Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown

The Bell Witch

Deep in the hills near Adams, Tennessee, the legend of the Bell Witch grew from a terrifying family haunting into one of America’s most famous ghost stories. For over 200 years, the tale has inspired books, paranormal investigations, and horror films like An American Haunting, leaving people still wondering what really happened on the Bell family farm.
 
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Episode Sources:
“Tennessee Legends: The Bell Witch” by Tori Kleinpeter, October 27, 2022, Tennessee State Museum
“The Bell Witch: The Scariest Ghost Story in Tennessee” by Meghan E. Gattignolo, Customs House Museum & Cultural Center
“The Story of the Bell Witch” by Pat Fitzhugh, The Bell Witch Site
“Bell Witch” from Tennessee Myths and Legends, Tennessee State Library and Archives
““Year of the Witch”: 1937 and the Return of the Bell Witch” by Skyler Gordon, October 30, 2017, The Tennessee Historical Society
“The Strange Legend of the Bell Witch” from Genteel & Bard
“A Brief History of the Bell Witch Hauntings and a visit to the Bell Witch Cave in Adams, TN” by Todd Atteberry, The Witchery Arts
“The Bell Witch Haunting (2013)” on IMDb
“An American Haunting 2005)” on IMDb
 
Creeptastic theme music by:
Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast
 
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*SUBSCRIBER FREEBIE* The Tragic Death of 'Parasite' Star Lee Sun-kyun

CW: This episode contains discussion of suicide.
Lee Sun-kyun was already a household name in Korea when the critically acclaimed film "Parasite" took home the Oscar for Best Picture. Korea has strict moral standards when it comes to their citizens, and a celebrity who is constantly in the spotlight is sure to have their every move examined under a microscope. Such was the case for Lee Sun-kyun when a pair of opportunists decided to take advantage of their relationship with the actor for their own personal gain, leading to tragic results.
Episode Sources:
“Suspicion Grows Over 'Parasite' Actor's Death” by Ryan Smith, Newsweek, Jan 12, 2024
“Death of ‘Parasite’ star puts spotlight on pressures facing South Korean celebrities” by Tara Subramaniam and Yoonjung Seo, CNN, Dec 29, 2023
“South Korea is reckoning with the death of beloved 'Parasite' actor Lee Sun-kyun” by Ayesha Rascoe, NPR, Jan 7, 2024
“South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun of Oscar-winning film ‘Parasite’ is found dead” by Hyung-Jin Kim, AP News, Dec 27, 2023
“Could ‘Parasite’ Star Lee Sun-kyun’s Death Lead to a Social Reckoning in Korea?” by Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, Jan 3, 2024
“‘Parasite’ Star Lee Sun-kyun Dead at 48” by Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, Dec 27, 2023
“Lee Sun-kyun, ‘Parasite’ Actor, Found Dead at 48” by John Yoon, The New York Times, Dec 28, 2023
“Lee Sun-kyun: A quiet farewell for Parasite star who died in the spotlight” by Jake Kwon, Nick Marsh and Nicholas Yong, BBC, Dec 29, 2023
“The two women who drove Lee Sun Gyun to his death sent to prosecution” ALLKPOP, Jan 5, 2024
“Jail for blackmailers who extorted from late South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun” by Sherlyn Sim, The Straits Times, Dec 20, 2024
“Actor Lee Sun-kyun’s alleged blackmailer taken into custody” The Straits Times, Dec 28, 2023
“https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/actor-lee-sun-kyun-s-alleged-blackmailer-taken-into-custod"
 "Woman who extorted money from late Lee Sun Kyun is former actress who allegedly scammed multiple men" by Bryan Wong, todayonline, Jan 3, 2024
“Lee Sun Kyun case: Doctor supplying drugs to late Parasite actor's blackmailer sentenced to 4 years in prison” by Saumya Saxena, Pinkvilla, Sep 24, 2024
“A movie star, a suicide and a nation’s war on drugs” by Max Kim, Feb 17, 2024
"'Gallows Humor"-A Sociological Phenomenon', by Antonin J. Obrdlik, American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 47, No. 5 (Mar., 1942), pp. 709-716 (8 pages), Published By: The University of Chicago Press
“Lee Sun-kyun's acting career from television to silver screen” by Lee Yoon-seo, The Korea Herald, Dec 27, 2023
“Lee Sun-kyun’s marriage story re-examined amid drug use allegations” by Lilly Nguyen, Kbizoom, Oct 24, 2023
“Rest in Peace, Lee Sun-kyun” K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim, Dec 27, 2023
“What's wrong with Korea? A Korean journalist's take on 'Parasite star' Lee Sun-kyun's death” Dark Asia with Megan, Dec 28, 2023
 
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Creeptastic theme music by:
Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast
 
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The Murder of Gemma McCluskie

Gemma McCluskie was a former EastEnders actress who vanished from her East London home in March 2012. What began as a missing person case quickly turned into something more complex with unsettling discoveries in Regent’s Canal. As investigators worked to piece together what happened, attention shifted closer to home.
 
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Episode Sources:
“Gemma McCluskie Missing: Police Divers Search Canal For Body Parts” by Dina Rickman, March 8, 2012, The Huffington Post UK
“BRUTAL MURDER Who was Eastenders actress Gemma McCluskie and how her brother Tony kill her?” from The Sun, Published March 5, 2025, Updated March 6, 2025
“Who did Gemma McCluskie play in EastEnders and how did the BBC soap star die?” by Karen Price, March 7, 2025, Plymouth Herald
“EastEnders' Gemma McCluskie murder: Man jailed for threats” from BBC News, April 11, 2013
“Body parts of Eastenders actress found in Regent's Canal (2012)” by Horrid Hackney, June 23, 2021
“EastEnders' Gemma McCluskie murder: Brother guilty” from BBC News, January 30, 2013
“Canal community recalls Gemma McCluskie body part trail” from BBC News, January 30, 2013
“EastEnders' Gemma McCluskie murder: Man jailed for threats” from BBC News, April 11, 2013
“EastEnders actor Gemma McCluskie's brother jailed for her murder” by Caroline Davies, January 30, 2013, The Guardian
“British actress Gemma McCluskie's brother charged with her murder” by msnbc.com U.S. & World News, March 10, 2012, NBC News
“EastEnders Actress Killed 'After Brother Row'” from Sky News, January 14, 2013
“EastEnders star brutally murdered before being chopped up - with chilling twist” by Peter Hart, March 7, 2025, Mirror
“Who was EastEnders star Gemma McCluskie and what happened to her brother after brutal murder?” by Liam De Brun, March 7, 2025, Updated March 8, 2025, Manchester Evening News
“Former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie 'was killed after row about overflowing sink'” by Shenai Raif, January 14, 2013, The Independent
“BBC EastEnders star savagely murdered and dismembered - with a chilling twist” by Peter Hard and Georgia Burns, March 7, 2025, Daily Record
“Man who claimed he kidnapped EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie and demanded ransom from her family is sentenced” by Syma Mohammed, April 11, 2013, Hackney Gazette
“Gemma McCluskie” on IMDb
 
Creeptastic theme music by:
Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast
 
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The 'Follies' Yacht Disaster of 1931

The year: 1931. The place: New York City. Despite that the country was in the throes of the Great Depression, life seemed unaffected for the employed performers of the Ziegfeld Follies. During a weekend of summer fun and relaxation, five of the cast members were joined by a chauffeur and boat captain on a private yacht. Then tragedy stuck.
 
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Episode Sources:
“BOAT BLAST BURNS 3 OF 'FOLLIES' CAST; BROADWAY FIGURES HURT IN BOAT EXPLOSION.” The New York Times, July 27, 1931
“MRS. CARNEGIE SUES TO OUST NIGHT CLUB; Alleges Club Richman Is Only a Thin Disguise for a Public Cabaret.” The New York Times, Nov 27, 1924
“Virginia Biddle” - Grokipedia
“FATAL BOAT BLAST HELD UNAVOIDABLE” The New York Times, July 29, 1931
“'FOLLIES' GIRL DIES AFTER BOAT BLAST” The New York Times, July 28, 1931
“STAGE FOLK MOURN FOR HELEN WALSH” The New York Times, July 31, 1931
“Gladys Glad: Glad All Over” Travalanche, July 9, 2017
“Life of Mark Hellinger” by Michael Spencer, The Jim Bishop Collection, page created Nov 6, 2003
“Harry Richman: Puttin’ on the Ritz” Travalanche, Aug 10, 2009
“Harry Richman Is Dead at 77; Broadway Singer of the 1930’s” The New York Times, Nov 4, 1972
“Florenz Ziegfeld: Bio - Part IV” by John Kenrick, Musicals 101, c. 2002-2004
“THE BOX OFFICE SUBMITS TO A TREND” The New York Times, Nov 8, 1931
“Boat Blast Burns Follies Beauties” The Indianapolis Times., July 27, 1931
The Helen Morgan Page: On This Date - July 27, 1931, by Christopher S. Connelly, July 27, 2024
Helen Walsh - New York, State Census, 1905
Helen Walsh, Instagram - vintage_stardust
“HELEN WALSH HONORED AT SPECIAL MATINEE” The New York Times, Aug 12, 1931
“CALLED BY ANGELS HELEN WALSH” New York Daily News, Sep 22, 1999
 
Creeptastic theme music by:
Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast
 
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The Legend of the Wendigo

Long before the Wendigo found its way into mainstream pop culture appearing in movies and TV shows, it lived in stories of indigenous communities as a warning about what happens when a person loses their humanity. Its origins are rooted in real places and real fears. It is often described as a towering, skeletal figure with skin stretched tight over bone and the stench of death. 
 
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Episode Sources:
“Wendigo (folklore)” by Richard Sheposh, 2023, EBSCO
“Wendigo (Algonkian mythology)” by Rene Ostberg, Britannica Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica
“The Wendigo Legend: Real Stories, Native Folklore, and Hauntings” from American Ghost Walks
“The Mythology and Misrepresentation of the Windigo” by Elizabeth McCauley, November 23, 2016, Backstory
“More Than Monsters: The Deeper Significance of Wendigo Stories” by Kaitlin Smith, November 30, 2021, Facing History & Ourselves
“What Is The Wendigo? Meet The Cannibalistic Cryptid Of Your Nightmares” by Jaclyn Anglis, Edited by John Kuroski, March 31, 2026, All That’s Interesting
“Legend of the Wendigo” by Maria Mohsin, February 14, 2020, last modified October 31, 2024, The Business Standard
“Wendigo – Flesheater of the Forests” from Legends of America
“The Wendigo: A Terrifying Legend from North American Folklore” by D.S. Murphy, Urban Epics
“American Horror Story: Indigenous Folklore and Contemporary Issues in Wendigo Stories” by Rebecca L. Willoughby, March 8, 2025, Horror Homeroom
“The Tragedy of Jack Fiddler: The Shaman and the Ultimate Foe of the Wendigo” by Sarah J. Blake, August 4, 2025, HushedUpHistory
 
Creeptastic theme music by:
Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast
 
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The Music & Mystery of Elliott Smith

Elliott Smith’s music felt extremely personal, like he was saying things that most people couldn’t quite put into words. His rise from Portland’s indie scene to an Oscar-nominated songwriter brought him into a spotlight he never seemed fully comfortable with. Behind the songs was a complicated life and a death that still leaves questions without clear answers.
 
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Episode Sources:
“The Disturbing Story Of Elliott Smith’s Death — And The Questions That Remain To This Day” by Austin Harvey, Edited by Kaleena Fraga, Published November 13, 2025, Updated November 16, 2025, All That’s Interesting
“The Puzzling Death of Elliott Smith” by Cherry Rose, January 13, 2020, Medium
“The Lingering Beauty of Elliott Smith” by Jamie Fisher, March 30, 2023, The New Yorker
“Keep the Things You Forgot: An Elliott Smith Oral History by Jayson Greene, October 21, 2013, Pitchfork
“The mysterious death of Mr. Misery” by Alexis Petridis, March 18, 2004, The Guardian
 “Elliott Smith: All Things Must Pass” by Jonathan Valania, additional reporting by Cory duBrowa, January 28, 2005, Magnet Magazine
“A Death in the Family: Musicians Remember Elliott Smith” by Matt Fink, February 1, 2004, Paste Magazine
“Smith’s girlfriend won’t collect” by Leslie Simmons, October 17, 2007, The Hollywood Reporter
 
Creeptastic theme music by:
Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast
 
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Misfit Monday 4: "Hey Girls, Wanna Party?"

Misfits! It's been a minute since our last Misfit Monday, but we're back! We're reading stories written by YOU about things you've experienced. Today's tales have been brought to you by Tammy T., Gloria via Chelsea, Deedee, Erin Carlson and Alice. We've got a floating lady in white, a lady in lavender (such colorful ladies), a strange guy in a pickup truck who might or might not have a gun, communication from the afterlife, and night terrors. 
Keep sending us your stories!
 
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Creeptastic theme music by:
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The Questionable Death of Eraserhead's Jack Nance

Jack Nance became a cult icon through his unforgettable role in Eraserhead and a decades-long collaboration with David Lynch. Offscreen, his life moved between moments of success and long battles with addiction. Those who knew him describe a man with a quiet humor and a way of seeing the world that felt just a little off center. His final days in South Pasadena led to a death that remains unresolved, leaving behind questions that have never fully been answered.
 
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Episode Sources:
“Erased” from May 1, 2016, Pasadena Weekly
“Obituary: Jack Nance” by Tony Sloman, January 8, 1997, Independent
“Eraserhead: 10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About David Lynch's Surreal Masterpiece” by Jake Dee, September 18, 2020, ScreenRant
“Star of ‘Eraserhead’ Found Dead After Fight” by Ken Ellingwood, January 4, 1997, Los Angeles Times
“Jack Nance, 53, An Actor Known For 'Eraserhead'” by The Associated Press, January 11, 1997, The New York Times
“Lost Highway: Jack Nance Remembered By David Lynch & Others” by Cyrus Shahrad, July 15, 2013, The Quietus
“Jack Nance” on IMDb
“Erased” by Maximillian Potter, August 1997, Premiere Magazine, pages 92-95, 106-107
“Actor Jerry Van Dyke’s Daughter Found Hanged” from November 19, 1991, L.A. Times Archives, Los Angeles Times
“Kelly Van Dyke” from IMDb
“Nancee Kellee” on Find a Grave
 
Creeptastic theme music by:
Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast
 
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