Show notes
Two privileged young men, driven by arrogance and a twisted sense of superiority, plotted the 'perfect crime.’ But the brutal murder of Bobby Franks left behind a trail of evidence and ghost that refuses to rest.
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
IN THIS EPISODE: Leopold and Loeb believed themselves to be more intelligent than everyone and planned to commit the perfect murder. But it would be their pride that brought them down in the end, and it would result in a ghost story! (Chicago’s Thrill Killers) *** A woman visiting her mother in the hospital takes an unexpected trip when stepping into the elevator. (Elevator Opens Into The Twilight Zone) *** Even 24 doors couldn't give Charles Lapham a way out of his seemingly-cursed life. (No Exit – The Lapham Patterson House) *** A nightmare is frightening, we can all agree on that. But what if you have a nightmare within a nightmare? One woman tells her terrifying story. (My Real Life Nightmare) *** Robert Berdella. Behind his friendly demeanor lurked a deadly obsession with torture and murder. (The Butcher of Kansas City) *** It was a tale that most considered simply gossip, or the town’s urban legend. The rich and powerful made sure it stayed a secret; but all secrets eventually come to light – especially those covered in racism, tragedy, and hundreds of deaths. It’s the truth behind the Hawk’s Nest Tunnel tragedy. (Town Of The Living Dead) *** A teenager shares his story of being abducted by aliens. You may dismiss it as a nightmare or sleep paralysis, but then how do you explain the injection marks on his body? (Tall Black Shiny Aliens) *** A Weirdo family member tells us why we should be cautious when we hear dogs howling. (When The Dogs Howl) *** Most stories about the men in black are of an aggressive nature, with victims being questioned by them, even threatened into remaining silent. But one man had a strange encounter where the MIB saved his life. (Helped By Four Men In Black) *** It’s always a bit scary sleeping in a new house that very first night. But sometimes, as one Weird Darkness fan discovered, there is reason to be frightened. (Whispers In The Night) *** They found the first body stuffed inside the church library's closet. Then a second body turned up. I’ll share the creepy case of Theo Durrant – San Francisco’s “Jack the Ripper”. (Demon of the Belfry) *** Outside of Washington, D.C. lies an abandoned institution with a thoroughly disturbing past. (The Madness of Forest Haven Asylum)
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:01:03.145 = Show Intro
00:04:10.713 = Chicago’s Thrill Killers
00:25:29.654 = No Exit: The Lapham Patterson House ***
00:30:38.722 = Elevator Opens Into The Twilight Zone
00:33:12.911 = Robert Berdella: The Butcher of Kansas City
00:39:33.388 = My Nightmare (from a Weird Darkness listener) ***
00:41:27.413 = Town of the Living Dead
00:55:26.596 = Helped By Four Men In Black ***
00:57:25.158 = When The Dogs Howl (from a Weird Darkness listener)
00:59:31.756 = Demon of the Belfry
01:04:53.306 = Tall, Black Shiny Aliens
01:07:11.040 = Whispers In The Night
01:09:55.718 = Forest Haven Asylum ***
= Show Close *** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break
HELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES…
https://WeirdDarkness.com/STORE = Tees, Mugs, Socks, Hoodies, Totes, Hats, Kidswear & More
https://WeirdDarkness.com/HOPE = Hope For Depression or Thoughts of Self-Harm
https://WeirdDarkness.com/NEWSLETTER = In-Depth Articles, Memes, Weird DarkNEWS, Videos & More
https://WeirdDarkness.com/AUDIOBOOKS = FREE Audiobooks Narrated By Darren Marlar
SOURCES and RESOURCES:
EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/PerfectCrime“Chicago’s Thrill Killers” by Troy Taylor: http://bit.ly/32z2mLe
“Elevator Opens Into the Twilight Zone” by Lisa Gibson: http://bit.ly/2VURTHJ
“The Butcher of Kansas City” by Orrin Grey: http://bit.ly/30sRCwJ
“My Real Life Nightmare” by Alicia Zapata, submitted at http://www.WeirdDarkness.com
“No Exit – The Lapham Patterson House” by Jessica Ferri: http://bit.ly/2pCMety
“Town of the Living Dead” by Troy Taylor: http://bit.ly/2W12NvE
“Demon of the Belfry” by Orrin Grey: http://bit.ly/2JJbsiO
“Tall, Black, Shiny Aliens” by RR: http://bit.ly/2VURTHJ
“The Madness of Forest Haven Asylum” by Gary Sweeney: http://bit.ly/32xCSOm
“When The Dogs Howl” by KJ – submitted directly to http://www.WeirdDarkness.com
“Whispers In The Night” by Zenovia Caldwell: http://bit.ly/2VUUQrN
“Helped By Four Men In Black”: http://bit.ly/2VURTHJ=====
(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.)
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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: December 21, 2022 *** July 18, 2018
EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/PerfectCrime
ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: #WeirdDarkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold cases, conspiracy theories, and more. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “20 Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a blend of “Coast to Coast AM”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, and “In Search Of”.DISCLAIMER: Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
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