Unexplained Mysteries

The tragedy — and the mystery — led people to look for answers anywhere they could: George Sodder’s shaded past in Italy, child trafficking trends, and even spontaneous human combustion. But the real explanation for the children’s disappearance might have to do with the house itself.

In the aftermath of the fire, a startling number of tips, twists, and witnesses came forward regarding the fate of the Sodder children. Their father, George, followed the clues for decades, driven by a suspicion of the “official” story and a belief that the blaze was no accident.

Early Christmas day in 1945, Jennie Sodder woke up to her house on fire. The blaze consumed her home, and five of her children. Or did it? A series of strange events before, during and after the incident leave room for more nefarious — though no less tragic — possibilities.

More than 70 years after the so-called Mad Gasser struck, historians are no closer to identifying a culprit. Some even propose that the victims imagined the attacks. But a pattern of similar gassings suggest the perpetrator might have been active for decades.

In the summer of 1944, the citizens of Mattoon, Illinois, suffered a series of baffling attacks that left them nauseated and temporarily paralyzed. 

Over the past decade, thousands of people have realized their memories don't quite match history. Though these false recollections are usually insignificant, perhaps they point to someone making changes to space, time, or even the fabric of our reality…

In 2009, paranormal investigator Fiona Broome realized something odd: She had a memory of watching Nelson Mandela's funeral in the 1980s. The only problem? He was still alive.

He was a 16th century doctor, apothecary, and seer whose prophecies, published in 1555, still hold resonance today. Did Nostradamus foresee Hitler's rise in Germany, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the COVID-19 pandemic? 

With no official explanation of the alleged UFO encounters, ufologists and skeptics alike tried to construct the most likely scenario. Among their theories: astrological events, a patrol car prank, a nearby lighthouse… and time-traveling humans.  

In December 1980, American soldiers stationed in eastern England encountered flashing lights, irradiated trees, and impossible flight technology. And despite numerous eyewitness accounts, U.S. and U.K. authorities dismissed the bizarre events as rumor.

Although they represent immense destruction, a supermassive black hole lies at the center of every galaxy in the known universe. Could these fearsome maws hold the key to life?

For decades, researchers refused to believe they existed — inescapable pits of darkness so powerful, even light could be caught up in their gravitational pull. But in 1964, an astronomer proved the unthinkable: black holes are real.

In 2013, an L.A. hotel employee discovered the body of college student Elisa Lam decomposing in the building’s water tank. The only clue as to what happened was a bizarre CCTV recording from the date of her disappearance.

In February 1983, an inmate on bereavement leave experienced something incredible: the spirit of an old man taunting him and scratching his arms. Just as Don Decker began to believe his deceased grandfather's spirit was haunting him, it began to rain indoors... and upwards.

Rare artifact, or possessed toy? Robert the Doll is a life-size figurine with a penchant for pulling hijinks. In 1996, he attracted the attention of a paranormal expert, who became determined to track down the source of Robert’s power.

In September 1991, a couple of hikers discovered the world's oldest naturally preserved mummy near Similaun Mountain. The mummy was a boon to researchers… But did their study awaken a deadly curse?

In December 2002, police responded to a call about a vehicle that had just swerved off a highway in Surrey, England. But when authorities arrived at the scene, they discovered a rusted car and a body that had undergone months of decomposition.

In February 2004, eBay user “spasmolytic” listed an antique wine cabinet for sale. According to the posting, he and the box's previous owners believed it was inhabited by a dark spirit from Jewish tradition called a Dybbuk.

After the state took LaToya Ammons' children away, she turned to the church for help. She obtained an exorcism for herself and her young son, ending the haunting saga of the Ammons family—but not after enduring the bewilderment and trauma of occult occurrences.

In November 2011, LaToya Ammons and her family moved into a new house in Gary, Indiana. In the months that followed, she and her children were tortured, possessed, and tormented by over 200 demons.

This urban legend tells of a maniac who ran amok in the forests of Fairfax County, Virginia. His infamous name is said to derive from his propensity to eat live rabbits and leave their mutilated corpses displayed on an overpass known as Bunny Man Bridge.

Sometime in the 18th century, the island of Bermeja seemingly disappeared off maps and from the sea. Then, in the 1990s, the phantom island became the center of a tumultuous dispute between the United States and Mexico.

In 1977, a radio telescope at The Ohio State University received an extraordinarily strong signal from outer space. Scientists have suggested it might have been sent by aliens.  

On March 3rd, 1876, farmer and housewife Mary Crouch witnessed a bizarre weather anomaly: pounds of raw meat raining down across her farm in Bath County, Kentucky. Almost 150 years later, we're still trying to figure out what caused the flurry of flesh.

On January 26, 1972, Serbian flight attendant Vesna Vulović survived a 33,000-foot fall after her plane was bombed by terrorists. It's the highest recorded fall without a parachute, but even Vesna herself doesn't know how she lived through it.

Between 1942 and 1976, lightning reportedly struck Virginia Park Ranger Roy Sullivan seven times. If you think that sounds crazy, just wait for how he handled 22 encounters with wild bears.

What could possibly be buried on Oak Island that is so alluring? Some theorists suspect pirate treasure… But at least one researcher believed the Knights Templar hid an ancient relic there, like the Ark of the Covenant. Or maybe even the Holy Grail. 

Oak Island is located off the coast of Nova Scotia and has been a popular treasure-hunting destination for over 200 years. But not every hunter has made it off the island alive.

At least twelve deaths have been connected to one karaoke song: Frank Sinatra's "My Way." Do instrumental tracks trigger the human brain to send an otherwise peaceful person into an uncontrollable homicidal fury? It makes about as much sense as anything.

First coined in the early 2000s, 'Karaoke Rage' is an umbrella term for erratic, inexplicable acts of violence with one innocent commonality: karaoke. And it's far deadlier than you'd expect… 

In 1971, hundreds of mysterious visages started to appear in María Gómez Cámara’s home in Bélmez, Spain. Today, it's known as the House of Faces.

Beginning in the 1940s, ordinary people started to hear an invasive, low-frequency sound that consumed their lives. No matter where The Hum surfaces, only about 2% of any population can hear it—and its source is never clear.

From around 1905 until his mysterious death in 1916, Grigori Rasputin held immense influence over the royal Romanovs. Despite the unsavory rumors that dogged him, his reputation as a healer and mystic gained him prominence… and a few enemies along the way. 

He was the most talked-about man in Russia at the turn of the 20th century. Grigori Rasputin’s life reads like a twisted fairy tale, but even the most well-studied historians have a hard time separating the man from the darkness of his many myths.

In the late '70s, the Men in Black shifted strategies from intimidation to disinformation. They traded black suits for polo shirts and became known as Mirage Men, becoming even more dangerous than their predecessors.

The Men in Black may be more than a Hollywood film franchise… Reports of mysterious government agents silencing witnesses of alien activity on Earth date back to the '40s. To this day, nobody knows what the agents’ real intentions were—or if they were even human.

When the Mary Celeste was found drifting in the Atlantic Ocean in 1872, the ship was mostly intact, and in good condition. Many believed its crew’s disappearance must have had violence at its root… But maybe the ship itself—and its cargo—held the real answer. 

After its crew’s disappearance in 1872, speculation about the Mary Celeste ran rampant. But this wasn’t the first unusual and troubling incident in the American trade ship’s history—and some wondered whether the ship was cursed from the very start… 

In 1966, Lorraine Fuller found her son, the eponymous frontman of The Bobby Fuller Four, dead under mysterious circumstances. His bandmates and family suspected foul play—and the list of suspects runs the gamut from the LA mafia to notorious cult leader Charles Manson.

For almost two decades, thousands of anonymous, threatening letters plagued the small town of Circleville, Ohio. From unsolved murders to illicit affairs, the many mysteries behind the terror campaign still confuse anyone who dares tug at their loose threads.

Since the Heslington Brain was discovered in 2008, its seemingly miraculous preservation has stumped every scientist who’s examined it. Perhaps the secret of its sustaining isn’t found in modern science, but in ancient practices of the past… 

In 2008, researchers at a dig in Heslington, England discovered a human skull whose brain had miraculously remained intact for almost 2,500 years. As scientists tried to wrap their heads around this remarkable preservation, they had only one question: how?

In the days after the Battle of Los Angeles, residents began to wonder what U.S. forces had been shooting at. Some have theorized that it was an actual attack by Japanese forces, but others think the threat might have been from out of this world.

In the early morning hours of February 25, 1942, the sky above Los Angeles came alive. Residents rushed outside to see what looked like an enemy invasion. Spotlights lit up the sky, and anti-aircraft guns opened. But by the next morning, there was no evidence that anything had ever flown over the city.

In the four years since the Havana Syndrome was first reported, no one has been able to identify its source. Scientists, politicians, and intelligence agents are at a loss. Some believe it was a direct attack, while others believe there was a more natural explanation.

In 2016, U.S. diplomats in Havana, Cuba experienced something odd: a shrill noise that sounded like metal scraping against metal. Many of those affected complained of feeling nauseous and weak shortly after the experience, and some inside the embassy worried they were victims of a sonic attack.

Over the course of their decades-long investigation, the FBI interviewed thousands of potential D.B. Cooper suspects. All leads ran cold. But in 2011, citizen sleuth Tom Colbert started his own search—and he believes he may have finally found the real identity of the mysterious hijacker.

In 1971, a man operating under the pseudonym "Dan Cooper" hijacked a plane, stole $200,000, strapped the money to his body, and then parachuted into the darkness below. Who was he? And what happened to the money? 

Margaret Dunbar Cutright set out to discover if her ancestor Bobby Dunbar was actually the son her great-grandparents lost in 1912. What she found rocked her family to its very core.

In 1912, the nation was captivated by the saga of Bobby Dunbar, a four-year-old who disappeared from Louisiana. When a boy matching his description was discovered in Mississippi, the courts and the Dunbars both struggled to confirm if he was indeed the missing boy.

An acupuncturist that can apparently turn human energy into fire? The science behind spontaneous human combustion might be more surprising than you think.

Stories of inexplicable fires have been around since the Bible, when a person erupting into flames meant they were a sinner. Now, spontaneous human combustion is considered a myth. But tell that to the family of Jeannie Saffin. In 1982, they watched her blow fire out her mouth after breakfast one morning...

30 years after they first rained down over Washington, the mystery still remains: What caused the Oakville Blobs? People have blamed everything from airline dumping, a jellyfish accident, or even biological weapons testing.

On August 7th, 1994, transparent, gelatinous blobs rained down over the city of Oakville, Washington. The townspeople quickly fell ill, and many blamed the blobs for the mysterious disease. But even after a barrage of independent tests, no researcher could discover what the “Oakville Blobs” really were.

For centuries, Bugarach has attracted those seeking to learn its secrets, including occultists, New Agers, hippies, and esoterics. These free-spirits wanted to experience the mountain’s mysterious power firsthand. But they all had different theories on where that power came from...

It was rumored to be the only location on earth that would survive the apocalypse predicted by the ancient Mayans. For centuries, this mystical mountain peak in southern France has attracted New Age believers, ufologists, occultists, hippies, doomsday cults, and the curious.

Between 2007 and 2020, a total of 21 human feet have washed up on beaches throughout the Pacific Northwest. Some suggest a 2005 plane crash could account for some of the feet. Others attribute them to the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Others see the feet as a warning—a product of gang intimidation.

In 2007, a little girl enjoying a beach day with her family made a gruesome discovery. A human foot had washed ashore—and it was far from the last. Over the past 13 years, 21 feet have been found in the region, and no one seems to know where they’re coming from…

Some believe there are legendary cryptids in the woods. Others believe a killer might be on the loose. But what makes the missing cases of Vermont’s Bennington Triangle so intriguing is that, 70 years later, there’s little evidence to suggest people didn’t simply vanish into thin air…

In 1945, college student Paula Jean Weldon went missing near the southern Vermont town of Bennington. Over the next five years, four more people disappeared without a trace. Rumors began to circulate that something supernatural was going on, and others began to fear that more people would vanish.

For 800 years, the identity of the Codex Gigas' author has remained a mystery. Many believe only the Devil could have crafted the impossibly large tome, while others think it was the work of a single hermetic monk. But the text itself tells a surprising story: perhaps the man behind the masterpiece was a passionate, unskilled amateur.

Three feet high and weighing in at 165 pounds, the Codex Gigas is the largest surviving illuminated manuscript from the medieval era. Some say the ghastly portrait of the devil inside the book is in fact an image of the author. According to local legend, the book was created when a desperate monk struck a deal with Lucifer.

In 1590, when ships arrived carrying emergency supplies for the Roanoke settlers, they found the camp abandoned. It was as if the settlers had vanished into thin air… For centuries, researchers have wondered about the fate of the Roanoke colonists. Disease, famine, and even cannibalism have been popular theories. 

In 1585, the first English settlement was established on an island off the coast of present day North Carolina. The colonists developed relationships with the local natives but found themselves clashing culturally. After making a trip back to England for supplies, Governor John White returned to find all of the colonists had vanished.

We are thrilled to bring you a brand new episode of Unexplained Mysteries today and for the foreseeable future. We thank you for your patience during this unprecedented time. They were a series of portraits that were mass-produced and sold in department stores during the 1980s. The somber images of a crying child were connected to a number of house fires throughout the U.K. It happened so often, in fact, that many began to wonder if there was more to the object than met the eye...

In case you missed it, here’s a classic episode of Unexplained Mysteries we think you’ll enjoy: In 1703, a prisoner died in captivity in the famed Parisian prison, The Bastille. No one knew his name, or even what his face looked like, as he had spent the entire period of his sentence confined in a harsh Iron Mask. 

In case you missed it, here’s a classic episode of Unexplained Mysteries we think you’ll enjoy: At the end of the 17th century, Parisians witnessed a strange man being escorted into the fortress prison known as the Bastille. He wore a dark metal mask, and for centuries historians, scholars, and writers have tried to determine this mystery prisoner's identity. 

If you enjoy the stories told in Unexplained Mysteries, check out this episode from our series Gone: It was allegedly discovered by German immigrant Jacob Waltz, who made himself rich and then died before he could show it to anyone. Prospectors have since been searching for the “Lost Dutchman Gold Mine” for more than a century.

The reclusive and mysterious Sarah Winchester never spoke to the public about her motivation for building her labyrinthian mansion in California. But many speculated that she was haunted by ghosts, had gone mad, or even joined a secret society that influenced the home’s confounding details...

After the death of her husband in 1881, Sarah Winchester became the heiress of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Soon after she moved to her California mansion, rumors began to circulate that the heiress was being tormented by ghosts who had been killed by her husband’s invention...the Winchester rifle.

Due to the unfortunate spread of COVID-19, Parcast has decided to halt recording for the time-being. This is a precautionary measure taken to ensure the safety of our hosts and staff. In the meantime, we're excited to share one of our classic episodes that we know you'll enjoy! In the 1700s, he was known as the “hungriest man in history.” Among other things, he could eat his way through corks, stones, live animals, and an entire basketful of apples one after the other. Was Tarrare meant to be a competitive eater, or was he the victim of a strange disorder?

How does trauma birth genius? Is it related to the mind's ability to heal itself or latent powers encoded in human DNA? Or possibly, is it evidence of past lives?

It’s a mysterious medical condition where a patient acquires extraordinary talents after deadly trauma. Usually, the new skills are in a field the person had never previously studied.

After the Ninth Roman Legion vanished from history sometime around 120 C.E., historians began dedicating their lives to finding out what happened to the mysterious disappearing army. But recent archeological evidence suggests that the Ninth Roman Legion appeared to live on... 

Julius Caesar's prized army known as the Ninth Roman Legion fought valiantly for nearly three centuries between 89 B.C.E. and 120 C.E. But after coming face to face with the Celtic tribes in Northern Britain, the Ninth took a massive hit.

On the night of February 1st, 1959, nine student hikers died under mysterious circumstances while camping in the Ural Mountains. Some people believe the hikers were killed in a Yeti attack or abducted by aliens. Others maintain that a confluence of rare weather phenomena drove the hikers from their tents and caused their fatal injuries.

In February 1959, nine experienced hikers, in peak physical condition, were found dead under mysterious circumstances. Their bodies were all mutilated and scattered around their campsite—with no evidence as to what happened.

About fifty dogs have died from jumping off of Overtoun Bridge into the deep ravine below. Many who live near the bridge believe that it's haunted by a lonely ghost. Can this possibly be true? Or is there another more natural explanation for the canine calamity?

Just outside of the small Scottish town of Dumbarton, sits an old gothic structure known as Overtoun Bridge. It’s become a popular hiking spot for thousands, but it's also the source of tragedy for many. Over 300 dogs have jumped over the side—and no one seems to know why.

After spending a weekend on William Randolph Hearst’s yacht in November 1924, Thomas Ince suddenly died. The aftermath of Ince’s mysterious death included various theories about what actually happened on that yacht that fateful weekend.

During a weekend of partying on media mogul William Randolph Hearst’s yacht, pioneering film producer Thomas Ince died under suspicious circumstances. The public was no stranger to Hollywood scandals, and Hearst had the kind of money that could sweep these scandals under the rug.

Here’s one of our listeners’ most requested episodes of 2019: The infamous Hope Diamond was donated to the Smithsonian museum in 1958, which seemingly ended a nearly 300-year legacy of ruin, tragedy, and death. In the decades since, scientists and skeptics have continued to debate whether the diamond is truly cursed.

Here’s one of our listeners’ most requested episodes of 2019: In 1668, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier returned to France with a haul of diamonds, including a massive Blue Gem. Over the next 350 years, the diamond travelled the globe in the hands of kings, bankers, and thieves. Everyone who possessed it met with misfortune and, in some cases, death.

For thousands of years, the ancient people of the Americas built massive mounds holding the dead, religious artifacts, and elaborate structures. Then, all of the sudden, these Mound Builders disappeared without a trace.

Whether they’re Santa’s helpers, ancient warriors, or friends of Snow White, elves and dwarves have occupied a prime position in mythology and fairy tales. Could the prevalence of these creatures signify that similar otherworldly beings really made contact with humanity in the past?

Mysterious figures with mystical powers have appeared in the mythologies of cultures throughout the world. These beings, dubbed "elves" and "dwarves," have been depicted as dangerous tricksters and god-like beings. But is there more to these legends than simply fiction?

After a lifetime of inexplicable behavior and sullen silence, identical twins June and Jennifer Gibbons were sentenced to indefinite treatment at Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital. But the sisters didn't improve and their story ended in tragedy.

By 1971, 8-year old Welsh twins Jennifer and June refused to speak to anyone but each other. For most of their youth, they isolated themselves, preferring to live out their days in a rich fantasy world rather than reality.

From 970 to 931 B.C.E., King Solomon transformed war-torn Israel into a prosperous kingdom, with a capital city covered in gold. Although these ancient treasures have never been found, certain clues point to the possible locations of his missing mines.

There are multiple clues scattered throughout the Bible as to the place where Solomon, the richest King of Ancient Israel, mined the gold which gave him his power. Explorers have searched in the Middle East, Africa and North America, but they’ve never been found.

A centuries-old tome discovered in 1912 by antique book dealer Wilfrid Voynich. The manuscript became famous for its bizarre, indecipherable writing system. But with little explanation as to the meaning of its content, questions of a hoax arose.

Discovered by book dealer Wilfrid Voynich in 1912—the centuries-old “Voynich Manuscript” is written in a strange text that no one has been able to decipher. For over a hundred years since its discovery, scholars, historians, and linguists have tried to uncover the secret behind this mysterious tome.

Ralph Izzard, Charles Stonor, and Frank Hodgkinson's 1947 venture into the jungles of Assam failed to produce a shred of evidence for the existence of the mysterious Buru. But they weren't discouraged, and maintained for years that Burus were real.

When reporter Ralph Izzard, zoologist Charles Stonor and photographer Frank Hodgkinson heard rumors that a mysterious, dino-like creature lived in the swamps of India’s Assam Region, they resolved to find and capture the beast themselves.

For thousands of years, men, women, and children were brutally killed, and their bodies were unceremoniously dumped into the peat bogs of northern Europe. Did these people die by murder, capital punishment, or human sacrifice? The answers remain submerged in ancient waters and peat. Sponsors! Buy your Bombas at BOMBAS.com/UNEXPLAINED today, and get 20% off your first purchase!

For decades, people harvesting peat from bogs uncovered frighteningly fresh-looking bodies. But beginning in the mid-1950s, researchers began to realize that these bog bodies were astonishingly well-preserved remains from the Iron Age, containing clues about long-dead cultures.

Although the scientific community refused to accept the existence of a sixth sense, in the 2000s researcher Daryl Bem sought to design the perfect test to measure ESP ability. His persuasive results changed the course of psychological research forever.

Does a sixth sense like precognition, telepathy, or telekinesis really exist? That’s what researcher J.B. Rhine set out to determine in the 1930s with a series of experiments into extra-sensory perception. But his controversial results would only spur more questions.

Mummies and legends of ancient curses have gone hand-in-hand since the dawn of the field of Egyptology. In the first half of the 19th century, over a dozen people died after coming into contact with the tomb of the Ancient Egyptian pharaoh, King Tut. Even today, the viability of “King Tut’s Curse” is hotly debated. 

When Howard Carter and his team of archaeologists first stepped into the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922, they broke new ground in our understanding of ancient Egypt. Did they also unleash a curse? For years to come, strange events and unresolved deaths would plague those who explored the site. Parcasters - Which UFO sighting kicked off the alien craze? It wasn’t Roswell! Subscribe to Extraterrestrial today to learn about the close encounter that started it all, the Mount Rainier flying saucer sighting. Search for Extraterrestrial on Spotify to listen now!

The search for the meaning behind the secret code on the Shepherd's Monument continues across multiple time periods and multiple locations. In 1979, a French expedition to a small town promises to connect the monument to the Holy Grail. Then, in 2004, the former Bletchley Park codebreakers reveal their theory. The monument may indeed have a connection to Christ himself. Parcasters - This week on Crimes of Passion we take on the infamous case of Lorena and John Bobbitt! You won’t want to miss this one! Listen today on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

In 2004 in northern England, a husband and wife team of former Nazi codebreakers believed they'd cracked a centuries-old mystery. Shepherd's Monument in Staffordshire had long perplexed visitors, as it contains an inscription of random letters with no obvious meaning. Had the couple finally provided an answer? Is the code a love letter, a key to treasure, or something more? Parcasters - When Darwin published his thesis on human evolution, it was highly contentious. When John Scopes introduced the theory into his lesson plan, criminal charges were brought against him. Learn about this historic trial on our other podcast NOT GUILTY.

After the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, some scientists began to wonder if the mysterious Tunguska Event was actually the result of a nuclear explosion. As the topic became increasingly divisive within the scientific community, experts struggled to find a concrete explanation of what could cause such devastating destruction. Parcasters - Is there any truth behind the rumored society that protects the secrets of the Holy Grail? Learn more about the Priory of Sion on this week’s episode of Conspiracy Theories!

On June 30th, 1908, a massive explosion in remote Siberia flattened over 2,000 square kilometers of forest. The only problem? Nobody knew what caused it. Parcasters - This week on The Dark Side Of, we move on from Hollywood and start our exploration of the music industry. Our first episode details the myth of the 27 Club, you won't want to miss it! Subscribe to The Dark Side Of on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Following the string of brutal murders throughout the 1960s, the masked man known as the Zodiac Killer continued to write letters to the press and police, while capturing the imaginations of terrified onlookers across the country. Fifty years later, there is still no confirmed suspect as to the identity of the murderer.  Parcasters - Don’t miss all of our special Summer of ‘69 episodes by subscribing to Parcast Presents: Summer of ‘69, on Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts! Sponsors! Veestro - Save 30% off any purchase when you visit Veestro.com and use our code UNEXPLAINED. 

In the summer of 1969, newspapers in Northern California began receiving coded letters from a person who would come to identify themselves as "The Zodiac." The author of the letters taunted the police by giving clues related to a series of unsolved murders, but did the cryptic messages truly come from the mind of the killer? Parcasters - Don’t miss all of our special Summer of ‘69 episodes by subscribing to Parcast Presents: Summer of ‘69, on Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts!

Since it was first allegedly spotted in 1976 outside the Shennongjia forest in China, the Yeren has captivated hundreds of scientists and amateur monster hunters across the world. And yet, despite hundreds of reported sightings, there is still no photographic evidence that this creature even exists. Sponsors! Gabi - Take 2 minutes and see if you can save up to $865 when you go to Gabi.com/UNEXPLAINED. Pair of Thieves - Get 20% off your first order at PairOfThieves.com/UNEXPLAINED. Veestro - Try the 6 most popular Veestro meals for just $49 at TryVeestro.com/UNEXPLAINED.

There is an ancient legend of a massive, hairy beast that lives in seclusion in the forests of China. They call it The Yeren, and since 1976, over four hundred people have claimed to have spotted the creature.  Parcasters - What is it like to be abducted by Somali pirates? Find out today on Hostage, where we cover the lengthy captivity of journalist Michael Scott Moore. Available now on Spotify or wherever you listen to Parcast Originals!

The Catholic church spent centuries encouraging the faithful to pray to the Shroud of Turin, even as they refused to issue an official edict on whether they believe the Shroud of genuine. But as science has improved over the course of the 20th century, scholars have gained new tools with which to determine where the Shroud of Turin really does bear the imprinted image of Jesus Christ.  Parcasters - Cults...UFOs...Nazis? If you don’t know about the Vril Society, you’re in for a treat! This group allegedly developed flying saucers for the Third Reich. Search for Extraterrestrials on Spotify or wherever you listen to Parcast Originals.

Today, a chapel in Turin, Italy, bears an ancient burial shroud that bears the faint image of a man. For centuries, this image is believed to be the burial image of Jesus Christ. Sponsors! Pair of Thieves - Get 20% off your first order at PairOfThieves.com/UNEXPLAINED.

Mexico's Zone of Silence has been a spot of mystery for decades. Though there may be a geological reason for why radio signals seem to fail within the Zone, locals have spent years promoting the more bizarre theories that extraterrestrial activity may be involved. Sponsors! Gabi - Take two minutes and see if you can save up to $865 a year on car insurance at Gabi.com/UNEXPLAINED. There are NO fees, NO forms, and NO spam. Veestro - Try the 6 most popular Veestro meals for just $49! Visit TryVeestro.com/Unexplained.

There is a patch of desert in northern Mexico where no radios work. Compasses point the wrong way. And all manner of strange occurrences have been reported within its borders.  Sponsors! The Farmer’s Dog - Get 50% off your two week trial of fresh, healthy food at TheFarmersDog.com/UNEXPLAINED. Plus, you get FREE shipping!

In 1703 a prisoner died in captivity in the famed Parisian prison, The Bastille. No one knew his name, or even what his face looked like, as he had spent the entire period of his sentence confined in a harsh Iron Mask.  Parcasters - This week on Extraterrestrial, we take on the mysterious Anunnaki, supposed ancient alien gods. What is their origin? What interactions have they had with our planet? Find out today at parcast.com/extraterrestrial Sponsors! Pair of Thieves - Get 20% off your first order at PairOfThieves.com/UNEXPLAINED.

At the end of the 17th century, Parisians witnessed a strange man being escorted into the fortress prison known as the Bastille. He wore a dark metal mask, and for centuries historians, scholars, and writers have tried to determine this mystery prisoner's identity.  Parcasters - A famous actress captured and forced to act in movies for a totalitarian regime, how would she escape? Find out this week on Hostage! Both parts available now at parcast.com/hostage

In 1898 a Swedish immigrant farmer uncovered a rune-covered stone buried in Minnesota. Over the last 120 years, the Kensington Runestone has been denounced as a hoax time and time again, but continually resurfaced in the public eye as a potentially authentic relic of an ancient Viking expedition. Sponsors! The Farmer’s Dog - Get 50% off your two week trial of fresh, healthy food at TheFarmersDog.com/UNEXPLAINED. Plus, you get FREE shipping!

At the turn of the 19th century, a Swedish American immigrant uncovered a strange stone slab on his land. It looked ancient and was covered in a mysterious writing. This was the Kensington Runestone, and its discovery would spark a century-long debate about its authenticity. Sponsors! Pair of Thieves - Get 20% off when you go to PairOfThieves.com/UNEXPLAINED.

Over 10,000 years ago, the city of Atlantis was believed to exist as a pinnacle of human achievement before it was suddenly, mysteriously wiped from the face of the earth. Over millennia of human evolution, our species has returned time and time again to the mystery of the Lost City.   Parcasters - Checked out Not Guilty yet? We’re following up our examination of the Robert Blake trial with a real corker, the trial of Cythia Payne, the Madam of London. Find out more at parcast.com/notguilty

Known as the first Empire, this great city ran afoul of the gods and was destroyed over 10,000 years ago. Despite expeditions made by everyone from Spanish Conquistadors to Nazis, there’s no proof the Atlantis actually ever existed.  Parcasters - Have you checked out Mythology yet? This week we tell the story of Poseidon's son, Bellerophon, and his quest to ride the mythical Pegasus. Available now at parcast.com/mythology 

Italian Physicist Ettore Majorana vanished without a trace in 1938. Some suspected a suicide. Others surmised he may have been kidnapped. And some even considered that possibility that Ettore had vanished willingly, in a dramatic attempt to leave his old life behind. Sponsors! Robinhood -  Robinhood is giving listeners of Unexplained Mysteries a FREE stock like Apple, Ford, or Sprint to help you build your portfolio. Sign up at Unexplained.Robinhood.com.

In 1938, Italian Physicist Ettore Majorana boarded a boat from Palermo to Naples, Italy. When the boat docked, Ettore wasn't on it, and in the 80 years since he vanished, nobody has ever been found.  Sponsors! Robinhood - Robinhood is giving listeners of Unexplained Mysteries a FREE stock like Apple, Ford, or Sprint to help you build your portfolio. Sign up at Unexplained.Robinhood.com.

The infamous Hope Diamond was donated to the Smithsonian museum in 1958, which seemingly ended a nearly 300-year legacy of ruin, tragedy, and death. In the decades since, scientists and skeptics have continued to debate whether the diamond is truly cursed... or if it's just truly unique. Sponsors! CBS All Access - Visit CBS.com/UNEXPLAINED to watch the Twilight Zone. Redeem your FREE trial TODAY. 

In 1668, merchant explorer. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, returned to France with a haul of diamonds, including a massive, magnificent Blue Gem. Over the next 350 years, the diamond travelled the globe in the hands of kings, bankers, and thieves. Everyone who possessed this jewel met with misfortune and, in some cases, death. They were victims of the Curse of the Hope Diamond. SPONSORS! CBS All Access - Watch the Twilight Zone on CBS All Access. Visit CBS.com/UNEXPLAINED to redeem your FREE trial today and watch.

In 1888, five women were brutally murdered in London's Whitechapel district. Bound by masonic loyalty, the police may have covered up Jack the Ripper’s identity to avoid bringing negative press upon their fraternal order.   Sponsors! CBS All Access - Cross over into another dimension April 1st and watch the new Twilight Zone only on CBS All Access. Visit CBS.com/UNEXPLAINED to redeem your FREE trial TODAY.

In 1888, London was terrorized by a series of brutal murders. Due to the grotesque mutilation of the victims, the murders were referred to as "rippings." The deaths created a frenzy of panic and paranoia that lasted long after Jack the Ripper vanished from the public eye.  Sponsors! CBS All Access - Visit CBS.com/CULTS to redeem your FREE trial of CBS All Access. Robinhood - Robinhood is giving listeners of Unexplained Mysteries a FREE stock like Apple, Ford, or Sprint to help you build your portfolio. Sign up at Unexplained.Robinhood.com.

They say that before his Crucifixion, Jesus Christ drank wine from a cup. This Holy Grail vanished from historical record for a 1000 years before it emerged as a part of the Arthurian Legend. Is the Holy Grail just a myth? Or is it possible that it was smuggled out of Jerusalem and remains hidden to this day? BetterHelp - Unexplained Mysteries listeners get 10% off your first month with discount code UNEXPLAINED. Go to BetterHelp.com/Unexplained.

Most people know the story of the Holy Grail, but in fact there is little evidence in the Bible that it actually exists. Over the past two centuries, everyone from Arthurian Knight to Renaissance painters to contemporary thriller novelists have questioned the location of the cup of Christ. This religious relic, has taken a number of forms in human consciousness over the years, and may have never existed at all. Parcasters - To learn about an iconic event in American history, check out our our new episode on John McCain on HOSTAGE, wherever you get your shows. Listen now at parcast.com/hostage Sponsors! BetterHelp - Go to BetterHelp.com/Unexplained to get 10% off your first month with discount code UNEXPLAINED. 

Since 1858, millions have bathed themselves in the Sacred Waters of Lourdes in France with the hope to be cured of their terminal illnesses.  While many are healed, many more are not. To this day, it is still a mystery if Lourdes water is actually a mystical fountain or just the world’s largest placebo effect.  Sponsors! Torrid - Go to Torrid.com and use Promo Code UNEXPLAINED15 for $15 off every $50 you spend! That means you can get up to $150 off a $500 order!

This natural spring in the Grotto of Massabielle is a small cave-like enclosure in the southern countryside of France. In 1862, the Catholic Church authenticated claims that the Virgin Mary made an apparition at the grotto to a young girl. Blind people can suddenly see, the lame can walk and the depressed experience euphoria. Is it a placebo effect or does the water have magical powers only some can experience? Parcasters - Are you searching for a miracle cure for your podcast lineup? Check out our new show, CRIMES OF PASSION today! Listen now at parcast.com/passion

While excavating the ruins of a Christian church, Kathleen Martinez thought the site was actually part of something much bigger. She believed the site was in fact home to Cleopatra’s tomb that had been lost for over 2,000 years. Martinez’s intuition and insightful research have helped shed a tremendous amount of light on the Ptolemaic. Sponsors! BetterHelp - Unexplained Mysteries listeners get 10% off your first month with discount code UNEXPLAINED when you go to BetterHelp.com/Unexplained.

She is likely the most famous historical figure from Ancient Egypt. And yet, thousands of years after Cleopatra's reign, her final resting place has yet to be discovered. Archaeologist and historians struggle to find evidence surrounding her death and who and what she was buried with.  Sponsors! BetterHelp - Unexplained Mysteries listeners get 10% off the first month with discount code UNEXPLAINED.

In 1949, eight months after the Unknown Man’s body was found on Somerton Beach in Australia, luck knocked on the investigators’ door. After numerous dead ends, investigators finally received their first clue about the identity of the mystery man. Sponsors! Torrid - Go to Torrid.com and use Promo Code UNEXPLAINED15 for $15 off every $50 you spend! That means you can get up to $150 off a $500 order!

The discovery of a corpse in 1948 on the beach in Australia creates a frenzy circulating rumours about the identity of the unknown man. In his pocket was a slip of paper with the phrase “Tamam Shud,” translating to “it is ended.” The authorities investigation was met with dead ends and more questions. Theories about his identity range from being a Cold War spy, a time traveler, or even a victim of alien abduction. Parcasters - If this mysterious death piqued your interest, check out Richard and Molly’s other podcast GONE, that covered Michael Rockefeller’s disappearance and potential cannibalization. Listen now at parcast.com/gone

In 1216, just before his death, English Monarch King John lost the original royal Crown Jewels. Were they lost to the landscape, buried beneath dozens of feet of silt and dirt? Or is it possible the jewels were intentionally misplaced? The tremendous loss of the crown jewels was perhaps karma for a king known for his cruelty. Sponsors! Zola - To start your free wedding website and also get $50 off your registry on Zola, go to Zola.com/UNEXPLAINED.

In 1216, just before his death, English Monarch King John lost the royal Crown Jewels. Were they lost to the landscape, buried beneath dozens of feet of silt and dirt? Or is it possible the jewels were intentionally misplaced? Parcast News - Be sure to check out Parcast’s first fictional crime show MIND’S EYE at Parcast.com/MindsEye! Sponsors! Torrid - Go to Torrid.com and use Promo Code UNEXPLAINED15 for $15 off every $50 you spend! That means you can get up to $150 off a $500 order! 

Reports surfaced in the late 1800s from local tribesmen in the Congo claiming a small horse-like creature hid in the woodlands. Men went in search of the mysterious animal. The creature in question: a unicorn. Expeditions have continued throughout history to find a living unicorn. Parcast - If you enjoyed this episode, check out our new show MYTHOLOGY! Subscribe today for more tales of mythical heroes, gods, and creatures! Sponsors! Project Blue Book - ​The new drama series Project Blue Book premieres Tuesday, January 8th at 10/9c on HISTORY. 

According to mythical beliefs, the unicorn is a shy creature, living deep in the forest and rarely venturing near people. The creature is found in literature dating back to 1800 B.C.E. and is referenced in the King James Bible. Was Lancelot a genetic mutation or a descendant from a real species?  Thank you to MYTHOLOGY Host, Vanessa for helping out with this episode!  Subscribe to Parcast's new podcast, MYTHOLOGY, for more episodes on mythical creatures, heroes, and gods!  Sponsors! SimpliSafe - Go to SimpliSafe.com/UNEXPLAINED to get a special offer.

On the hunt for the real location of Eden, Molly and Richard use biblical text as a map to locate where the Garden may have originally been located. The Middle East and South America are definitely possibilities for this paradise of religion and myth.  Sponsors! Audible - Get 3 months of Audible for just $6.95 a month by going to Audible.com/UNEXPLAINED or text UNEXPLAINED to 500 500.

The mythical paradise described in the book of Genesis has roots in cultures across the globe. Many explorers, conquerors, and fanatics have attempted to locate it over the centuries. Biblical and geographic evidence shows that the Garden may have really existed.  Sponsors! SimpliSafe - Go to SimpliSafe.com/UNEXPLAINED to get a special offer.

Happy Thanksgiving Unexplained Mysteries fans! We hope you enjoy this sneak peak of our new podcast, Assassinations, where we examine history’s most dramatic deaths. If you enjoy this episode and want to listen to part two right now, subscribe to ASSASSINATIONS wherever you listen to podcasts! "Loner. Drop out. Marine. Defector. Husband. Father. Lee Harvey Oswald was all of these things, but on November 22 1963, he came to only be known as the man who killed President John F. Kennedy."

What is the science behind the way Tarrare ate the way he did? Most people wouldn’t consider eating 12 whole eggs at once possible, but in 1700s France, Tarrare was an anomaly. Competitive eaters today still can’t compare to this reigning king of bizarre eating. Sponsors! Parcast - We now have merch for sale! Head to Parcast.com/Merch now!

He was known as the Hungriest Man in history, eating his way through corks, stones, live animals, and by swallowing an entire basketful of apples one after the other. Was he the victim of a strange disorder or just meant to be a competitive eater? In Part II, Molly and Richard discuss what might have caused Tarrare’s strange affliction in 1700s France. Sponsors! Amazon Prime - Season 1 is available now. Watch the New Season of Lore out now, only on Prime Video.

A millionaire investor goes missing. Who is responsible? We explore the chief suspects behind Lowenstein’s disappearance.  Sponsors! Amazon Prime - Season 1 is available now. Watch the New Season of Lore out now, only on Prime Video.

A shrewd, confident businessman, achieving a net worth of over 12 million pounds in the 1920s, but would his business dealings eventually lead to his downfall? Subscribe now to our new podcast HOSTAGE, featuring the riveting story of Patty Hearst's abduction by the Symbionese Liberation Army. Sponsors! Amazon Prime - Season 1 is available now. Watch the New Season of Lore October 19, only on Prime Video. SimpliSafe - ​Go today to SimpliSafe.com/Unexplained. 

The Devil's Triangle remains shrouded in mystery. What have legitimate studies conducted by the U.S. Navy revealed about the regular disappearances of ships and aircraft over this area of the North Atlantic Ocean? Sponsors! Amazon Prime Video - Catch the new season of Lore October 19th, only on Prime Video.

In December of 1945, five planes never returned to Fort Lauderdale Naval Base from a routine training mission exercise. Three rescue planes were sent to look for them. Only two came back. Welcome to the Bermuda Triangle, a patch of ocean between Florida, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda. Sponsors! Parcast - Sign up for the Parcast Monthly Newsletter at Parcast.com

What if the government’s explanation for a UFO encounter is proven false? Could these sightings be the advanced technology of extraterrestrial visitors? If so, why doesn’t the government want us to know about it? Sponsors! Netflix - Watch the new film, HOLD THE DARK, now, Only on Netflix.

UFO sightings are still largely unexplained today. The government did a massive, twenty-year study into what they could be. Are these mysterious objects the result of secret military projects? Alien spacecraft? Overactive imaginations? Or are they something else entirely? Sponsors! SimpliSafe - Go today to SimpliSafe.com/Unexplained. Netflix - Watch the new film, HOLD THE DARK, September 28, only on Netflix.

The Clovis People have long been accepted as the first humans to arrive in the Americas. Then spearheads were discovered in the Americas that pre-date the Clovis by 2500 years. Is it possible the first settlers in the Americas were actually Australians who reached the Chilean coast? Or Siberians who came down the Pacific coast in canoes? 

The Clovis peoples have long been considered the predecessors to the native Americans. Recent evidence has suggested that North America may have been inhabited as long as 19,000 years ago. Who were the Clovis and were they the first to inhabit America? If so, how did they get from Central Asia to the Americas?

From the early 1800s through 1920s, over 50 articles appeared in newspapers around the U.S announcing the discovery of giant skeletons in America. Can genetics or a rare disorder explain the giant skeletons? Or were all of these newspapers connected to a larger hoax?

From the early 1800’s through the 1930’s, claims that giant skeletons were unearthed kept popping up in newspapers yet none of the remains were ever claimed. Did publishers concoct stories to sell more papers, or is there more to these stories than first appears?

A series of ring-shaped ditches in the Brazilian Amazon shows that a sophisticated civilization once existed in the rainforest. Could it have been the mythic city of El Dorado? Or is it linked to similar religious sites in the Andes Mountains? Or perhaps the work of ancient aliens?

A series of ring-shaped ditches can be found throughout the Brazilian Amazon, which predate the rain forest itself. These structures remain a complete mystery, and archaeologists are unsure what to make of them. It is suggested that they served as burial grounds or a form of defense, but no one knows for sure. 

Welcome Conspiracy Theories listeners! We hope you enjoy the conclusion to our Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 special. This is a crossover episode with the hosts of Conspiracy Theories and Unexplained Mysteries. In part one we explored the official story behind the flight's disappearance, in this episode we analyze the theories and mysterious circumstances surrounding this event. Was the plane brought down by a rogue passenger, or a cyber-attack? What kind of information might governments be hiding from the families who lost loved ones?

Please enjoy this bonus episode with Carter from Conspiracy Theories adding his unique take on the events surrounding the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Less than one hour into its flight, Malaysia Airlines flight 370 disappeared from the skies. Despite all of the geo-location technology that exists, and more than $160 million in a search and recovery effort, the whereabouts of flight MH370, and the circumstances of its disappearance over the Indian Ocean in 2014 remain a mystery. 

While presumed to have lived during the Dark Ages, nothing was written about King Arthur until centuries after. But when Glastonbury monks uncovered a tomb late in the 12th century with an inscription that read “Here lies buried the famous King Arthur with Guinevere, his second wife, in the aisle of Avalon,” they may have finally found definitive evidence to prove that King Arthur was real. But was it evidence we could trust?

King Arthur is Britain’s famed warrior king who fought against the Saxons to preserve British independence. His story has been embellished through the ages but there have been many discrepancies. Which versions about King Arthur are fact and which are fiction? Or is it all fiction? 

Months after the the murder of hotel guest “Ronald T. Owen,” his true identity was discovered to be Artemas Ogletree. But for years, the case went unsolved. Almost 70 years later, the Kansas City Public Library received an anonymous call. Somebody had found a box with press clippings about the murder and a crucial piece of evidence. Would it be enough to solve the case?

A young man checked into a Kansas City hotel by himself under the name Roland T. Owen back in 1935. After mysterious phone calls and visitors to his room, Owen was found savagely beaten. But as it turns out, this man wasn’t Roland T. Owen. So who was he? And did the killer intend to kill the real Owen, or the man posing as him? 

Easter Island is an isolated spot in the Pacific Ocean that’s closest neighbor is over 1,000 miles away. How did ancient people arrive in such a remote place? Why did they construct the now iconic moai heads, and how did they transport these enormous statues across the island? 

Easter Island, named after the day Dutch sailors discovered it, is an island in the Pacific Ocean with hundreds of mysteriously large “heads.” They soar to an average 20 feet high and can weigh over 20 tons. Who built these heads and what is their significance? 

There are many theories on the formation of crop circles. Find out if they’re made by drunken pranksters, crop artists, or possibly… time-travelers? 

For decades, people have been fascinated by crop circles. What started out decades ago as simple shapes has evolved into complex geometric patterns. Crop circles appear overnight but to this day, nobody knows how they form. Are they a hoax? The result of natural phenomena? Or perhaps something else? 

A lot of evidence has been used to argue in favor of Nessie’s existence. Are people really seeing a reclusive beast in the water? Is it an optical illusion? Or is Nessie truly a monster that’s just camera shy for tourists?

The Loch Ness Monster, aka Nessie, is believed to patrol the depths of Loch Ness, a large freshwater lake deep in the Scottish Highlands. Since a now-famous sighting in the 1930s, the Loch Ness monster has captured people’s imaginations across the planet. But Nessie’s story could date back as far as 500 A.D. 

For almost two decades, German archaeologist Robert Koldewey headed an excavation looking for the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. He searched for it based on descriptions in ancient Greek and Roman histories. But what if these weren’t historic texts, but rather legends passed down through the generations? Was there even a Hanging Garden at all? 

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were regarded as a wonder of the ancient world. But there is very little information about them in ancient texts. Was it truly a paradise or did it even exist at all?

Were dragons based on an extinct animal that was killed off by humans? Or was any frightening beast that was unfamiliar to early humans classified as a dragon? Or maybe, dragons are simply a tall-tale that someone invented designed to keep early humans fearful and alive. Or maybe it’s something else entirely?

Legends about dragons have existed for centuries from cultures across the world. If Dragons aren't real, why were they regarded as fact for much of human history? And why do so many cultures that never interacted throughout history have such similar legends about them? 

Whether it's small European villages in the 1700s or modern-day Hollywood movies, vampires have existed in human culture for hundreds of years. Is this widespread phenomenon real or are they just ideas created to invoke mass hysteria?

When a wave of tuberculosis struck New England in the late 19th century, people believed vampiric spirits were draining the life from their friends and family. Following Edwin Brown's contraction of the disease in 1891, his father George was forced to consider whether one of his recently deceased daughters, Mercy, was inhabited by an undead spirit and sapping the life force from her own brother.

When the Dancing Plague took over the city of Strasbourg in 1518, the community took to the streets to dance. But this non-stop, deadly dancing has us wondering… could mind control play a part in this strange epidemic?

From July to September 1518, the citizens of Strasbourg took to the streets to dance. And dance. And dance. A strange phenomenon took over and led people to dance to their deaths. But what caused this strange plague? And why did it suddenly stop? 

Is the United States government hiding proof of extraterrestrial activity on Earth with the Majestic 12 Agency? From strange deaths, to leaked documents, to twisted secrets and deception, we dive deep into the mysteries surrounding the supposed Majestic 12. 

They are said to have a higher clearance than the CIA. Rumors say their mission is to hide the truth about extraterrestrials from the public. Who are the members of the supposedly top-secret government agency known as the Majestic Twelve?  And does this group even exist? 

Shanti Devi, a young girl from Delhi, attracted a swarm of attention in the 1930s when she recalled her past life as a woman who died in childbirth. According to Shanti’s biography, Shanti had always been wise beyond her years. But are her claims of reincarnation true? Does rebirth really await us after death? 

Life and death are certain, but what lies beyond that remains a mystery. From the age of four, Shanti Devi spoke in precise detail of her past life. Shanti’s story makes us wonder… does reincarnation exist? Is Shanti evidence of this long-held belief of life after death? 

Were these massive stones arranged into an elaborate calendar? Did Stonehenge serve as a temple for human sacrifices? What is its purpose? We dig into more research and recent findings in search for answers… and find that Stonehenge is part of something even larger than itself. 

From each stone’s incredible size, to its impressive age of 5000 years, Stonehenge has puzzled people throughout history. How was this immense, prehistoric monument built? And why? We dig deep to find answers, and explore how many theories shifted after a surprising discovery at the site… human remains.

Throughout history, her face has evoked intrigue and mystery. One question remains: Who is the Mona Lisa? We follow the painting’s rise to global fame and the theories surrounding it: What secrets are hiding behind the faltering smile? What message lies within the background? From mistresses, to wives, to secret lovers, to Leonardo da Vinci himself, we take a deep dive to discover who the person in the painting really was, and the hidden message within the art. 

We’re all familiar with her face… the famous Mona Lisa, a painting by Leonardo da Vinci that has intrigued people for centuries. But who inspired such a mysterious, celebrated artwork? We explore the the rich history of the painting, its creator, and the various people who may just be the subject of the painting.

For almost a century, the Hinterkaifeck murders have run cold. Some point to a robbery gone wrong, political extremists, or even familial love triangles as possible motives behind the attacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a rural German settlement in April 1922, five members of the Gruber family, along with their maid, were slaughtered in cold blood. While the Grubers had been the topic of town gossip for years, not even the police could fathom who might have wanted them dead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

45 million years ago, a group of monkeys somehow arrived in South America. Some scientists think the primates rafted across on floating islands, while others believe they trekked across a landbridge — a journey that took them millions of years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are two families of monkeys on the planet: the Old World Monkeys, which live in Africa and Asia, and the New World Monkeys native to South America. A discovery in 2015 confirmed that they share a common ancestor — but one major mystery remained. How did it cross the Atlantic Ocean?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Outside Glasgow, Scotland, a 1,000-square-foot slab of rock lies buried in a hillside, covered in ancient carvings. Is the Cochno stone the remnant of an ancient ritual, a rocky guidebook, or something more supernatural? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inexplicable rumblings from the heavens have dated back centuries. With no connection to the weather, many wonder if these strange noises are due to meteors, sonic booms, or if they're Biblical warnings that the end is nigh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nobody really knows why Houska Castle was built, or why its strange layout seemingly defies explanation. It may be a last defense against a gateway to Hell, or host a portal through space and time. Or perhaps its real purpose is even more obscure… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is a castle in the present-day Czech Republic guarding us against unimaginable evil? Built in the 13th century by Bohemian settlers, the layout and history of Houska Castle suggest something sinister lurks there… and legend holds that it sits atop a gateway to Hell.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dracula wasn’t the only frightful fiction conjured by Irish author Bram Stoker… In this retelling of “The Judge’s House,” a Cambridge student is overcome with curiosity — then dread — as he faces an evil man’s terrifying legacy. Listen to Part 1 right here, then search “Haunted Places: Ghost Stories” to hear Part 2, when the Judge himself comes calling…  Haunted Places: Ghost Stories is a Spotify Original from Parcast. Every Thursday, find a new tale of terror from some of history’s greatest authors. Listen free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to sudden memory loss, the most common forms of amnesia are often short-term, and stem from trauma to the brain. But some cases are much more inexplicable. People with Dissociative Amnesia don't experience brain damage, but still lose large chunks of time… and can even forget their entire identity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between 2018 and 2019, 12 American tourists died suddenly at resorts in the Dominican Republic. Was something nefarious stalking vacationers in paradise?

Since the 1970s, a strange radio signal has broadcast from somewhere in Russia. Listeners can hear rhythmic buzzes, and occasionally, a speaker reciting a nonsense string of letters and numbers. Nobody knows what the messages mean, but the ongoing broadcast may be the only thing preventing global nuclear devastation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On December 18th, 1994, three cave scientists discovered a narrow opening in a cliff near the Ardèche River in France. When they cleared enough debris to get inside, they found a cave covered in perfectly preserved 30,000-year-old paintings.

A newspaper ad, a coastal proposal, and a honeymoon “conspiracy” involving a limbo legend… Your host Richard Rossner plots out a different kind of history in this Valentine’s Special, presented by Our Love Story. Joined by Rahla, his wife of 33 years, the couple pulls back the curtain on their biggest relationship milestones. Dive into their thrilling love story right here, then search “Our Love Story” to hear real-life couples — including more of your favorite Parcast hosts! — prove that true love exists. New episodes every Tuesday. Listen free on Spotify.

After failing to make a name for herself in the New York folk scene, Connie Converse gave up music for good. But her sadness still lingered, and in 1974 she drove off from her family, never to return again. What could have happened to the folk music pioneer?

In 2004, radio host David Garland played a 50-year-old tape of a folk singer named Connie Converse on the air. Those listening didn't know they might be hearing a ghost… In 1974, Connie Converse disappeared without a trace.

In the early 20th century, a disturbing pattern emerged: gold prospectors and trappers would enrich themselves in Nahanni Valley, and then lose their heads. Nobody could account for the eerily similar murders. Was the pristine river gorge home to a dark curse?

The Nahanni Valley lies in a remote Canadian mountain range. For centuries, legend suggested that strange monsters lived in the lands. The accounts were easy to dismiss — until four prospectors in the valley died in gruesome, inexplicable ways.

Today, most scientists agree that, prior to dying, something likely happens inside the brain — it’s just unclear what. Perhaps souls really can glimpse into the afterlife… or maybe brains are simply processing chemical reactions to physical trauma. 

Thanks to the marvels of modern medicine, thousands of people have returned from the brink of death. But some report having out-of-body experiences, meeting deceased loved ones, even seeing a light at the end of a tunnel. Are Near-Death Experiences the hallucinations of a dying brain, or could they be proof that an afterlife exists?

The Freedom of Information Act allowed civilian UFOlogists to access information the government had kept under wraps. But after the millennium, the U.S. government itself decided to get back into the game — and discover once and for all where UFOs come from.

In 1952, the Air Force created a third project, pursuing objective UFO data without a bias. After examining thousands of cases, and dismissing many as planes, birds, or clouds, Project Blue Book was left with several UFO sightings that no one could explain.

In 1949, the Air Force launched a new UFO research project: Project Grudge. But this time, they had a new mandate to follow: extraterrestrial UFOs did not — and could not — exist.

In 1947, a team of Air Force officials and scientific experts began studying unidentified flying objects spotted in American skies. Their investigations under Project Sign marked the beginning of a decades-long battle for objectivity and transparency in UFO research. 

It’s an architectural wonder: a self-supporting spiral staircase in Santa Fe’s Loretto Chapel, constructed by a man who showed up unannounced and left without payment. Some have wondered if the unidentified carpenter was St. Joseph himself.

In 58 CE, Julius Caesar marched on northern Europe to conquer the Celtic tribes. Between battles, he wrote of the druids’ horrific human sacrifices: entrapping victims in giant wooden structures and setting them ablaze. Were his accounts an accurate depiction of ritual murders? Or are the wicker men little more than anti-Pagan propaganda?

The clock’s winding down on the final moments of the year and people around the world are putting their charms and traditions to work, shoring up good fortune for the future. But it’s not always our own personal luck that’s on the line… In this story, a night of superstitions weaves together the fates of merrymakers eager for fresh starts.  This episode is presented by Superstitions, a Spotify Original from Parcast. Follow Superstitions free on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Geoscientist Andrés Ruzo traveled to the legendary Boiling River in 2011, determined to find the source of its incredible heat. His first theory: a massive underground volcano. 

Hidden deep in the Peruvian Amazon, there supposedly lies a mythical, superheated river. While it's rumored to have healing properties and be protected by spirits, it will boil alive anything that falls into it.

Today we’re bringing you a special episode from another Spotify Original from Parcast. If you enjoy it, check out Superstitions on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!  In the 1980s, actors who had starred in the Poltergeist films started dying, leaving fans stunned. Was it just a coincidence? Or had the actors fallen victim to the very films that made them stars?

How did the soothsayer arrive at such uncannily accurate prophecies? The answer lies in both how he divined our futures, and why.

On the last Sunday of every month, Parcast Rewind replays a classic episode of Unexplained Mysteries that you might have missed!  Less than one hour into its flight, Malaysia Airlines flight 370 disappeared from the skies. Despite all of the geo-location technology that exists, and more than $160 million in a search and recovery effort, the whereabouts of flight MH370, and the circumstances of its disappearance over the Indian Ocean in 2014 remain a mystery.

On the last Sunday of every month, Parcast Rewind replays a classic episode of Unexplained Mysteries that you might have missed!  Alfred Lowenstein was a proper sportsman by anyone’s standards. He was a fierce entrepreneur, a loving father and husband, an amateur aircraft pilot, an avid horse racer, and in 1928, the third richest man in the world—making his disappearance even more shocking.

Stonehenge. Bigfoot. The Bermuda Triangle. Every Thursday, Unexplained Mysteries searches for answers to the greatest mysteries of history and life on earth. Unexplained Mysteries premieres Thursday, March 1. Here's a sneak peek!