Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

Latest Episodes:

Why Would a Farmer Create a Spider Petting Zoo? What I Encountered Is Beyond Description! | HORROR Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

IN THIS EPISODE: A painter accepts an invitation to a remote cottage beside an ancient forest — but the deeper he ventures into the woods, the more he realizes something within them has been waiting for him. It’s a classic tale from Algernon Blackwood entitled “Ancient Lights”. *** After a 17th-century landowner testifies against a suspected witch, generations of his family begin dying in the same bedroom — and something nesting in the ancient ash tree outside the window may be responsible. It’s “The Ash-Tree” by M.R. James *** A traveling salesman follows a hand-painted sign to a remote farm advertising a "spider petting zoo" — but the old man running it has been breeding something that no terrarium could ever contain. It’s “Elsworth’s Famous Spider Petting Zoo” by Peter de Niverville.
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:45.285 = Ellsworth’s Famous Spider Petting Zoo, by Peter de Niverville
00:27:18.294 = Ancient Lights (Trespassers Will Be Persecuted), by Algernon Blackwood ***
00:43:49.286 = The Ash-Tree, by M.R. James ***
= 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 – and/or --- PRINT VERSION to READ or SHARE:“The Petting Zoo” by Peter de Niverville: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/SpiderPettingZoo
“Ancient Lights” by Algernon Blackwood: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/AncientLights
“The Ash-Tree” by M.R. James, from the book, “Classic Tales of Horror: 500+ Stories”: https://amzn.to/3ZWcexy
=====(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.)= = = = ="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: September 06, 2019 (“Petting Zoo” and “Ancient Lightss”), December 26, 2024 (“The Ash-Tree”)
EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/SpiderPettingZoo
ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness 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.
#WeirdDarkness #SpiderHorror #GiantSpider #ArachnophobiaWarning #PettingZooHorror #MRJames #TheAshTree #WitchTrial #WitchCurse #GhostStory #HauntedHouse #AlgernonBlackwood #AncientLights #HauntedForest #FolkHorror #ClassicHorror #HorrorStories #ScaryStories #CreepyPasta #Paranormal

Someone Donated a Human Skull to Goodwill | The Medical Examiner Says It's PROBABLY Real?! Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

A woman in Michigan dropped off a bag of donations at Goodwill, and nestled inside a shirt — right there between the old blouses and the coffee mugs — was an actual human skull, and somehow the weirdest part is that Goodwill and the medical examiner can't agree on whether it's real.
Officer T. Gilbreath of the Chelsea Police Department is handling the case. Anyone with information can call 734-475-9122, extension 107, or email tgilbreath@chelseapd.org.
READ or SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/goodwill-skull
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS, #HumanSkull, #GoodwillFinds, #TrueCrime, #HumanRemains, #WeirdNews, #MacabreFinds, #ForensicScience, #CreeepyDiscoveries

New Jersey Man Called Cops to BRAG About Outrunning Them — Got Arrested the Next Day Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

A Clifton man allegedly fled police in a Kia Rio, then called them to gloat about it, which went about as well as you'd expect.
PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/nj-man-brags-to-cops-gets-arrested
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS, #DumbCriminals, #CrimeFails, #TrueCrime, #PoliceChase, #NewJersey, #CrimeNews, #StupidCriminals, #Arrested

E.T. Abducts Veterinarian, Golf on the Moon, and WHAT Hit That Politician in the Face?! Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

A hilltop crucifixion of children, the biggest gold nugget ever yanked out of the ground, unexpected and deadly tornadoes in February, and a round of golf for space cases. | IT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 5TH | The Morning Weird Darkness #MWD
EPISODE PAGE: https://WeirdDarkness.com/MWD20260205 (includes video of ABC’s “Turn On” from 1969)
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
NOTE: Some of this content may have been created with assistance from AI tools, but it has been reviewed, edited, narrated, produced, and approved by Darren Marlar, creator and host of Weird Darkness — who, despite popular conspiracy theories, is NOT an AI voice.
#WeirdDarkness #MorningWD #DarrenMarlar #MarlarInTheMorning #MWD #ThisDayInHistory #TrueCrime #Paranormal #WeirdHistory #ApolloMission #AlanShepard #BelleStarr #AlienAbduction #UFOSighting #MartyrsOfJapan #GoldNugget #TornadoOutbreak #UnsolvedMysteries #ColdCase #HistoryPodcast

Death Offers a Dying Millionaire a Deal | Pass Away or Take the Job of The Angel of Death Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

When Death himself arrives at a dying millionaire's bedside, the two strike an unthinkable bargain — they swap places. | “Come Away, Death” | #RetroRadio EP0583
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Come Away Death” (April 21, 1977) ***WD
00:46:28.211 = Beyond Midnight, “Death Wish” (September 20, 1968) ***WD
01:12:41.136 = MindWebs, “A Dream At Noonday” (1975-1984)
01:41:56.188 = Stand By For Adventure, “Swamp” (ADU) ***WD
01:52:45.160 = Molle’ Mystery Theater, “Homicide For Hannah” (December 28, 1943) ***WD
02:21:15.335 = Barrie Craig: Confidential Investigator, “Never Murder a Mummy” (March 30, 1955)
02:45:57.154 = Murder at Midnight, “Ace of Death” (January 06, 1947)
03:12:05.494 = The Black Museum, “The Mandolin String” (July 26, 1952)
03:35:54.513 = Mysterious Traveler, “The Visiting Corpse” (January 09, 1944)
04:04:27.675 = CBC’s Nightfall, “Daddy’s Girl” (December 03, 1982) ***WD
04:34:20.720 = Obsession, “A Question of Personality” (October 09, 1950) ***WD
04:56:19.852 = 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.
Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library
ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness 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 thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.
= = = = =
"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 ©2025, Weird Darkness.
= = = = =#ParanormalRadio #ScienceFiction #OldTimeRadio #OTR #OTRHorror #ClassicRadioShows #HorrorRadioShows #VintageRadioDramas #WeirdDarkness
CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0583

