Heart Starts Pounding: Horrors, Hauntings and Mysteries

Episode 155: "Vanished At Christmas: Two Mysteries That Will Make You Question Everything"

Date: December 9, 2025
Host: Kayla Moore

Episode Overview

This episode of Heart Starts Pounding explores two haunting mysteries that both transpired around Christmas time: the 1910 disappearance of heiress Dorothy Arnold in New York City and the notorious 1843 “Witch of Staten Island” arson and murder trial. Host Kayla Moore delves deep into each cold case, untangling fact from legend, family secrets, societal prejudices, and the power of public perception. Both stories invite listeners to question what’s truly knowable in infamous historical mysteries.

Mystery #1: The Disappearance of Dorothy Arnold (00:00–26:07)

Background & Early Clues (03:05–10:45)

• Dorothy Arnold's Profile:
  Dorothy, the privileged daughter of perfume importer Francis Arnold, was expected to marry well and uphold family reputation. Instead, she was fiercely independent, intent on pursuing a career as an author—much to her family’s derision.
• Event Timeline:
  • On Dec. 12, 1910, Dorothy left her home in an upscale part of Manhattan, telling her mother she was shopping for a dress.
  • She visited a candy store, bought chocolates, stopped at Britano’s Bookshop, and purchased "An Engaged Girl’s Sketches" (06:30).
  • Friend Gladys King saw her, and Dorothy claimed she was meeting her mother for lunch, but this was false—her mother was actually waiting at home for a phone call about the dress.
  • Dorothy vanished after this; she was never seen again.

"It was a fairly normal interaction, but that would be the last time that anyone saw Dorothy Arnold dead or alive. And it begs the question, where was Dorothy really headed that day? And what happened to her?"
— Kayla Moore (05:00)

Family Response & Frustration (10:45–15:10)

• When she failed to return for dinner, her family quietly launched a private search, shunning police involvement due to the potential for scandal.
• Letters bearing foreign postmarks and newly burnt paper in Dorothy’s fireplace hinted at secrets and possible heartbreak over rejected manuscripts.
• The Pinkerton Detective Agency was finally hired, but their investigation found no evidence of her whereabouts, especially after her last confirmed sighting with Gladys King.

Emergence of Suspects & Theories (15:11–21:50)

• The press speculated Dorothy eloped or was punished by her father's strictness regarding suitors.
• George Griscom Jr.: Dorothy’s secret suitor was vacationing in Italy at the time, but their clandestine relationship (and possible secret rendezvous in Boston) raised questions.
• Griscom had a letter from Dorothy written shortly before she vanished:

"'Well, it has come back. McClure’s has turned me down. All I can see ahead is a long road with no turning. Mother will always think an accident has happened.'"
— Kayla Moore quoting Dorothy Arnold (18:23)

• The family doubted she died by suicide, as Dorothy was planning a tea party and future activities.

Confessions & New Leads (21:51–25:30)

• Years later, two confessions emerged:

  • Edward Glennon (1916): Claimed to have helped bury Dorothy’s body at the behest of a wealthy man, but recanted, then tried to monetize his story.
  • Dr. H.E. Lutz (1914): Confessed that Dorothy died from a botched abortion in a Pittsburgh illegal clinic and was cremated in its basement. The family never accepted this explanation.

• The episode notes the plausibility of the abortion theory: Dorothy's likely pregnancy after time spent with Griscom, the shame/repression of her family, and contemporary societal expectations.

"But could it be that they just didn't know their daughter very well and didn't really want to get to know her... is it possible that she was someone else entirely? Well, we may never know because Dorothy is not around to tell us."
— Kayla Moore (25:20)

Mystery #2: The Witch of Staten Island & The 1843 Christmas Murders (29:50–47:53)

Urban Legend and True Crime Roots (29:50–32:20)

• The "Witch of Staten Island," Mary Bodine, became infamous after being accused of burning her sister-in-law and niece alive on Christmas night, 1843.
• The story evolved into local legend; museum waxworks and wood carvings depicted Mary as a crone cackling over infernal flames.

Crime Scene and Early Accusations (32:21–36:00)

• The Christmas night fire killed Emmeline Houseman and her young daughter, Eliza Ann. Notable evidence:
  • Deep scars on Emmeline’s arms, restraint marks, and Eliza Ann’s skull partially separated—this was murder, not merely arson.
• At the funeral, Emmeline’s father suggested that Mary—George Houseman’s pregnant, estranged sister—was the culprit, motivated by jealousy or money.

