Welcome to the Evil Everywhere Podcast! We’re two funny besties with a passion for all things true crime and paranormal. We release a story each week on Tuesday and Thursday - so give us a listen and let us know stories you want to hear!
Welcome to the Evil Everywhere Podcast! We’re two funny besties with a passion for all things true crime and paranormal. We release a story each week on Tuesday and Thursday - so give us a listen and let us know stories you want to hear!
In 1979, Cedar Rapids, IA, a farm friendly city was in turmoil when a shocking murder occurred. Michelle Martinko was a beautiful 18-year-old senior in Cedar Rapids, IA. She stood out in a crowd, always dressed impeccably and had a very friendly demeanor. Michelle was discovered brutally stabbed in her vehicle close to Christmas when doing some shopping. With very little evidence and technology to process it, the case went cold. Finally, DNA linked to Michelle's killer was uncovered. There were no confirmed DNA matches to pinpoint who it could be. How would detectives be able to narrow down the suspect pool and find the murderer? Listen to hear the science of catching a murderer decades after the crime.
Sources: "Michelle Martinko murder case evidence photos" by CBS News on August 7, 2021 (https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/michelle-martinko-murder-evidence-photos/) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/104050435/michelle_marie-martinko "Supreme Court Affirms Jerry Burns' Conviction in 1979 Michelle Martinko Murder" by William Morris in the Des Moines Register on March 31, 2023 (https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2023/03/31/iowa-supreme-court-michelle-martinko-jerry-burns-dna-conviction/70064243007/) "40 years later: What we Know About Michelle Martinko and the Arrest that Re-opened the Cold Case" by Anna Spoerre in the Des Moines Register on December 19, 2019 (https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2019/12/19/jerry-burns-michelle-martinko-accused-1979-iowa-killing/2702680001/) "New Plea for Murder Clues" by Kurt Rogahn in The Gazette on December 28, 1979 "C.R. Student, 18, Slain" by Kurt Rogahn in The Gazette on December 20, 1979 "New Theory, Plea in Martinko Case" by Dick Hogan and Kurt Rogahn The Gazette on January 25, 1980 "$10,000 Martinko Reward" by Nancy Stevens and Kurt Rogahn The Gazette on February 22, 1980 "New Evidence Found in Decades-Old Murder Case" in The Daily Nonpareil on October 3, 2006 "1979 Killer's Blood Found" by Dorothy de Souza Guedes in The Gazette on October 3, 2006 "Murder at the Mall" on Killer Cases, Season 1, Episode 7 on Hulu January 8, 2021
Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate thankfulness and peace. For many it marks the beginning of the holiday season. Most families in the United States gather together with their friends and family to feast on turkey, stuffing – all of the other delicious food and maybe even some pumpkin or apple pie. This is a time to express gratitude for the ones you love. That’s what Jim and Muriel Sitton planned to do on Thanksgiving, on November 26, 2009. But what they didn’t know was while they planned to celebrate the holiday with family, one of those family members had a very different, sinister plan. Listen while you prepare your households or prepare to go have a nice dinner with your families to hear the story that reminds us that evil is everywhere – even maybe at Thanksgiving dinner.
Sources: Wikipedia – 2009 Thanksgiving Murders - 2009 Thanksgiving murders - Wikipedia – Retrieved: November 19, 2024 Thanksgiving Massacre Witness: Paul Merhige Ate Dinner, Sang Songs, Then Executed Family – Edecio Martinez – December 2, 2009 - Thanksgiving Massacre Witness: Paul Merhige Ate Dinner, Sang Songs Then Executed Family - CBS News – Retrieved: November 19, 2024 YouTube – Mirror Mind – The Disturbing Story of Paul Merhige – Retrieved: November 22, 2024 South Florida Sun Sentinel – November 29, 2009 – Police expand search for shootings suspect – David Quinones – Retrieved: November 22, 2024 The Miami Herald – December 1, 2009 – Slain sisters’ voices heard again – Robert Samuels – Retrieved: November 22, 2024 The Miami Herald – November 25, 2010 – One year after killings, a family’s pain lingers – Andrew Marra – Retrieved: November 22, 2024
Montclair is one of the wealthiest suburbs in NewJersey. Very progressive with very little crime. That is until October 2018 when police receive a chilling call. This call led police to the home of Angela Bledsoe and James Ray III. Angela was discovered, deceased on the kitchen floor. Angela, a very successful financial advisor lived with her boyfriend James, a very successful lawyer on North Mountain Avenue in Montclair with their daughter. James was nowhere to be found. This investigation led the FBI on an international manhunt to detain James. When they finally do locate him, an 18-page journal was found on him detailing the horrific murder. Did Angela truly lose her life in a case of self-defense as he claims? Or did something more sinister occur?
Sources: "Death In Suburbia" on Killer Cases, Season 4, Episode 11 on Hulu November 24, 2023https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/196499613/angela-michelle-bledsoe"NJ Mom's Murder Leads to International Manhunt and an Unforgettable Twist" by Claire Lempert and Sami Wanderer in ABC News on December 8, 2023(https://abcnews.go.com/US/nj-moms-murder-leads-international-manhunt-unforgettable-twist/storyid=105357095#:~:text=Angela%20Bledsoe%2C%20a%20New%20Jersey,at%20his%20insurance%20brokerage%20firm.)"After an International Manhunt, a NJ Man Never Received a Sentence for Killing Girlfriend" by Juan Carlos Castillo in the Asbury Park Press on December 8, 2023(https://www.app.com/story/news/local/2023/12/08/james-ray-iii-never-served-a-sentence-for-the-murder-of-angela-bledsoe/71853298007/)"'It Seemed Like I Couldn't Stop Firing': Killer's Diary Gives Disturbing Insight into N.J. Mom's Murder" by KC Baker in People on December 8, 2023(https://people.com/angela-bledsoe-killing-new-jersey-mom-abc-special-8413553)"Montclair Murderer James Ray III Found Dead in Jail" by Julia Martin in The North Jersey Newspaper on June 19, 2023(https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/essex/montclair/2023/06/19/james-ray-iii-convicted-of-montclair-murder-found-dead-in-jail/70335743007/)"Suspect in Slaying was Sued in 2013 for Sexual Harassment" by Keidu Ortiz in The Montclar Times on October 25, 2018"Monclar Homicide has a Global Twist" by Julia Martin in The Montclair Times on November 15, 2018"Murder Suspect Found in Cuba" by Rodrigo Torrejon and Julia Martin in The Record on November 8, 2018"Lawyer Facing 30 to Life for Murdering his Girlfriend Dies in Custody" on AP News June 19, 2023 (https://apnews.com/article/girlfriend-murder-james-ray-angela bledsoe-6e7931a1b840b5e09d9e53014df15cc3)"ABC to Air ‘20/20′ Segment on N.J. Lawyer James Ray Murder Case" by Richard Cowen, NJ Advance Media on December 8, 2023 (https://www.nj.com/essex/2023/12/abc-to-air-2020-segment-on-nj-lawyer-james-ray-murder-case.html)"Opening Statements Begin in Trial of James Ray, New Jersey Attorney Charged with Murdering his Girlfriend in 2018" by Alice Gainer in CBS News on March 29, 2023 (https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/james-ray-trial-opening-statement/)"Diary of a Killer" on ABC 20/20, Season 46, Episode 9 on Hulu December 8, 2023
Pocatello, Idaho has a population of roughly 57,000 people with a crime rate that is lower than the national average by 24%. However, back in 2006, the city of Pocatello would experience something unimaginable. On September 22, 2006, 17-year-old high school senior, Cassie Stoddart, was murdered. While house-sitting for her aunt and uncle on Whispering Cliffs Drive, she was stabbed an estimated thirty-times. Her body would be left on the living room couch for almost two days until her aunt and uncle returned home from vacation. Who would do something like this and why? When horrific things like this happen, people tend to look for a reason – what would make someone behave this way and commit such a brutal murder?
