It’s a lighthearted nightmare in here, weirdos! Morbid is a true crime, creepy history and all things spooky podcast hosted by an autopsy technician and a hairstylist. Join us for a heavy dose of research with a dash of comedy thrown in for flavor.
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Ologies with Alie Ward
Volcanoes. Trees. Drunk butterflies. Mars missions. Slug sex. Death. Beauty standards. Anxiety busters. Beer science. Bee drama. Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and charming, bizarre stories about what fuels these professional -ologists' obsessions. Humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward asks smart people stupid questions and the answers might change your life.
Tillie Klimek: Mrs. Bluebeard of Chicago
Chicago in the 1920s is often remembered for the rise of organized crime and it’s larger than life leaders like Al Capone and Johnny Torrio. While these men and their organizations surely shaped the city’s identity, their infamy and influence were, at least for a short time, rivaled by a group of young women whose murderous acts would dominate headlines in papers around the country throughout the decade. While Beulah Annan and Belva Gardner—the real-life inspiration for the musical Chicago—were arguably the most well known of the female murders from this era, their famous murders were preceded by the equally sensationalized murder spree of Tillie Klimek. Between 1914 and 1921, Klimek was believed to have killed as many as seven people including four husbands. While her crimes would ultimately land her in the Illinois State Penitentiary for the rest of her life, her exploits and criminal trial were sensational and occupied the front pages of city newspapers for years. Buy Tickets to our LIVE SHOW at Radio City Music Hall on June 27th! References Chicago Tribune. 1922. "Death called mere routine in posion home." Chicago Tribune, November 15: 1. —. 1922. "Find arsenic, arrest wife and stepson." Chicago Tribune, October 27: 1. —. 1922. "Klimek poison list is twenty; arrest 1 more." Chicago Tribune, November 19: 1. —. 1922. "Koulik friend sought in new poison charge." Chicago Tribune, November 26: 5. —. 1922. "Mystery deaths in poison case may reach 20." Chicago Tribune, November 14: 3. —. 1923. "Tillie Klimek is strong witness in own defense." Chicago Tribune, March 13: 7. Danville Commercial News. 1923. "The woman, not the jury, was on trial." Chicago Tribune, March 30: 8. Forbes, Genevieve. 1923. "Grave digger tells of goings on at Klimks'." Chicago Tribune, March 10: 3. —. 1923. "How Mrs. Klimek jested of death of husband told." Chicago Tribune, March 9: 7. —. 1923. "Life in prison for woman as arch poisoner." Chicago Tribune, March 14: 1. —. 1923. "'Ma' Koulik, wise in jail learning, goes back home." Chicago Tribune, November 9: 4. —. 1923. "Poison evidence robs Mrs. Klimek of indifference." Chicago Tribune, March 11: 7. International News Service. 1922. "May exhume bodies of four former husbands." Waukegan News-Sun, October 27: 12. Lynch, Charles. 1923. "Ask hanging for 2 women charged with murder orgy." Belvidere Daily Republican, March 6: 1. Telfer, Tori. 2017. Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History. New York, NY: Harper Perennial. United Press. 1922. "Chicago police suspect second 'Mrs. BLuebeard'." Freeport Journal-Standard, November 4: 1. Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Rescue of Baby Jessica McClure
On October 14, 1987, Reba McClure and her eighteen-month-old daughter, Jessica, stopped by the Midland, Texas home of her sister for a visit. As Reba sat in the backyard watching Jessica play with some neighborhood children, she heard the phone ring and went inside to answer it. When McClure returned to the backyard a few minutes later, she saw the other children staring at the ground on the far-side of the yard, but Jessica was nowhere to be seen. To Reba McClure’s absolute horror, while she was inside on the phone, Jessica had fallen twenty-feet down into the well on her sister’s property and become lodged in a section only fourteen-inches wide. Rescue teams arrived at the house not long after Jessica fell into the well, but the situation proved far more complicated than anyone had expected; they needed to dig a parallel shaft to rescue the girl, but any amount of significant vibration in the earth could have collapsed the well entirely. In the early days of cable news twenty-four-hour news coverage, the rescue of Jessica McClure became one of the most watched events in the United States. However, while the rescue of the girl was everyone’s primary concern, the wall-to-wall coverage itself quickly became a major part of the story, as ordinary smalltown Americans were shoved into the spotlight and questions over rights to the story (and rights to privacy) took center stage. References Belkin, Lisa. 1988. "Baby Jessica's rescuers fighting over TV rights." New York Times, March 24. Bone, Mark, and Gregory Rosati. 