Morbid Podcast: Esther Cox and the Great Amherst Mystery
Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Date: October 13, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, Ash and Alaina dive into one of Canada’s most famous—yet often overlooked—paranormal mysteries: the haunting of Esther Cox, also known as the Great Amherst Mystery. Blending creepy history and true crime with their trademark banter, the hosts explore Esther’s tumultuous life in 19th-century Nova Scotia and the infamous string of supernatural events that made her the center of a national obsession. As always, the episode is research-rich but light on the gloom, bringing both skeptical analysis and ghostly glee to this classic case.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Setting the Stage: Who Was Esther Cox?
- Esther Cox was born in 1860 in Upper Stewiacke, Nova Scotia.
- Suffered family upheaval: mother died shortly after birth, father remarried twice, and series of moves (08:14).
- By 18, Esther lived in Amherst with her sister Olive, Olive’s husband Daniel, their children, and Esther’s sister Jenny (09:08).
- Descriptions of Esther: not considered conventionally beautiful; “I cannot help being unlike other people.” (11:18, Alaina quoting Hubble)
2. Trigger Event and the Bob McNeil Incident
- Summer 1878: Esther, then 18, caught the attention of Bob McNeil, a local shoemaker with a violent background.
- On August 28, McNeil took her to an isolated area, threatened her with a revolver; accounts differ on whether he assaulted or merely threatened her.
- Esther returns home traumatized; McNeil leaves town and is never seen again. He had a reputation for cruelty—even animal abuse (16:33–17:17).
3. The Supernatural Begins
- Following the trauma, Esther displayed anxiety and depression, then physical symptoms: swelling, rigidity, red face, and sensations of bursting (18:59–21:12).
- Noises, banging from under the bed, and violent shaking episodes alarmed the entire family (20:28).
- Objects began moving and flying across the room. Family members, and later a physician (Dr. Carrit), witnessed these incidents first-hand (29:10).
- Writing appeared on the wall: “Esther Cox, you are mine to kill” (29:55).
4. Escalation and Community Reaction
- As word spread, locals gathered outside the Teed house to try and witness the paranormal events (32:21).
- Esther’s health would improve or the activity would cease whenever she was removed from the house, strengthening the view that she was the epicenter.
- When the spirit seemingly “warned” of an impending fire, a match fell from the ceiling, igniting Esther’s bed linens (35:58).
- Attempts were made to communicate with the spirit, using knocks (1 for “no,” 3 for “yes”)—classic communication method reminiscent of séance (37:15).
5. Publicity and Investigation
- The story attracted significant media attention and skepticism. Some believed in supernatural causes; others thought Bob McNeil was still tormenting her, possibly even hiding in the house (39:50).
- Walter Hubbell, actor and amateur paranormalist, investigated the case hoping to expose Esther as a fraud but left convinced of genuine phenomena (47:07).
- Esther and Hubble even arranged a lecture tour, but were faced with public hostility and protests, especially from religious groups (50:22).
6. Attempts to Rehome and Ongoing Phenomena
- Esther was evicted multiple times as paranormal activity followed her from house to house: at the Whites, then the Van Ambergs, and finally the Davisons (53:08–54:24).
- Fires and flying objects persisted, leading to Esther being charged with arson and serving a month in jail (54:04).
- The activity ceased entirely after Esther eventually married (twice), moved to Brockton, Massachusetts, and settled into a more private life (56:36).
7. Interpretations, Theories, and Legacy
- Skeptics point to attention seeking and psychological trauma as likely causes. One theory: Esther, reeling from personal tragedy and sexual assault, acted out or lost control in a culturally repressive era (63:24).
- Others believe McNeil may have secretly tormented her even after leaving town.
- The supernatural explanation persists; many believe Esther’s case involved true poltergeist or demonic activity—especially given multiple independent witnesses (60:37–60:45).
- The hosts discuss the enduring mystery, ask how such dramatic events could be faked, and share their own minor paranormal experiences for context (61:18).
- Legacy: Esther’s story is commemorated annually at “Estherfest” in Amherst, Nova Scotia, complete with live music, parties, and ghost-themed events (68:53).
- Notably, host Ash is shocked to learn Esther lived her later life in Brockton, MA—“the most random town.” (57:00)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Esther’s description:
“As though constantly asking, ‘Why do you look at me?’—‘I cannot help being unlike other people.’”
—Alaina quoting Walter Hubble (11:18) -
On Esther’s haunting symptoms:
“Her entire body was rigid and contorted, her face was bright red, and her eyes appeared to be bulging out of her head.”—Alaina (19:57) -
On the writing on the wall:
“Then they watched in absolute amazement as writing began to appear on the wall above Esther’s head. And it said, ‘Esther Cox, you are mine to kill!’”
—Alaina (30:09) -
On poltergeist communication:
“They tried to get like a system going where it was like one knock for no, three knocks for yes kind of thing.”
—Alaina (37:37) -
On skepticism and rational explanations:
“Instead of helping her, the people who should have helped her turned her personal crisis into a public sensation.”
—Alaina quoting Lori Glenn Norris (63:51) -
On hauntings and disbelief:
“I believe in hauntings, like, 150 percent, but I’ve been to a lot of haunted locations and nothing ever gets thrown...and I desperately want to.”
—Ash (60:23) -
On the town’s reaction:
“God forbid a woman get attention.”
—Ash (48:42) -
On Esther’s legacy and festival:
“Esther Fest is apparently a celebration of the paranormal and horror... inspired by Esther Cox and her story.”
—Alaina (68:50)
Important Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 07:45 | Introduction to Esther Cox’s early life | | 15:47 | The Bob McNeil incident | | 18:59 | First supernatural incidents: screams, moving objects | | 21:12 | Dramatic intensification: physical symptoms and the house shakes | | 29:55 | Writing on the wall: “Esther Cox, you are mine to kill” | | 32:21 | Crowds begin gathering, public hysteria rises | | 35:58 | Match falls from ceiling; spontaneous fire | | 37:15 | The family communicates with the spirit via knocks | | 47:07 | Walter Hubbell investigates, is converted from skeptic to believer | | 53:33 | Fire destroys the Van Ambergs’ barn, Esther charged with arson | | 56:36 | Esther marries, moves to Brockton, and the hauntings cease | | 63:24 | Theories: trauma, attention seeking, and mental health crisis | | 68:50 | Details about Amherst’s annual “Estherfest” festival |
Tone and Takeaways
Ash and Alaina maintain their signature tone throughout: skeptical, compassionate, irreverent, and open-minded. Skeptics and true believers both find food for thought, and the hosts deftly avoid overcommitting to any one explanation.
In the end, they highlight the complexity of Esther Cox’s experience—trauma, possible mental health crisis, community pressures, and the unknowable mix of supernatural and psychological that makes the Great Amherst Mystery an enduring classic.
Conclusion
This episode offers a rich retelling of the Esther Cox haunting, filled with humor, empathy, and curiosity. Whether you’re a die-hard skeptic, a ghost enthusiast, or just love a well-researched storytelling session, Ash and Alaina provide plenty of context, debate, and delight. Esther’s mysterious legacy lives on—a reminder, as Ash says, to “keep it weird… but not so weird that you don’t go party your ass off at Estherfest and make things fly, baby.” (70:09)
For further reading:
- Walter Hubbell, The Great Amherst Mystery: A True Narrative of the Supernatural
- Lori Glenn Norris, Haunted Girl
Estherfest info: Held annually each October in Amherst, Nova Scotia.
Keep it weird!