When the darkness reaches its Zenith And the moon floats high and white When the spirits scream And knife blades gleam It’s…. Shortly After Midnight Hello fiends, and welcome to the darkest time of day.  In this week's original story, we bring you, Engulfed, a dark, slow-burn story about a glance that turns into an obsession. What starts as a spark of connection becomes something dangerous, something that smolders beneath the surface until it can't be contained. Desire, loneliness, and fire. They all have one thing in common: once they start they're hard to control.    Engulfed is a We Would Be Dead Production, written by Leslie Weidel and read by Jon Katity.  Sound and score by Jon Katity, and sparkling prologue / epilogue commentary by cohosts Holly Knapp and Leslie Weidel.   WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

Happy Halloween Fiends! Join us for a deep dive into the world of Victor Frankenstein, his monstrous creations, and all the tortured poets and mad scientists who inspired OG goth girl Mary Shelley to write this torrid tale.   Click to learn more (sources) https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history-quirky-science-science-science-everywhere/professor-aldinis-strange-antics https://www.grahamhenderson.ca/percy-bysshe-shelley-blog/shelleys-mighty-heart https://www.britannica.com/biography/Luigi-Galvani https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alessandro-Volta https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/things-to-do-gernsheim-frankenstein-castle     WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation        

When the darkness reaches its Zenith And the moon floats high and white When the spirits scream And knife blades gleam It’s…. Shortly After Midnight Hello fiends, and welcome to the darkest time of day.  This week's original story, Polly Pocket, is a spellbinding blend of nostalgia and nightmares told through the eyes of the scariest creatures known to man, Middle school girls. Set In the not so distant past, this terrifying tale takes us on a trip to a charming little hideaway deep in the woods, filled with dappled sunlight, singing birds and terrifying secrets.     Polly Pocket is a We Would Be Dead Production, written and read by Holly Knapp, with sound and score by Jon Katity, and sparkling prologue / epilogue commentary by cohosts Holly Knapp and Leslie Weidel.   WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

Lets get October started with re-listen to episode 130... We will be back next week with a Shortly After Midnight, followed by some terrifying tales perfect for this Halloween season! -------------Thankfully not all horror movies are based on a true story, but if we look hard enough we can almost always find that if art isn't imitating life, life will imitate art. In the case of Michael Meyers, finding a real life equivalent wasn't easy, but I think we did it this year. (No it's not Stanley Stiers, that one is made up. Sorry guys).  Charlie Brandt was a quiet man, a loving husband and a good friend. All in all Charlie was what you might call normal. His sudden death however, was anything but. In the process of investigating what appeared to be a gruesome murder suicide, law enforcement discovers a horrifying secret that Charlie and his family kept buried for decades. CBS news Deadly Obsession Angela's Police Interview ATI Charlie Brandt   WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Sponsors Try Audible Plus Give the Gift of Audible! Kindle Unlimited Membership Amazon Prime Free Trial Join the Conversation       

Let's get prepped for the spooky season! While we put the finishing touches on our second Shortly After Midnight episode, we wanted give you one of our scariest true crime episodes - wells scariest for Leslie. This is also the episode that we introduce our first, and possibly favorite, neighborhood fiend - Neighbor Pam! Head over to our Facebook group or on patron to discuss the episode! ------------ Halloween is right around the corner, and everyone is entitled to one good scare. This week we decided it was Leslie's turn, so Holly is bringing us all a tale of mysterious murder, a shadow figure, things that go bump in the night, and the most terrifying home invasion yet... all of Leslie's least favorites. We don't want to reveal any more in the description, as that would spoil the twists and turns that this story is famous for. Just listen, and maybe sleep with the light on. Happy Halloween! Click to learn more   WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation      

