“The VAMPIRE PLAGUE of 1725” | 4 Terrifying True Horror Stories! #WeirdDarkness

When the people sworn to save lives become serial killers, their medical knowledge transforms into the perfect weapon for murder — and these are their horrifying true stories. Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: 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: H.H. Holmes allegedly killed as many as 200 people by luring visitors to his lair during the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. The 100 rooms of the house he built, were filled with trapdoors, gas chambers, staircases to nowhere, and a human-sized stove. But now, some historians say many of the gruesome stories about Doctor Holmes may be myth! (The Doctor And His Murder Castle) *** Michael Swango was an MD. He was a doctor. But the MD after his name could just as easily have represented “Master of Death”, or “Many Dead” - because there were. Up to sixty of his patients died by his own hands before he was stopped. (Doctor of Death) *** Dr. Buck Ruxton’s brutal deeds earned the surgeon a grim nickname… the Savage Surgeon. (The Savage Surgeon) *** During his 26-year reign at the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, Dr. Henry Cotton performed over 645 twisted operations in which he tried to "save" the mentally ill. (The Horrifying Cures of Dr. Cotton) *** Stubbins Ffirth was so determined to learn about Yellow Fever in the late 1700s that he purposely exposed himself to those who had it. But HOW he exposed himself is an utter nightmare and will curl your stomach. (The Insane Experiment of Stubbins Ffirth) *** Horrifying medical experiments on twins helped Nazis justify the Holocaust, and at the center of it was Dr. Josef Mengele. (The Nazi Angel of Death) *** We’ll also look at a few other derailed doctors and nurses who had an unhealthy appetite for lobotomies, blisters, and the plague. (Doctors of Evil) *** Doctors killing or experimenting on patients isn’t confined to human victims, some animal experiments were equally as gruesome or bizarre. For example, what would happen if you gave an elephant LSD? (Strange Medical Experiments) 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. CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Lead-In 00:02:04.570 = Show Open 00:05:03.929 = The Doctor And His Murder Castle 00:12:45.823 = Doctor of Death 00:24:08.702 = The Savage Surgeon 00:32:07.800 = The Horrifying Cures of Dr. Cotton 00:39:54.355 = The Insane Experiment of Stubbins Firth 00:44:18.487 = The Nazi Angel of Death 00:55:04.710 = Evil Doctors 01:23:29.248 = Strange Medical Experiments 01:27:10.308 =...

For three centuries, something with leathery wings, glowing eyes, and an unholy scream has stalked the Pine Barrens of New Jersey — and the terrifying encounters continue to this day. Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: 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: Without a doubt, New Jersey’s oldest, most enduring, and important pieces of folklore is the tale of the infamous Jersey Devil. For three hundred years Jerseyans have told tales of this mythical beast that stalks the Pine Barrens and terrorizes local residents… but is it merely legend, or could there truly be some kind of real creature that fits the horrifying description?  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. SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… PHOTO: Jersey Devil snapshot taken by Dave Black from NJ.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3sv4wwy4 BOOK: “Monsters of New Jersey – Mysterious Creatures in the Garden State” by Loren Coleman: https://amzn.to/47t51YI “Legends Of The Jersey Devil” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yc2jm47w; and Mark and Mark for Weird New Jersey: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4v9fr7ka =====(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 09, 2023 NOTE: Some of this content may have been created with assistance from AI tools, but it has been reviewed, edited, narrated, produced, and approved by Darren Marlar, creator and host of Weird Darkness — who, despite popular conspiracy theories, is NOT an AI voice. EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources):

