THE UNSOLVED MURDER AND HAUNTING OF THELMA TODD: Who Killed the Ice Cream Blonde?

Hundreds died in a jungle commune led by a madman, but what if Jonestown wasn’t a mass suicide, but a cover-up for something even darker? Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate 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. IN THIS EPISODE: Was the Unidentified Cape Cod Murder Victim an Extra in Jaws? Horror author Joe Hill thinks so. (Murder On The Set of Jaws) *** Of the many mysterious and ominous places on earth, many bodies of water are said to be cursed, haunted, or both. For whatever reason these lakes have drawn about them tales of misfortune, terror, and death, and they continue to elude rational answers. I’ll share some of the strangest. (Cursed Lakes) *** At the dawn of the 20th Century Ambrose Bierce was one of the most famous writers in America. And then he mysteriously vanished. (The Disappearance of Ambrose Bierce) *** Charles Willey experienced hundreds of fires on his property in the summer of 1948 – but how did they start? (The Macomb Firestarter) *** Two men interested in the same woman – all three spending a day together. Not a good plan from the start. Add a bit of alcohol and you just may have a powder keg ready to explode. (Rum, Jealously, and Murder) *** Over the course of just two years, Christopher Duntsch operated on 38 patients in the Dallas area, leaving 31 paralyzed or seriously injured and two of them dead. It’s no wonder he was given the morbid nickname of “Dr. Death”. (Doctor Death) *** A child’s game of hide-and-seek turns to terror. (The House At The Front) *** In the Outback of Queensland, Australia, ghostly orbs of light have been frightening people for centuries. What do we know about the mystery of the orbs and what are some of the theories about what they could be? (The Min Min Orbs) *** Are extraterrestrials secretly watching over us and saving us from our own destruction? (Our Alien Protectors) *** Was the mass suicide at Jim Jones' commune in Guyana in 1978 a CIA mind control experiment? (Welcome to Jonestown) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Lead-In 00:02:07.459 = Show Open 00:04:53.939 = Welcome To Jonestown 00:27:03.141 = Murder on The Set of JAWS 00:33:15.210 = Cursed Lakes 01:01:43.019 = The Disappearance of Ambrose Bierce 01:08:03.389 = Our Alien Protectors 01:17:39.424 = The Macomb Firestarter 01:28:44.629 = The House At The Front 01:33:20.206 = The Min Min Orbs 01:42:07.771 = Rum, Jealousy, and Murder01:46:38.576 = Doctor Death 01:53:43.554 = Show Close SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… BOOK: “The Skeleton Crew: How Amateur Sleuths Are Solving America's Coldest Cases” by Deborah Halber:

Download the FREE WORD SEARCH and CROSSWORD For This Episode: https://weirddarkness.com/GrandmasGotABodyCount They look like grandmothers, wives, and neighbors — but behind the smiles and teacups, some of history’s deadliest serial killers wore skirts instead of masks. Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate 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. IN THIS EPISODE: Female serial killers… they are a lot more common than you think. 
(We’re Surrounded by Female Serial Killers) *** The founder of the website Chicago Hauntings, Ursula Bielski, shares how the paranormal first invaded her life. (My Paranormal Life) *** The death of Thomas Becket shook the middle-ages. It’s believed his assassination in Canterbury Cathedral on December 29th, 1170 changed the course of history. (The Assassination of Thomas Becket) *** We’ll take a humorous look at the insane life of Boston Corbett – the man who was a hero because he killed John Wilkes Booth, but was also an idiot, cutting off his own manhood. (Abraham Lincoln’s Insane Avenger) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Lead-In 00:01:53.536 = Show Open 00:03:24.735 = We’re Surrounded By Female Serial Killers 00:14:34.403 = The Assassination of Thomas Becket 00:24:28.443 = My Paranormal Life 00:53:11.889 = Abraham Lincoln’s Insane Avenger 01:01:38.599 = Show Close SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… “We’re Surrounded by Female Serial Killers” from the book, “Lady Killers” by Tori Telfer: https://tinyurl.com/vpvqwvu “The Assassination of Thomas Becket” from British Museum: https://tinyurl.com/rhap89e “My Paranormal Life” by Ursula Bielski: https://tinyurl.com/uqx8gl9 “Abraham Lincoln’s Insane Avenger” by Mark Hill for Cracked: https://tinyurl.com/ql8ubex ===== (Over time links seen above 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...

Two rival spies form a psychic bond and uncover a terrifying government secret that could doom the entire world in “The Aliens” from CBS Radio Mystery Theater! | #RetroRadio EP0414 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 Aliens” (March 15, 1976) ***WD 00:47:45.729 = Unit 99, “Meet Highway Patrol at 55th Street” (February 21, 1958) 01:11:18.159 = Dark Venture, “Chase” (August 03, 1946) ***WD 01:39:50.239 = Weird Circle, “Trial For Murder” (April 30, 1944) 02:09:31.379 = The Whistler, “Avengers” (July 02, 1943) 02:39:09.569 = Witch’s Tale, “Wedding Gift” (March 29, 1938) ***WD 03:03:06.629 = Word Detective, “Maverick” (October 26, 1959) 03:06:15.658 = X Minus One, “Skulking Permit” (February 15, 1956) 03:35:07.849 = ABC Mystery Time, “Four Fatal Jugglers” (1957) ***WD 03:59:08.789 = Strange Adventure, “Gold For The Taking” (1945) 04:02:43.460 = BBC’s Ghost Story, “The Haunted Doll’s House” (early 1980s) 04:18:04.329 = Beyond The Green Door, “Edgar Hayes-Amazing Trip Seek” (1966) 04:22:07.319 = Black Book (The Man In Black), “Different Readings, Part 1” (November 21, 1951) 04:39:06.289 = Black Book (The Man In Black), “Different Readings, Part 2” (November 21, 1951) 04:47:39.859 = Incredible But True, “Here Will You Lie” (1950-1951) 04:51:23.421 = 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/WDRR0414

Trapped in a remote lighthouse, three men face a nightmarish siege by thousands of bloodthirsty rats in the harrowing tale of Three Skeleton Key, presented by Sleep No More! | #RetroRadio EP0413 Download The FREE Word Search Puzzle for this episode: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0413 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 Man Who Preyed On Women” (March 12, 1976) ***WD 00:47:07.579 = The Shadow, “The Shadow Returns” (November 19, 1939) 01:12:29.619 = Sleep No More, “To Build a Fire” and “Three Skeleton Key” (February 20, 1957) ***WD 01:41:37.389 = BBC’s Spine Chillers, “Ale of Gobhniu” (1984) 02:07:33.639 = Strange, “Greenwood Acres” (October 10, 1955) ***WD 02:20:19.229 = Strange Wills, “Alias Doctor Svengali” (June 15, 1946) 02:50:29.739 = Suspense, “Five Canaries In The Room” (June 08, 1943) 03:18:26.299 = Tales of the Frightened, “Just Inside the Cemetery” (1957) 03:23:32.309 = Tales From The Tomb, “Don’t Drink With Strangers” (1960s) 03:27:22.099 = Theater Five, “A Genuine Grenotte” (September 25, 1964) ***WD 03:48:29.339 = Theater 1030, “The Thing In The Hall” (1960s) ***WD 04:18:02.599 = 2000 Plus “Insect” (May 17, 1950) ***WD 04:47:37.369 = The Unexpected, “Heard But Not Seen” (1948) 04:59:43.674 = 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/WDRR0413

Unearthed in the deserts of Peru, a mummified hand with three fingers and six bones each may hold the key to an ancient species — or a hoax more elaborate than anyone imagined. Download the FREE WORD SEARCH and CROSSWORD For This Episode: https://weirddarkness.com/ElongatedSkullsTridactylHands Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate 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. IN THIS EPISODE: Could it possibly be true that the three-fingered mummies found in Peru, eventually deemed to be a hoax, are in fact real extraterrestrial bodies? New evidence seems to say so! (The Mysterious Three-Fingered Mummies of Peru – Alien or Hoax?) *** In the early morning hours of August 5, 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead inside her Los Angeles home of an apparent drug overdose — but suspicions of foul play have persisted ever since. (The Mysterious Death of Marilyn Monroe) *** Within the span of about 80 years two terrifying beasts emerged to haunt the imaginations of two European communities. From the werewolf of Ansbach to the mysterious Beast of Gévaudan, these creatures blurred the line between reality and legend, leaving a trail of death bodies, and people who even hundreds of years later in these areas are still frightened to go out after dark. (Two European Werewolves) *** The Hellfire Club, a secret society from the 1700s, provided a space for high-standing individuals to indulge in intellectual pursuits and social activities without judgment… but it also became infamous for its rumored hedonistic behaviors and dark rituals, though its true purpose and activities remain shrouded in mystery even today – making the rumors about it all the more tantalizing. (The Secret World of the Hellfire Club) *** In 2003, Christine Paolilla shocked her Texas community by going from a bullied high school student to a convicted killer. It’s a tragic story of friendship, love, drugs, violence, and murder. (From Miss Irresistible to Mrs Murderer) *** Oakville, Washington, a small town with fewer than 1,000 residents, experienced an unusual event in the summer of 1994. On August 7th, clear gelatinous blobs fell from the sky, soon followed by a mysterious illness affecting the townspeople. Despite various theories, from jellyfish particles to star jelly, the true nature of the Oakville Blobs remains a mystery, leaving the town and the rest of the world without clear answers. (What Were The Oakville Blobs?) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Anatomy of the Impossible (Short Story) 00:02:43.814 = Lead-In 00:03:35.952 = Show Open