This week, we’re talking about one painting that refuses to burn and one family that decided reality was optional. From The Crying Boy curse that terrified Britain to the Tromp family’s “we’re going off-grid, kids” road trip, we’re unpacking the chaos, the confusion, and the downright weird energy connecting these two infamous tales. Seatbelts on — emotionally and otherwise.

• The Sun (1985) — original tabloid coverage that triggered the panic
  

• Punt PI, BBC Radio 4, Series 3 (2010) — “The Crying Boy” episode
  

• Massimo Polidoro, “Curse That Painting!”, Skeptical Inquirer (Nov/Dec 2012) https://skepticalinquirer.org/2012/11/curse-that-painting/
  

• Atlas Obscura, “A Painting of a Crying Boy Was Blamed for a Series of Fires in the ’80s.” https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/crying-boy-painting-fires
  

• Wikipedia — The Crying Boy overview https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crying_Boy
  

• ABC News: “Mark Tromp apologises for hurt, concern caused by bizarre family road trip”. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-06/mark-tromp-apologises-for-puzzling-family-road-trip/7818562 ABC
  

• SBS News: “Tromp father apologises over road trip”. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/tromp-father-apologises-over-road-trip/2gwj4tafd SBS Australia
  

• SBS News: “Tromp family road trip still a mystery”. [https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/tromp-family-road-trip-still-a-mystery/cu9o25rc7 SBS Australia
  

• The New Daily: “Ella Tromp charged with car theft as family’s ‘road trip’ saga mystery deepens”. https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2016/09/05/ella-tromp-stolen-car The New Daily
  

• The New Daily: “Tromp daughter found hiding in the back of a ute”. https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2016/09/02/tromp-holiday The New Daily
  

Pedestrian.TV: “Mark Tromp gives first statement after vanishing on bizarro family trip”. https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/mark-tromp-gives-first-statement-after-vanishing-on-bizarro-family-trip/ Pedestrian.tv

We’re diving into the witchy OGs: the Witch of Endor (who once summoned a dead king like it was her side hustle) and Mother Shipton, the Yorkshire prophetess who had thoughts about the future. Miracles? Curses? Early influencer energy? Grab your brooms — we’re judging everyone.

• Bible Odyssey – The Woman at Endor
  

• 1 Samuel 28 – Bible Gateway
  

• University of Hertfordshire – The Witch of Endor in History and Folklore
  

• Jewish Encyclopedia – Endor, The Witch of
  

• GotQuestions – Who Was the Witch of Endor?
  

• Marg Mowczko – The Witch of Endor and King Saul
  

• Wikipedia – Witch of Endor
  

• My Jewish Learning – The Witch of Endor
  

• Tandfonline – The Witch of Endor in Folklore Studie

• Mother Shipton — Wikipedia. Wikipedia
  

• Mother Shipton’s Cave — Wikipedia (petrifying well history & tourist site). Wikipedia
  

• “Mother Shipton and Her Prophesies” — Historic UK (local legend & summary). Historic UK
  

• The Prophesie of Mother Shipton in the raigne of King Henry the Eighth (Early printed edition, 1641 — EEBO entry, University of Michigan). Quod Lib.
  

• The Park / Official Mother Shipton’s Cave site (history of the Petrifying Well & tourism). Mother Shipton's Cave
  

• Atlas Obscura — Mother Shipton’s Cave and the Petrifying Well.
  

• “Divining the Witch of York: Propaganda and Prophecy” / Public Domain Review (essay on myth formation and later interpolations). Wikipedia+1
  

• Sacred-Texts / “Mother Shipton Investigated” — collected prophecies and later attributions. Internet Sacred Text Archive
  

Various archival & reprint references to early editions and Victorian additions (Google Books / AbeBooks listings for collected early editions). Google Books+1

It’s one thing when your neighbors suck — it’s another when they’re invisible, angry, and possibly from hell. This week, we’re talking the Smurl haunting and those nightmare-fuel Black-Eyed Children who don’t understand the concept of the word “no.” Buckle up, witches — this one’s pure chaos, so grab your champagne and lets dive in!

Champagne Pairing: Luc Belaire Luxe

A little dramatic, a little supernatural. Glossy black bottle, gold lettering — perfect for an episode that goes from haunted houses to black-eyed horrors.

• Wikipedia — Smurl Haunting
  

• All That’s Interesting — The Smurl Haunting: One Family’s Nightmare
  

• Times Leader — “Demon in Home Grabs Our Attention”
  

• Brian Fanelli — “Revisiting the Smurl Story and The Haunted (1991)”
  

• People — Where Is the Smurl Family Now?
  

• IMDb — The Haunted (1991)
  

Pocono Record — Jack Smurl Obituary & Retrospective

• Brian Bethel, Abilene Reporter-News: “Brian Bethel recounts his possible paranormal encounter with ‘BEKs’.” https://goo.gl/BNe9Y9
  

• Wikipedia — Black-eyed children: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-eyed_children
  

• Snopes — Fact Check: Black-eyed children: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/black-eyed-children/
  

• Atlas Obscura — Death as a Child: The Modern Legend of the Black-Eyed Children: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/black-eyed-children-urban-legend
  

• The Guardian — Black-eyed ghosts and giant mutant rats: the scare stories…: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/30/black-eyed-ghosts-killer-cats-terrifying-nearly-brought-britain-to-knees
  

• ITV News — Return of The Black-Eyed Child ghost in Staffordshire: https://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2014-09-30/return-of-the-black-eyed-child-ghost-in-staffordshire/
  

• Reddit (community encounters): https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalEncounters/comments/1edemv5/are_black_eyed_children_real/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mrballen/comments/1ie5c9b/brian_bethel_and_the_blackeyed_kids/
  

One came as a whisper from the afterlife. The other, a blip from the stars. Both changed the way we think about who — or what — might be trying to reach us. This episode unpacks two strange moments in history that made humanity stop and listen.

Champagne Pairing: Luc Belaire Luxe

• Wikipedia — Greenbrier Ghost (concise overview with trial and autopsy details). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenbrier_Ghost. Wikipedia
  

• Greenbrier County / local history writeup — “The Greenbrier Ghost, Zona Heaster Shue” (local perspective and marker info). https://greenbrierwv.com/editorials/the-greenbrier-ghost. Greenbrier WV
  

• GothicHorrorStories — “The death, resurrection and retribution of Zona Heaster Shue: The Greenbrier Ghost.” (narrative retelling with period flavor). https://www.gothichorrorstories.com/gothic-travel/the-death-resurrection-and-retribution-of-zona-heaster-shue-the-greenbrier-ghost/. gothichorrorstories.com
  

• Dannye Chase blog — clear chronology and summary. https://dannyechase.com/blog/greenbrier/. Dannye Chase
  

AppalachianHistory — local storytelling version and context. https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2018/01/greenbrier-ghost.html

1. Big Ear Radio Observatory — official Wow! page: https://www.bigear.org/wow.htm Big Ear
   

2. Wikipedia — Wow! signal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wow%21_signal Wikipedia
   

3. Antonio Paris (2017) — Hydrogen Line Observations of Cometary Spectra at 1420 MHz (arXiv): https://arxiv.org/abs/1706.03259 arXiv
   

4. Scientific American — “The Wow! Signal Might Not Have Been Aliens — But a Weird Cosmic Outburst”: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-wow-signal-seti-mystery-might-at-last-be-solved/ Scientific American
   

5. Phys.org — “The 'Wow!' signal gets an update: It was even stronger than we thought”: https://phys.org/news/2025-08-wow-stronger-thought.html Phys.org
   

Astrobio / coverage of archival Arecibo/Big Ear re-analysis (Aug 2025): https://astrobiology.com/2025/08/arecibo-wow-ii-revised-properties-of-the-wow-signal-from-archival-ohio-seti-data.html Astrobiology

In this episode we explore two of America’s most haunting vanishings separated by centuries but tied by the same unsettling question: what really happened?

First, we journey to the late 16th century and the vanishing of the Lost Colony of Roanoke—117 English settlers who disappeared from Roanoke Island, leaving only the cryptic word “CROATOAN” as a clue. What theories persist to this day, and what new discoveries might be rewriting the story?

Then, we leap forward to February 1978 in Northern California, where five men from Yuba County set out on a routine drive home and vanished into the wilderness. Over time their car, bodies, and one permanently missing man turned into one of the most bizarre and confounding true crime mysteries in U.S. history.

Join us as we compare these two enigmas of disappearance: their facts, the theories, the lingering questions, and what draws us to stories where people simply vanish from our grasp.

Champagne Pairing for this episode is: Ruinart Blanc de Blancs

https://kegnbottle.com/products/ruinart-blanc-de-blancs-champagne?variant=39656500035713&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping%3Eover-index&utm_id=22918917036&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22918917036&gbraid=0AAAAADMKQrou4bG6tsQthRCQSm5uQ3ajS&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0Y3HBhCxARIsAN7931WDaZac82cd6Xrd4ZgGcfhhD-7uCxyfNzHeha0c3IPh40gwJUUZg8IaAnDxEALw_wcB

1. Britannica — The Lost Colony of Roanoke https://www.britannica.com/story/the-lost-colony-of-roanoke
   

2. National Park Service — Fort Raleigh National Historic Site: https://www.nps.gov/fora/
   

3. NPS — Major Theories of the Lost Colony: https://www.nps.gov/fora/learn/historyculture/major-theories-of-the-lost-colony.htm
   

4. History.com — Archaeologists Find New Clues to “Lost Colony” Mystery: https://www.history.com/articles/archaeologists-find-new-clues-to-lost-colony-mystery
   

5. First Colony Foundation — Hidden Images Revealed on Elizabethan Map of America: https://www.firstcolonyfoundation.org/news/hidden-images-revealed-elizabethan-map-america/
   

6. Encyclopedia Virginia — John White returns to Roanoke: https://encyclopediavirginia.org/primary-documents/john-white-returns-to-roanoke-an-excerpt-from-the-fift-voyage-of-master-john-white-into-the-west-indies-and-parts-of-america-called-virginia-in-the-yeere-1590-1600/
   

7. Popular Archaeology — Lost and Found: The Evidence for the Lost Colony: https://popular-archaeology.com/article/lost-and-found-the-evidence-for-the-lost-colony/
   

8. Colonial Williamsburg — What Happened To The Lost Colony?: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/discover/resource-hub/trend-tradition-magazine/trend-tradition-spring-2025/lost-colony/
   

9. Andrew Lawler — analysis piece: https://www.andrewlawler.com/we-finally-have-clues-to-how-americas-lost-colony-vanished/
   

British Museum / John White map object page: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1906-0509-1-3

1. Wikipedia — Yuba County Five https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuba_County_Five Wikipedia
   

2. AllThat’s Interesting — The Yuba County Five: California's Most Baffling Mystery https://allthatsinteresting.com/yuba-county-five All That's Interesting
   

3. KCRA — local coverage and note on recent documentary attention https://www.kcra.com/article/yuba-county-five-mystery-disappearances/63906316 KCRA
   

4. ABC News (Australia) — Five men disappear on a snowy February night — four are found dead, and one is never seen again. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-24/yuba-county-five-missing-persons-case/103472558 ABC
   

5. Charley Project — Gary Dale Mathias https://charleyproject.org/case/gary-dale-mathias charleyproject.org
   

6. Den of Geek — Files of the Unexplained: What Netflix's Yuba County Five Doc Leaves Out https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/files-of-the-unexplained-what-netflixs-yuba-county-five-doc-leaves-out/ Den of Geek
   

Historic Mysteries https://www.historicmysteries.com/unexplained-mysteries/yuba-county-five/28692/ Historic Mysteries

When we first launched Champagne and Murder, Please, we covered the chilling stories of Georgia Tann—the woman who built an empire of stolen children—and Fritz Haarmann, the “Butcher of Hanover.” But those early days came with rookie audio, nerves, and not nearly the depth we wanted to give these cases. So we’re taking a second look.

In this refreshed episode, we revisit both Tann and Haarmann with sharper research, deeper storytelling, and a little more champagne. If you’ve been with us since the beginning, think of this as a remastered classic. And if you’re new here—well, buckle up.

• Wikipedia — Georgia Tann: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Tann
  

• Tennessee State Library & Archives — Georgia Tann Investigation Scrapbooks (1950): https://tsla.tnsosfiles.com.s3.amazonaws.com/history/manuscripts/findingaids/GEORGIA_TANN_TN_CHILDRENS_HOME_SOCIETY_INVESTIGATION_SCRAPBOOKS_1950.pdf
  

• WBUR On Point — Orphan Victims of a Black-Market Baby Business: https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2019/10/22/lisa-wingate-before-and-after-orphans-tennessee-children
  

• Los Angeles Times — “Together Again: After 44 Tortured Years, a Mother Finds Her Stolen Child Via ‘Unsolved Mysteries’” (Alma Sipple’s story): https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-20-vw-882-story.html
  

• Elmwood Cemetery Blog — Tennessee Children’s Home Society Lot and Memorial: https://www.elmwoodcemetery.org/blog/posts/http-www-elmwoodcemetery-org-blog-the-tennessee-childrens-home-society-lot-at-elmwood
  

• Business Insider — Overview and survivor reporting: https://www.businessinsider.com/georgia-tann-tennessee-children-home-society-survivors-speak-out-2019-12
  

• Devereaux Bruch Eyler, No Mama, I Didn’t Die: My Life as a Stolen Baby (memoir): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34300356-the-complete-story
  

• Judy Christie & Lisa Wingate, Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children’s Home Society: https://www.randomhousebooks.com/books/612909/

• Wikipedia – Fritz Haarmann
  

• All That’s Interesting
  

• Atlas Obscura – Haarmann Victims Memorial
  

• Find A Grave – Victims of Fritz Haarmann Memorial
  

• Crime Library Archive
  

• Fritz Haarmann Victims Archive

Two chilling stories—one shrouded in cosmic mystery, the other rooted in rural folklore. In 1966, two Brazilian men were found dead on a hillside, dressed in raincoats and strange lead masks, with no clear cause of death. Were they victims of a UFO experiment gone wrong, a secret ritual, or something even stranger? Then we travel back to rural England, where the brutal 1945 murder of Charles Walton still haunts the quiet village of Lower Quinton. With whispers of witchcraft and curses surrounding the case, fact and folklore blur in unsettling ways.

Join us as we unravel the eerie threads connecting unexplained phenomena, superstition, and the human need to explain the unexplainable.

Champagne Pairing:

Wikipedia (English): Lead Masks case — background, note text, and chronology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_masks_case Wikipedia

Get ready CAMPers!!!!!

