The Night Owl: True Ghost Stories

Episode: The Villisca Axe Murder House - Part II (Campfire)
Host: Stephen Belyeu, Night Owl Paranormal Research Society
Date: August 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In Part II of the Villisca Axe Murder House Campfire series, host Stephen Belyeu expands the investigation beyond local voices to include nationally recognized paranormal figures with deep ties to the infamous Iowa location. The episode features chilling firsthand accounts from seasoned paranormal investigator and author Richard Estep and YouTuber/investigator Colin Browen. Both share distinct and disturbing experiences from inside the house, offering new insight—not only into the nature of the haunting, but into lingering mysteries swirling around one of America’s most notorious unsolved crimes. The episode closes with a promise to return to the caretaker’s personal saga in the next installment, uniting these stories into a broader meditation on evil, trauma, and the paranormal.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Brief Recap and Series Context

• The episode opens with a summary of the ongoing Villisca series, centering on the 1912 murder of the Moore family and Stillinger sisters, and notes the shift in Part II to broader investigations and perspectives.
• Stephen outlines the importance of respecting the story:

  “Our intent is not to accuse, speculate, or sensationalize, but to respectfully honor these voices and explore the emotional and paranormal impact these events had on those involved.” (A, 00:30)

2. Richard Estep: The Investigator & Historian’s Lens

Background (06:06)

• Richard Estep, author of 40+ paranormal books, discusses his extensive experience investigating both sides of the Atlantic and multiple TV appearances.
• Motivated by unfinished business with Villisca, he spent extended periods at the house with various investigative teams and approaches.

First Impressions and Atmosphere (07:05)

• The house is strikingly small, feels like “stepping back in time” to the early 1900s, and is furnished accordingly.
• The presence of family portraits produces a “very real kind of feeling of being watched” (B, 07:50).

The House’s “Moods” (08:42)

• Estep notes the house seems to shift between “playful” and “angry and aggressive,” with experiences fluctuating by season or weather.

  “Some days it can be almost playful, I hesitate to say childish or childlike. Other days it can be somber, brooding, if not angry and aggressive. You never quite know what you’re going to get.” (B, 08:44)

Paranormal Activity: Recordings & Reports (09:30)

• Friends recorded children’s voices during a thunderstorm.
• Estep himself recorded a child giggling in the living room.

Theories: Who or What Haunts Villisca? (10:50)

• He expresses hope the murdered Moore/Stillinger children are not responsible for the haunting, as they “suffered way too much already.”
• Other theories:
  • The murderer as a lingering spirit (Estep is personally skeptical: “Why would [the murderer] be behind a haunting? It makes no real logical sense to me.” B, 11:37).
  • Dark, non-human entities – some witnesses report “serpent-like, monstrous” things, especially in the cellar.
  • Cross-contamination from other haunted Iowa locations (e.g., Malvern Manor, Squirrel Cage Jail, etc.).

True Crime Analysis (13:00)

• Estep discusses forensic debates about the crime: Was the killer in the attic or barn?
• He critiques applying rational thinking to such a deranged act, warning:

  “We try and analyze something which defies analysis because the acts were committed by someone who was deeply unhinged and deranged.” (B, 14:40)

Notable Quotes:

• “You are almost struck with that feeling of stepping back in time… It’s as if the 21st century gives way to the early 20th…” (B, 07:14)
• “The house is haunted. For me, there is no debate about that.” (B, 09:07)

3. Spotlight: Man on the Train Theory (14:45)

• Stephen introduces the “Man on the Train” theory: Paul Mueller, a fugitive and suspected serial killer, may have been responsible for Villisca and similar murders nationwide.

4. Colin Browen: The YouTube Investigator’s Perspective

Beginnings & First Impressions (16:44)

• Colin, host of "The Paranormal Files," shares a Midwestern upbringing and personal lifelong paranormal experiences.
• His first visit to Villisca (almost a decade ago) was marked by a quieter, more authentic “spooky little home” atmosphere—before heavy commercialization.

Haunting Energy & Emotional Impact (18:50)

• Villisca feels like “hell on earth… deeply entrenched negativity… it evokes a sense of fear.”
• First visit: thunderstorm, oppressive silence, intense unease but little hard evidence.

  “It just feels really bad. It’s unlike any other place, really. To me, it’s more Sally House than Lizzie Borden. It’s just got this deeply entrenched negativity.” (C, 21:39)

Second Visit: A Night Alone (31:36)

• Colin recounts hearing about a case where a visitor stabbed himself after feeling “taken over.”
• Went live on TikTok during his solo night—stream abruptly ended when phone died, viewers called police in fear for his safety.
  • “...the police showed up... They told me, yeah, we received a bunch of calls all of a sudden about a guy being in trouble in the Axe Murder house.” (C, 33:16)
• The evening stayed mostly quiet except for a “horrible” feeling and a loud bang while alone in the attic.

Man on the Train Theory: Changing the House’s Energy (38:00)

• On his third visit, after reading about Paul Mueller, Colin noticed a distinct increase in activity while openly discussing the theory and the suspect.
• Interactive paranormal devices (“yes and no” device, REM pods, EMFs) began responding specifically to questions about the crime and the killer.

Notable Phenomenon: Phantom Odor (40:40–44:00)

• While discussing the suspected killer, an overwhelming, “ungodly scent” (sweaty, musty, stinging) would appear and disappear on cue in the attic.
• Everyone in the group perceived and reacted to the stench, and it would instantly fade.

  “It just feels like you’re hit in the face with a sledgehammer... This was like a very human odor, but also a very horrible odor.” (C, 43:10)

Cross-Location Connections (49:12)

• During the same trip, evidence from Malvern Manor (another haunted site, possible train stopover) seemed to directly link with their Villisca investigation, even including matched words between locations.

Luminol Test: Traces of the Crime (51:55)

• Colin’s group used luminol in the house and photographed “blood splatter” (as verified by slow-exposure photos) throughout the rooms—ghostly reminders of the 1912 violence.

  “To be sitting there in a location like the Villisca ax murder house and to be actually seeing... the blood stains from that, that was just a wild experience.” (C, 54:02)

Final Reflections

• Despite many theories, Colin leans toward the Man on the Train as the likely culprit, but concedes the true answer may never be known.
• He characterizes Villisca as a “place that genuinely scares me… something there that is deeply unsettled... It doesn’t feel like your typical haunted house.”

5. Honoring the Victims (57:06)

• Richard Estep concludes with a sobering reminder:

  “The single most important thing to remember is that eight innocent lives were lost on that one night… The ghost stories are fascinating and they are intriguing and they are chilling… but as with every ghost story, we have to bear in mind that a ghost is an echo of a real human life. And that’s the most important thing about this case.” (B, 57:30–58:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Description | |-----------|---------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 07:14 | Richard | “You are almost struck with that feeling of stepping back in time…” | | 09:07 | Richard | “The house is haunted. For me, there is no debate about that.” | | 14:40 | Richard | “We try and analyze something which defies analysis…” | | 18:50 | Colin | “That house feels like hell on earth… it is one of the places I can confidently say I believe is haunted.” | | 31:36 | Colin | (On solo investigation) “You build this up in your mind like it’s going to be some sort of paranormal battlefield… But from my experience, it’s just been very, very quiet.” | | 33:16 | Colin | (Police incident after TikTok stream dropped) “The police showed up... They told me, yeah, we received a bunch of calls all of a sudden about a guy being in trouble in the Axe Murder house.” | | 43:10 | Colin | “It just feels like you’re hit in the face with a sledgehammer... This was like a very human odor, but also a very horrible odor.” | | 54:02 | Colin | “To be sitting there in a location like the Villisca ax murder house and to be actually seeing... the blood stains from that, that was just a wild experience.” | | 57:30 | Richard | “The single most important thing to remember is that eight innocent lives were lost on that one night… we should remember that these were living, breathing, feeling human beings…” |

Important Segment Timestamps

• [06:06] – Richard Estep introduction & investigative approach
• [08:42] – The house’s “moods” and implications
• [13:00] – Crime scene analysis and debates
• [14:45] – Introduction to the Man on the Train theory
• [16:44] – Colin Browen’s background and first trip recollections
• [31:36] – Second visit: Night alone/TikTok incident/police arrival
• [38:00] – Third visit: Notable activity tied to the Man on the Train theory
• [40:40] – Phantom odor phenomenon during the Estes session
• [51:55] – Luminol reveals traces of crime
• [57:06] – Reflections on the real victims and emotional core

Tone and Language

• The tone is respectful, somber, and inquisitive—balancing reverence for the crime’s victims, intellectual curiosity, and the chilling gravity of the haunting.
• Both Richard and Colin speak plainly, but with a depth of feeling and humility regarding the limits of what can be known.

Conclusion & Tease for Part III

• Stephen closes by emphasizing the importance of honoring and remembering the individuals at the center of the Villisca tragedy.
• He hints at the haunting personal aftermath for the former caretaker and his family (introduced in Part I), whose story and that of his wife will conclude the series:

  “That something dark still resides in Vilisca, and when you’re close enough to it… There’s no telling what it might do.” (A, 60:00)

For Further Exploration

• Richard Estep’s Book: A Nightmare in Villisca – Direct link in show notes
• Colin Browen’s Channel: The Paranormal Files (YouTube)
• Suggestions to visit the Moore and Stillinger graves when visiting Villisca.

Summary Takeaway

This episode offers a powerful juxtaposition: the clinical, research-driven approach of Richard Estep and the deeply visceral, personal reactions of Colin Browen. Together they provide listeners with a broader, more haunting picture of the Villisca Axe Murder House—a place where tragedy, memory, and the supernatural blend into something that both beckons and warns. The physical remnants of violence, the echoing fear in each account, and the suggestion that some mysteries may never be solved create a haunting tribute to the enduring power of Villisca’s story.