Olympia Oddities

On this episode of Side Show I talk some recent bizarre news stories out of the PNW, share some strange Washington laws, and leave you with a brief life update. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

Bernice Selby was 27 years old in 1962, living in a house on the shores of Lake Cassidy near Marysville, WA and finalizing the details of the divorce of her soon to be ex husband, Donald Selby. She was last seen in October of that year, but wouldn't be reported missing until 2 months later. Investigators had a pretty solid idea of who their main suspect was. Unfortunately, (natural) disaster caught them off course and they ended up with a solid theory, but no one to bring to justice. Sources: The Charley Project - Bernice Selby Facebook - Missing - Please Find Us Seattle Times - Thirty-three years ago, Bernice Selby vanished. She was never seen again., 1995 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

20 year old Amber Hoopes was funny, goofy, and absolutely devoted to the two kids she was a nanny for. She was also painfully shy and didn't like going places by herself. Because of this, her family immediately knew foul play was involved when she went missing from her grandparent's shop, where she would use their computer to stay in touch with friends. After another teen girl in the area was abducted and shared her experience, investigators felt they had a solid idea on who their main suspect was. But, when the suspect arrived at home to find the place buzzing with cops, he took off and led the police on a chase that ended with tragic consequences. Sources: Charley Project - Amber Shawnell Hoopes Idaho News - 20th anniversary of the disappearance of Amber Hoops, last seen in Idaho Falls, 9/12/2021 Idaho State Journal - East Idaho Cold Cases: Case with little evidence, no body still active, 5/31/2014 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

I kick off this Side Show episode with an update to the Christopher Hart Bridgeman Jr. Case, then dive into all the random & fun stuff I've been up to the past few months, including face melting metal shows with robots, fangirling over a baby musk ox, and how murder mystery boxes have taken over my remaining brain space. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

On April 1st, 1986 Archer Ray Johnson's truck was discovered with the door propped open on the side of the road near Oakville, Washington. When his brother & his brother's wife discovered the scene, they called out to him, but got no reply. In the years that have passed since his disappearance, Archer's case has gone nearly cold. In this episode I cover the circumstances around Archer's disappearance, how local police have dropped the ball repeatedly, and cover Archer's families hard work & clues they've unearthed while doing their own investigation into his case. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In 2007, Jeramy Burt went missing from his father's home in Boise, Idaho. He was dressed nicely, and told his dad that he was going to meet with a friend to discuss hunting. However, his ex-wife received several strange phone calls and texts from him while on a business trip in Vegas. The calls and texts were so strange in fact, that she wasn't convinced that they were sent by Jeremy at all. In this episode I cover Jeramy's life before the day he went missing, the details surrounding his disappearance and the investigation that followed, and conclude with Jeramy's family's and the cops theories on what, or who, might've caused Jeramy to disappear. Sources: Charley Project - Jeramy Carl Burt TVB 7 - No Answers 15 Years Later Regarding Missing Boise Man, 2/12/2022 NBC News - Idaho family seeks answers in 11 year search for Jeramy Burt, 2/18/2018 Idaho News - Cold Case: Detective shares insight on Jeramy Burt; missing since February 2007, 3/9/2018 Idaho State News - American Falls man missing since 2007: mother believes he was the victim of foul play 3/28/2014 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

For this episode of Side Show, I start the show by giving an update on Matthew Anfeldt's case, cover some updates to the podcast, then wrap the whole thing up with a PNW cryptid ranking list, some bizarre local crimes & news stories and fill you in on what's been going on in my life. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

On December 21st, 2014 teenager Jarom Thomas decided to resolve a fight over a minor car accident with a single punch. That punch thrown by one of his friends ended up in Jarom Thomas' death. The next year, his parents revealed to the media that they had heard a different version of the story. The details they heard were upsetting, and conflicted with the original version of the story Jarom's friends and the police had told them. Head to Spotify or your favorite podcast platform to listen. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

Today I'm launching the start of a new series on the podcast, Haunted Hiking! Today I tell you about Scaponia Park in Oregon, which is rumored to be the haunting grounds of an 1800s horse thief and his dog, after they both faced their deaths on the banks of the Nehalem River at the hands of an outraged angry mob. From shadowy figures to strange sounds in the woods, this episode is the perfect start to spooky season. Sources: Only in Your State - The Haunted Hike In Oregon That Will Send You Running For The Hills That Oregon Life - 12 Haunted Trails in The Pacific Northwest Where Horror Lurks Hauntedplaces.org - Scaponia Park   Scaponia County Park  Portland Tribune - Haunted Portland: 5 spooky sites to see on Halloween weekend --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

Today I tell you the story of Helen Doe, an unidentified woman hitchhiker who was discovered dead after the semi truck driver who picked her up was involved in a tragic wreck that killed both him, and his unknown passenger near Kalama, WA in 1991. I cover the details of the wreck, how investigators were able to trace the truck drivers route, and the methods that investigators have used to try to reunite this young woman with her identity and loved ones. Sources: https://www.bia.gov/missing-murdered-cases/helen-doe Yakima Herald Republic - Native woman known as Helen Doe among 145 unidentified human remains in Washington The Chronicle - Genetic Genealogy The Next Step in Identifying Native Woman Killed in Fiery 1991 Crash in Southwest Washington --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

It's a solo Trista Side Show straight from Olympia Oddities new studio and I'm here to recap the end of summer, including my second ever burlesque show stage kitten experience, the Roy Pioneer Rodeo, and a camping trip. Ft. The coroner leaving the campsite as I show up, Oakville's bigfoot statue, and Trista's True Crime Roundup making it's return --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode, Trista tells you the story of Richard Russell, an unassuming baggage handler at SeaTac who shocked the world and those who knew him by stealing a plane. I cover the flight path his comandeered plane took, the radio communications that transpired between those trying to get him to safety and keep others out of harms way, and the tragic end to his flight. Sources: Rolling Stone - The Sky Thief, June 24th 2021 Seattle Times - Richard Russell was a jokester who complained about work, but SeaTac plane heist still baffles friends, August 19 2018 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

It's a solo Side Show episode and my return from my summer break! I talk the future of Side Show & some exciting plans coming up, recap my summer so far, including my trip to the Paranormal Circus, a podcast live show, and one of my favorite Washington establishments, Sharkys. Also in this episode: opinons on juggling, buildings shaped like coffee pots, and Godzilla pinball --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode, we're covering the haunted history and paranormal experiences encountered at Oregon's Heceta Head Lighthouse. We cover the many services the lighthouse and it's grounds have provided to it's community, the urban legend behind the ghostly apparation allegedly haunting the grounds, and some of the eerie encounters staff and B&B guests have encountered. Sources: The Columbian - Rue the resident ghost haunts Heceta Head house, 11/02/2017  Does the ghost of a Heceta Head Lighthouse keeper's wife haunt the Oregon Coast?, 8/31/2019 HECETA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE B & B, YACHATS, OR Oregon Coast Beach Connection - Oregon Coast's Haunting Lighthouses: Spooked or Not, 2009 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In this episode we cover a cryptid who is described as being Idaho's Loch Ness Monster! We cover the history of the sightings of a large creature swimming in Lake Pend Oreille's depths beginning in the early 1900s, cover the sightings of the creature up till modern times, and discuss some theories about what the monster could be, including a possible shady government cover-up. This one is a goofy one, so get ready to laugh! Sources: Cedar Post - The Pend Oreille Paddler Cour d’Alene Press - Meet your N. Idaho lake monster, Paddler Go Sandpoint Magazine - Tales from the Deep The Spokesman Review - Did Navy Use Fish Story As Cloak? Pend Orielle Paddler Said to Be Subs --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

Two brothers went missing, a little over two years apart from each other. Despite some shared similarities, investigators believe that these two disapperances are completely unrelated. Today, we're telling you about the 1988 & 1991 disappearances of George and Edwin Pooler. George disappeared after leaving a tavern in Omak, WA with a group of people. Shortly after his disappearance, his burned out car was discovered just 3 miles from town. Edwin disappeared from the Alice Flats HUD site in Keller, after being spotted with a group of men and one woman. We discuss the solved murder of Edwin and the questions that still surround his death, and cover the still unsolved disappearance of George, as well as some of the amazing work their sister has done to try and help solve their cases. Sources: Charley Project - George Wayne Pooler Charley Project - Edwin Oliver Pooler The Spokesman Review - No body, but persistence gets indictment, 2006 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode, we're talkin' paranormal baby! errr, paranormal babies? We share two legends of Water Babies from the west, including a story from Idaho, and one from Utah. Legends say that in these places, you can hear the eerie unmistakable sound of a baby crying coming from a water source. We explore the legends, and discover what other cryptid horrors could be in store for those who escape the underwater grasp of Lake Utah's water babies.  CW: child death Sources:  Weird US - The Water Babies of Massacre Rocks Exemplore - Urban Legends: The Native American Water Babies --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode, we're paying a visit to one of our favorite things to talk about: Aliens! We're talking about the alleged alien encounter of Dr Johnathan Reed, in which an alien killed his dog in Washington's Cascade Mountains while they were on a hike. He claims to have hit the alien over the head, taken it home, and captured photos and videos as evidence. We break down the encounter, including the photos he captured of the alleged alien and it's craft, discuss the chaos that bringing the alien home caused, and try to uncover the real identity of Dr Johnathan Reed and figure out if he really is who he claims he is.  CW: animal harm, animal death Sources:  Youtube: shockingmysteries - Dr Johnathon Reed Alien Encounter 15 Oct 1996 Full Coverage Art Bell’s Dark Matter - Jonathan Reed - Alien in The Freezer, September 18th, 2013 UFOWatchdog Mirror.co.uk - Man probes alien he claims to have caught while walking his dog - but there's bad news as now says it has ESCAPED, August 25th, 2016 Yahoo News - Man Claims He Killed Alien After It ‘Vapourised His Dog’, August 26, 2016 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode, we cover the extremely bizarre disappearance of Gilbert Gilman. When 47 year old Gilman disappeared off the short and well marked Staircase Rapid Loops Trail in Olympic National Park on June 24th, 2006, his disappearance left investigators, and his family, puzzled. How did this man with an extensive military training, including time as an interrogator in Iraq. Investigators were left wondering: could Gilbert Gilman have faked his disappearance and taken up a career as a spy? We cover the details of his disappearance, the discovery of his car, and run down a few theories on what could've happened to Gilbert Gilman.  Sources:  Charley Project - Gilbert Mark Gilman Strange Outdoors - The puzzling disappearance of ex-paratrooper Gilbert Gilman from Olympic National Park --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode, we cover our first ever John Doe case. In this listener submitted episode, we cover the mysterious Harstine Island John Doe. The unidentified man was discovered dead on the beach of Harstine Island in January 2022, and at the time of this recording, his identity is still unknown. Investigators tested a DNA sample, but no matches were found. Dental records and fingerprints are unavailable for this John Doe, so we hope that we can help spread the word and help this man reclaim his identity, and help his loved ones get some closure too.  Sources: Shelton-Mason County Journal - Body found on Harstine Island Jan. 16 still unidentified, Feb 10th, 2022 KIRO 7 -  Officials asking for help in identifying man found dead on beach, Jan 22, 2022 Facebook: Coroner Mason County, Washington - Dec 22nd, 2022 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message