Disquietude

In this part 2 episode, we discuss the end of Bill Cooper's life, his ascension to a pillar of reverence for U.S. militia movements and domestic terrorists, and the impact of his book and ideas on pop culture, to include sci-fi and hip-hop music.

In 1991, renowned UFOlogist and conspiracy theorist Milton William Cooper published a book that would end up becoming the catalyst for the zeitgeist of the pre-millennium tension of the 90's.  Behold a Pale Horse contained documents, notes, and essays detailing a New World Order plan to enslave the human population via the media and government mind-control experiments, secret society oaths, and and even an imminent UFO invasion.  However, many of the themes in the book would resonate with the public, as people began to associate what Cooper describes to events happening globally, with some of his predictions actually coming true.  The book would eventually become further associated with American militias and domestic terrorism.  But how much of it was just made-up nonsense?  Was there ANY merit to to his experiences and beliefs?  Was Cooper a fraud?  We discuss, and then some.

Tonight, we talk about real-life Halloween tales gathered from internetland, ranging from the absurd, to the comical, to the truly horrifying.  It's enough to make you just want to stay at home and eat candy, where it's safe.  Or is it?

On Halloween in 1974, a man named Ronald Clark O'Bryan would commit a horrific act that would have a continued impact over the next 5 decades and become the basis for the urban legend of strangers poisoning candy handed out to children on Halloween.  Now, while this urban legend has been mostly debunked, there are small bits of truth that help enforce the idea that people are using Halloween candy as a method to harm children.  We discuss these incidents over the years, as well as whether or not a myth can become reality over time.

Tonight, we discuss topics from past episodes in which the mystery surrounding them has been solved since we last covered them.  The Murders at Steve's Motel, the Gabby Petito disappearance, and even the one that started it all, the Ruth Price 911 call are up for re-evaluation.  So welcome back, and enjoy this walk through the archives.

From 1894 until 1997, the United States and Canada ran a schooling system for Native Americans that equated to systemic genocide- children, some as young as newborns, were taken from their families and forced to live in boarding schools with the intent of assimilating them into Christian society.  Not allowed to engage in their native languages or religious practices, these children endured horrific physical and mental abuse as they were stripped of their culture, many times culminating in death via disease, abuse, or suicide.  Over a quarter million native children in the U.S and Canada were forced into these schools, with thousands upon thousands never returning home, as evidenced by the discovery of unmarked mass gravesites at many of the schools, with more being found every month.

For 84 years, there existed a small, dark stain in the heart of America.  A place where travelers of the night passing through a small town in Ohio were likely to be surrounded by rapists, drug dealers, murderers and sex traffickers and not realize it.  Despised by some, loved by others who knew it was a place where anything goes, it's notoriety reached it's peak in 1991 when a triple homicide occurred, the victims being the couple that owned the property along with their six-year-old daughter, in what appeared to be a professional hit.  The case was never solved, and it, along with the very acknowledgement of the existence of the place has been swept under the rug by locals, and it was finally demolished in 2021.  This is the legend of Steve's Motel.

This week, we each choose what we believe to be the most haunted place in America, and discuss our reasons why.  A quaint southern town known for having more ghostly inhabitants than live ones, a mental health facility with a hellish reputation, and a house in Kansas with a haunting so incredible it was captured multiple times on network television.  So grab your Halloween candy, and enjoy!

Over the last few years, there has been a growing trend in horror- the Extreme Horror Experience.  Evolved from the notoriety of "Extreme Haunted Houses" like McKamey Manor and Blackout, these experiences look to disturb and unnerve visitors by blurring the line between safety and danger.  Although what actually happens in these experiences is rather secretive, there are reports of intentional physical harm and borderline sexual assault. But are these places just sadism in disguise?  Are they actually scary, or ridiculous cash grabs?  We'll tell you what we think in this fun episode.

At the base of the tallest mountain in Japan, there is a place where hundreds of people a year go to purposefully never return from.  Curious visitors to the area may encounter corpses, curses left behind by the dead, or sometimes, hear screams from deep within the trees.  Though there is some debate over whether or not Aokigahara is haunted in the traditional sense of the word, there is no doubt that there exists a dark allure that compels people to enter the forest and end their lives. 

- Warning:  This episode contains discussion about suicide and Japanese suicide culture.  If you are feeling suicidal or experiencing extreme depression, *please* reach out to someone for help.  The National Suicide Prevention lifeline is available 24/7 in North America at 800-273-8255.  For those abroad, below is a link to the various suicide lifelines available in different countries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines

Tonight, we discuss the case everyone is talking about- the disappearance and death of Gabby Petito, while traveling cross-country with her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie.  This case has a series of oddities and downright bizarre coincidences, including a double murder that occurred in an area of Utah that Gabby and Brian happened to be in at the same time.  At the time of this recording, Brian Laundrie's whereabouts were unknown, and Gabby's remains had not been yet confirmed.  Do our theories make any sense?  Listen and decide.

On April 1st 2014, two young students from the Netherlands, Kris Kremmers and Lisanne Froon, disappeared while hiking the forests during their trip to Boquete, Panama.  Despite an extensive search and investigation by both Panama and Dutch authorities over 10 days, no traces of the two girls were found.  Then, 10 weeks later, a backpack containing items belonging to the two missing girls mysteriously appeared on a riverbank in a small neighboring village.  Partial remains of the girls were also discovered in the area.  After investigating the items in the backpack, which included a digital camera that contained 90 photos taken 7 days after the disappearance, all taken in a three-hour span (One of the photos in the sequence had been deleted), the "official" explanation by the local authorities was death by misfortune, as tourists perishing after being lost in the jungle is not all that uncommon...  however, Boquete has a dark history and present and it may lead to the answer of the question of what *really* happened to two women in the jungles of Panama.  We sink our teeth into that dark history, and find some very interesting facts that lead to even more interesting theories.

In 1971 a book was published, titled "The Anarchist's Cookbook", which contained instructions for the creation of explosive devices, drugs, and anything that could be used to fight the government during the counterculture era.  The book came under review by federal authorities, who determined that it was mostly useless and was protected by the 1st amendment, and the book fell out of publication 20 years later.  But thanks to magic of the internet, the book saw a resurgence in the 90's via text files being passed around on BBS message boards, with sections added for hacking, phreaking, burglary, and general criminal activities.  This became known as the "Jolly Roger's Cookbook", as many of the new sections were written by someone named "The Jolly Roger".  Having dozens of different versions and revisions, it thus began it's urban legend as the internet's guide to terrorism in a pre-9/11 world.  How does it hold up today?  Is it valuable information, or just general ridiculousness?  We go through parts of (one of the versions of) the cookbook, and what we determine may surprise you.

In 2012, international student from Wuhan, Jun Lin was drugged, murdered and dismembered in an apartment in Toronto.  The crime was captured on video in gruesome detail and uploaded to the internet.  This very event was foretold by a group of internet sleuths who had been tracking the perpetrator, Luka Magnotta, for over a year due to videos he had previously posted on Facebook of him killing kittens.  An international manhunt was launched, and the murderer was caught thanks to the narcissism that defined his personality.  Join us as we discuss the bizarre evolution of a criminal.

We follow up our episode on the death of Elisa Lam with a quick review of the Netflix docuseries about the case, give our thoughts about it, and whether or not our opinions about Lam's death have changed.

Tonight, we dive into one of the most famous pieces of internet lore- the 2013 disappearance of Elisa Lam, which took the internet by storm with the release of the unsettling surveillance video from the infamous Cecil Hotel, which showed the last time she was seen alive, displaying behavior inside of an elevator which to some indicated she was being followed.  Elisa's body was found days later inside of of the water tanks on the hotel rooftop, an area only accessible by hotel staff.  The official cause of death was accidental drowning, but given what we know eight years later, was that really what happened?  Join us as we try and make sense of one of the most puzzling deaths from the last decade.

We're back!

A lake monster possibly summoned from an interdimensional portal.  An arachnid the size of a small car.  A humanoid moth that is also a harbinger of bad things to come, and...  a kangaroo horse dragon from the tri-state area?    We discuss the wonderful world of Cryptozoology, and some of our favorite mythical beasts, both terrifying and comical. 

In 2018, a "Mukbang" YouTuber named Kate Yup became a bit of an internet sensation, showcasing her ability to consume monstrous amounts of seafood on her channel, despite being a woman of small physical stature- all the while making sure to keep her face hidden.  As her views rose into the millions, viewers began to notice something...  well, odd about her videos.  People noticed bruising and other signs of physical trauma on Kate, an unsettling presence of another person, and coded messages in the videos asking for help.  As the concern and questions grew, so did Kate's popularity, prompting her to somewhat address it on a video stating she was okay...  yet *that* video contained more coded messages.  Then, suddenly, the videos stopped.  And no one has seen Kate since.  We dive into this strange case with many questions and theories about her identity, and what was REALLY going on with those videos.

In October 2019, Erin Valenti, a 33 year-old successful CEO of a tech company, traveled to California from Utah for business.  On the day she was set to return, she made a series of bizarre phone calls to her parents, at one point, stating, ""It's all a game, it's a thought experiment, we're in the Matrix."  She was then never heard from again, and police determined that she was "voluntarily" missing.  5 days later, she was found dead in the back seat of her rental car, parked on a street in a residential area of San Jose.  No signs of foul play.  Clean toxicology report.  Official cause of death?  "Acute manic episode".   Join us as we explore this case and present our (and the internet's) theories on what *really* happened to Erin Valenti.

Hard to believe, but it's been one year exactly since we published our very first episode, "The Ruth Price 911 call".  40 episodes and 15,000 plays later, we talk about the past year, our favorite moments and episodes, as well as our funniest- and worst memories.  Sit back and relax with us this week, we'll get back to the creepy stuff next week, we promise.

Throughout history, human beings from time to time have shown a propensity to, shall we say...  follow the crowd.  Sometimes doing so leads to a group of people engaging in what is known as "Mass Psychogenic Illness", or "Mass Hysteria".  We explore some examples recent and old, from the ridiculous to the disturbing, and even some examples that tend to repeat themselves.

Tonight, we discuss the bizarre, disturbing, and...  hilarious methods by which people were tortured and executed throughout history.  Do we have favorites?  Oh yes we do.  Were these techniques real, or just sadistic fantasy?  And are they still being used today?  Listen on...

Tonight, we dig into our bag to bring you some of the eeriest sounds in internetland:  A reading of the transcript from the audio logs of the Toybox Killer David Parker Ray, the first ever talking doll, the science behind "horror string music", creepy little kids, and much, much more.  

In April 2016, questions began to arise about a rash of teen age suicides in Russia, all coming from a social media group known only as "F57".  Rumors began circulating that these deaths, totaling over 130,  were attributed to a mysterious game called the "Blue Whale Challenge".  The rules were simple.  Follow a series of daily tasks ranging from the mundane to bizarre, to include self-mutilation and constant absorption of disturbing media, for 49 consecutive days.  On the 50th- commit suicide.  Though initially believed to be a hoax, it was soon discovered that there was something indeed evil preying on the children of Russia. 

2020 has been rough- Threat of war, Global pandemic, giant insect swarms...  It got us thinking...  is the apocalypse FINALLY here?  Well, maybe not, but we talk about Revelation from the bible , and some of our favorite end-of-world scenarios, from killer nanobots, to zombies, as well as some of the more ridiculous predictions over the years.  Just a little something to listen to while you're hiding from the Murder Hornets.  Enjoy!

In July 1981, an event occurred that would become the catalyst for how society viewed child safety.  Terms like "A parent's worst nightmare" and "Stranger Danger" became vernacular burned into the mind of adults and children alike, as the country scrambled to make sense of the death of 6 year-old Adam Walsh.  While the case has been officially closed, there is still some doubt as to the official explanation, as well as the discovery that by incredible coincidence, two of the most famous serial killers in American history were at the mall Adam disappeared from at the same exact time.  Join us as we discuss a tragedy that changed America forever.

In honor of April Fool's Day, no jokes or pranks from us, just a few of our favorite famous hoaxes from your host Keyza, ranging from the bizarre to the unsettling, but all disquieting.  

From 1953 to 1973, the Central Intelligence Agency conducted experiments on thousands of American citizens, most of them without their knowledge.  Originally intended to use psychotropic drugs in order to created more effective interrogation techniques, the experiments evolved into something far more ominous.  This went unknown by the public until the program was declassified officially in 1977.  Massive amounts of LSD, torture, murder, and sexual abuse are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the lengths the CIA went through to achieve their ultimate goal, complete human mind control- something they may have actually been successful at.  Spend some quarantine time with us as we take a trip on this one.

So how do you research books you are not supposed to read?  Very carefully...  In the lineup tonight we have "Tomino's Hell", the poem that is never to be read aloud, The "Book of Soyga", a book of unknown origin on demonology, supposedly written by angels who, according to legend, stated that anyone who interprets the mysterious coded text within will die in two years, and finally the "Grand Grimoire", an ancient book of magic that gave King Solomon his incredible power and wealth.  We tell you what's in these books so you don't have to take the risk...  although you will anyway.  Enjoy!

What if I told you that the most credible major witness in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was also the only one who refused to agree with the official FBI story?  Not so odd.  But what if I then told you that before the trial of supposed culprit James Earl Ray she was suddenly diagnosed with a mental illness, declared legally unfit to appear in court, and then placed in a psychiatric hospital against her will, for 10 years?  Not weird enough?  Well, what if I then told you that after being released in order to testify at a new investigation into the assassination, she disappeared *again* before she was unable to testify, only this time, there are no traces of her existing.  No obituaries.  No internet presence.  No medical records.  Not even a picture.  Join us as we detail one of the most odd aspects of the MLK assassination theories as well as the alleged conspiracy as a whole.

Tonight, we discuss the recent Corona virus outbreak as well as some of the most dangerous diseases to ever threaten our existence.  How likely is an end of world scenario from viruses such as Ebola, or even the Flu?  Is the Bubonic Plague ever going to go away?  Why is Brendan coughing so much?  Grab your medical masks and listen on...

Tonight, we discuss the bizarre cases of Anatoly Moskvin, AKA the "Russian Doll Man", and Carl Tanzler, two people who loved the dead a bit *too* much.  Moskvin kept a collection of children's corpses that he turned into dolls he believed were inhabited by the spirits of children that could be brought back to life one day.  Tanzler was a medical professional that developed an obsession with a patient that went beyond the boundaries of life and death. 

“I am Death, and when I love you it’s forever.” -Unknown

Death, racism, sexism, ghosts, and underwear infested with parasites- all hallmarks of the most influential company in media entertainment history- Disney.  We engage in some gallows humour as we talk about deaths and hauntings at the parks, and how the Disney corporation walks the fine line between evil and absurdity.

In April 1986, a steam explosion of a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power plant in Ukraine resulted in the worst nuclear power accident in history.  We discuss the horror of the incident, as well as exploring how scary nuclear energy can be, with stories and account given by our special guest, a Radiation Protection Specialist with 40 years of industry experience.  So grab your lead blankets and glow blue with us on this one.

During WWII, a covert Japanese military unit known as Unit 731 was created for the supposed purpose of chemical and biological warfare research.  The truth was that the unit carried out some of the most horrific war atrocities in modern history, in the form of bizarre methods of human experimentation.  Live vivisections of humans, exposure to the plague and anthrax, and weapons testing on live subjects only scratch the surface of the horror show that occurred in what became known as- the Laboratory of the Devil.

Warning:  This episode contains graphic descriptions of torture and rape.  Listen with caution. 

Back from our holiday break, we dive into some the the most interesting and disturbing missing persons cases we've come across in our internet travels.  From people vanishing without a physical trace, to some very extreme coincidences, we cover enough to make sure you check the locks on  your doors before going to bed tonight...

We take another dive into some unsettlling clips of audio, including the cockpit recording from the 1979 crash of Western Airlines flight 2605, some 911 calls you won't be able to stop thinking about, and an especially eerie hijacked radio station broadcast (presented by one of our very own listeners!).  This is one you probably shouldn't listen to before bedtime...  but you will anyway.  Enjoy!

In March 1997, an anonymous 911 call directed authorities to a mansion in California, where they would find 39 bodies, neatly placed in their beds, all wearing identical black shirts, black pants, and black Nike shoes, faces covered with purple cloths.  It was soon discovered the scene was a mass suicide by members of a cult known as Heaven's Gate- and the ritualistic suicides were performed because the group believed doing so would allow them to exit their earthly bodies and be transported to a spacecraft they believed to be in the tail of the Hale-Bopp comet that was passing by earth.  This event became a media sensation, largely due to the group's heavy internet presence, and the website of the cult, which is still operating to this day.  We discuss in detail the cult and the events of March 1997, and feature an actual email interview with one of the surviving members of the cult that maintains the website.  So lace up your Nikes, and join us on this VERY interesting journey.

March, 1922.  A series of odd occurrences at a farmhouse in the German countryside disturb a family for months, until one day, they are not heard from by the local townspeople, leading to the discovery of one the most gruesome and brutal massacres in the history of the country.  Six victims- two of them young children- killed one by one with a mattock.  Nearly 100 years later, the case is still unsolved, despite over a hundred suspects, and an investigation that unearthed family secrets of abuse, incest, and a *very* nosy neighbor.  Explore with us as we discuss one of the most fascinating unsolved murders of the 20th century.

For Thanksgiving, we're bringing you something different- we explore the mystery of the lost colony of Roanoke, a piece of North Carolina lore that continues to capture the imagination of the public to this very day.  However, to spice things up (quite literally), we decide to attempt to get through some of North Carolina's hottest hot sauces while we dig into this mystery, with the finale being a sauce made from the dreaded "Carolina Reaper" pepper.  Mistakes were made.  So grab some milk, some water, have a happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy!

Tonight marks the 41st anniversary of the Jonestown massacre...  but what if I told you there was more to it than a crazed cult leader and his followers?  A LOT more?  We dive into what led to that tragic day in 1978, and explore the insane and disturbing connections Jim Jones and the People's Temple had to some very powerful entities.  Just another crazy religion, or something far more sinister?  Listen on and decide...

Tonight, we wanted to bring you creepy accounts of those brave enough to enter the realm of the deep/dark web...  only to find that it is equal parts absurd and evil.  We discuss some of our favorite stories collected from the internet, and the dark web as a whole.  Is it really as crazy as the media portrays it to be?  Listen on...

Tonight, we discuss the world famous Haunted House attraction that offers $20,000 dollars to anyone who can complete it- the infamous McKamey Manor.  People from all over place themselves on  a two-year waiting list to experience what is considered the king of the "Extreme Haunted House" experiences that have taken over modern horror culture.  We also discuss it's rivals, such as the famous "Blackout" horror experience and the appeal of such attractions.  Is it real horror, or just a cringey excuse to commit acts of torture?  Listen on...

In 1966, in a house on 30 East Drive in Yorkshire, UK, one of the most bizarre and violent hauntings in modern history began...  and never ended.  Ghost hunters and paranormal investigators from around the world dare to spend nights there in order to experience the world's most dangerous poltergeist, and rarely do they leave disappointed.  With a surprising amount of photographic evidence, this haunting is the one that has evolved into the internet age like no other.  Disquietude discusses the history and origins of this haunting, as well as it's recent impact on paranormal culture. 

In August 2017, writer and cartoonist Adam Ellis posted a series of tweets in which he detailed a possible haunting in his apartment, centered around vivid dreams in which a dead child named "Dear David" would torment him.  He could ask David two questions, but was told to NEVER ask a third...  the tweets became a viral sensation, with the creepy experiences snowballing into a series of bizarre events, backed up with photo, audio and video evidence.  The Twitterverse exploded with theories and debate with eagle-eyed followers using technology to notice small hidden details and go even deeper into the rabbit hole.  So, was this an authentic haunting, or just a really good ghost story told in a clever way?  We deep-dive into one of the biggest pieces of internet horror lore like only Disquietude can.

In 2008, a video called "3 Guys 1 Hammer" was anonymously uploaded to the internet, depicting the gruesome torture and murder of a man. The popularity of the video sparked global interest in the case from which the video was obtained-a case involving 3 teenage boys and the killing spree that held a small town in the Ukraine in the grip of terror for nearly a month. We discuss the evil that claimed the lives of 21 innocent people 12 years ago.

Tonight, Disquietude recounts the mass hysteria that swept the nation in the 80's with the belief that satanic cults were abusing our children in bizarre ceremonies that became known as "Satanic Ritual Abuse".  Spurred on by the book "Michelle Remembers" along with sensationalist media, false accounts spread like wildfire.  It eventually culminated in the most infamous and expensive child abuse trial in American history.  We discuss how the fallout still affects media and culture to this very day.  *WARNING*- this episode contains descriptions and victim accounts of sexual abuse and torture involving children.

Tonight, we're doing  something a little different for Friday the 13th- UK filmmaker Tony Newton asked us to do a segment for his upcoming documentary, "Oh, the Horror!", which focuses on the horror movie genre and it's association with snuff films and real death.  We discuss a TON to horror film related topics based on a set of questions sent to us from Tony, including our favorite horror films, what we think makes good horror, the snuff film, urban legend, and much, much more.  Enjoy!