“The Unidentified Dandy Dressed Corpse Case” #MurderNoir

THE TRUE CRIME CASE THIS STORY IS BASED ON: Matthew Hoffman, a former tree trimmer turned murderer, became known as "The Leaf Killer" after authorities discovered his gruesome crimes in 2010. Following a downward spiral involving job loss, a breakup, and prison time for arson, Hoffman's behavior grew increasingly erratic. He began spending hours in trees, stalking his neighbors, and developing a disturbing obsession with leaves. Hoffman's fixation turned deadly when he invaded the isolated home of Tina Herrmann in Mount Vernon, Ohio, murdering her, her two children, and her friend Stephanie Sprang. After dismembering their bodies, he hid the remains in a hollow tree. His house, bizarrely filled with piles of leaves, concealed 13-year-old Sarah Maynard, whom he had kidnapped and assaulted. Hoffman’s capture was a result of meticulous police work, which involved tracking his purchases and analyzing security footage. Facing the death penalty, Hoffman confessed and led authorities to the victims' remains in exchange for a life sentence without parole. Sarah Maynard testified at his trial. SOURCES… https://www.ranker.com/list/matthew-hoffman-leaf-case/sonja-ska Music provided 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.) = = = = = "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 ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: July 01, 2024 CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/the-tree-trimmers-terrifying-secret-unmasking-the-leaf-killer-murdernoir/

IN THIS EPISODE: Mother Shipton was known for her prognostication skills – but she was even more well known for her grotesque appearance. So much so that she was nicknamed The York Witch, and the Devil’s Daughter. But others have another name for her… hoax. (The Devil’s Daughter) *** A family heirloom begins acting strange when a woman moves into her deceased grandmother’s home. (I Moved Into My Dead Grandmother’s House) *** Is it possible that ghosts, visions, and other paranormal experiences are not only real – but also good for your mental health? (Therapeutic Ghosts) *** After it closed, the old hospital site became a popular destination for thrill-seeking kids looking for the scare of a lifetime. Why does Danvers State Hospital rank among history’s most infamous asylums? (The Infamy of Danvers State Hospital) *** Attend any amateur magic show and most assuredly you will hear a certain word at least once. Why do illusionists use this word? What does it mean – if anything? We’ll look at the very interesting history behind the word “Abracadabra.” (Say The Magic Word) YOUTUBE CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS… 00:00:00.000 = Title Story Preview and Show Open 00:05:53.740 = The Devil’s Daughter, Mother Shipton 00:11:49.055 = I Moved Into My Dead Grandmother’s House 00:17:50.073 = The Infamy of Danvers State Hospital 00:24:26.031 = Therapeutic Ghosts 00:34:31.408 = Say The Magic Word 00:40:27.963 = Show Close SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Arkham’s Dark Past” was written by Darren Marlar “I Moved Into My Dead Grandmother’s House” by Kelsey for Your Ghost Stories: https://tinyurl.com/rjcvecr “The Devil’s Daughter” by Marc Hartzman for Weird Historian: https://tinyurl.com/vp6vlo4 “Therapeutic Ghosts” by Andreas Sommer for Aeon: https://tinyurl.com/r7xcv2v “The Infamy of Danvers State Hospital” by William DeLong for All That’s Interesting: https://tinyurl.com/rd223yu “Say The Magic Word” from Ancient Origins: https://tinyurl.com/sl9nlzm 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 ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: September, 2020 CUSTOM LANDING PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/danvers-arkham-asylum/

