Podcast Title: Two Girls One Ghost
Episode: 332 - Buried Alive
Release Date: July 27, 2025
Host/Author: Sony Music Entertainment
Hosts: Corinne Vien and Sabrina Deana-Roga

Introduction to the Episode's Theme

In Episode 332, “Buried Alive”, hosts Corinne Vien and Sabrina Deana-Roga delve into the chilling fear of being buried alive, a dread that has permeated human consciousness for centuries. Drawing from historical accounts, local legends, and listener-submitted stories, the episode explores both the psychological terror and supernatural lore associated with premature entombment.

Timothy Clark Smith's Designed Casket

The episode opens with Corinne recounting her recent trip to Vermont, where her parents are selling their haunted house. This visit inspires her to share a tale from New Haven, Vermont, about Dr. Timothy Clark Smith, a man obsessed with the fear of being buried alive.

Corinne Vien [02:07]: "Timothy Clark Smith from New Haven, Vermont was riddled with taphephobia, the fear of being buried alive. To combat this, he designed his own casket, complete with a window, a breathing tube, and a bell to signal for help if he ever awoke underground."

Timothy's casket was part of the safety coffin movement in the 1800s—a time when misconceptions about death and premature burials were common. His innovative design included:

• Skylight: Providing a view of the sky to reduce panic.
• Breathing Tube: Extending six feet above ground for fresh air.
• Bell: Attached to his wrist, allowing him to signal if he were still alive.

Sabrina Deana-Roga [04:05]: "The design was incredibly thorough, meant to ensure he could escape or call for help. It's now a ghost hunting tourist attraction, with local legends claiming to hear the muffled ring of his bell on quiet nights."

Hatcher Family's Octavia Hatcher Story

Transitioning to Kentucky, the hosts narrate the tragic story of Octavia Hatcher from Pikeville, whose fear of being buried alive led to a devastating outcome.

Corinne Vien [14:12]: "Octavia Hatcher, a young woman from Pikeville, Kentucky, fell into a coma after the tragic death of her infant son in 1891. Misdiagnosed as deceased, she was hastily buried without proper examination."

Days after her burial, Octavia's family grew suspicious as other residents fell ill with similar symptoms. Upon exhumation, horrifying evidence revealed that Octavia had indeed been buried alive:

• Bloody Fingernails: Indicative of her desperate attempts to escape.
• Torn Coffin Lining: Suggesting frantic movements within.
• Twisted Features: Her face frozen in terror.

Sabrina Deana-Roga [18:03]: "Her husband, devastated by the double loss of his child and wife, commissioned a life-size marble statue from Italy, erecting it alongside a smaller monument for their son. This grave is now a site of supernatural lore, with stories of the bell ringing inexplicably."

Local legends claim that Octavia's spirit cannot rest, often depicted as restless and mournful, mirroring her final moments of terror.

Julia Pucciola Petta: The Italian Bride

The narrative then shifts to Chicago's Mount Carmel Cemetery, home to the legend of Julia Pucciola Petta, also known as the Italian Bride.

Corinne Vien [24:16]: "Julia Petta was a young Italian American woman who tragically died during childbirth in March 1921. Buried in her wedding dress alongside her infant son, her preservation was so remarkable that when exhumed six years later, her body remained near-perfectly intact while her son had decomposed."

This unnerving preservation sparked rumors of divine intervention and led to Julia being revered as incorruptible—a sign of holiness in Catholic tradition.

Sabrina Deana-Roga [31:15]: "Her mother, tormented by nightmares of Julia pleading for help, finally succeeded in having her exhumed. The community was both fascinated and horrified by her preserved state, leading to her legacy as a benevolent spirit known as the Lady in White."

Julia's apparition is said to offer protection and guidance to lost souls and the living alike, with sightings of her in her wedding gown wandering the cemetery, assisting the lost, or simply existing as a comforting presence.

Listener Stories: Insights from Tiffany

Towards the end of the episode, listeners share their personal encounters with spirits, further enriching the theme of being buried alive and its supernatural implications.

Tiffany's Story [48:34]:
Tiffany recounts her experiences since childhood, including seeing her deceased grandmother and encountering a ghostly girl who was later found to have been buried alive.

Tiffany [50:01]: "When my grandmother passed, I saw her spirit locked in a terrifying state, revealing the gruesome reality that she might have been buried alive."

Another listener shares a high school encounter with a spirit guiding them to a recently discovered burial site, highlighting the lingering presence of those who may have been entombed prematurely.

Second Listener Story [50:18]:
A high school student narrates how a spirit led them to an area where a girl had been buried alive, prompting an exhumation.

Sabrina Deana-Roga [53:24]: "This story underscores the thin veil between life and death and how unresolved fears can manifest in supernatural ways."

Conclusion and Reflections

The episode concludes with the hosts reflecting on the pervasive fear of premature burial and its manifestation in both historical practices and modern ghost lore. They ponder the psychological aspects of such fears and their lasting impact on communities and individual psyches.

Corinne Vien [34:07]: "Whether it's through designed caskets, tragic misdiagnoses, or enduring spirits, the fear of being buried alive continues to haunt us, both literally and figuratively."

Sabrina Deana-Roga [35:12]: "These stories remind us that death doesn't always signify finality. Echoes of fear, grief, and sometimes unresolved unrest linger, bridging the gap between the living and the dead."

The hosts leave listeners pondering the vulnerabilities and fears surrounding death, emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing such deep-seated anxieties.

Notable Quotes:

• Corinne Vien [02:07]: "Timothy Clark Smith from New Haven, Vermont was riddled with taphephobia, the fear of being buried alive."
• Sabrina Deana-Roga [04:05]: "The design was incredibly thorough, meant to ensure he could escape or call for help."
• Corinne Vien [14:12]: "Octavia Hatcher... was hastily buried without proper examination."
• Sabrina Deana-Roga [18:03]: "Her husband... commissioned a life-size marble statue from Italy."
• Corinne Vien [24:16]: "Julia Petta... when exhumed six years later, her body remained near-perfectly intact."
• Sabrina Deana-Roga [31:15]: "Her mother, tormented by nightmares of Julia pleading for help..."
• Corinne Vien [34:07]: "Whether it's through designed caskets, tragic misdiagnoses, or enduring spirits..."

This detailed exploration in Two Girls One Ghost not only highlights historical occurrences and their modern-day legends but also personalizes the fear of being buried alive through poignant listener testimonies. The episode serves as a compelling reminder of humanity's eternal struggle with mortality and the unknown.