DEAD IN LACE: The Haunting Legacy of Victorian Ghosts – Why Are We Obsessed With Them?

She left everything behind to find herself… and was never seen again. Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate IN THIS EPISODE: If you have information regarding Leah Roberts’s disappearance, contact the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office at 360-778-6600 or the Whatcom Communication Dispatch Center at 360-676-6711. A free-spirited young woman set off on a soul-searching road trip inspired by Jack Kerouac — but what she left behind in the wilderness was a wrecked Jeep, a haunting mystery, and no trace of herself. What happened to Leah Roberts? (Lea Roberts’ Last Road Trip) *** In the tropical beauty of Antigua, a chilling mystery unfolds as locals continue to vanish without a trace — leaving a trail of grief, fear, and dark speculation. (The Mystery of Antigua’s Missing People) *** Would you still eat a special love-attracting cake if you knew it was covered in someone's sweat from their armpits and... everywhere else? (The Horrifying History of Love Potions) *** As if death isn’t unnerving as it is, science is now suggesting that you might still be conscious after death — aware your body has failed, but powerless to escape the darkness. (We Might Know We’re Dead When We Die) *** Some believe doppelgängers are omens of death – and some found out personally. (Haunted By Your Own Ghost) *** Biblical legend, Cold War espionage, and decades of silence — the hunt for Noah’s Ark might be stranger than fiction… and it includes the CIA. (The CIA Searches For Noah’s Ark) *** What if a murderer didn’t act alone… but under orders from a mind-control program no one was supposed to know about? (Programmed To Kill: The MKUltra Murders) | CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Introduction/Lead-In 00:00:59.691 = Show Open (Coming Up In This Episode) 00:03:15.506 = Leah Roberts’ Last Road Trip 00:14:15.955 = Programmed To Kill: The MKUltra Murders 00:22:57.047 = The Mystery of Antigua’s Missing People 00:27:14.496 = The Horrifying History of Love Potions 00:38:01.953 = We Might Know We’re Dead When We Die 00:42:24.308 = Haunted By Your Own Ghost 00:49:27.491 = The CIA Searches For Noah’s Ark 00:57:39.103 = Show Close, Verse, and Final Thought SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Leah Roberts’ Last Road Trip”: https://www.ranker.com/list/what-happened-to-leah-roberts-disappearance/jenn-dzikowski, https://charleyproject.org/case/leah-toby-roberts, “The Mysterious Disappearance of Leah Roberts” (Investigation Discovery) “Programmed To Kill: The MKUltra Murders”: https://theintercept.com/2019/11/24/cia-mkultra-louis-jolyon-west/ “The Mystery of Antigua's Missing People”: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0jrk81qpwo “The Horrifying History of Love Potions”: https://www.ranker.com/list/real-love-potion-recipes/cleo-egnal “We Might Know We’re Dead When We Die”: https://www.ranker.com/list/study-shows-brain-works-after-passing/matthew-lavelle “Haunted By Your Own Ghost”:

A man is tormented by his wife’s overwhelming love – a love so intense that not even death can diminish it! Hear the tale, “Till Death Do Us Part” from The Sealed Book! #RetroRadio EP0374 Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness and #RetroRadio:https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:02:00.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Image” (December 22, 1975) ***WD 00:47:55.109 = Quiet Please, “Meeting At Ticonderoga” (March 15, 1948) 01:18:33.189 = Radio City Playhouse, “Dark Hour” (September 25, 1948) 01:48:34.079 = The Board of Missing Heirs, “Estate of John B Fontaine” (March 31, 1946) 02:17:22.789 = Richard Diamond, “Dollar Diamond Heist” (November 12, 1949) ***WD 02:46:37.434 = Ripley’s Believe it Or Not, “Lord Brooks” (1930) ***WD 02:48:33.949 = The Saint, “The Corpse Said Ouch” (August 06, 1950) 03:19:05.239 = Sam Spade, “Fairly Bright Caper” (October 31, 1948) ***WD 03:48:11.909 = The Sealed Book, “Till Death Do Us Part” (July 08, 1945) ***WD 04:19:49.639 = The Shadow, “Dead Men Talk” (September 24, 1939) 04:44:27.666 = 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 = = = = = "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. = = = = = CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0374