From the shadowed caves of Zugarramurdi in Spain to the misty woods of Sleepy Hollow in New York, tales of witches and specters have haunted communities for centuries. In this episode, we unravel the dark history of the infamous Basque witch trials and the legends tied to the “Witches’ Cave,” before crossing the Atlantic to revisit Washington Irving’s chilling tale of the Headless Horseman. Were these stories born of folklore, fear, or something more supernatural? Grab a glass and join us as we dive into witchcraft, myth, and mystery across two continents.Champagne Pairing: Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut → Golden, harvest-ready, and bold — an autumn equinox classic.

1. Yale Law Library — The Largest Witch Hunt in World History: The Basque Witch Trials (1609–1614) (overview & references). https://library.law.yale.edu/news/largest-witch-hunt-world-history-basque-witch-trials-1609-1614 Lillian Goldman Law Library
   

2. Wikipedia — Basque witch trials (general summary, context, akelarre term). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_witch_trials Wikipedia
   

3. Atlas Obscura — Cave of Zugarramurdi (site description, visitor info, images). https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cave-of-zugarramurdi
   

4. Xareta (regional Basque tourism/culture) — Witchcraft museum and caves (local cultural framing). https://www.xareta.eus/en/quehacer/witchcraft_museum_zugarramurdi/2 and https://www.xareta.eus/en/quehacer/witches_cave_zugarramurdi/3 xareta.eus
   

5. Pyrenean Experience — The Witches of Zugarramurdi – the scene was set! (informal regional history with accessible narrative). https://www.pyreneanexperience.com/witches-of-zugarramurdi/ Pyrenean Experience
   

6. Pierre de Lancre — Wikipedia (context on French Basque witch hunts that influenced the region). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_de_Lancre Wikipedia
   

7. Local and travel pieces / modern reflections — HuffPost Spain and regional news pieces about remembrance events (Auto-da-fé commemorations, recent festivals). https://www.huffingtonpost.es/sociedad/el-caso-mas-famosos-historia-brujeria-espanola-ultimas-quemas-europa-hpe1.html https://cadenaser.com/rioja/2024/11/01/logrono-revive-la-historia-del-auto-de-fe-de-1610-con-las-fiestas-en-memoria-de-las-brujas-de-zugarramurdi-radio-rioja/

• Wikipedia: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow summary & background Wikipedia
  

• History.com article on inspiration and folklore roots HISTORY
  

• SparkNotes full plot summary & historical context insights SparkNotes+1
  

• Britannica entry on characters & setting Encyclopedia Britannica
  

• Hudson Valley and Westchester accounts of Irving’s legacy hudsonvalley.orgWestchester Magazine
  

• Analysis of themes in literary context solgoodmedia.comOpenEdition Journals
  

• Adaptations and media evolution WIREDWikipedia
  

• Historical sites and Sleepy Hollow tourism heirloomartco.comWikipedia+2Wikipedia+2sleepyhollowny.gov

We’re heading back into the misty past to revisit two of our most requested stories: the legendary Isobel Gowdie and the enigmatic Biddy Early. From whispered confessions of witchcraft in 17th-century Scotland to the charms and cures of a famed Irish “wise woman,” these tales are brimming with folklore, mystery, and the lingering shadows of superstition. Join us as we breathe new life into these episodes, exploring the blurred lines between magic, myth, and fear in communities that lived by candlelight and rumor.

✨ Champagne pairing for this episode: Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé

CAMPers! Please keep Vanessa and her family in your thoughts, while they navigate this difficult time.

https://www.shca.ed.ac.uk/Research/witches/person.php?name=Isobel+Gowdie&source=3777

Pitcairn, Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland (1833)—printed text of the confessions: https://archive.org/stream/ancientcrim43pt203pitcuoft/ancientcrim43pt203pitcuoft_djvu.txt
Liv Høgh Willumsen review of Emma Wilby, The Visions of Isobel Gowdie (2010) https://www.livhelenewillumsen.no/res/Review%20Gowdie_Willumsen.20.6.11%5B3%5D.pdf
Boosey & Hawkes, MacMillan’s The Confession of Isobel Gowdie (composer note): https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/James-MacMillan-The-Confession-of-Isobel-Gowdie/3115
Wikipedia: The Confession of Isobel Gowdie (work): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Confession_of_Isobel_Gowdie
Inverness Courier (Auldearn mural, 2021): https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/extraordinary-witch-features-in-new-mural-257239/
Smithsonian Magazine (Scotland’s 2022 apology): https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scotland-issues-formal-apology-to-thousands-accused-of-witchcraft-180979869/
The Guardian (text/reportage on the apology): https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/08/nicola-sturgeon-issues-apology-for-historical-injustice-of-witch-hunts
(Notes: Many details in the narrative—marriage to John Gilbert; residence around Loch Loy; dates and sequence of the four confessions; the Queen of Elphame, elf-arrows, Read Reiver; the July 1662 commission; and the uncertainty of Gowdie’s ultimate fate—are drawn from the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft case file and the Wikipedia article’s underlying citations, which synthesize Pitcairn’s printed text and modern scholarship.)

Irish Times, “Irish Lives: Biddy Early” (encyclopedic overview): https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/irish-lives-1.1286579
History Ireland, “Feakle’s Biddy Early: a victim of ‘moral panic’?” https://historyireland.com/feakles-biddy-early-a-victim-of-moral-panic/ historyireland.com
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biddy_Early Wikipedia
Lady Gregory, Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/vbwi/vbwi11.htm Internet Sacred Text Archive
Dúchas (National Folklore Collection), Schools’ Collection—Biddy Early bottle lore (two versions): • https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922349/4872900/5072452 • https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922348/4872795/5074512 duchas.ie+1
RTÉ Archives: • https://www.rte.ie/archives/2021/0629/1232043-biddy-early-and-the-changeling/ • https://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/0208/678387-biddy-early-wise-woman-or-witch/ RTE+1
Clare County Library—People of Clare: Biddy Early (local biography & context): https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/people/biddy.htm Clare Libraries
Limerick’s Life (local historian compendium of sources & dates): https://limerickslife.com/biddy-early-the-witch-of-the-west/ Limerick's Life
Notes on sources: Where dates differ slightly across popular retellings, I favored the more conservative or scholarly references (History Ireland; Irish Times; Lady Gregory’s collected narratives and the Dúchas Schools’ Collection for folklore). The Dictionary of Irish Biography maintains an entry on Biddy Early but requires JavaScript to view; it also affirms the 1865 Ennis case and the broad outline of her life. See: https://www.dib.ie/biography/early-biddy-a2870

In this chilling episode, we dive into two of history’s most perplexing and haunting mysteries. First, we unravel the enigmatic case of the Isdal Woman—a woman found dead in Norway’s “Ice Valley” under circumstances so strange they’ve fueled decades of speculation, from espionage to secret identities. Then, we journey back to 18th-century France, where the countryside lived in terror of the Beast of Gévaudan, a monstrous creature responsible for dozens of gruesome attacks and still the subject of fierce debate: was it a wolf, a man, or something far darker?

To complement these tales of mystery and menace, our champagne pairing for this episode is the Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé—a refined yet bold choice, perfect for sipping while pondering the unsolved.

Wikipedia overview with detailed case chronology, items recovered, aliases, burial details, and later forensic work: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isdal_Woman Wikipedia

A&E True Crime digest of the case and theories (good plain-language recap): https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/isdal-woman A&E
Norwegian American (English-language article) overview and context: https://www.norwegianamerican.com/bergens-cold-case-isdal-woman/ norwegianamerican.com

(A note on sources: the original NRK and BBC pages are excellent, but direct access is sometimes restricted; the links above reflect open sources that consolidate the core facts, plus academic/official summaries where available.)

Wikipedia — “Beast of Gévaudan” (overview, descriptions, Marin report, Chastel): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_G%C3%A9vaudan Wikipedia
French Wikipedia — “Bête du Gévaudan” (dates, counts, geography): https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%AAte_du_G%C3%A9vaudan Wikipedia
Archives départementales du Cantal — document note identifying Jeanne Boulet (June 30, 1764) as first official victim: https://archives.cantal.fr/explorer/document-du-mois/2022/la-bete-du-gevaudan-dans-le-cantal archives.cantal.fr
Smithsonian Magazine — Jay M. Smith on the Beast and Moriceau’s national context for wolf attacks: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/beast-gevaudan-terrorized-france-countryside-180963820/ Smithsonian Magazine
History.com — “The Real Story Behind the ‘Beast of Gévaudan’,” for royal hunts (Denneval, Antoine), media panic, and timeline: https://www.history.com/news/beast-of-gevaudan-france-wolves HISTORY
Harvard University Press — Jay M. Smith, Monsters of the Gévaudan (book page): https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674061957 Smithsonian Magazine
Jean-Marc Moriceau (scholarship on wolf attacks; 3,000 attacks/9,000 fatalities context): Études rurales review (2012): https://journals.openedition.org/etudesrurales/9654 and Global Environment review (2009): https://www.environmentandsociety.org/mml/review-histoire-du-mechant-loup-history-big-bad-wolf-jean-marc-moriceau and Academia summary (2015): https://www.academia.edu/11509663/ OpenEdition JournalsEnvironment & Society PortalAcademia
Atlas Obscura — Marie-Jeanne Valet statue (Auvers) & museum in Saugues: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/marie-jeanne-valet-vs-the-beast-of-gevaudan and https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/museum-of-the-beast-of-gevaudan Atlas Obscura+1
Musée fantastique de la Bête du Gévaudan (official site): https://www.musee-bete-gevaudan.com/ and tourism pages on Marvejols’s Beast sculpture: https://en.aubrac-gorgesdutarn.com/discover/the-lot-valley/villages-of-the-lot-valley/marvejols/ musee-bete-gevaudanFrom Aubrac to the Gorges du Tarn
Research discussion on the Marin report (modern critique): Karl-Hans Taake preprint: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373559206_The_1767_French_Rapport_Marin_-_a_Questionable_Report_about_the_Examination_of_an_Allegedly_Man-eating_Wolf_Canis_lupus ResearchGate
Film/culture — Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brotherhood_of_the_Wolf and IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0237534/ WikipediaIMDb

Two of history’s most chilling disappearances—worlds apart, yet bound by unanswered questions. In this episode of Champagne and Murder, Please, we unravel the baffling tragedy of the Dyatlov Pass Incident, where nine hikers met a strange and terrifying end in the frozen Russian wilderness. Then, we journey to West Virginia to revisit the haunting disappearance of the Sodder children, a case that continues to spark debate nearly eight decades later. Were these tragedies the result of accidents, foul play, or something more sinister? Pour a glass, and join us as we dive deep into the shadows of these enduring mysteries.

• Wikipedia: “Dyatlov Pass incident” — comprehensive overview with citations and chronology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident Wikipedia
  

• Original case files (autopsies, radiograms, photos), Dyatlov Pass site: https://dyatlovpass.com/case-files and https://dyatlovpass.com/case-files-volume-2 Dyatlov Pass+1
  

• Reuters (July 11, 2020): Russian prosecutors’ avalanche conclusion and summary: https://www.reuters.com/article/world/russia-blames-avalanche-for-1959-urals-mountain-tragedy-ria-agency-reports-idUSKCN24C0JJ/ Reuters
  

• Gaume, J., & Puzrin, A. (2021): “Mechanisms of slab avalanche release and impact in the Dyatlov Pass incident,” Communications Earth & Environment (Nature): https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-020-00081-8 Nature
  

• Puzrin, A. M., et al. (2022) commentary: field/expedition context for slab avalanches in the area, Communications Earth & Environment: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-022-00393-x Nature
  

• Smithsonian Magazine (Jan 29, 2021): accessible summary of the slab-avalanche research: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-may-have-finally-unraveled-mystery-dyatlov-pass-incident-180976886/ Smithsonian Magazine
  

• National Geographic (feature, updated May 17, 2023): reporting on the science and controversy: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/has-science-solved-history-greatest-adventure-mystery-dyatlov National Geographic
  

• The New Yorker (May 17, 2021): narrative investigation blending the 2020 prosecutor’s reconstruction with the 2021 model: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/17/has-an-old-soviet-mystery-at-last-been-solved The New Yorker
  

• History.com (Jan 31, 2024): succinct historical recap with timeline: https://www.history.com/articles/dyatlov-pass-incident-soviet-hiker-death-mystery HISTORY
  

• Wired (Jan 28, 2021): layman’s explanation of the delayed slab hypothesis: https://www.wired.com/story/dyatlov-pass-incident-slab-avalanche/

• Smithsonian Magazine, Karen Abbott; updated by Meilan Solly, “What Happened to the Sodder Children…?” (comprehensive narrative; ages, timeline, sightings, Smithsonian bone report, billboard) — https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-happened-sodder-children-siblings-who-went-up-in-smoke-west-virginia-house-fire-172429802/ Smithsonian Magazine
  

• Wikipedia (well-sourced overview; corroborates dates, names, legislative hearings, details like the cut phone line and the 1949 excavation) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodder_children_disappearance Wikipedia
  

• ABC News (Australia), “The mystery of the vanished Sodder children” (concise retelling with wrong-number call beat) — https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-25/the-mystery-of-the-vanished-sodder-children/103245390 ABC
  

• History Channel, History’s Greatest Mysteries S3E8, “The Sodder Children Disappearance” (TV treatment; helpful for cultural context or episode clips) — https://www.history.com/shows/historys-greatest-mysteries/season-3/episode-8 HISTORY
  

Note on ages: Some sources list Louis as 9, others 10; Smithsonian uses 9, Wikipedia uses 10. I acknowledged the discrepancy in the script.

Disappearance is one of the most haunting crimes of all—and in this episode of Champagne and Murder, Please, we’re exploring two chilling cases that left behind more questions than answers. First, we examine the tragic death of Brookelynn Fancher, a baby whose future was stolen under mysterious circumstances. Then, we dive into the decades-old mystery of the Springfield Three—Sherrill Levitt, Suzie Streeter, and Stacy McCall—who vanished without a trace from a Missouri home in 1992, sparking one of the most baffling missing persons cases in American history. With twists, rumors, and enduring heartbreak, these stories reveal how fragile the line between ordinary life and the unthinkable truly is.

On this chilling episode of Champagne and Murder, Please, we travel California’s shadowed highways to examine the life and crimes of William Bonin—the so-called “Freeway Killer”—whose spree of violence left a trail of young victims in his wake. But the story doesn’t end there. We also dive into the mysterious and unresolved deaths of the Reagan brothers, two lives cut short under circumstances that still raise more questions than answers. From calculated cruelty to lingering enigmas, this episode explores how some killers are caught—and how some mysteries refuse to be solved.https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/capital-punishment/inmates-executed-1978-to-present/william-george-bonin/

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-11-mn-34809-story.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bonin

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/matthew-and-philip-reagan

https://www.cleveland19.com/2025/03/21/seeking-justice-murders-fairview-park-brothers-arizona-still-unsolved-5-years-later

https://www.cleveland19.com/2024/03/21/unsolved-ohio-brothers-murdered-miles-away-home-during-road-trip

In this spellbinding episode of Champagne and Murder, Please, we uncork the dark legacy of the Salem Witch Trials—where fear, hysteria, and power turned neighbor against neighbor in one of history’s most infamous purges. But we don’t stop there. We journey even deeper into the idea of the "witch" through the lens of mythology, exploring the story of Circe, the enchantress of Greek legend who defied gods and men with spells, potions, and unapologetic power. From real-life executions to timeless goddess lore, we peel back the layers of misogyny, myth, and magic. Was it ever really about witchcraft—or simply women who refused to be controlled?

Pour a glass. This one’s as intoxicating as it is infuriating.

• History.com: Salem Witch Trials
  

• Salem Witch Museum
  

• Massachusetts Historical Society – Salem Trials Resources
  

• National Geographic: Legacy of the Salem Witch Trials
  

• Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive
  

• World History EDU
  

• Wikipedia: List of people of the Salem witch trials

gaudie.co.uk+4ft.com+4independent.co.uk+4.world-catalogue.com+3snargl.com+3fictionvixen.com+3 en.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1.berkeleyfictionreview.org.

In this chilling episode of Champagne and Murder, Please, we journey from the icy wilderness of Alaska to the heart of Atlanta’s Piedmont Park as we examine two tragic cases separated by decades but connected by brutality. First, we delve into the twisted double life of Robert Hansen—the “Butcher Baker”—a seemingly ordinary family man who hunted women in the Alaskan wilderness. Then, we shift to the heartbreaking 2021 murder of Katie Janness, who was walking her dog, Bowie, when both were viciously attacked in a public park. We explore the facts, the fears, and the frustrating search for justice. Pour yourself a glass—this one’s going to stay with you.

• Schechter, H., & Everitt, D. (1996). The A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. Pocket Books.
  

• Ramsland, K. (2010). The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds. Berkley.
  

• Douglas, J. E., & Olshaker, M. (1995). Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit. Scribner.
  

• Larsen, D. (2002). “Robert Hansen: The Butcher Baker,” Crime Library.
  

• Alaska State Troopers: Case archives and interviews with Glenn Flothe.
  

• Anchorage Daily News archives (1980–1985).
  

• “The Frozen Ground” (2013) and companion documentary interviews.
  

NamUs. (2023). National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. https://www.namus.gov

• Atlanta Police Department & FBI press releases (2021–2024)
  

• Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “One Year Later: Remembering Katie Janness”
  

• FOX 5 Atlanta & CBS46, interviews with Emma Clark
  

• 11Alive news coverage of vigils and police updates
  

• Reddit threads from locals and community updates (r/Atlanta)
  

• Fulton County Medical Examiner autopsy report (covered via FOIA requests)
  

• GoFundMe: “Justice for Katie Janness” fund

In this gripping episode, we explore two of history's most infamous criminal duos—Leopold and Loeb, the privileged prodigies who committed a shocking "thrill kill" in 1924, and Bonnie and Clyde, the Depression-era lovers whose crime spree captivated and terrified the nation. What drove these pairs to such extremes? How did their relationships fuel their descent into violence? Join us as we unravel the psychology, passion, and notoriety behind these deadly partnerships—and the legacies they left behind.

1. Leopold, Nathan. Life Plus 99 Years. Doubleday & Co., 1958.

2. Darrow, Clarence. “The Plea of Clarence Darrow.” The Clarence Darrow Digital Collection, University of Minnesota, 1924. https://darrow.law.umn.edu

3. Higdon, Hal. Leopold and Loeb: The Crime of the Century. University of Illinois Press, 1999.

4. Baatz, Simon. For the Thrill of It: Leopold, Loeb, and the Murder That Shocked Chicago. HarperCollins, 2008.

5. “Leopold and Loeb.” FBI Records Vault. https://vault.fbi.gov/Leopold%20and%20Loeb

6. Wilson, Colin. A Criminal History of Mankind. Mercury Books, 2005.

7. “The Trial of Leopold and Loeb.” Famous Trials, by Douglas Linder, University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School. https://famous-trials.com/leopoldloeb

• Jeff Guinn, Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde
  

• Blanche Caldwell Barrow, My Life with Bonnie and Clyde
  

• John Neal Phillips, Running with Bonnie and Clyde
  

• Texas State Historical Association, www.tshaonline.org
  

• FBI Archives, vault.fbi.gov

In this powerful episode, we explore the lives, legacies, and tragic deaths of two music icons from vastly different worlds—Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla and metal guitar legend Dimebag Darrell. Though their genres, audiences, and styles were worlds apart, both artists left an indelible mark on music history and were taken from us far too soon by senseless acts of violence. Join us as we honor their journeys, reflect on their cultural impact, and examine the eerie similarities in their final days. From the rise to stardom to the shocking endings—this is a tribute to the unstoppable spirit of two unforgettable legends.

• Texas Monthly, April 1995 – “Murder in the Lone Star State: The Selena Story”
  

• Los Angeles Times, 2015 – “Selena: A Star Still Shining”
  

• Houston Chronicle, April 2025 – “Yolanda Saldívar Denied Parole”
  

• Selena (1997 film), Warner Bros.
  

• Court transcripts: State of Texas v. Yolanda Saldívar, 1995
  

• Corpus Christi Caller-Times archives
  

• Texas Department of Criminal Justice Inmate Records
  

• Selena: The Series, Netflix (2020–2021)
  

• Selena Forever Museum – Quintanilla Family Foundation
  

EMI Latin album liner notes

• Rolling Stone. “Pantera Guitarist Killed Onstage.” Dec 9, 2004.
  

• Loudwire. “How Dimebag Darrell’s Death Changed Concert Security Forever.”
  

• Guitar World. “Remembering Dimebag Darrell.”
  

• Billboard. “Dimebag Darrell’s Legacy and the Security Changes After His Death.”
  

• Interviews with Vinnie Paul (2005–2017)
  

• Police Reports, Columbus Division of Police
  

Legal studies: “Venue Liability in Artist On-Stage Injury,” Journal of Entertainment Law (2006)

This week on Champagne and Murder, Please, we lace up our hiking boots and head deep into the misty heart of the Appalachian Trail—where the line between reality and legend is as thin as the mountain air. From ghostly hitchhikers and eerie lights in the woods, to cryptids, vanished hikers, and ancient curses whispered through the trees, the Trail holds more than just scenic beauty. Join us as we sip something bubbly and dive into the dark folklore and chilling encounters that haunt one of America's most iconic and mysterious wilderness paths. Don’t stray from the trail… something might be watching.

Sources and Further Reading

• Paulides, David. Missing 411: Eastern United States

• Bragg, Lynn. Ghosts of the Blue Ridge Mountains

• Appalachian Trail Conservancy shelter logs

• Hiker testimonials from Reddit, WhiteBlaze, and Trail Journals

• Cherokee Myths and Legends archives

1. WhiteBlaze.net Forums – “Creepiest Thing on the Trail” thread (2012)
   

2. Southern Highroads Trail Guide: "Blood Mountain History," Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources
   

3. Reddit: r/AppalachianTrail – “Weirdest Stuff You’ve Heard at Night” thread
   

4. Joe Tennis, Legends of the Smokies, Mountain Press (2008)
   

5. TrailJournals.com, “Strange Shelter Encounter,” Appalachian Trail (2017)
   

6. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Urban Legend of the Green Man" (2005)
   

7. GhostsofAmerica.com – Pine Grove Furnace sightings archive
   

8. Randy Russell, Appalachian Ghost Stories, Blair Press (2005)
   

9. Virginia Folklore Society, “Moonshine Dogs and Superstition in Shenandoah”
   

10. Michael Rivers, Appalachian Supernatural: The Hidden Histories (2011)
    

11. David Paulides, Missing 411: Eastern United States (2012)
    

12. TrailJournals.com – Glastenbury Mountain entry (2015)
    

13. Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA) forums – Cold People Sightings (2018)

In this chilling episode of Champagne and Murder, Please, we dive deep into two hauntingly different but equally disturbing tales linked by water and death. First, we unravel the twisted world of Leonard Lake—prepper, predator, and one half of one of California’s most sadistic killer duos. Discover how his warped fantasies and bunker full of secrets turned into a real-life nightmare.

Then, we step back in time to 1934 and explore the mystery of the “Lady of the Lake,” a still-unidentified woman whose remains surfaced in Lake Erie, shrouded in rumors, coded messages, and Great Depression-era darkness. What links these two stories isn't just the water—but the chilling stillness it holds before horror rises to the surface.

Get ready for murder, mystery, and murky waters—because some things should never be dredged up.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/june-2/serial-killing-spree-is-put-to-an-end

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/new-victim-california-serial-killer-duo-identified-20062061.php

https://www.kcra.com/article/wilseyville-serial-killers-remains-identified/64459155

https://www.clevelandpolicemuseum.org/collections/torso-murders/

https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/376

https://vocal.media/criminal/the-cleveland-torso-killer-the-man-who-destroyed-a-legend

What happens when family values become a mask for abuse—and no one’s watching closely enough to stop it?

In this chilling episode of Champagne & Murder Please, we dive deep into two shocking and deeply unsettling family cases: the public unraveling of Kevin and Ruby Franke—famous for their YouTube channel “8 Passengers”—and the harrowing case of Travis Decker, a Washington father accused of the unthinkable.

We explore how outward appearances can hide horrifying truths, how communities and systems fail to intervene, and what these cases reveal about the darker side of family life that’s too often ignored. Grab your drink and your detective hat—this one’s going to haunt you long after the episode ends.

https://people.com/where-is-ruby-franke-husband-now-8788008

https://www.fox13now.com/news/crime/evidence-released-shows-severity-of-abuse-in-franke-and-hildebrandt-case

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/ruby-franke-docuseries-hulu-new-details-child-abuse-case-rcna193738

https://abcnews.go.com/US/father-killed-3-daughters-active-dad-system-failed/story?id=122550676

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/06/04/death-sisters-travis-decker-familiar-tragedy/84029416007/

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/cops-release-new-video-travis-decker