When Casey and Ann meet an eerie old woman who visits her own grave each night, they’re drawn into a chilling mystery where both the living and the dead seem to keep her company. Hear the story in Casey – Crime Photographer! | #RetroRadio EP0478 Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “A Two Bit Fortune” (September 09, 1976) 00:45:24.626 = Casey – Crime Photographer, “Graveyard Gertie” (September 11, 1947) 01:14:53.638 = Hall of Fantasy, “The Judge’s House” (April 03, 1947) ***WD 01:41:32.561 = Haunted Tales of the Supernatural, “The Liberated Tiger” (July 21, 1984) 02:08:39.776 = The Haunting Hour, “Keeping His Promise” (1944-1946) 02:36:40.795 = Hermit’s Cave, “The Search for Life” (April 12, 1942) ***WD 03:01:19.881 = Mystery Is My Hobby, “Body In The Trunk” (1947) 03:24:16.011 = Sherlock Holmes, “The Blarney Stone” (March 18, 1946) 03:53:47.079 = House of Mystery, “Gift From The Dead” (August 03, 1947) ***WD 04:23:29.884 = Incredible But True, “Mr. Browining’s Cufflinks” (1950-1951) 04:26:49.340 = Inner Sanctum, “Confession” (December 22, 1946) 04:51:13.806 = The Key, “Robber Murdered” (1955-1956) 05:16:31.050 = Lights Out, “Sub-Basement” (August 24, 1943) ***WD 05:45:46.103 = Lux Radio Theater, “Sorry, Wrong Number” (January 09, 1943) ***WD 06:45:24.983 = Macabre, “Crystalline Man” (January 01, 1962) ***WD 07:13:45.896 = Philip Marlowe, “Headless Peacock” (July 16, 1949) 07:43:23.165 = Boston Blackie, “Ghost of Flo Newton” (May 28, 1947) 08:08:30.143 = The Black Mass, “Ash Tree” (December 18, 1963) ***WD 08:38:47.978 = Beyond Midnight, “Short Circuit” (January 03, 1969) ***WD 09:04:16.664 = MindWebs, “Nature Boy” (April 22, 1979) 09:30:59.152 = Half Hour To Kill, “Blackout” (October 29, 1946 Audition Episode – Never Aired) **WD 09:59:09.340 = 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. = = = = =#TrueCrime #Paranormal #ScienceFiction #OldTimeRadio #OTR #OTRHorror #ClassicRadioShows #HorrorRadioShows #VintageRadioDramas #SuspenseRadioClassics #1940sRadioHorror #OldRadioMysteryShows #CreepyOldRadioShows #TrueCrimeRadio #SupernaturalRadioPlays #GoldenAgeRadio #EerieRadioMysteries #MacabreOldTimeRadio #NostalgicThrillers #ClassicCrimePodcast #RetroHorrorPodcast #WeirdDarkness #WeirdDarknessPodcast #RetroRadio...

A week at the newly reopened Camp Resting Stone takes a sinister turn when campers discover the camp closed 22 years ago after the mysterious death of its chef—whose body was never found. Find more family-friendly frights and creepy games to play on our website at http://MicroTerrors.com! Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/microterrors Other stories, novels, and more from author Scott Donnelly: https://amzn.to/3LymHaU Other narrations, podcasts, and audiobooks from voice artist Darren Marlar: https://WeirdDarkness.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Weird Darkness©, 2025 Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids™, 2025#ScaryStoriesForKids #StoriesForKids #KidsStories #HalloweenKids #MicroTerrors #HalloweenStories

A foul-smelling beast covered in river slime sent an entire Illinois police force into the woods with tracking dogs in 1973, but even the German shepherd was too terrified to follow its trail. Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: 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 a German princess entered a Roman convent seeking spiritual peace in 1858, she uncovered a shocking conspiracy of fake miracles, sexual abuse, and murder orchestrated by a beautiful young nun who claimed to be a living saint. (Nuns of Sant’Ambrosio) *** The 1904 St. Louis Olympics featured a marathon where runners were given rat poison instead of water, racists created humilating displays of indigenous peoples, treating them like zoo animals, a runner tried to cheat by taking a car partway through the race, and more chaos so complete that Olympic officials considered canceling the Games forever. (The Nightmare 1904 Olympics) *** Scientists tracking impossible orbits of frozen worlds at the edge of our solar system have calculated that something with ten times Earth's mass is hiding in the darkness — and it might not be a planet. (Planet X or Something More Terrifying) *** The elite Air Force guards who protected secret technology at Area 51 are now dying from radiation exposure, but the government refuses to help them because their service at the base remains too classified to even acknowledge they were stationed there. (Invisible Enemy of Area 51) *** In 1973, a seven-foot-tall creature covered in muddy white fur terrorized the small town of Murphysboro, Illinois, leaving behind massive footprints, mysterious black slime, and police reports that turned skeptics into believers. (Bid Muddy Monster of Illinois) 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. CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Lead-In 00:01:30.198 = Show Open 00:03:53.332 = Big Muddy Monster 00:18:30.210 = Planet X or Something More Terrifying 00:28:34.325 = The Nightmare 1904 Olympics 00:43:24.791 = Nuns of Sant’Abrosio 00:54:17.851 = Invisible Enemy of Area 51 01:04:54.606 = Show Close SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… Big Muddy Monster of Illinois: https://weirddarkness.com/illinois-big-muddy-monster-legend/ Planet X or Something More Terrifying: