Shows
ClueTrailBelle Gunness: The Black Widow of La PorteSend us a textIn 1908, a fire destroyed a farmhouse outside La Porte, Indiana. Inside were the bodies of three children. Nearby, investigators found the remains of a woman believed to be the homeowner, Belle Gunness. But the case didn’t end there.Belle Gunness was a Norwegian immigrant and farm owner who placed personal ads seeking marriage. Men arrived at her farm with savings and plans for the future, and were never seen again.In this episode of ClueTrail, we walk through the timeline of the Belle Gunness case, explore who her vic...
2026-01-2420 min
ClueTrailBaba Anujka: Healer Or Killer?Send us a textExplore this chilling true crime story of Baba Anujka, a healer turned deadly legend at the edge of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. If this story gripped you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help others find ClueTrail.Support the show
2026-01-0714 min
ClueTrailLainz Angels Of DeathSend us a textDiscover the chilling true crime story of Lainz angels of death in Vienna's geriatric centre and the hidden crimes within.A hospital should be the safest room in the city, so how did a bustling Vienna geriatric centre become a hunting ground on the night shift? We follow the chilling path of four auxiliary nurses who slipped from care into killing, and the small, bureaucratic blind spots that let their crimes hide inside routine.Subscribe, share this episode and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. T...
2025-12-0722 min
ClueTrailHalloween Special: The Pendle Witch Trials and the Flannan Isles MysterySend us a textTwo mysteries, one restless question: how far will fear carry a story? We mark Halloween by walking two grim paths, through the Pendle witch trials of 1612 and out to the storm-beaten Flannan Isles, where three lighthouse keepers vanished without a trace. Along the way, we unpack how belief, law, and isolation turn everyday details into legends that refuse to fade.If this journey through history’s darker corners sparks your curiosity, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help others find their way to...
2025-10-3120 min
ClueTrailTrail Off Tuesdays: The Dancing Plague of 1518Send us a textA city built on stone and certainty watched its streets turn into a stage. In the hot summer of 1518, a woman in Strasbourg began to dance, mechanical, relentless, and impossible to stop, and within weeks hundreds followed, their feet torn and faces locked in pain. We trace how a single, baffling act became a public crisis, and why officials, doctors, and priests each tried to tame it with wildly different tools. If strange history, medical mysteries, and cultural psychology fascinate you, press play and wander the stranger paths of the past with u...
2025-10-2812 min
ClueTrailThe Villisca Axe MurdersSend us a textIn June 1912, the small town of Villisca, Iowa, awoke to a nightmare. Eight people, including six children, were found brutally murdered inside a quiet white house on East 2nd Street. The doors were locked, mirrors were covered, and more than a century later, the question still echoes: who wielded the axe that night?Join us as we follow the trail of one of America’s most haunting unsolved murders, through the tangled investigations, shifting suspects, and eerie aftermath that still lingers in the town of Villisca today.Supp...
2025-10-1831 min
ClueTrailTrail Off Tuesdays: The Exploding Toads of HamburgSend us a textA peaceful pond, a morning walk, and a horror scene no one expected: toads swelling, twitching, and then bursting along the water’s edge. We follow the 2005 Hamburg mystery from sensational headlines to a grounded, unsettling explanation that blends animal intelligence with fragile biology. What begins as a “Frog Plague” turns into a forensic journey through missing organs, precise wounds, and a defensive reflex gone catastrophically wrong. If this curious detour hooked you, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who loves a good mystery, and leave a review, then tell us: do you...
2025-10-1408 min
ClueTrailThe Vanishing of Elodia GhinescuSend us a textA brilliant lawyer vanishes in Brasov, and suddenly an entire country is asked to decide what justice looks like without a body. We follow the case of Elodia Marilena Ghinescu from the final hours of routine calls to the first glow of luminol in a too‑clean apartment, through mountain ravines, media studios, and finally a crowded courtroom where fragments of evidence meet an aching absence.Along the way, we confront the force of media in post‑EU Romania, where OTV turned a missing person into nightly theater with psychics, reenactments, and...