HOUR ONE: Did lost cosmonauts make it into space before Yuri Gagarin? (The Tombs in Space) *** Don't take a gift from Gracie Watson's grave... or her life-like statue might cry tears of blood. (Gracie’s Ghost) *** Did Bonnie Scott run away? Was she kidnapped? Murdered perhaps? All anyone knew was that no one had a clue where she was. She had simply disappeared without a trace. (The Murder of Bonnie Leigh Scott) *** A latchkey kid comes home to an empty house… or so they thought until they heard footsteps in another room. (The Laundry Room) ========== HOUR TWO: Just because the Ouija board is made by a board game manufacturer does not mean it should be treated like a toy – as many have discovered. *** The similar game, Charlie Charlie seems more innocent – but is so dangerous that in one school where children were playing it, they had to call in an exorcist. *** And you never know when playing any of these types of games what kind of spirit you might be inviting into our realm – but I can tell you this…. It’s never good. They might pretend to be good, but that’s far from the truth. And one particular demon has found notoriety through the Ouija board community, a demon you don’t want to risk opening a door for. It’s name is Zozo. ========== SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: People often encounter strange and frightening things when they experience sleep paralysis – but in one particular story, the horrors began well before going to bed. (Sleep Paralysis in Bangkok) *** Samuel Joselyn was buried in 1810 in a North Carolina cemetery.  Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that Samuel was actually DEAD at the time of his burial! (Buried Alive in Wilmington) *** in 1894 Rosa Lochner was a witness to murder, but she had been deaf since birth and her spoken vocabulary was limited. So how could she testify against the accused? (Murder In Pantomime) *** A boy wakes to find his previously closed curtains now open – and the only explanation involves a previous resident of the house he’s now living in. (Strange Manifestations) *** Mention the word “Chupacabra” and most people will think of a strange, hairless dog-like animal. They are never described as having the ability to fly… until now. (Winged Chupacabras) *** These UFOs aren’t shiny metallic discs or cigar-shaped spaceships. They are humanoid – and they fly without the help of a jetpack, wings, cape or even a broom to sit on. And the sightings are still coming in all throughout Mexico. (The Flying Humanoids of Mexico) *** The North Carolina Cherokee have a story about how dangerous it can be even near a calm river – where the waters can suddenly foam and a giant beast can appear on the rocks. (James and the Giant Leech) *** Supernatural women, shadowy men, odd animal sightings, and more… they can all be found at late-night truck stops if you’re not careful. (Truck Stop Horror Stories) ========== SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT’S SHOW: “Charlie Charlie” https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ydpwych9, and “Ouija Boards” https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mzyfmweeby Jacob Shelton for Graveyard Shift “ZoZo the Ouija Board Demon” by Maggie Clendenin for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/xtc8x9pe “The Tombs in Space” posted at The Unredacted: http://ow.ly/nW5U30mwbWw “Gracie’s Ghost” by Gary Sweeney for The Line Up: http://ow.ly/arFz30mwaLc “The Murder of Bonnie Leigh Scott” by Troy Taylor for American Hauntings Ink:

THE TRUE CRIME CASE THIS STORY IS BASED ON: In the rough and tumble world of 1890s New Jersey, William H. Dunham, owner of two notorious roadhouses, meets a violent end. Known for his ill temper and jealousy, Dunham's life of debauchery and crime catches up with him on the night of December 23, 1891. After a drunken brawl with his wife, "Diamond Kate," and their hostler, Patrick Phelan, Dunham is found shot dead in his own establishment. Despite numerous enemies and a tumultuous personal life, the investigation into Dunham's murder stalls. The discovery of a clean, unfired revolver at the scene and various suspects, including rivals and jilted lovers, complicate the case. Multiple arrests and interrogations yield no conclusive answers, and the once-prominent roadhouse owner’s murder remains unsolved. SOURCES… http://www.murderbygaslight.com/2019/06/the-dunham-murder.html Music provided 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.) = = = = = "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 ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: June 30, 2024 CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/the-roadhouse-requiem-case-murdernoir/

IN THIS EPISODE: A calm resident spirit suddenly begins making the children in one home sick. (Resident Spirit) *** The most sensational murder in 1930 revolved around the mob in Chicago… but the murder victim wasn’t a made man, it was a reporter from the Chicago Tribune. (Who Killed Jake Lingle?) *** In 1961, Joan Risch vanished from her Massachusetts home, leaving behind two children, a distraught husband, and a kitchen streaked with blood. (Blood On The Kitchen Floor) *** Imagine receiving an email from one of your closest friends talking about what happened just yesterday… but that friend who emailed you had died several months ago. (Emails From The Dead) *** Pregnancy and the paranormal. Are the two related? I’ll share four accounts from pregnant women who might have you believing there is a connection. (Pregnancy and the Paranormal) *** Why do some people dream about future events? Why are some dreams full of hidden meaning? Can some of our dreams be glimpses of events taking place in an alternate reality, a parallel Universe? (Are Dreams Glimpses Of a Parallel Universe?) *** Plus, a very creepy original story suggested to me by a fellow Weirdo, called “Happy Sun Daycare”. YOUTUBE CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS… 00:00:00.000 = Title Story Preview and Show Open 00:03:23.641 = Are Dreams Glimpses Of A Parallel Universe? 00:11:18.049 = Resident Spirit Giving Me a Heads Up 00:16:56.722 = Emails From The Dead 00:21:17.050 = Pregnancy And The Paranormal 00:29:22.015 = Who Killed Jack Lingle 00:53:31.526 = Blood On The Kitchen Floor 01:02:30.682 = Happy Sun Daycare (Short Horror Fiction) 01:26:07.037 = Show Close SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Resident Spirit Giving Me a Heads Up” by SpiritWaiting for Your Ghost Stories: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/te4z639n “Who Killed Jake Lingle?” by Troy Taylor for American Hauntings: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/a7e74xy8 “Blood On The Kitchen Floor” by Gary Sweeney for The Line Up: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4y3mhx4s “Emails From The Dead” by Les Hewitt for Paranorms: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/42f4rn6h “Pregnancy and the Paranormal” (link no longer available) “Are Dreams Glimpses Of A Parallel Universe?” by Ellen Lloyd for Message to Eagle:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/vay5md3a “Happy Sun Daycare” by Chelsea Adams: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/abw7j7xd 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 ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: September, 2018 CUSTOM LANDING PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/emails-from-the-dead/