Otherworld Podcast - Episode 116: Auntie Gloria

Host: Jack Wagner
Guest: Grace
Release Date: March 24, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 116 of Otherworld, titled "Auntie Gloria," host Jack Wagner delves into the eerie experiences of Grace, a 35-year-old wedding planner from eastern Connecticut. Grace's journey unfolds as she uncovers unsettling paranormal activities in her dream home, intertwining family history, unexplained phenomena, and a hidden mystery that continues to baffle her.

Background

Grace relocated to Connecticut in 2018 from California after becoming pregnant with her daughter, Frances. In search of a suitable home, Grace stumbled upon a historic 1725 saltbox house near Lake Mystic. Despite initial reservations during negotiations with the previous homeowner, Misha, Grace and her husband Mark decided to purchase the property, unaware of the dark secrets it held.

Notable Quote:
Grace reflects on the oddities at closing:

"At the closing, we sign all the paperwork... Misha said, but when you go down to the basement, you're gonna see that there are, like, five or six boxes down there. And those have to stay with the house."
(00:14:00)

Initial Events and Discoveries

Shortly after moving in, Grace began exploring the basement, discovering meticulously organized boxes containing artifacts from various eras, including Pequot arrowheads, pottery, clothing fragments, and bone pieces. These findings ignited her passion for the house's history, despite their creepy nature.

Notable Quote:
Reflecting on the basement artifacts:

"There was, like, an inventory list with codes for everything, including, like, the GPS location... a lot of really cool and pretty creepy stuff."
(00:14:50)

Grace's curiosity was further piqued by discovering that the previous homeowner had unearthed these artifacts during an archaeological dig conducted by UConn and Connecticut State Archaeologists. However, five boxes remained in the basement, hinting at undisclosed secrets.

Paranormal Incidents Begin

In February, Grace's peaceful existence was shattered by a series of paranormal events:

1. First Sighting:
   Grace woke up one night to see the outlines of two little boys inside her bookshelf, staring at her. Unlike typical sleep paralysis hallucinations, the room was well-lit by moonlight, intensifying the experience.

   Notable Quote:
   Describing the first sighting:

   "I was looking at the bookshelf on the side of my bed. And I could see the outline of two little boys laying in the bookshelf looking at me."
   (00:16:30)

2. Green Mist Face:
   Another night, Grace witnessed a thick green mist forming a man's face above her ceiling with empty eye sockets. The mist dissipated as soon as she reacted, leaving her shaken.

   Notable Quote:
   On encountering the misty face:

   "It felt like it mirrored my face... I felt like it screamed... and then the mist dissipated back to my peripheral."
   (00:18:15)

These incidents left Grace fearful, prompting her to recite the Lord's Prayer nightly for comfort. Her husband, Mark, initially skeptical, began to share in her concerns as the events escalated.

Escalation of Paranormal Activity

The paranormal activities intensified over the following months:

1. Physical Manipulation:
   Grace experienced being physically pulled off her bed by unseen forces, feeling as though she was being taken to another place against her will.

   Notable Quote:
   Describing the forceful pull:

   "I felt like I was being taken somewhere. It felt like a trick... but deep down, I knew I wasn't supposed to go there."
   (00:20:45)

2. Auntie Gloria's Manifestations:
   Grace's toddler, Frances, began reporting visits from "Auntie Gloria," who interacted with her by reading mean books and discussing abusive aunts. These interactions were unnerving, as Frances was only two years old.

   Notable Quote:
   On Frances interacting with Auntie Gloria:

   "She tells me Auntie Gloria was telling her about her mean aunts... they do bad things with belts to children."
   (00:35:20)

3. House Sounds and Apparitions:
   Both Grace and Mark began hearing unexplained sounds, such as growling and voices, that none of them could attribute to any physical source. Even guests to the house reported similar disturbances.

   Notable Quote:
   Recounting the unexplained noises:

   "Francis said, 'Dad, what was that?'... The grill made a weird noise. Francis was adamant, 'that was not the grill, Daddy.'"
   (00:46:10)

Investigations and Uncovering the Hidden Room

Determined to uncover the truth, Grace sought out connections related to the house's history. A conversation with a neighbor led her to Brian, a carpenter familiar with Auntie Gloria and the house's construction.

Notable Quote:
On meeting Brian:

"He said there was a hidden space behind the drywall where Gloria had left something for him."
(00:52:24)

Brian revealed that Gloria had built a secret compartment in the house to store tools, which was later drywalled over. Although Grace and Brian planned to investigate further, Brian ultimately declined to assist in uncovering the compartment.

Undeterred, Grace attempted to access the hidden room herself by cutting a small hole in the drywall with the help of a friend. The endeavor yielded no immediate discoveries, leaving Grace with more questions than answers.

Notable Quote:
Describing the hidden room attempt:

"I cut into one section of the room, and there are four sections of the room. It was a bust."
(00:59:12)

Current Status and Ongoing Mysteries

As time progressed, new paranormal occurrences surfaced, including Grace's husband Mark experiencing voices in his ear and Frances nonchalantly acknowledging supernatural entities. Despite efforts to alter the house's environment and seek logical explanations, the mysteries remain unresolved.

Notable Quote:
On recent experiences:

"Mark heard somebody in my ear say, 'hello.' He was like, not from a distance... close to my ear."
(01:00:09)

Grace continues to explore the house's secrets, maintaining a delicate balance between skepticism and open-mindedness. The presence of Auntie Gloria and the hidden room remain central to the ongoing enigma, leaving Grace and her family in a state of unease and anticipation.

Conclusion

Episode 116 of Otherworld presents a chilling narrative of Grace's experiences in her historic Connecticut home. The interplay of family dynamics, unexplained phenomena, and the quest to uncover hidden truths paints a vivid picture of real-life horror that transcends fictional portrayals. As Grace navigates the labyrinth of mysteries surrounding Auntie Gloria, listeners are left contemplating the thin veil between the known and the unknown, and the secrets that lie just beneath the surface.

Notable Quotes Recap:

• Grace (00:14:00): "Misha said, but when you go down to the basement, you're gonna see that there are, like, five or six boxes down there."

• Grace (00:14:50): "There was, like, an inventory list with codes for everything... a lot of really cool and pretty creepy stuff."

• Grace (00:16:30): "I could see the outline of two little boys laying in the bookshelf looking at me."

• Grace (00:18:15): "It felt like it mirrored my face... I felt like it screamed."

• Grace (00:35:20): "She tells me Auntie Gloria was telling her about her mean aunts... they do bad things with belts to children."

• Grace (00:46:10): "Francis was adamant, 'that was not the grill, Daddy.'"

• Grace (00:52:24): "He said there was a hidden space behind the drywall where Gloria had left something for him."

• Grace (00:59:12): "I cut into one section of the room, and there are four sections of the room. It was a bust."

• Grace (01:00:09): "Mark heard somebody in my ear say, 'hello.' He was like, not from a distance."

For more episodes, subscribe to Otherworld on your preferred podcast platform and join Jack Wagner as he uncovers the world's most intriguing paranormal stories.