We Would Be Dead

Based on a True Story (Veronica & The Exorcist)

There’s nothing that creeps our hosts out more than demonic possession. October is all about scares though, so this week we decided to wade back into those holy and turbulent waters, and what better way to do that then in another installment of our Based on a true story series! This episode we will be telling you the true stories behind two of the scariest films ever made, both of which are about a possession. 
Leslie brings us the true story behind the Netflix horror film, Veronica. Veronica was loosely based on "The Vallecas Case", which refers to the town in Spain where it occurred, but the story is that of a young woman named Estefania Gutierrez.  Estefania's terrifying behavior and unexplained sudden death left not only her family, but also Spanish authorities wondering if this otherwise healthy young woman could have simply passed away out of nowhere, or if perhaps, there were darker forces at hand. 
 
Holly will be digging into the true story behind the iconic horror film, one that many people refer to as the scariest movie of all time, The Exorcist. For years it was relatively common knowledge that Regan MacNeil was based on a young boy referred to as Roland Doe who lived in Maryland and underwent a dramatic exorcism in the late 1940's. Less than a year ago Roland Doe's true name and story were finally uncovered and today holly will let you in on the whole truth. If those terrifying tales aren't enough to keep the lights on in your house tonight, we also have a couple listener stories about Ouija boards that are sure to do the trick. Happy Haunting!
 
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NY Post Ronald Hunkeler coverage
The Ouija that unleashed the nightmare. The Vallecas case by Alberto Romero
The Vallecas Case
The Vallecas Case Demonic Possession
 
 
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The Blackest Eyes (Charlie Brandt, Secret Serial Killer)

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
 
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An interview with Author Jesse Pollack (Jeannette DePalma Bonus)

In this special episode Holly and Leslie speak with co author of the book Death on The Devil's Teeth Jesse P. Pollack. Jesse is an author, a documentary film maker, a writer for Weird NJ and an all around smart and interesting guy. Please enjoy this eye opening look behind the scenes at that it takes to unravel the truth, when it's spend years tangled up in rumors and lies. 
This interview deals with the still unsolved 1972 murder of 16 year old Springfield NJ resident Jeannette DePalma. Jeannette went missing on August 7th 1972, just another runaway according to the police. We've seen this all before, but when Jeannette's decomposing body turned up 6 weeks later atop a large and perilous rock formation in the local quarry known as "the devil's teeth", people began to wonder, had Jeannette been murdered, or sacrificed?
Click the link below to pick up a copy of Jesse Pollack and Mark Moran's definitive exploration of Jeannette DePalma's case today, and listen to the Devil's Teeth podcast wherever your podcasts are found. 
Death on the Devil's Teeth
 
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Sticks and Stones (Jeannette DePalma Part 2)

This two part episode and our subsequent special episode have been in the making for a long time. Our next two episodes we are covering the still unsolved 1972 murder of 16 year old Springfield NJ resident Jeannette DePalma. Jeannette went missing on August 7th 1972, just another runaway according to the police. We've seen this all before, but when Jeannette's decomposing body turned up 6 weeks later atop a large and perilous rock formation in the local quarry known as "the devil's teeth", people began to wonder, had Jeannette been murdered, or sacrificed?
In this second installment we discuss the investigation, theories, evidence that did not see the light of day for nearly 40 years, and the suspects the police kept a little too close to the vest. Don't miss our special episode with one of the writers of the definitive source on Jeannette's case, the novel Death on the Devil's Teeth: the strange murder that shocked Suburban New Jersey, Jesse Pollack. Click the link below to buy your copy now! Don't forget to support Weird NJ as well, their work on this case has been invaluable and as fellow odd balls from the Garden State, we love to see them doing good work and being recognized for it. 
Death on the Devil's Teeth book
From Weird NJ
 
 
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Waning Crescent (Jeannette DePalma Part 1)

This two part episode and our subsequent special episode have been in the making for a long time. Our next two episodes we are covering the still unsolved 1972 murder of 16 year old Springfield NJ resident Jeannette DePalma. Jeannette went missing on August 7th 1972, just another runaway according to the police. We've seen this all before, but when Jeannette's decomposing body turned up 6 weeks later atop a large and perilous rock formation in the local quarry known as "the devil's teeth", people began to wonder, had Jeannette been murdered, or sacrificed?
Stay tuned for the full story. Then don't miss our special episode with one of the writers of the definitive source on Jeannette's case, the novel Death on the Devil's Teeth: the strange murder that shocked Suburban New Jersey, Jesse Pollack. Click the link below to buy your copy now!
Death on the Devil's Teeth book
 
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Based on a Fictional Story 2 (Scary Stories to tell in the Dark)

In our second installment of Based on a Fictional Story" we explore the Scary Stories to tell in the dark series by Alvin Schwartz. This week we'll take a few of these legendary scary stories and pull on the possible threads of truth. Did a possessed scarecrow really skin people in a field? Can a green ribbon really hold on a human head for decades? And what about the viper, did he really vash and vipe the windows? Let’s find out…
*Oh! Thanks for giving me a reason to write and read my own scary story to tell in the dark, fiends. it was a dream come true. XO Holly
 
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books 1-3
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Murder House (The Los Feliz Murder Mansion)

Deep in the Hollywood Hills lies the stunning neighborhood of Los Feliz. There you'll find a diverse array of beautiful homes ranging from charming little bungalows to sprawling early 20th century Spanish revival mansions all tucked neatly into palm tree lined streets and sloping hills. In the middle of all this beautiful real estate sits one such mansion, long since abandoned but never empty, 2475 Glendower Place is a testament to our fascination with murder and the paranormal,  it is both a legend and a nightmare.
On December 7th 1959 Dr. Harold Perelson woke up early to commit an unthinkable and bloody act. Since that day, 2475 Glendower Place has sat unoccupied, frozen in time, blood spatter still on the walls, dishes still in the sink. But why? Why would no one live in this gorgeous estate? Why did all the Perelson's belongings stay put? And why, did Dr. Harold Perelson do what he did. This week, we'll find out the answers to those questions and so much more. It's Murder house week fiends!
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The Los Feliz Murder Mansion Podcast
The Murder House by Jeff Maysh
The Terrible Curse of Griffith Park
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Drink Me (Black Widow Stacey Castor)

On Monday August 21'st 2005, two Onodoga County NY police officers respondrd to a 911 call from a woman named Stacey Castor. Stacey presented an unusual story about her husband locking himself in their bedroom and refusing to come out. When police kicked down the door and made their way into said bedroom, they discovered David Castor, facedown on a filthy mattress, completely naked, dead. A glass of bright green antifreeze sat on his bedside table. It seemed pretty obvious to everyone what had happened. David completed suicide, leaving his devastated wife and their blended family of three behind. Something just wasn't right about this crime scene though, and it would take 3 years for officers to find out exactly what it was.
 In this episode we explore the slow and painful process of antifreeze poisoning, naked suicide and why it's a red flag, Black Widows of all kinds, and the story of a woman who seemed to have everything but chose to destroy it all.... twice. 
 
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20/20 episode
Naked Suicide
Killer Wives: 8 Most Infamous Black Widow Murderers
 
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Based on a True Story 2 (Five Nights at Freddy’s)

Welcome to our second installment of Based on a True Story, where we tell you the real events that inspired and created some of your favorite scary things. This week we tackle one of the most popular video games of all time, a game that dares to scare you with characters an settings that may have delighted you as a child, Five Nights at Freddy's. We take you behind the ball pit to discuss the psychology behind why this game is a finely tuned nightmare machine. Then we take a dip into the fascinating history of the business behind Freddy Fazbear's Pizza joint, Chuck E Cheese .Finally, we unravel the case many believe to have inspired Freddy's urgent, after hours, scramble for survival: The 1993 Aurora Colorado Chuck E Cheese Massacre. If you're confused, not a gamer or a person with a child, don't Worry! We brought in a real live youth to clear it all up. 
*This episode is aimed to be fun for everyone, no prior game knowledge is required to listen, seriously. 
 
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The Rock-afire Explosion "live"
Five Nights at Freddy's game trailers
 
 
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Bristol’s Angel (The Murder of Becky Watts)

On February 20th, 2015, friends of Darren Galsworthy were met with an unsettling sight while scrolling through their Facebooks feeds. Darren had posted a large photo of his teenage daughter Becky along with the following caption “PLEASE SHARE!!!!! missing 16 year old girl. please private message if you have seen her or know anything.” This is every parent's worst nightmare, but it pales in comparison to what detectives would discover happened to Becky in the place she should have been the safest, her own bedroom. When the only people home are your immediate family, it's horrifying to realize that calls are coming from inside the house. 
 
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The Evil Within (Becky's Father's Book)
The Murder of Becky Watts: Police Tapes (Documentary)
 
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