We are thrilled to have Edgar Award Winning author and weird history expert J.W. Oker on the show to discuss his newest book Cult Following: The Extreme Sects That Capture Our Imaginations―and Take Over Our Lives an insightful yet quirky and often times amusing look at thirty different cults, from heavy hitters like the Manson Family, Jim Jones and Aum Shinrikyo, to lesser known groups you may have never heard of like the Divine Order of the Royal Arms of the Great Eleven and the John Frum Cargo Cult.

Links to J.W. Ocker’s

Website: OTIS (Odd Things I've Seen)

Instagram: J.W. Ocker (@jwocker)

Buy his books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00912M0K6

MURDER COASTER PODCAST

Hosted by Christa Carmen and Matthew Brockmeyer

Website: www.murdercoasterpodcast.com

Facebook: Murder Coaster

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murdercoasterpodcast/

Creepy Amusement Park theme by Brandon Fiechter and Derek Fiechter, used by permission and with many thanks.

#jwocker #cultfollowing #cult #cults #charliemanson #anthillkids #cultbook #truecrime #podcast #truecrimepodcast

Wayne Nance, the Missoula Mauler, was a serial killer, wannabe sorcerer and bumbling occultist who found Wild West justice in the Rocky Mountains of Montana.

Hear the horrible tale of the Missoula Mauler today on Murder Coaster.

MURDER COASTER PODCAST

Hosted by Christa Carmen and Matthew Brockmeyer

Website: www.murdercoasterpodcast.com

Facebook: Murder Coaster

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murdercoasterpodcast/

Creepy Amusement Park theme by Brandon Fiechter and Derek Fiechter, used by permission and with many thanks.

FEATURING THE SONGS:

“Small Doses” by Chris Jeffries, The Homeless Romantic, used with permission and many thanks. Listen to Chris on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3pK2x732HntZv7JmyR1H2o

“True to the Flag” by United States Marine Corps Band courtesy of the YouTube Audio Library

“Go to War” by No Sons of Mine courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Listen to No Sons of Mine on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6QfLlpyGYVqMEPsOtMDEJV

REFERENCES:

To Kill and Kill Again: The Terrifying True Story of Montana's Baby-Faced Serial Sex Murderer by John Coston. Open Road Media, October 18, 2016. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1504041294

This American Life Episode 618: Mr. Lie Detector - This American Life

FORENSIC May 12, 2021: Remains of Suspected Third Victim of Wayne Nance ID'ed after 36 Years

Daily Mail May 11, 2012: Remains of mom-of-one, 23, found in Montana in 1985 identified through DNA | Daily Mail Online

THE MISSOULIAN May 30, 2025: Nance victim named/21 years after remains found, woman identified

#waynenance #missoulamauler #themissoulamauler #montana #missoula #missoulamontana #truecrime #podcast #truecrimepodcast

Today we cover a crime so horrific, horrible and brutal, and committed by such a young offender, a boy only fourteen years old, that many believed it had to have been of supernatural means, and to this day it is cited as definitive proof of demonic possession.

Ladies and gentleman, we present the story of Thomas Sullivan Junior and the Satanic Panic.

MURDER COASTER PODCAST

Hosted by Christa Carmen and Matthew Brockmeyer

Website: www.murdercoasterpodcast.com

Facebook: Murder Coaster

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murdercoasterpodcast/

Creepy Amusement Park theme by Brandon Fiechter and Derek Fiechter, used by permission and with many thanks.

FEATURING THE SONGS:

“You’re Going to Die, Too” by Chris Jeffries The Homeless Romantic, used with permission and many thanks. Listen to Chris on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3pK2x732HntZv7JmyR1H2o

“Sad walk with sad melodica” by Komiku CCO Public Domain, courtesy of the Free Music Archive

“Halloween” by HoliznaCC0 CCO Public Domain, courtesy of the Free Music Archive

“I Despise” by No Songs of Mind courtesy Epidemic Sound, listen to them on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6QfLlpyGYVqMEPsOtMDEJV

REFERENCES:

Los Angeles Times January 11, 1988 Satanist Teen Uses Scout Knife to Kill Mother, Self - Los Angeles Times

Geraldo Rivera 1988 Television Special DEVIL WORSHIP: EXPOSING SATAN’S UNDERGROUND. Watch on Geraldo’s website: Exposing Satan's Underground - Geraldo and on YouTube: DEVIL WORSHIP: Exposing Satan's Underground

BBC NEWS April 11, 2014: The great 1980s Dungeons & Dragons panic - BBC News

NJ.COM Feb. 15, 2017: A history of the Ku Klux Klan in N.J. - nj.com

Alma Bridwell White - Wikipedia

National Library of Medicine Epub Sep 3, 2020: Wrestling-related concussions and closed head injuries predominantly occur in high school age athletes - PubMed

National Library of Medicine: Traumatic brain injury: a potential cause of violent crime? - PMC

THE DEVIL WITHIN PODCAST Written and narrated by Brandon Morgan, Calvary Productions May 2021 The Devil Within Podcast | Wondery

Reddit Reviews: The Devil Within. Meh : r/TrueCrimePodcasts

#truecrime #tommysullivan #thomassullivan #satanism #satan #satanicpanic #geraldorivera #podcast #truecrimepodcast #murdercoasterpodcast #morbid #thedevil #demon #possession