Sources: Murder of Cassie Jo Stoddart - Wikipedia – Retrieved: 11/12/2024 The Times-News – Teen’s Lawyer: Co-conspirator was lone stabber in Idaho slaying – June 2, 2007 – Retrieved: 11/12/2024 Idaho West – September 29, 2006 – Students face murder charges – Retrieved: November 13, 2024 Cassie Jo Stoddart (1989-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial – Retrieved: November 13, 2024 The Times News – Prosecutor: Idaho girl’s boyfriend also a murder target – November 6, 2006 – Retrieved: November 13, 2024 Bonner County Daily Bee – November 2, 2024 – Sale raises money for slain teen’s family – Retrieved: November 13, 2024 Idaho Statesman – October 1, 2006 – Bail revoked for accused killers – Retrieved: November 13, 2024 The Idaho Statesman – October 4, 2006 – Teen charged in murder had online tribute to Columbine shooting victims – Retrieved: November 13, 2024 South Idaho Press – November 16, 2006 – Students plead innocent in stabbing death – Retrieved: November 13, 2024 The Coeur d’Alene Press – October 8, 2006 – Trial date set in high school stabbing case – Retrieved: November 14, 2024 Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik: The Complete Tape [2006] - Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik: The Complete Tape [2006] The Times-News – April 12, 2007 – Prosecutors begin case in Pocatello fatal stabbing – Retrieved: November 14, 2024. The Coeur d’Alene Press – April 16, 2007 – Jury sees video made by Pocatello boys accused of killing classmate – Retrieved: November 14, 2024 South Idaho Press – April 18, 2007 – Pocatello teens convicted in fatal stabbing of schoolmate
Escambia County Florida is no stranger to crime. From black widow murders to the apprehension of Ted Bundy, it's seen its fair share of horrific crimes. Another such crime occurred the summer of 2015. 3 members of a family were discovered, brutally murdered in their modest, but very cluttered, home after a welfare check had been called in. The only surviving member of the immediate family was the last to see these 3 people alive, a few days before the gruesome discovery. The sheriff made claims indicating the murders were ritualistic, based on findings. Were these murders a human sacrifice for a ritual?
Sources: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/150271379/voncile-smithhttps://www.craversfh.com/obituary/3268975https://www.flomatonfh.com/obituary/3268977"Murder Under a Blue Moon" Season 1, Episode 2 of Killer Cases, series on Hulu, December 10, 2020"Sheriff: 'Ritualistic' Killings May be Tied to Blue Moon" by The Associated Press in The Jackson County Floridian on August 6, 2015"Triple Murder May be Tied to Ritual" by Will Isern in The Pensacola News Journal on August 5, 2015"Triple Murder Case May Finally go to Trial" by Kevin Robinson in The Pensacola News Journal on April 4, 2019"Man Charged in 'Ritualistic' Murders" by Kevin Robinson in The Pensacola News Journal on October 28, 2015"Victims of 'Ritual' Slayings Laid to Rest" by Staff Reports in The Pensacola News Journal on August 15, 2015"Brother Indicted in 'Ritualistic Killings'" by Kevin Robinson in The Pensacola News Journal on November 11, 2015"'Blue Moon' Triple Murder Case is Underway" by Colin Warren-Hicks in The Pensacola News Journal on January 22, 2020"Hartung Guilty on all 3 Counts of Murder" by Colin Warren-Hicks in The Pensacola News Journal on January 30, 2020"Jury Selection has Begun for 'Blue Moon' Triple Murder Case" by Colin Warren-Hicks in The Pensacola News Journal on January 14, 2020"Closing Arguments Set in 'Blue Moon' Murder Trial" by Colin Warren-Hicks in The Pensacola News Journal on January 29, 2020"Pensacola Man Sentenced to 3 Life Terms for Killing Family Members" by Colin Warren-Hicks in The Pensacola News Journal on February 8, 2020Escambia County Court Records: State v. Donald Wayne Hartung Sr."Was Witchcraft to Blame for Florida's 'Blue Moon' Triple Murder?" by Adam Janos on A&E Networks (https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/blue-moon-killer)"Blue Moon Killer: Man accused of ‘ritualistic’ murders in Pensacola" by Summer Poole on News WKRG September 10, 2022 (https://www.wkrg.com/true-crime/blue-moon-killer-man-accused-of-ritualistic-murders-in-pensacola/)Donald Hartung Trial on Law&Crime Network YouTube channel, multiple parts (https://youtube.com/@lawandcrime?si=vDTWthk0jGVdOwbg)
On November 23, 1945, a man by the name of Dennis Andrew Nilsen was born. He grew up in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. His childhood was filled with love and comfort but after the death of his grandfather in 1951, things started to change within Dennis. He grew more reclusive and didn't spend much time with friends or family. Eventually he would start having fantasies that at first involved an unconscious partner, but then quickly escalated to involving a dead partner.Between 1978 and 1983, Dennis would attempt to bring those fantasies to life. What atrocious things would Dennis do and how would anyone stop him?
Guffey Colorado is an extremely small town in the southwest corner of Park County about 74 miles from Denver. In 2001, a gruesome discovery was made at the home of Carl and Joanna Dutcher after their children had not heard from them in a few days. Living in this very small town in Colorado, suspects were extremely limited. After the police uncovered another victim, more questions than answers arose. Who could have possibly commited this gruesome crime? For months police would ask themselves this question until a small detail from the victim's mother cast suspicion on another young man. When police spoke to him, what they learned was shocking and completely unexpected.
Sources: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/225893821/anthony-j-dutcherhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/190716106/carl-dutcher"Neighbors recall S. Park slaying victims" by Erin Emery and Marilyn Robinson in the Colorado News January 6, 2001 (https://extras.denverpost.com/news/news0106a.htm)https://www.uncovercolorado.com/towns/guffey/#:~:text=In%201907%20Colorado's%20largest%20recorded,by%20a%20couple%20of%20cowboys."Murder Comes to Town - Lord of the Rockies" Hulu Series, Season 2, Episode 9 in 2015"Texas Seven Prison Break" by History.com Editors, November 13, 2009 (https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/texas-seven-prison-break)"The Murders of Tony, Carl & Joanna Dutcher" by Luminol Cases, July 15, 2022 (https://luminolpod.com/blog/f/the-murders-of-tony-carl-joanna-dutcher)"Bizarre Triple Homicide May Have Been Cult Killing" by Jim Avila and Thomas Berman in ABC News August 18, 2009 (https://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=8356244)"Last of Three Suspects to be Sentences on Triple Slaying" by The Associated Press in The Daily Sentinel December 1, 2003"Teen Gets 60 Years for Slayings" by The Associated Press in the Coloradoan March 13, 2002"Police Seek Motive in Slayings of Three" by The Associated Press in The Daily Sentinel March 11, 2001"Two Teens Accused in Triple Murder" by The Associated Press in the Daily Sentinel March 10, 2001"Teen told of Charges in Slay Case" by The Associated Press in The Daily Sentinel May 18, 2001"Two More Teens Arrested in New Year's Slayings" by The Associated Press in The Daily Sentinel April 27, 2001"Mountain Town Mourns a Year after Slayings" by The Associated Press in The Coloradoan January 3, 2002"Teen Sentenced for Part in Playings" in The Coloradoan February 13, 2002"Guilty Plea Accepted in Triple Slaying" by The Associated Press in the Daily Sentinel February 27, 2003"Lonely Sophomore Kills Best Friend, Blames Crime on Cult" by ABC News in ABC News August 17, 2009 (https://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=8347009)"Mother Filed Lawsuit in Son's Death" by The Associated Press in the Fort Collins Coloradoan November 4, 2002"Killer Tells Victims' Famiily to Save Their Souls by Dropping Lawsuit" by The Associated Press in The Coloradoan May 8, 2005"Mother of Boy Murdered in Triple Slaying Forgives Killer" by The Associated Press in the Summit Daily February 6, 2006"Woman to Stand Trial for Role in Accident" by The Associated Press in the Daily Sentinel September 23, 2001"El Paso County Jury Find Mother of Slain Teenager Guilty in Road Death" by the Associated Press in the Fort Collins Coloradoan November 28, 2002"Kids with killer instincts" by Diane Hartman in The Denver Post May 7, 2016 (https://www.denverpost.com/2008/01/17/kids-with-killer-instincts/)
Back in 2019 shortly after Christmas, a worried sister from Connecticut made a phone call to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office in Kissimmee, Florida to request an attempt to contact be made at her brother Anthony’s home where he, his wife, Meghan, and their three children, Alek, Tyler and Zoe resided. After multiple failed attempts to make contact between January 2, 2020 and January 9, 2020, six officers would return to the home on January 13, 2020 and make a gruesome discovery. This episode will cover the Todt Family Murders and the story told by the only surviving family member as to what hell took place inside that home.
Sources: Osceola County Clerk’s Office: State of Florida v. Anthony John Todt Court Documents filed under Case Number: 2020 CF 00149 Todt Family Murders – Wikipedia - Todt family murders - Wikipedia Poison Control – National Capital Poison Center - Benadryl: Side Effects, Interactions, and Overdose | Poison Control YouTube – Law&Crime Network – Anthony Todt Trial - WATCH LIVE: FL v. Anthony Todt Trial Day 1 - Erin West - Osceola Co. Sheriff’s Ofc. - YouTube
Laurel, IN, an extremely small town between Cincinnati and Indianapolis is barely a blip when you look on a map....that is until 2011 when Laurel became the site of a brutal massacre. 5 people were found murdered in or around a particular trailer after a small child was found wandering down a road. Calling in enforcements from other towns, Laurel, a very close knit town was in a complete frenzy. This type of crime is not at all typical for this area. Who did this? People wondered was it an outsider passing through? Or could it be one of their own neighbors? Tune in this episode to learn about how the Napier family and their close friend became victims of a senseless crime.
Sources:
"Authorities: 5 Killed In Drug Deal Dispute" by Travis Gettys WLWT October 11, 2011 (https://www.wlwt.com/article/authorities-5-killed-in-drug-deal-dispute/3517382)https://www.toddfuneralhome.com/obituary/Roy-Napierhttps://www.toddfuneralhome.com/obituary/Angela-Napierhttps://www.toddfuneralhome.com/obituary/Henry-Smithhttps://www.toddfuneralhome.com/obituary/Jacob-Napierhttps://www.toddfuneralhome.com/obituary/Melissa-Napier"Woman Connected To Laurel Five Slayings Arrested" by Mike Perleberg Eagle Country October 10, 2013 (https://www.eaglecountryonline.com/news/local-news/woman-connected-to-laurel-five-slayings-arrested/)"Murder Comes to Town" Hulu series Season 2, Episode 4"Five victims in rural Indiana slayings identified" by Maggie Schneider and Jake Carpenter, CNN wirestaff September 27, 2011 (https://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/justice/indiana-five-dead/index.html)"Man in Custody as Person of Interest in Indiana Mass Murders" Fox 19 Now website September 28, 2011 (https://www.fox19.com/story/15567923/person-of-interest-in-franklin-co-murders-arrested/)"Franklin County quintuple killer wins an appeal" by Pam Tharp in Pal Item News, March 19, 2017 (https://www.pal-item.com/story/news/crime/2017/03/19/franklin-county-killer-wins-appeal/99299472/)"Indiana man convicted of killing 5 people in Franklin County wins appeal" by Associated Press, Fox 59, March 21, 2017 (https://fox59.com/news/indiana-man-convicted-of-killing-5-people-in-franklin-county-wins-appeal/)"Drug Deal Gone Bad May Have Been Behind Multiple Slayings" by Pam Tharp October 10, 2011 in the Star Press"Police: Killings Over Drugs" by Pam Tharp October 10, 2011 in the Palladium-Item"Police ID Victims; Killer at Large" by Charles Wilson September 28, 2011 in The Herald"Family Suspects Drugs in 5 Deaths" by Tom Lobianco September 27, 2011 in the Journal & Courier"Suspect in 5 Killings Enters Plea of Guilty" February 16, 2012 in The Tribune"Prosecutor Requests No Parole" by Pam Tharp February 4, 2012 in the Palladium-Item"Man Gets Life for Killing 5 " March 15, 2012 in the Tribune
The media has portrayed and dramatized events of possession and exorcism over the years. But what does it look like in real life? This week for Halloween, we will be bringing you the chilling story of Anneliese Michel, a 23-year-old woman who lived in Germany in the 1970s. After unexplained episodes which doctors only guessed to be epileptic seizures, Anneliese and her family believed her to be possessed by demons. They sought religious help which then ended with Anneliese's death. The priests and Anneliese's parents ended up being charged with negligent homicide. Was Anneliese's condition a medical problem...or some sort of evil?
Sources: "Dominion" by Father Chad Ripperger"Death Riddle of the Devil's Girl" Sunday Mirror in London August 22, 1976"Exorcism - Last Hope?" by Alice Siegert in The Miami Herald September 8, 1976"A Fatal 'Possession'" by John Dornberg in the St. Louis Post Dispatch August 17, 1976"Exorcism Case: 4 are Found Guilty" The Journal (England newspaper) April 22, 1978"Anneliese Michel And The Shocking Images From The Exorcism Of The Real Emily Rose" by Gabe Paoletti (https://allthatsinteresting.com/anneliese-michel-exorcism)"Mental Illness or Demonic Possession: Annelise Michel" by Jeffrey Chao (https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/mental-illness-or-demonic-possession-anneliese-michel-53c4a474e7d1)"Cries of a Woman Possessed - German Court Hears Tapes in Exorcism Death Trial" by Michael Getler in The Washington Post April 20, 1978"The Horrific Case of Anneliese Michel’s Possession and Exorcism" by Meghan November 17, 2022 (https://cvltnation.com/horrific-case-anneliese-michels-possession-excorcism/)"2 Priests Charged In Exorcism Death Of German Woman" The New York Times July 14, 1977"The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel" by Felicitas D. Goodman"Michel, Anneliese" by Lux Ferre July 7, 2017 (https://occult-world.com/michel-anneliese/)Oxford Bibliographies (https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780195393361/obo-9780195393361-0272.xml#:~:text=obo%2F9780195393361%2D0272-,Introduction,greatest%20amount%20of%20his%20time.)"Exorcism" United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/sacramentals-blessings/exorcism)"Full Latin Exorcism Ritual" by REELZ (https://www.reelz.com/extra/full-latin-exorcism-ritual/)The Demonic Paradise Wiki on Nero (https://the-demonic-paradise.fandom.com/wiki/Nero)
Welcome to Evil Everywhere! We are your hosts, Kayla and Angela. We two funny paralegals who became best friends almost 15 years ago! We have always been fascinated by true crime and all things paranormal and spooky. We will be releasing new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday where we will discuss either a true crime case or something spooky!
We'd love to hear your stories, if you have any stories you want us to cover OR if you have any personal spooky stories you'd be willing to share, we'd love to read your story on an episode of our podcast. We can be reached at evileverywherepod@gmail.com and on Facebook at: Evil Everywhere: A True Crime and Horror Podcast, and TikTok, Instagram and Youtube: @evileverywherepod.
