“THE SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF MARY HARDY REESER” and More Horrifying True Stories! #WeirdDarkness

(Full Audiobook) When Camp Resting Stone mysteriously reopens after more than two decades, the camp counselors insist the tale of a groundskeeper who died in a horrific accident is just a ghost story meant to scare campers. But as children begin vanishing, twelve-year-old Jay discovers the real reason the camp was abandoned, and why it should never have been reopened. CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Part One 00:22:44.290 = Part Two 00:43:56.010 = Part Three 01:06:55.760 = Part Four 01:34:01.176 = Part Five SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…Original story title, “Skinless” – written by Scott Donnelly for the Micro Terrors podcast and fandom: http://MicroTerrors.com=====(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 if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="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.=====Originally aired: August 31, 2025 EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/CampRestingStone 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.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.

Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE for the ad-free version: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate From toddlers casually chatting with deceased relatives to the ghostly cries of orphaned children still echoing through abandoned buildings, tonight's stories explore the unsettling connection between children and the paranormal through real accounts from terrified parents, witnesses, and those who were once haunted children themselves. Take the WEIRD DARKNESS LISTENER SURVEY and help mold the future of the podcast: https://weirddarkness.com/survey IN THIS EPISODE: It's been said that kids are more open to the supernatural, perhaps because their minds haven't been closed off to the possibilities that ghosts really exist. That makes stories about childhood hauntings even creepier. The real stories I'll be sharing in this episode include ghosts encountered by kids of all ages. The stories might convince you that the nightlight your child insists stay on in the bedroom, needs to stay on for a reason.  (Haunted Children) *** There's something inherently chilling about old orphanages. Maybe it's the fact that scary orphanage stories abound - after all, the buildings are associated with heartbroken and lonely children. And not all of these tales concern the living. Plenty of real life ghost stories feature orphanages filled with restless and vengeful child spirits. (Orphanage Ghosts) *** And what should you do if your child says they see a ghost? Do you tell them there is no such thing? Do you encourage them to believe more fully? What’s the right thing to do? A couple of child psychologists have a few ideas on what you can do. 
(What To Do When Your Child Sees a Ghost) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Lead-In 00:02:33.056 = Show Open 00:04:25.859 = The Psychic Child 00:16:05.102 = Haunted Children 00:32:28.896 = More Haunted Children 00:58:26.139 = Orphanage Ghosts 01:10:31.608 = What To Do When Your Child Sees A Ghost 01:16:58.615 = Show Close SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Haunted Children” by Amanda Sedlak-Hevener for Ranker: https://tinyurl.com/ycu2wcfp; and from The Every Mom: https://tinyurl.com/ya42v2lq “Orphanage Ghosts” by Elle Tharp for Graveyard Shift: https://tinyurl.com/ybtnfowq “What To Do When Your Child Sees a Ghost” by Rosemary Counter for The Washington Post:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mrcjp7xk =====(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 if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying...

When the Salem witch trials reached their peak of hysteria in 1692, 81-year-old Giles Corey became the only person in American history to receive a court-ordered execution by crushing, defiantly gasping "more weight" as stones were piled on his chest over two agonizing days. His gruesome death, carried out in a public pit where neighbors could watch, helped turn the tide against the witch trials as witnesses realized no true servant of Satan would endure such torture with such stubborn defiance. ========== HOUR ONE: Like many desolate places, the Arctic has its share of ghost stories and haunted legends floating around the frigid, wild areas of its domain. It might be the frights rather than the cold that gives you goosebumps. (Ghostly Shivers of the Arctic Circle) *** You never know what might be lurking just out of sight – in the shadows, behind a door. I’ll share a few true stories that might make you double-check the locks at night and check the closet before going to bed. (Never Trust The Dark) *** When you think of the Salem Witch Trials, you typically think of women being burned at the stake, innocently accused of witchcraft. There are two incorrect assumption about that mental picture. First, most of the accused were hung, and none have been truly verified to be burned alive. And second, sorcery and Satan worship were not seen to be bound by gender, and so either a man, woman, boy, or girl could be a witch. And one of those unfortunate men was Giles Corey – but his punishment went beyond the norm, and into the gruesome. (The Most Dreadful Execution of The Salem Witch Trials) ========== HOUR TWO: “The devil made me do it.” It’s an excuse that has been used so often by so many that it has lost its meaning, and its effectiveness. So only a fool or a madman would commit a horrible act and then try to blame it on the devil or a demon… unless, of course, that person truly believes that is exactly what happened to them. (A Demon Made Me Do It) *** The little Norwegian village of Bærum Verk still stands as an old foundry settlement, and is an active place, both as a place to work, and as a place to live – and as a place to keep living even after you’re dead. (The Most Haunted Village in Norway) *** There are more than a few stories from upright citizens around the world who claim to have seen tiny humans. I’m not talking about the diminutive human beings we used to classify as dwarves or midgets until we became more enlightened. I’m talking about short, maybe two-foot tall, perfectly proportioned people. (Big Stories About Little People) ========== SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: When John and Eva were married they told their relatives that they planned to honeymoon on the Atlantic coast, but John had another plan, and it would not be his last deception. But it would be the first act in what ended up being a mystery that has still gone unsolved to this day. (The Lawrenceburg Shanty-Boat Mystery) *** Weirdo family member James Pierce brings a true story that he calls, “It Came Through the Screen Door”. *** A 5-year-old boy having the time of his life at a carnival suddenly goes missing – and when found later there is no evidence whatsoever as to how he got where he was, who took him there, or what happened to him before he was found. (The Disturbing Case of Little Stephen McKerron) *** Weirdo family member Joy Cruz remembers something her mother told her as a child… and it quite possibly saved her soul. (I’ve Seen The Devil) ========== SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT’S SHOW: “The Genesis of Geraldine” by David Jeremiah for Light Source: https://tinyurl.com/y7t7nuwx “A Demon Made Me Do It” by Jacob Shelton for Ranker: https://tinyurl.com/y2qedyjq, and Orrin Grey for The Line Up:

In 1931, Peter Kürten walked to the guillotine and asked if he would hear his own blood gushing from his neck after decapitation, calling it "the pleasure to end all pleasures" - the final words of a man who had murdered at least 10 people and committed 68 crimes with absolutely no remorse. Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE for the ad-free version: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Take the WEIRD DARKNESS LISTENER SURVEY and help mold the future of the podcast: https://weirddarkness.com/survey IN THIS EPISODE: When you think of methods of execution, what comes to mind? Electric chair? Hanging? Firing squad? Lethal injection? Or perhaps something a bit more historic like guillotine, or even stoning. But I’m guessing the last thing you’d think of for a method of execution would be death by golden shower. (Death by Urination) *** Had Daniel Lambert been alive today, he would’ve carted his more than 700 pounds around in a motorized scooter, as too many morbidly obese people choose to do. But in the early 1800s, such amenities weren’t available, because there was no market for them. Lambert was a true anomaly. And people couldn’t get enough of him. (Daniel Lambert: Fat Man On Display) *** A woman describes how frightened she was when working in a school after hours – so frightened that now, over 23-years-later, she still has trouble sleeping due to the fear she experienced. (Horrible, No-good, Very Bad Schoolhouse) *** An eerie painting spooked many who just saw it. Those who owned it fared worse. Could this piece, painted in 1972, truly be haunted? (The Hands Resist Him: Haunted Painting) *** From murdering children to drinking blood, Peter Kürten was "the king of the sexual perverts" and perhaps the worst serial killer ever. So it’s no surprise he would be tagged with the word “vampire” to describe him. (The Abominations Of Peter Kürten - Vampire Of Düsseldorf) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Content Warning and Lead-In 00:02:21.855 = Show Open 00:04:38.287 = The Abominations of Peter Kürten – The Vampire of Düsseldorf 00:16:17.201 = Death By Urination 00:20:04.592 = Daniel Lambert: Fat Man On Display 00:25:27.445 = Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Schoolhouse 00:39:56.113 = The Hands Resist Him – The Haunted Painting 00:43:57.760 = Show Close SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…PHOTO: Peter Kürten’s head before and after the guillotine: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DwPBBE5X0AAmtZa.jpg “The Abominations Of Peter Kürten - Vampire Of Düsseldorf” by Katie Serena for All That’s Interesting,https://tinyurl.com/ycr8yl2p; and Joe Duncan for List Verse: https://tinyurl.com/y7txms9y “Death by Urination” by Daven Hiskey for Today I Found Out: https://tinyurl.com/9wftd7z “Daniel Lambert: Fat Man On Display” by Marc Hartzman for Weird Historian: https://tinyurl.com/yb52ke48 “Horrible, No-good, Very Bad Schoolhouse” by Bettina Marie from Your Ghost Stories: https://tinyurl.com/yctbrebo “The Hands Resist Him: Haunted Painting” from The Line Up: https://tinyurl.com/y8hfk7vp=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have...

Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE for the ad-free version: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Alexander Jordan, terrified of being buried alive during cataleptic fits, rigs a mausoleum with safety measures. His nephew’s greed, aimed at securing the inheritance, triggers a lethal chain of events. Will the safeguards work—or will his nightmare come true? | #RetroRadio EP0497 CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Living Corpse” (October 14, 1976) ***WD (LQ) 00:44:52.123 = Creeps By Night, “Strange Burial of Alexander Jordan” (July 13, 1944) 01:14:22.617 = The Crime Club, “Murder Makes a Mummy” (May 29, 1947) ***WD 01:43:46.892 = CBC Deep Night, “Bonehouse” (August 22, 2005) 02:16:56.717 = The Devil and Mr. O, “Chest” (January 28, 1972) 02:45:12.325 = Diary of Fate, “Trina Crowley” (March 09, 1948) ***WD 03:13:41.270 = Dimension X, “Outer Limits” (April 08, 1950) ***WD 03:43:35.230 = The Strange Dr. Weird, “Two Faces of Death” (March 13, 1945) ***WD 03:55:40.015 = The Creaking Door, “Yesterday You Died” (August 31, 1964) ***WD 04:24:39.665 = Escape, “The Fugitive” (August 15, 1948) 04:53:37.367 = 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. = = = = =#ParanormalRadio #ScienceFiction #OldTimeRadio #OTR #OTRHorror #ClassicRadioShows #HorrorRadioShows #VintageRadioDramas CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0497