Monsters Among Us

S19 Ep52: Monsters, Myths & Murder – Hometown Legends 19 Part 2

Host: Derek Hayes
Date: October 9, 2025

Episode Overview

This hometown legends season finale special delivers a spine-tingling tour through real-life local myths, unsolved murders, ghostly encounters, and cryptid sightings as told by the listeners themselves. Witnesses from across North America (and beyond) call in to recount tales from haunted bridges to werewolf-infested cemeteries, ritual sacrifices under soccer stadiums, legendary UFO incidents, and eerie personal experiences. Host Derek Hayes curates and contextualizes these stories, connecting their shared threads of tragedy, mystery, and enduring local lore.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. The Kissing Statue of Beaumont, Texas

Caller: James
Timestamps: 03:11–04:02 (James), 04:02–05:55 (Derek response)

• Legend: A statue in Forest Lawn Cemetery, commemorating young newlyweds lost in a car crash, is said to come to life—on full moons, the lovers kiss.
• Variations: Some say shining car headlights will animate the figures regardless of the celestial cycle.
• Derek’s Commentary:

  “A statue that seems to come to life under a full moon, no less. That’s absolutely hometown legend material." (04:02)

• Verification: Derek notes discrepancies and links to videos in the show notes; urges caution when legend-tripping.
• Tone: Playful, encouraging listeners to explore local mysteries.

2. Gravity Hill Ghosts – Mooresville, Indiana

Caller: Cindy
Timestamps: 05:55–07:23 (Cindy), 07:23–08:50 (Derek response)

• Legend: At Gravity Hill, a car left in neutral can be "pushed" uphill by the invisible hands of ghost children—handprints appear on the trunk.
• Personal Witness:

  “And when we looked at the back of the car, you guessed that there were children’s handprints… very, very eerie.” (06:42)

• Cross-Cultural Phenomena: Derek reminisces about similar hills nationwide:

  “There are dozens, if not hundreds, of gravity hills stretched across this country.” (07:23)

• Encouragement: Get out, test the legends, and share your findings.

3. The Hermit's Cabin & The Stafford Witch – Virginia

Caller: Segreg
Timestamps: 10:48–14:27 (Segreg), 14:27–15:41 (Derek response)

• Legend: A reclusive “Hermit” in Locust Shade Park, surrounded by alarms and rumors of devil worship, child sacrifice, and violence. The area’s mystical past also includes stories of the “Stafford Witch” and skinwalkers.
• Warning:

  “He’s been known to come out armed and shoot at you… you get too close, those alarms start ringing.” (12:16)

• Verification: Derek finds no official record—suggests either urban legend or deliberate secrecy.
• Aspirational Note:

  “That sounds like a goal to me—to be that old man in the forest that everyone fears." (14:27)

4. The Green Children of Woolpit – Suffolk, UK

Caller: Fraser
Timestamps: 15:41–22:50 (Fraser story and Derek follow-up)

• Legend: In 12th-century England, two green-skinned children emerge in Woolpit, speaking a strange tongue, only eating beans. Their origins hint at underground worlds or war refugee status.
• Historical Theories: Ranging from poisonings, Flemish orphans, to supernatural worlds.
• Enduring Mystery:

  “Possibly the strangest element of the story… is it may actually be true, in part.” (18:01)

• For More: Story covered before (Season 17, Ep 3).

5. The Bassano Tragedy & Haunted Church—Bassano, Alberta

Caller: Steph
Timestamps: 22:50–27:12

• Legend: A 1980 family and community murder-suicide rocks Bassano; the church turns into a home where nobody stays long—rumored to be haunted by the “sad man”.
• Personal Account:

  “We can hang out at my house, but we can’t go in the basement—that’s where the sad man is.” (25:02)

• Hopeful Note:

  “Maybe he’s found some peace and was able to cross over.” (27:00)

• Ties: True crime roots often underpin enduring horror stories.

6. Stadium Sacrifices: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

Caller: Alma
Timestamps: 27:41–31:07

• Legend: Construction workers were ritually buried alive under the stadium to “appease the devil” and to ensure its stability—a practice called “emparredar”.
• Personal Origin:

  “Apparently one of the workers survived… he realized they meant to bury him in the ground.” (29:23)

• Commentary: Derek lists several major US stadiums reported to be built over actual graves.
• Chilling Fact:

  “Bodies under a stadium. That’s quite unsettling. But maybe it wouldn’t be so unsettling if you realize just how common that actually is.” (31:07)

7. Courtner Road and the Ghost Dogs – Colorado

Caller: Sebastian
Timestamps: 35:05–40:28

• Legend: Courtner Road is haunted by the ghosts of a farmer who murdered his family (and their dog), then hung them and himself. Visitors report hearing spectral barking and seeing hanging figures.
• Firsthand Fear:

  “It sounded like hundreds of dogs barking… then immediately it stopped. Complete silence.” (37:04)
  “There is a figure of somebody hanging from a very high branch... I have to say, it looked like a woman... terrifying.” (38:18)

• Outcome: Vehicles refuse to start; supernatural interference suspected.
• Derek’s Research: No records of such a crime but echoes of urban legend have inspired local escape rooms.

8. Emily’s Bridge – Stowe, Vermont

Caller: Aiden Reynolds
Timestamps: 53:58–56:08

• Legend: Emily, jilted at the altar, haunts the covered bridge where she died. Visitors report scratches on their cars after witnessing (or not witnessing) her presence.
• Personal Incident:

  “There is a long nail scratch along the side of my friend’s paint job. It really, really freaked us out.” (55:39)

9. Werewolves and Haunted Caves – Ramsey Cemetery, Illinois

Caller: Deb
Timestamps: 57:26–58:47

• Legend: Ramsey Cemetery is home to stories of werewolves with glowing red eyes, a cloaked apparition, and ghostly horseback riders. Caves by the cemetery are rumored to house werewolves.
• Local Color:

  “When you go to it, you’re thinking you’re going to get lost… children of the corn type atmosphere.” (58:18)

• Derek’s Digging: Parallels drawn between werewolf legends and “witch deer” traditions involving shape-shifting and silver bullets—roots going back to early settler beliefs.

10. Ghosts & Mass Abduction—Hotel del Coronado, California

Caller: Jerry
Timestamps: 65:19–68:20

• Haunted Hotel: Ghostly Kate Morgan reportedly haunts the iconic hotel; mysterious black lace appears in guest belongings.
• Spooky Detail:

  “Sitting on top of her clothes in the drawer… a half inch to an inch wide strip of black lace that had been balled up.” (66:55)

• Mass Abduction: During a 1994 UFO conference, dozens reported shared abduction experiences:

  “Witnesses later described being pulled from sleep by a blinding bluish white light… sinister gray figures surrounded them.” (68:53)

• Derek’s Wrap-up: Notes President Clinton was on the island at the same time, deepening the mystery.

11. The Battle of Los Angeles – UFO Over LA

Caller: Matt
Timestamps: 41:11–53:07

• Historic Event: Anti-aircraft guns fire on an unknown object over Los Angeles in 1942—was it a Japanese attack, a weather balloon, or a UFO?
• Official v. Unofficial:

  “I don’t really buy the official explanation... people just speculate that it was a UFO.” (44:07)

• Government Intrigue: Derek shares rumors about two UFOs being recovered (one offshore, one in the San Bernardino Mountains) and connections to high-level government correspondence.
• Personal Note: Derek lived in the area where the event happened, adding his own brush with hometown legend status.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• James on the Kissing Statue:

  “If you go to the cemetery on the full moon... they’ll kiss and then return to their basic state.” (03:29)

• Cindy on Gravity Hill:

  “When we looked at the back of the car, you guessed that there were children’s handprints on the back of the car.” (06:42)

• Segreg on the Hermit:

  “If you get too close he will come out shooting. Now I don’t know if he’s still there as of now… nobody really knows.” (12:18)

• Fraser on the Green Children:

  “Possibly the strangest element of the story of green children of Woolpit is may actually be true. In part, there were many theories…” (18:01)

• Sebastian on Courtner Road:

  “We all shine our flashlights up in the tree. And there is a figure of somebody hanging from a very high branch. Now, could this have been, you know, a doll or something?” (38:18)

• Aiden on Emily’s Bridge:

  “There is a long nail scratch along the side of my friend’s paint job. It really, really freaked us out.” (55:39)

• Deb on Ramsey Cemetery:

  “Supposedly there have been stories of werewolves and a man wearing a cloak, a black cloak, and he has glowing red eyes.” (57:41)

• Jerry on Hotel Del Coronado:

  “She threw this black ball about maybe the size of a large marble or something at me... you could unravel it... a half inch to an inch wide strip of black lace.” (66:55)

• Derek on the supernatural nature of hometown legends:

  “Most folks don’t let the truth get in the way of an entertaining yarn.” (59:30)

Timestamps of Important Segments

| Segment & Story | Caller/Speaker | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|----------------|-------------| | Intro & blanket content warning | Derek | 01:53–03:11 | | Beaumont’s Kissing Statue | James | 03:11–04:02 | | Gravity Hill, Mooresville IN | Cindy | 05:55–07:23 | | Hermit’s Cabin, Locust Shade Park VA | Segreg | 10:48–14:27 | | Green Children of Woolpit, UK | Fraser | 15:41–22:50 | | Bassano Tragedy/Haunted Church, Alberta | Steph | 22:50–27:12 | | Estadio Azteca ritual sacrifices, Mexico City | Alma | 27:41–31:07 | | Courtner Road ghost dogs, Colorado | Sebastian | 35:05–40:28 | | The Battle of Los Angeles (UFO incident) | Matt | 41:11–53:07 | | Emily’s Bridge, Stowe, Vermont | Aiden Reynolds | 53:58–56:08 | | Ramsey Cemetery—Werewolves & Witch Deer, Illinois | Deb | 57:26–58:47 | | Hotel Del Coronado Ghost & Mass Abduction, CA | Jerry | 65:19–68:20 |

Tone & Atmosphere

Derek maintains an inviting, nostalgic, and “spooky” yet factually curious tone throughout, balancing respect for tragedy with awe at the persistence of local legend. Listener voices add authenticity and diversity, while Derek contextualizes with research, personal anecdotes, and gentle humor.

Final Thoughts

This episode is an ode to the power of storytelling and the way fear, tragedy, and unexplainable events embed themselves in local memory—shaping not only what we believe, but how we experience the places we call home. From statues that kiss to stadiums built on bones, the world is full of mysteries that refuse to be buried.

“Keep it spooky! Now go check out a legend in your area. And above all that, be sure to have yourselves a great night.” – Derek Hayes (End)