In late 2021, successful journalist and podcaster Chico Felitti relocated to a quiet, old money neighborhood of the mega city of Sáo Paulo Brazil called Higienópolis. One day while on a walk with his dogs he stumbled on an abandoned old manor house, a ghostly figure, and an unbelievable secret hidden right in plain sight.  In part 2 we will learn more about Margarida Bonetti's terrible secret. We'll uncover the details of her strange life in America, examine the circumstances that would let her keep such a monumental secret, and ultimately tell the story of the woman she kept in modern day slavery for 19 years: Hilda Rosa Dos Santos. Click to learn more The Fugitive Heiress Next Door (WAPO Article) Abandoned: The Woman in the Decaying House Documentary Rene's Appeal Documents Original WAPO article Hilda reunites with the detective on her case 35 Potluck Ideas (just in case)               WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

In late 2021, while the waves of deadly corona virus were still cresting and falling, Sao Paulo Brazil, one of the most densely populated cities in the world was a pretty stressful place to be. Desperate to escape the frighteningly close quarters, successful journalist and podcaster Chico Felitti relocated to a quiet, old money neighborhood called Higienópolis. One day while on a walk with his dogs he stumbled on an abandoned old manor house, a ghostly figure, and an unbelievable secret hidden right in plain sight. This story is so shocking an unpredictable that it took me several hours of research to be convinced that it wasn't fiction. At the end of this episode, you may be tempted to think that you've heard everything this case could possibly entail, but hang in there, because remember, there's a part 2.  Click to learn more *No peeking! Sources will be listed in full in the show notes of part 2.     WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

Rebroadcast of episode 24 - Nightmare Fuel (Cursed Objects) about creepy dolls like Annabelle and the Dibbuk Box.

 On Friday May 30th 2025 9 year old Paityn, 8 year old Evelyn, and 5 year old Olivia Decker left their home on what should have been a short outing and never returned. Three days later the girl's bodies were found just outside a local campground. What followed was one of the most chilling and emotionally charged manhunts in recent memory. In this episode, we unravel the tragic story of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker—and the man the world is still searching for: their father, Travis Decker.  If you see Travis Decker, or anyone matching his description—do not approach him, he is considered armed and dangerous. Call 911 immediately or call the US Marshals Service Tip Line (Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force) at  1‑800‑336‑0102. You can also submit tips and details via the USMS Tips portal at usmarshals.gov/tips. Washington State locals can report tips to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line: 509‑667‑6845 Click to learn more Websleuths feed / timeline NY Post article Fox 13 coverage ABC News Timeline People News article     WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

When darkness has reached its Zenith And the moon floats high and white When the spirits scream And knife blades gleam It’s Shortly After Midnight. Welcome Fiends, to the darkest time of day!  Today's terrifying tale takes us to the sleepy little town of Marrow Hill. Nestled in cornfields of middle America, Marrow Hill was the kind of town that songs were written about. In fact, it was often said that Marrow Hill must have had the greenest grass in the country because no one ever wanted to leave...That is until a tragic accident occurred, and the town's residents began slowly and inexplicably killing each other, one by one.  What caused this idyllic little community to fall into a sudden and violent trance, and what, if anything, can break it? Click to learn more     WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

. They were called “The Lethal Lovers” — two nurse’s aides, Cathy Wood (25) and Gwendolyn Graham (34), whose twisted relationship would leave a trail of death behind the quiet walls of a Michigan nursing home. When Cathy’s ex-husband walked into a police station in 1988 with a chilling confession, investigators uncovered a string of suspicious deaths among Alpine Manor’s most vulnerable residents. What emerged was a story of obsession, manipulation, and murder — and one of the most disturbing cases of female serial killers in U.S. history.  Click to learn more Medium Article Forever and 5 days on Amazon, Also Available to borrow on internet archives for free, and in most libraries. Oxygen original article  People Magazine update article Oxygen update article. Original New York Times article   WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

Happy Pride Month Fiends! This week we are going to rebroadcast some of our previous pride month episodes before releasing a brand new episode. If you are all caught up with WWBD, please take the time to relisten to this tragic episode on kitty Genovese and historical significance of her case.  ----------------- On March 27th 1964, the headline: "37 Who Saw Murder Didn't Call the Police; Apathy at Stabbing of Queens Woman Shocks Inspector" was splashed across the cover of the New York times. The story behind it was the horrific rape and murder of a young woman named Kitty Genovese. But the story doesn't focus on Kitty, or even her murderer, it focuses on her neighbors, who allegedly saw the murder in real time and did nothing. This story stirred an enormous reaction to a phenomenon that was dubbed Urban Apathy. This case also inspired all the research that lead to a psychosocial theory called "the Bystander Effect". There's just one problem, the New York Times lied.  Most of you will know this case, but there is so much about it that has been hidden from the public for so long that we felt it deserves re-examining. Kitty, her devoted family and long time girlfriend Mary Ann lived their lives for a great many years believing that Kitty was the girl no one cared about, but she wasn't. She isn't. We decided to take a fresh look at this classic morality tale and find the truth behind the lessons.   Click to learn more Original New York Times Article LA Times article on Sophia Ferrar Winston Moseley's NYT Editorial *The Witness - Documentary on Amazon Prime *Affiliate Link WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

  We've all heard the sinister stories of mental healthcare's terrifying past. The Snake Pits, the cages, the overmedication, but nothing is cloaked in more mystery and dread than the ice pick lobotomy. Whether it's that terrifying scene in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or the heartbreaking story of Rosemary Kennedy, we all can conjure up a horrifying image of this barbaric procedure with little effort. The Man in the white lab coat and cap, his sunglasses gleaming, ice pick in hand. The patients with black eyes and blood mottled tears. That's gold standard nightmare fuel, and it's hard to believe any of it was real, but it was. So how did the mental health care industry end up taking a dip in the darkest of places? Well, hang on because we're going to tell you. In this week's episode we explore the history of the lobotomy, begininning with mankind's earliest attempts to sooth a savage brain, and culminating in the story of the ice pick lobotomist himself, Walter Freeman Jr.  Click To Learn More     WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

In the summer of 1726, In the little Village of Godalming, a 25 year old servant woman claimed to give birth to rabbits. Surgeons, nobles, and even the King believed her at first, but the truth, or a version of it that the public can embrace, always has a way of coming out. For years, history thought they had solved the mystery of "The Rabbit Breeder", but beneath the hoax lies a darker tale of pain, power, and control.This is the true story of monstrous birth — and the woman behind it. This is the story of Mary Toft.   Click To Learn More Mary Toft, Monster and Mason By Karen Harvey University of Glasgow Library — The Curious Case of Mary Toft A digital exhibition exploring the archival material and cultural impact of the Toft hoax. The Public Domain Review — Mary Toft and Her Extraordinary Delivery of Rabbits History Extra — Who Was Mary Toft & How Did Her Rabbit Hoax Capture Georgian Society? Nathaniel St. André — A Short Narrative of an Extraordinary Delivery of Rabbets (1726)The original pamphlet published by one of the royal physicians who believed Mary Toft.📖 Available via digitized archives or referenced through secondary sources like PDR and Harvey’s article.   WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

She was smart, athletic, and full of life — until one summer night in 2015 when 18-year-old Tiffany Valiante vanished from her family’s New Jersey home. Just hours later, her body was found miles away on train tracks under suspicious circumstances. Was it suicide, as authorities claimed — or something far more sinister? In this, our second most requested episode, we dig into the tangled timeline, mysterious evidence, and the burning questions that still haunt this case. What really happened to Tiffany Valiante?   Click To Learn More Tiffany's episode of Unsolved Mysteries Casefile Initial medical examiners report         WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

Hey fiends! This week we are rebroadcasting one of our fan favorite (and ours) episode on Elmer McCurdy. We will be back next week with an all new episode. ENJOY! --------------On December 8th, 1976, the crew of the hit televisions show The Six Million Dollar Man made a gruesome discovery. While shooting in a fun house in Long Beach, California, they accidentally broke the arm off an orange day glow dummy only to discover that is wasn't a dummy at all, it was the mummified remains of a human man. Through a fascinating forensic investigation, they would discover that this man was Elmer McCurdy, the worst train and bank robber in American history. Elmer's story is wild, and we guarantee that this week, there's something for everyone. This is one of Holly's favorites, so you know it's going to be super weird.  Click to learn more WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

Often, case we cover continue to evolve long after we close the book on them. That's why periodically we check in and update them! This week we have updates on the Dephi Murders, Sheila Keen Warren (the clown killer), and the disappearance of Asha Degree. Special thanks to all our fiends who pass along articles so we can stay up to the minute on everything! Here's hoping 2025 gives us even more answers in its second half. Click To Learn More Updates on Asha Degree https://www.wbtv.com/2025/02/18/new-asha-degree-warrants-text-messages-revealed-possible-admission-fault-more/ Updates on the Delphi Murders (TW these are graphic, and may be disturbing to some listeners. We elected not to discuss everything in these articles in the episode because the information in them is quite upsetting and not necessary for understanding the event in question.) https://abcnews.go.com/US/delphi-murder-trial-libbys-blood-mixed-tears-expert/story?id=115229024 https://abcnews.go.com/US/delphi-double-murder-trial-graphic-crime-scene-photos/story?id=114989103 https://fox59.com/news/former-delphi-murders-suspect-made-detailed-confession-to-killings-attorneys-say/ https://fox59.com/delphi-trial/state-says-inmate-who-claimed-ron-logan-confessed-to-delphi-killings-failed-polygraph-test/ Updates on Sheila Keen Warren https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/wellington/2024/11/05/killer-clown-sheila-warren-pleaded-guilty-free-from-florida-prison/76048124007/ https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/03/us/florida-killer-clown-sheila-keen-warren-release/index.html WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

In the early morning hours of May 1st 1849 Ellen Poe Langley drew her last breath. Once a wealthy doctor's wife, she passed away alone, locked in a tiny room in a stifling attic. For years Her husband Dr. Charles Langley had gotten away with keeping her locked away, desperately ill and slowly starving, and now it seemed, he would get away with murder. Or would he?   This year's St. Paddy's day episode shows the importance of one's truth and the miraculous way Ellen's has survived all these years. Oh, and don't forget: if mess with women, you unleash a lifetime of the banshee's cry. Sláinte fiends! Click To Learn More Click to purchase The Doctor's Wife is Dead by Andrew Tierney Irish Times Article: "Diagnosis: murder. How a Tipperary doctor disposed of his wife"   WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

Ok fiends, it's almost St. Patrick's day so this month we're recapping the 1993 classic (and this one really is a classic) Leprechaun! This Episode is one that our patrons have had access to since 2021 and we are now very excited to make it available to everyone. We did record a new 30 Minute Horror Movie on Leprechaun 4: In Space and you can find it over on our Patreon!  Back to this episode on the very first Leprechaun - The film features a very young Jennifer Anniston, the guy that played Francis in Pee Wee's Big Adventure, and Warwick Davis (the hardest working little person in show business) in a horrible mask. Leprechaun takes us on an insane journey that asks the question "what would happen if we made leprechauns awful?" quite a lot, as it turns out. This film was surprisingly funny, whether it meant to be so or not is up for interpretation. Either way, it's great, crazy, seasonal fun and we recommend you give it a watch after listening to us yell about it in a real hurry. Enjoy fiends!    WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation         

This is the story of Abraham Shakespeare, the man who won the lottery then disappeared. This case is a rags to riches story, a mysterious disappearance, an episode of Catfish and a murder mystery all rolled up into one. This case case has so many twists and turns that we cab't even summarize it, you just have to hear it to believe it. Click To Learn More Hulu Documentary: Web of Death, Jackpot Murder ABC News article Probable Cause Affidavit   Florida Woman Marries Ferris Wheel Florida woman accused of attacking man with garden hoe after plans to 'hang out' fell through Florida man breaks into woman's home to pet family cat Florida man dressed in Dalmatian onesie outruns troopers, shakes off tasers before he’s caught at girlfriend’s home Murder suspect confesses to decades-old Florida cold case after DNA leads to arrest, sheriff's office says   WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation