Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

byDarren Marlar | Weird Darkness | Full-Time Voice Actor

HistorySocietyCultureDocumentaryTrue Crime

Award-winning podcast of true stories of the paranormal, supernatural, legends, lore, the strange and bizarre, true crime, conspiracy, mysterious, macabre, unsolved and unexplained -- seven days a week! Hosted by professional voice actor Darren Marlar, named one of the “Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal.

Episodes(40 episodes)

The Military Searched Our Neighborhood. I Searched The Sewer. That Was a Big Mistake.

The Military Searched Our Neighborhood. I Searched The Sewer. That Was a Big Mistake.

Soldiers flooded our street looking for something that escaped in the night. The open manhole in my backyard told me where it came from… so I had to investigate. | “Where Does The Sewer Go” by Scott Donnelly #MicroTerrorsFind more family-friendly frights and creepy games to play on our website at http://MicroTerrors.com!Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/microterrorsOther stories, novels, and more from author Scott Donnelly: https://amzn.to/3LymHaUOther narrations, podcasts, and audiobooks from voice artist Darren Marlar: https://WeirdDarkness.com= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Weird Darkness©, 2026Micro Terrors: Scary Stories...
Published: Jan 17, 2026Duration: 23:09
The Aftermath of Alien Contact | Do Abductions Open a Door to the Paranormal?

The Aftermath of Alien Contact | Do Abductions Open a Door to the Paranormal?

The abduction ends. But for many alien contactees, that's when the real strangeness begins — objects moving on their own, electronics going haywire, and psychic abilities they never asked for.IN THIS EPISODE: Some say she was an old hag, while others say she was a polite and beautiful old woman. But townsfolk were terrified of her either way, because everyone knew Moll Dyer was a witch. Whether she was or not, what transpired around her and to her has caused something of the paranormal. (Moll Dyer Was a Witch) *** Hollywood actress Mary Astor was the flame that began a...
Published: Jan 16, 2026Duration: 1:04:36
The Ypsilanti Ripper | The Clue He Left in His Uncle's House

The Ypsilanti Ripper | The Clue He Left in His Uncle's House

He was studying to become an elementary school teacher — but he left evidence of something far darker in his uncle's basement.IN THIS EPISODE: A creepy video shows something that the one who recorded it never saw. (The Office Video) *** The "Ypsilanti Ripper" terrorized the college community for two years. We share the savage crimes of John Norman Collins. (Campus Terror) *** Alfred Packer was found guilty of a murder that he committed in the mountains of Colorado. But this just wasn’t any murder – Packer was charged with killing and eating his victims. (The Colorado Cannibal) *** A Native Americ...
Published: Jan 16, 2026Duration: 1:30:09
The Sodder Children | They Vanished in a Fire But No Bodies Were Ever Found

The Sodder Children | They Vanished in a Fire But No Bodies Were Ever Found

The phone lines were cut, the ladder was stolen, the trucks wouldn't start — and by morning, five children had vanished without a trace.IN THIS EPISODE: One of the most haunting mysteries to ever occur in West Virginia – and perhaps even in America – began during the predawn hours of December 25, 1945. The fire that occurred at the Sodder home that night was the key to the mystery, but whether it was a vanishing, a kidnapping, or a mass murder has never been determined. *** Plus, even though a young man was tried, convicted, and died in prison for the murder – along wi...
Published: Jan 15, 2026Duration: 1:27:19
He Was Ordered to Find a Killer… But It Was Him They Were Looking For | The Big Clock

He Was Ordered to Find a Killer… But It Was Him They Were Looking For | The Big Clock

When a powerful publisher murders his mistress, he orders his best editor to hunt down the mystery man seen with her that night — not realizing he's just asked the man to lead the investigation against himself. | “The Big Clock” from Lux Radio Theater | #RetroRadio EP0573CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “A Study In Scarlet” (March 25, 1977) ***WD00:45:44.171 = Lux Radio Theater, “The Big Clock” (November 22, 1948)01:45:06.383 = Philip Marlowe, “Strangle Hold” (October 15, 1949) ***WD02:15:09.198 = Let George Do It, “Ghost On Bliss Terrace” (August 16, 1948) ***WD02:44:50.288 = The Black Mass, “An Evening’s Entertainment” (October 31...
Published: Jan 14, 2026Duration: 5:08:11
Did This Family Know Their Missing Son Was Never Coming Back? | Nicholas Barclay

Did This Family Know Their Missing Son Was Never Coming Back? | Nicholas Barclay

When a grieving family accepted an obvious imposter as their missing son, investigators started asking a darker question: did they already know their real son was dead?My in-depth article about the Nicholas Barclay case: https://weirddarkness.com/nicholas-barclay/IN THIS EPISODE: The true story of Nicholas Barclay reads more like a work of fiction. A child goes missing and against all odds is found a few years later across the world. But what would happen next no one could even believe. (The Unbelievable Case of Nicholas Barclay) *** The most detailed description of a lake monster...
Published: Jan 14, 2026Duration: 1:04:46
Who Are the Real Men in Black? True Encounters with the Mysterious MIB Visitors!

Who Are the Real Men in Black? True Encounters with the Mysterious MIB Visitors!

The MIB. They appear without warning, dressed in black, knowing things about you they shouldn't possibly know — and they always deliver the same chilling message: stop asking questions, forget what you saw, or else.IN THIS EPISODE: The mysterious Men in Black… are they government agents? Time travelers? One man who experienced them first-hand has a different theory. And we’ll look over a few separate incidents of people experiencing the Men in Black. (The MIB: I Knew They Were Evil) *** In spring of 2015, the Great Barrington Historical Society & Museum formally inducted the infamous Reed case of alien encoun...
Published: Jan 13, 2026Duration: 1:19:22
Elizabeth Bathory: Serial Killer or Political Victim?

Elizabeth Bathory: Serial Killer or Political Victim?

She's known as history's most prolific female serial killer — a noblewoman who tortured hundreds of young girls and bathed in their blood to stay young. But what if Elizabeth Bathory was innocent, and the real monsters were the men who wanted her gone? | WEEK OF JAN 11, 2026 #WDRadio==========HOUR ONE: Reddit users share some of the strangest, creepiest, most terrifying phone calls they’ve ever received – many that left the recipient with no explanation as to what just happened. (Creepy Phone Calls) *** Elizabeth Bathory was beautiful – and wanted to stay that way. So determined was her desire for a youthful...
Published: Jan 12, 2026Duration: 2:01:51
Did Our Reality Shift? The Mandela Effect in the History & Movies You Remember Wrong!

Did Our Reality Shift? The Mandela Effect in the History & Movies You Remember Wrong!

You remember Nelson Mandela dying in prison, the Berenstain Bears spelled differently, and Darth Vader saying "Luke, I am your father" — but none of that ever happened. From the JFK assassination to The Wizard of Oz, we're exploring the unsettling phenomenon where millions of people share the exact same false memories.IN THIS EPISODE: Do parallel dimensions really exist? And if they do, is it possible to travel to them? Two people have stories that might have you believing you can – one of them having “Lunch In a Different Dimension”. Meanwhile, a very strange phenomenon that has been reported...
Published: Jan 12, 2026Duration: 1:01:00
Ouija Boards: Innocent Toy, Parlor Game, or Dangerous Paranormal Portal?

Ouija Boards: Innocent Toy, Parlor Game, or Dangerous Paranormal Portal?

The Ouija board started as a simple parlor game in 1890 — but paranormal researchers warn it might open doorways to something far more sinister. And if a spirit starts spelling out the name Zozo, you may have just made contact with one of the most dangerous entities on the other side.IN THIS EPISODE: Some believe the Ouija board is a harmless game – others feel it is a paranormal, evil portal to allow entry into our world of ghosts, dead relatives, and even demonic entities. How dangerous is the Ouija Board? (Ouija Board Dangers) *** On April 12th, 1961 the first man...
Published: Jan 11, 2026Duration: 1:07:50
The Static Growler: What's Hiding in the Signal?

The Static Growler: What's Hiding in the Signal?

Long ago, an ominous radio frequency would burst to life with mysterious static — and hidden inside were whispers and growls. They called the voice the Static Growler, and some say it could find its way inside your mind. | “The Static Growler… Or So It Seems” by Scott Donnelly #MicroTerrorsFind more family-friendly frights and creepy games to play on our website at http://MicroTerrors.com!Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/microterrorsOther stories, novels, and more from author Scott Donnelly: https://amzn.to/3LymHaUOther narrations, podcasts, and audiobooks from voice artist Darren Marlar: https...
Published: Jan 10, 2026Duration: 11:02
Did a Voodoo Cult Commit Louisiana's Deadliest Ax Murders?

Did a Voodoo Cult Commit Louisiana's Deadliest Ax Murders?

Between 1911 and 1912, entire families across Louisiana and Texas were slaughtered in their sleep with an ax — their bodies sometimes arranged in prayer, their blood drained into buckets, and cryptic messages scrawled on the walls. A 17-year-old girl confessed to 35 of the murders, claimed she belonged to a secret voodoo cult called the Church of Sacrifice — and then vanished into history.IN THIS EPISODE: A series of ax murders took place in Louisiana and Texas. Gruesome as they were, they began to horrify the public even more when they were admitted to by a teenaged voodoo priestess. Despite her conf...
Published: Jan 10, 2026Duration: 53:56
Gertrude Baniszewski | The Woman Who Charged Neighborhood Kids a Nickel to Watch Her Torture a Girl

Gertrude Baniszewski | The Woman Who Charged Neighborhood Kids a Nickel to Watch Her Torture a Girl

In 1965, a carnival worker left his two daughters in the care of a struggling Indianapolis mother for $20 a week. What followed was one of the most horrific cases of torture and murder in American history — despite dozens of people knowing it was happening.IN THIS EPISODE: Gertrude Baniszewski – a woman whose evil ran so deep, it flowed through her children and their friends and displayed itself in the torture, mutilation and murder of a young girl. (Torture Mother) *** On January 2, 1935, a man who signed the guest register as “Roland T. Owen” checked into the President Hotel in Kansas City, Mi...
Published: Jan 9, 2026Duration: 57:14
Australian Mayor Has to Ask People to STOP EATING Toilet Seats

