In the 1920s a killer known as The Dark Strangler terrorized cities across the United States and into Canada. He would claim the lives of at least 26 victims before finally being apprehended and sentenced to hang, becoming known as one of the most prolific serial killers of the time.  Today, I'm telling you the chilling true story of Earl Leonard Nelson, better known as The Dark Strangler. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe. Connect with us on our socials: • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at: https://hauntedhistorypod.com/episode25

On December 4th, 1872, the Mary Celeste, a merchant ship, was found adrift and abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean. The last entry in the ship’s log had been penned ten days prior. The ship’s cargo was untouched, its provisions, aplenty. The crew’s personal belongings lay intact. In fact, nothing seemed largely amiss aboard the ship, which was disheveled but very much still seaworthy. That is, apart from one leering fact. Of the ten souls onboard the ship when she set sail from New York nearly a month prior, not a single person remained… Today I am telling you the tale of Ghost Ship: The Curse of the Mary Celeste Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe. Connect with us on our socials: • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at: https://hauntedhistorypod.com/episode24

Edgar Allen Poe is a name that resonates with many. Even if you haven't read his writing directly, chances are you've encountered something influenced by the master of macabre.  But how he met his end is shrouded in mystery. What led to the death of the 'father of the detective story'? Was it an accident? Was it self-inflicted? Or perhaps… it was something more sinister?  Today, I’m telling you the tale of Edgar Allen Poe and The Mysterious Death of the Master of Macabre.  Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at: https://hauntedhistorypod.com/episode23

"Lizzie Borden took an axe/She gave her mother forty whacks/When she saw what she had done/She gave her father forty-one" You may have heard this playground rhyme before, but did you know that it was inspired by the true tale of the infamous murderess, Lizzie Borden? Lizzie, in a fit of fury, is said to have ruthlessly and mercilessly killed her parents with an axe. But how much of the playground rhyme – and the echoes through time surrounding Lizzie’s story – are true? Today I am telling you the true story of Lizzie Borden. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com/episode22

On the morning of July 12th 1762, the body of Crown Prince Sado was removed from the rice chest that he was forced to enter the week prior by his father, King Yeongjo. Over the course of the week, Prince Sado would beg and plead to be released, his cried ignored until eventually he succumbed to the fierce heat, dehydration and starvation.  But why would a father commit such a horrific act to his own son? Was the Crown Prince Sado the sadistic serial killer that had been responsible for over a hundred deaths in the palace, or was this all part of a political conspiracy? Today's story is of "The Mad Prince of Korea And The Murders That Haunted The Royal Court. We hope you enjoyed this week’s episode! New episodes of Haunted History are available biweekly on Tuesdays.  Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Follow us on Facebook Sources - www.hauntedhistorypod.com/episode21

Tales of grand heists and elaborate scams have long captivated our imaginations and among these daring exploits, one story stands out as particularly audacious - the tale of a self-proclaimed countess who dared to deceive none other than the Queen of France herself.  Jeanne de la Motte, a noblewoman fallen on hard times (or so she would say), orchestrated a very daring scheme to steal a lavish, and extremely expensive diamond necklace.  Today, I'm telling you the story of the Countess Who Duped the Queen, a scandalous scam that forever altered the course of French history. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com/episode20

The wait is over! Season 2 of Haunted History Premiers next Tuesday.  Join us for a captivating storytelling experience like no other. A time-traveling ride through history's most scandalous secrets, shocking events, and of course, haunted places.  Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com

Our stories here at Haunted History often revolve around the misdeeds of cruel people, societal ills, and unexplained phenomena. But what about the natural world? Nature, in all its splendor and power, knows not right from wrong. Today, I am telling you the story of the Schoolhouse Blizzard, one of the worst winter storms in history. It was the day the blizzard was King. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com

It's May 5th, 1893, and you are setting foot in Chicago’s Jackson Park to see for yourself what this whole “Chicago World’s Fair” thing is all about. At the time, you don’t know it, but this event will be called “the fair that changed America”. This is because, underneath the veneer of celebration, imagination, and bustle, a dark underbelly writhed, claiming the lives of the unsuspecting. Hidden in plain sight, a monster laid in wait, the likes of which America had never seen…  Today, I will be telling you about the story of America’s first urban serial killer, H.H. Holmes.    Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com

Picture this. It’s a Saturday night in 1984, you are dressed head to toe in denim and you and a group of friends are headed out to the movies to catch the newest supernatural slasher film, A Nightmare on Elm Street.  The movie was a hit. It struck all the right nerves and left a lasting impression among horror aficionados and all moviegoers alike. Now, what if I told you that the Wes Craven slasher was actually inspired by a true series of events that unfolded in 1981, just a few years before the release of the film? It might be hard to believe, but it’s true. Today I’m telling you the tale of Nightmare Death: The True Story That Inspired ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com

Blackbeard has inspired generations of storytelling in his own right. From the 1718 novel On Stranger Tides to the 2015 Hollywood movie Pan - a stylized prequel to a better-known novel, J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. In the movie, the character of Blackbeard takes center stage, serving as the main antagonist.  One story, however, that seems to linger above all others in regards to Blackbeard's legendary life, is the existence of his so-called 'lost treasure'. But is there any truth to this claim, or is it simply tall tales? Today's story is on the life, death and legacy of Blackbeard.   Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com

For the people of Fukushima Prefecture, in Japan, time stopped at 2:46pm on March 11th , 2011. This is the moment that the coastal region was rocked by the Tōhoku earthquake, the largest in Japan’s history. The quake lasted all of 6 minutes, and caused extensive damage to infrastructure, raising buildings and roads in the blink of an eye. Many human lives were lost in those few minutes. But the horror had only just begun. The quake created a tsunami, pummeling the Fukushima nuclear power plant. But the triple threat – earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster – engendered a fourth, and maybe less explored calamity. Shortly after the Fukushima disaster, reports started surfacing from the surviving family members of those who lost their lives…reports of apparitions.  Today, I will tell you the story of the ghosts of Fukushima. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com

Demon summoner. Sadist. Child murderer.  History is peppered with dark and disturbed characters. People who left unchecked, exercised untold horrors onto the unsuspecting, the marginalized, and the vulnerable. Often, these folks operated from positions of privilege and power, as we saw last week with our tale about the Blood Countess, Elizabeth Bathory. One man in particular – a precursor to Elizabeth, if you will – takes the cake in terms of bloodshed, madness, and overall mayhem. This man, a perhaps lesser-known counterpart to history’s true crime “heavy hitters”, is alleged to be the fabled inspiration for the fairy-tale character of ‘Bluebeard’. A man reportedly so vile, so inhumane, that he makes the tales enshrouding Elizabeth Bathory seem like a walk in the park. Today, I will tell you the story of the child murderer, heretic, and serial killer, Gilles de Rais. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com

Imagine, a countess living alone in a dark castle, bathing herself in the blood of young virgins in order to retain a youthful glow. This is the aura that enveloped Elizabeth Bathory of Hungary, a woman who has been labeled as one of history’s most prolific serial killers – with vampiric tendencies on top of it all! But, when it comes to the so-called “Blood Countess”, what is fact and what is fiction? Today, we dive into the world of one of history’s most enigmatic women. In doing so, we’ll hear about royal rivalries that would give Game of Thrones a run for its money and accounts of gore that tie into the likes of Vlad the Impaler. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com

The idea that demons can possess a person isn’t new. Many ancient cultures held the belief that evil spirits could enter the human body and make us do things that are either beyond our capabilities, or just downright evil. And, just as many cultures believed that an entity could occupy a person, they also believed that this spirit could be forced out. Today, we tell the story of the ‘real-life’ exorcism that inspired the famous movie, as well as another, maybe lesser-known instance of documented exorcism. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com

An entire community under a spell, an invisible threat. This forces one the masses to turn on each other, to cast aspersions, to point fingers. Neighbour’s become enemies; enemies take each other down. You can trust no one, as even members of your own family begin  whispering under their breaths: “witch”. This is what happened to the folks of Salem,  Massachusetts in 1692. For less than a year, the community seemed to suffer a bout of collective insanity as it persecuted over 200 of its own. Many died under the weight of false accusations of witchcraft and devil worshipping. But what was the source of this wave of hysteria? Was it a deal with the Devil? Or just plain old frenzy? Let’s find out together as we dive into today’s special episode on the Salem Witch Trials. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com

What if I told you that the asylum responsible for churning out the villains in Batman comics was real? Or, at least, that there exists a “real-life” analog to it? Today, I’m taking you all on a tour of another one of America’s most haunted asylums, a place known as the “birthplace of the lobotomy”. Come with me as I tell you the origin story of the inspiration for the Arkham Asylum: the Danvers State Hospital. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com

Vampires are arguably one of the more well-known mythical creatures worldwide that seem to exist in some form in many cultures. But where did this legendary creature come from? And how has it changed over the years to form what we know now as a modern-day vampire?  Well tonight, we will find out, because this bonus episode is on the origins of the vampire! Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com

Imagine, you’re paddling along a canal near Mexico City, and you are taken to a small island nestled in a lagoon. Verdant lawns, whimsical bridges made of twisted branches, Spanish moss falling in loose curls from crooked trees, from which hang the mangled bodies of endlessly eerie dolls. You heard right! This place, called “The Island of the Dolls”, or “La Isla de las Muñecas” in Spanish, is a small island located in the Xochimilco canal system, south of Mexico City. It is a popular dark tourism destination, and today, we’ll find out why! Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com

Today's story is one that many of you may not be familiar with. It's the shocking story of America's real-life 'ghost girls', who - along with the public - were poisoned for profit at the hands of big corporations. But how did something marketed as being able to increase vitality ultimately lead scores of young women to their deaths? And, was justice ever served for these women? Let's find out together, as today, I'm telling you the story of...the Radium Girls." Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.   Connect with us on our socials:  • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok  • Follow us on Facebook Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com