In the final installment of the life and times of Aleister Crowley, the magician finds himself destitute, but somehow still traveling the world and creating communities that definitely aren't cults. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-oddities--5307439/support.…

In episode 2, Crowley and his protege travel to North Africa where they test the boundaries of their magical prowess. It only gets weirder from here, folks! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-oddities--5307439/support.By Autumn Grube

Aleister Crowley was one of the most intriguing characters of the 20th century. He was a poet, a ceremonial magician, a mountaineer, an alchemist, a philosopher, a spy, and a self-described sex and drug addict. He was also known as “The Beast”, a title given to him by his own MOTHER, and the “wickedest man in the world.” SOURCES The Book of the Law…

From the outside, the Victorian house at 3406 Brownsville Road in Brentwood, Pennsylvania looks like any other in the area. It was once a waking nightmare inside, though, according to the Cranmer family. SOURCES The Demon of Brownsville Road: A Pittsburgh Family's Battle with Evil in Their Home; by Bob Cranmer (Author), Erica Manfred (Author) https…

From the outside, Bob and Diane Ward had it all. They'd been married for 26 years, raised two daughters, and called a six-bedroom mansion in an exclusive neighborhood at Isleworth in Orlando, Florida home. Gunshots shattered that perfect illusion in September 2009. SOURCES STATE OF FLORIDA v. JAMES ROBERT WARD; CASE NO: 09-CF-13977-A-O https://case…

On July 4, 1998, a trio of ATV riders found a body near an interstate exit in the Las Vegas desert. What the police thought was an apocalyptic skinhead was really Airmen Dan Shersty, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base. Days later, they found the body of Lin Newborn, a local punk scene staple. The two men were best friends and the leaders of the loc…

On Easter Sunday in 1967, Jim Thompson took an afternoon stroll in the Cameron Highlands’ hills. The American, known as the “king of Thai silk”, was on vacation in Malaysia with friends. Something happened during his walk and Thompson was never seen again. His disappearance remains a mystery. SOURCES https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article…

On December 28, 1964, the quiet town of Garfield Heights, Ohio was shocked by the brutal stabbing death of 16-year-old Beverly Jarosz. While there were several suspects and even two confessions, most were excluded using methods that no longer hold up as evidence. Her murder remains unsolved. SOURCES https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Law-Enf…

Have you ever felt like you’ve had an out-of-body experience? Surveys suggest that between 8 and 20 percent of people claim to have had something like an out-of-body experience at some point in their lives — a sensation of the consciousness, spirit, or "astral body" leaving the physical body. SOURCES https://www.wikihow.com/Perform-Astral-Projectio…

Ariel wanted to be where the people were, but most of the half-human, half-fish sirens of the sea known as mermaids wanted to be left alone. These legendary sea creatures chronicled in maritime cultures since the advent of written history. While legends in various parts of the world differ, there are some common themes, fairly credible sightings, a…

In 1992, young sailor Allen Schindler, after a series of events that outed him to his entire ship, was found beaten so severely that he was unrecognizable while returning to the USS Belleau Wood while docked in Japan. What followed was a series of blatant omissions from the US Navy regarding the details of his brutal murder. SOURCES https://www.nyt…

In the 1970’s Doris Bither claimed, among other ghostly happenings, to have been sexually assaulted by three ghosts. Her case inspired a 1978 novel by Frank De Felitta titled The Entity and a film of the same name. The case parallels other popular “based on a true story” horror films of the time—including The Exorcist and The Amityville Horror—blen…

Late on the afternoon of October 24, 1961, police were called to a home in Lincoln, Mass. after a neighbor reported seeing a trail of blood leading from the house to the driveway. She discovered the unsettling scene after a young girl living in the house returned from a playdate to find her mother, Joan Risch missing. Several unconfirmed sightings …

In the conclusion of the Golden State Killer series, the mask is finally lifted using modern DNA technology and the man also known as the Visalia Ransacker, the East Area Rapist, and the Original Night Stalker is brought to justice. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-oddities--5307439/support.…

While the moniker for the GSK was the East Area Rapist in Sacramento, he was given a variety of names during the murders in Southern California. The Original Night Stalker was the most commonly used of those names, and seven attacks in Southern California are attributed to him. SOURCES Cited in previous episode Become a supporter of this podcast: h…

The Golden State Killer is one of the most infamous serial killers in United States history. Also known as the Visalia Ransacker, the East Area Rapist, and the Original Night Stalker, the Golden State Killer was active from 1974 to 1986 across California, committing at least 13 murders, 50 rapes, and more than 100 burglaries. In 2013, true crime wr…

When Mary Horton Vail died on Oct. 28, 1962, her husband, Felix Vail, told police she drowned in a freak accident in the Calcasieu River in Louisiana. He wasn’t prosecuted at the time, but more than 50 years later – after two other women he was last seen with went missing – his luck finally ran out. SOURCES STATE of Louisiana V. VAIL; 17–354; 12-28…

