The Why Files: Operation Podcast

Episode 623: "Witnesses of: Black Eyed Kids, Phone Calls from the Dead, The Cursed Heart"

Date: January 12, 2026
Host/Narrator: AJ

Overview

This episode of The Why Files: Operation Podcast dives into three chilling, mysterious 'campfire tales,' each rooted in real-life accounts:

• Phone calls from the dead (Charles Peck and Dean Koontz stories)
• The phenomenon of Black Eyed Kids
• The "cursed heart" – personality changes after heart transplants

AJ uses engaging storytelling and a research-driven approach to explore whether there could be scientific or supernatural explanations behind these unsettling stories, prompting listeners to ponder the boundaries between the living and the unknown.

Key Stories and Discussion Points

1. Phone Calls from the Dead — The Charles Peck Incident

[01:07–10:32 & 12:08–14:50]

Summary:
AJ recounts the events of the 2008 Metrolink train crash in Chatsworth, California, focusing on Charles Peck, one of the victims. After Peck's death, his cellphone made 35 calls to family members over 12 hours, giving hope that he may have survived and even guiding the rescue efforts — but he had died instantly in the impact.

Key Points:

• Charles Peck's Last Communication: Peck's final text to his fiancée, Andrea — "I'm almost there."
• The Aftermath: Hours after the crash and confirmed death, his phone began contacting loved ones repeatedly, with calls marked by strange static.
• Family's Response: Family believed Charles might still be alive, prompting authorities to switch from recovery to rescue mode. Calls and pings led them through the wreckage.
• The Mystery: When rescuers found Peck, his injuries were fatal and instant, and his phone was never recovered.
• Skeptical Take: The explanation of a technical malfunction is challenged by the lack of the actual device.
• Emotional Impact & Unanswered Questions: “Charles Peck died instantly… yet, for 11 hours, he reached out… until they found his body. And once they did, he hung up.” (Narrator, 13:36)

Memorable Quotes:

• “The signal came from his seat, but the source didn’t exist.” (Narrator, 13:05)
• “Maybe in the static between stations, a signal can still get through.” (Narrator, 14:30)

Timestamps:

• Incident recap and investigation: 01:07–10:32
• Discovery, phone’s disappearance, and existential questions: 12:08–14:50

Sidebar: Dean Koontz’s Phone Call Warning

[02:48–04:58]

Synopsis:
Dean Koontz, bestselling horror author, receives a mysterious call from his deceased mother warning him twice to “Be careful, Dean.” Days later, this warning proves prescient when his mentally ill father attempts to stab him.

Quote:
“It sounded exactly like his mother, but his mother had been dead for over a decade...” (Narrator, 03:15)

2. Black Eyed Kids (BEK) Encounters

[15:50–22:35]

Summary:
AJ details the classic case of Black Eyed Kids (BEK), focusing on the original 1996 story from journalist Brian Bethel and subsequent reports worldwide. These entities, always children with solid black eyes, elicit primal fear and are said to need permission to enter homes or cars.

Key Points:

• Brian Bethel’s Encounter (Abilene, 1996):
  • Two boys with black eyes approach his car, asking for a ride.
  • Bethel feels compelled to let them in but ultimately drives away.
  • After posting his story online, dozens contact him with similar experiences.
• Common Patterns:
  • Always at night, always make mundane requests, induce feelings of dread and unnatural silence.
  • They cannot enter without explicit permission (“We can't come in unless you invite us.” (Narrator quoting BEK, 18:10))
• Global Phenomenon:
  • Over 1,200 documented accounts from 47 countries; details match eerily well.
• The Chilling Twist:
  • No firsthand account from anyone who invited BEKs inside exists.
• Brian Bethel’s Ongoing Fear:
  • Even years later, Bethel finds child-sized handprints on the inside of his car window.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Every cell in his body screamed the same message. Run.” (Narrator, 17:02)
• “The people who open the door don’t tell their stories.” (Narrator, 22:18)

Timestamps:

• Brian Bethel story: 15:50–21:00
• Wider BEK analysis: 22:35–24:12

3. The Cursed Heart — Cellular Memory and Transplants

[24:13–31:00]

Summary:
Exploring the story of Sonny Graham, who, after receiving the heart of suicide victim Terry Cottle, underwent dramatic personality changes and developed new preferences eerily matching those of his donor. Graham ultimately died by suicide, mirroring his donor’s fate.

Key Points:

• Sonny’s New Life:
  • Receives Terry’s heart, recovers, suddenly craves hot dogs, beer, and heavy metal; handwriting and temperament change.
• Compulsion Toward Donor's Widow:
  • Sonny meets and later marries Cheryl, Terry’s widow; both feel an uncanny, inexplicable connection.
• Dark Turn:
  • Sonny becomes withdrawn, paranoid, and depressed — adopting Terry’s traits and ultimately Terry’s fatal choice.
• Theories Explored:
  • Scientific consideration of “cellular memory,” where recipients inherit memories or inclinations from organ donors.
  • Cases include new food preferences, emotional shifts, and unexplained knowledge tied to donors’ lives and deaths.
• Scientific Note:
  • The heart possesses thousands of neurons and a ‘cardiac nervous system’ that might interact with the brain.

Memorable Quotes:

• “He felt like a passenger in his own body, watching someone else make decisions.” (Narrator, 31:32)
• “Sonny Graham’s heart remembered what his brain never knew.” (Narrator, 33:36)

Timestamps:

• Sonny and Terry’s story and specifics: 24:13–31:00
• Scientific theories and documented cases: 31:00–33:59

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If it rings in the middle of the night and the caller ID shows a name you haven’t seen in years, don’t be afraid. Answer it. They might need your help. Or you might need theirs.” (Narrator, 14:38)
• “We have hundreds of accounts from people who refused. ...We have zero firsthand accounts from anyone who let them in.” (Narrator, 22:18)
• “These weren’t coincidences. These were Terry’s preferences. Terry’s traits. Terry’s life.” (Narrator, 31:40)

Episode Structure and Tone

• Tone: Campfire-spooky, story-driven, yet respectful toward the real human tragedies involved; AJ avoids overt debunking in favor of sharing believable accounts and letting listeners draw their own conclusions.
• Format: Segmented into three “true and unsolved” stories. Each segment is well-researched and interspersed with data, science, and anecdotal evidence.
• Delivery: Engaging, immersive, suspenseful, and at times, chilling.

Summary Table of Cases and Timestamps

| Story | Timestamp | Highlights/Key Events | |---------------------------------------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Charles Peck phone calls | 01:07–10:32, 12:08–14:50 | Family receives calls post-mortem, leads rescue, phone missing | | Dean Koontz’s warning call | 02:48–04:58 | Deceased mother’s warning prevents attack | | Brian Bethel & Black Eyed Kids | 15:50–21:00, 22:35–24:12| Classic BEK encounter, global similarities | | The Cursed Heart (Sonny Graham) | 24:13–31:00, 31:00–33:59| Personality changes, tragic outcome, cellular memory |

Final Thoughts

AJ concludes with a reminder that these “campfire stories” are, in all their bone-chilling detail, drawn from documented accounts and public records — their true nature remains unsolved. The invitation stands for listeners to suggest more mysteries and contribute to the ongoing quest of seeking truth in the unexplained.

For listeners:
Even if you haven't heard the episode, this detailed summary provides the full arc, evidence, and eerie impact of each story — while keeping the host's signature storytelling style.