We Would Be Dead

Fox in the Henhouse (Tommy Lynn Sells)

What do a ceramic duck, watermelon plates, an episode of 20/20 and a bunk bed have in common? No guesses? Well we won't reveal everything but let's just say that they're are all integral turning points in one of the twistiest cases we have ever covered. Oh, and this one is extra shocking because it involves a serial killer Holly had never heard of...which doesn't happen too often. 
We begin the exploration of this long and winding road with three stories. 1. The grizzly, terrifying and unexplained murders of the Dardeen family. 2. The murder of Joel Kirkpartric and subsequent wrongful conviction of his mother, Julie Rae. 3. The jaw dropping survival story of Fabienne Witherspoon. 
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Gobble Gobble (30 Minute Thankskilling 3)

Happy Thanksgiving fiends! We’re taking the week off to spend time with our loved ones (let’s be real, Holly’s leaving the country), but we couldn't leave you hanging on a holiday! We know a lot of you will be spending time in the car so here’s a little treat we recorded for our patrons a year ago. This is, by far the strangest, sickest, most turkey-centric film we have ever seen, and that’s saying something. Please enjoy this fast paced, incredibly chaotic fever dream! Gobble Gobble ********** !
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Thankskilling 3 on Rotten Tomatoes
 
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Her Name is Ruth Terry (The Lady of the Dunes)

 
This week we’re taking on a case that had a super important update recently. In 1974 while on vacation with her family in Provincetown Massachusetts, 12 year old Leslie Metcalf stumbled upon a gruesome murder sense, one that would remain a mystery for nearly fifty years. The victim was simply known as “the lady of the dunes". No one knew who she was, what happened to her, or if anyone was looking for her... But thanks to DNA analysis and modern genealogy websites this decades old cold case is one step closer to being solved. The victim has been identified as 37 year old Ruth Marie Terri, and her story is far from over.
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Original article on Guy Muldavin
 
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The Man, The Myth, The Monster (Count Dracula)

There is much about the myth of the vampire that science will never understand. They crawl from their graves, blood running from their mouths trailing mist in search of innocent victims to join them in monstrosity. They are alluring in their terror and terrifying in their allure, and human kind will never cease to wonder if they are simply a legend, or if there is much more.
This week we explore the origins of most famous and enduring vampire of all time: Count Dracula. If you're thinking this will be a whole episode on Vlad The Impaler, think again. There is so much more to the iconic count than one Transylvanian tyrant with a pointy nose. 
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Michael Myers Unmasked (a conversation with Tony Moran)

Happy Halloween fiends! Today we have a very very special treat for you all. A few days ago Holly got the opportunity to chat with the original face of Michael Myers, actor, legend and horror icon: Tony Moran. Now, if you’re a long time listener here you know how exciting and meaningful this was for us. We here at WWBD are huge Michael Myers fans. If you like behind the scenes stories and one of a kind insights into the meteoric rise of a little horror movie that could, well then this interview for you.  I’m Holly, My guest is Tony Moran and this is a we would be dead special episode!
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Tony's website
 
 
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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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