From murdered brides and phantom hitchhikers to haunted ships and restless spirits, some spirits from the past refuse to stay buried.

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IN THIS EPISODE: America is full of creepy tales about ghosts that give us chills. We’ll explore some of the most famous ones. (The Most Famous Ghosts In America) *** In 1996, in a quiet neighborhood in Austin, Texas, something terrible happened to six-year-old Katherine Korzilius. She was a sweet girl who wanted to show she could walk home alone from the mailbox. But when her family returned from shopping, Katherine was missing. What happened to her? Was it an accident, or something worse? (What Happened To Katherine Korzilius?) *** It’s October 21, 1638, and the quaint English village of Widecombe-in-the-moor is holding services at St. Pancras church. But this Sunday will be like no other. As Minister George Lyde speaks to his 300 congregants, darkness engulfs the church, followed by thunder so loud it shakes the stone walls. Then, a fiery orb crashes through a window, causing chaos and destruction. Witnesses describe terrifying scenes: a man's head bashed against a pillar, a dog thrown into the air by flames, and bodies burnt to ash while clothes remain untouched. What happened at this small town church? (The Scalding And Burning of 1638) *** Ever heard of criminals so clueless they seem straight out of a cartoon? From bungling burglars to comically misguided crooks, Some cartoon criminals will have you laughing and shaking your head at the same time.(Cartoon Criminals) *** Sin-eaters are described as people hired to assume the sins of a dead person by eating food placed near the corpse. Why did society feel the need for such a service and why would a person choose to accept a role which was viewed with such revulsion? (Sin Eaters: Saviors of the Walking Damned)

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Lead-In
00:01:31.876 = Show Open
00:04:09.750 = The Most Famous Ghosts in America
00:24:39.003 = What Happened To Katherine Korzilius?
00:30:23.374 = The Scalding and Burning of 1638
00:43:24.602 = Sin Eaters: Saviors of the Walking Damned
00:55:21.730 = Cartoonish Criminals
01:07:24.033 = Show Close
01:08:29.968 = Bloopers

SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…
Episode Page at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/GhostsOfAmerica
My drive through Resurrection Cemetery: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/DriveThruResurrectionCemetery
“The Most Famous Ghosts in America” by Christina Chilin for Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y9bb4u49
“What Happened To Katherine Korzilius?” by Kelsey Christine McConnell for The Line Up: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2dmvkv4a
“Cartoonish Criminals” by Jerry Aujla for ListVerse.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/24twwpay
“Sin Eaters: Saviors of the Walking Damned” by Miss Jessel for HauntedPalaceBlog.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/msusfx2n
“The Scalding And Burning of 1638” posted at Creative History Stories: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/wkvhn5jb=====
(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
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Originally aired: March 29, 2024