Darkness Syndicate members receive the ad-free version: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate HOUR ONE: In parts of Africa it’s not the werewolf you need to look out for, but the were-hyena… and it’s almost always the local blacksmith that is the man behind the monster. (Lesser Known Morphing Monsters: The Shape-Shifter Hyena) *** Does the Vatican have a device that allows them to see in the past and the future? Some believe they do. And if it were to ever fall into the wrong hands, it could then create the “scariest dictatorship the world has ever seen.” (The Vatican’s Chronovisor) *** Some fathers will do whatever it takes to protect the virtue of their daughters. One man’s solution came at the end of an ax blade. (The Linville Murderer) *** A man believes the creature in his nightmares may be trying to speak with him. (Spirit Communicating Through My Dreams) *** A young girl is surprised to find the Easter Bunny visit her in the middle of the night. But many years later she learns it wasn’t either of her parents. (Easter Bunny Creeper) *** The stories range from the being inbred cretins running amok, to government created mutants, to escaped hydrocephalic patients from an insane asylum. What are the strange creatures people are seeing in the deep woods of Ohio? (Strange Encounters With The Bizarre Melonheads) *** Glitch In The Matrix ========== HOUR TWO: A group of hunters and Bigfoot enthusiasts go out looking for the elusive creature – but what they find is even more bizarre than anyone might have expected. (The Ultimate Monstrous Thought-Form) *** No one really thinks about it, but cops are usually one of the most credible witnesses to paranormal phenomena. Police officers are trained observers and usually will make better witnesses than a civilian. But even our brave men and women in blue can be terrified into a shade of white. (Police and the Paranormal) *** A bizarre phenomenon that manages to teeter where the lines of Bigfoot, Werewolves, the paranormal, and urban legend intersect, takes things deeper into the strange with various reports that suggest these beings utilize the mental power of telepathy as well. We’ll look into some of the creepy encounters with the Dogman. (Bizarre Encounters With Telepathic Dogmen) ==========SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT’S SHOW:“Lesser Known Morphing Monsters: The Shape-Shifter Hyena” by Nick Redfern: http://bit.ly/2lNmfOq“The Vatican’s Chronovisor” by Amando Flavio: http://bit.ly/2mh4Vl3“The Linville Murderer” by Robert Wilhelm: http://bit.ly/2klRUWQ“Spirit Communicating Through My Dreams” by Ari Lancaster: http://bit.ly/2mh4QxL“The Easter Bunny Creeper” posted anonymously at WeirdDarkness.com: http://bit.ly/2lN3Wcb“Strange Encounters With The Bizarre Melonheads” by Brent Swancer: http://bit.ly/2keM2hS“Glitch In The Matrix” from Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.com/magazine“Bizarre Encounters With Telepathic Dogmen” by Brent Swancer: http://bit.ly/2lQ72fv (Photos mentioned in this story:http://bit.ly/2mbhs9r) “Police and the Paranormal” is a collection of stories gathered from GhostTheory.com and GhostsNGhouls.com: http://bit.ly/2kKyk6K (other link is no longer available)“The Ultimate Monstrous Thought-Form” by Nick Redfern:

Time frays at the edges, shadows move on their own, and something unseen waits beneath the floorboards of the Alaskan Hotel. Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate IN THIS EPISODE: The Alaskan Triangle is already known for strange and bizarre activity – so it should be no surprise that a hotel located in the triangle might experience a few bumps in the night. (The Demonic Haunting of the Alaskan Hotel) *** After picking up a sex worker to assault and murder, a serial killer made the mistake of underestimating the determination of his victim to stay alive… and lost his own life in the process. (The Hooker Who Stopped a Serial Killer) *** Chucky the doll isn’t real. Neither were any of the dolls that came to life on shows like “The Twilight Zone” and “Outer Limits” – but that doesn’t mean real haunted dolls don’t exist, and it’s not just “Annabelle” and “Robert” on the list. (When Haunted Dolls Attack) *** Ilse Koch was a female concentration camp guard and she was so ruthless and evil even the Na*is had her arrested. (Ilse Koch: The Witch of Buchenwald) *** They reside atop dizzying heights and are often unnoticed by human eyes but ever watchful of our movements. They have 'observed' us for centuries. We’ll look at the history and purpose of gargoyles and grotesques. (In The Protection of Gargoyles) *** Outside of Washington, D.C. lies an abandoned institution with a thoroughly disturbing past. We’ll look at the history and horrors of Forest Haven Mental Asylum. (The Afflictions Of Forest Haven Asylum) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00.00.000 = Introduction 00:01:12.945 = Show Open (Coming Up In This Episode) 00:03:20.449 = The Demonic Haunting Of The Alaskan Hotel 00:15:21.499 = The Hooker Who Stopped A Serial Killer 00:22:01.048 = When Haunted Dolls Attack 00:45:24.870 = Ilse Koch, The Witch Of Buchenwald 00:57:00.094 = In The Protection of Gargoyles 01:04:25.779 = The Afflictions of Forest Haven Asylum 01:11:53.958 = Show Close, Verse, and Final Thought 01:12:57.056 = Bloopers SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… “The Demonic Haunting of the Alaskan Hotel” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8w47e9 “The Hooker Who Stopped A Serial Killer” by Roger Kim for Unspeakable Times: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2ffhcv4n “Ilse Koch: The Witch of Buchenwald” by Laura Allen for Weird History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yr3a4dvy “In The Protection of Gargoyles” by Angela Sutherland for Ancient Pages: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3j94t765 “The Afflictions Of Forest Haven Asylum” by Gary Sweeney for The Line Up: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/34p6fe79 “When Haunted Dolls Attack” by MD Bastek for Horror Obsessive: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckuhxk6 ===== (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...

Can demonic possession be blamed for murder, or is it just the ultimate excuse for the inexcusable? Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate IN THIS EPISODE: From serial killers to seemingly ordinary individuals, a chilling phenomenon emerges as criminals claim demonic possession drove them to commit unspeakable acts. These disturbing cases, spanning decades and continents, blur the lines between evil and the supernatural, leaving us questioning the true nature of their heinous crimes. From the infamous Son of Sam to a father who claimed demonic voices compelled him to murder his own child, we’ll explore some of these cases and let you decide if the devil made them do it. (Demonic Crimes) *** The Rose family lived comfortably in the picturesque Pleasant Valley in the late 1800s. However, oldest daughter Ceely's unrequited love for a neighbor boy led to a series of chilling events. Her obsession turned deadly, leading not only to death, but to a ghostly presence as well. (Love, Poison, and Ghosts – The Case of Ceely Rose) *** In the wild era of the 1920s and 1930s, organized crime flourished in the United States, with hitmen like the mysterious "Buster from Chicago" making a name for themselves. Known for his ruthless efficiency and chilling calm, Buster was responsible for many high-profile mob hits during the violent Castellammarese War. But who was Buster? (The Enigmatic Hitman, Buster From Chicago) *** In July 1993, 26-year-old Kristin Ann set out for her morning jog, but her run ended in a horrifying, fatal attack. The shocking crime has left her grieving family and community outraged and seeking justice. (The Murder of Kristin Ann) *** Imagine falling asleep on your usual train ride home, only to wake up at a mysterious, strikingly-white colored station with no way to leave. You encounter a strange child-like figure who warns you that this place is "one step before death." This is the eerie reality of Hitsuka Station, a ghostly train stop in Japan that traps unsuspecting passengers. (The Haunting of Hitsuka Station) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00.00.000 = Disclaimer and Lead-In 00:01:53.101 = Show Open (Coming Up In This Episode) 00:04:53.747 = Demonic Crimes 00:31:58.375 = Love, Poison, and Ghosts – The Case of Ceely Rose 00:39:19.947 = The Enigmatic Hitman, Buster From Chicago 00:45:57.378 = The Haunting of Hitsuka Station 00:53:30.530 = The Murder of Kristin Ann 01:00:27.146 = Show Close, Verse, and Final Thought SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Love, Poison, and Ghosts – The Case of Ceely Rose” source: Anomalien.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9684ce “The Enigmatic Hitman, Buster From Chicago” source: Bipin Dimri at HistoricMysteries.com,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8rfupk “The Murder of Kristin Ann” source: Robert Waters at KidnappingMurderAndMayhem.blogspot.com,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9s5d5h “The Haunting Of Hitsuka Station” source: TheGhostInMyMachine.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckmcauh “Demonic Crimes” source: Jacob Shelton at Ranker.com’s Graveyard Shift, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yc66dun2; Benjamin Welton at ListVerse.com,