My Victorian Nightmare – Ep. 88

Old Salem Prison Ghosts & The MURDEROUS Wakemanite Cult

Host: Genevieve Manion | Daylight Media
Date: March 30, 2026

Episode Overview

In this especially macabre episode, Genevieve Manion delves deep into two dark narratives from Victorian-era New England: the lingering spirits and legends of Salem’s Civil War-era prison, and the bloody saga of the Wakemanite cult and its murderous exorcism-turned-killing in 1856. Both segments explore the deep-seated fears, superstition, and madness that flourished alongside Victorian propriety, revealing truly chilling histories that blur the lines between haunting, mental illness, and religious fanaticism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Hauntings of Old Salem Jail

(Begins ~06:11)

• History of Old Salem Jail:

  • Built in 1813, at the site where Giles Corey, a Salem witch trial victim, was pressed to death in 1692.
  • Reputedly constructed atop the execution grounds of other “witches.”
  • Over 50 hangings took place; high suicide rates due to grim conditions and temperance-era overcrowding.
  • Prison lacked indoor plumbing until the 1970s; closed in 1991 after a riot (“We won” scrawled in toothpaste before mass destruction).

• Transformation & Current Reputation:

  • Turned into luxury apartments in the 2000s, but residents and visitors report ghostly activity.
  • Witnesses claim to see apparitions sprinting across the lawn, a shadowy candle-bearing figure in windows of a floor that no longer exists, Civil War soldiers, and 19th-century spirits in modern apartments.
  • Eerie sense that some prisoners still attempt escape. Host reflects:

    “There’s something so creepy to me about the concept of ghosts that are seen trying to escape over and over again. Imagine you’re dead and stuck in a loop trying to escape.” (12:55)

• Salem Witch Trial Facts:

  • Aftermath: community plagued by drought, disease—some interpreted as divine punishment.
  • Accusers later confessed to lying; an official day of humiliation in 1698, monetary reparations in the 1700s, and Proctor’s Ledge memorial erected in 2017.

2. The Wakemanite Cult Murders

(Begins ~18:49)

• Introduction & Listener Suggestion:

  • Topic suggested by a listener, Bronwyn. Genevieve thanks and encourages future fans to submit ideas.

• Disclaimer on Cults vs. Religions:

  • Distinction between mainstream Christianity and harmful cults.

  • “In a cult the bottom serves the top, and in a healthy religion, the top serves the bottom.” (19:35)
    “If your religion… says it’s okay to murder or oppress on behalf of your deity, you’re in a cult, call your dad.” (17:08)

• The Story of Rhoda Wakeman:

  • Survived claimed death and resurrection—returns with a divine mission to prepare for Christ’s second coming.
  • Proclaimed herself a prophetess, recruited a small “chosen” flock (The Wakemanites) in New Haven, CT.
  • Asserted supreme power to forgive sins, read minds, destroy the world, and claimed all marriages were evil.
  • Divine revelation: a “devil” had possessed dissident follower Justice Matthews, endangering Wakeman and the world.

• The Murder of Justice Matthews:

  • December 23, 1855: Justice Matthews is lured by his sister and brother-in-law under cult pressure to a fatal "exorcism".
  • He is tied up, left alone, and murdered—clubbed by Samuel Sly (Rhoda’s half-brother), throat slit, stabbed with a fork.

  • “This man of sin cursed God. And when he died there was a black spot on the throne of God.” — Rhoda Wakeman (26:48)

• Legal Consequences:

  • Cult members claimed Matthews wanted to die to “save the world.”
  • Sly confessed; Rhoda, Samuel, and Thankful Hershey faced trial.
  • Verdict: not guilty by reason of insanity—sent to the progressive, humane Hartford “Insane Retreat”.

• Inside Victorian Asylums:

  • Contrast of early 19th-century “retreats” (gardens, dignity) with later overcrowding, cruelty, and trauma as asylums devolved.
  • Rhoda and company lived out their days in the asylum; their deaths dates remain unclear.

3. Charles Sanford: Maniacal Nephew’s Axe Murders

(Begins ~28:41)

• Sanford’s Descent:

  • Nephew of Wakemanite member, previously associated with the cult but exhibiting dangerous instability.
  • In and out of asylums; shows clear signs of severe, untreated mental illness—rambling, rage, isolation.

• Rampage and Murders (January 1856):

  • Enoch Sperry:
    • Elderly, respected local, father of the Secretary of State.
    • Axed while riding home, throat slit; prophetic last prayer referenced (“none but the Almighty knew of its import and it might be his last”).
  • Ichabod Umberfield:
    • Killed in his own home, in front of his daughter and servant—Sanford attacks similarly with axe and club.
    • Women in the home barely escape; Sanford calmly leaves, washes axe in the snow.

• Capture and Aftermath:

  • Tracked and subdued by eight unarmed locals (one with a pitchfork). Violent struggle; Sanford rants incoherently, offers bizarre rationale:

    “He said he killed Mr. Sperry because he ‘had a cramp and killed the man to prevent the cramp from killing him.’" (36:45)

  • Judged criminally insane, sent to the overcrowded Connecticut Valley Hospital (not the “retreat”); no records of his death, but likely died in institution.

• Legacy & Memorialization:

  • Dozens of forgotten asylum patients buried under numbers for “family shame”, but modern memorial now lists their names:

    “It is so important that we take note of the ways many, many people devote their time, energy, and art, to restoring the dignity and memory of others. And this, a memorial… stands as such a touching tribute that they mattered and that they were not forgotten.” (39:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Imagine you’re dead and stuck in a loop trying to escape. Ugh. I hope knocking the place down and turning it into a place for like new life put a stop to that.” (12:55)
• “Please if you have any suggestions for topics that you would like to hear about, email me at myvictoriannightmaremail.com. ...sometimes you guys tickle my creepy fancy better than anything on that list.” (14:45)
• “If your religion says it’s okay to murder or oppress on behalf of your deity, you’re in a cult, call your dad.” (17:08)
• “I think the most accurate way to distinguish between, like, a healthy religion versus a cult is that in a cult the bottom serves the top and in a healthy religion, the top serves the bottom.” (19:35)
• [On Rhoda Wakeman’s vision:] “She said he still had a crown of thorns and nails in his hand which like, can’t even Jesus Christ get a break in heaven. Still got to wear that crown. Can’t even enjoy the arts and crafts.” (15:59)
• “He had lately been exhibiting maniacal behavior… demanding they stop talking and that they should listen to him preach instead.” (28:55)
• “The writing on the Hickory club cannot be deciphered but is probably some of Sanford’s insane ravings or some of the Wakemanite doctrines.” (35:15)
• “It took all eight of the men to subdue him. One of the men was struck with the axe on his shoulder, but luckily it didn’t kill him.” (36:23)
• “This was a practice done in asylum cemeteries in the 1800s to avoid what was viewed as shaming families. ...But there is now a memorial in the hospital graveyard that lists all of the names…” (39:05)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [06:11] – Hauntings and lore of Old Salem Jail
• [13:35] – Ghost descriptions and opining on spiritual “loops”
• [16:10] – Listener suggestion and Wakemanite cult introduction
• [19:35] – Cult vs. religion distinction
• [22:49] – The murder and aftermath of Justice Matthews
• [26:48] – Rhoda Wakeman’s chilling courtroom testimony
• [28:41] – Charles Sanford’s connection and signs of madness
• [35:15] – Sanford’s rampage and the horrific home attack
• [39:05] – Asylum burial practices and the new memorial

Tone & Style

Genevieve’s narrative is conversational, wry, and vivid—balancing dark Victorian horror with flashes of humor, empathy, and modern skepticism. The episode’s exploration of societal, supernatural, and psychological darkness is both deeply researched and animated by a uniquely gothic wit and warmth.

For Victorian true crime or ghost story aficionados, this is a must-listen episode with richly woven details, reflective commentary, and social insight—while never losing sight of the real and tragic humanity at the core of these eerie histories.