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Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

By: Darren Marlar | Weird Darkness | Full-Time Voice Actor
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 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.© 2015-2025, Weird Darkness Social Sciences True Crime World
Episodes
  • THE DEADLIEST BREAKFAST IN HISTORY: The Oregon State Hospital Mass Poisoning – 47 Dead

    THE DEADLIEST BREAKFAST IN HISTORY: The Oregon State Hospital Mass Poisoning – 47 Dead
    Jun 24 2025
    The screams echoing through Oregon State Hospital that morning weren't from the mentally ill patients—they were from 47 people dying in agony after taking their first bite of breakfast.Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.IN THIS EPISODE: It was 1973, and the small town of Murphysboro, Illinois had quite a scare with numerous people encountering what many described as a large gorilla-like creature. We might call it Bigfoot or Sasquatch – they called it a “Big Muddy Monster”. (A Big Muddy Monster) *** In November, 1978, four employees at a hamburger restaurant are kidnapped and murdered. Almost forty-five years later, seven employees at a fried chicken establishment are found slain – their bodies found in the restaurant’s walk-in freezer. One case found justice… the other is still waiting. (The Burger Chef and Brown’s Chicken Murders) *** In Germanic and Scandinavian folklore, a child murdered by their mother is known as a Kindermorderinn – and if that child is a boy and decides to appear from beyond the dead, he’s considered a “Radiant Boy”. And there are numerous stories of their hauntings. (Radiant Boy) *** Grace Stevens was excited to attend her company’s annual picnic with friends and co-workers, dressing for the occasion, hoping to possibly meet her future Prince Charming. Her company was splurging and inviting everyone to take a ship from Chicago across Lake Michigan to attend the party in Michigan City. They never arrived. (Grace Stevens And The Tragedy Of The U.S.S. Eastland) *** In 1947 a woman jumped to her death from 86th floor of the Empire State Building… yet today, her ghost still needs to use the building’s bathroom facilities. (The Haunted Empire State Building Bathroom) *** But first,, the governor called it “mass murder” in 1942 when forty-seven patients died at the Oregon State Hospital – all within hours. All of them, poisoned. Finding the murderer and motive would lead to an unexpected conclusion, and to an unrelenting haunting. We begin with that story. (An Accidental Mass Murder at Oregon State Hospital)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Lead-In00:00:51.611 = Show Open00:03:48.028 = An Accidental Mass Murder at Oregon State Hospital00:21:32.591 = Radiant Boy00:28:19.019 = Grace Stevens And The Tragedy of the U.S.S. Eastland00:38:31.908 = The Burger Chef and Brown’s Chicken Murders00:50:31.332 = A Big Muddy Monster01:02:18.749 = The Haunted Empire State Building Bathrooom01:06:03.789 = Show CloseSOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…“The Haunted Empire State Building Bathroom” by Erin Taylor from the book, “Unfinished Business: Tales of Haunted Restrooms and Bathrooms”: https://amzn.to/3rCp9qU“A Big Muddy Monster” by Bridge Vaughan for The Patriot Press: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ycy9kr78; and from The New York Times archives: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8tpv8v“An Accidental Mass Murder at Oregon State Hospital” by Capi Lynn for The Statesman Journal: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4swhcvt2; and Macabre Mary at Puzzle Box Horror: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4k53fxa4“Radiant Boy” by Lux Ferre for Occult World: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/j75fc2w8“Grace Stevens And The Tragedy of the U.S.S. Eastland” by Kathi Kresol for Haunted Rockford: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8cn6sk“The Burger Chef and Brown’s Chicken Murders” by Lexi Kakis and Andres Cipriano for Uncovered.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ycxh4r32, and Eric DeGrechie for Patch.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yc55dubz=====(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 ...
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • THE GHOST OF SAN JUAN HILL: His War Ended in Cuba – His Haunting Began at Home

    THE GHOST OF SAN JUAN HILL: His War Ended in Cuba – His Haunting Began at Home
    Jun 24 2025
    A young bride’s wedding plans unravel when her long-dead husband returns from the grave with unfinished business in “The Ghost of San Juan Hill” from CBS Radio Mystery Theater! | #RetroRadio EP0444

    Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate

    CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
    00:00:00.000 = Show Open
    00:01:50.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Ghost of San Juan Hill” (May 10, 1976) ***WD
    00:46:57.204 = A Man Called X, “Murder, Music and a Blond Madonna” (August 28, 1944) ***WD
    01:16:12.988 = Philip Marlowe, “Night Tide” (May 21, 1949)
    01:47:02.411 = The Black Mass, “Bartleby Scrivener” (September 14, 1965) ***WD
    02:20:49.437 = Beyond Midnight, “The Party” (1968-1970)
    02:52:13.675 = MindWebs, “Phoenix” (1975-1984)
    03:18:51.237 = Ellery Queen Minute Mysteries, “Simple Slip” (1939-1948) ***WD
    03:19:47.075 = Molle Mystery Theater, “St. Louis Lady” (August 23, 1946)
    03:49:43.126 = Mr. District Attorney, “Free Play” (November 23, 1949)
    04:14:15.000 = Murder at Midnight, “Terror Out of Space” (July 17, 1950)
    04:39:40.565 = The Black Museum, “.32 Calibre Bullet” (January 08, 1952)
    05:02:48.276 = 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.
    Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library

    ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.
    = = = = =
    "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
    = = = = =
    WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
    = = = = =
    CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0444
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    5 hrs and 4 mins
  • FEAR BY FLOOR BY FLOOR: What Is The Terrifying Mystery of the Skyscraper?

    FEAR BY FLOOR BY FLOOR: What Is The Terrifying Mystery of the Skyscraper?
    Jun 23 2025
    An anxious politician contacts a private detective, terrified by unexplained occurrences in his high-rise office building. As the detective investigates, he uncovers a chilling, supernatural terror! Hear “Skyscraper Mystery” from The Haunting Hour! | #RetroRadio EP0443

    Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate

    CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
    00:00:00.000 = Show Open
    00:01:50.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “What a Change in Hilda” (May 06, 1976) ***WD
    00:46:12.344 = The Haunting Hour, “Skyscraper Mystery” (September 22, 1945)
    01:11:21.277 = Have Gun Will Travel, “North Fork” (June 21, 1959)
    01:35:29.495 = The Hermit’s Cave, “Notebook on Murder” (September 15, 1940)
    02:00:08.097 = Mystery Is My Hobby, “Death of an Old Prospector” (July, 1947)
    02:23:53.550 = Sherlock Holmes, “Case of the Demon Barber” (January 28, 1946)
    02:53:25.470 = Incredible But True, “The Devil’s Diggings” (1950-1951)
    02:57:11.722 = Inner Sanctum, “Dark Chamber” (December 11, 1945)
    03:27:10.349 = The Key, “Escape Artist” (1956)
    03:52:29.746 = Lights Out, “Death Robbery” (July 16, 1947) ***WD
    04:21:41.318 = The Lineup, “Flighty Fulvous Finch Case” (July 12, 1951)
    04:46:23.192 = 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.
    Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library

    ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.
    = = = = =
    "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
    = = = = =
    WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
    = = = = =
    CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0443
    Show More Show Less
    4 hrs and 48 mins
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Well produced, well paced, interesting content and awesome variety, we love listening to Darren's episodes

The sheer hard work and dedication to churn out episodes is incredible!

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