Description

Get ready to sizzle with our spookiest yet sassiest episode so far! Brynn is joined by true crime fan Spooky Kim to unravel the case of Elfrieda Knaak – a 1928 mystery that’s equal parts gruesome and bizarre. We’ll dig into how this Sunday-school teacher ended up burned beyond recognition in a village hall furnace, while spouting wild “spirit love” theories that had reporters and police raising eyebrows. Toss in a 1920s love triangle, her married instructor-cum-police officer and his jealous admirer—and it’s a recipe for suspicion (and maybe a few ghost sightings). Prepare for laughter and goosebumps as we blur the line between murder, suicide, and supernatural mischief in this totally unpredictable tale.

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• Potash, Larry. “Death of Elfrieda Knaak still haunts Lake Bluff residents, 90 years later.” WGN-TV, 7 Feb. 2019.
• Potash, Larry. “Death of the ‘Furnace Girl’ Elfrieda Knaak.” Backstory with Larry Potash, 7 Feb. 2019.
• Moreland, Kraig W., and Toby Jones. The Furnace Girl: The Mysterious Case of Elfrieda Knaak. Across the Lake Publishing Company, 2018.
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• Radin, Edward. “Mystery of the flaming beauty.” Tampa Bay Times, 13 Mar. 1949.
• Lake Bluff History Museum. “Suicide or murder: The death of Elfrieda Knaak.” YouTube, 2018.
• Associated Press. “Woman near death from self-inflicted burns to prove faith in spirit love.” Taylorville Daily Breeze-Courier, 31 Oct. 1928.
• Associated Press. “Self torture by fire, woman’s idea of faith.” Sterling Standard, 31 Oct. 1928.
• Associated Press. “Woman near death in fire ritual case.” Rock Island Argus, 1 Nov. 1928.
• Associated Press. “Secret of girl’s self inflicted torture mystery.” Alton Evening Telegraph, 2 Nov. 1928.
• International News Service. “Hitchcock tells of power over burning victim.” Waukegan News-Sun, 31 Oct. 1928.
• International News Service. “Army deserter confesses to furnace death.” Belleville News-Democrat, 29 Nov. 1928.
• International News Service. “No faith in man’s story.” Belleville News-Democrat, 30 Nov. 1928.
• International News Service. “Murderer of teacher tried to end lie.” Belleville News-Democrat, 7 Dec. 1928.
• United Press. “Girl burns in furnace.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 31 Oct. 1928.
• United Press. “Case still is puzzle.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 1 Nov. 1928.
• United Press. “Knaak girl fails to shed light on furnace case.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 2 Nov. 1928.
• United Press. “Will examine brain of dead tortured girl.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 6 Nov. 1928.
• United Press. “Girl’s story told today.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 10 Nov. 1928.
• United Press. “Suicide says jury verdict in Knaak case.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 12 Nov. 1928.
• United Press. “Think case was murder.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 5 Nov. 1928.
• United Press. “Police chief at Lake Bluff is discharged.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 28 Nov. 1928.
• United Press. “Girl attempts to kill herself by jumping in fire.” Belleville News-Democrat, 16 Feb. 1929.
• United Press. “Hitchcock of ‘furnace’ fame is arrested.” Belleville News-Democrat, 14 Aug. 1929.
• United Press. “Knaak case is reopened for investigation.” Belleville News-Democrat, 15 Aug. 1929.
• “Ex-coed is near death; quiz film actor cop.” Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct. 1928.
• “Girl burned in Lake Bluff furnace dies.” Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 1928.
• “Burned girl held victim of self hypnosis.” Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 1928.
• “Family refuses to believe Miss Knaak tortured self.” Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 1928.
• “Mystery clings to furnace case after girl dies.” Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 1928.
• “Relatives start own inquiry of furnace death.” Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 1928.
• “Crowds fail to get glimpse of death furnace.” Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 1928.
• “Put burned girl in death trance, mystic asserts.” Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 1928.
• “Details of affairs are shrouded in mystery.” Waukegan News-Sun, 30 Oct. 1928.
• “Girl, dying, takes all blame.” Waukegan News-Sun, 31 Oct. 1928.
• “Steadfast in a dying refusal to name mate.” Waukegan News-Sun, 1 Nov. 1928.
• “Suicide is held to be illogical solution.” Waukegan News-Sun, 2 Nov. 1928.
• “Physicians think girl inflicted own burns.” Waukegan News-Sun, 3 Nov. 1928.
• “Knaak case solution is sought by state.” Waukegan News-Sun, 5 Nov. 1928.
• “Probe new clue in Knaak case at Lake Bluff.” Waukegan News-Sun, 6 Nov. 1928.
• “Thirty called to testify in Knaak inquest Sat.” Waukegan News-Sun, 8 Nov. 1928.
• “Witnesses may throw light on tragedy.” Waukegan News-Sun, 9 Nov. 1928.
• “Knaak case inquest is being held here today.” Waukegan News-Sun, 10 Nov. 1928.
• “Continue probe of Knaak case despite verdict.” Waukegan News-Sun, 12 Nov. 1928.
• “Spiritual link found in fire torture death.” Waukegan News-Sun, 13 Nov. 1928.
• Hoffman, Gene. “Proves faith in psychic sweetheart.” Mattoon Journal Gazette, 31 Oct. 1928.
• Quinby, Ione. “Murder, and a woman implicated, avers girl writer in attempt at solution of furnace mystery.” Belleville News-Democrat, 19 Nov. 1928.
• Quinby, Ione. “Citing evidence, girl improves her theory in furnace mystery.” Belleville News-Democrat, 20 Nov. 1928.
• Quinby, Ione. “Girl reporter reviews events in Knaak case to uphold her theory.” Belleville News-Democrat, 21 Nov. 1928.
• Quinby, Ione. “Hypnotism, suicide theories rejected.” Belleville News-Democrat, 22 Nov. 1928.
• Quinby, Ione. “Girl investigator gives her solution of furnace mystery.” Belleville News-Democrat, 23 Nov. 1928.
• “Another clew linked with murder case.” Belleville News-Democrat, 6 Nov. 1928.
• “Army deserter confesses to furnace death.” Belleville News-Democrat, 29 Nov. 1928.
• “No faith in man’s story.” Belleville News-Democrat, 30 Nov. 1928.
• “Murderer of teacher tried to end lie.” Belleville News-Democrat, 7 Dec. 1928.
• “Confession repudiated by suspect.” Lake County Register (Libertyville, Ill.), 12 Dec. 1928.
• “Think M’Veagh insanity faked.” Lake County Register (Libertyville, Ill.), 12 Dec. 1928.
• “Miss Knaak’s moods shown.” Lake County Register (Libertyville, Ill.), 12 Dec. 1928.
• “Elfrieda tells of dual career.” Lake County Register (Libertyville, Ill.), 12 Dec. 1928.
• “Details of affairs are shrouded in mystery.” Waukegan News-Sun, 30 Oct. 1928.
• Daily Illini. “Mystery of Knaak death is unsolved; strange letter sent.” 8 Nov. 1928.
• Chicago Daily News. “The weird case of Elfrieda Knaak.” 25 Nov. 1944.