The NASA Engineer Who Drained His Victim's Blood | She Just Barely Escaped the Vampire Rapist Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

A 19-year-old hitchhiker had just 12 hours to live when she escaped through a bathroom window — her captor, a NASA engineer with top-secret Pentagon clearance, had already drained nearly half her blood.
IN THIS EPISODE: John Brennan Crutchley was no ordinary rapist and murderer. He added vampirism into his modus operandi. (The True Story of the Vampire Rapist) *** The spooklight phenomenon caused panic in a small Missouri community in the late 1800s – frightening many to the point of moving their family away. And today, the Joplin Spooklight is still a mystery that remains unsolved despite appearing several times a year. (The Mysterious Missouri Spooklights) *** Based on its name alone, you’d think the Gympie-Gympie plant is small, cute, and harmless. In reality, it’s one of the most dangerous plants in the world – and you’ll want to stay as far from it as possible. (The Deadly Gympie-Gympie) *** We’ll end the broadcast with one of the strangest funerals you’ve likely ever heard! (Polly Wanna Tombstone)
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:01:13.146 = Show Open
00:02:53.503 = The True Story of the Vampire Rapist
00:14:52.231 = Mysterious Missouri Spooklights ***
00:19:13.226 = The Deadly Gympie-Gympie
00:25:25.117 = The Entity That Followed Me (from a Weird Darkness listener) ***
00:34:00.100 = Shared Worlds (from a Weird Darkness listener)
00:43:37.225 = Polly Wanna Tombstone
00:50:32.498 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break
SOURCES and RESOURCES:“The True Story of the Vampire Rapist” by Cat McAuliffe for Unspeakable Times:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4erta5zb
“The Mysterious Missouri Spooklights” from TulsaWorld.com: (Link no longer valid.)
“The Deadly Gympie-Gympie” from TheScareChamber.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/skykszwa
“Polly Wanna Tombstone” by Chris Woodyard for The Victorian Book of the Dead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/vcd6me3n=====(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.)= = = = ="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: July 01, 2021
EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/VampireRapist
ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness 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.
#WeirdDarkness #VampireRapist #JohnBrennanCrutchley #TrueCrime #SerialKiller #NASAEngineer #FloridaCrime #TrueCrimeStories #ColdCase #UnsolvedMurders #CriminalMinds #TrueCrimeCommunity #Kidnapping #SurvivorStory #CrimeDocumentary #TrueHorror #PentagonSecrets #BrevardCounty #CriminalPsychology #TrueCrimeYouTube

The Traffic Mirror That Declared War on One Woman's Chi | Weird DarkNEWS Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

A Shanghai woman's battle against a "demon-revealing" traffic mirror led to a rash of car accidents, police intervention, and mirrors sealed in cement.
READ, PRINT, SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/fengshui-traffic-mirror/
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness #WeirdDarkNEWS #FengShui #Shanghai #China #DemonRevealingMirror #ChineseFolklore #ChineseMythology #NineTailedFox #Supernatural #Paranormal #StrangeNews #WeirdNews #CursedObjects #Superstition #BadLuck #TrueStories #BizarreStories #OddNews #ViralNews

Preposterous Pepsi Predator | Criminal Commits Carbonation Crime Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

A Missouri man allegedly threatened to kill someone because he was denied access to a soft drink, proving that brand loyalty can be taken too far.
READ or SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/pepsi-murder-threat
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness #WeirdDarkNEWS #TrueCrime #BizarreCrime #StrangeNews #MissouriCrime #Pepsi #MurderThreat #StalkingArrest #WeirdNews

A Kidnapping, a Parachute Fail, America's Unanimously Voted President, And America's Only Emperor Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

From mass ritual suicide to mass hysteria, unanimous elections to ancient manuscripts that proved the Bible's accuracy, February 4th has a body count — and a weirdness count — that spans centuries and continents. | The Morning Weird Darkness #MWD
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
NOTE: Some of this content may have been created with assistance from AI tools, but it has been reviewed, edited, narrated, produced, and approved by Darren Marlar, creator and host of Weird Darkness — who, despite popular conspiracy theories, is NOT an AI voice.
EPISODE PAGE: https://WeirdDarkness.com/MWD20260204
#WeirdDarkness #MorningWD #DarrenMarlar #MarlarInTheMorning #MWD #ThisDayInHistory #February4th #FortySevenRonin #SamuraiHistory #PattyHearst #EiffelTower #FranzReichelt #EmperorNorton #GeorgeRomero #DarkHistory #TrueStories #HistoryPodcast #StrangeHistory #DeadSeaScrolls #BloodyMary

UK Filmmaker Says Trump Will Reveal Aliens Exist in July | Color Me Skeptical Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

A British filmmaker says a Trump insider leaked plans for a historic UFO disclosure speech timed to the Roswell anniversary — but the claim has more red flags than evidence.
READ or SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/trump-ufo-july
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness #WeirdDarkNEWS #UFO #UFOs #UAP #Aliens #Disclosure #Trump #Roswell #UFOdisclosure #Extraterrestrial #GovernmentCoverup #UFOnews #DavidGrusch #Whistleblower #AgeOfDisclosure #RendleshamForest #FlyingSaucer #NonHumanIntelligence #Pentagon

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