Fall is a transitional season. The temperatures start to get a little colder, and the trees start to change their colors. They showcase the beautiful golds, reds, and oranges that the season is known for. It is also one of the many reasons Fall is also my favorite season. About a week ago at the […]
The Accidentally Deliberate Murder of Augusta Bartz Read More »
In 1933, William Kelly made a horrific decision. He would spend a lifetime haunted by the memories of things he could never undo. Sources “Iowan Uses Hammer to Slay Son, 2.” The Des Moines Tribune, 7/31/1933″ “Romance of T.C. Campus Ended by Double Murder.” The Courier, 8/1/1933 “Injuries Fatal to Mrs. Kelly.” The Des
Episode 30: Haunted – The Kelly Family Murders Read More »
Hauntings are a hallmark of the Halloween season. A common horror fiction theme is having an unsuspecting individual or family move into a new home. Sometimes these are places where some kind of violent act – generally a suicide or murder – took place. The personalities involved with that event remain there as spirits, trapped
Haunted: The Kelly Family Murders Read More »
The desecration of human remains and burial sites are regarded as taboo by our society. Regardless, it still happens, and more often than you think. What kind of person would commit such acts? Come and see. Sources ‘Man Held; Graveyard Vandalism.’ Quad City Times, 6/24/1977 ‘Grave Robbers Hit Davenport Crypt.’ Quad City Times, 4/25/1997
Episode 29: Defiling the Dead Read More »
In 2002, a friend of mine and I took a trip to Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois, about twenty miles outside of Chicago. An enormous Catholic cemetery, it had one major draw for us at that time: gangster graves. Although it might seem a bit strange to some, grave tourism is a popular pastime
When Indiana police heard that Leonard Grubb had killed a man, they definitely wanted to hear more. Haunted by the victims ghost, Leonard happily confessed, leading to one of the strangest stories in Indiana history. Sources 2 In Nashville Jail as Murder Story Is Sifted. The Republic, 10/28/1930 Slaying Exposed in Brown County. The
Episode 28: The Confession of Leonard Grubb Read More »
A large part of making it through prison is learning how to pass the time. Some people just sit and stare, letting their brains wander into realms of imagination far outside their concrete cells. Some read, either to further their education or just for entertainment. There is a myriad of ways to keep yourself occupied;
The Confession of Leonard Grubb Read More »
Some relatives are unwelcome at Christmas. Some are rude. Some look down on you. Some are unwelcome because they’re already dead. In 1937, a dead man allegedly compelled his son to commit a terrible crime at Christmas. Sources Vesper Youth Confesses ‘Spiritual Slaying’ of Son. Marshfield News-Herald, 12/27/1937 Release Wife of Confessed Baby
Episode 27: A Dark and Haunted Holiday Read More »
Christmas morning is something that’s looked forward to by families all over the country. It’s a time to gather with family in a warm, loving space protected from the colder weather that can dominate so many regions during that time of year. The brightly-lit rooms are filled with the delightful smells of homecooked meals and
A Dark and Haunted Holiday Read More »
When Iowa policemen arrested a robbery suspect in 1947, they thought they had just apprehended the thief responsible for numerous area break-ins. They didn’t suspect that they had just caught a notorious and uncommon criminal. Sources ‘Widely-Sought Criminal Nabbed.’ The Democrat and Leader, 3/9/1947 p. 1 ‘Burglar, Wanted By the FBI For Jailbreak and
Episode 26: An Uncommon Criminal Read More »
