Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

A collector of rare books finds a shop hidden among the side streets where every shelf stands empty except for one table of leather volumes about murder, and the old proprietor keeps his best one on a back shelf – untitled, buckled shut, and handwritten in a script that changes from section to section.

EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/mitm-ancienttome

SOURCES and RESOURCES: “Acts of Vengeance” by G.L. Bouwman: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/392b52sh

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.

Midnight In The Macabre (MITM), originally aired: August 25, 2026

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE HEARING? WEIRD DARKNESS posts episodes 7 DAYS A WEEK! Listen FREE wherever you get podcasts or visit https://weirddarkness.com/listen. • Paranormal • True Crime • Ghosts • UFOs • Cryptids • Unexplained • Want even more? Become an OFFICIAL WEIRDO for commercial-free episodes, bonus episodes, weeknight live chats, audiobooks & more at https://WeirdDarkness.com/OFFICIAL

Across five decades and three continents, killers have handed police the same explanation for the bodies they left behind – a demon made them do it. Can demonic possession be blamed for murder, or is it just the ultimate excuse for the inexcusable?

EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/DevilInTheMirror

READ or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8pumw8

FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: From serial killers to seemingly ordinary individuals, a chilling phenomenon emerges as criminals claim demonic possession drove them to commit unspeakable acts. These disturbing cases, spanning decades and continents, blur the lines between evil and the supernatural, leaving us questioning the true nature of their heinous crimes. From the infamous Son of Sam to a father who claimed demonic voices compelled him to murder his own child, we’ll explore some of these cases and let you decide if the devil made them do it. (Demonic Crimes) *** The Rose family lived comfortably in the picturesque Pleasant Valley in the late 1800s. However, oldest daughter Ceely's unrequited love for a neighbor boy led to a series of chilling events. Her obsession turned deadly, leading not only to death, but to a ghostly presence as well. (Love, Poison, and Ghosts – The Case of Ceely Rose) *** In the wild era of the 1920s and 1930s, organized crime flourished in the United States, with hitmen like the mysterious "Buster from Chicago" making a name for themselves. Known for his ruthless efficiency and chilling calm, Buster was responsible for many high-profile mob hits during the violent Castellammarese War. But who was Buster? (The Enigmatic Hitman, Buster From Chicago) *** In July 1993, 26-year-old Kristin Ann set out for her morning jog, but her run ended in a horrifying, fatal attack. The shocking crime has left her grieving family and community outraged and seeking justice. (The Murder of Kristin Ann) *** Imagine falling asleep on your usual train ride home, only to wake up at a mysterious, strikingly-white colored station with no way to leave. You encounter a strange child-like figure who warns you that this place is "one step before death." This is the eerie reality of Hitsuka Station, a ghostly train stop in Japan that traps unsuspecting passengers. (The Haunting of Hitsuka Station)

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00.00.000 = The Foreboding
00:01:35.737 = Show Open
00:04:36.680 = Demonic Crimes
00:30:42.697 = Love, Poison, and Ghosts – The Case of Ceely Rose ***
00:37:45.972 = The Enigmatic Hitman, Buster From Chicago
00:44:25.478 = The Haunting of Hitsuka Station
00:51:04.794 = The Murder of Kristin Ann ***
00:57:52.235 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break

LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS:
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

SOURCES and RESOURCES:
“Love, Poison, and Ghosts – The Case of Ceely Rose” source: Anomalien.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9684ce
“The Enigmatic Hitman, Buster From Chicago” source: Bipin Dimri at HistoricMysteries.com,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8rfupk
“The Murder of Kristin Ann” source: Robert Waters at KidnappingMurderAndMayhem.blogspot.com,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9s5d5h
“The Haunting Of Hitsuka Station” source: TheGhostInMyMachine.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckmcauh
“Demonic Crimes” source: Jacob Shelton at Ranker.com’s Graveyard Shift, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yc66dun2; Benjamin Welton at ListVerse.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/44sy8rrw; Austin Harvey at AllThatsInteresting.com,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/244y234v; KPIC News 4, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p96nsb7
(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
Originally aired: March 15, 2024
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE HEARING? WEIRD DARKNESS posts episodes 7 DAYS A WEEK! Listen FREE wherever you get podcasts or visit https://weirddarkness.com/listen. • Paranormal • True Crime • Ghosts • UFOs • Cryptids • Unexplained • Want even more? Become an OFFICIAL WEIRDO for commercial-free episodes, bonus episodes, weeknight live chats, audiobooks & more at https://WeirdDarkness.com/OFFICIAL

An old television set starts picking up broadcasts from years that haven't happened yet, and what the couple watching sees convinces them that some futures are worth killing to prevent.

Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTR

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Further You Go, The Less You Know” (July 20, 1978) ***WD
00:44:53.980 = CBC Nightfall, “Future Fear” (August 15, 1980) ***WD
01:09:30.588 = Nightmare, “Chance of a Ghost” (March 31, 1945) ***WD
01:31:33.891 = Obsession, “The Peacock Screen” (February 25, 1951)
01:54:31.492 = Origin of Superstition, “Whistling In The Dressing Room” (1935)
02:08:31.407 = Pat Novak For Hire, “Sam Tolliver” (April 09, 1949)
02:37:47.861 = Peril, “Showdown” (1953) ***WD
03:03:59.094 = Mystery Playhouse, “Yours Truly, Jack The Ripper” (February 27, 1945)
03:32:00.687 = Philip Morris Playhouse, “Murder Needs An Artist” (May 06, 1950) ***WD
03:58:35.619 = Price of Fear, “The Ninth Removal” (April 20, 1974)
04:27:06.867 = Ellery Queen, “Nikki Reporter – Suspect” (March 05, 1947) ***WD
04:52:45.869 = Strange Adventure, “Death Wears Spurs” (1945) ***WD
04:56:02.016 = Tales of the Frightened, “Call at Midnight” (1957)
05:00:48.213 = Show Close

(ADU) = Air Date Unknown
(LQ) = Low Quality
***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.
CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0754

Theoretical mathematician Charles T. Moore seeks help from psychiatrist Dr. Rawlings for an unusual problem—he claims his mathematical breakthrough has given him an uncontrollable ability that terrifies him. The weary doctor, dreaming of retirement and chicken farms, assumes he's dealing with another routine delusion until certain details of Moore's story start sounding disturbingly familiar.

EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/mitm-officevisit

SOURCES and RESOURCES: “Office Call” By Charles E. Fritch (Fantastic Universe October 1954)

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.

Midnight In The Macabre (MITM), originally aired: August 24, 2026

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE HEARING? WEIRD DARKNESS posts episodes 7 DAYS A WEEK! Listen FREE wherever you get podcasts or visit https://weirddarkness.com/listen. • Paranormal • True Crime • Ghosts • UFOs • Cryptids • Unexplained • Want even more? Become an OFFICIAL WEIRDO for commercial-free episodes, bonus episodes, weeknight live chats, audiobooks & more at https://WeirdDarkness.com/OFFICIAL

For twenty-five years, exorcists have been sending a New York psychiatrist the cases they can't explain, and they chose him because they expected him to say no.
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HOUR ONE: Different peoples build their identity around different facets of their culture: the Italians around their food, the Greeks around their architecture, America around expanding waistlines. The Isle of Man, however, has pinned its identity today on low tax rates, motorcycle races and, oh yes… mermaids and fairies. (Catching Mermaids on Man) *** Would you be willing to eat your meals off the chest of a corpse, in the process, taking on their sins as your own? That’s the gruesome job of a sin eater – and there were people willing to do it even into twentieth-century. (Would You Become a Sin Eater?) *** Dr Richard Gallagher is a New York psychiatrist and a psychiatric professor. He has spent twenty-five years viewing exorcisms – and he says 'fallen angels' target the devout AND those who've meddled with the occult. He says it outright – being possessed by a demon can and does happen, and he has seen it all too often. (Psychiatrist Says Demonic Possession Is Real) *** UK homeowners believe their homes are haunted and want to rid themselves of them, while Americans don’t care if a house is haunted so long as it has a swimming pool! (Ghostly Homes And Ghost-Loving Buyers)
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HOUR TWO: Investigators noted the hair on the alleged victim's arms was singed, and the skin burned. The grass where he claimed to have had the encounter was also scorched. Did this scoutmaster and the boys with him truly experience a real UFO sighting in 1952, or was it all a hoax? (The Scouts and the UFO) *** An atheist tells his story about being possessed by demons... or maybe he wasn’t. (I Thought I Was Possessed By The Devil) *** Is the Thunderbird real or myth?  Most would say it is myth – or if it was real, it’s now extinct. But then how do you explain sightings of the massive airborne creature as recently as 2018? (The Giant Thunderbird Lives) *** Sometimes, the darkness of night can hide frightening secrets. Especially if you are alone. (You’ll Never Guess What Happened While You Were Asleep)
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SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: Robert Ressler came up against a lot of resistance, but his dedicated focus on the minds and motives of serial murderers created what we know today as criminal profiling. (The Man Who Created Criminal Profiling) *** An atheist tells his story about being possessed by demons... or maybe he wasn’t. (I Thought I Was Possessed By The Devil)
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SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT’S SHOW:
BOOK: “Demonic Foes: My Twenty-Five Years as a Psychiatrist Investigating Possessions, Diabolic Attacks, and the Paranormal” by Dr. Richard Gallagher: https://amzn.to/2YSlhBJ
BOOK: “20 Commonly Asked Questions About Demons” by Daniel C. Okapara: https://amzn.to/3fCEsFD
BOOK: “Demonic Possessions Extraordinary True Life Experiences” by C. Torrington: https://amzn.to/3fEzoAx
“Psychiatrist Says Demonic Possession Is Real” by Sheila Flynn for Daily Mail: https://tinyurl.com/y7yb5x26
“The Man Who Created Criminal Profiling” by Fiona Guy for Crime Traveller: https://tinyurl.com/ybeh2zke
“Catching Mermaids on Man” from Beachcombing’s Bizarre History Blog: https://tinyurl.com/y9uat6zq
“Would You Become a Sin Eater?” by Lisa A. Flowers for Ranker: https://tinyurl.com/yco9cv44
“Ghostly Homes and Ghost-Loving Buyers” by Jenn Gidman for Newser: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8tezpc; and T.K. Randall for Unexplained Mysteries: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8hvest
DesVerges UFO case singed grass photo evidence: https://tinyurl.com/yax47shu
BOOK: “Running From The Devil: A Memoir of a Boy Possessed” by Steve Kissing: https://amzn.to/2AfJO9A
BOOK: “Unexplained!” by Jerome Clark: https://amzn.to/2YYxRj8
“You’ll Never Guess What Happened While You Were Asleep” by Sarah Blumert for Graveyard Shift: https://tinyurl.com/ya2bu7gk
“The Scouts and the UFO” by Colin Bertram for History: https://tinyurl.com/y9wcubpk
“I Thought I Was Possessed By The Devil” by Steve Kissing for the Huffington Post: https://tinyurl.com/ybhrudzc
“The Giant Thunderbird Lives” by Stephen Wagner for Live About: https://tinyurl.com/y7agyegx
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Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission of the artists.
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(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
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WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness