Beyond the Ferns

For decades, ranchers across the United States have walked out to their fields expecting an ordinary morning — only to find one of their cattle dead under circumstances that make no sense. No signs of struggle. No tracks in or out. Although troubling, the state that they are in gives the most cause of concern. The animal is often found with certain tissues and organs missing with what witnesses describe as precise, almost surgical cuts. There’s frequently an unusual lack of blood at the scene. Scavengers — which normally descend quickly in rural environments — sometimes avoid the carcass for days. To the people who discover them, it doesn’t look like a normal predator kill. It doesn’t look like disease. And it doesn’t look random. Reports like this surged in the 1970s, drawing enough public concern that even the Federal Bureau of Investigation reviewed cases. Explanations have ranged from natural decomposition and scavenger activity to secret government testing, cult activity, and — of course — extraterrestrial involvement. But no single answer has ever fully accounted for every reported detail: the precision, the timing, the repeated patterns across states, and the strange environmental clues some ranchers claim to notice. What keeps the mystery alive is consistency. Different states. Different decades. Different ranchers telling nearly the same story — healthy livestock, no warning, and a scene that feels staged rather than natural. Whether the cause is misunderstood science, human involvement, or something we don’t yet have a framework to explain, cattle mutilation remains one of those rural phenomena that lives in the uneasy space between folklore, forensic debate, and genuine unanswered questions. And maybe that’s why it lingers. Not because we have no theories — but because none of them fully close the case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode we are headed to Kansas! The Sallie House in Atchison, Kansas, looks like an ordinary small-town home — but its history tells a far darker story. What began as a young couple’s fresh start quickly spiraled into one of the most infamous haunting cases in America. Strange scratches appeared on walls. Objects moved on their own. And then the violence turned personal. The attacks seemed focused, intelligent… and angry. Investigators, mediums, and skeptics have all stepped through the doors of the Sallie House, each leaving with more questions than answers. Was the presence truly the spirit of a young girl named Sallie, as many believe? Or was something else hiding behind that name — something far more dangerous? In this episode, we explore the reported physical attacks, the attempted cleansing of the house, and the mystery of who — or what — was really inside the house. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode we dive right into Part II! The Hi-Fi Shop murders left Ogden, Utah reeling—an act of violence so extreme it demanded answers, accountability, and justice. This episode follows the painstaking investigation that unfolded in the aftermath: the evidence recovered, the witnesses who survived, and the courtroom battles that would ultimately decide the fate of those responsible. But the story does not end with arrests and convictions. It raises deeper questions about how justice is carried out in America. As prosecutors sought the harshest punishment available, the case became entangled in debates over Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment, as well as long-standing concerns about racial bias within the criminal justice system. Through survivor testimony, investigative detail, and the legal arguments that shaped the outcome, this episode examines not only what happened inside the Hi-Fi Shop—but what the case reveals about power, punishment, and everything in between. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In April 1974, a quiet stereo shop in Ogden became the site of one of the most shocking crimes in American history. What began as an ordinary evening shift spiraled into hours of terror that would leave multiple victims dead and an entire community reeling. Known today as the Hi-Fi Murders, this case is remembered not only for its brutality, but for the disturbing choices made inside a small, locked store—and the questions that still linger decades later. In this episode, we explore the setting, the victims, and the chilling sequence of events without sensationalism, focusing instead on the human cost and the lasting impact this crime had on the justice system and public memory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are headed to Missouri to discuss the Springfield Three. In June 1992, three women—mother Sherrill Levitt and her daughter Suzanne “Suzie” Streeter, along with Suzie’s friend Stacy McCall—vanished without a trace from a quiet residential home in Springfield. The women had returned to the house after a night celebrating local high school graduations. By the next morning, all three were gone. What investigators found was almost more disturbing than what they didn’t: no signs of forced entry, no struggle, no blood, and no clear suspects. Personal belongings were left behind, including purses, keys, and vehicles—suggesting the women didn’t leave voluntarily. In this week's episode, I will be diving into theories and tips over the years in this incredibly shocking, notorious and confusing cold case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On a cold New Year’s Eve in early-1970s New York City, Roseann Quinn stepped out into a city caught between economic strain and drastic social change. Bars glowed warm against dark sidewalks, music spilled into the streets, and the promise of a fresh year hung heavy in the air. Roseann was young, independent, and carving out a life on her own in Manhattan’s Upper West Side—a neighborhood that felt safe by day, but could quietly change after dark. Like so many New Yorkers at the time, she moved through a city where strangers brushed past each other constantly, anonymity was the norm, and danger often hid behind familiar routines. What unfolded after that New Year’s Day would send shockwaves through the city and tap into something deeper: the fears surrounding single women, nightlife, and trust in an era when our nation was going through major societal change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Safety Tricks & Tips 101: Protecting Yourself at Home, Out in the World, and Online (not an exhaustive list*) In this special safety-focused episode of Beyond the Ferns, I break down practical, real-world tools for staying safe—because if this podcast has taught us anything, it’s that dangerous people and situations exist and unfortunately, they live alongside us in this world! Whether you’re settling in at home, heading out for errands, or navigating the digital world, there are simple steps you can take to stay aware, prepared, and protected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we are headed to Minnesota covering the controversial case of Byron Smith and the murders of Nick and Hailie. Byron Smith was a retired security engineer living a quiet, isolated life in Little Falls, Minnesota—a man who kept to himself and had grown increasingly uneasy after a string of break-ins at his home. On Thanksgiving Day 2012, that unease collided with the actions of two teenagers. Nick and Haile were known in their community as typical teens—inseparable, always driving around town together, and bonded in a way that felt more like siblings than cousins. Around noon on Thanksgiving, the pair entered Smith’s home through a window, unaware that Byron was inside the house when they stepped in. What happened next inside that quiet basement staircase would become one of the most controversial and widely debated self-defense cases in Minnesota’s history. From Byron's detailed home audio recordings to the community’s shock at the teenagers’ deaths, the case sparked intense questions about fear, boundaries, premeditation, and the limits of “defending your home.” The story that unfolded in the aftermath—through interviews, recovered security footage, and hours of audio—left the public deeply divided on what truly happened in that dark, silent house on Thanksgiving Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, I will be covering the Tinder App Murder of Sydney Loofe. In November 2017, 24-year-old Sydney Loofe from Lincoln, Nebraska went on a date with someone she met through Tinder. After posting a cheerful Snapchat about getting ready, she vanished the next day. Her sudden disappearance — leaving behind her car, wallet, and even her beloved cat — immediately alarmed her family and friends. As investigators retraced Sydney’s final steps, digital evidence quickly pointed toward two individuals she had met through the app. Their movements, purchases, and online activity set off major red flags, leading to nationwide headlines and an intense search. The investigation uncovered a deeply disturbing pattern of deception and manipulation. Over several weeks, detectives pieced together phone records, surveillance footage, and online data that tied the suspects to Sydney’s disappearance. What followed was one of Nebraska’s most shocking and heavily debated criminal trials, raising questions about online safety, coercion, and the dangers of meeting strangers through dating apps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this chilling episode, Beyond the Ferns covers the absolutely brutal and senseless 2006 murder of 16-year-old Cassie Jo Stoddart — a case forever dubbed “The Scream Murder.” What began as a quiet weekend of house-sitting in Pocatello, Idaho, turned into a real-life horror story when two classmates, inspired by the Scream franchise, plotted and carried out her killing. A planned murder of their friend turns into a whole "death list" they expected to carry out with more classmates at their school. However, fortunately, they are caught before those crimes can turn into reality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Halloween night, 1957, a knock on the door turned deadly in the quiet suburbs of Los Angeles. When Peter Fabiano opened it, he was greeted not by a costumed child, but by a figure in disguise — a mask, a brown paper bag, and a .22 caliber revolver. Within seconds, he was dead. What really took place on Halloween Night? And with unknown enemies - who would do this to someone that seemed like an ordinary, well-liked, family man? There's a lot more that meets the eye... and we will dive deep into life in the 50s and what could have caused such a tragic ending for the Fabiano's. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, we’re stepping inside one of the most infamous collections of haunted artifacts in the world — Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum, tucked away in the heart of Las Vegas, Nevada. Within its darkened halls lie hundreds of relics steeped in tragedy — objects said to carry the weight of death, despair, and sometimes… something far worse. In this episode, we’ll explore some of the museum’s most chilling pieces: Peggy the Doll, whose gaze alone has left visitors trembling… Dr. Death’s Van, a mobile tomb with a sinister past… and a staircase salvaged from a home so violently haunted, it had to be torn to the ground. So—turn down the lights, take a deep breath, and join me… as we uncover the stories, the history, and the dark legends that refuse to stay buried inside Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this chilling episode of Beyond the Ferns, we peel back the curtain on three of the most haunting urban legends whispered across America — each with a face you’ll never forget. First, we explore the unnerving encounters with the Black-Eyed Children — pale, emotionless kids who appear at night, asking to come inside. Their eyes? Pure black. Their presence? Utterly wrong. Are they lost souls, alien hybrids, or something far more sinister? Next, we step into the fog-filled streets to meet The Smiling Man, a figure seen dancing under flickering streetlights at 2 a.m. — moving in jerky, inhuman motions, his grin stretching too wide to be real. Those who’ve seen him say it’s the kind of smile that freezes you in place. Finally, we end with a timeless ghost story out of Chicago — Resurrection Mary. The vanishing hitchhiker who leaves drivers shaken and forever changed. A woman in white, searching for a ride home along Archer Avenue, returning each night to Resurrection Cemetery. From paranormal folklore to eyewitness accounts, this episode dives deep into the origins, theories, and spine-tingling experiences that keep these legends alive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Long before it became a symbol of fear, the Ouija board was a parlor game — a curious invention of the late 1800s when spiritualism swept through American living rooms. Families gathered around the board by candlelight, fingers resting lightly on the planchette, hoping to reach loved ones “beyond the veil.” It was marketed as wholesome entertainment, a way to connect, to wonder — not to summon. But everything changed in 1973, when The Exorcist hit theaters. From that moment on, the Ouija board was no longer a game — it became a gateway. A doorway for something darker. In this episode, Beyond the Ferns explores the board’s eerie evolution from innocent pastime to cultural taboo, and dives into real stories of those who claim they made contact with something they couldn’t explain. From sudden cold spots to planchettes moving on their own, these tales blur the line between imagination and the unknown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, we are heading to a hidden on a quiet hilltop overlooking Louisville, Kentucky, stands one of America’s most infamous haunted locations—Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Built in the early 1900s, Waverly was originally designed as a hospital to treat patients suffering from tuberculosis, or “the White Plague,” which swept through the country with deadly force. At the height of the outbreak, the sanatorium housed hundreds of patients at once, many of whom never left. With no cure available, doctors relied on experimental treatments—ranging from constant fresh air exposure, no matter the weather, to controversial surgeries that sound more like horror stories today. Death was a daily visitor at Waverly Hills and because of this hospital administrators had to get "creative" to hide the multiple deaths a day. To say this place is haunted, doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. Join along as I take you step by step through the history of Waverly Hills and the paranormal that lines every each of the facility to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices