The Hex Hollow Murder: Witchcraft, Belief, and the Curse That Killed

About this episode

This episode explores the Hex Hollow Murder, examining the intersection of belief, violence, and cultural traditions surrounding powwow magic.

In 1928, a brutal killing in rural Pennsylvania shocked the nation—not because of how it happened, but because of why. The victim, Nelson Rehmeyer, was accused of placing a curse using powwow folk magic… and three men believed the only way to break that hex was through violence. In this expanded episode of Strange History, we go far beyond the crime itself, exploring the real events of the Hex Hollow Murder near York, the cultural roots of powwow healing traditions, and the chilling truth about how belief can shape reality. We uncover how the idea of a curse was confirmed, how fear escalated into murder, and why even after the trial, the legend of Hex Hollow refused to fade. But this story doesn’t end in 1928. Because powwow practices still exist today. Because belief in curses—whether called hexes, bad energy, or something else—has never truly disappeared. And because the most unsettling question remains… What if they were wrong… or what if they weren’t? This isn’t just a true crime story. It’s a story about fear, belief, and how easily the human mind can turn the unknown into something real. Become a supporter of this podcast…

People in this episode

Host: Strange History

Topics covered

• true crime
• witchcraft
• belief
• curses
• powwow healing
• cultural history

Keywords

• Hex Hollow
• murder
• curse
• powwow
• folk magic
• belief
• true crime
• 1928

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Pennsylvania, York

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