2025-10-0236 min
ClueTrailTrail Off Tuesdays: The Ghost Ship Mary CelesteSend us a textSome mysteries don't just perplex us, they haunt us across centuries. The Mary Celeste stands as perhaps the most infamous ghost ship in maritime history, her empty decks still whispering questions that have no answers.When the Mary Celeste departed New York harbor in November 1872, Captain Benjamin Briggs had his wife Sarah and two-year-old daughter Sophia aboard, along with seven experienced sailors. Their cargo hold contained 1,701 barrels of industrial alcohol bound for Genoa, Italy. It should have been a routine Atlantic crossing.On December 4th, another vessel spotted the...
2025-09-3010 min
ClueTrailThe Pink Panthers: Balkans to BillionsSend us a textThe Pink Panthers emerged not from Hollywood, but from the ashes of war-torn Balkans in the 1990s. Young men who once fought in brutal conflicts found themselves in collapsed economies with few legitimate opportunities but with military training, discipline, and the ruthlessness needed to execute some of history's most audacious jewellery heists.Their name originated from a 2003 robbery at Graff Diamonds in London's prestigious Mayfair district. After stealing 47 items worth nearly £23 million in under three minutes, police later found a blue diamond hidden in a jar of face cream, a detail s...
2025-09-2525 min
ClueTrailTrail Off Tuesdays: The Giraffe That Walked to ParisSend us a textLong before viral internet sensations, one extraordinary animal captured the hearts and imaginations of an entire nation. When Muhammad Ali, the Ottoman governor of Egypt, sought to strengthen diplomatic ties with Europe in the 1820s, he chose a gift that would prove unforgettable: a young female giraffe from Sudan. For most Europeans, giraffes existed only in books and drawings, seeing one in the flesh was almost mythical.The journey itself was as remarkable as the animal. First transported down the Nile on a barge with a hole cut in the deck...
2025-09-2212 min
ClueTrailJoël Le Scouarnec: A Hidden Life ExposedSend us a textBehind the white coat of respectability lurked one of Europe's most prolific predators. The ClueTrail podcast dives deep into the harrowing case of Joël Le Scouarnec, a French surgeon whose decades of abuse remained hidden until the brave words of a six-year-old girl finally exposed the truth.What makes this case particularly devastating is how many warning signs were ignored. Despite a 2005 conviction for possession of child abuse materials, Le Scouarnec received only a four-month suspended sentence and was allowed to continue practicing medicine. Hospitals prioritized his surgical skills over p...
2025-09-1836 min
ClueTrailTrail Off Tuesdays: The Cadaver SynodSend us a textEver wondered what happens when political vengeance goes beyond the grave? The Cadaver Synod of 897 stands as perhaps the most macabre judicial proceeding in religious history; a dead pope put on trial by his living successor.Step back to late 9th century Rome, where papal politics resembled a deadly chess match. Pope Formosus had committed the cardinal sin of backing the wrong emperor candidate, choosing Arnulf of Carinthia over Lambert of Spoleto and his formidable mother Agiltrude. When Formosus died in 896, his enemies saw opportunity. His successor, Pope Stephen VI, orchestrated a...
2025-09-1612 min
ClueTrailThe Tragic Case of Elizabeth StruhsSend us a textThis week’s release is a reworked edition of our Elizabeth Struhs episode.How far would you go for your beliefs? Would you risk your child's life? That's the heartbreaking question at the core of Elizabeth Struhs story, an 8-year-old girl who loved the colour pink, dreamed of becoming a doctor, and died surrounded by 14 adults who chose prayer over the insulin she needed to survive.Elizabeth's parents belonged to "the Saints," a small religious sect led by Brendan Stevens that rejected modern medicine as "witchcraft." Though th...
2025-09-1125 min
ClueTrailTrail Off Tuesdays: The Man Who Mailed Himself HomeSend us a textHave you ever felt so desperate to get home that you'd try anything? Probably not as desperate as Reg Spiers, the Australian javelin thrower who, in 1964, packed himself into a wooden crate and mailed himself from London to Australia when he ran out of money after failing to qualify for the Olympics.We dive into this extraordinary tale of desperation and survival as Reg constructed a simple 5x3 foot wooden box, equipped with only the barest essentials: a torch, blanket, some food, and water. The audacity of his plan was matched...
2025-09-0908 min
ClueTrailBeasts of Satan: Italy’s Cult MurdersSend us a textThe Beasts of Satan emerged from Milan's late 1990s heavy metal scene as something far more sinister than rebellious teenagers. What began with music, black clothing, and typical adolescent rebellion evolved into ritualistic murder that would horrify Italy and captivate international attention.At the core of this shocking case were three figures: unpredictable drug user Andrea Volpe, manipulative leader Nicola Sapone, and steady metal devotee Paolo Leoni. Their circle was bound by more than music – they conducted blood oaths, animal sacrifices, and increasingly dangerous rituals to prove loyalty. When 16-year-old Fabio Tol...
2025-09-0425 min
ClueTrailTrail Off Tuesdays: The Great London Beer FloodSend us a textA tidal wave of beer that destroyed homes and claimed lives sounds like a pub joke gone wrong, but for the residents of St. Giles in 1814 London, it was a devastating reality. The London Beer Flood stands as one of history's most peculiar yet tragic industrial accidents.The catastrophe began at the Horseshoe Brewery on Tottenham Court Road, where an enormous wooden vat containing over 600,000 liters of porter beer suddenly failed. The flood crashed through streets with waves reportedly four feet high, collapsing buildings and filling basements where many poor r...
2025-09-0207 min
ClueTrailCatalin Ciolpan: Killer on the RoadsSend us a textThe highways of post-communist Romania held a deadly secret. For years, a predator lurked along rural roads, targeting women who were simply trying to get from one place to another. They called him "The Husi Monster" - a nameless, faceless threat that haunted the countryside around the town of Husi.We journey back to the early 2000s, when Romania was still finding its footing after decades under communist rule. Cars were scarce, public transport unreliable, and hitchhiking wasn't just common – it was necessary. Every town had designated spots where travelers would wa...
2025-08-1423 min
ClueTrailTrail Off Tuesdays: The Vanishing of John and GianninaSend us a textTwo bright children vanish without a trace on their way to a Puerto Rican beach, leaving behind bedrooms that would remain untouched for nearly 50 years. This is the haunting mystery of John and Janina Colonna.Someone, somewhere, knows what happened to John and Janina Colonna. If you have any information about this case, no matter how small, please come forward. After nearly 50 years, this family deserves answers.Support the show
2025-08-1207 min
ClueTrailTrail Off Tuesdays: The Exploding Whale of OregonSend us a textEver wondered what happens when well-meaning bureaucrats tackle an eight-ton problem with half a ton of dynamite? Welcome to the legendary tale of Florence, Oregon's exploding whale disaster.November 9, 1970 started like any other day until a 45-foot sperm whale corpse appeared on the beach. As curious locals gathered, fascination quickly turned to disgust as the massive carcass rotted under the autumn sun, producing a stench so powerful it clung to clothing long after leaving. The Oregon Highway Division faced a colossal dilemma – how do you remove something so enormous from a pu...
2025-08-0510 min
ClueTrailThe Leongatha Mushroom Murders: Erin Patterson CaseSend us a textA family lunch ends in tragedy when a homemade beef wellington serves up more than just a gourmet meal. Three dead, one critically ill, and a small Australian town left reeling in shock.Dive deep into the case of Erin Patterson, whose 2023 lunch invitation to her former in-laws turned deadly when death cap mushrooms made their way into her beef wellington. The quiet town of Leongata, Victoria became the epicenter of one of Australia's most disturbing criminal cases as Don and Gail Patterson, along with Heather Wilkinson, lost their lives, while...
2025-07-3131 min
ClueTrailTrail Off Tuesdays: The Devil's FootprintsSend us a textSomething walked across Devon, England on a snowy February night in 1855, leaving behind a mystery that has endured for over 165 years. The Devil's Footprints, as they came to be known, weren't ordinary animal tracks – they followed perfectly straight lines for reportedly 100 miles, crossing rooftops, scaling walls, and even appearing to pass through solid structures.Victorian-era locals immediately suspected supernatural forces, with many believing Satan himself had wandered the countryside that night. Others proposed escaped exotic animals, hopping mice, or even objects carried by strong winds. The London Illustrated News published reports de...
2025-07-2910 min
ClueTrailTrail Off Tuesdays: The Bizarre Life of Monsieur MangetoutSend us a textYou might think you've heard every strange human feat possible, but the story of Michel Lotito will make you question everything you thought you knew about the human body's limitations. This isn't just about a man with an unusual appetite – it's about someone whose physiological makeup defied medical understanding.Born in 1950s France, Michel discovered his peculiar ability to consume glass as a child. What started as a curious habit evolved into something extraordinary when doctors discovered his stomach lining was twice as thick as normal and his digestive acids potent en...
2025-07-2210 min
ClueTrailRodney Alcala: The Dating Game KillerSend us a textThe camera flash was just a distraction. Behind the lens stood one of America's most prolific serial killers - Rodney Alcala, a man whose charm and seemingly legitimate profession as a photographer allowed him to approach women in broad daylight and lure them to their deaths.We trace Alcala's disturbing evolution from troubled military serviceman to calculated predator. Discharged from the Army after a psychiatric diagnosis, Alcala's first known attack came in 1968 when he lured eight-year-old Tali Shapiro to his apartment, nearly killing her before escaping justice. After assuming a new...
2025-07-1028 min
ClueTrailTrail Off Tuesdays: The Haunting of Kitty JaySend us a textThe mist-shrouded moors of Dartmoor harbor countless secrets, but few as poignant as the lonely grave at a windswept crossroads. Here lies Kitty Jay, a young woman whose tragic story bridges centuries and continues to haunt those who encounter it.The legend has grown darker with reports of strange phenomena and several unsolved murders near the grave site. Shadowy figures glimpsed in the mist, ancient symbols found etched near victims, and the persistent feeling of sorrow that envelops visitors have transformed Kitty's resting place into something beyond a simple memorial...
2025-07-0810 min
ClueTrailTrail Off Tuesdays: The Kentucky Meat ShowerSend us a textHave you ever experienced something so bizarre that it defies all explanation? The Kentucky Meat Shower of 1876 might top your list of strange phenomena after you hear this tale.On a perfectly clear March day in Olympia Springs, Kentucky, Mrs. Allen Crouch was simply making soap in her front yard when the unimaginable happened—chunks of raw meat began falling from the cloudless sky. This wasn't a hallucination or tall tale; neighbors came running to witness the aftermath of what would become one of history's most peculiar weather events. The meaty do...
2025-07-0108 min
ClueTrailPatreon Bonus Unlocked: Erasing Minds - The Horror of Pitești PrisonSend us a textSome prisons break bodies—Pitești Prison was designed to break souls. In communist Romania's shadowy post-war years, a horrifying experiment unfolded behind thick walls that would push human psychology beyond recognition.The Pitești experiment (1949-1951) represents one of the most methodical attempts at destroying human identity ever documented.Though Romania has since established a memorial museum, the full story remains underrepresented in national consciousness. The Pitești experiment stands as a sobering reminder of how far authoritarian regimes will go when they seek not just control over bodie...
2025-06-2618 min