Australian Mayor Has to Ask People to STOP EATING Toilet Seats

A Tasmanian mayor's routine trip to a public restroom turned into an official plea for citizens to stop snacking on the facilities.READ or SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/tasmania-mayor-dont-eat-toilet-seatsWeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS, #BizarreNews, #WeirdNews, #Tasmania, #Australia, #StrangeButTrue, #OddNews, #ViralNews, #WTFNews
Published: Jan 8, 2026Duration: 6:27
The Girl At The Bar Told Me That She Was Satan, I Believed Her When She Said Hell Is Already Here

The Girl At The Bar Told Me That She Was Satan, I Believed Her When She Said Hell Is Already Here

A disheveled stranger sat down next to me at a London bar and claimed to be the Devil. By the time she finished telling me the truth about Hell, I believed every word.IN THIS EPISODE: It’s the classic horror story, “The Man Who Returned” by Edmond Hamilton. Originally published in 1934, "The Man Who Returned" is an effective horror story.  Since first transmitting its sad and cynical realism from the pages of Weird Tales, it has been reprinted in numerous collections of stories from that magazine, as well as in a 1980 volume entitled “Fear! Fear! Fear!” *** I’ve pulled out...
Published: Jan 8, 2026Duration: 1:20:37
Steven Spielberg's Upcoming Film Has REAL ALIENS, And Our Government Gave Him Permission

Steven Spielberg's Upcoming Film Has REAL ALIENS, And Our Government Gave Him Permission

The legendary director's top-secret UFO film "Disclosure Day" has spawned wild conspiracy theories that actual extraterrestrials appear on screen — and the "evidence" is more entertaining than the movie will probably be.READ or SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/spielberg-alien-filmWeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS, #StevenSpielberg, #DisclosureDay, #UFO, #Aliens, #ConspiracyTheory, #UFODisclosure, #Extraterrestrial, #SciFiMovies
Published: Jan 7, 2026Duration: 18:03
DEAD CALLING: They Answered Their Phone But No One Alive Was Calling Them

DEAD CALLING: They Answered Their Phone But No One Alive Was Calling Them

They answered expecting a familiar voice, but the person calling had been dead for hours, days, or even twenty years — and somehow, they still had something to say.IN THIS EPISODE: A female serial killer is described as a “sadistic killer” who reveled in her evil actions while pretending to cure people in her sanitarium. (The Horrors of Doctor Hazzard) *** In a very remote part of Mongolia one person made an incredible find. It’s a discovery that could easily turn our understanding of ancient history upside down. (Ancient Mystery In Mongolia) *** What would you do if you saw a fl...
Published: Jan 7, 2026Duration: 1:15:33
The Rules We Follow at a Paranormal Army Base in the Desert

The Rules We Follow at a Paranormal Army Base in the Desert

I thought my new coworkers were hazing me when they told me the rules of this desert Army base, but then I met the faceless men in the sand.IN THIS EPISODE: It’s a creepypasta I narrated years ago that has become a fan favorite. It’s a story from David Pointer entitled simply, “The 12 Rules”.PRINT VERSION to READ or SHARE:“The 12 Rules” by David Pointer: http://bit.ly/2YihdaT=====(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 pos...
Published: Jan 6, 2026Duration: 2:47:42
Did This 1923 Murder Inspire Halloween's Michael Myers?

Did This 1923 Murder Inspire Halloween's Michael Myers?

The legend of Stanley Stiers — an 11-year-old Iowa boy who allegedly murdered his family and classmates on Halloween in 1923 — bears an uncanny resemblance to a certain masked killer who wouldn't appear on screen for another 55 years. | #WDRadio WEEK OF JANUARY 04, 2026==========HOUR ONE: Was Stanley Stiers the real-life inspiration for Michael Myers in 1978’s John Carpenter film, “Halloween?” (The Real Michael Myers) *** The last known words of Peter Rugg were “Let the storm increase! I will see home tonight in spite of the last tempest, or I may never see home!" Over two-hundred years later and he has yet to make it h...
Published: Jan 5, 2026Duration: 1:51:24
China Built the Most Embarrassing Bathroom Ever — It Preaches Better Than Most Churches

China Built the Most Embarrassing Bathroom Ever — It Preaches Better Than Most Churches

A Chinese shopping mall's radical solution to bathroom smokers accidentally preaches one of the most uncomfortable truths in Scripture.SERMON TRANSCRIPT…https://weirddarkness.com/COTU-TransparentBathroomStallsWeird Darkness® and Church Of The Undead™ are trademarked. Copyright © 2025.#WeirdDarkness #ChurchOfTheUndead #ChristianPodcast #WeirdNews #TransparentDoors #GodSeesEverything #EvangelicalSermon #WalkInTheLight #BibleTeaching #ViralChina
Published: Jan 5, 2026Duration: 15:09