E456 Town Hall Friends and Costume Condom-gate

Summary

And That's Why We Drink – Episode 456

“Town Hall Friends and Costume Condom-gate”
Date: November 2, 2025
Hosts: Christine Schiefer & Em Schulz

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Episode Overview

In this lively post-Halloween episode, Christine and Em dive into the weird, stressful, and comedic events of the season, including a now-notorious costume mix-up dubbed "Costume Condom-gate." They're in full story mode, alternating between lighthearted banter and chilling tales, including a local urban legend (Seven Sisters Road) and a true crime tragedy (the murder of Chelsea Bruck at a Halloween party). Fans get to enjoy their signature blend of humor and humanity, with personal stories, vulnerable moments, and a dash of community spirit.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Spooky Season Stress & Pet Problems

[03:10–09:01]

• Em’s Travel Angst: Em is deep in pet-parent stress, contemplating expensive options for boarding or transporting their large, hyperactive dog across the country.

  • Quote:
    “Everything’s just double the price now... The whole mental stress of putting him under in cargo is—I mean…”
    — Em [04:39]

• Christine’s Take: Christine empathizes, sharing her own trauma over a childhood experience with dogs in cargo, and the general emotional, financial, and logistical labor of having pets.

• Projection to Listeners: They note others might be learning these hard lessons for the first time, joking it could persuade followers to “maybe not” get a dog just because of a cute Instagram post.

2. Post-Halloween Feels & Family Costumes

[09:03–10:40]

• Halloween Hangover: Christine describes lingering Halloween enthusiasm (she’s prepping to be Grumpy Toad for her daughter Leona’s costume rotation), while Em admits to “keeping up” some Halloween ambiance for Christine’s sake.

  • Quote:
    “I wanna encourage her not to feel like she has to do every... you know, the whole pattern or whatever...That you run this ship now, you know?”
    — Christine [10:04]

• Group Costume Politics: Joking about kids’ determination, Christine anticipates Leona will either never do group costumes again or try to keep up trading roles for years.

3. Costume Condom-gate: Humble Pie

[10:50–17:39]

• Em’s Dreaded Confession: Em sheepishly confesses that last week’s frustrations over a DoorDash shopper “mistakenly” delivering a condom costume were, in fact, Em's own doing. They mis-clicked and ordered it themselves.

  • Quote:
    “I have to defend a man...”
    — Em [11:08]
  • Quote (on realizing the mistake):
    “I was like, that can't be the right one, because I got something else… And then…I scrolled down and saw a condom.”
    — Em [16:03]

• Christine’s Reaction: Christine revels in the comedy, happy to release the blame from an innocent shopper. Both revel in the absurdity and humiliation, with Christine asking for “testimony from the DoorDasher.”

• Final Costume Outcome: Em ultimately gets a Dr. Frankenstein coat, dresses Hank (the dog) as Frankenstein’s monster. The latest failed Frankenstein costume? Off to Goodwill—alongside a giant condom suit.

  • Quote:
    “It’s Renaissance pants and a condom.”
    — Em [15:14]

4. Small-Town Dynamics & Holiday Transitions

[17:40–21:00]

• The hosts chat about Halloween’s sharp transition into Thanksgiving and then lingering Christmas moods, with Em finding it hard to let go and Christine admitting to seasonal depression post-holiday.
  • Quote:
    “No, October is Halloween, November Thanksgiving, and then Christmas through January.”
    – Em [18:59]

5. Paranormal Story: The Haunted Seven Sisters Road (Nebraska)

[21:34–45:57]

Story Structure

• Location: L Road, also called Seven Sisters Road, an hour south of Omaha, Nebraska.

  • Quote:
    “This is in Nebraska. It’s an hour south of Omaha...the road is apparently also known as L Road.”
    — Em [23:21]

• Origin Legend: In the late 1800s/early 1900s, a farmer’s son, in the grip of rage after a family fight, lures or drags each of his seven sisters onto separate hills and hangs them from trees.

  • Christine, taken aback by the folklore’s brutality, questions the plausibility: “This sounds like something you don’t just do...on a whim.” [27:20]
  • Em acknowledges the logistical improbability, but the folklore persists.

• Aftermath & Hauntings:

  • The road became feared for bizarre phenomena—animals balk, strange silences, electronic failures, odd lights, wind that can’t be heard, and reports of shadows with glowing red eyes. One week in 1960, multiple people reported red eyes in the hills to police.
  • Investigators find equipment dying, mics and cameras failing, clothes being tugged by invisible forces, and car electronics, headlights, and radios malfunctioning.
  • Quote:
    “People hear screaming of all volumes, both outside and inside their car. Oh, and sometimes it starts as soft voices outside the car that grow louder…”
    — Em [41:08]
  • The most chilling: listeners hear screaming, sometimes from the back seat, and sometimes see faces in the mirror.
  • The story aligns eerily with “The End” by The Doors, which once played spontaneously on a stalling car’s radio, echoing the story’s themes:
    “This is the end, beautiful friend, this is the end, my only friend, the end…” [39:26]

• Reality Check:

  • No historical record of the murder, but the area did have public hangings, and families with sons and seven daughters did exist. Local lore may have merged various tragedies into the urban legend.
  • Quote:
    “This county is one of the top counties to have the most public hangings in the 1800s.”
    — Em [43:48]

• Modern Challenge:

  • The road is a local test of bravery: “If you’re gonna do this...don’t drive alone. Never stop at the top of the hill. Keep your lights on. Avoid the road after midnight, and if you hear screaming, don’t look back.” [45:40]

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6. True Crime Case: The Murder of Chelsea Bruck

[49:25–90:59]

Case Summary

• Setting:

  • Maybe, Michigan: A town of 600, where everyone knows each other, and Halloween parties are a major event.
  • Quote (on small-town invites):
    “You can’t really have an event where it’s not like everyone in Maybe is a maybe for the event.”
    — Christine [51:10]

• Victim:

  • Chelsea Ellen Bruck, 22, youngest of five on a farm, beloved in her community.
  • She painstakingly crafts a Poison Ivy costume (hand-sewed leaf leotard, red wig).

• Incident:

  • Massive Halloween party hosted by “Big Mike” Williams [53:53], with ~1,000 people—much more than planned for.
  • Chelsea arrives, drinks, enjoys herself. After a minor injury, she loses touch with her friends (who had her phone and wallet), and ultimately leaves alone around 3am.
  • Quote:
    “She asked several people for a ride home...finally left the party around 3am on foot and alone...”
    — Christine [60:44]

• Disappearance & Search:

  • Initially, family not worried (thought she was at a friend’s). By Sunday afternoon, alarmed by no contact; Monday, she’s reported missing.
  • The whole community searches with dog teams, helicopters. Rumors and accusations swirl, including unfounded ones about Big Mike and satanic rituals.

• Discovery:

  • In March, her Poison Ivy costume and wig are found at a scrap yard.
  • In April, her remains are found under logs at a construction site. Evidence shows she was severely beaten.

• Investigation & Arrest:

  • DNA on her leotard belongs to Daniel Allen Clay, local man previously arrested for unrelated larceny and accused of violent rape.
  • Clay is arrested, gives varying stories—denies knowing Chelsea, then admits to “rough” (non-consensual) sex, blames her for wanting to be choked, then claims her death was accidental.
    • Quote:
      “He said, ‘Oh, I only notice people if they’re sexy. I only notice women if they’re sexy. I’m a little shallow like that.’”
      — Christine [82:34]
  • Evidence and injuries refute “accident” (her jaw and eye socket broken, body hidden miles from costume).

• Trial & Aftermath:

  • Jury convicts Clay of felony murder and concealing a death; he’s sentenced to life without parole.
  • Chelsea’s mother, Leanda, releases a statement emphasizing the importance of community vigilance (“Choices”).
    • Quote:
      “‘We have become a nation that lives in fear...If we see things that are not right or it looks questionable, please call 911...But how are we going to feel if we were right and didn’t call? You can’t change woulda, coulda, shoulda.’”
      — Chelsea's mother [88:59]

• Host Commentary:

  • Christine and Em tie the story’s lessons to community, safety, and the heartbreak of communal trust being shattered. They vent their disgust over Clay’s sleazy excuses and apparent lack of remorse.
    • Quote (on Clay):
      “I feel like that’s a trait of being a psychopath...there’s a lack of real guilt or terror or feelings. I don’t know, it’s just creepy.”
      — Christine [93:40]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Pets and Life Expenses [03:39]:
  “It’s a breathtaking amount...I can’t even breathe.”
  — Em

• On Group Costumes [10:16]:
  “She will never do another group costume after this. She’s like, I put my work in, right?”
  — Em

• On Accidental Condom Costume [14:46]:
  “Which means I must...I don’t know how that—I know that on DoorDash for food, I have clicked like, bowl of soup. And then all of a sudden, soup shows up with my order.”
  — Em

• Seven Sisters Road, on Feeling the Haunted Land [29:32]:
  “The land just feels wrong. You can’t explain it, but it’s heavy. Like, it remembers.”
  — Local, via Em

• On Chelsea Bruck’s Case — Community Involvement [51:10]:
  “If there’s an event in town, it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone in town will assume they’re invited.”
  — Christine

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Recommended Listening Timestamps

• 00:00–02:27 – Ads & Interstitials
• 03:10–09:01 – Pet Travel and Life Updates
• 10:50–17:39 – Costume Condom-gate
• 21:34–45:57 – Seven Sisters Road (Paranormal Story)
• 49:25–90:59 – True Crime: Chelsea Bruck
  • [60:44] – Details of Chelsea’s Last Night
  • [72:56] – Discovery of Costume & Remains
  • [78:38] – Clay’s Arrest & Interrogation
  • [88:59] – Chelsea’s Mother’s Statement

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Tone & Style

The episode zips between irreverent, self-deprecating humor (Costume-gate) and deep empathy for victims and their families. Banter is warm, supportive, and achieves both laughter and real emotional weight.

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Final Thoughts

The duo masterfully balances levity (Halloween mishaps, family antics) with sincere storytelling, providing historical background and social context for both ghostly and criminal tales. The accidental DoorDash condom is a perfect example of their self-roasting style, while the Bruck case underscores their sensitivity and commitment to honoring victims.

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For full details, personal connections, and the best moments, listen to:
“And That’s Why We Drink” Episode 456: Town Hall Friends and Costume Condom-gate.

Transcript

[A]

It is currently spooky season and I am seeing all sorts of yard decorations as I drive home at night. And one of the most popular ones has been Pennywise out in the yard. My dog loves it. Just kidding. And if you love it, I gotta tell you, the director of it has a new horrifying story set in 1960s dairy Maine and is a story that explores the origins of Pennywise the Clown and get ready to go back to where it all began. Not only is the new HBO original series IT welcome to Dairy now streaming on HBO Max, but on the IT welcome to Dairy Official podcast, each episode will be discussed after it airs on HBO Max. HBO's it welcome to Derry podcast walks you back down the Streets of Derry 27 years before the Losers Club first formed and pulls you down into the sewers to dig in to the history, the lore and the horror of what makes Dairy Maine's most sinister suburb. And you'll hear from show creators plus cast and crew members as they talk talk about the making of the show. It is gonna be delicious everybody. I'm very, very excited. I actually have a friend who went to the screening tonight and let me know that it is just as incredible as I was anticipating. So please go check it out. I'm gonna be watching it right next to you. Stream new episodes of HBO's It welcome to Dairy Sundays on HBO Max and listen to the IT welcome to Dairy Official podcast wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast is sponsored by Squarespace. We have been using Squarespace since we started the podcast before, like since we.

[B]

Before we launched it. Which is.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. So we've been using it longer than the podcast has been around because we have been. We were building out our website and it was so easy. For two people who've never built a website, it was just kind of a plug and chug situation. They made it so user friendly.

[B]

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[A]

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[B]

Hello, everyone. Welcome to and that's why we drink. It is a gloomy day out here in Northern Kentucky. Em's jealous, but I'm not because I'm so jealous. Feeling. Feeling kind of depressing. But you know what? I'm smiling my way through it, as.

[A]

Most people with depression do in their.

[B]

Daily fight, who mask on a daily basis and need to perform. Yeah. You guys get it. How are you, Em? Speaking of trying to perform a. I don't know, a different outlook for. For life.

[A]

I don't know. I'm a little stressed. I mean, I really shouldn't. I'm just. I'm aware of how much money I've spent recently, and I. I'm not aware.

[B]

It's feeling.

[A]

It's a breathtaking amount. It's just the. I've been traveling a lot, doing a lot of, like, weirdly, even though I'm on the west coast, I've been doing, like, quote, day trips, places, and I'm just. I'm learning a lesson that you and many before me have learned, which is the price of boarding my dog. My dog. I can't even breathe.

[B]

You can't even breathe? It sounded like you were gonna cry, and then you were like, no, I'm actually having a heart episode.

[A]

No, I just got my Thanksgiving tickets to Seattle, like, right before we started recording, and I was like, oh, I should look at the price for boarding. And then ig.

[B]

Oh, right. And then you have to board. Oh, my God.

[A]

It was also, like, surge pricing. I was like, I. I shouldn't have done that right before I was supposed to have a good day.

[B]

So.

[A]

That. And then I'm thinking about, like, the stress of traveling with a big dog across the country for Christmas and.

[B]

What, are you gonna bring him? You're bringing him?

[A]

I think I have to.

[B]

Yay. And it's just.

[A]

Everything's just double the price now. Yeah. It's just. Yeah. The whole mental stress of, like, putting him under in cargo is. I mean.

[B]

Oh, no. Yeah, don't do that.

[A]

No, that's the only option for him.

[B]

I know. So don't do that.

[A]

There's. It's either that or boredom for a month, which. The. It's. There's no other. There's really nothing else I can do. So that alone is stressing me the out.

[B]

Yeah. I one time saw our dog. Whatever. Our parents put the dog in cargo and then we went and picked it up at the other end of the trip and it was like the most traumatizing thing. As an 11 year old, I was so upset and I think I've just probably have some personal wounds about that.

[A]

No, yeah, that's a fair. I mean I have been. Obviously, I've been doing a lot of research on it and there are, it's. There's a, A fair amount of people who agree with you. There are other people who work in the airlines are like, oh, it's totally fine. I'm like, I don't know. I feel like you're paid to say.

[B]

Dare you go down in there. Go down.

[A]

I know, I know. I wish.

[B]

Not you, not you. I mean the people who are not you.

[A]

Not you.

[B]

I'm like, please don't really die in the cargo. I don't want anyone to die in the cargo. I just mean like, oh, yeah. It's so nice down there, you guys. And you go down there, everybody.

[A]

I, I do think it's curious. I am finding very few videos of anyone giving me a tour of what it looks like down there. And I'm sure it's because.

[B]

You mean a dog didn't wear a GoPro and do like a little tour?

[A]

You would think so. It would be like, to ease your, your stress. This is what it looks like down there. This is the situation that they're set up in. And I'm like, the fact that I can't find that. I'm sure it's like there's both, there's reasons on both sides, but I'm like, I would like to know what's happening here. But there's. He's too big and he's too, he's too hyperactive. He's not. He doesn't understand. If he sees people, he assumes he's at a dog park. He'll just be lunging on everyone. There's no calm.

[B]

Yeah, well. And you're not really supposed to put them under or give them any sedatives because they're supposed to be able to keep their balance. I don't know, it just seems like traumatizing.

[A]

I agree. Although I will say he. I have tested his Trazodone and he is very good on it. But.

[B]

So you just like Push him over. Like, hey, like pretend we're on an airplane. I prove you can stand up.

[A]

Well, yesterday I took him. I gave him a lot of Trazodone and took him to the Vex. He had to get his vaccines and he had to sit in the front seat. There was a lot of stuff in the back seat and he did balance all the way there. So I was like, okay, great, let's keep moving.

[B]

Okay. Well, I don't know, man. If you do that, you better put him undercover and get like at least like a. Tell all of what goes down on down there. If he sees any other dogs, if there's any.

[A]

There's. If there's a way to be that way about it. I would love to. I, I don't know. I really, I, I'm telling you.

[B]

What does AP say? What does Alpal say? Does she say drive him across the country? Because that's what I would do. Like a nut job.

[A]

No, my mom suggested that. I don't want to do that. I mean, I could I guess, but that. I don't know. I honestly haven't figured it out because that is something I've considered. But that's just as expensive, but eight times as long. I don't know. I don't know what I'm going to do yet. So I'm, I'm stressing about it, but I am aware of the very solid reasons why it's. People don't like putting their dog in a cargo. I'm like not blind to that at all. So anyway, I'm stressing about that no matter which option I pick, it will be expensive. It. I do think it wouldn't be the worst idea to do a road trip with him and then like just like record along the way in a hotel.

[B]

Yeah. And. But the whole. In the pet friendly hotels, that's what we did. We found all these random ass pet friendly hotels. That was also during COVID so we didn't have many options, but.

[A]

Right, right. Yeah. I don't know what I'm going to do. But it is stressful is one of those things where like you just gotta figure it out. So I don't know. I don't know. I don't know the end. That's why I'm stressed this week.

[B]

I get it, man. Pets are very. Their emotional labor and physical labor. Financial labor. Yeah, It's a lot, but yeah.

[A]

And I know you've been through this forever, but I am finally catching up with understanding.

[B]

Listen, a lot of people are also going through it for the first time and. Or are like, okay, got it. Maybe I won't get involved with the dog that I saw on Instagram. You know, so maybe it's for a good cause, you know, Maybe someone out there will be like, maybe not.

[A]

Yeah, I don't know.

[B]

But why do you drink? Why do I drink? Because I don't. Why do I drink? I don't know. I had a good reason. I think it's just because I had prepared this episode as Halloween. Like, remember, in my head, I was all kids.

[A]

Well, that's why I kept this up. Just in case you wanted to have a Halloween moment.

[B]

So I do have a Halloween moment this week that I, like, somehow skipped. Skipped. It's just stupid. Anyway, so my story is a Halloween story this week. So we're getting a little extra Halloween, even though this comes out on November 2nd. And I'm gonna be Grumpy Toad tomorrow. And I went to Old Navy and bought a green sweatshirt, and I think I'm gonna look awesome so that you're gonna look great. That is the plan. And then Leona goes, yesterday, this is why I drink. Yesterday, I was like, oh, my God, this is going to be over soon. All this, like, trading costume. She goes, how about next year, you be Cali the Cat, I'll be Grumpy, or Daddy be Grumpy Toe or whatever the hell. I don't.

[A]

Whatever who. The one.

[B]

Whoever hasn't been. And she's like, let's do it again. And she goes, finally, after that year, we can do something different. And I went, okay, but, like. And I want to encourage her not to feel like she has to do every. You know, like, the whole pattern or whatever. Yeah. And she's like, that's what we're doing. And I was like, oh, okay. I'm just making sure, you know, we're all whatever. That you run this ship now, you know?

[A]

She will never do another group costume after this. She's like, I put my work in, right?

[B]

It's either that or every year she'll be like, now, what's another three characters we can trade for the next third of a decade? I don't know, man. I'm like, try not to. It's whatever I think is going to happen. It's usually not that that happens. It's usually the opposite.

[A]

At least, you know, she's all about. I said it last time. But reduce, reuse, recycle. She's.

[B]

We. It's very easy. So I'll give her that. Saved a lot of money. It's like, we just wear sweatpants and sweatshirts and we're like, look, you know, and cat ears. It's really easy.

[A]

I have something I have to tell you that I'm dreading to tell you.

[B]

Ooh, why am I so excited about it? I don't know.

[A]

But I forgot for a moment and I, I, I knew peace in that moment. But now I have to unfortunately say something. Stomach churning.

[B]

You knew peace for a moment.

[A]

Okay, I have to, I'm going to throw up. I have to defend a man.

[B]

Because I mean, defend a man. Oh, defend a man on the air right now. Or like, oh, okay, okay, okay. So I'm getting settled in. I don't know what's happening.

[A]

I'm so embarrassed. I, like, can't believe that this is real. I.

[B]

What happened?

[A]

So the condom costume, as we all know, we have Megan, our lovely social media manager, who is like, oh, I would, I would love to get screenshots of the purchases. And then I remember you saying, oh, well, you should do a tick tock with these.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so I sent one to Megan that said, like, item found of Frankenstein. So that way, you know, we could use that. Like, this is what I was supposed to get and this is what I like.

[B]

Expectation versus reality.

[A]

So you said, let's do a, a TikTok about her. I should do a TikTok about it. And so I went, great, I'm going to go get all the screenshots. And so I went to go get the screenshots and moments before, by the way, I had sent the Frankenstein screenshot to Megan. I had. How do I put this? I bought the second, I went my second try of getting Frankenstein. Remember I told you I was going to rebuy it in time if I, if I had time for when people come over to get candy.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, I'm going to go get the Frankenstein costume. And I, I here, I don't know how to explain this. Let me show you my phone. I don't have my phone.

[B]

I listen, I'm just along for the ride. I don't know, I'm just picturing that condom costume and I'm in another world.

[A]

So the bottom line is I went to go look for the screenshots and I, and I realized that the screenshot I had sent of Frankenstein found was of, of the second attempt where Frankenstein was found.

[B]

Oh, like your, like your do over.

[A]

Or my do over version? And I was like, that doesn't look like the most recent one. Because I remember I got like, I also bought Some clothes for next year's Renaissance fair because I found Renaissance pants.

[B]

So I was like, you found Renaissance pants?

[A]

I did. I was very excited about it. And so I was like, this is. I. It said found and it showed Frankenstein. I was like, oh, great. And I was like, but it doesn't say I've. Like, it found any of the other items. Like, where's the one with the Renaissance pants? So I went looking back and I realized, oh, there was a first order. That should be the one. It had Renaissance pants. And I scroll down to get the Frankenstein picture. And it said it was a condom.

[B]

No. What?

[A]

Which means I. I bought. I picked it, apparently.

[B]

What do you mean you picked it? Why?

[A]

Apparent. I. I must have been scrolling and just like, tapped it, you know, like.

[B]

Maybe you thought it was a bag of chips. Everybody thought it was.

[A]

I would have never picked it. And obviously, anyway, I have to defend this man because I gave him so much last week.

[B]

Oh, we were very rude to that man.

[A]

I can't believe. I unfortunately have to say I picked it, apparently. My stupid finger.

[B]

So you're the problem. You're the one getting the Trojan. What was it called? The xxxl.

[A]

I don't. It was.

[B]

Well, there's plenty of video evidence.

[A]

I'm having flashbacks here. I.

[B]

Wait, did the guy, like, message you and say, like, hey, I'm not that bad of a door dash shopper or. No, you know, he never said anything. I was like, is he mad at me? I'm so scared of him.

[A]

I'm just trying to redeem my karma here. We're like, we, that man apart. And I went to go make that stupid TikTok and I couldn't. I was like, where's the second Frankenstein costume? I scrolled down and saw a condom.

[B]

You're like, here's a screenshot of the condom. Wait a minute.

[A]

Which means I must. I. I don't know how that. I. I know that on doordash for food, I have clicked like, bowl of soup. And then all of a sudden, soup shows up with my order.

[B]

I literally thought you were gonna say you order condoms sometimes. And I was like, okay, Neumai. And so you accidentally ordered condoms from the spirit Halloween.

[A]

Anyway, I will happily send you for everyone to judge me. I will send a screenshot of.

[B]

Well, I know what I want. I want the.

[A]

It's Renaissance pants and a condom.

[B]

I want testimony from the man, the doordasher. I want him to tell. I want him to. I know. I do too. Actually, I was going to say that would Be hilarious. And I'm like, no. Probably upsetting. And you know what? And he's like. I was like, what the hell is this? Yeah. Anyway.

[A]

And to this day, I would have. I would have hated that man. Unless I went to go make that stupid TikTok. I would have.

[B]

Everything works out.

[A]

Anyway, I. I just. I felt like I needed to give a psa. It's the. Oh, I don't know what I'm doing here. Anyway, I just felt so embarrassed that I, like, just ripped that person apart. Who did.

[B]

You exist somewhere, I hope. I wish in this world that I've invented in my head that you had sent that screenshot to all the screenshots of Megan without even checking. And then Megan was like, quick hue for you.

[A]

I just. I. I truly. I just clicked the closest one that said Found Frankenstein. I went, okay, great. That's obviously the one. And then I looked, and I was like, I can't be the right one because I got something else. And that. Anyway, I just.

[B]

Wow. Wow.

[A]

And by the way, the second Frankenstein did show up, and it was in the wrong size, so.

[B]

Oh, well, that is unfortunate. You're getting closer, though, Sort of. Did you return the condom, or was it, like, too late? Because I know they're really strict about.

[A]

It was too late. It is. I don't even. I put.

[B]

What can you do? You can't be like, I didn't order this. Because they'll be like, well, you did to Goodwill. Oh, someone will make good use of that, I guess.

[A]

But I also brought an adult small Frankenstein costume.

[B]

Oh, okay. So maybe it'll be a family, you know, whoever. They'll just mix and match. Yeah.

[A]

Anyway, the. The condom thing was a stupid as a flub is my fault. And then the actual Frankenstein round two came. That was the wrong size. So now we're on round three of a costume, and I got a Dr. Mad Scientist coat, so I could just be Dr. Frankenstein. And I am dressing Hank up as actual Frankenstein.

[B]

Gasp.

[A]

Or Frankenstein the Monster, however.

[B]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Frankenstein's. Yeah, it's. He's your monster, so you got to take ownership of that. Your little monster. Frankenstein's. Hankenstein's monster.

[A]

Anyway, my apologies to everyone, but I'm glad we all got a laugh out of it. But just to know that I was sitting in that costume and it was 100% my fault the whole time is so embarrassing.

[B]

It's much. Actually much better for me and my mental health that it was all your fault. It makes. It makes it.

[A]

I'm so Embarrassed. Anyway, the end.

[B]

That.

[A]

That was my pre Halloween. And tomorrow you'll be. I guess. Are you. Which one are you going to be for Grumpy Cat?

[B]

For Grumpy Toad. I'm Grumpy Toad from Pete the Cat who is the only like non. Well, that's not true. There's a platypus. Thank God she didn't get us involved in that character. Grumpy Toad is like the weirdest character and he is like. He talks like this the whole time and he wears purple glasses and he loves to play marbles. So I'm kind of leaning into my like kind of some of my own behavior styles, which is easy for me, but you know, I'll probably just be handing out candy and drinking with my mother. So. Perfect. Every time someone asks me what I am, I'll probably just be like a frog. Because I don't necessarily. Unless Leona's there. Then I have to really play the part, you know?

[A]

Sure. What is it? Is it still. Does it still feel like Halloween to you as now that it's November technically or is. Are we in Thanksgiving territory?

[B]

I think I immediately almost switch, which is silly because I brought Halloween stuff today. What about you though?

[A]

Yeah, I agree.

[B]

It's like a hard switch, which is annoying because I'm like, I would like to do like the. But it's same with Christmas for me. Like afterward I'm sort of like, okay, next. I don't know, I.

[A]

Well, no, I think Christmas lingers for me because it's like the last of them and I'm like, I gotta hold on to something magical.

[B]

Hold on, let me hold on to this real quick.

[A]

No, October is Halloween, November, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas to until like the beginning of February, like through January.

[B]

I want to be that holidays. Okay, well I'm going to participate that way. Cuz I usually just get really depressed and then just sit in the dark for a month thinking, I wish I had Christmas. I should have held on to Christmas.

[A]

Well.

[B]

Oh well, next time this year I'll hold on tight.

[A]

Oh, this is beautiful. Thank you. I have a story for you today that is a Halloween story. I guess technically. I mean they are all.

[B]

They're all kind of spooky.

[A]

But sure, let's say yes. So this is. Oh, and happy. Four, five, six.

[B]

I know, that's a nice. Yeah, that's a nice little angel number for us. Is that still an angel number or is that just like a lucky note? Like a synchronicity type thing?

[A]

It's just a pattern that Humans seem to really enjoy.

[B]

Well, I certainly enjoy it.

[A]

I enjoy it. Christine, your hair, it's lush. What's your secret? We have to know.

[B]

Oh, this old thing? Thanks for asking. I am so excited to talk once again about Nutrafol. Nutrafol is the number one dermatologist recommended hair growth supplement brand trusted by over one and a half million people. And Nutrafol is the first and only hair growth supplement to be NSF certified for sport testing against 290 plus athletic banned substances, toxicology reviews, ingredient testing, label verification and annual manufacturing facility audits to ensure FDA requirements are met. So if that was your concern, I wouldn't even worry about it.

[A]

It's very simple. You purchase online, there's no prescription required. Plus, with a Neutrophil subscription, you can save up to 20% and you'll have access to free one on one Naturopathic. The first time I've ever said that word in my life. Doctor consults to support you on your hair growth journey and a headspace meditation membership is included. So between Christine's hair looking slammin and also hearing that there's a meditation membership.

[B]

I think it's like your head, your brain, your hair. You know, the outside and the inside. And the inside, that's beautiful. See? Thicker, stronger, faster growing hair with less shedding. In just three to six months with neutral for a limited time, Neutrophil is offering our listeners $10 off your first month subscription and free shipping when you go to neutrophil.com and enter the promo code. Drink.

[A]

Find out why Neutrophil is the best selling hair growth supplement [e-mail] spelled n u T R A F O L. That's nutriful.com promo code. Drink. Okay, so this is the story of the Seven Sisters Road.

[B]

Seven Sisters Road. Okay. My mom is one of seven sisters. Sorry, my phone's buzzing. Is she really sorry I ordered a costume? No, I'm just kidding.

[A]

When I found out, I was like, there's no way I can't tell this story.

[B]

Yeah, at a certain point it's like, well, there's no way out of this maze. I hit a dead end.

[A]

I'll tell you, this is a psa. Watch what you fudgeing click on by accident. And also, and also, where was Frankenstein? Like I couldn't have ordered Frankenstein.

[B]

And that maybe you got them confused, which sometimes happens.

[A]

I maybe I clicked on to be like, who would get a fucking condom class? And then you were like, what is this? But I accidentally.

[B]

I like, who would Get a bag of chips as their costume. And then.

[A]

Well, I really. I really have like the. On doordash. You know how if you just like press the plus button, all of a sudden it does add to your cart instead of.

[B]

I. Yeah, I don't know. I know. Pick a size though, or something. I don't know. I don't order. I feel like.

[A]

I think a con. That condom was a one size.

[B]

Actually, it wasn't. It was actually a fits only. Huge, dudes. Okay, so first of all, don't even disrespect the costume like that.

[A]

No, I have. I have, like, done like a CVS order, and all of a sudden there's just random candy in there. I thought I didn't order. And then I look back and it's because of the plus button.

[B]

It's like a Freudian slip. You're like, oh, candy.

[A]

Anyway, I just want a stupid fucking thing that happened to me. Okay, sorry, Keep going.

[B]

No, I was just saying my mom is one of seven sisters, so I wonder if this their road.

[A]

I should know this, but what number is she in the lineup to?

[B]

Oh, second kid. I think it sounds pretty rough. I was like, you're not the firstborn. You're not even like one of the younger ones. You're just kind of up there like taking. Yeah.

[A]

You were just a responsibility.

[B]

That's right. Yeah, it's. It's. Rough spot. Rough spot.

[A]

Well, everybody. So this is in Nebraska. It's an hour south of Omaha. And the road is apparently also known as L Road.

[B]

Like the letter L?

[A]

The letter L. Yeah.

[B]

Hey, fun fact. One time my dad told me he had a new girlfriend. And he told my brother and me while we were watching tv and we said. He said, we're gonna meet her for dinner tonight. And I was like, six or seven. And he said. We said, what's her name? And he said, her name is Elle. And we were like, like from. Like we thought he was joking because I thought it was like, from Sesame Street. Like, oh, the letter L. He's like, no. She's basically like, no, she's real. She goes to another school. Her name's Elle. And I was like, wait, what do you mean, L like from Sesame Street? Anyway, it turns out it was E. L, L, E. And my brain couldn't comprehend it at 6. And I literally thought her name was the letter L for a long time. So now I ask.

[A]

Fair enough, fair enough. Well, the. This road is 22 minutes. Nope, 22 miles long. Yikes. But I think there's only One section of it that is three miles long. And I think like the section that we're talking about is three miles long. Sorry.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And all of the road is mostly unpaved, but there are many hills in the area. And that is where the hills will come in. Don't worry.

[B]

So in the late 18 hills are alive.

[A]

The hills are actually.

[B]

Oh.

[A]

So in the late 1800s, early 1900s, there was a section that had seven major hills and a family lived in that area. The story goes that it was a farmer, a wife, a son, and seven daughters. So the legend is different versions.

[B]

That's my mom's family. One son, seven daughters.

[A]

Was her father a farmer?

[B]

He was. What's the opposite of a farmer?

[A]

So the legend has different versions, but some say that the dad was actually a.

[B]

A lamp salesman? No, no, a lamp curator.

[A]

He was, he was the bad guy in some stories, but in other stories he didn't do anything wrong.

[B]

And it was more the son that.

[A]

Was the bad guy. But the main story is that the son was fighting with his family. And I guess it was happening a lot that year. And things, the tension was getting high in that family. Things started getting really heated in the house. And during one particularly bad fight with his parents, the sisters all took the parents side. And so the sun stormed off and went up into the house.

[B]

That's terrifying. You really don't mess with seven sisters. I've seen it with my own two eyes. It's a scary force.

[A]

I. I believe it just.

[B]

They're rarely on the same page, but when they are, it's like, oh, fuck, you know?

[A]

Yeah. United front.

[B]

You're screwed.

[A]

So later that night, he saw his parents leave for the night.

[B]

Oh, he's in the hills. Right, sorry.

[A]

He's in the hills sulking or doing something up there.

[B]

He's throwing rocks at trees for sure.

[A]

Can't believe they're all so mad at me.

[B]

They're so mean to me.

[A]

And he ends up finding out that his. Or he looks down to his house and sees his parents are leaving for the night. So while very angry still, especially at his sisters, he goes back to the house once they're gone. And it's unknown if the sisters were sleeping or if they were up and at them. But basically the story goes that one by one he lured or forced each of them outside.

[B]

What the fuck? Okay, no more joking. Sorry. Geez. Oh, man.

[A]

Unsure if it's like every version was like, well, you don't know really what happened. But basically he was able to trick them or Physically drag them each out of the house and into the hills. He brought each of them to a different hill and hang them from a tree.

[B]

Jesus. Wow. Okay. I mean, it sounds very folklore y. Like, he put all of them on a different hill. That seems a little, like, excessive for what? You know, but Unless he's, like, totally nutty. Like a total premeditated serial killer type. And he's, like, dreamed of doing this, but.

[A]

Right. This sounds like something. It sounds like something you don't just do.

[B]

Right. On a whim.

[A]

On a whim.

[B]

Because you're mad right now.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So for seven times, too, it's like, yeah, okay. Not okay, but, like, you know, you do two. It's like, jesus, you're gonna do this five more times because you're that upset.

[A]

And also, logistically, I'm like, would they go like, totally.

[B]

Is he going back? And then they're, like, waiting for him and they're like, what did you do with our other three sisters?

[A]

Yeah. Or like, wouldn't the ones that he hasn't gotten yet hear someone screaming?

[B]

Right. And be out of there? I don't know.

[A]

Anyway, the story goes that one by one, he would take each of them to a different hill and hang them from.

[B]

I just don't want it to be true. That's why I'm arguing with it. It's not that. It's not that I don't believe you or the story. I just am like, I can't. Okay. Wow. That's a lot. That's dark.

[A]

Well, eventually, all seven are in different trees on different hills. And I saw one source say, and their screams slowly faded.

[B]

What?

[A]

So fucking dark.

[B]

It is dark. Yeesh.

[A]

Yeah. It's unknown if the mom and dad were the first people to find their daughters, but one site called this quote a macabre welcome home to his parents.

[B]

Oh, well, okay. That's beautifully written.

[A]

Yeah. Thanks so much for the flowers.

[B]

Welcome.

[A]

After this event, it's unknown what happened to the family, but when locals would drive through the area, weird things would start to happen. So their animals would act weird. This was a time where it was a horse and wagon instead of a car. So the animals were acting weird. So, um, the horses refused to go into that area. Their wagons would break down, and the area was unnaturally silent. And from this point on, it became known to locals that you should try to avoid this road at all costs after dark.

[B]

Oh, God.

[A]

So since this time period, some of the hills have been taken down, but four still stand, I guess, in the creation of roads. And stuff like that.

[B]

Right, four left.

[A]

But the lore has carried on, and to this day, people driving on the Seven Sisters Road say that the area is very eerie and odd things happen to them at night. One local said that the land just feels wrong. You can't explain it, but it's heavy. Like, it remembers.

[B]

Yuck.

[A]

I love when you go.

[B]

It makes my cringe. My soul, like, cringe. Starts cringing.

[A]

People have said the air feels off and that they even have to pop their ears in certain spots because it feels like the space has changed.

[B]

Ugh.

[A]

People will see orbs glowing and odd lights flickering around them, and the wind will abruptly pick up. Pick up or shift directions. Like, you know how in your car when there's, like, a big gust of wind, even the car will feel like it? Feel it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So Renee used to drive a Jeep in high school. Imagine the nightmare of that fucking experience. 16 years old.

[A]

I had a friend who drove a Jeep in high school, and it's always.

[B]

The least, like, responsible drive. Not that Renee is. Well, you know, it's just like, a little more chaotic energy. And I'm like, who gave this girl a Jeep? You know?

[A]

Oh, my God. Yeah.

[B]

Was your friend chaotic driver?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Yeah, it always is. I don't know what that is. It's like, who gave this to you and why?

[A]

Have you heard of the Jeep death rattle or whatever? It's.

[B]

Oh, yeah, yeah. I hate that.

[A]

Never experienced that.

[B]

I haven't either. God, I would never have gotten in that car again.

[A]

Apparently, it's some, like, glitch in Jeeps that, like, everyone's aware of and nobody's fixing. And. Is it.

[B]

I thought it was, like, when you, like, lean too far. No, it's like, an actual, like, issue with the car. I don't really know much about it, honestly.

[A]

I think there's, like, you can set it off. Like, some people know exactly the right way to set it off to show you the death rattle and. But then you'd, like, have to just hold on for dear life. And the thing that your wheel is shaking like this. It's, like, so scary.

[B]

Yeah. Thank God that wasn't part of my experience.

[A]

Well, okay. So the wind will pick up and shift directions, and I'm assuming also just move your car off the road, which has to feel scary in a. Especially in a haunted road at night. That being said, there are a lot of times where people will experience all this and still hear no ambient sound. So it's happening and you can't even hear wind. There's Nothing creepier to me than full silence.

[B]

No. And it sounds like very alien too when you get into that. Or like something like more than just a ghost. Like either demonic or aliens. Like something like unnatural. Like creepy unnatural.

[A]

So yeah, I can't stand it. And I. By the way, there's no mention of aliens in this, but I just feel like this has got to be a UFO space. Right?

[B]

Right. With all these hills. I don't know, it seems. It seem a little like it would be a match made in heaven.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So people's phones will also die even if they're newly charged.

[B]

Oh, see, that's not cool.

[A]

All electronics will.

[B]

Because that means your car goes quiet too. Which is creepy. Cuz if you're playing music or. Well, I mean I. If you have the radio on. But I imagine there's some creepy radio thing that happens too. But if you're like playing a podcast and it's like your phone dies, then now you're in silence. You can't even like pretend everything.

[A]

You just have to. It's like it wants you to think about what it feels like. It is. Yeah. And by the way, let's not forget that cars these days, a lot of.

[B]

Them are electronic cars these days. True. It is creepy when people talk about like their cars, like kind of the system, like shutting down.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh my God, my car does that. If I reset the like little screen where the. When you plug your phone in, a little screen comes on. If I sometimes like the touch thing won't work, so I'll reset it and it like goes. And like you're driving but like the whole car just like goes quiet and you're like, is it allowed to be moving still? Like, I feel like it's not on, but it just shuts down all the. It's a creepy sound. It like.

[A]

Yeah, like a.

[B]

Like I would for sure do that too if we were on that road. I would like lean over and hold the button until it started over. Just scared.

[A]

What would I do? Leave you on the road and. Right.

[B]

Fair. Well, you probably jump out and then I'd have to handle that situation, which would be a big problem.

[A]

Investigation teams have actually gone out here and they've said that their electronics will also die. So their mics and their cameras will either pick up weird interference or just die. Even if it's a fresh battery pack, people have felt hands brush past them. And one person even said that they felt their sweatshirt pull itself up on them.

[B]

What?

[A]

Which like, that does not feel like something the sisters Would do.

[B]

Yeah. I don't know. Right. That's kind of like, what are you doing?

[A]

One friend who was in that group, though, watched it happen and saw the hoodie lift up by itself.

[B]

Were they in the car or were they just, like, out and about?

[A]

I think they were just standing at, like, a gas station.

[B]

Oh, okay. Okay. Because I was like, that feels, like, really complicated, but if you're just outside.

[A]

Yeah, good point. Very, very fair question. Drivers claim to see shadows moving outside in eerie ways. And some have even said that these shadows have glowing red eyes. This has become, like, a big thing there where people always claim to see red, glowing eyes in the hills. And in 1960, this is very rare, but in 1960, there was a week where multiple people all reported to the police that there was something with red eyes glaring at them out in the hills.

[B]

Ah, in what, 50s or 60s, you said 1960. This feels very extraterrestrial to me. I don't know. Yeah, it does.

[A]

It does. No, because you're totally right. Like, there's electronic malfunctions.

[B]

Right.

[A]

It just feels really eerie. It's very silent. I mean. Yeah, I. I would agree that this feels more UFO than anything.

[B]

I agree with the thing I said.

[A]

With exactly what you said. People have also reported hearing bells ringing out in the distance.

[B]

Huh.

[A]

And people, for some reason, have gone to investigate, and they haven't found anything.

[B]

Okay, that's probably good.

[A]

They've also heard voices and whispers talking to them that are just out of view every time. And investigators have looked for these noises in a nearby cemetery, and apparently there's never anybody there. It's. I'm. It sounds like it was kind of like an abandoned cemetery, but they thought, well, maybe that's where the bells are coming from. Or someone's there seeing somebody, and there's never anyone. They've also picked up female EVPs of someone saying, help us.

[B]

No.

[A]

And people like. I mean, you said earlier, different parts of a car can die in creepy situations. And I said, oh, well, a car is like a whole machine itself. Cars will malfunction altogether where their speedometer needle will have a mind of its own.

[B]

And that's like. That's like feeling. Yeah, that feels like compass. Like magnetic stuff, too. You know, like magnetic interference. Yuck.

[A]

Well, tell me this. Tell me if this is horrifying to you. Their windows will go up and down by themselves.

[B]

Your sweatshirt's going up, your windows going down.

[A]

I mean, it's. I. That's like your window is your only safe.

[B]

I know. It feels like your only little barrier. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Can you imagine if your car just like, stopped itself on the side of the road, turned all the music off, and then the window goes down.

[B]

Oh, no. Oh, my God.

[A]

I would absolutely lose my nightmare.

[B]

Nightmare.

[A]

A common thing that happens to people is that their car's headlights will shut off completely or they will dim only while in the air area. And as soon as you leave the area, they will re. Brighten.

[B]

Ew. And then you have to drive slower. And then you get nervous you're gonna hit something. Like, it's just elevated your fear. I don't know.

[A]

That's such a good. I'm glad that you're here. Another common thing is that the cars will just stall out of nowhere and leave people stranded in the hills.

[B]

Great. Fantastic.

[A]

That is. We're now teetering into, like, certainly one of the most. Some of the most common things that happen here. The one of the first things that every story had was, oh, your car will stall. Especially if we're at the top of a hilltop. The. The car will stall and then feel like it's going backwards down the hill, which, like, you can't do anything about.

[B]

Yuck.

[A]

Yeah. So it'll just stall, and then if you try to turn it back on, people say that they hear someone talking to them.

[B]

Oh, God.

[A]

So I imagine if you're a teenager, though, and it's like, go turn your car off out in the hills and see what happens. You know, like.

[B]

Yeah. Count to a. Oh, God. So spooky.

[A]

Oh, that was my next bullet point. Many people have said, on top of your engine stalling. Oh, no, this is a new thing. Get ready.

[B]

Okay, I'm ready.

[A]

Many people have said, on top of the engine stalling, their radio will freak out. And sometimes it will. Which you actually mentioned the radio. Sometimes it changes from music to static. Other times it will turn off altogether. It'll just. It's turned off. And other times it switches to stations playing creepy music.

[B]

Oh, I love that. They're like, let's go set the vibe, babe. First, before we attack.

[A]

One time a guy's radio switched itself to the song the End by the Doors.

[B]

Oh, I was gonna say, what qualifies as creepy music? That counts? I would say even scarier than the.

[A]

Words in that song. It's a 12 minute song.

[B]

Oh, well, nightmare again.

[A]

It's like five minutes, but it felt like an eternity. Imagine 12 minutes of your window going.

[B]

Classic radio, and you're like, help.

[A]

By the way, the song is about a guy wanting to kill his Family.

[B]

We're, like, boring. Sorry. Sometimes get the. What a contagious yawn.

[A]

The Sleepies.

[B]

Yeah, the Sleepies.

[A]

So keep in mind this song is about a guy wanting to kill his family. Yes. He even walks down the halls to their room and tells them he wants to do it.

[B]

What?

[A]

Which, like, hello. That feels very similar to the story.

[B]

It feels like the story is almost being set up by some other ghost. That's like, let's make them believe it's this story. Because it's, like, so specific.

[A]

I know. And the song the End that was playing, I just wanted to read some of the lyrics.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. Can you sing them? Actually, that'd be great.

[A]

I don't. I would try it, but I don't know the word. I don't know the music at all.

[B]

You can make them make it up. I don't know it either, so I wouldn't know. Just kidding. You can just say the words.

[A]

I was gonna try. Well, okay, so the first line is, this is the end, beautiful friend. And imagine, by the way, your car has stalled the radio.

[B]

Oh, you're on the top of a fucking dark ass hill.

[A]

The wind is pushing you around and yet there's no wind. You're seeing eyes staring at you and your window's going up and down. This is the end, beautiful friend this is the end, my only friend, the end. There's danger on the edge of town Ride the king's highway, baby. Fuck, yeah. Do it. Come on. All right. Kill, kill, kill. Kill, kill, kill. This is the end, beautiful friend this is the end, my only friend, the end. It hurts to set you free but you'll never follow me. The end of laughter and soft lies the end of nights we tried to die. This is the end.

[B]

What the fuck, dude? What are the doors up to? What's happening here?

[A]

Well, okay, so those were. Those were three different lines of lyrics. So there was some stuff going on in the middle there, but yeah, isn't that crazy? And imagine you hear that in the middle of nowhere.

[B]

Yuck. Yuck. I'm, like, looking. Because you know how sometimes back then they would write words about a serial killer. It doesn't even seem to be that it's about a serial killer.

[A]

So, no, literally, the song is like a son walking down the hall saying, dad, I want to kill you. And then at the end it's like, all right, kill, kill, kill, kill. Oh, yeah, I get it. I literally think I would just lie in the car, lie down and close my eyes and just embrace my fate. I'd Be like, I don't even. I don't even.

[B]

Goodbye, cruel world. Yeah.

[A]

So other than the radio freaking out, the number one most common haunting here. You got the car stalling, the radio freaking out, and the screaming. Ah. Like that.

[B]

So just like that. That is scary.

[A]

People hear screaming of all volumes, both outside and inside their car. Oh. And sometimes it starts as soft voices outside of the car that kind of grow and get louder and louder. Other times, people have heard screams literally from their back seat.

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

Some people have even said that they've had the audacity to look in their rear view. I say audacity to look in the rear view mirror and see what the screaming's all about. And there are faces in their back seat.

[B]

In the back seat? No, in the back seat. No, no, no, no, no, no.

[A]

I know, I know, I know. Sometimes the screams happen while the car stalls and refuses to turn on. There have been other people that right when their engine lights back up, all of a sudden, there's a scream in their ear, which I said voices earlier. But the screams are just.

[B]

But the screaming is crazy. And I'm like, is it like they're trying to use the energy of the car to, like, communicate? And that's why the car. Like, why are they. It's like, I don't know. It's just weird.

[A]

Detective Schieffer is, like, gonna ask questions.

[B]

That have no answers. We'll never really know.

[A]

You know what? Every detective asks questions that has no answers, and then they find them. So.

[B]

So great. Thank you.

[A]

You'll find it along the way someday. Others say that the screaming will turn into abrupt silence out of nowhere. So screaming silence.

[B]

That is scary. That's somehow even creepier.

[A]

So all that to say is, is the legend real of the seven sisters being hung from different trees on different hills? What do you think?

[B]

I feel like. Well, my gut was like, oh, maybe there was a really terrible crime. And over the years, it's been, like, exaggerated to, like, seven sisters. And maybe it wasn't quite as many, but I don't know. I don't know. Is there a real answer?

[A]

Detective Schieffer is on it. So you made some interesting points. So we don't know for sure if that ever happened, but there is no evidence of a gruesome murder like that. Although it has been suggested because it was a very small town over a hundred years ago, it might have just been kept off the record to avoid any shame.

[B]

Right, right, right.

[A]

But whether or not that's true, there's no Police record. There's no county record. There's no newspaper articles about it. This is most likely just a tall tale, but it could have been inspired by actual hangings in the area, because this county is one of the top counties to have the most public hangings in the 1800s.

[B]

Oh, shit. Okay. Wow. So there's at least some horrible things that happen here.

[A]

Yeah. So there were apparently five is how many hangings there were in the 1800s in this county. And one of them was in 1887 when a husband was said to have killed his own daughter for the inheritance.

[B]

Yuck.

[A]

So that could be where we get the story of, like, a family hanging.

[B]

Right, right, right. And murder and. Yeah.

[A]

And why sometimes the dad is actually the bad guy in the story you hear?

[B]

Right, right, right.

[A]

The man also lived near what is now Seven Sisters Road, where the legend happened. So that would. That would fit the. Like, a guy did live here and kill his daughter.

[B]

For sure. For sure.

[A]

Also in the area, there was once a family who lived here that had one son and seven daughters.

[B]

Oh.

[A]

But their death dates all differ drastically. Like, they definitely didn't experience a murder. But there's the thought that people just kind of combined the story of, like, a son and seven daughters and this guy who hanged his daughter in the area.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Smashed them together and got this, like, up family lore.

[B]

And, like, who knows how if the. That other family with. With eight kids was up anyway. In their own way. Right. And then they just got kind of like. I mean, who knows? But it just feels like an easy thing to combine.

[A]

Yeah. So, yeah, it just. I could see that in a small town becoming a very easy story. So today, a lot of people have turned this into, like, the local challenge. Like, mine is the Bunnyman Bridge.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And it's like, oh, drive through at night with your headlights off or something. However, I did see on two different websites, I think, people posting warnings about doing this, and they did say, if you're gonna do this, this is a quote.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Don't drive alone. Never stop at the top of the hill. Keep your lights on. Avoid the road after midnight, and if you hear screaming, don't look back.

[B]

It's so creepy. It sounds like the end of a Goosebumps book.

[A]

I know.

[B]

Back. Whatever you do.

[A]

So that's the Seven Sisters, right?

[B]

That's so creepy. Remember when I was like, this is just like my mom? And then I'm like, okay, never mind. Thank God. Thank God. But, wow, what a tale. That did feel very Halloweeny. I'll give that to you, right? I was joking, but it really did. So I think we're gonna match tones today.

[A]

Oh, good.

[B]

Oh, good. Few. Finally.

[A]

Christine, what a. What is that in your hand? I.

[B]

Okay. I'm so glad you asked. I don't even know if I'm allowed. It wasn't on purpose. I don't even know if I'm allowed to show it on camera, I guess because we're doing that for it. But I brought my cornbread peach iced tea with thc. If you are looking for a natural way to relieve aches and discomfort, as I always am, with my knees and my elbows and my ankles and my wrists.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

My whole aura, all of it. The CBD gum gummies from Cornbread Hemp have been some of my favorites. They're formulated to work with your body, not against it. But, you know, that's what I take when I'm. When I have some aches and pains, when I'm ready to have a good time with em. That's when I opened the Cornbread peach iced Tea. Thc.

[A]

Yeah. And Cristine's not lying. We really were about to record, and she went, oh, my God, I have my cornbread with me. So it really. It worked out very well. Cornbread Hemps CBD gummies are made to help you feel better, whether it's stress, discomfort, or needing a little relaxation. Christine, how is your stress, discomfort, and relaxation?

[B]

Listen, it's about to get a lot better. You know what I'm saying? Perfect.

[A]

Right now. And that's why we drink. Listeners can save 30 on their first order. Just head to cornbreadhemp.com drink and use code DRINK at checkout.

[B]

That's cornbreadhemp.com Drink and use code drink. All right, we are back from our intermission, and it was my favorite yet. And we got some insight into Condom Gate.

[A]

Condom gate.

[B]

Yeah. 20, 25. That sounds way worse than what it is. You know, it shouldn't even be called Condom Gate. That feels like way.

[A]

It's called Sperm gate. And let people join Patreon and see what we're talking about. Go.

[B]

That's the perfect little tidbit. Okay, let's leave it at that. I mean, it's just outrageous. I'm gonna be laughing about this for the rest of my life. Okay. Oh, God, I can't wait until Leon is old enough for this story.

[A]

Okay, Maybe by then we'll have an answer.

[B]

I mean, maybe by then. Yeah, it'll be. We'll have time travel and we can actually go watch it happen. In real time. That'll be even more fun.

[A]

Perfect.

[B]

Okay, so I know I mentioned this at the start, but I accidentally went Halloweeny with this one and not last week's episode, so I apologize. But I do have a Halloween based story because it happened at a Halloween event, so.

[A]

You know what's great about this, though, is everyone's got their candy all ready to eat. While that's telling your story, right?

[B]

That's don't eat your kids candy. They know we know.

[A]

I know.

[B]

I counted it, okay. Oh, nice try, Mom. I think I didn't count my Almond Joys.

[A]

Sick. Almond Joy.

[B]

What? Yes.

[A]

Apparently there's a lot of hate for Mary Janes out there, so.

[B]

Oh, I'm like, over here going, sure, I'll eat it. Like, whatever.

[A]

More for me.

[B]

Listen, More for you, for sure.

[A]

Maybe that's my old people candy.

[B]

Oh, I love that for you. I mean, I love a Werther's original, so that's always my go to. But I get. My dad would always tell me that I'm gonna choke on it, so I'm, like, really scared of them also.

[A]

Fair enough. Okay, I've got my. My symbolic Halloween treats, my Mary Janes.

[B]

Oh, yes. Yes.

[A]

Ready to eat while you tell me your story.

[B]

Oh, good. Okay. Enjoy them. Chelsea Ellen Brooke is the victim, unfortunately, in today's story, this is the story of how she was killed on Halloween night. So Chelsea Ellen Brock. She was born January 1992 to Matthew and Leanda Bruck. She grew up the youngest of five kids on a farm in maybe Michigan. I've never heard of that place, but I really like it. I love that it has two E's.

[A]

Oh, okay. I don't know if I love it as much anymore.

[B]

I kind of like it more with the two E's because it's like, I think it's cutesy. It's good.

[A]

A.

[B]

A quirky version of maybe. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. But I think of if it didn't have that other E, all the ways you could put your town name into slogans.

[B]

You're right. But if you put your town name with an extra E, then people, like, get that it's the town, but. Yeah, No, I know what you mean.

[A]

I mean, I guess I'm sure people still do it.

[B]

This is us at the. What do you call it? The. The city. What do you call it when people go to the town hall or whatever, town hall meeting, and then I just like bickering on the microphone about whether it's better as with one one E or two and it's like I would.

[A]

Protest by spray painting like one E out of every sign.

[B]

Just like cross it out. Okay, sorry. So maybe Michigan. Very fun. That's the end of the fun. All right. Chelsea's father worked for the county library system and ran the family farm, and her mother worked as a bank teller. The family was very close. Chelsea enjoyed a very happy, idyllic childhood alongside her sisters and brother. This town of maybe is a town of just under 600 residents, but it's very close knit. Well, I guess it's. Of course it's close knits. Like fewer than 600 people. So it's a very close knit group. They call each other family and neighbors are often known to be very involved in each other's lives. So if there's an event in town, it's pretty much guaranteed that everyone in town will assume they're invited to the event. Like, you can't really have an event where it's not like everyone in maybes a maybe for the event. I. Yeah, it wasn't that good, but.

[A]

No, but you know, I feel like if you're having a party in the baby at the rsv, you when you make an art for sure you have.

[B]

To put baby or a wedding invite. Like it has to have something like that. 100.

[A]

Or maybe you'll come to my party.

[B]

I mean, it's cute with two E's. My party.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Now we're friends at the town hall meeting. Everyone's like, get these two out of here.

[A]

There's so picture of us signing the same document at the same time.

[B]

But we're like trying. Stupid. So stupid. Okay, all right. So there's this big party. And every year on Halloween, this neighbor throws a party. And basically it's. It's kind of a free for all. Like everybody's sort of gonna show up whether you like it or not. So like everybody in maybe. Chelsea was a familiar face that everybody knew in town. She was one of the Bruck girls or the Brook sisters. And she was the youngest of the girls, but she was also one of the like, oldest and most well known or most like understood or appreciated in town for. For how bubbly and outgoing she was. Very funny, that kind of thing. So Chelsea hears of a big Halloween party happening in Monroe county in autumn of 2014. And they have fun things like prizes for the best dressed and. Yeah, gotta love people who take the event seriously. The Halloween event seriously. Yeah. Yeah. And well, Em has seven capes, so.

[A]

I have seven capes.

[B]

We already know that about you.

[A]

I mean, between all the costumes I did and did not get this Halloween season, I could have really thrown together something for best or worst dress.

[B]

Oh, you could have made at least most original, certainly most uncomfortable for everybody. Most socially awkward. Yeah, that. That actually tracks a little.

[A]

Likely to. Should stay away from your children for the day.

[B]

To get kicked out of my party, my family event. Oh, God, that's good. Okay, so she hears there's this best dressed award and there's, you know, this fun Halloween party. This guy, his name is Mike Williams. He's better known as, of course, Big Mike, because which Mike Williams in. In the Midwest is not known as Big Mike. And he would often throw parties at his home in Monroe county. And this one was going to be his biggest yet. Okay. It had a stage. It had fire dancers, live music.

[A]

Hell yeah.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, Big Mike. An enormous bonfire, food trucks, contests, prizes, and lots of drinks. He actually had a 10 hour, like, schedule for the music. So he had bands performing for 10 straight hours.

[A]

Hire Big Mike. Also, like, no, I. I mean, I guess you can't. You. If just like how you said earlier, if 600 people live in your town and 600 people just kind of have to be invited, if you're throwing a party, you better deliver for 600 people.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You would think by living in such a small town, parties would be a lot easier. It's actually much harder because if everyone's invited, everyone's like.

[B]

And they're all gonna hear about it because everyone knows each other.

[A]

A town fair, essentially.

[B]

Right.

[A]

You're.

[B]

Yeah. You're inviting everyone to the town hall meeting. So. And they're going to show up.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

There's an award for best best costume.

[A]

And you're competing with 600 people for best dress. You better fudgeing commit.

[B]

So she was very excited about this part and she really committed. She worked on the costume for weeks. She sewed individual fake leaves together. Do you want to guess what she was dressed as?

[A]

I mean, I feel like tree is not their answer.

[B]

I like it, though.

[A]

Dressed as leaves. I have no other than a tria. I. I've magically forgotten what leaves are a part of.

[B]

I mean. Yeah, like, what else would it be? No, it was poison ivy from.

[A]

Oh, that's sick.

[B]

But like, I sort of would. I would never have guessed that. Okay. I would have been like, oh, a shrub.

[A]

I don't know if she texted me, she was like, I'm sewing all these leaves together for my costume. I'd be like, you're obviously a tree.

[B]

A tree Just come on. Yeah, but so apparently it was poison ivy from B. So on October 25, Chelsea put on this like painstakingly crafted outfit. It had a red wig, this whole, whole nine yards, red shoes. And went to Big Mike's annual Halloween bash. So Big Mike often threw parties and this was like I said, gonna be the biggest one. They even had food trucks coming in, tents for people, portable toilets. He actually even hired a team to act as security and to direct parking. So this is like becoming like a fall festival situation. Like an actual pumpkin patch. Like we need to everyone park near the cornfield.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And we have like ropes and stuff. And despite his careful planning, Mike was extremely overwhelmed by the turnout. So there were nearly twice as many attendees as he expected. So people estimate that about 800 to a thousand people came that night, which is just.

[A]

That's insane.

[B]

Like, you know, he was planning for a 400 person, 500 person max party, which is like bit huge. And then it's like double that, you know, I mean, my brain, I can't even comprehend if he doesn't leave this.

[A]

Small ass town and go be a party promoter, then I don't know what he's doing.

[B]

Seriously. If he wants to make a. I mean, maybe this is what the Midwest needs though. Maybe he's gonna like revolutionize, you know, maybe. Feels like this is shocking. But. But what I will say is he really didn't feel prepared. And so he was like very, very overwhelmed. He didn't know every there, you know, and so he's looking around going, okay, mostly I know people. And if I don't recognize many people here, like, that's becoming a problem. Like security wise and otherwise.

[A]

It's giving Aaron Carter's music video.

[B]

Oh my God. For real.

[A]

It's like, who are you? And it's like, I don't know, I just got invited.

[B]

Yeah, the. You broke my mom's vase. I love that song. Yeah, yeah, exactly. It's like, oh, this got out of hand, you know. And so with no more room in the field, people started parking in the street and they were blocking the road. I mean, this is just becoming a huge issue. And after midnight, Mike was fighting to control party overflow. And he was trying to get people out of the street. He was trying to keep things at least safe enough and organized as he could. People started getting into brawls. You know, there's alcohol involved. So he's trying to get people out for. Thank God he hired security, like to even. I wouldn't have even thought of that as my yeah.

[A]

Also, I mean, is. Did he really invite or having security, or were they just like. If you're inviting everyone in the. Is everyone.

[B]

Oh, they're like, we're just guests at the party.

[A]

Because in my mind, I'm like, you're blocking the roads. But, like, do the cops care? Because they're also partying, you know, at the party.

[B]

Yeah. I feel like there has to be somebody who doesn't like Big Mike, though.

[A]

Who'S like, oh, yeah.

[B]

You know, on the police, there has.

[A]

Like, a commissioner maybe has no enemies.

[B]

But maybe the commissioner. Yeah, that feels right. Allegedly.

[A]

Allegedly.

[B]

So most people were just having a good time drinking, dancing, socializing. But he did have to get a few people kicked out for being too rowdy and fighting. But of all the people there, Chelsea was among the group having a good time. She arrived around 11. She had an entire glass jug of wine with her, which she had labeled poison her costume. So she had this poison jar, and she was having a really good time until just before 1am when she unfortunately had an accident. She walked into a tent pole, like, that was sticking out, and it was really dark at this point, and they were walking from one area of the party to another, and she walked directly into a pole that was jutting out, and it cut her forehead and nose. And so she started bleeding. But her friend kind of, like, she said the way she described it was like, I mommed her for a bit, and, like. Like, you know, comforted her, like, gave her a pep talk, got her drink, and said, let's keep going. So they continued on. And when Chelsea finally did decide to go home a little while later, she discovered that her ride was ready to leave, and she wasn't like or had already left. Basically, she found out that the girl she was going to go with had had waited a while, then been like, I'm gonna go home. And so Chelsea was a little bit stuck. And the worst part was that one of Chelsea's friends who was carrying her phone and wallet, because unlike your cape, her costume didn't have pockets. And so she had left her phone with someone else, which is like, oh, girl. You know? And it's 2014. So it's like, at that point, it's not like you're using it for literally everything.

[A]

Right.

[B]

You know, so it's kind of like you can enjoy a party without it, without feeling like you're missing it, but still, like.

[A]

And her costume was made out of leaves, so, like, you can't go digging for your phone every five seconds. You're Gonna.

[B]

True, true, true. Yeah, I hadn't even thought of that. And she already has that giant jug of wine she's carrying around, and she's busy. Phones were not, like, super convenient back then. They were just kind of clunky. Yeah. So I didn't find that. That strange, but. So she was. She didn't have her phone on her, but her friend was carrying her phone and wallet, and she found out. And I don't want to make it sound like all these friends left without her, because I don't believe that's what happened. I think it was just a big party. People got lost in front of each other. Okay. Okay.

[A]

People just kind of part ways at a party.

[B]

Yeah. And they were trying to text her. Right. But she doesn't have her phone, so it's like, you know, she can't even figure out. So they just assume, like, all right, she'll get her way. She'll find her way home. There are plenty of people here. We know a lot of them. It's fine. So they leave, and she's a little bit stuck without her phone. So she asked several people for a ride home, but nobody is able to give her one. So she finally left the party around 3am on foot and alone. It's not certain where exactly, which is so sad too, because it's like you wish somebody would have spotted her or she would have thought to go to Big Mike or, like, the security people and said, like, call me a cab or something. It's just sad.

[A]

It's one of those things where it's like a catch 22 of, like, if there's so many people around, you would think someone's gonna help or notice something, but it also means there's a higher risk of something happening.

[B]

Yeah. I agree. Like, you feel safety in numbers in some way, but then if someone has bad intentions and you walk off alone, like.

[A]

Like.

[B]

Yeah, it's just too bad. It's. It's obviously tragic, and I can't change it, but it just is a bummer. So, yeah, she walks out. She doesn't really think to. She was pretty intoxicated. People said she didn't think to. To talk to the security people. She left around 3am by herself.

[A]

It's also a small town. She probably just saw, like, I know everyone I'm gonna be.

[B]

Someone will. Yeah, someone will. Yeah, exactly. Or if I run into somebody, maybe they can walk with me or who knows? Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And, like, if you're really drunk at this point at three in the morning, like, you're not making the wisest decision. I speak fully from experience on that. Like, you just think, of course you're safe. You're walking along. You're the place you grew up. You know, from home, from a party. I will say people didn't quite know where she was going because it would have taken hours to walk home. So I think she just probably got it in her head and wandered.

[A]

I think she probably just thought, I'll find my friends along the way.

[B]

Somebody will pick me up.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, if I've been to a lot of house parties where I've watched a lot of drunk people just kind of aimlessly wander off into the void, and they're like, I'll figure it out.

[B]

I'll find my way back. Or like, she could have been walking.

[A]

To, like, Waffle House. Like, who knows?

[B]

Who knows? Right? Exactly. True. And, like, she would have probably known the area. But, yeah, so she. She would have had to walk eight miles back to her house. So they're not sure whether she was walking home or just like, like you said, to another location. Gas station. Waffles. Who knows?

[A]

Gas station. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. So it might not have been a problem on another night that there was this distance, but this night she was very drunk. It was three in the morning, and she had that injury on her face.

[A]

Right.

[B]

So in the morning, Chelsea didn't return home, but her family wasn't too worried because she had planned to stay the night at a friend's house after the party. So first thing in the morning, they weren't super worried. But after a few hours, when the afternoon rolled around, then later the evening and she was still not answering her cell phone, that's when her parents got worried. Chelsea was very close with her family, and she was the type of person who would have checked in by this point. So it was pretty worrying that nobody could get a hold of her. Even if she couldn't use her phone, she would have found another way to reach out to her parents or a sibling, which is probably what she was doing on her walk home, like, trying to get somewhere or who knows? And no one who went to the party knew where she was or who she might be with. So they felt kind of stuck. It was early Sunday morning when Chelsea had last been seen, so her family didn't have all the details about how and when she left the party. They just could only hope that she found somebody who would help her get home safe. But as the day passed and they didn't hear from her, they worried that she wasn't Just sleeping off a hangover. And something worse had happened. So on Monday, October 27, Chelsea's mom reported her daughter missing. Sheriffs went to the site of the Halloween party where Mike was still cleaning up decorations and garbage. I mean, not that far off. Only a couple days. That would be exhausting. That would be exhausting.

[A]

I can't.

[B]

I mean, you'd have to plant. You'd have to wait a whole year for sure to do another one of these big blowouts. I think 100.

[A]

No wonder he does it once a year. And the. You do wonder. Like, how big of a community are we? Like, how big are we? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

Are they pitching in or do you have to hire people to clean up with you?

[A]

1500 people came. How many are actually here to help you pick up? I think like, 10, probably.

[B]

Yeah. Based on.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, either way, he's still cleaning up. There's still garbage everywhere. Solo cups. You can only imagine. Mike didn't know anything about Chelsea's whereabouts. So the authorities began contacting people who had responded to the party invitation posted to Facebook to see if they had seen her or knew of her whereabouts that night, as well as people who are posting to social media about having attended the party. But nobody they spoke to seemed to know where Chelsea could have gone when she left. Because even if they wanted to help, a lot of them were drinking or doing drugs and everyone was in costume. It's like one of those per. And it's outside. It's one of those nights where you just, you know, people blur together. You kind of blur the. The night together. And so a lot of people had trouble kind of recalling, like, when she left their presence, like with a group or where she went.

[A]

The last week of my life, every time I've guessed the time, I was wrong.

[B]

Completely off.

[A]

Like, I was like, I thought Surely it's like 11 o' clock at night last night, and it was 6, and I was like, what's going on? So I imagine, plus being drunk and having fun and being out all at all hours. Like, someone said, oh, I saw her at 10 and it was 2 in the morning.

[B]

Yeah. Like, I saw some timer. And especially if you're not like, again on your phone every five seconds back then, like.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Necessarily looking at the time every 100 minutes. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. You're just like, oh, I remember her over there with someone I didn't recognize.

[B]

Yeah. Within, like before midnight. Yeah. Who knows?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So horrible. Not reliable. Yeah. It's like, not the best, most reliable type of witness to have. Right. So Chelsea's family organized a search party, and volunteers descended upon the fields and woods surrounding Mike's rural farmhouse. Else, more than 1, 000 people joined the search, scouring the land near the party. They looked with dog teams, helicopters, and the brooks, meanwhile, distributed pamphlets. Thousands of them, actually, no, hundreds of thousands of them, with information about Chelsea's disappearance. Residents of Monroe county tied purple ribbons to trees and light posts, and they gave out fine Chelsea Bruck bracelets. Rumors began swirling about what could have happened, of course, because again, we're still in a small area, rural area, people are going to be gossiping or wor. Or chatting about what happened. And of course, like, immediately the insane rumors start spreading. Like, one was that she was burned alive at the bonfire at the party.

[A]

What?

[B]

Like, this is how these stupid folklores.

[A]

That not, this is how the Seven Sisters Road happened.

[B]

Literally, like the troubling ones, where it's like they end up being really racist or whatever. It's like, this is how this happens. You're like, oh, they burned them alive. Like, yeah, what the fuck? You can't just say, like that. What's wrong with you?

[A]

I can't. Okay. Wow. Okay.

[B]

So, like, and also, why mislead an investigation so drastically, right? Like, unless you had something to do with it. But, like, why on earth would you say that when, like, they're actually trying to find out what happened? It's just tragic. So, yeah, yeah. So of course there's some people are saying, oh, it's. There was a satanic ritual at the party, and they burned them a lot. They burned her alive in the fire.

[A]

And imagine being her family.

[B]

Who's horrible. It's horrible.

[A]

I just want to know where my fucking kid is.

[B]

It's horrible. And it's like, back off. Like, if you're not going to be helpful, you know?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And so investigators were basically, like, pressured into searching the ashes. And of course, there were no human remains in any of the ashes. I think would have remembered that they wasted time and resources. Although there were no remains, of course, in the fire, Big Mike still couldn't escape accusations in town that he was somehow involved. I know it's kind of rough, people.

[A]

Just throwing a bucket. Sorry I keep interrupting you.

[B]

No, but you're right. You're right.

[A]

You just threw a part. Like, you want to do something fun.

[B]

For the community in a world of.

[A]

Not to get all, like, on my little soapbox here, but in a world of hyper individuality being promoted on all of us, like, this guy just wants a little community he just wants a village. He's throwing a party for everyone, and all of a sudden, he's like a murder suspect. It's like, you. I wouldn't make. I wouldn't have the party next year.

[B]

It's really too bad, because it's like, what a. What a beautiful thing he tried to do. And everyone was having a good time, and then someone had to go and hurt people and fuck it all up anyway. Yeah. Yeah. I guess with that many people, you're bound to get some. Some bad, bad folks in there. Sure.

[A]

Sorry. I did not mean to.

[B]

But you're totally right, because, spoiler alert, he's not involved. And so it is really hard to hear that, like, he was getting so much flack for this. People snuck onto his property with search dogs. He caught strangers trying to look into his windows at night. Like, people were really harassing. This guy drones over the property. He said during one visit from the police, he let them inside to be cooperative, and they threw him on the ground, threatened to shoot his dog.

[A]

What the. Oh, my God. Sorry, Hank. It's like he heard that, too.

[B]

He's like, oh, oh, oh.

[A]

I really.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Threw him for a loop there. That's so awful.

[B]

Like, hello.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

This guy. So Mike said, of course he feels terrible. He's trying to help. He wants to do what's right, and he wants to help Chelsea's family. He can't imagine what they're experiencing, but he's like, I'm living every day with dread in my own home because I'm terrified that someone. You know, that someone's gonna frame me for this or put me or hurt.

[A]

Me because they think me.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Someone could break in and try to. My family or my dog. Yeah. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

[B]

So this is just all turned into a big mess for him. But meanwhile, of course, they're not getting any closer to an actual answer. So. October 29th, they release a composite sketch of a man that witnesses believe was the last person to be seen interacting with Chelsea at the party. There was one vendor at the party, which I was like, vendor? But, yeah, they were. One of the bands brought a merch seller, and I know. I'm like, damn, this is quite a production. So the vendor who was selling this merch said he saw the man who left the party with Chelsea, and so he had kind of an idea in his head of what this guy looked like. They were able to make this composite sketch. Tips started pouring in. Investigators followed a lot of leads, but months passed with no answers. And the Brooks couldn't really do much except wait. And they sought comfort with other families who had experienced the nightmare they were living. In fact, Chelsea's older sister Cassie was best friends with Jennifer Niswender, whose own twin sister Julia was murdered in her college apartment two years earlier and was never caught. So they are already like, very close to the family who's gone through something so scary and traumatic. And you think like, oh my God, imagine if that happened to me. And it's like, oh, and here it is, like now it's happening to you. I mean, it's just crazy. Chelsea's mother said of Julia, our girls were so close. When Julia died, it was just a big hole blown into our lives. There has not been a day that's gone by that I don't miss her. And so, like, that was Chelsea's mom about the daughter's friends. So, like, that's how close these two families were. And so thankfully they were there to support each other through a very specific type of grief, you know, of like the disappearance slash murder of your child, of your daughter. Like, it's a wild thing to both have in common. But they thankfully had each other. In early 2015, a thirty thousand dollar reward was offered. So this would be a few months after the party was offered for information on Chelsea's disappearance and whereabouts. And the Brooks continued to dedicate their time and resources to finding answers. Finally, in late March, there was a break in the case when two men out looking for scrap metal at an industrial site a few miles from the party discovered a costume covered in leaves and a red wig in an abandoned building.

[A]

Oh, my God. In a building. Wow.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. Creepy.

[A]

I was gonna say originally if they're in like a. You said scrap yard.

[B]

Yard. So they're out looking for abandoned scrap metal. So they're kind of. They're kind of wandering around this like. Yeah, I guess sort of a scrap yard. Like this abandoned scrap yard type thing.

[A]

Not to like, be. I'm not trying to be funny about this at all, but she was decorated in leaves. So like they. I mean, that would have been a really.

[B]

Doesn't scream scrap yard way to camouflage.

[A]

Her if they wanted.

[B]

Yeah, well, so they only found. Yeah, they only found a costume in the warehouse. So they didn't find her actual body at this point. So I think they were less alarmed. But yeah, you're right. Like, even the costume itself feels like it would be more hidden, like, because this is what broke the case open, you know, is finding the costume.

[A]

Yeah, they could have Tossed it somewhere. Somewhere would have looked like leaves, but.

[B]

Yeah. No, I agree. So I think it was more just like spur of the moment, drunk, like, not thinking, you know, Not.

[A]

Gotcha.

[B]

A logical or premeditated thing is my guess. But, yeah, it's. It's a. It's a good point because it doesn't feel like where you would find, especially out in, like, rural, you know, middle of nowhere.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So, at first, neither of the men realized what they had found, and so they left it there without reporting it. But a few days later, one of them saw one of the flyers, and it said, I mean, imagine that dread, like, sinking feeling of seeing a poster saying, like, missing. And there's a woman wearing that costume that you saw in the picture. I mean, terrifying. So he immediately reported it. This was on April 5, five months after Chelsea had vanished. And, of course, immediately, this costume was processed as evidence. Investigators used DNA to confirm that it did belong to Chelsea. And the lab team also found DNA on the leotard from an unknown male. And so that was immediately submitted to the FBI's DNA index system, and there was, unfortunately, no match. Just a few weeks later, several miles from the industrial site where her costume was found, a man was overseeing construction on a residential lot where he was building a new house. And one of the trucks had gotten stuck while delivering dirt to the site. And the property owner was behind the truck trying to figure out how to get the truck out of this, like, rut. And while he assessed the ground around the truck, he suddenly noticed human remains, which, like, the way that this just happens to people out of the blue is always so shocking to me. Like, you're literally on a walk with your dog, or you're usually always the.

[A]

Beginning of a Law and Order episode where it's, like, just stumbling into something.

[B]

Or, like, Bo Bones. Bones always did the most ridiculous, like, opening scenes where, like, you open the closet and, like. Yeah, anyway, I just watched one last.

[A]

Night where the guy was, like, digging, and he just digged up a whole body with one shovel. I was like, how. How did you do?

[B]

Please, nice try, but.

[A]

No, I.

[B]

But.

[A]

And also to think if it weren't such a random happenstance like, that he's assessing the ground because he got stuck there. How much longer would have taken for her to be the first discovered?

[B]

Yeah, that's what's so creepy, is, like. It just seems so happenstance, you know, And.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Makes me. It makes me wonder if the universe is like, oh, don't worry. We'll make happen, you know, find a way. Yeah. So he is just trying to get this truck out of a rut, and he suddenly spots human remains among some leaves and logs. Right. Right by him. Although the remains were badly decomposed, authorities immediately suspected that they belonged to Chelsea because they really didn't have any other missing persons in the area that would line up with this discovery. Soon after, a medical examiner used dental records to confirm that the remains did in fact, belong to Chelsea. On her remains, they found no DNA or any new evidence in addition to what they had found on the costume. So more than a year passed, and Chelsea's family and friends now were just hoping to someday catch her killer. You know, they got the closure, fortunately, of discovering her body, but now they wanted to know who had done this. Of course.

[A]

Right?

[B]

So residents of Monroe county were also so on edge, thinking like, oh, God, this murderer is one of us. You know, like, he must be here somewhere amongst us.

[A]

Yeah, that'd be my first thought. I'd be like, right there. If there was a murder in Fredericksburg.

[B]

I'd be like, after a party that everyone in town went to. You know, I know it's out of a movie.

[A]

It's out of.

[B]

It's out of a Law and Order episode.

[A]

I'll tell you. I'll tell you off air. But there actually is a. From forever ago. A. We might. I'll tell you about it later. There. There is. There is like a drama like that that happened before we ever moved there.

[B]

Oh, wow. Okay. Yeah. Which reminds me. You told me to look into a story, and then I wrote it down and then I forgot the name of it, and I didn't know how to look it up.

[A]

It's okay. It's lisk.

[B]

I knew it started with L. Okay, I'll remember that list. With a K. With a lisk. With a K. Okay. So, you know, there. The community's on edge, too. Like, trying to imagine who this could have been. Somebody, you know, in their own community. One resident said Chelsea was everyone's sister, everyone's daughter. Like, you know, everyone knew her so well that it's also chilling to think, like, not only is it someone in our community, but it's someone who did this to someone else that we love in our community. And then on July 22, 2016, which was nearly two years since Chelsea's disappearance, police made an arrest in connection with Chelsea's murder. Finally, 27 year old Daniel Allen Clay was originally arrested two months earlier in May for larceny. And he was accused of harassing a woman and stealing her bag in that instance. This also does sound very svu, like, he's brought in for petty larceny. And then it's like, oh, my gosh. You know, we've.

[A]

Yeah, this connected.

[B]

Yeah, we've connected. Yeah. And they did. I mean, although he was promptly released in May, a Michigan state law did allow authorities to collect his DNA while in custody. And so, thankfully, they did, because the DNA was matched to the DNA discovered on Chelsea's costume.

[A]

I. That's. First of all, I'm so glad they found her killer. But second of all, being. Imagine being him. Like, at what point do you panic that, like, they're taking my DNA or my fingerprints or whatever it is, and it's like, oh, I really hope they don't. They don't connect me to this other thing. Like, I hope they.

[B]

People like this don't even. Like, doesn't even occur to them, because otherwise you wouldn't be doing, like, this. Like, you don't even have. You know what I mean? Like, I feel like we can't even comprehend it because it's like, well, I wouldn't, like. But I don't know, maybe. I mean, maybe I just always think, like, my brain doesn't. Can't work that way. Like, I don't think because I'd be a mess, but, like, I would be able to just fucking go on. Maybe it's drugs. Maybe it's like, they're sociopaths. I have no clue.

[A]

I would love to have that type of arrogance, because in my mind, I'd be like, even if I hadn't done anything wrong, I was like. I'd be like, where is my DNA? Where What? Could I have touched somewhere that now puts me in a worse situation?

[B]

Yeah, but he didn't seem to be all that concerned. Or if he did, I don't know if there's anything he could do, you know, because. Yeah, so maybe he was freaking out, but.

[A]

Yeah, I just wonder if he was sweating bullets or if he was like, whatever. They're not gonna find anything.

[B]

I watched one of the interrogations, and, well, it was actually just one interrogation, I believe, and he confessed. But it was so slimy to watch. It was, like, disgusting to watch, really. It was, like, upsetting. I mean, I'll tell you about. In a minute. I think there's some notes on it in here. If I forget, let me know. But I'm pretty sure it's in here. But he's just a gross per. I mean, of course he's a gross person based on just what we know so far, but. But it was really unpleasant to watch him try and defend himself. Good to know.

[A]

Good to know.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. Pretty gross. So in July, sheriffs went to. Oh, but imagine. Sorry, side note, you're right, because the freaking out about the DNA. But then you get sent home, and it's like, okay, they have idna. How long am I going to be here? Till they connect me. Or two months later, am I off the hook? Maybe they never ran the DNA, and it's like, knock, knock, someone's at the door. But again, maybe he just wasn't even thinking about it. I have no clue. So they go over there in July. They knock on the front door. He, of course, tries to flee, and they catch him, and they arrest him for outstanding warrants. He himself, Daniel Clay, was a father who owed child support to his estranged child and the mother. And in addition to that, he was wanted for questioning because he had also been accused of the violent rape of another local woman. Huh. So essentially, he's a dirt bag already. So they're arresting him on all this other. Just so they have him, and then they start questioning him, which is what I watched. And initially, they told Daniel he was only being brought in for those child support warrants, and so to put him at ease. Right. And so then he starts kind of, like, chilling out a little bit. He thinks he's like. They always think they're like, bro y with the cops, which is, like, just gross. And then the. The investigator asked or the detective asked, you know, oh, what about this Halloween party? Like, can you walk me through that? Like, you've heard about this situation and stuff? Like, let's talk through that while you're here. And, oh, boy, is he suddenly, like, sweating a little bit, but not very much. Like, he definitely thinks he can pull one over on these guys. So Daniel confirmed, yes, he was at the party, but he said he didn't even know who Chelsea was, didn't recognize her. The party was so crowded, she wouldn't have even made an impression. And he said something stupid like, oh, I only notice people if they're sexy. I only notice women if they're sexy. I'm a little shallow like that.

[A]

And it's like, wow, you weren't kidding, slime ball.

[B]

Yeah, he's just a gross man. And so he. Oh, my God.

[A]

And then, wait, a. Like, kicker while she's down. It's like, oh, and also, she's ugly. Is that what she. Is that what he's implying?

[B]

There is like, so. No, because then he eventually walks around to, oh, wait, her. Yes, I did have sex with her. Her. Yeah. And he says, like, watching this unravel is so pathetic because he's. He's like, oh, my God, I don't even know who that is. And then all of a sudden, he's like, well, we were having sex in the back of my car. And they were like, okay, so you just said, she's a stranger, and now all of a sudden, you're having sex with her in the back of a car?

[A]

Yeah, I'd help you remember what she looks like. Jesus Christ.

[B]

He's an idiot. And he said, oh, well, I thought she was. I thought this Chelsea person you're talking about was blonde. And the person I was with had red hair. And it's like. It's obviously a wig, you idiot. Like, don't preten me that. Come on. Whatever. So the officers said that Chelsea was wearing a wig. And he goes, oh, I didn't know that. Okay. He said that after having sex, the woman got out of the vehicle and walked away. But then the officers were like. And he goes, that's the last I saw. Ever the end. You know, because that's always how they play it. Like, yeah, we had sex, but I would never kill her. Huh? So they keep pressing him. They're like, we don't believe you. And he changed his story again. This time, he says he's driving down the road after the party, and he sees Chelsea walking alone. So he offers her a ride, and he says she initiated sex. So he pulled over to a secluded spot, and he told the officers she did get pretty freaky. And, like, this is again where it's really upsetting to me because I'm like, he's trying. He starts to try to throw her under the bus by saying, like, she wanted sex. And it's like, hello. Like, yeah, irrelevant to the fact that you murdered this person. That's not.

[A]

But, yeah, we're not talking about that anymore.

[B]

Slut. Shaming her right now is not. It's just so gross. And he's.

[A]

He.

[B]

He does that thing which. One of the detectives was like, oh, this is textbook. Like, if once they're framed, they start blaming the victim for. Of course they start blaming the victim for what happened because there's nowhere else to go. Like, your DNA is on her, you know, 100 and she's dead, so she can't defend herself. Like, how up is that? So, yeah, he tells the officers some disturbing stuff, and when asked to elaborate, he said that she. She smacked him and Bit him. And that she then asked to be choked erotically again. Is this not, like, such a trope from SVU that he's choking her and she accidentally died?

[A]

She actually wanted all of it, and then her death was her fault because she wanted me to be that rough with her. Yeah. Yep. I mean, that's literally at least.

[B]

I can think of eight episodes right now. Every crime show has done at least three episodes about this concept.

[A]

Like, is it murder if it was consensual? And then we just went a little too far with it.

[B]

Yeah. No. And it's like, if you actually hear the statistics. Not the statistics, like the. The. The timing on. On how long it really takes to do that to a person, especially if they're fighting back or conscious. Like, that's. That's not how that works. So he claims she suddenly died in front of him, and he was like, oh, no. And he said he pulls her out of the vehicle, tries to perform cpr. Okay. But she was unresponsive, and when he couldn't find a pulse, he panicked. Being drunk and high on drugs, he didn't even consider taking Chelsea to a hospital. He also said his phone was dead. So instead, he abandoned her in a secluded spot, and he said he sat beside her body and sobbed for nearly half an hour. Then he got into his vehicle and drove away.

[A]

So let's recap. He. He was sobbing over this person that he didn't actually recognize or remember at all.

[B]

Right.

[A]

A minute ago. Okay.

[B]

Oh, yeah, yeah. And now. Now he's like, oh, but then I accidentally cry. Killed her and cried about it. I forgot to mention that.

[A]

So we had sex. But no, nothing like that would happen. But actually, also, I killed her. But actually, also, I thought she was blonde, but also.

[B]

Yeah, I've never heard. What's a wig? I mean, please. Idiot. Nice try, though. Nice try. It's just pathetic. So he went to trial for murder on May 8, 2017, which was more than two years after he killed Chelsea. And of course, his defense was that Chelsea's death was an accident, a terrible consequence of consensual sexual sex and alcohol and unsafe sex. And, of course, the evidence did not back this up, because how did. Remember where Chelsea's costume was miles away from her body, and he's like, oh, I left her. That's. He doesn't.

[A]

She was just naked.

[B]

That's just like, what are you talking about? So he. It was, like, hidden in an abandoned building. Her costume. And more than that, both. Apparently both straps of her leotard had been cut open, and the fabric at her. At the crotch of the leotard had been cut open as well. And. And so now we're looking at rape rather than consensual sex to begin with, let alone, like, all the other he added to the story, which, like, I hope she haunts. I hope he is haunted not by her. I hope she has better things to do, but I hope he's haunted for eternity with this.

[A]

I mean, the second that he said, oh, we had sex, I knew exactly what that meant.

[B]

Exactly. Like, come on. It's the same old story every first time.

[A]

Wasn't he also already in wanted for violent rape? Yeah.

[B]

Of a different local girl. Girl. A local woman.

[A]

Yeah. You're there for violent rape, and now you're like, we had sex, but I don't remember her.

[B]

It's like, oh, but she wanted to be violent.

[A]

Right. But she actually died and While having sex with me. But I'm here for violent rape, but don't think of that as violent rape.

[B]

But that's different. Yeah. I. It just be. It boggles the mind, really. So super sick. Super, super sick. Chelsea's remains also disputed Daniel's alleged cause of death because the medical examiner. This is dark, guys. Determined that Chelsea was actually beaten to death.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

Yeah. And not that, you know, anything would have been, but just makes it even more violent, brutal, intentional. Her jaw was broken in half. I know. And her eye socket was fractured. Her. She had missing teeth. And she had endured some extreme violence at the end of her life. It was not an accidental strangulation.

[A]

Yeah. No, this was not. Accent.

[B]

Yeah. No. And he can't even pretend. Although they tried because Daniel's defense team claimed that the skull fractures were postmortem injuries sustained when Daniel put logs on top of Chelsea's remains, which is just a wild defense to take, but they were like, that's not. That's a thing.

[A]

How did they defend him at. For saying he didn't actually know who she was, but he also was able to keep logs on a person didn't remember her.

[B]

I imagine you'd say something like, I plead the fifth. You know, Sure. I don't think you have anything. Or, she did it. You know, it's like, I don't even know what better defense you could have. So on May 16, the jury deliberated for less than three hours, and then they declared Daniel Clay guilty of felony murder and concealing the death of an individual. In Michigan, the felony murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of Pearl. Following Daniel's sentencing, Chelsea's mother released a letter about her daughter's death. She referenced her publication, Choices, which she printed and distributed on cards alongside photos of Chelsea. Choices is a short call to action. To choose to do good in the world instead of commit harm, and to respond when you see someone else committing harm. She wrote, we have become a nation that lives in fear. We turn away and choose to ignore things we don't feel involved solve us. These are choices we need to change. We have to have the light outshine the dark. People don't need to endanger themselves. But if we see things that are not right or it looks questionable, please call 91 1. Yes, we will feel a bit foolish if we are wrong, but how are we going to feel if we were right and didn't call? You can't change. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Gives me the shivers. So important note, you know, as we end this story, just so, so sad. Leanda said that Choices wasn't just about Chelsea and her murder, but about everyone working together as a community. Like you were saying earlier, this guy's trying to build community, and somebody does the opposite, right? And, like, immediately ruins the trust. The. The anything. Yeah. And so I will say it wasn't immediate. You know why? Because he had been doing this party for years. This was just the first year that it went out of control. Like, this was the biggest one yet. And it's like the wrong people started showing up.

[A]

And it's moments like this where I realize why some people have, like, a cap on. How many people can come to a party? Yeah, you would think, oh, it's a party. Anyone's invited. And it's like, actually, I really.

[B]

Have you heard Aaron's party? The song?

[A]

Actually, you're totally right. I should have learned this a long time ago.

[B]

What about your mother's vase? What are you gonna do about that?

[A]

You're totally right. I. I totally ignored the lesson.

[B]

That was the moral of that story. And also, like, I want to be invited to a cool party at Aaron Carter's house. That was my other lesson anyway. Okay, so that. That's the story. Leanda also said that Choices wasn't about Chelsea, but everyone working together as a community, like I said, to intervene in and stand up against acts of violence. Especially I. Fucking assholes like this who keep doing it. And.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, God, yeah. But he looked like such a fucking. Like, in that interview interrogation, he's sitting there, like, being all smug and saying gross stuff about how she wanted it. A certain way. I mean, it's just fudgeing. Gross. Like, yeah, go to jail, go to prison.

[A]

Like, I only. I only pay attention to hot girls. Oh, wait, she was a hot girl because I had.

[B]

Oh, right. Yeah.

[A]

And also she wanted me to hurt her, so it's not my fault. But also, I didn't hurt her, so I don't know what happened. But also, I don't remember her. I did put logs on her. I don't remember her, though.

[B]

Yeah, but also, every step of the way was just.

[A]

I don't mean to be so repetitive about it. I'm just, like, so flabbergasted at the, like.

[B]

Flabbergasted? You're shocking.

[A]

You're totally right. Because earlier I was like, oh, how did he react when he got found out and all that?

[B]

He just seems to be total, like, nonplussed. Like, just like.

[A]

Right word.

[B]

I don't know if I've ever said that out loud. It just popped into my head.

[A]

No, but it's exactly right. It's like he just.

[B]

It's like barely phased by it. Like, come on.

[A]

Yeah, that's.

[B]

I feel like that's a trait of, like, being a psychopath. Like a violent psychopath. I feel like there's that trait of. Because I remember reading. I go through phases where I, like, read books about psychopathy and stuff.

[A]

Would.

[B]

You know. Because in grad school I did that story or that. That. What was it? I don't even remember. It was a. Yeah, it was in. Paul. What was his name? Paul Schaefer. Is that his name? Personally, it.

[A]

It. I hate Chefer. No, I hated him.

[B]

Yeah, I liked him, but he. He gave me an A on that presentation. Maybe that's why I liked him. But I.

[A]

He gave me a lot of non A's, which is why I didn't like him.

[B]

But I remember, like, reading a book and they said something like, you will. You can't understand that brain of like, a violent psychopath. Like, they. Especially in a scenario like this, like, they don't get freaked out or, like, scared.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's like they're just like, whatever, you know? I don't know.

[A]

It's just totally apathetic to it or whatever.

[B]

Yeah. And it's like, of course there's a fear of getting caught. Like, they don't want to get caught. But it's like there's just a lack of, like, real, like, deep down, I don't know, guilt or terror or, like, feelings. I don't know. It's just creepy. But, yeah. He's just a douche. Gross man. A really gross man. So, anyway, sorry to ruin everyone's day. Say thank you for listening and happy November. We're getting close to a certain song.

[A]

We are.

[B]

Oh, man, this is the first year I'll remember. Actually, I was gonna say.

[A]

I was like, do you know what you're about to say? Yeah, I'm ready to break into it.

[B]

I was as shocked as you were when I said it.

[A]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah. Thank you, everybody. If you want more of this, go on Patreon and give us a listen over there. We've got other content, including today' secret surprise that I broke to Christine during our intermission.

[B]

Yeah, it's really disturbing. And I think you can also, if you're listening on certain platforms, you can click the episode and it'll bring you to our Patreon, I think, or maybe a bonus or a plus thing subscription or I don't know, something like that.

[A]

Yeah, I think. I think they go chronologically, including Patreon.

[B]

Which is kind of fun.

[A]

Anyway, yeah, thanks for listening. We'll see you when it's officially November instead of just post October. You know what I'm saying?

[B]

Yes, very true, very true. We'll see you then.

[A]

And that's why we drink. This episode is brought to you by Lifelock. It's Cybersecurity awareness month and Lifelock has tips to protect your identity. Use strong passwords, set up multi factor authentication, report, fix phishing and update the software on your devices. And for comprehensive identity protection, let Lifelock alert you to suspicious uses of your personal information. Lifelock also fixes identity theft, guaranteed or your money back. Stay smart, safe and protected with a 30 day free trial at LifeLock. Com. Podcasts Terms apply.