2021. How 58 hours in Midland, Texas, changed the future of TV news. July 30. Accessed March 24, 2026. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/30/opinions/baby-jessica-cnn-films-shorts-mark-bone-opinion. Comiter, Jordana, and Carolina Blair. 2025. Where Is ‘Baby Jessica’ Now? Inside Her Life 38 Years After Her Harrowing Rescue from a Texas Well. October 16. Accessed March 24, 2026. https://people.com/all-about-baby-jessica-life-now-11830322. Crimmins, Patrick. 1987. "Toddler's rescue 'matter of time'." Midland Reporter-Telegram, October 16: 1. Hillrichs, Julie. 1987. "Naps, choruses of nursery song help toddler endure her ordeal." Midland Reporter-Telegram, October 16: 1. Kennedy, J. Michael. 1987. "Jessica makes it to safety-after 58 1/2 hours." Los Angeles Times, October 17: 1. Lunsford, Lance. 2024. Inside the Well: The Midland, Texas Rescue of Baby Jessica. Lubbock, TX: Texas Tech University Press. Madigan, Tim. 1987. "Rescue just agonizing inches from sobbing girl in Midland well." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, October 15: 1. —. 1987. "Town shares emotion of toddler's relatives." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, October 16: 1. Nye, Ramona. 1987. "Jessica free, under doctors' care." Midland Reporter-Telegram, October 17: 1. Pitts, John Paul. 1987. "Concerned people give of themselves for Jessica." Midland Reporter-Telegram, October 17: 1. Thomas, Evan, and Peter Annin. 1997. "'Baby Jessica' grows up." Newsweek, October 27: 34. Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Perron Family Haunting
When Carolyn and Roger Perron moved into a small farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island, they thought they’d found the perfect house in which to raise their five daughters and enjoy the rest of their lives. Before long, the Perron’s dream home turned into a nightmare. It started small—disembodied voices, unpleasant odors—but soon the unpleasant and obnoxious experiences developed into an all-out attack of ghostly apparitions, assaults from unseen hands, and the presence of something far worse than the spirits of the undead. At first, the Perron family ignored or dismissed the various incidents that disturbed them, but after several years in the house, the experiences had become too numerous and too severe to dismiss. Faced with the unimaginable scenario of losing their house to forces beyond their comprehension, the Perron’s decided to fight back. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Read an excerpt from THE BUTCHER LEGACY on Crime Reads RIGHT NOW!! Buy Tickets to our LIVE SHOW at Radio City Music Hall on June 27th! References Langston, Keith. 2024. The True Story Behind The Conjuring: Where Is the Perron Family Now? October 20. Accessed March 26, 2026. https://people.com/the-conjuring-true-story-8645388. Nickell, Joe. 2016. "Dispelling Demons: Detective Work at The Conjuring House." Skepticakl Inquirer 20-24. Nickell, Joe. 2014. "The Conjuring: Ghosts? Poltergeist? Demons?" Skeptical Inquirer 22-25. Perron, Andrea. 2013. House of Darkness, House of Light, vol. 2. Providence, RI: AuthorHouse. —. 2011. House of Darkness: House of Light, vol. 1. Providence, RI: AuthorHouse. Rhode Island Governor's Justice Commission. 1995. Highlights and Analysis from 25 Years Collecting Serious Crime Data. Data analysis, Providence, RI: Rhode Island Statistical Analysis Center. Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Morbid Book Club : Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell
We are THRILLED to invite to you join our Morbid Book Club in this bonus episode that is #sponsored by our friends at @ashleyofficial. This quarter, we are serving up forensic chills with a side of culinary chaos as we dive into Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell! And the best part? We’re joined our new best friend Chef Reilly Meehan who helps us break it all down! #Morbidbookclub #ashleypartner We’re unpacking the very first Dr. Kay Scarpetta novel that basically launched a thousand forensic obsessions, chatting about ALL of the gritty details, and some of the wild theories we came up with while reading! (I’m looking at you Lucy!) Chef Reilly brings a totally unique perspective (and some top-tier vibes), as we somehow manage to connect the worlds of food, storytelling, and forensic science. Expect hot takes, a little dark humor, and some truly unhinged tangents, because you know we can’t stay on track for too long. So keep it weird… and keep turning those pages! Mentioned in this Episode Visit your local Ashley store or head to Ashley.com to find your style! We are SO excited to share Ash's Podlab on the next MORBID Book Club Episode coming in the summer! The pieces from Ashley are GORGEOUS! Grab your copy of A Little Bit Extra by Chef Reilly Meehan Want more of Patricia Cornwell's body of work? Check out her other books, and preorder her upcoming memoir! Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Haunted Getaways: West Virginia Edition!
Weirdos! Pack your getaway bag and get ready to hit the road for a haunted roadtrip in West Virginia! Alaina starts a trend by telling us about a chilling crime at Cabin 13 in Babcock State Forrest in Babson, WV. Not only is this place's history haunted, what people have seen will give you goosebumps! Ash gives us the pallet cleanser about the Blennerhassett Hotel in Parkersburg where the haunting is a bit more whimsical and includes a spirit who may be our new spirit guide! Want to Book? Head to THIS SITE to book a Cabin at Babcock State Park, or THIS SITE to book a stay at the gorgeous Blennerhassett Hotel in Parkersburg! Come to see MORBID Live at Radio City Music Hall on June 27th! Tickets are available for purchase by visiting this site! Preorder THE BUTCHER LEGACY and THE BUTCHER GAME In England! Audio and digital versions of THE BUTCHER GAME are available NOW! Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Listener Tales 108: 90's Tales!
Weirdos! We NEEDED a nostalgic moment, and decided to share it with you! This month, DebDeb has cultivated a batch of 90's tales that are brought to you By you FOR you and ALL ABOUT YOU! Check out YouTube to see what happened mid episode that made us all lose our damn minds! If you’ve got a listener tale please send it to Deb by emailing us at Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line, and if you share pictures, please let us know if we can share them with fellow weirdos! :) Mentions in this episode: Come to see MORBID Live at Radio City Music Hall on June 27th!Tickets are available for purchase by visiting this site! PRE-ORDER GIFT! When you pre-order THE BUTCHER LEGACY, you can enter to win a spooky blood-drip bookmark to perfectly match the most chilling cover yet in this series🩸Submit your pre-order receipt at the link in bio to receive an exclusive bookmark. Any US retailer, any format. While supplies last. Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Kidnapping of Charlie Lindbergh (Part 2)
(Part 2 of 2) On March 1, 1932, someone crept into a second-floor window of the home of Charles and Ann Lindbergh and kidnapped the couple’s twenty-month-old son, Charlie, leaving behind a ransom note demanding $50,000 for the boy’s return. Mentions in this episode: Come to see MORBID Live at Radio City Music Hall on June 27th! Tickets are available for purchase by visiting this site! Don't forget to prepare for our March Bonus Episode Bookclub, brought to YOU by our friends at Ashley! We're excited to share the episode with you wherever you find podcasts on March 31st! We will also have the full VIDEO episode available on Youtube as well! Want to be part of the conversation? This time we're talking about Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell. Get it wherever you find books now! Reference American Experience. n.d. Ann Morrow Lindbergh.https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/lindbergh-anne-morrow/. Associated Press. 1932. "Moore halts plan for state reward." Central New Jersey Home News, March 2: 1. —. 1932. "Seek Lindbergh baby in Newark after card is discovered in mails." Central New Jersey Home News, March 2: 1. —. 1932. "Orders that vigilance be not relaxed until killers meet justice." Courier-News (Bridgewater, NJ), May 13: 1. —. 1932. "Morrow maid a suicide." Herald-News (Passaic, NJ), June 10: 1. —. 1934. "Hauptman ready to quit US." The Evening Times (Trenton, NJ), September 21: 1. Cahill, Richard. 2014. Hauptmann's Ladder: A Step-By-Step Analysis of the Lindbergh Kidnapping. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press. Hauck, Anthony. 1935. "Hauptman's guilt overwhelmingly proved." New York Times, February 12: 12. Linder, Douglas. n.d. Ransom notes, responses and other communication. Accessed December 29, 2025. https://famous-trials.com/hauptmann/1398-ransom. New York Times. 1934. "Friends describe Hauptman as shy." New York Times, September 23: 24. —. 1934. "Hauptman script 'like' kidnappers." New York Times, October 16: 20. —. 1932. "Test of religion seen in kidnapping." New York Times, May 16: 2. 2013. Who Killed Lindbergh's Baby? Directed by Larry Klein. Performed by Nova. Shapiro, Stanley. 2009. "The Celebrity of Charles Lindbergh." Air Power History 21-33. Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Kidnapping of Charlie Lindbergh (Part 1)
On March 1, 1932, someone crept into a second-floor window of the home of Charles and Ann Lindbergh and kidnapped the couple’s twenty-month-old son, Charlie, leaving behind a ransom note demanding $50,000 for the boy’s return. Mentions in this episode: Come to see MORBID Live at Radio City Music Hall on June 27th! Tickets are available for purchase by visiting this site! Don't forget to prepare for our March Bonus Episode Bookclub, brought to YOU by our friends at Ashley! We're excited to share the episode with you wherever you find podcasts on March 31st! We will also have the full VIDEO episode available on Youtube as well! Want to be part of the conversation? This time we're talking about Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell. Get it wherever you find books now! Reference American Experience. n.d. Ann Morrow Lindbergh. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/lindbergh-anne-morrow/. Associated Press. 1932. "Moore halts plan for state reward." Central New Jersey Home News, March 2: 1. —. 1932. "Seek Lindbergh baby in Newark after card is discovered in mails." Central New Jersey Home News, March 2: 1. —. 1932. "Orders that vigilance be not relaxed until killers meet justice." Courier-News (Bridgewater, NJ), May 13: 1. —. 1932. "Morrow maid a suicide." Herald-News (Passaic, NJ), June 10: 1. —. 1934. "Hauptman ready to quit US." The Evening Times (Trenton, NJ), September 21: 1. Cahill, Richard. 2014. Hauptmann's Ladder: A Step-By-Step Analysis of the Lindbergh Kidnapping. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press. Hauck, Anthony. 1935. "Hauptman's guilt overwhelmingly proved." New York Times, February 12: 12. Linder, Douglas. n.d. Ransom notes, responses and other communication. Accessed December 29, 2025. https://famous-trials.com/hauptmann/1398-ransom. New York Times. 1934. "Friends describe Hauptman as shy." New York Times, September 23: 24. —. 1934. "Hauptman script 'like' kidnappers." New York Times, October 16: 20. —. 1932. "Test of religion seen in kidnapping." New York Times, May 16: 2. 2013. Who Killed Lindbergh's Baby? Directed by Larry Klein. Performed by Nova. Shapiro, Stanley. 2009. "The Celebrity of Charles Lindbergh." Air Power History 21-33. Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Mysterious Disappearance of Zebb Quinn
On January 2, 2000, eighteen-year-old Zebb Quinn finished his shift at Walmart in Ashville, North Carolina and set off to look at a used car with his co-worker, Jason Owens. Halfway to their destination, Zebb told Jason he received an important call on his pager and needed to return the call immediately and they would have to postpone their plans to look at the car. That was the last time anyone saw Zebb Quinn. For weeks, Zebb’s family and the Ashville police searched for the teenager, but it was as though he had disappeared into thin air. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Zebb’s car was found in a parking lot not far from the hospital where his mother and sister worked, as though someone had left it in a conspicuous place where it would be found. But more surprising than the discovery of the car itself was the incredibly strange and unexpected evidence found inside the vehicle, including several markings on the windows in red lipstick and a live black labrador puppy. References Alexander, Phil. 2000. "Police, family puzzled by Arden teen's disappearance." Asheville Citizen-Times, January 21: 11. Bever, Lindsey. 2015. "N.C. man charged in murder of Food Network star, her." Washington Post, March 18. Brevorka, Jennifer. 2004. "Police release tape in case of teen's disappearance four years ago." Asheville Citizen-Times, January 1: 15. Burgess, Joel. 2022. "Judge accepts plea deal in cold case." Asheville Citizen-Times, July 27: 1. —. 2022. "Zebb Quinn's killer dead, says Owens." Asheville Citizen-Times, July 22: 1. DeGrave, Sam. 2018. "Lawyers clash in Zebb Quinn case." Asheville Citizen-Times, March 16: 1. Forrest, Brett. 2001. "The vanishing." Spin, February 1: 90. Kepley-Steward, Kristy. 2020. "20 years after the disappearance of Zebb Quinn, still very few answers." WLOS News, January 3. King, Kimberley. 2022. "Former friend shares about 'pathological liar' Owens ahead of plea deal in Zebb Quinn case." WPDE News, July 22. Maxwell, Tonya. 2001. "Questions abound in Quinn case." Asheville Citizen-Times, January 2: 9. Morrison, Clarke. 2005. "Detectives hope re-enactment will jog memories." Asheville Citizen-Times, January 14: 1. 2012. Disappeared. Produced by Peacock Productions. Performed by Peacock Productions. Tomlin, Robyn. 2000. "A mother pleads: Where is my son?" Ashville Citizen-Times, August 6: 1. Warren, Sabian. 2012. "Dog a living link to Quinn cold case." Asheville Citizen-Times, April 20: 1. —. 2015. "Suspect destroyed bodies." Asheville Citizen-Times, March 21: 1. Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
LIVE SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: Radio City Music Hall!
Weirdos!! We are ABOSOLUTELY thrilled to be announcing that we will be doing a Live Show at Radio City Music Hall on June 27th, 2026! Tickets go on sale on Wednesday March 18th at Noon EST, so be sure to scoop them up while they are still available! We can't wait to see you there! Click this link to get a reminder from the site that tickets are being sold from!! Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The 1916 Jersey Shore Shark Attacks (Part 2)
When Stephen Spielberg released his iconic film Jaws in the summer of 1975, he not only kicked off the phenomenon of the summer blockbuster, but also reignited the public’s fascination with and fear of shark attacks. Although based on a book of the same name, that novel was itself heavily influenced on several real-life events from the past, including one particular summer on the Jersey Shore. In the early twentieth-century, most Americans didn’t think much about sharks or the other potentially dangerous fish and animals that lived in the ocean. In fact, the majority of Americans don’t live in coastal areas and probably didn’t know there were differences between species. That all changed in the summer of 1916, when a loan shark killed four people and critically injured one person in the waters along the Jersey Shore. More than merely accidental bites, the attacks seemed almost intentional, leading to the widespread belief that a man-eater was stalking the waters of the northeastern state. In the century that has passed since, the Jersey Shore shark attacks have fueled Americans imaginations and nightmares, leading to widely celebrated novels and films about sharks, but also contributing to serious misunderstandings about sharks and their behavior, often with terrible consequences. References Asbury Park Press. 1916. "Bathers need have no fear of sharks." Asbury Park Press, July 5: 11. —. 1916. "Governor urges safeguards such as Asbury Park has." Asbury Park Press, July 13: 1. —. 1916. "Nets and armed motorboat patrol to protect bathers." Asbury Park Press, July 7: 1. —. 1916. "Shak driven from city bathing ground." Asbury Park Press, July 8: 1. Capuzzo, Micahel. 2001. Close to Shore: A True Story of Terror in An Age of Innocence. New York, NY: Broadway Books. Central New Jersey Home News. 1916. "Man and two boys fall victims to new raid of shark in Matawan Creek." Central New Jersey Home News, July 13: 1. Florida Museum of Natural History. 2024. Yearly Worldwide Shark Attack Summary. Accessed July 30, 2025. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/yearly-worldwide-summary/. Morning Call. 14916. "Swimmer mangled by shark at sea dies in two hours." Morning Call (Paterson, NJ), July 4: 7. New York Times. 1916. "Human bones found in shark's stomach." New York Times, July 16: 5. —. 1916. "Many hunt sharks." New York Times, July 9: 3. —. 1916. "Many see sharks, but all get away." New York Times, July 14: 1. —. 1916. "Shark guards out at beach resorts." New York Times, July 8: 18. The Times. 1916. "Creek yields body of boy shark slew." The Times (Trenton, NJ), July 14: 1. Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The 1916 Jersey Shore Shark Attacks (Part 1)
When Stephen Spielberg released his iconic film Jaws in the summer of 1975, he not only kicked off the phenomenon of the summer blockbuster, but also reignited the public’s fascination with and fear of shark attacks. Although based on a book of the same name, that novel was itself heavily influenced on several real-life events from the past, including one particular summer on the Jersey Shore. In the early twentieth-century, most Americans didn’t think much about sharks or the other potentially dangerous fish and animals that lived in the ocean. In fact, the majority of Americans don’t live in coastal areas and probably didn’t know there were differences between species. That all changed in the summer of 1916, when a loan shark killed four people and critically injured one person in the waters along the Jersey Shore. More than merely accidental bites, the attacks seemed almost intentional, leading to the widespread belief that a man-eater was stalking the waters of the northeastern state. In the century that has passed since, the Jersey Shore shark attacks have fueled Americans imaginations and nightmares, leading to widely celebrated novels and films about sharks, but also contributing to serious misunderstandings about sharks and their behavior, often with terrible consequences. Recommendations in this Episode Listen to Laughing in the Dark an 'Are You Afraid of the Dark' Rewatch Podcast with @mikie_sirois & Dave (@thatqueerwolf) (in addition to Bryan and Aileen!) Grab SIGNED EDITIONS of The Butcher Legacy from Barnes & Noble before they run out! References Asbury Park Press. 1916. "Bathers need have no fear of sharks." Asbury Park Press, July 5: 11. —. 1916. "Governor urges safeguards such as Asbury Park has." Asbury Park Press, July 13: 1. —. 1916. "Nets and armed motorboat patrol to protect bathers." Asbury Park Press, July 7: 1. —. 1916. "Shak driven from city bathing ground." Asbury Park Press, July 8: 1. Capuzzo, Micahel. 2001. Close to Shore: A True Story of Terror in An Age of Innocence. New York, NY: Broadway Books. Central New Jersey Home News. 1916. "Man and two boys fall victims to new raid of shark in Matawan Creek." Central New Jersey Home News, July 13: 1. Florida Museum of Natural History. 2024. Yearly Worldwide Shark Attack Summary. Accessed July 30, 2025. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/yearly-worldwide-summary/. Morning Call. 14916. "Swimmer mangled by shark at sea dies in two hours." Morning Call (Paterson, NJ), July 4: 7. New York Times. 1916. "Human bones found in shark's stomach." New York Times, July 16: 5. —. 1916. "Many hunt sharks." New York Times, July 9: 3. —. 1916. "Many see sharks, but all get away." New York Times, July 14: 1. —. 1916. "Shark guards out at beach resorts." New York Times, July 8: 18. The Times. 1916. "Creek yields body of boy shark slew." The Times (Trenton, NJ), July 14: 1. Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Murder of Olga Kupczyk (Part 2)
In November 1958, Frank Duncan’s pregnant wife, Olga Kupczyk, disappeared without a trace from their Santa Barbara home after enduring months of abusive treatment from her mother-in-law. A short time later, Frank’s marriage was inexplicably annulled after his mother, posing as Olga, showed up at the local courthouse with a man she’d hired to pose as her son, Frank. One month later, in mid-December, investigators in the small coastal town of Carpinteria, California, were directed to the location of Olga’s body in a shallow grave, after one of her killers confessed to kidnapping and murdering her the previous month. The arrest of Augustine Baldonado and his accomplice, Luis Moya, solved the mystery of what happened to Olga, but when it came to the motive for the murder, the truth was more shocking than anyone had expected. References Associated Press. 1959. "Mrs. Duncan shouts 'liar' at friend in court." Modesto Bee, March 1: 2. Blake, Gene. 1958. "Body of missing bride unearthed." Los Angeles Times, December 22: 1. —. 1959. "Find Mrs. Duncan guilty of murder." Los Angeles Times, March 17: 1. —. 1959. "Mrs. Duncan held sane, faces death." Los Angeles Times, March 25: 1. —. 1959. "Mrs. Duncan tried to hire her to kill, carhop says." Los Angeles Times, February 25: 2. —. 1959. "Mrs. Duncan's son weeps when death story is told." Los Angeles Times, February 27: 2. Hertel, Howard, and Paul Weeks. 1962. "Mrs. Duncan dies with 2 conspirators." Los Angeles Times, August 9: 1. Holt, Bob. 1959. "Frank Duncan in court outburst as D.A. Gustafson questions mother." Ventura County Star, March 5: 1. —. 1959. "Jury out 4 hours, 51 min. debating fateful verdict in murder-for-hire case." Ventura County Star, March 17: 1. —. 1959. "Mrs. Duncan testifies in own defense; admits 'plot' to break up marriage." Ventura County Star, March 4: 1. Larkin, Deborah Holt. 2022. A Lovely Girl: The Tragedy of Olga Duncan and the Trial of One of California's Most Notorious Killers. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. Los Angeles Times. 1958. "Body of missing wife pointed out." Los Angeles Times, December 22: 1. Martinez, Arlene. 2013. "Love, scandal and murder: Ventura County case drew national attention." Ventura County Star, June 30: 2013. Renner, Joan. 2013. "Mother-in-law knows murdwer: The tragic death of Olga Kupczyk." Los Angeles Magazine, June 17. The People of California v. Elizabeth Ann Duncan. 1960. 6490 (California Appeals Court, March 11). Ventura County Star. 1958. "Grand jury set for murder case." Ventura County Star, December 23: 1. Welsh, Nick. 2022. Elizabeth Duncan: The Last Woman Executed in California. October 13. Accessed November 11, 2025. https://www.independent.com/2022/10/12/elizabeth-duncan-last-woman-executed-california-history/. Williams, Brad. 1958. "Mother-in-law in jail on charge of fake annulment." Los Angeles Times, December 16: 1. Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Murder of Olga Kupczyk
In November 1958, Frank Duncan’s pregnant wife, Olga Kupczyk, disappeared without a trace from their Santa Barbara home after enduring months of abusive treatment from her mother-in-law. A short time later, Frank’s marriage was inexplicably annulled after his mother, posing as Olga, showed up at the local courthouse with a man she’d hired to pose as her son, Frank. One month later, in mid-December, investigators in the small coastal town of Carpinteria, California, were directed to the location of Olga’s body in a shallow grave, after one of her killers confessed to kidnapping and murdering her the previous month. The arrest of Augustine Baldonado and his accomplice, Luis Moya, solved the mystery of what happened to Olga, but when it came to the motive for the murder, the truth was more shocking than anyone had expected. Grab SIGNED EDITIONS of The Butcher Legacy from Barnes & Noble before they run out! Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
February Bonus Episode: Smizing Through the Trauma
In today’s March Bonus Episode, Ash & Alaina sit down to unpack Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, the new documentary that takes a long, hard look at ANTM, the world of reality TV, and the price paid by young contestants chasing swift fame. This isn’t a criminal case but it is Morbid: power dynamics, exploitation, public scrutiny, looking back with adult hindsight… so, yeah, we had to discuss it! Join in the conversation on socials by clicking the episode post on MORBID Instagram! What parts of this documentary left your jaw on the floor? Get ready for next month's Book Club Bonus Episode by reading Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell wherever books are sold! We are THRILLED to have Chef Reilly joining us on the day his book A Little Bit Extra comes out (3/31/26) to discuss all things Scarpetta! Preorder his book! Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.