PNW Haunts & Homicides

When 28-year-old Susan Cox Powell vanished from her West Valley City, Utah, home in December 2009, her purse, phone, and keys suspiciously remained—and her husband’s story didn’t add up. In part 1 we trace the chilling trail of red flags Susan left behind: a secret will, haunting journal entries, and an eerie home video “in case something happens.” From the Powells’ tangled family history in Puyallup, Washington, to the night of the so-called midnight “camping trip,” we uncover the control, manipulation, and obsession that built a pressure cooker inside their Utah home. Through interviews, court records, and Susan’s own words, we explore how a young mother’s intuition became her last line of defense—and how the search for truth stretched across the Pacific Northwest.If you or someone you know feels unsafe in a relationship, reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org. Support is available 24/7 via phone, chat, or by texting START to 88788. For listeners in the Pacific Northwest, local help is also available through the Washington State Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-562-6025 or Oregon’s SafeLine at 1-888-235-5333.Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us atpnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts.

This week, we venture deep into the mist-shrouded Pacific Northwest to unearth one of the region’s most haunting legends in Kwakwaka’wakw folklore — the story of Baxbakwalanuksiwe’, the Man-Eater at the North End of the World.Once banned by colonial authorities and nearly lost to time, the Hamat’sa, or “Cannibal Dance,” is a ceremonial initiation that confronts humanity’s darkest impulses and the mythic hunger embodied by Baxbakwalanuksiwe’. Covered in gaping mouths and crying out “hap, hap, hap” — “eat, eat, eat” — this monstrous figure stalked not just the imagination of his people, but the very limits of what it means to be human.Baxbakwalanuksiwe’ stands as both a monster and a mirror — a figure embodying survival, hunger, and the uneasy boundary between the spiritual and the human. Join us as we explore how this story survived suppression, what it reveals about cultural resilience, why it remains so powerful today, and what the “Ever-More-Perfect-Manifestation-of-the-Essence-of-Humanity” might truly mean.Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us atpnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources

Happy Halloween! We have a trick AND a treat for you with this Truly Twisted bonus!On the evening of July 3rd, 1929 the Evangelista family was brutally murdered, but by who? This week we delve into the strange beliefs of Benny Evangelista, the baffling details of the crime, and the lasting fear and legend that the St. Aubin Street Massacre left behind. This story is more widely known as the Detroit Occult Murders. Was this the work of a rival religious fanatic, a swindled follower in Benny's work, or something even more sinister?Join me on social media @itstrulytwisted on Instagram and @trulytwisted on TikTok.  You can follow me personally @littleleeshaFor more information about the show or Fire Eyes Media you can visit our website at https://www.fireeyesmedia.com & don't forget to check out our other incredible shows while you are there.Recourses used in todays episode:https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-st-aubin-street-massa/116854832/https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/evangelistahttps://husheduphistory.com/post/728229027017588736/mystic-murder-and-mystery-the-detroit-tragedyHaunted Road Atlas by Em Schultz and Christine SchieferBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pnw-haunts-homicides--5955451/support.

We’re kicking off Hallo-week with an extra creepy bonus for episode 204: The Bizarre Tale of Jake the Alligator Man. We’ll see you later this week for another spooky episode! 🎃 Back at Marsh’s Free Museum in Long Beach, Washington, we dive into more of the odd treasures this roadside attraction has to offer. We’ll also explore the history behind their most chilling artifact — an authentic tsantsa, or shrunken head. Once sacred symbols of power and protection, these relics have a dark history of fascination and exploitation. Turning ancient tribal rituals into grotesque souvenirs… Finally, we’ll uncover the full story of the SS Admiral Benson shipwreck!  Strange artifacts, lost history, and coastal legends — it’s all waiting for you in this week’s deep dive into the weird and wonderful world of Marsh’s Free Museum. GET TICKETS to Ghosts of the Grand! (Use code: CULTMEMBER for $5 off). You're invited into the shadowed halls of Salem’s historic, 125-year-old Grand Theatre for an unforgettable haunted experience. Step beyond the stage and into the darkness, where immersive storytelling, chilling performances, and eerie surprises await around every corner.   Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us atpnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources

Salem, Oregon has always been a city of secrets—but few run as deep as those hidden within the Delaney-Edwards House. Before this graceful landmark hosted seances and afternoon tea, it was the stage for greed, betrayal, and one of the most shocking crimes in Oregon’s early history.When wealthy settler Daniel Delaney Sr. was gunned down just outside his front door in 1865, the investigation pulled back the curtain on a frontier community built on contradictions—prosperity and prejudice, freedom and bondage.The killing set off one of Salem’s first sensational murder trials, culminating in Oregon’s first double hanging. But behind the spectacle lay a deeper story—one that exposes the uneasy truths of race, power, and “justice” in a young state still defining its conscience.At its heart is Rachel Belden Brooks, the woman Delaney once enslaved and brought to Oregon in defiance of the territory’s laws. Years later, she would take his estate to court, demanding wages for decades of unpaid labor and claiming her own measure of justice. And there was Jack DeWolf, the young Black boy whose brave eyewitness testimony helped bring two killers to the gallows—though the memory would haunt him, and the city itself, for life.From whispered fortunes and back-room confessions to the gallows built beneath Salem’s oak trees, this story unearths the complicated legacy of a place where law and morality often diverged. If the walls of the Delaney-Edwards House could talk, they’d have plenty to say about gold, guilt, and ghosts—and the many lives intertwined within its walls that refused to be forgotten.GET TICKETS to Ghosts of the Grand! (Use code: CULTMEMBER for $5 off). You're invited into the shadowed halls of Salem’s historic, 125-year-old Grand Theatre for an unforgettable haunted experience. Step beyond the stage and into the darkness, where immersive storytelling, chilling performances, and eerie surprises await around every corner.  Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us atpnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources

On this episode of PNW Haunts and Homicides, we explore the creepy world of the paranormal and true crime in the Pacific Northwest. Join us as we share listener tales, including a mysterious message received by mediums at the Delaney House. Then a Ghosts of the Grand paranormal investigator reveals a mischievous spirit known for manipulating temperatures and behaving provocatively. We end our spooky journey with a story sent in by "VICP" (Very Important Creepy Person), Judi, from the Nightmare Factory in Salem, Oregon. Don't miss our tarot reading at the end, seeking deeper insights into these haunting stories!GET TICKETS to Ghosts of the Grand! You're invited into the shadowed halls of Salem’s historic, 125-year-old Grand Theatre for an unforgettable haunted experience. Step beyond the stage and into the darkness, where immersive storytelling, chilling performances, and eerie surprises await around every corner. 👻 Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us atpnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts.

We’re kicking off spooky season by visiting the haunted halls of the Delaney House in Salem, Oregon. In this episode, we meet Vikki, the current owner of this beautifully restored Airbnb, who shares its captivating history. Listen in as we delve into the lives (and deaths) of former residents, whose spirits are said to linger in the house.We’re also joined by Zoey, a paranormal investigator & scare actor at Ghosts of the Grand, who shares her insights into the other side! GET TICKETS to Ghosts of the Grand! You're invited into the shadowed halls of Salem’s historic, 125-year-old Grand Theatre for an unforgettable haunted experience. Step beyond the stage and into the darkness, where immersive storytelling, chilling performances, and eerie surprises await around every corner. 👻 Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us atpnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts.

This episode is about aftermath — the people left behind, the communities left reeling, grief compounded, and resilience tested. The story of Normandale Park didn’t end when the shots stopped. In Part 2, we trace Benjamin Jeffrey Smith’s arrest, eventual guilty plea, and sentencing — alongside the devastating loss of Deg, whose death was later ruled a homicide linked to that night.For some, the Portland Police Bureau’s framing in early statements was enraging, a painful distortion of what had truly happened. For others, those same words confirmed the stereotypes and suspicions they already held about demonstrators, the BLM movement, even Portland as a city. Layered onto this divide was the revelation that the FBI had been aware of Smith beforehand, a fact that unsettled many and deepened mistrust.This isn’t just the second half of a crime story; it’s the ongoing fight to hold institutions accountable while honoring those whose lives were forever changed. It’s about Portland, but it’s also about much more: the way stories like this echo across the country, and the lessons we can’t afford to ignore.Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us atpnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you probably remember the headlines: a night of activism in Portland’s Normandale Park ended in gunfire. On February 19, 2022, the Normandale Park shooting shocked Portland and the nation. Benjamin Jeffrey Smith opened fire on racial justice demonstrators, killing June “T-Rex” Knightly and leaving another known as Deg, gravely injured. In this episode, we take you through the timeline of events that night, the background of the man responsible, and the grassroots work of organizers who were there to keep people safe. Portland has seen its share of protest, resilience, and tragedy but this isn’t just a crime story — it’s a story about neighbors, about people stepping up when institutions fall short, and about how tragedy can strike even in spaces meant to protect and empower.From Forensic Architecture’s powerful reconstructions to the behind-the-scenes support teams who show up for Portland’s movements, Part 1 unpacks the early pieces of a story that continues to haunt the city. This is not just about a shooting — it’s about the systems, tensions, and resilience that defined that night – but not the community.  Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us atpnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources

We're back from summer break this week to explore near-death experiences and the intriguing commonalities people have during these moments. From overwhelming peace to moving towards a light, we consider how these experiences might be linked to the brain's chemical responses. Through stories of personal anecdotes and scientific insights, we delve into the stages of these experiences. Inviting listeners to ponder the mysteries of life and death with a touch of humor and curiosity. Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us atpnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts.

NEW EPISODE TOMORROW! But here is this previous Patreon exclusive bonus, that we constantly reference. From episode 147 Clairvoyant Tarot-reader Cons Timber Tycoon: Explore the saga of the Raines family, a shockingly sinister tale about the elaborate deception that led to the downfall of their Pacific Northwest timber empire.I think we'll just let this one speak for itself. I really can't come up with a way to write up "show notes" for this one but this was hilarious and so much fun. Cassie's faces were priceless. Without further ado - feast your creepy little ear holes on this bizarre old timey time capsule. Don't ever let a Boomer convince you that the good old days were a simpler, more wholesome time. Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us atpnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts.

Guest Co-Host Alert! This week on PNW Haunts & Homicides, Caitlyn is joined by her husband Chris for a spine-tingling dive into haunted dolls—and not just any dolls, but the infamous Labubu phenomenon that blurs the line between pop culture, paranormal, and true crime. First, we share unsettling Reddit tales where haunted dolls seemed to trigger a cascade of terrifying events—from unplugged electronics and wasp swarms to phantom weeping that shook entire households. Could a doll really unleash chaos, or are we just primed to see patterns in the uncanny?Then, we unravel the strange backstory of Labubu: a quirky, elf-like creation rooted in Nordic folklore and catapulted to global fame by Chinese toy giant Pop Mart—with a boost from none other than Lisa of BLACKPINK. What began as “ugly-cute” collectibles has morphed into viral superstition and counterfeit scams—and even sparked smuggling crackdowns and a bizarre brush with demon lore.Along the way, we ask: Why do people project fear onto objects meant to bring joy? What happens when corporate marketing collides with paranormal rumors? And how can a children’s toy spark both midnight terror and costly crime waves? If you love eerie encounters, viral legends, and the darker side of consumer culture, this episode is for you. Grab your sage and salt, because these dolls aren’t playing around. Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us atpnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources

We’re taking a short break and using this time to amplify the voices of other creators we love in the true crime space. While we’re enjoying our summer hiatus, we’ve got something dark and compelling to keep your earbuds company. We're dropping an episode from Ye Olde Crime hosted by twisted sister co-hosts and our friends from the midwest - Lindsay and Madison.In this episode, Lindsay is joined by author and fellow podcaster ⁠Kate Winkler Dawson⁠ to discuss her latest work, “⁠The Sinners All Bow⁠,” an acclaimed true-crime historian Kate Winkler Dawson travels back in time to nineteenth-century small-town America. Using modern investigative advancements—including “forensic knot analysis” and criminal profiling (which was invented fifty-five years later with Jack the Ripper)—Dawson fills in the gaps of Williams’s research to find the truth and bring justice to an unsettling mystery that speaks to our past as well as our present, anchored by three women who subverted the script they were given.Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us at pnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker,or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts.

We’re taking a short break and using this time to amplify the voices of other creators we love in the true crime space. This week we’re bringing you a fabulous story from the Rainy Day Rabbit Holes podcast hosted by our friends Shea & Jody.High-stakes games, a mustachioed legend, and one hell of a revenge story—this episode has it all! Eleanor Dumont, better known as Madame Mustache, was a sharp-witted gambler, a successful businesswoman, and a woman way ahead of her time. From outplaying men at their own game to tracking down her con artist husband and personally delivering justice, her story is as wild as the Wild West itself.😮 Why did the world remember her mustache more than her empire?🎲 How did she run the classiest gambling hall in the lawless West?☠️ And what was her final, dramatic exit?🔥 Get ready for gambling, crime, whiskey, and Wild West nonsense!Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us at pnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker,or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts.

Ever wondered what mysteries lurk just beyond the veil of our everyday reality? Join us for an episode teeming with eerie experiences and spiritual insights as we unveil YOUR stories. Listen in as we explore a listener's unsettling yet potentially heartwarming story of a mysterious face appearing on a baby monitor. Is this the protection of a loved one, or something sinister? We reflect on the presence of guides, signs, and spirits, and emphasize the importance of tuning into the messages surrounding us.Next, we journey through a dreamscape where a whimsical encounter with a furry, pastel-colored creature reminds us how our beloved pets remain an integral part of us, even after they've crossed the rainbow bridge. If you've ever felt the lingering presence of a departed pet, this segment will resonate deeply and remind you of the bittersweet beauty in those cherished memories.Shifting from the whimsical to the eerie, we dive into a few supernatural encounters from Aurora & Fanni from Bad Witches Productions! Hear about the unsettling episodes of fiery figures and haunted presences, and ponder whether art and creativity can trap these ghostly visions. This episode promises a captivating blend of mystery, emotion, and the paranormal, inviting you to join us in exploring the unknown. Want more from Aurora & Fanni? Listen to Heroines of Horror: The True Haunting Behind Vessel now!Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us at pnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts.