Loading summary
Transcript72 lines
- [00:02]
Vanessa Richardson
Hi, listeners, it's Vanessa Richardson. Real quick, before today's episode, I want to tell you about another show from Crime House that I know you'll love. America's Most Infamous Crimes. Hosted by Katie Ring. Each week, Katie takes on one of the most notorious criminal cases in American history. Serial killers who terrorized cities, Unsolved mysteries that keep detectives up at night, and investigations that change the way we think about justice. Listen to and follow America's Most infamous crimes Tuesday through Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
- [00:48]
Crime House Announcer
This is Crime House.
- [00:53]
Vanessa Richardson
Guilt plays a role in all our lives. Whether we've broken a promise to a friend or said something we regret, those guilty feelings help us make sure we don't make the same mistakes in the future. But for some, guilt can become all consuming. Especially after they've done something unthinkable. In 1920s Pennsylvania, a group of locals set out to face the dark, otherworldly forces they believed were plaguing their lives. But when the situation spiraled out of control and someone wound up dead, they realized there was no escaping the evil around them. And even after they'd paid the price, they'd remain haunted for the rest of their lives. The human mind is powerful. It shapes how we think, feel, love and hate. But sometimes it drives people to commit the unthinkable. This is serial killers and murderous minds, a Crime House original. I'm Vanessa Richardson.
- [02:05]
Dr. Tristan Engels
And I'm forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels. Every Monday and Thursday, we uncover the darkest minds in history, analyzing what makes
- [02:14]
Vanessa Richardson
a killer Crime House is made possible by you. Follow serial killers and murderous minds and subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts for Apple Ad. Free early access to each two part series. Before we get started, be advised this episode contains descriptions of violence and murder. So please listen with care. Today we conclude our deep dive into what's known as the Hex Hollow murder. In the 1920s in York County, Pennsylvania, witchcraft played a very real role in many people's lives. When a man named John Blymire became convinced that he'd been cursed, he was desperate to find a way to end it. But this wasn't going to be an easy TAs. And John went to deadly extremes to make it happen.
- [03:00]
Dr. Tristan Engels
As Vanessa goes through the story, I'll be talking about things like the line between planned and improvised murders. How some offenders justify their actions by claiming they were looking out for the greater good. And how mysterious aspects of a case like the supernatural can shape mindsets ahead of a trial.
- [03:19]
Vanessa Richardson
And as Always, we'll be asking the question, what makes a killer? If you've tried to lose weight before, you know how frustrating it can be to feel like nothing really sticks. The cycle of starting over again and again can get exhausting. That's why Weight Loss by Hers is designed to offer a more sustainable approach with access to an affordable range of FDA approved GLP1 medications, including the Wegovy pill and the Wegovy pen. With Wegovy through hers, you can lose up to 20% or more of your body weight when combined with diet and exercise, and it works by helping regulate your appetite so you can eat less and maintain progress over time. And for those looking for an alternative to injections, it's also available as the first GLP one in a pill. Ready to reach your goals? Visit forhers.com cereal to get personalized affordable care that gets you that's F O R H E-R-S.com S E R I A L forhers.com cereal weight loss by hers is not available in all 50 states. WeGovy is the registered trademark of Novo Nordisk as to get started and learn more, including important safety information, WeGovy clinical study information and restrictions, visit forhers.com I've been cleaning out my closet and simplifying my wardrobe, just focusing on pieces that make everyday dressing feel simpler, not more complicated. That's really why Quince has been such an easy brand to keep coming back to. Everything has that clean, clean, minimal look that makes it easy to put outfits together without overthinking it. The pieces are designed to be versatile, so they work across a lot of different outfits and situations, which makes building a reliable rotation feel pretty effortless. I've been leaning on their basics a lot because they just remove a lot of the guesswork from getting ready. What's also been consistent is how comfortable everything feels while it still looks polished. The fabrics are soft right away, but they don't lose their structure or feel worn out as the day goes on. I picked up a few items expecting them to just be simple staples, but they've ended up becoming some of the most reached for pieces I own. Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.commurous for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns now available in Canada too. That's q-u I n c e.commurous for free shipping and 365 day returns quince.commurous by the fall of 1928, 34 year old John Blymire believed that his lifelong suffering and illness was the result of a curse which had been placed on him by 60 year old Nelson Rehmeyer. Nelson was a well respected hexenmeister or witch doctor in their hometown of York County, Pennsylvania. John had known Nelson his entire life. He couldn't understand why Nelson would want to harm him. But he was desperate to break the curse and he'd finally learned how to break it once and for all. Another local healer, Emma Noel, had told John he either needed to bury a lock of Nelson's hair or burn one of his spiritual texts called Long Lost Friend. John knew that would be hard to do undetected. To do either of those, John would have to go to Nelson's house and get in close quarters with him. So he enlisted the help of 18 year old Wilbert Hess and 14 year old John Curry. Wilbert was the son of a local man, Milton Milton Hess, who believed his family had also been cursed by Nelson. And Curry was John's protege. The first step in their plan was to suss out whether Nelson could put up a fight and to try and locate Long Lost Friend. Once they knew what they were up against, they'd come back to get either his hair or the book. So on November 26, 1928, John and Curry made their way to Nelson's home. The area where Nelson lived was a remote part of York county called Rehmeyer's Hollow. And it was hard to navigate. It was full of of trees, a few farms and little else.
- [07:26]
Dr. Tristan Engels
So that remoteness matters psychologically because it can suggest there is physical separation that coincides with the social separation that John already has been suspicious of with Nelson. And for someone like John, who's already operating outside of what many would consider rational boundaries, being in a remote hollow where there's no witnesses and no accountability for what he's preparing to do might feel like permission to him or something even more significant than that. Within his belief system. It may feel like a sign. And going back to the black and white thinking we discussed in episode one, there's also moral disengagement here. John has already justified this mission in his mind. He's not doing something wrong. He's the one who's been wronged. He is breaking a curse and restoring balance. And he's already reframed Nelson from a community member into someone with malicious intent for the community, which makes acting against him feel justified to him. So this black and white thinking connects directly to all of that. It's very rigid thinking. If Nelson is responsible and John is justified in his mind, then there's nothing for him to really wrestle with. And if this Hollow exists outside of the boundaries of his community, then by that same logic, the moral or legal rules of that community might not also follow him there either.
- [08:50]
Vanessa Richardson
As John made his way out there, he fantasized about what it would feel like to finally get rid of of the curse. However, he had to pay close attention to where he was driving in order to avoid getting turned around. But as he made his way through the narrow, forested road, John realized he had a problem. He had no idea which house was Nelson's. The Rehmeyer family had lived in the Hollow for generations and multiple people's homes were scattered throughout it. John didn't want to spook anyone by showing up at the wrong house. However, he knew that Nelson's estranged wife Alice still lived in the Hollow and he knew where her house was. So he and Curry went there instead. They knocked on the door and when Alice opened up, they asked where they could find her husband. Alice wasn't surprised by this at all. A lot of people came to Nelson for help. In fact, the whole reason Alice had left him was because she got tired of all the people filing in and out of their house. So she assumed John and Curry were customers and she gave them directions to Nelson's home. They thanked her and continued deeper into the Hollow. When they finally arrived, Nelson welcomed them in and even invited them to stay the night, which they agreed to.
- [10:04]
Dr. Tristan Engels
The choice to stay the night was most likely practical. I mean, we taught you talked about that earlier. They were going to suss it out, see what Nelson was like. So if you think about it, it buys them time to do just that. To scope out the home, see if they can locate the book, or at least build Nelson's trust. So they can either get close enough to him to obtain a lock of his hair, or at the very least, they have all three of them there. Which means they can branch off and cover more ground at the same time. For John, staying in the home of the man he believes cursed him requires a degree of psychological strength. John's been struggling with identity, worth and self concept for some time, which we discussed in episode one that night may have made him feel more in control, more superior and more powerful than he had in years. Especially because he's got two younger individuals who are looking up to him. This reinforces that. So I think it was a practical decision like you outlined and likely part of their strategy. But there could also be more to it as well. It's really hard to say, in the
- [11:10]
Vanessa Richardson
last episode, we talked about how trust functions in a traditional society, and especially York County. They put so much trust in their local healers. How do you think Nelson perceived this visit? Do you think he saw any reason not to trust them?
- [11:24]
Dr. Tristan Engels
I'm so glad you brought this up, because my first instinct was exactly this. You think that if someone truly cursed people and then a group of them showed up on their doorstep, the last thing that they would likely do is let them into their home, let alone offer to let them spend the night. Especially when you consider how remote the area is and that he was outnumbered. The fact that he did exactly that tells me he had no reason to distrust these men. He likely believed they were genuinely seeking his services and that nothing was out of the ordinary. And if you recall, John's family had come to Nelson before for help. What makes this so tragic. Tragic is that Nelson's own character, like his openness, his generosity, and his desire to help people, which had already potentially affected his marriage, was what worked against him here. They preyed on his kindness, and they did not stop to consider that his kindness was actually genuine. And his pattern of behavior that night does not appear to align with someone who is guilty of causing harm to these men.
- [12:24]
Vanessa Richardson
The three of them sat down and chatted late into the night. While it's not clear exactly what they talked about, John spent the whole time sizing Nelson up. Nelson was a tall, husky guy. At 6ft tall, he towered over the two others, and even at 60, he was in good shape. John realized if they were going to steal a lock of Nelson's hair, they might have their work cut out for them. And as John glanced around the house, he also realized that finding Nelson's copy of Long Lost Friend wouldn't be easy either. He didn't see the book anywhere. Eventually, the three of them went off to bed, and the next morning, John and Curry went home and told Wilbert how difficult their mission would be. Fortunately for them, Wilbur was a pretty big guy as well. So the group felt like with him added into the mix, the three of them could overpower Nelson. That same day, November 27, 1928, the trio drove back out to Rehmeyer's Hollow. This time, John brought 25ft of rope to bind Nelson with. But he promised Wilbert and Curry that their goal remained the same, to obtain one of the items needed to end the curse.
- [13:32]
Dr. Tristan Engels
We know that this plan was premeditated even the first time that they went there. But this time around, with 25ft of rope, that suggests a refined, even potential escalation of that plan. And that tells us something about where John was psychologically at this point. There is a degree of organized thinking here. He identified a problem, he's recruited help, he assessed the target fully already, and then he came prepared with a contingency that's not the behavior of someone who has completely lost touch with reality. This suggests that John is still capable of planning and anticipating obstacles. But whether or not he genuinely believes that the plan remains the same, that they get Nelson's hair or his book, while bringing rope along just in case is something that is difficult to say. But bringing the rope alone certainly elevates the risk for violence because it shifts the power balance, it escalates the stakes, and it changes the psychological threshold of this entire. And let's not forget from episode one, John once tried to kill his wife. He is capable of violence.
- [14:38]
Vanessa Richardson
Why do you think Wilburd and Curry didn't even question him?
- [14:42]
Dr. Tristan Engels
I think the answer to that is likely a combination of things. So for Curry, we already discussed that dynamic in episode one. He came from an unstable home, and John became the authority figure or mentor that he attached to. Standing up to John would mean risking the only stable relationship that he likely had at that time. And he's only 14. That makes him particularly susceptible to John's influence and perhaps even more vulnerable in that dynamic because it resembles grooming. Although arguably the same can be said about both of them, both Wilbert and Curry, because both of them don't have fully formed frontal lobes. But also they had all been inside Nelson's home at this point. They had attempted their plan. They were unable to locate the book, and they had seen Nelson's size for themselves. The reality of overpowering him to obtain obtain a lock of his hair had become very clear to them. In that context, the rope would have made logical sense as a restraining tool and less alarming to them when it's framed as a safety measure. And if they genuinely believed they had already been harmed by Nelson, or at least, you know, Wilbert's dad was harmed by Nelson, they would have been willing to accept any idea that reduced the risk of further harm. So the group dynamic compounds all of that, too. John was the assumed leader. He's carrying both perceived spiritual authority and the credibility of having recruited them as well. He's also the mentor, and in that kind of dynamic, it's unlikely they will go against him, even when the situation is escalating in ways that should make someone hesitate or back out.
- [16:24]
Vanessa Richardson
When the group arrived at Nelson's house. John was still extremely agitated. He strode to the front door and knocked briskly from inside. Nelson called out, who's there? And John replied, saying he forgot a book at Nelson's house the previous day. Nelson came downstairs, unlocked the door, and let the three of them into his living room to have a look around. At some point, Nelson turned away, maybe to brew some tea for his guests. When he wasn't looking, John rushed toward him, threw his arms around him and shouted for the others to come help. Wilbur and Curry sprung into action, wrestling Nelson to the floor. Once he was down, John told them to tie Nelson's legs with the rope they'd brought. But Nelson was too fast and he escaped their clutches. However, he was still on the ground when Wilbur and Curry started kicking him. And in that moment, John noticed a pile of firewood. He grabbed a log and smashed it against Nelson's head again and again and again. And he only got more violent from there. John then grabbed a wooden chair and slammed it on top of Nelson, sending wood chips flying across the room. The original plan to get a lock of hair now felt like a distant memory. Nelson tried to fight off his attackers, but he was getting weaker by the second. Finally, Wilbur and Curry managed to restrain him. But once that was done, John still wasn't satisfied. Fury rose in his chest as he grabbed the remaining piece of rope, tied it into a noose and placed it around Nelson's neck. Then he told Curry to choke Nelson. And that's exactly what the 14 year old did. In a matter of minutes, Nelson Rehmeyer was dead.
- [18:08]
Dr. Tristan Engels
So remember from episode one when we talked about how powerful desperation can be? When someone feels that they have nothing to lose or they have no other options, thinking narrows and behavioral restraints are reduced. So for John, everything had failed. The medical and psychiatric system failed him. The Hexenmeisters failed him. His family was gone, his health had never recovered. He went to Nelson's with a plan the first time and it failed. Now he's gone back and he came prepared with a revised plan that he likely believed would resolve everything. And now it was unraveling again in real time in front of him. That's when desperation kicks in. Because if Nelson escaped, it would have felt like the final door closing on him. At least a final door to a resolution. And what's particularly interesting is that he didn't do it himself. He directed Curry to do it. That detail suggests that John maintained enough presence of mind to orchestrate rather than act directly. It's also very predatory because Curry's 14 years old. Curry doesn't know right from wrong in the way that an adult does. He doesn't have a fully formed prefrontal cortex. He doesn't understand judgment and reasoning or rational decision making and problem solving in the way that John's brain can do. That raises its own questions about what was driving him in that moment as well. Was it calculated control? Was it the diffusion of responsibility we also talked about in episode one? Or was this really his plan all
- [19:43]
Vanessa Richardson
along when John was sent to jail for attempting to kill his wife? Do you think he's had murderous intent toward Nelson all along?
- [19:51]
Dr. Tristan Engels
We can't know for sure, but I can speak to this from a forensic psychology perspective. One of the most consistent findings in the field is that historical behavior is among the strongest predictors of future behavior, particularly when it comes to violence. It's the foundation of most structured risk assessment tools used in forensic settings today. That's not to say that everyone with a history of violence will go on to commit more of it, but it is a risk marker, meaning there is an elevated probability, but it's not a certainty. When we evaluate risk, we're looking at a number of factors to calculate actuarial or clinical risk scores, depending on the tools and the approach that we use. John had already demonstrated a capacity for lethal violence. He had crossed that threshold before, and he went to jail for that alone. Doesn't tell us conclusively that he intended to kill Nelson. But it does tell us that under conditions of extreme psychological pressure, lethal violence was possible for him. And that night, every condition that had previously pushed him to that threshold was present and arguably, maybe even more intense than before.
- [21:00]
Vanessa Richardson
What began as a seemingly innocent visit had turned into a murderous rampage. But the dark forces around John Blymire weren't done with him yet.
- [21:15]
Crime House Announcer
There's never been a better time to
- [21:17]
Vanessa Richardson
get outside and experience the benefits of nature, discover nearby trails and explore the outdoors with alltrails. Download the free app today and find your outside
- [21:31]
Prime Obsession Advertiser
this episode is brought to you by Prime Obsession is in session and this summer Prime Originals have everything you want. Steamy romances, irresistible love stories, and the book to screen favorites you've already read twice off campus Elle Every year after the Love Hypothesis, Sterling Point and more, Slow burns, Second Chances chemistry you can feel through the screen. Your next obsession is waiting. Watch only on Prime.
- [22:01]
Vanessa Richardson
On November 27, 1928, 34 year old John Blymire, 18 year old Wilbur Albert Hess and 14 year old John Curry went to Nelson Rehmeyer's home and killed him. John had brought 25ft of rope to restrain Nelson, but instead he tied it around his neck and told Curry to choke him. Even though their original plan hadn't involved this level of violence, once the deed was done, John felt relieved. His goal had been to obtain a lock of Nelson's hair or one of his spiritual texts, then destroy the item that would supposedly break the curse he believed Nelson had placed on him as well as Wilbert's family. But now John believed that ending Nelson's life achieved the same outcome.
- [22:48]
Dr. Tristan Engels
I hate to say this, but John is likely experiencing tremendous relief in this moment, which is absolutely tragic given the circumstances, but it is consistent with what happens when someone who has been operating under extreme, prolonged psychological pressure or despair finally reaches what feels like a resolution. According to him, he spent years believing he was suffering because of an external source. Believing he was cursed gave his pain a cause. Believing Nelson was responsible gave him a target. And Nelson's death became the ending to his perceived suffering. Regardless of his logic, everyone feels relief when prolonged distress or despair is lifted. There's also a sudden absence of desperation, at least temporarily. And in its place, when that happens, there's often hope. But what's also worth noting is, and this is particularly true if he did not intend to kill Nelson that night, that John's mind now has to make sense of what just happened. It has to resolve cognitive dissonance, because his belief that Nelson's death lifted the curse could also function as a resolution to the gap between what he came here to do and what he actually did. It gives the act meaning within his existing framework. And without that, what happened would be a new kind of distrust to live with, replacing the one he just, theoretically, in his mind, got rid of.
- [24:15]
Vanessa Richardson
In John's mind, he was free. And so was everyone else in York county, thanks to him. Now all he has to do is destroy the evidence of what really happened. So John scanned the room. They'd viciously beaten Nelson before choking him, and there was blood everywhere on the floor, the wall, and even his own clothes. Somewhere in Nelson's home, he found some cleaning rags. John tossed a couple to Wilbert and Curry and told them to get to work. But as John started wiping down the walls, Wilbert just stood there, frozen. He couldn't believe what he'd become a part of. He thought they were going to retrieve a lock of hair or a book, not commit murder.
- [24:57]
Dr. Tristan Engels
One of two things could be happening here with Wilbur in this moment. The first is an active threat response. Wilbert just Watched two people kill someone. He is in a remote location, he's outnumbered, and he is now a witness to a murder. And the two who committed the murder are telling him he needs to clean it up. If any part of his nervous system is registering John and Curry as a potential threat to his own safety, which would be absolutely rational given what he just witnessed, then what we're seeing may be an active freeze response. Because fight and flight feel unavailable in that moment. He's overpowered. Freezing and not drawing attention to himself may be the safest option his nervous system can identify, followed by fawning, meaning he feels safest. Next, by going along with them, staying quiet, not challenging what's happening around him. The second possibility is the beginning of acute shock. Wolbert is also confronting a reality that is in stark contrast to what he believed he had agreed to. The gap is so drastic, it can produce disorientation, emotional overwhelm and difficulty processing what just happened. Both can be operating simultaneously as well, and in Wilbert's case, it's very likely that they are.
- [26:14]
Vanessa Richardson
So when someone experiences this sort of unexpected or uncontrolled trauma or violence, what sort of aftercare is recommended?
- [26:22]
Dr. Tristan Engels
The priority is stabilization. It's not about asking a bunch of questions or providing therapy in that moment to process trauma that's harmful and ineffective in an acute state like this in the immediate aftermath, it's about helping the nervous system return to a regulated state. And that typically means finding physical safety measures, grounding techniques, and connecting them with someone they trust. Bring them water, a blanket, find them a place to sit down. Those are examples. And in the days and weeks that follow the acute state, we generally do psychological debriefing with them and then link them to providers that are trained in trauma informed therapy and find them social support systems as well.
- [27:06]
Vanessa Richardson
Unfortunately, Wilbert didn't have a chance to process things. John barely acknowledged what he was feeling. Instead, he threw his rag to the ground and told them they had to burn everything, including Nelson himself. Neither of John's young accomplices argued with him. Together, the three of them covered Nelson's body with a flammable straw mattress and doused it in lamp oil. Then Curry struck a match and passed it to John, who dropped it onto the mattress. In an instant, the entire scene was set ablaze. They darted out into the cold as Nelson's farmhouse went up in flames. Then they stood under the night sky watching it burn, until all of a sudden, they noticed someone watching them. When the three accomplices looked toward the road, they saw A shadowy, ghostly figure staring back at them. Terrified, they turned and fled into the woods. And they didn't stop until they reached the Hess farm, almost seven miles away.
- [28:06]
Dr. Tristan Engels
All three of them had just participated in the killing of a man, set a fire, and were standing in a remote location in the dark, in a heightened state of acute stress. They are flooded with adrenaline, hypervigilance, and operating within a belief system that already involved supernatural forces. And their threat responses are high. The mind, under that kind of stress, actively searches for danger, and they can find it in shadows or shapes and movement like that. There's also the concept of social contagion. If one person in a group reacts to something or says they saw something, the others will orient toward it immediately. And if they're in a state of shared hypervigilance, that can become a shared perception. One person's fear becomes the group's reality. And also within their belief system, A ghostly figure watching them in that moment would have been entirely consistent with what they expected the supernatural world to look like, Especially after murdering a quote which they believed was malicious enough to curse members of their own community.
- [29:12]
Vanessa Richardson
You mentioned social contagion. In. In general, how common is it for multiple people to have this exact same immediate response to trauma?
- [29:21]
Dr. Tristan Engels
This is so much more common than people might expect. When a group has been through the same traumatic experience together, shared perceptual responses can happen, and they do happen. If one person reacts to something, the others pick it up immediately and respond to it as if it's real. That's why when you see panic and run, you're inclined to panic and possibly even run, too, Even before you know what you're panicking or running from. There's also something called social referencing. So under conditions of uncertainty or threat, people look to others to interpret what's happening around them. If someone in your group signals danger, that signal becomes your reality. The threat response moves faster than your conscious thought can. And that doesn't. It doesn't just happen in close groups, like within people that you know. It happens between complete strangers. Think about what happens in a crowded public space when someone reacts to a perceived threat. A sound that resembles a gunshot, someone suddenly running. Within seconds, an entire crowd of people who have never met can be moving in the same direction, responding to the same perceived danger. Before anyone has verified if a danger actually exists or what actually happened, the emotional contagion spreads again faster than the information does. That's because the human threat detection system is wired to treat other people's fear responses as reliable data that's how mass panic happens.
- [30:50]
Vanessa Richardson
Well, once they felt a safe distance away, the group decided they must have scared themselves. They told themselves the figure in the road wasn't real. But what was real was the trouble they'd face if anyone found any out what they'd done. So John told Wilbert and Curry to keep their mouths shut. The two boys promised to keep it a secret. But that promise only lasted about a day. It was as if the old curse had been replaced with a new one, this time in the form of guilt. After the murder, Wilbert couldn't sleep. His shame gnawed at him, and the image of everything that had happened plagued him throughout the night.
- [31:28]
Dr. Tristan Engels
The symptoms Wilbert is describing is his nervous system remaining in an active state because it hasn't been able to process what happened and reach any kind of resolution. After acute trauma, the brain continues replaying the experience intrusively. It's an involuntary attempt to process something it couldn't absorb in real time. And those intrusive images or flashbacks that Wilbert is experiencing are a result of that. Guilt adds a specific layer to that because it turns it inward. So in Wolbert's case, his guilt is causing a sustained state of distress that the nervous system doesn't know how to resolve, because what he did can't be undone. That doesn't mean the guilt of this magnitude can't be worked through. Over time, with the right support, people can reach a place of accountability and integration that allows them to function and even heal. But in this moment, that process hasn't begun. It hasn't even started. And without it, the nervous system has nowhere to go or doesn't know what to do. Now, regarding his sleep, you need to feel safe and comfortable enough to lower your guard in order to go to sleep. So for someone in Wilbert's state carrying both acute aftermath or trauma and the weight of his guilt, the feeling of safety isn't there. And so his nervous system is not in a state that will allow him to sleep.
- [32:48]
Vanessa Richardson
Do you think it's possible that Wilbert knew he was the least responsible out of all three assailants and therefore felt like he had the most burden to own up? And if so, how would that specific form of guilt manifest?
- [33:01]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Physiologically, I think that's very likely. In Wilbert's case, he's likely experiencing survivor's guilt. Survivor's guilt is a psychological condition where an individual feels guilty for surviving a traumatic event when others did not. Wilbert came in with the least investment in the he participated at his father's direction. He didn't bring the rope, he didn't tie the noose. He didn't give the order. He wasn't buying into anything that happened that night, but he was there and he participated in what happened afterward. That can produce a particularly acute form of guilt because he didn't have the same framework to justify this the way John did. Wilbert had nothing that made what happened feel necessary or inevitable for him. Physiologically, we talked about, it impacts sleep, but it also creates hyperarousal, which is the inability to relax, racing thoughts or restlessness. It can create somatic symptoms like chronic headaches, appetite loss, nausea or digestive issues, and intrusive thoughts or flashbacks like we talked about.
- [34:07]
Vanessa Richardson
By the following morning, Wilbert couldn't take it anymore. He had to confess. And Wilbert didn't just tell one person. He told three. His mother, brother and sister in law all heard about the murder of Nelson Rehmeyer in great detail. However, they didn't turn him in. If anything, they tried to comfort Wilbert, saying it just sounded like things got out of hand. Unfortunately for Wilbert, that was just the beginning of his problems. Because unbeknownst to him or the other accomplices, the fire at Nelson Rehmeyer's home had gone out quickly. And pretty soon, soon there'd be no place for them to hide.
- [34:48]
Crime House Announcer
Girl, winter is so last season and now spring's got you looking at pictures of tank tops with hungry eyes. Your algorithm is feeding you cutoffs. You're thirsty for the sun on your shoulders that perfect hang on the patio sundress. Those sandals you can wear all day and all night. And you've had enough of shopping for from your couch.
- [35:08]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Done.
- [35:09]
Crime House Announcer
Hoping it looks anything like the picture when you tear open that envelope. It's time for a little in person spring treat. It's time for a trip to Ross. Work your magic.
- [35:20]
Vanessa Richardson
What they did to your family.
- [35:21]
Dr. Tristan Engels
You're lucky to make it out alive.
- [35:23]
Vanessa Richardson
Streaming on Peacock.
- [35:25]
Dr. Tristan Engels
These men are going to come after me.
- [35:27]
Vanessa Richardson
Taking them out. It's my only chance.
- [35:29]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Put a bullet in your head from
- [35:32]
Vanessa Richardson
the co creator of a Ozark. Looks like a family was running drugs execution style killing it's rare for the Keys. Any leads on who they might have been running for? The cartel killed my family. I'm gonna kill them. All of them. Mia Streaming now only on Peacock.
- [35:48]
Saruti
If you like your true crime, like
- [35:50]
Hannah
you like your coffee, Red Handed is the podcast for you.
- [35:53]
Saruti
It's dark, intense and might just keep you up all night.
- [35:56]
Hannah
I'm Hannah.
- [35:56]
Saruti
I'm Saruti and every week on Red Handed, we break down a different fascinating
- [36:01]
Hannah
case from the most recent US Trials everyone is obsessing over, like Brendan Banfield, Karen Reed and Ellen Greenberg, to the
- [36:07]
Saruti
most unbelievable stories from around the world. There's nothing we love more than digging into every detail of the cases we cover, getting beyond a basic analysis and cutting to the heart of the story.
- [36:17]
Hannah
Red handed has over 400 episodes ready to binge right now.
- [36:21]
Saruti
Plus be sure to check out our weekly sister show shorthand, where we unpack everything from the Black death to Area 50.
- [36:28]
Hannah
If you're looking for smart, detailed true crime with personality, check out Red Handed wherever you get your podcasts.
- [36:35]
Vanessa Richardson
In November of 1928, shortly after Nelson Rehmeyer was killed, 18 year old Wilbert Hess told his family what he, John Blym and John Curry had done. Wilbert's family tried to reassure him that it was an accident, but that couldn't have been further from the trail truth and soon someone would uncover the cold, hard facts. On Thanksgiving Day 1928, two days after the murder, a man named David Vanover stepped outside his farmhouse. Immediately, something felt off. David heard the cries of livestock from over the hills a few miles away. They were coming from his neighbor Nelson Rehmeyer's land. David found this odd. Nelson. Nelson always took great care of his animals. It didn't make sense that they'd be crying as though they hadn't been fed for days. David found this concerning enough to pay Nelson a visit. He walked to his neighbor's farm and sure enough, all the animals seemed restless. But Nelson was nowhere in sight. So David stopped to feed them and give them water. Then, as he approached the farmhouse, something else caught his attention. An unusual and unpleasant smell. Like burnt wood.
- [37:50]
Dr. Tristan Engels
David is experiencing intuition. And intuition isn't random. It's the product of pattern recognition. The brain is continuously processing environmental information, like sounds and smells, behaviors or subtle changes from what's expected. And when something doesn't fit the established pattern or the expected pattern, it sends a signal. And that signal is a gut feeling, or what sometimes people call a gut feeling. It arrives before most people can figure out why. And in David's case, several things are registering at the same time. And none of those individually may have been alarming. But the combination of them is what's alarming. What's also worth noting is that people vary significantly in how they trust or act on their intuition. David followed his, and in this case, that instinct was correct.
- [38:41]
Vanessa Richardson
David felt uneasy and he was hesitant to keep investigating on his own. So he went to get another neighbor, Oscar Gladfelter. Together they walked over to Nelson's house, and they were immediately struck by the signs of charring on the outside. Panicked, they knocked on the door, but no one answered, which was unusual for Nelson. So David and Oscar circled the home until they found a window. Window. They peeked inside, and what they saw horrified them. Nelson was face down on the floor with his head twisted at an unnatural angle against a pile of firewood. There was rope looped around his neck, and even though parts of the room were scorched, they could see blood spatter on the floor and walls. The situation was undeniable. Nelson Rehmeyer had been brutally killed. David and Oscar immediately notified the authorities. In such a small community, news like that traveled fast for the people of York County. It was hard to imagine who could do such a thing. But one person had a pretty strong hunch. Nelson's wife, Alice. She remembered the visit from John Blymire and John Curry just a couple of nights before, and she immediately told the police about it. Officers followed up on the tip and quickly tracked down both John Blymire and John Curry. Hurry to question them. Within no time, they also learned about Wilbert hess's involvement. By December 1, four days after the murder, local newspapers published confessions from all three of them. It wasn't long before journalists from out of town descended on York County. And as the case developed, the motive for Nelson's murder turned the story into an international spectacle. This wasn't a love triangle gone awry or a robbery gone wrong. Nelson was murdered because he was a practicing witch doctor. To many of the non local papers, it seemed outrageous that someone could be killed because they practiced witchcraft. It seemed like something that would have happened hundreds of years ago, not in the 20th century.
- [40:46]
Dr. Tristan Engels
It is shocking. The elements of this murder feel culturally sensational. And unfortunately, that becomes the story, while everything else around it can get distorted. That's difficult enough for the community to process. But imagine a jury, the press and the general public, people who may have no familiarity with these practices or rituals or beliefs, and who may struggle to separate their judgment from the facts of the case. And then the press sensationalizes it to further sell the story. They attach a label, something like men murder witch, for example. And then that frames the entire case. That shapes what information the public receives and how they filter it. What should be understood as a psychologically complex case becomes a story instead about witchcraft. And stories about witchcraft tend to produce verdicts about witchcraft instead of the specific realities of what actually happened. That can also shape how the jury views Nelson. If he is remembered primarily as a witch doctor rather than as a family man or someone who helped his community, that can influence how his death is regarded and how much justice might feel necessary. Especially if members of the jury believe that witchcraft is satanic or against their own religion.
- [42:02]
Vanessa Richardson
Religion.
- [42:02]
Dr. Tristan Engels
And conversely, because of John's beliefs, the system may assume he suffers from a psychotic condition, even if that's not an accurate clinical picture of him. And that assumption can shape his entire defense strategy, for better or worse.
- [42:19]
Vanessa Richardson
The headlines talked about the quote, unquote simple people of York County, a place where spells and curses still posed a real threat. But the truth was, was witchcraft felt very real to the three defendants and their families. Wilbert's own mother told the press that after Nelson died, all the troubles on their farm disappeared. The cows produced milk, the chickens laid eggs, and everything was back to normal. In fact, the whole family was healthier. Nobody has gotten seriously ill since that night. Back in November, Wilbert's mother believed that he, John Curry and John Blymire had done the necessary thing to free themselves from dark magic.
- [42:59]
Dr. Tristan Engels
This is truly sad that his own mother has now implicated Nelson as well. If she had believed that Nelson was cursing people in the town prior to his murder, then what's happening here would be her own confirmation bias. She's seeing this improvement on her farm as confirmation that the curse had been lifted, rather than neutral or totally unrelated events. But we don't know that she believed her son was cursing people before his murder.
- [43:26]
Prime Obsession Advertiser
And.
- [43:27]
Dr. Tristan Engels
And I would like to think that she believed in her son the way the rest of the town did before all this happened, that he was generous, caring, and a contributing member of their community, despite his differences. If that was in fact the case, then this would be best described as another illusory correlation, which we talked about early in episode one as a reminder. It's the tendency to perceive a relationship between two things even when it doesn't exist. She believed that the farm's recovery was caused by Nelson's death. Which makes this particularly powerful, whether it's due to confirmation bias or an illusory correlation, is that the recovery was real, the farm did improve, and as a result, it can become very difficult to challenge this because the evidence from where she's standing appears to speak for itself and that beliefs are shared in that community that reinforced that more so than her own belief in her son.
- [44:26]
Vanessa Richardson
While Wilbert's mother had her opinion, and of course, the jury would have theirs. On January 7, 1929. The trials began. John Blymire, John Curry and Wilbert Hess were all tried separately for their crimes. And even though they'd all supposedly confessed, they all took their chances in court. The defense had different strategies for each defendant. Wilbur and Curry were painted as superstitious children who were swayed by John Blymire into committing a crime they thought would help their families families. And John Blymire was presented as an insane, troubled person whose delusions of witches and curses drove him to commit a terrible act. But despite the defense's best efforts, it just wasn't enough to convince the jury. In January of 1929, all three defendants were found guilty of murder. Wilbert Hess was sentenced to 10 to 20 years behind bars for second degree murder. Murder and both John Blymire and John Curry received life sentences for murder in the first degree. However, none of them served their full sentences. They were all released early. Wilbert was released in 1939 after serving 10 years. That same year, John Curry was released under one condition, that he joined the army. Finally, John Blymire spent 23 years in at Eastern State Penitentiary, which is notoriously haunted. But by and large, all three of these men lived the rest of their lives with little fanfare and no more curses. To this day, the murder of Nelson Rehmeyer haunts the woods of York County. To some, it's just another local ghost story, but to others, his death was a senseless tragedy. Tragedy. Thanks so much for listening. Come back next time for a deep dive into the mind of another murderer.
- [46:35]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Serial Killers and Murderous Minds is a Crime House original powered by Paveston Studios. Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today, reach out on Instagramhouse and don't forget to rate, review and follow Serial Killers and Murderous Minds wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference and
- [46:57]
Vanessa Richardson
to enhance your listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode of Serial Killers and Murderers Murderous Minds ad free along with early access to each thrilling two part series. Serial Killers and Murderous Minds is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels and is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Serial Killers and Murderous Minds team. Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benidon, Lori Marinelli, Natalie Povsky, Alyssa Fox, Sarah Batchelor and Carrie Murphy. Thank you for listening. I'm Katie Ring, host of America's Most Infamous Crimes. Each week I take on one of the most notorious criminal cases in American history. Listen to and follow American America's Most Infamous Crimes Available now wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to today's episode. Not sure what to listen to next? Check out America's Most Infamous Crimes, hosted by Katie Ring. From serial killers to Unsolved Mysteries and game changing investigations, each week Katie takes on a notorious criminal case in American history. Listen to and follow America America's Most Infamous Crimes now wherever you listen to podcasts.