Strange Matters Podcast

This episode of Strange Matters details an area of Lake Michigan that has become quite infamous for a number of strange and deadly incidents. For more than a century, there have been cases of unexplained shipwrecks, disappearances, plane crashes, and mysterious lights in the sky, all over Lake Michigan. As the strange stories and legends of unanswered mysteries of the lake grew, the region where all these incidents occurred would be nicknamed the “Lake Michigan Triangle.” This episode will present a number of the mysterious and dark events that have all occurred over the waters of Lake Michigan.

Fate. Death. The Fox. The various nicknames signed by a man who sent out ransom notes regarding the kidnapping of a twelve year old girl named Marion Parker. This episode of Strange Matters discusses the terrifying and disturbing events surrounding an infamous kidnapping case that took place in Los Angeles in 1927. A young girl named Marion Parker was abducted by a smooth talking man, right from her own school. Meanwhile, her father would be contacted by the same man demanding ransom money. This individual would become commonly known as The Fox. This disturbing case would ultimately be referred to at the time as the “Crime of the Century.” This episode goes over all the details of the kidnapping, the investigation of the police trying to figure out who the Fox was, and the tragic outcome of this dark crime.

This episode of Strange Matters presents the strange events surrounding the death of a man named Hugues de la Plaza, who would die under mysterious and controversial circumstances. Hugues would be found alone in his locked apartment having died from several fatal knife wounds. Despite there being a number of unusual facts surrounding his death, such as no bloody knife ever being found at his apartment, the police would rule his death a likely suicide. The investigation and resulting backlash of Hugues’ death would spark controversy and debate over how the police conducted themselves, and over what exactly happened the night that Hugues de la Plaza died. This episode covers the details of the night of his death, the police and medical investigation that followed, and the different sides of the story that have been put forth to attempt to solve this strange case.

This episode of Strange Matters discusses the odd and unexplained events surrounding the death of a woman named Cindy James. Cindy was a Canadian woman who had been experiencing harassment, stalking, and physical attacks for years leading up to her death. Despite what would look like to an outsider as a serious threat, the authorities found some inconsistencies in Cindy’s story that made them question whether all of it was real, or some kind of set up by the woman herself. The bizarre nature of the scene of her death has left open the question whether Cindy was murdered, or took her own life. This episode will detail Cindy’s backstory, the timeline of events leading up to her death, and the possibilities and theories surrounding this strange story.

This episode discusses one of the most sadistic and cruel killers in American History. David Parker Ray, commonly known by his nickname of the Toy Box Killer, was a suspected serial killer, rapist, and torturer of women. His crimes are believed to have spanned several decades. David Parker Ray earned his notorious nickname because of the personal torture house he built, a customized truck trailer that was filled with dozens of weapons and tools used to inflict harm. This sound proof trailer, the place where he would imprison women for days and weeks at a time, was referred to by David Parker Ray as his “Toy Box.” This episode goes over the history of David Parker Ray and details of his crimes, as well as the events and investigation that would eventually bring about his downfall.

This episode of Strange Matters presents the mystery behind the unidentified remains of a woman who is only known by her nickname, the Lady of the Dunes. This body would be found in 1974 in the sand dunes of Massachusetts, and would start an investigation that would go on for decades. Over the years there have been several different ideas and leads to go on, but unfortunately both the identities of the woman and the person responsible for her death is still a mystery to this day. This episode discusses the details of the case, as well as the possible suspects and leads in the investigation that have been covered up to this point.

This episode of Strange Matters discusses the sudden and mystifying disappearance of two Dutch girls, Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon, who went missing in Panama after they had set out on a hike. A long and exhaustive search of the area where the girls should have been turned up empty for weeks, as teams from both Panama and the Netherlands searched the trails for any signs of the missing hikers. As the investigation continued, clues would be found that revealed a slight amount of information about the lost girls, but at the same time brought up even more unanswered questions as to what had actually happened. As this case caught international interest, ideas and theories surrounding this mystery arose in an attempt to give some any of explanation behind this case. This episode covers the events that lead up to and followed the disappearance of Kris and Lisanne, as well as presenting the multitude of possible theories that have been brought forth by both investigators and mystery lovers alike around the world.

This episode of Strange Matters presents the disappearance of Lars Mittank, and the strange series of events that lead up to the man’s sudden vanishing. Lars was a young German man who was on a holiday vacation with some friends. Though described as the average, normal person, Lars would exhibit a few instances of strange behavior during this trip that was quite uncharacteristic of him. Lars would ultimately last be seen sprinting frantically out of an airport in Bulgaria right before his flight home, and no trace of him has ever surfaced since. In this episode the backstory leading up to this bizarre disappearance is discussed, along with any possible ideas as to what in the world happened that could cause such a strange mystery.

In this episode of Strange Matters a number of legends and myths that all come from various Native American cultures are presented and discussed. The Thunderbird was a mighty bird which was said to have the power to create thunderstorms. Depending on the particular tribe’s version of this mythical creature, the Thunderbird could either be a protective force or a deadly menace. Even more interesting about this legendary creature is that there are still sightings and encounters with mysterious giant birds across America to this day, leading some to believe in the existence of the Thunderbird. Much like the Thunderbird, the legend of the Little People is one that is seen across a wide range of Native American societies. Though extremely short in stature, the Little People would prove to be a big problem to many tribes, with their antics ranging all the way from simple pranks… to murder. Finally, two creepy legendary creatures of the night are discussed. The Keelut was a skinless dog which possessed an evil spirit. This dark beast would stalk its prey through the snow, paralyzing and attacking anyone who was unfortunate to see it. The Baykok were once warriors and hunters of the Ojibwa who died in disgrace. Now, their restless spirits continue to roam the lands, hunting their living tribesman in the night and devouring them alive. Enjoy this episode all about the legends and myths of the Native American people!

Strange Matters is back! In our return episode the mysterious disappearance case of Yuba City is discussed, one of the strangest group vanishings in modern history. On a cold winter night in 1978, a group of five men known by their families as “The Boys” left a basketball game and presumably traveled back home. Instead, for reasons unknown, they inexplicably drove into the mountains and would seemingly vanish into the snowy wilderness of the Sierra Nevada. When the five friends remained missing, their concerned families alerted the police. At this point law enforcement would launch an investigation that would provide more questions than answers, as everyone involved was left clueless the closer they got to solving this strange disappearance.

In this episode of Strange Matters we present a collection of creepy and unexplained stories that have been sent in to us by our listeners. In Part V of our Listener Story series, we share scary stories that include night terrors, dark figures like the Hat Man and Slenderman, and even human night prowlers. Each of these stories involve personal encounters and experiences that can not be easily explained, and are sure to give anyone listening the chills. Thanks to our listeners Alex, Sara, Bri, Bobby, Josh, & Luke!   Click here to check out the rest of our Listener Story series!  

To wrap up the month of September we have a special guest episode where we interview Stephanie Craig on one of her favorite legends, The Gates of Hell in Stull, Kansas. Stephanie is a fellow podcaster, traveler and history fanatic so be sure to check out her website www.historyfangirl.com. Stull is the very definition of a small town with just a few inhabitants and a small number of buildings within the city limits. However the lore that is interwoven into the history of Stull reaches far and wide, as it is said to contain one of the Gates of Hell. Its believed that on Halloween and the Spring Solstice the Devil comes to Earth through this gate to summon the spirits of those who died in violent ways. While some of the legends might be thought to be far-fetched, there are numerous rumors of strange encounters that have occurred on the cemetery property in Stull, including the demolishing of the church in a most mysterious manner.