In 1943, four boys exploring Hagley Wood in Worcestershire, England, stumbled upon a body in the hollow trunk of a wych elm tree. Over the years, graffiti appeared around the area asking, “Who put Bella in the Wych Elm?”—a message that gave the unknown woman her now-famous pseudonym, “Bella.” However, who was Bella? Nazi Spy, Occult Victim, or Pran…

In the modern era, ghouls have been adapted into more globalized depictions of monsters, aligning them with Western depictions of zombies and vampires. How did stories from pre-islamic arabia folklore turn into some of the biggest entertainment icons of today? While at the same time terrifying people of the ancient middle east through to today? ---…

From 1564 to 1589, the town of Bedburg, Germany, was terrorized by a series of horrifying events. It began with livestock disappearing, only to be found later, mutilated as if savaged by some wild beast. The situation worsened when people—including pregnant women and children—started to vanish, meeting the same gruesome fate. -------------------- M…

Yokai have been used to explain natural phenomena, entertain through storytelling, and even serve as moral lessons in Japanese folklore. One in particular, the Noppera-bō, are not malevolent but are thought to be more tricksters, playing jokes on unassuming humans. Or are they a reflection of social and environmental changes in Japan? -------------…

From 1918 to 1919, New Orleans was terrorized by a serial killer known as the Axeman, who attacked several people and murdered at least six. His primary targets were Italian immigrant grocers, and he used axes found in his victims’ homes. Despite the brutality of the attacks, no valuables were ever stolen. In a strange twist, the killer wrote to a …

The name "Agartha" refers to a legendary underground kingdom believed to be home to enlightened beings, often referred to as the "Ascended Masters," who possess advanced technology and spiritual wisdom far beyond the scope of ordinary humans. From the Buddhist legend of Shambhala to the Greeks’ Hades, civilizations have long speculated that another…

The Lost City of Gedi was a prominent trading hub in Kenya along the Swahili Coast from the 13th to 17th centuries, before it was mysteriously abandoned. When rediscovered in the 1920s by British colonialists, archaeologists were astonished by its ornate architecture and advanced urban planning, including features like indoor plumbing, which challe…

Considered the first true crime mystery of the “social age”, the Maura Murray case still haunts those internet sleuths who poured so much time into the search. On a snowy rural road on February 9, 2004 in New Hampshire Maura Murray wrecked her car into a snowbank. A short time later the police arrived on scene but Maura was gone never to be seen ag…

Often referred to as the "Wonderman”, the Count of St. Germain was an enigmatic 18th-century figure. His exact date of birth and origin is unknown, but he reportedly was multilingual and highly educated in music, philosophy, and politics. The Count found his way into various European royal courts and was rumored to be a key figure in historical eve…

The legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is said to have originated with Jacob Waltz, a German immigrant known as "The Dutchman". The legend says that Waltz discovered a rich vein of gold somewhere in the Superstition Mountains during the 1870s. On his deathbed in 1891, Waltz reportedly revealed the mine's location to Julia Thomas, a neighbor wh…

The Dancing Plagues were a bizarre phenomenon that swept through Europe during the Middle Ages, where groups of people engaged in frenzied, uncontrollable dancing, often to the point of exhaustion or even death. These outbreaks varied in size, with some involving dozens of participants and some possibly having hundreds. Some theories range from dem…

Following victory in conquering Egypt in 525 BCE, Cambyses II turned his attention to consolidating control over Egypt and expanding further into Africa. One of his most ambitious plans was an expedition to the Siwa Oasis, located in the Libyan Desert, where the Oracle of Amun was situated. According to famous ancient historian Herodotus, Cambyses …

On August 20, 1966, the bodies of two men were discovered on Vintém Hill, Rio de Janeiro. These men, later identified as Brazilian electronic technicians Manoel Pereira da Cruz and Miguel José Viana, lay side by side, dressed in formal suits with waterproof coats. What made the discovery even more peculiar was that both men were wearing homemade le…

The Arabian Bahamut is a mythological creature of immense size and power, rooted in ancient Arabian folklore and later integrated into Islamic mythology. Bahamut is depicted as an enormous fish, supporting a vast structure that represents the Earth's foundation. Some descriptions suggest that if a person were to gaze upon Bahamut, they would see no…

The Kappa is a mythical creature from Japanese folklore, resembling a turtle or frog with a humanoid shape, inhabiting rivers, lakes, and ponds. They have a dish-like indentation on their heads filled with water, which is the source of their power. Kappas are known for being mischievous and sometimes dangerous, at times drowning animals and people …

Orcadian folklore tells of a great conflict called the War of the Elements, where The Sea Mither engages in a fierce battle with her adversary, Teran, the spirit of winter. When The Sea Mither is defeated, Teran releases the #Nuckelavee. The Nuckelavee, known for its grotesque appearance and malevolent nature, embodies the dangers and fears of the …

The Kraken, a legendary sea monster, looms large in folklore. Often depicted as a colossal octopus or squid, it haunts the seas, striking fear into sailors. Although its origins are frequently misattributed to mythology and lore from other cultures, the Kraken originates from Scandinavian lore, first mentioned in the 12th century. Tales of the Krak…

