The Night Owl Podcast Episode 57 – Spirits at Sunset Strip Part IV

Date: February 24, 2025

Host: Stephen Belyeu

Guest Investigators: Kate the Brave, Jeffrey, Nicole Ricardo

Location: Sunset Strip Comedy Club & the historic Webb Shaw Building, Austin, TX

Overview

This episode continues the Night Owl team's paranormal investigation at the Sunset Strip Comedy Club. The focus is on unraveling the mysteries behind recurring ghostly phenomena, particularly the spirit (or spirits) associated with John Waller Stevens Jr., a bookkeeper believed to have died tragically in the 1920s, as well as the emergence of a darker, ominous shadow entity. The episode provides a deep dive into new psychic evidence, staff experiences, and—most significantly—a revelatory phone interview with fellow investigator Nicole Ricardo, who brings a trove of painstaking historical research and alternate theories about the case. This marks a major turning point in separating fact from rumor in the ongoing saga at the Sunset Strip.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap of the Investigation So Far [00:09–05:20]

• The paranormal activity was previously attributed to John Waller Stevens Jr.’s alleged suicide under the back stairs.
• Earlier sessions with psychics Jeffrey and Kate the Brave uncovered two distinct energies: Stevens and a much darker shadow figure.
• “John Waller Stevens Jr. did in fact seem to be haunting this building. But there was also a much darker presence lurking in the shadows.” — Stephen Belyeu [04:23]
• New evidence and session recaps fuel questions about both the purported suicide and the nature of the unsettling shadow figure.

2. Final Estes Session with Kate the Brave [05:21–09:55]

• Session attempts to communicate with “the businessman” (thought to be Stevens).
  • Phrases received: "Check the numbers," "Death was sent for me," "Fall," "Proof," "Scream," "Staircase," "He tripped," and "Help a man... that was two separate people."
  • Moments of confusion; male and female presences seem to vie for attention; information appears fragmented.
• Insight: Session hints at financial wrongdoing (“check the numbers”) and possible foul play (“death was sent for me”), resonating with historic rumors around Stevens.
• Notable quote:
  • "He says death was sent for me. Fall. Keep getting a fall." — Kate the Brave [06:13]
  • "Check the numbers. Okay." — Stephen Belyeu [06:11]
  • "He tripped." — Kate the Brave [06:54]

3. Investigator Debriefs: Energies and Theories [09:55–17:06]

• Kate the Brave:

  • Identifies three presences: “the businessman" (likely Stevens, connected to money/bookkeeping); shadow entity (ominous, feeds off fear, hides by the stairs, “beckoning people”); a confused female spirit possibly seeking attention.
  • Describes shadow figure: “He’s so cloaked that he doesn’t really show more about who he is, but he’s hiding… He is very intimidating… ushers people to the stairs area.” [11:18]
  • Hank—another helpful spirit, dressed modern—emerges as a benign presence, separate from the major hauntings.

• Jeffrey:

  • Most clear connection with Hank (protective, backstage presence).
  • The shadow is “just mean. It's just causing problems. It feeds off of anxiety… not as dangerous as he would like to be, but you have to be careful.” [17:17]
  • Finds the green room and backstage heavy with residual energy—not all spirits active, many echoes of past events.
  • No significant impression of the female presence.

4. Staff Experiences and The “Shadow Figure” [19:11–25:45]

• Discussion about staff seeing a “demon” in the office/stairwell area.

• Both psychics downplay a literal “demon”—suggest it's the shadow figure playing tricks (“he’s threatening… it’s not demonic”). [24:42]

• Staff often hear their names called in the back area; both psychics attribute this to the intelligent shadow entity.

  • “I think it’s the shadow thing.” — Jeffrey [24:01]
  • “This is intelligent.” — Kate the Brave [24:02]

• Physical manifestations include shadow rushes, strange figures with “bronze heads” (interpreted by psychics as conjured hallucinations).

  • “Something conjured… They don’t feel like actual spirits. They feel created because…” — Kate the Brave [22:47]

• Advice for staff:

  • Set boundaries, do not feed the entity with fear or attention.
  • “You are not… I'm not going to kick you out, but we know you're here. We're not afraid of you anymore. Don't touch the lights. Don't touch the light board.” — Jeffrey [25:15]

5. Unveiling the True Story: Phone Interview with Nicole Ricardo [37:59–73:55]

Historical Research Revelations ([40:12] onward):

• Multiple conflicting records about Stevens’ death:

  • Official death certificate: Self-administered Lysol poisoning.
  • Two newspaper articles (the day after death): Reported a car accident as the cause.
  • Historical document: Claimed Stevens shot himself under interior stairs after being accused of embezzlement.

• “There is so much more than just that death certificate. This is a huge, convoluted, super confusing case.” — Nicole Ricardo [39:31]

• Suspicious circumstances:

  • Odd transportation after the supposed car accident—bypassing multiple hospitals to bring Stevens back to his workplace.
  • Time and location discrepancies.
  • Evidence of financial wrongdoing; shortly after Stevens' death, the furniture store went out of business.

• Stevens’ family background (prominent, but Stevens was estranged; not buried with family; scandals regarding marriage and embezzlement).

• Seance and psychic insights:

  • The team’s Ouija session indicated Stevens was bookkeeper for both businesses; there was illegal activity in upper floors (including possible sex work), and he was planning to expose this, resulting in his murder (“they found out and had him killed”). [61:41]
  • “We received… that JW had been doing the books for both of the businesses in that building and that they also had been using some of those upper floors illegally for certain activities… and then they found out and had him killed.” — Nicole Ricardo [61:41]
  • Name “Paul” repeatedly came through—potentially a ringleader; “scoundrel” also spelled out.

• Alignment with Night Owl’s independent sessions, particularly constant female voices (possibly sex workers).

Final Theories ([70:54–73:56]):

• Nicole’s conclusion: Stevens did not die by suicide; she suspects he was forced to ingest Lysol due to the criminal dealings he threatened to expose.
  • “Do I think that he drank it willingly? No, I think that he was forced to.” [72:20]

6. Next Steps for the Investigation [73:56–End]

• Steven Belyeu plans:
  • Deep dive into documents from Nicole’s team.
  • Next investigation to focus on the historically accurate locations (e.g., Voodoo Donuts, matching former furniture store).
  • Bring all investigators (including Nicole) back for a final investigation with full knowledge of the converging evidence and renewed focus on the shadow entity.
  • “Since this investigation has gone on longer than expected, my psychics now will have had access to hear the previous three episodes… I want to bring Nicole and her paranormal partner in crime, Damien… Maybe then we'll be able to get the answers we seek.” [73:56]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He says death was sent for me. Fall. Keep getting a fall.” — Kate the Brave [06:13]
• “Check the numbers.” — Kate the Brave [06:06]
• “He tripped.” — Kate the Brave [06:54]
• “The shadow guy… he's hiding. I see him, like, beckoning people down the stairs… there's a lot of stuff that comes in from upstairs, just like a hustle and a bustle… Also feels like little kids, but they come in from outside…” — Kate the Brave [11:18]
• “The shadow is just mean. It's just causing problems. It feeds off of anxiety… but he's not as dangerous as he would like to be.” — Jeffrey [17:17]
• “It’d be the shadow figure, like making him see that [the bronze heads].” — Jeffrey [22:43]
• “He’s threatening. He wants to scare you and threaten you. It’s not demonic. It’s the shadow figure.” — Kate the Brave [24:42]
• “I think it's the shadow thing.” — Jeffrey [24:01]
• “There is so much more than just that death certificate. This is a huge, convoluted, super confusing case.” — Nicole Ricardo [39:31]
• “I do think the Lysol thing happened… Do I think that he drank it willingly? No, I think that he was forced to.” — Nicole Ricardo [72:20]

Important Timestamps

• [00:09] – Episode intro and investigation recap
• [05:21] – Kate’s final Estes session
• [10:44] – Psychic recaps and impressions
• [19:11] – Shadow figure focus, staff experiences
• [37:59] – Stephen’s phone call with Nicole Ricardo begins
• [40:12] – Nicole recounts historical research (death certificate, news articles, building history)
• [61:41] – Seance findings and psychic validations
• [70:54] – Nicole’s personal theory about Stevens’ death and the family’s likely cover up
• [73:56] – Plans for next investigation and episode wrap-up

Conclusion & Tone

This episode delivers a whirlwind of history, psychic impressions, and investigative breakthroughs, each serving to muddy and then clarify the central mystery: Was John Waller Stevens Jr. the tragic victim of murder, suicide, or cover-up in the Webb Shaw building? The team’s dynamic, respectful exploration—blending historical grit, open-minded psychic inquiry, and methodical debunking—anchors the show in both skepticism and empathy.

The haunting of Sunset Strip is revealed not just as a series of supernatural anecdotes, but as a deeply layered story of power, shame, and the unresolved spectral legacy of Austin’s nightlife—where shadowy presences, both tragic and menacing, linger just out of the light.

Next episode promises a final confrontation with both fact and spirit. Stay restless—Part V lands March 31.