For over 3,000 years, certain regions of China have practiced a tradition known as yinhun, or ghost marriage. This ancient ritual marries the souls of a bride and groom in the afterlife to ensure their ghosts won't haunt their respective families. But with everything, there's a dark side to this ritual that includes kidnapping, murder, and bidding …

Red River Gorge is a canyon system located in central eastern Kentucky. It's home to some of the best rock climbing in the country, great camping spots, and plenty of flora and fauna. But the deep woods may contain dangerous creatures (besides bears) and secrets that an unlucky few have encountered. SOURCES cited within episode Become a supporter o…

It’s a case that spans hundreds of miles and has had hundreds of suspects nationwide. A killer targeted people when they least expected and executed them mercilessly. The identity of the I-70 Killer remains unknown. SOURCES Dead End: Inside the Hunt for the I-70 Serial Killer; by Bob Cyphers Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.…

On the morning of February 14, 2013, Nicole Waller left her boyfriend’s home and disappeared, never to be heard from again. Her body was never found, but her car was. SOURCES Cody Johnston v. State of Montana: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/mt-supreme-court/2186463.html#:~:text=On%20the%20morning%20of%20February,Her%20body%20was%20never%20found.…

After years of admiring each other from afar, Serena Karlan and Bison Dele decided the time was right to pursue a relationship. After 9/11, they embarked on a sailing adventure in the Pacific. The couple and boat captain disappeared after Bison’s brother showed up unannounced. They have never been found. SOURCES https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-…

Do you know who your neighbors are? After the Cold War, the FBI arrested 10 people who’d been spying for Russia for more than a decade. They’d been blending in with Americans, but in reality, they were sleeper spies. Their objective was to disappear into a community and not be recognized for what they were, leaving many questioning who they could t…

When the body of 23-year-old Josh Dufort was found by the side of the road in Henderson, Nevada, it appeared at first to be a random crime. Only after investigators found two life insurance policies taken out in Josh’s name by a new friend did they realize he’d been murdered. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autu…

When a group of young Burger Chef employees went missing from their night shift, police initially thought they’d stolen money and run. It was soon apparent that they hadn't gone anywhere willingly. SOURCES https://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/news/2023/12/28/from-the-indystar-archives-the-1978-burger-chef-restaurant-murders/72054036007/ https:/…

Where we left off, Dion Fortune was in the midst of a divorce and living in The Belfry, about to embark on a new leg of her journey. This time I’m getting into the good, the bad, and the ugly the details of one of the most influential people in modern paganism and Wicca. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-…

Dion Fortune was a British occultist, ceremonial magician, novelist, and author. She co-founded the Fraternity of the Inner Light and several other Theosophical organizations. Fortune was a proponent of philosophies that she claimed had been taught to her by spiritual entities known as the Ascended Masters. SOURCES [ T. W. C. Moriarty], Seven Aphor…

On a cool night in January of 2008, the town of Stephenville, Texas was inundated with unexplained aerial sightings. The incident received widespread media attention at the time and remains among the most notable UAP events in the 21st century. SOURCES https://web.archive.org/web/20080208225743/http://www.ufocasebook.com/2008/sorrellssaga1.html.web…

For 40 years, one mother worked diligently to ensure that her daughter’s killer would be brought to justice. After decades of chasing would-be suspects, police finally realized that the person who killed Joyce McClain had been hiding in plain sight all along. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-oddities--53…

When Brittany McGlone was found violently beaten to death in her boyfriend’s bed, the tiny town of Winnsboro, Texas was stunned. Her murder investigation shed light on the men in her life who had motives to kill her and also brought up long-kept secrets that would shock everyone in her life. Her murder remains unsolved, although there is one suspec…

The women of South Central, LA didn’t realize they were being hunted by a vicious killer in 1988. Police hadn’t yet connected a series of murdered women to the same man, but after an intended victim survived an attempt on her life, they realized that a serial killer was preying on women in the community. It would take decades, but the man known as …

Tracey Wigginton is infamously known as the Lesbian Vampire Killer by Australians. Wigginton and three friends lured an inebriated Edward Baldock to his death, allegedly to drink his blood. Wigginton stabbed him more than 20 times, almost severing his head. SOURCES The Vampire Killer; by Ron Hickshttps://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/true-sto…

Retribution came slowly for Skidmore, Missouri’s town scourge, Ken Rex McElroy. After committing a string of heinous crimes and never facing consequences, the townspeople took justice into their own hands. As McElroy sat in his truck in full view of more than 30 people, multiple gunshots rang out and the town bully was gone. SOURCES In Broad Daylig…

Cynthia “Cindy” Anderson got ready one morning for her job as a legal secretary. Cindy made it to work and was seen as late as 9:45 am. When her boss arrived at noon, all of the office lights were on and the door was locked from the inside. Cindy’s car was still in the lot, but she was gone. She would never be seen again. SOURCES https://www.ohioat…

The film industry and martial arts were changed forever by Bruce Lee and his son Brandon Lee. Not only were they father and son, but they each met a bizarre and untimely end, spawning many conspiracy theories and a possible family curse. SOURCES https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9664576/ https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/06/us/no-charges-f…

Personality changes following organ transplants have been reported for decades, including accounts of recipients acquiring the personality characteristics of their donor. There have been numerous studies done to determine whether this is a real phenomenon, but the question remains: can organ donation recipients really inherit memories, talents, and…

Latoya Ammons and her three children claimed they were possessed by demons in an astonishing case that saw the involvement of police, children’s services, and even an exorcism or three. This is the story of the Ammons House, known to those who’ve experienced it as the house of 200 demons. SOURCES https://skepticalinquirer.org/2014/05/the-200-demons…

High in the hills above Los Angeles, nestled in the trees of Benedict Canyon, sits a 1930 Craftsman-style house that was once home to one of Hollywood's biggest stars. From the outside, the looks like a picturesque movie set. But the truth about 9820 Easton Drive is anything but perfect. Follow me on TikTok @autumnsodditiespodcast Instragram @autum…

A woman comes home after a long day of work as an emergency room nurse and is attacked by a man sent to kill her. Only she’s not the one who died. This is the survival story of Susan Walters. Follow me on TikTok @autumnsodditiespodcast On Instagram @autumnsoddcast On Patreon at Autumn's Oddities SOURCES https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesman-…

From UFO sightings to lost ships and planes, to its own underwater Stonehenge, Lake Michigan has enough oddities to rival the Bermuda Triangle. Follow me on TikTok @autumnsodditiespodcast Instagram @autumnsoddcast Patreon at Autumn's Oddities SOURCES https://www.thearchaeologist.org/blog/9000-year-old-stonehenge-like-structure-found-under-lake-mich…

The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre stunned the world on February 14, 1929, when Chicago’s North Side erupted in gang violence. Gang warfare ruled the city during the late 1920s, as chief gangster Al Capone sought to gain control over the illegal sales of alcohol and other vices by eliminating his rivals. SOURCES The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Will…

In part 2 of the ghastly tale of Vincenzo Verzeni, he is finally arrested and tried for his heinous crimes. His appeals exhausted, Verzeni finally admits to the depravity of his horrendous deeds. Sources cited within episode Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-oddities--5307439/support.…

In the late 19th century, a predator stalked the women and girls of Bergamo, Italy. The late 1800s saw a rise in serial sexual killings, some of the worst of which were committed by a killer known as the Vampire of Bergamo. Promos by fellow Darkcast Network members Cause of Death and Book of the Dead SOURCES Cited within episode Become a supporter …

Hello there gentle listeners. I'm still on the mend, getting slightly better each day. Until I get my voice back, please enjoy this entertaining conversation (if I sound loopy, I didn't realize I was sick yet) with fellow Darkcast Network member Creepy Confidential. We cover everything from UFO conspiracies, our favorite cryptids, and the possibili…

In 1977, escrow agent Charles Morgan went missing for several days only to return home unable to speak, missing a shoe, and with plastic handcuffs on his wrists and ankles. After being taken, he was determined it wouldn't happen again. Not only did it happen again, but Charles Morgan never returned home. While his death was ruled by police as a sui…

On April 17, 1935, a fisherman hooked a small shark off Coogee Beach in Australia. Then a 13-foot, or four-meter, tiger shark swallowed the smaller shark, allowing itself to be caught by the hook as well. The fisherman just so happened to own an aquarium and decided the tiger shark would be his new attraction. But the small shark wasn’t the only th…

How a newlywed bride from Toronto drowned in just nine inches of stream water while her honeymoon cottage went up in flames is a mystery that gripped the city in 1947 and continues to puzzle investigators and the public. SOURCES Cited within episode Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-oddities--5307439/supp…

In the 1990s, a group of self-proclaimed hippies spent two years sealed inside a dome called Biosphere 2. Their glass-protected utopia turned out to be anything but, as they ended up nearly starving and gasping for air. SOURCES https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/spaceship-earth-review-biosphere-2-documentary.html https://www.thedailybeast.com/spaceshi…

While many believed they knew the identity of the Fall River axe murderer, Lizzie Borden's trial attorneys put forth a defense made easier by the lack of evidence against her. Was she guilty? Did she have an accomplice? Or, was she innocent? SOURCES cited within Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autumn-s-oddities-…

The Lizzie Borden murder case is one of the most famous in American criminal history. The New England crime and its seeming senselessness captivated the national press. And the horrible identity of the alleged murderer was immortalized by the children’s rhyme passed down through generations. This episode examines the murders of Lizzie's father Andr…