Sylacauga is a small town in central Alabama, nestled amid the rolling hills and forests of Talladega County. Back in the 1990s, this tight-knit community was so diminutive that it lacked fundamental establishments such as motels, restaurants, or even a solitary traffic signal. The town's limited size fostered a culture where nearly everyone was familiar with each other. Within the context of small-town Alabama, individuals within the LGBTQ+ community often chose to conceal their identities....

While it is often said that the most dangerous predators conceal themselves in plain sight, the unsettling reality is that not all of these people masquerade as harmless. Some have the convictions to back up their disturbing backgrounds, but still, they can find a way to worm themselves into people’s lives. In the year 2020, a mother from Davenport, Iowa, confronted the stark reality that certain individuals can too often remain consistent in their harmful ways. SPONSORS - Obscure...

During the 1980s, forensic science was still in its early stages, lacking the advanced techniques we have today. However, over the subsequent couple of decades, remarkable strides were made in the field. DNA testing, fingerprint analysis, and fibre testing emerged, ushering in a new era of forensic capabilities. With these breakthroughs, cold cases that had long remained unsolved began to be revisited, utilizing the power of modern investigative techniques. Among these cases was the tragic...

Halloween was fast approaching in Maybee, Michigan, on the 24th of October, 2014. In preparation, people were putting the final touches to their Halloween costumes and making sure that their candy bowls were well-stocked. That night, a massive Halloween party was being held nearby in Newport. Around 600 people gathered at the party, flaunting their costumes, watching the bands, and having some drinks. However, amidst the lively celebration, an ominous presence lurked among the guests,...

Nestled within Davis County, Utah, Layton stands as a vibrant city, intimately connected to the bustling heart of Salt Lake City. This commuter’s haven, with its approximately 80,000 residents, has carved its place on the map. However, in spring of 2010, citizens of Layton awoke to find police officers scouring throughout the neighborhoods. They were searching for a little boy who had inexplicably vanished in the middle of the night. SHOW NOTES -...

"Follow MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge the first 8 episodes, early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today. The human body is a miracle. But when it’s not working, it can be the stuff of nightmares. On this new series from master storyteller MrBallen, we’re sharing medical horror stories and diagnostic mysteries that are surgically calibrated to make your blood run cold. From bizarre, unheard-of diseases and miraculous...

It was a quiet night in Stellebosch, a town located in the Western Cape of South Africa, on 27 May, 2017. University student, Hannah Cornelious, had offered her friend, Cheslin Marsh, a lift back home after a night out. As they sat chatting in her parked car outside his apartment, they were unaware that they were being watched… SPONSORS - Babbel: Thank you to Babbel for sponsoring this episode! Learn a new language in as little as three weeks with Babbel. Get 55% off at:...

Once upon a time, Boston, Massachusetts, was marred by period of decay and rampant crime. Yet, as time progressed, a remarkable transformation swept through the city, turning it into a thriving epicentre. Modern apartment complexes sprang up, luring wealthy professionals and giving rise to an era of prosperity. Boston’s identity shifted, gaining the reputation of an urban utopia where expensive residential towers stood tall, many of which came with the protection of a security team. In 2017,...

Once upon a time, Boston, Massachusetts, was marred by period of decay and rampant crime. Yet, as time progressed, a remarkable transformation swept through the city, turning it into a thriving epicentre. Modern apartment complexes sprang up, luring wealthy professionals and giving rise to an era of prosperity. Boston’s identity shifted, gaining the reputation of an urban utopia where expensive residential towers stood tall, many of which came with the protection of a security team. In 2017,...

In August, 2021, detectives in Huddersfield, United Kingdom, were investigating a case where a teenage boy reportedly fell unconscious while in the bathtub. As they initiated their inquiry within the family residence, a peculiar discovery awaited them: surveillance cameras strategically placed in every corner of the house. SPONSORS - Factor: Thank you to Factor for sponsering this episode! Take away the stress of cooking and get Factor’s delicious meals delivered right to your door. Get 50%...

Situated approximately 70 kilometres from Vancouver, Abbotsford stands as a bedroom community in Canada. The cityscape is marked by extensive farmlands, orchards, and rolling hills that lend to its quaint rural allure. However, in 1995, Abbotsford was shaken by a brutal assault on two teenage girls who were making their way home from a party. Following the grim incident, the assailant initiated a series of unsettling phone calls to the police, forewarning of impending acts of violence....

What if you were trafficked into a cult...or were mauled by a grizzly bear...or were stabbed 27 times by a serial killer - what would you do? This is Actually Happening brings you extraordinary true stories of life-changing events told by the people who lived them. In their newest season, you’ll hear from a man who watched as his wife developed 21 new identities, or the women who began seeing demons everywhere inhabiting people, including her own son. These stories will have you on the edge...

For fifteen years you could call a private number in Manhattan and anonymously apologize for anything. It was called The Apology Line. This is the story of the phone line and the man at the other end who became consumed by his own creation. He was known as “Mr. Apology.” As thousands of callers flooded the line, confessing to everything from shoplifting to adultery, drug dealing, to murder, Mr. Apology realized he couldn’t just listen. He had to do something, even if it meant risking...

It was a quiet morning in the small village of Llantwit Fardre in Wales on 21 November, 2021. Abigail Fox-Roberts had become concerned after she couldn’t reach her mother, June, on the phone. She decided to drive over to her home, but as soon as she entered, it became obvious that something was amiss. In the hallway, there was a trail of blood that led Abigail right into the dining room… SPONSORS - Factor: Thank you to Factor for sponsering this episode! Take away the stress of cooking and...

Numerous safeguards are established to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly children. In an ideal world, these systems work the way they are supposed to. Unfortunately, however, the child protection system is infallible, and when it fails, children are the ones left to pay the ultimate price. SPONSORS - Zocdoc: Thank you to Zocdoc for sponsoring this episode! Zocdoc is the only free app that lets you find and book doctors who are patient reviewed, take your insurance & are...

In the realm of human emotion, love knows no boundaries, and yet, acceptance remains a distant dream for some. In the 1990s, a gay couple sought refuge from mounting homophobia, leaving behind the confines of Colorado for the promises of Medford, Oregon. But their aspirations for a safe haven were shattered in 1995, when the couple mysteriously vanished. Fears began running rampant that they had become the victim of the very thing they were trying to escape… SHOW NOTES -...

One night in April 2011, a man in Denver observed a large barrel emanating flames coming from the back of a bakery. He thought nothing of it at the time, but would soon learn that a teenager was missing from the area, and a man who worked in the bakery was the last person to see her… SHOW NOTES - https://www.morbidology-the-podcast-219-kenia-monge PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/morbidology Audio Credit: Epidemic Sound Evening of Chaos - Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Empty Reflections...

When Mike Williams vanishes on a hunting trip, the authorities suspect he was eaten by alligators but the true predators who took Mike may lurk much closer to home. The mystery of Mike’s disappearance might have faded from memory, if it wasn’t for one woman’s tireless crusade. From Wondery, comes a new season of Over My Dead Body; a story about an obsessive love affair, a scandalous secret and a mother’s battle for the truth.Follow Over My Dead Body: Gone Hunting on Amazon Music or wherever...

The Cape Coral Courtyard Condominiums in Cape Coral, Florida, comprise of one and two-story wood-paneled townhouses. They’re nestled at the end of a winding road and are shaded under large trees, just west of Viscaya Parkway. Madeline Munch was fast asleep in her condominium on 10 May, 1990, when she was awoken by deafening screams coming from next door. Those screams were followed by tearful pleas of “my baby, my baby, the f*****g neighbours, why didn’t they wake up?” SHOW NOTES -...

On Friday the 11th of June, 2009, Joanne Witt’s co-workers were concerned when she failed to show up for work. Over the weekend, they routinely checked at her home. The air conditioning was switched on, but nobody answered the door. By Monday, their concern had escalated so much that they promptly reported her missing. SPONSORS - Babbel: Thank you to Babbel for sponsoring this episode! Learn a new language in as little as three weeks with Babbel. Get 55% off at:...

Tracey Marceau had just woken up on the 7th of November, 2011, when she heard a knock at the front door of her home in Hillcrest, Auckland, New Zealand. When she opened up the front door, she saw a man standing there before her. She recognised him immediately. Before she even had time to react, he reached into his bag and pulled out a large knife. SPONSORS - Zocdoc: Thank you to Zocdoc for sponsoring this episode! Zocdoc is the only free app that lets you find and book doctors who are...

It is widely acknowledged that disparities exist in missing person cases. When a victim fits the mold of an all-American, girl-next-door from an affluent family, their case tends to garner significantly more national attention. This reality was evident in two remarkably similar cases involving pregnant mothers that occurred in California in 2002. The divergent treatment and media coverage of these cases showed that not all victims are equal. SPONSORS - 4Patriots: Thank you to 4Patriots for...

On 23 October, 2009, the small town of Chatham, New Jersey, gathered at St. Patrick’s Church. They expected to see the priest, but they were met with an eerie silence. The search for the missing priest would reveal that darkness can lurk in even the most unexpected of places and sometimes, wolves can conceal themselves in sheep’s clothing. SPONSORS - 4Patriots: Thank you to 4Patriots for sponsoring this episode! With hurricane season fast approaching, it’s time to prepare with 4Patriot’s...

"Leon Benson spent 24 years in an Indiana state prison for the 1998 murder of a young man named Kasey Schoen. His conviction hinged on the testimony of two eyewitnesses – but what if their memories turned out to be wrong? And what if the people who knew what really happened had never been allowed to speak? Suspect Season 3: Five Shots in the Dark is the story of two victims: one murdered, one sentenced to life. Follow host Matt Shaer and attorney Lara Bazelon as they investigate how the...

On the morning of October 9, 2020, Jessica Brookes received an alarming phone call from her pregnant daughter’s husband in New Boston, Texas. Concern filled his voice as he explained that he couldn’t reach her and that their daughter had failed to appear at day-care. Jessica’s heart raced as she hastily arrived at her daughter’s home, only to be overcome with terror at the sight of blood staining the back door handle. SPONSORS - Healthycell: Thank you to Healthycell for sponsoring this...