Mary Bodine's Social Standing and Flight (36:01–39:45)

• Mary, already ostracized as a “fallen woman” for leaving her abusive husband, suffered additional scandal for her out-of-wedlock pregnancy.
• Rumors intensified when she fled upon hearing she’d been accused.

"She immediately became a fugitive, and everyone just felt like this proved her guilt. It was December 30, 1843. Mary was on the run."
— Kayla Moore (38:30)

Investigation, Bias, and Public Frenzy (39:46–43:20)

• Mary’s lover, apothecary owner George Waite, was revealed and his shop searched. A letter from Mary seemed to hint at establishing alibis and hiding evidence.
• Pawned items linked to Emmeline further implicated Mary, though identification was biased—she was the only person shown to witnesses.
• Under intense stress, Mary gave birth prematurely in jail; her baby did not survive. The loss fed wild press speculation, with the public reading her as a monstrous, witch-like figure.

Trials, Media, and Aftermath (43:21–47:53)

• Mary faced three trials:
  • The first ended in a mistrial.
  • The second (in Manhattan) found her guilty, but it was overturned due to prejudicial media coverage.
  • The third resulted in full acquittal (May 21, 1847).
• Alternate suspect George Waite had motive but was alibied by Mary’s son, Albert.

"Edgar Allan Poe actually wrote, '...this woman may possibly escape, for they manage these matters wretchedly in New York.' His attitude at the time aligned with the public's attitude; she was guilty and only an incompetent court would rule otherwise."
— Kayla Moore (44:48)

• Despite legal exoneration, Mary Bodine was shunned, becoming a local recluse. Over the years, urban legend twisted her tale into that of a child-murdering witch.

"So who really killed Emmeline Houseman and her daughter on Christmas night, 1843?... Even though she was legally a free woman, Mary was guilty in the court of public opinion."
— Kayla Moore (47:07)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Quote | Attribution | |--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------| | 05:00 | "That would be the last time that anyone saw Dorothy Arnold dead or alive. And it begs the question, where was Dorothy really headed that day? And what happened to her?" | Kayla Moore | | 18:23 | "'Well, it has come back. McClure’s has turned me down. All I can see ahead is a long road with no turning. Mother will always think an accident has happened.'" | Dorothy Arnold (read by Kayla) | | 25:20 | "But could it be that they just didn't know their daughter very well and didn't really want to get to know her... is it possible that she was someone else entirely?" | Kayla Moore | | 38:30 | "She immediately became a fugitive, and everyone just felt like this proved her guilt. It was December 30, 1843. Mary was on the run." | Kayla Moore | | 44:48 | "Edgar Allan Poe actually wrote, '...this woman may possibly escape, for they manage these matters wretchedly in New York.' His attitude ... was she was guilty..." | Kayla Moore (quoting Poe) | | 47:07 | "Even though she was legally a free woman, Mary was guilty in the court of public opinion." | Kayla Moore |

Key Themes and Insights

• Family image vs. individual reality: The Arnold case exposes the schism between public reputation and private despair; Dorothy’s family was more concerned about scandal than finding their daughter.
• Media and myth-making: The transformation of Mary Bodine into the "Witch of Staten Island" demonstrates how public perception, gender bias, and press sensationalism can warp the truth.
• Systemic misogyny: Both stories underscore the limited options for women at the time and how quickly society could flip from victim-blaming to mythologizing female "villainy."
• Eternal Unknowing: Despite all evidence and investigation, both cases end unresolved—leaving listeners to ponder the dark power of unanswered questions.

Resources Mentioned

• The Witch of Staten Island by Alex Hjordis (47:35): Cited as a primary research source and recommended for further reading.

Episode Structure:

• [00:00–03:05] — Show intro, sponsor ads, episode setup
• [03:05–26:07] — The Disappearance of Dorothy Arnold
• [29:50–47:53] — The Witch of Staten Island and the Christmas Murders
• [47:53–end] — Credits, sponsor ads

Conclusion

Kayla Moore delivers a masterful blend of chilling mystery, historical nuance, and critical reflection on both the Dorothy Arnold disappearance and the legend of the Witch of Staten Island. The episode challenges listeners to interrogate the “facts” of well-known cases and consider how societies choose (and sometimes need) to create villains out of misunderstood women. Both stories are reminders that not all mysteries are meant to be solved, and that the truth we accept is often just the most convenient story.

Call to Action:
Listeners interested in learning more or sharing their own mysteries can visit the Heart Starts Pounding website or check out the referenced book for further details.

Next Episode Teaser:
"Until next time, stay curious." (47:45)