In the first episode of the Summer of Sea Monsters we will take a voyage through Norse mythology, where the legends of the Lyngbakr and Hafgufa are found. The Lyngbakr, disguised as an island adorned with heather, lured unsuspecting sailors to their doom. Meanwhile, the Hafgufa, aptly named the “sea mist,” dwarfed other sea creatures. Sailors, mist…

Spring-Heeled Jack is one of the most popular and mysterious figures from English folklore, emerging in the early 19th century. Known for his extraordinary leaps, he was described as having a devilish appearance with clawed hands, fiery eyes, and sometimes a metallic helmet-like head. Sightings of Spring-Heeled Jack were most common in the London a…

On January 31, 1921, The Carroll A. Deering, a five-masted schooner, was found hard aground on the treacherous Diamond Shoals off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The Coast Guard boarded the ship and found the ship deserted, with personal belongings, lifeboats, crucial navigational equipment, and the ship's two anchors missing. Records show that the …

On June 30th 1908 at 7:17 AM a massive explosion, 1000 times more powerful than that of Hiroshima, occurred in a remote area of Siberia. Known as the Tunguska Event, eye witnesses, dozens of miles away, not only claimed to have seen this explosion, but were knocked off their feet by it. The impact was registered on seismometers all around the world…

According to a chronicler at Christ Church Cathedral Priory in Canterbury named Gervase, on the evening of June 18, 1178, five monks from the monastery witnessed a strange lunar event. The monks reported seeing the Moon split as if "a flaming torch sprang up, spewing out fire, hot coals, and sparks." This phenomenon was said to persist, with the Mo…

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist, valued at $500 million, is one of the most notorious art thefts in history. It occurred in the early hours of March 18, 1990, when two men dressed as Boston police officers gained entry to the museum and spent 81 minutes stealing 13 pieces of art. The stolen works included both high-profile pieces and less…

On December 26, 1980, around 3am a USAF security patrol near the east gate of the RAF Woodbridge base observed strange lights descending into Rendlesham Forest located in Suffolk England. Initially, they thought it might be a downed aircraft, prompting them to investigate further. When the servicemen entered the forest they encountered a glowing ob…

On November 29, 1970, a father and his two daughters were hiking in Norway’s Isdalen Valley when they came upon a grim discovery: the body of a deceased woman. Unable to identify her, authorities dubbed her the "Isdal Woman". Found near her were various items, including jewelry, a watch, bottles with labels scraped off, and clothes with removed lab…

Seen across the world and told in various folktales, the Will-O'-the-Wisp is said to resemble a flickering lamp or lantern, often leading travelers astray from a safe path. In some cultures, the will-o'-the-wisps are often associated with ghosts, fairies, or elemental spirits. In modern times, the will-o-the-wisp has been seen as extraterrestrial r…

Alcatraz Prison, deemed inescapable during its 29-year stint as an American federal prison, was situated on an isolated island surrounded by cold, rough waters. Despite 13 other escape attempts by dozens of other inmates (including 2 who tried twice), Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin may have successfully escaped on June 11, 1962,…

According to the legend, towards the end of 1943 the United States Navy were conducting experiments in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. The experiment was purportedly conducted as part of a classified project aimed at making ships invisible to enemy radar. On October 28, 1943, it is claimed that the USS Eldridge was enveloped in a greenish haze, di…

In 1957 sisters Jacqueline and Joanna Pollock tragically died after being hit by a drug-induced driver while on their way to church. A year later, their parents, John and Florence, welcomed identical twins, Gillian and Jennifer, into the world. Shortly after things soon became weird. Jennifer bore a birthmark resembling Jacqueline's, even located i…

For thousands of years stories of mermaids have been told across the world. While each culture has its own twist to legend, the core story remains constant. Sometimes it's a cautionary tale about the dangers of the ocean, and sometimes it’s of a forbidden love between a human and a merfolk. In any case, the question of why the story has endured fro…

The Nazca Lines, colossal geoglyphs, ranging from simple lines to intricate figures of geometric shapes, animals, and humanoids stretch across hundreds of square kilometers. Etched into the arid desert plains of southern Peru, they continue to mystify scholars and explorers alike. Yet, the true purpose and meaning behind these ancient drawings rema…

Although the Zodiac Killer claimed in messages to newspapers to have committed thirty-seven murders, investigators agree on seven confirmed assault victims, five of whom died and two survived. He sent more than 20 written communications to police officials, newspapers, and individuals between 1966 and 1974 during his "reign of terror". So who is th…

Although the Zodiac Killer claimed in messages to newspapers to have committed thirty-seven murders, investigators agree on seven confirmed assault victims, five of whom died and two survived. He sent more than 20 written communications to police officials, newspapers, and individuals between 1966 and 1974 during his "reign of terror". So who is th…

The Black Death, two World Wars, COVID. Throughout human history, catastrophic events, both man-made and natural, have been pervasive. Wars, natural disasters, and pandemics have become recurrent themes. Yet, is there a singular year that unequivocally stands out as the worst for humanity? MUSIC Theme Music by Dethlehem (dethlehem.bandcamp.com) SOC…

Originally mentioned in 4 different annals of Ireland, collectively called the Annals of the Four Masters, the story of the Airship of Clonmacnoise was first mentioned in the 740s CE. While it has been retold numerous times throughout history, the base of the story remains the same. Specifically, during a gathering of many people a ship appears in …

Despite conquering much of the ancient world and believing himself to be the son of a god, Alexander the Great died under mysterious circumstances. However, what followed his death may be even more mysterious. Despite his expressed burial wishes, his kingdom descended into civil war, and his body became a political pawn. Taken by Ptolemy, his forme…

It is estimated that Olivier Levasseur stole over £1 billion in today's value from raiding ships throughout the Caribbean, the coast of South America, and the Indian Ocean. Not to mention his biggest act of piracy would be used by Robert Louis Stevenson in his novel Treasure Island. His successes granted him the title as one of the most successful …

Hailed as one of history's foremost military commanders, Alexander the Great rose to power in Macedonia in 336 BCE. His conquests spanned the Mediterranean, Egypt, the Middle East, and Asia, forging a vast empire. However, at the age of 32, he was struck by a mysterious illness ultimately killing him. To this day, it is still unknown what or who ki…

In towns along the Totes Gebirge Mountain range, there were reports of a convoy of trucks guarded by SS troops traveling to a lake called Lake Toplitz in early 1945. However, no official records of what the SS troops were doing at the lake or what was in the convoy was ever found. Then, in 1959 investigators recovered £700 million of counterfeit no…

On December 1, 1948, the body of an unidentified man was discovered on Somerton Beach near Adelaide, Australia. The man had no identification, and all labels were removed from his clothing. In a hidden pocket of his pants, a scrap of paper with the words “Tamám Shud” (meaning “ended” or “finished” in Persian) was found. The circumstances of his dea…

In 1896 through 1897, North America witnessed a peculiar phenomenon characterized by sightings of strange lights resembling an airship. This event spanned from San Francisco to Chicago, captivating thousands of observers who reported the lights crossing the continent from west to east. Powered flight had not been invented yet but these ships were d…

In the 17th and 18th centuries, under King Louis XIV’s rule in France, a man remained imprisoned across various prisons for decades. His identity, shrouded in mystery, has never been revealed. Legends suggest he perpetually wore a mask of iron to conceal his face, raising questions about his background. Was he a political prisoner, a nobleman, or e…

In the 17th and 18th centuries, under King Louis XIV’s rule in France, a man remained imprisoned across various prisons for decades. His identity, shrouded in mystery, has never been revealed. Legends suggest he perpetually wore a mask of iron to conceal his face, raising questions about his background. Was he a political prisoner, a nobleman, or e…

In 1922 the bodies of the Gruber family were found slain at the Hinterkaifeck Farmstead in Germany. In the months leading up to the murders, the Gruber family had reported strange occurrences, creating an atmosphere of unease around the farm. Including missing keys, mysterious foot tracks around the farm, strange sounds coming from the attic, and e…

In March 1876, residents of Bath County, Kentucky, experienced an unusual weather event. Instead of a typical rainstorm, they reported a "meat shower." Theories about the mysterious substance circulated then and persist today, yet a definitive answer remains elusive. So what fell from the sky in Kentucky in 1876? SPECIAL GUEST Jeff from the band De…

On Christmas Eve, 1945, a fire broke out in the Sodder family in Fayetteville, West Virginia. The parents, George and Jennie, managed to escape with 4 of their children but five of their other children were unaccounted for as they shared an attic bedroom. A search by officials the next day revealed no human remains in the burnt wreckage. So what ha…

In 1885, on Christmas Day in Seneca, Illinois, USA, the bodies of Patrick and Matilda Rooney were found. Patrick died from asphyxiation, but Matilda's demise was mysterious—only her feet remained intact. The cause: a fire perhaps, but some have linked it to spontaneous human combustion. So did Matilda Rooney spontaneously combust? Music Theme Music…

On December 15, 1900, a ship named the Archtor reported that the Flannan Isles Lighthouse was not operational in poor weather conditions. When the relief vessel, the Hesperus, docked to resupply the lighthouse on December 26, 1900, they found no trace of the three lighthouse keepers. So, what happened to the keepers of Flannan Isles Lighthouse? Mus…

Walter Collins was a nine-year-old boy who went missing in March 1928 in Los Angeles, California. His disappearance sparked a nationwide search, with a possible link to a serial killer, but he was never found alive. Music Theme Music by Dethlehem (dethlehem.bandcamp.com) Social Links Website: www.mysteriouspals.com Email: mysteriouspalsonline@gmail…

In the year 1284, the town of Hamelin, Germany was plagued by a terrible infestation of rats. The townspeople agreed to hire a mysterious piper who had come to town. However, after completing the job the townspeople refused to pay him the agreed upon sum. In revenge the pied piper played a tune that mesmerize the town's children and led them out of…