets, a real-life unsolved murder in Sand Lake, New York — filled with mystery, hidden lives, and a cast of suspicious characters — became the chilling inspiration behind the story of Laura Palmer.
FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: Did you know that Laura Palmer's death on TV’s “Twin Peaks” was inspired by a real-life murder case? (The Real-Life Murder Case That Inspired “Twin Peaks”) *** Most people laugh at, or outright dismiss, the possibility that numerous hair-covered humanoids could exist in the U.K., and without ever getting caught or killed. But, some cases and tales do seem to stand the test of time. Although, many of the creatures that appear in such tales – which date back centuries – may not be what people assume them to be. (Wild Beast Or Wild Man?) *** A mother receives a call from her son – who had been killed by a drunk driver. (Call From The Other Side) *** On a brisk morning, with wind wafting off the Mississippi river across from St. Louis, Missouri, the men faced each other with pistols, at barely more than arm’s length. They’d come to shoot at one another because of an ‘offense against honor’. The place, or ‘field of honor’, was Bloody Island. (What Happened to Bloody Island?) *** A police officer and his daughter see a large creature jump completely over the two lane road they are driving down – a creature that ran on only two legs. (Leaping Bigfoot) *** Sleep paralysis is one of the most terrifying experiences one can have – and one person’s story takes the creeps to a new level. (Confronted by Insectoids) *** One monster that seems to be pervasive in the human psyche across numerous cultures is what we would call the werewolf (although each part of the world has their own name for it). And while most consider it simply a legendary cryptid, there have always been those who believe that these are not merely the product of our imagination, but very real monsters that lurk out beyond our understanding. And they take it very seriously in Haiti. (The Mysterious Werewolves of Haiti)
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:01:03.946 = Show Open
00:03:44.137 = The Real-Life Murder Case That Inspired ‘Twin Peaks’
00:11:35.141 = Wild Beast or Wild Man? ***
00:16:01.474 = Call From The Other Side
00:16:57.924 = What Happened to Bloody Island?
00:22:17.810 = Confronted by Insectoids
00:24:13.988 = The Mysterious Werewolves of Haiti ***
00:34:04.543 = Leaping Bigfoot
00:35:47.297 = 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:
“The Real-Life Murder Case That Inspired ‘Twin Peaks’” by CWS for The Line Up: http://bit.ly/2mhBMpJ
“Wild Beast or Wild Man?” by Nick Redfern for Mysterious Universe: http://bit.ly/2kSeW7U
BOOK: “Dark Dorset: Tales of Mystery, Wonder and Terror” https://amzn.to/2IMrqE6
“Call From The Other Side” submitted anonymously at WeirdDarkness.com
“What Happened to Bloody Island” by John Davis for Mysterious Writings: http://bit.ly/2m2BUct
“Confronted by Insectoids” posted at PhantomsAndMonsters.com: (link no longer available)
“Leaping Bigfoot” posted at PhantomsAndMonsters.com: (link no longer available)
“The Mysterious Werewolves of Haiti” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe: http://bit.ly/2lYCKqP
(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: November 25, 2022
EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources and full transcript): https://weirddarkness.com/twinpeaks

Indiana Woman Flagged for Fraud Over a Stranger Who Shared Her Face Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

An Anderson woman tried to renew her driver’s license and discovered another Indiana woman with her face, her age, and a different name.
PRINT VERSION OF THIS STORY: https://weirddarkness.com/bmv-doppelganger/
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/1078714736
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

AI Clone of Dead Son Keeps His 80-Year-Old Mother Unaware Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

An 80-year-old Chinese woman with heart disease video-chats daily with her late son, never knowing she is actually speaking to an AI clone built by his own family.
PRINT VERSION OF THIS STORY: https://weirddarkness.com/ai-clone-son-china
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/1078714736
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

Cleveland Driver Tells Cop the Booze Was for Staying Awake Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

A Cleveland woman doing 38 mph on Interstate 77 informed a state trooper that the open cup of liquor in her car was, in her professional opinion, a tool for combating drowsy driving.
PRINT VERSION OF THIS STORY: https://weirddarkness.com/booze-keeps-me-awake
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/1078714736
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

THE SHADOW, “Nightmare At Gaelsbury: A Ghost From The Bastille” | #RetroRadio Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

In a storm-bound country sanatorium, a brilliant scientist driven mad by one fatal mistake insists the immortal Count Cagliostro speaks to him from beyond the grave — guiding his hand toward an experiment that has already killed once before.
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, “Passport To Freedom” (September 15, 1977)
00:45:51.080 = Peril, “Undivided” (early 1950s) ***WD
01:08:41.986 = Mystery Playhouse, “Female of the Species” (June 07, 1946) ***WD
01:33:50.352 = Philip Morris Playhouse, “Murder Need An Artist” (May 06, 1950) ***WD
02:00:25.283 = Adventures of Ellery Queen, “Dead Man’s Cavern” (April 15, 1944) ***WD
02:25:41.142 = Quiet Please, “Is This Murder” (January 16, 1949)
02:54:03.552 = Radio City Playhouse, “Unguarded Moment” (August 29, 1949)
03:22:02.393 = It’s Murder, “Picture Wire Murder” (August 10, 1944)
03:36:41.570 = The Sealed Book, “Ghost Makers” (September 09, 1945)
04:06:11.396 = The Shadow, “Nightmare at Gaelsbury” (February 02, 1941)
04:30:25.714 = Sleep No More, “The Storm” (December 19, 1956) ***WD
04:57:35.046 = 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/WDRR0642

“INK FILLED DREAM: A Boy's Out-of-Body Experiences Catch Unwanted Attention” | and more FICTION! Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

Twelve-year-old Joseph can step out of his sleeping body and drift through walls — and something in the dark has started watching him do it.
SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…
“Ink Filled Dream” by Blue Hero: https://www.creepypasta.com/ink-filled-dream/
“Never Use a Voice Recorder While You Sleep” by Chris Maxim: https://www.creepypasta.com/never-use-voice-recorder-sleep/ ***Read the prequel to this story at https://www.creepypasta.com/the-attic-in-the-basement/
“Born Lucky” by The Dead Canary: https://www.creepypasta.com/born-lucky/
Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library
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(Over time links seen above 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.)
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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® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
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Originally aired: November 14, 2018
CUSTOM LANDING PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/inkfilleddream

“HOLES: A HIVE BENEATH THE SKIN” and More Short Horror Stories of Fiction Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

A man discovers a tiny hole in his back, and by morning something has begun building a home inside him.
SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…
“Holes” by S. R. Underschultz: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bdjm36d7
“I Was Born With Superhuman Abilities” by Alayne Winters: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2zsjba5f
“Leaving the Hospital” by Weirdo family member, Louise Latham
“To the Moon and Back” submitted anonymously to WeirdDarkness.com
“Don’t Let This Be You” by Hikari Shimizu: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/594memkb
“Grandma’s House” by Weirdo family member, Rachel West
Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library
= = = = =
(Over time links seen above 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.)
= = = = =
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
= = = = =
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
= = = = =
Originally aired: December 16, 2018
CUSTOM LANDING PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/holes/

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao Once Warned of Monterey Witches Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

A 2023 video of Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao claiming witches and Wiccans had taken over Monterey, California, resurfaced as he stepped into the top Navy role.
PRINT VERSION OF THIS STORY: https://weirddarkness.com/HungCaoWiccans
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/1078714736
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

PARIS GREEN: Inspired By a True Crime Case | #MurderNoir Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

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

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