Twisted and Mysterious

This week on Twisted and Mysterious, we sink our teeth into the case of Tony Costa — the so-called “Cape Cod Vampire.” (Spoiler: he wasn’t actually biting necks.) We question where that nickname even came from, Sarah admits she thought Cape Cod was just a town and not an entire geographical feature, and we unpack the bizarre detail that Tony once babysat two little girls and… didn’t hurt them. Medal of honor? Not so much.

And then there’s the jaw-dropping loyalty of a mother who once said: “If our Tony chopped up those girls, he must have had a...

In this episode of Twisted and Mysterious, Sarah steals the story Faren was researching (no shame, no regrets) and dives headfirst into the bizarre Dyatlov Pass Incident. Nine experienced hikers mysteriously died in the frozen Siberian wilderness in 1959 — and we’re unpacking the weirdest theories about what went wrong. Was it an avalanche, UFOs, secret military experiments…or a rogue wolverine attack? Plus, we ask the real question: why would anyone want to hike through the Siberian wilderness in the dead of winter? Sarah also bravely battles Russian pronunciations, and Faren tries not to hold a grudge.

Thank...

Kenyon College may look like your average picturesque liberal arts campus, but behind the ivy-covered walls are ghost stories that’ll make you rethink walking across campus alone at night. In this episode of Twisted and Mysterious, we dig into the legends, tragedies, and hauntings that make Kenyon one of the most famously haunted colleges in America.

We cover the Old Kenyon fire of 1949, where tragedy left behind more than just scorch marks, and the chilling story of Stuart Pierson, a student killed by a train during what many believe was a fraternity hazing gone horribly wrong. Th...

November 24, 1971: A man in a suit, sunglasses, and a clip-on tie (yes, really) boards a plane, orders a bourbon, and politely tells a flight attendant he has a bomb. Fast-forward a few hours: he’s handed $200,000 in ransom money, straps on a parachute, yeets himself out of a Boeing 727… and completely disappears.

Welcome to the mystery of D.B. Cooper—the most legendary unsolved skyjacking in U.S. history. In this episode of Twisted & Mysterious, we’re breaking down exactly what happened that night, the FBI’s decades-long investigation, the stash of ransom cash found in the sand, and...

In 1897, Zona Heaster Shue of Greenbrier County, West Virginia, died under “mysterious” circumstances—which is old-timey speak for “her husband’s story didn’t make sense, but everyone was too polite to push it.” That is, until Zona came back as a ghost and told her mama the real tea: she’d been murdered. This supernatural testimony led to one of the weirdest murder trials in U.S. history—because when your key witness is dead, you’d think that’s a bit of a problem… unless you’re in West Virginia in the 1890s. Join us as we dig into the ghostly gossi...

She was Jesus. She was Marilyn Monroe. She was Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Queen Elizabeth, and—at one point—the queen of Lemuria. Oh, and Donald Trump was her dad in a past life, and Robin Williams was her spirit guide. Welcome to Love Has Won, the New Age cult so bizarre it makes most conspiracy theories look like light reading. This week on Twisted and Mysterious, we unravel the psychedelic doctrine, livestream meltdowns, and dangerous control tactics of Amy Carlson, aka “Mother God.” From crystal healing and 5D ascension to a shocking and glitter-covered ending, this story is a wild r...

This week on Twisted and Mysterious, Faren takes us into one of the most haunting and heartbreaking cases we've ever covered: the tragic death of Lacey Fletcher. For years, Lacey lived in almost complete isolation inside her parents' home—what investigators would later describe as a scene of unimaginable neglect. In 2022, authorities made a discovery that shocked even the most seasoned professionals.

We explore Lacey's background, the chilling circumstances of her death, the role her parents played, and the questions this case raises about mental health, guardianship, and accountability. Please note: this episode contains graphic descriptions and ma...

In December 1979, 18-year-old Michelle Martinko was found brutally stabbed to death in her family’s Buick, parked outside a shopping mall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The attack was personal, violent — and seemingly without motive. With no robbery, no sexual assault, and no obvious suspects, Michelle’s murder baffled investigators for decades.

But while the case went cold, the rumors didn’t. Especially about her ex-boyfriend Andy, who raised eyebrows when he reportedly climbed into her casket at the funeral, sobbing and begging to know who Michelle really loved. Was he a heartbroken teen… or something more sinister?

In th...

If you've ever wanted to hear about a haunting that included a ghost nun, flying bricks, and a rector's wife possibly faking poltergeist activity to cover up an affair, welcome to the Borley Rectory! In this episode of Twisted and Mysterious, we dive into the messiest haunting in England's history. With wall scribbles, self-moving objects, and a psychic researcher who treated ghost hunting like a stage show, Borley has it all. But was it truly haunted...or just a 1930s soap opera with paranormal flair? either way, the drama is very real.

Thank you for listening! If...

In this episode of Twisted and Mysterious, we dive into the chilling case of Michael Wayne McGray—a Canadian serial killer whose crimes stretched across provinces and spanned decades. From hitchhiking horror stories to grim confessions behind bars, McGray's case is as disturbing as it is baffling.

Along the way, we discovered an unsettling coincidence: one of your hosts (hi, it’s me—Sarah) shares a birthday with McGray—July 11. That doesn’t mean anything… probably. But after recapping murder after murder, it started to feel a bit like he just treated these like regular Saturday night activities.<...

In 1874, a group of 21 men set off into Colorado's unforgiving San Juan Mountains in search of gold. On one man, Alfred Packer, stumbled back out, looking suspiciously well-fed. This week on Twisted and Mysterious, we chew over the legendary tale of the so-called Colorado Cannibal: Was he a hapless guide just trying to survive? Or the hungriest tour leader in history?

Join us for a tale of snowstorms, shady storytelling, and the only man in U.S. history whose name because both courtroom fodder and a cafeteria punchline.

Important reminder: You should only consider cannibalism...

In 2010, 24-year-old Phoebe Handsjuk was found dead at the bottom of a garbage chute in a luxury Melbourne apartment building. Authorities quickly ruled her death a tragic accident—but the details of the scene raised far more questions than answers. Who climbs into a garbage chute feet-first? Why were her injuries so inconsistent with the official story? And why didn’t police check for signs of life, collect evidence, or secure the scene like a potential crime?

This week, we unravel the haunting and highly debated timeline of Phoebe’s final days and explore the unusual circumstances surrou...

Four teenage girls, a strip mall frozen yogurt shop, and one of the most haunting unsolved cases in Texas history. In this episode, we dive deep into the 1991 Austin Yogurt Shop Murders—and the tangled mess of false confessions, unanswered questions, and lingering grief left in their wake.

We also take a quick detour into mall nostalgia (raise your hand if you miss Sam Goody) and the surprisingly dramatic lawsuit between TCBY and I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt. But at the heart of it all is a call for change: why police reform must include traine...

This week Faren takes us deep into the disturbing case of Sean Lannon—a man from New Mexico who confessed to multiple murders, including his own ex-wife. There were bodies in a truck. Multiple states involved. And somehow… no one smelled anything?

We also talk about how we retained absolutely nothing from the D.A.R.E. program, how Faren once did smell decomp on Easter Sunday, and how addiction is a serious issue that deserves compassion—not just judgements.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5...

Point Pleasant, West Virginia. 1966.

Something with wings, glowing red eyes, and a flair for the dramatic started terrorizing locals--and just might have predicted a major tragedy. But was Mothman a warning? A menace? A misunderstood cryptid trying to mind his mothy business?

This week, we're trading unsolved disappearances for winged weirdness, diving deep(ish) into the legend of Mothman. We'll cover the original sightings, the bridge collapse, the Men in Black (yes, those ones), and the lasting cultural impact of a creature who just might be the world's most ominous influencer.

Spoiler alert...

Picture this: you're 17, you just finished your shift at work, and your car ends up halfway through a wall of an abandoned farmhouse. Sounds like the start of a horror movie, right? Sadly, it’s the baffling real-life mystery of Brianna Maitland. In this episode, we dive headfirst into one of Vermont’s strangest unsolved disappearances—full of cryptic clues, sketchy acquaintances, and a lot of "Wait... WHAT?" moments.

We’ll walk you through the timeline, separate fact from small-town gossip, and yes, make the occasional joke to keep ourselves from spiraling into existential dread. (That’s how we cop...

In 2004, 21-year-old Maura Murray emailed her professors about a "death in the family," packed her car with snacks, booze, and more than a few secrets, and drove off into the snowy woods of New Hampshire...never to be seen again.

What followed was not your average missing persons case--it was full-on internet obsession complete with cryptic clues, shady phone calls, and a search party that somehow involved both cadaver dogs and conspiracy theorists with Reddit PhDs.

Was Maura running away? Was she abducted? Did she step into a glitch in the Matrix?

Thanks...

This week, we check into the famously haunted Stanley Hotel—where the views are stunning, the ghosts are active, and the walls have definitely heard things. Built by Freelan Stanley, inventor, entrepreneur, and overachiever with a mustache to match, the hotel was originally a luxurious mountain escape for the well-to-do (and unwell-to-do—Stanley himself came to Estes Park for tuberculosis recovery). Unfortunately, like most great American landmarks, the hotel sits on land forcibly taken from Native American tribes, because history is nothing if not deeply haunted. As we wander the echoing halls, we explore how an actual explosion in 1911 near...

This week, we dive back into Iowa’s most infamous fixer-upper: the Villisca Axe Murder House. In 1912, a horrific and unsolved murder left eight people dead—and ever since, the ghosts have apparently been auditioning for their own reality show. Join us as we discuss the legends, the cold case, and the number of times ghosts have slammed the door in Zak Bagans' face. We’ll examine all the burning questions: Is it haunted? Who did it? Why is there always one guy who thinks challenging the ghost to a fight is a good idea?

Spoiler alert: It nev...

Welcome to Villisca, Iowa—home to friendly neighbors, charming farms, and one of the most brutal unsolved axe murders in American history. This week, we take a cheerful little stroll into utter horror with the Villisca Axe Murders—because nothing says “Midwestern hospitality” like eight people bludgeoned in their sleep by a mystery guest. In 1912, someone crept into the Moore family’s home, committed a full-blown massacre, and then… stuck around? Covered mirrors, made a plate of food, maybe did a little redecorating? Eight people. One axe. No motive. No sense of urgency from investigators who were like, “Let’s invite the who...

"THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS YOU!" -Dr. Evil

This week we explore the totally chill, not-at-all disturbing case of Roland Doe--a teenager in the 1940s who allegedly got possessed after dabbling with a Ouija board, because apparently Hasbro was out here ruining lives decades before Monopoly fights. Spoiler: this is the real-life case that inspired The Exorcist, which means things get wildly dramatic and suspiciously cinematic.

Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us your personal stories or...

Faren's telling us a story (!!!)--a weird story about the time the Cirigliano Family went missing and went on a Mr. Dursley-went-crazy-running-from-Hogwarts-letters adventure. Don't forget to call 9-1-1 and let them know everything is just fine tonight and not to worry about anything.

Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us your personal stories or story suggestions to twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

Get ready for a big fat bummer. This week we delve into the horrifically brutal murder of Jayna Murray. Spoiler alert: if you think you're smart enough to get away with murder, you aren't.

Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us your personal stories or story suggestions to twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

Today we take a little trip to upstate NY, where a little guy known as Champ (Champy, to his friends) resides in Lake Champlain. Is he an everlasting dinosaur or a really big goldfish? Is he a he? Should he and Nessie have little dinosaur babies? So many questions, so few answers.

Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us your personal stories or story suggestions to twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

As chronic Excedrin users, this week was a doozy. We're talking about the Excedrin poisonings of Washington State in 1986 (when Faren was but a wee babe). This episode has it all: murder, mayhem, fish, and headaches.

Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and emails us your personal stories or story suggestions to twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

On this week's episode, Faren tells us the story of the tragic disappearance of Skye Budnick who went missing after flying to Japan and left behind a trail of unanswered questions and no clear leads. Was it a voluntary disappearance or something far darker?

If you have any information about the whereabouts of Skye Budnick, you can email survivingskye@gmail.com or visit www.survivingskye.com. You can also find more information on this case from Skye's sister, Megan LeBron via her TikTok @meganlebron or her podcast, Surviving Skye.

Thanks for listening! If you have...

Get ready for some creepy, quirky fun as we dive into the bizarre world of Robert the Doll. In this episode, we’ll talk ghostly mischief, haunted happenings, and why you might just want to think twice before taking a selfie with him. Tune in for some laughs, chills, and maybe a few new doll-related fears, and let's hope we don’t end up cursed by the end of this one!

Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. Find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

Do you pronounce it Gef or Gef? Either way, please fasten your safety belts as we fly to the Isle of Man to learn about a real alive but maybe dead and possibly not real talking mongoose. And, let's all wish Faren a very happy, if not weird, birthday!

You can find us on social media @twistedandmysterious or email at twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com. And, if you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe! Thanks for listening!

It's a 5 Banana Alarm! We'd love to tell you to enjoy this story of Katherine Knight, but we're not sure "enjoy" is the correct word. There is A LOT going on in this bonkers bananas tale. Hang in there!

You can find us on social media @twistedandmysterious or email at twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com. And, if you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe! Thanks for listening!

Have you heard of the Bermuda Triangle? That's not what we're talking about today. Today, we discuss the mysterious happenings in the Lake Michigan Triangle. We also debate about who the better Doctor is. (FYI, it's Matt Smith...don't tell Faren.)

You can find us on social media @twistedandmysterious or email at twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com. And, if you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe! Thanks for listening!

We made it to episode 10! Woohoo! As a treat, Faren tales us the story of Betty and Barney Hill's alien abduction. Do time lapses, skin removal, and needles in the head appeal to you? if so, you're in the right place! Have you ever heard of an alien with hair? We hadn't either. We hope you enjoy this bonkers story.

Remember, you can find us on social media @twistedandmysterious. And, as always, please rate, review, and subscribe! Thanks for listening!

SUCCESS! A podcast episode that actually made it to the finish line with minimal tech issues. Welcome back, as we discuss the tragic and mysterious disappearance and deaths of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon.

Thank you for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. And, remember, you can find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us at twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

In honor of snow in Galveston, we bring to you the bizarre and twisted story of Robert Durst. Ignore our sniffles while we power through the sub-freezing temperatures to tell you a tale.

As always, please rate, review, and subscribe, and join us on social media @twistedandmysterious.

We're back, baby! After losing an episode to the technology demons, we're back with a new episode chock full of terrible things, including, but not limited to, 1970s clothing, hairstyles, humor, and murder.

Link to photos of potential victims of Rodney Alcala as mentioned in the episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjq2qmyq

If you believe you know of someone in these photos, you can contact Huntingdon Beach police detective Patrick Ellis at 714-375-5066, or e-mail at pellis@hbpd.org.

As always, please rate, review, and subscribe, and join us on social...

Episode 6 has FINALLY arrived! The St. James Hotel in Cimarron, NM has proven to be so haunted that it messed up our recordings several times.

Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed the show and you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe! #twistedandmysterious

You can also find us on most social media @twistedandmysterious. (or @TwisMysPod if you're on X)

And, remember, people are gross, and don't get murdered!

It's a Christmas 2-for-1 special. Sarah bums us all out with the Christmas Eve murder of Sameena Imam, then Faren tells us a tale of UFO landings past, with the Lonnie Zamora Incident that took place in Socorro, NM in the 1960s.

Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed the show and you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe! #twistedandmysterious

You can also find us on most social media @twistedandmysterious. (or @TwisMysPod if you're on X)

And, remember, people are gross, and don't get murdered!

This week Faren is "religiousizing" the podcast with the incredible story of the Miracle of Fatima. Sarah repeatedly mistakes "meteorological" with actual meteors, and we're 'shopping names for what you should call a tweet now that it is no longer a tweet.

Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed the show and you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe! #twistedandmysterious

You can also find us on most social media @twistedandmysterious. (or @TwisMysPod if you're on X)

And, remember, people are gross, and don't get murdered!

Join us as we discuss Israel Keyes and the reasons why you should let YouTube teach you how to be your own handyman.

Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed the show and you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe! #twistedandmysterious

You can also find us on most social media @twistedandmysterious.

And, remember, people are gross, and don't get murdered!

Welcome to Episode 2, where we discuss the extraordinary reincarnation story of Dorothy Eady/Omm Sety.

Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed the show and you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe! #twistedandmysterious

You can also find us on most social media @twistedandmysterious.

In this inaugural episode of Twisted and Mysterious, Sarah tells the hometown story of Terry Clark and the children he brutalized in the mid-1980s.