Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown

20-year-old Star Stowe felt like she'd made it. Not only was she dating rock star Gene Simmons of KISS, she was also Playboy's Playmate of the Month in February 1977. However, nothing could have prepared her for life inside the Playboy mansion, and it was that lifestyle that led her down a dangerous path. Anyone with information regarding the murder of Star Stowe is urged to contact the Coral Springs Police Department at 954-344-1800, or call their anonymous crime tips line at 954-227-2677, or email [email protected].   For ad-free and bonus episodes: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts -OR- Subscribe on YouTube -OR- Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/horrorwoodpodcast   Follow us! IG, FB   Send us an email: [email protected]   Episode Sources: “The Girl with the Star Tattoo” The Playboy Murders, S1 E5, HBO MAX “Kiss: The Pagan Beasties of Teenage Rock” by Charles M. Young, Rolling Stone, Apr 7, 1977 “KISS and Make-Up” by Gene Simmons “‘STAR’S’ FALL A DARK TALE AFTER WORLD OF GLAMOUR” South Florida Sun Sentinel, Mar 23, 1997 KISS - Las Vegas, NV Space Center @ Sahara May 29th, 1975 - clip “INVESTIGATORS CONSIDER LINK IN 3 SLAYINGS” South Florida Sun Sentinel, Dec 4, 1997 “SUSPECT FEARED ‘MONSTER’ WITHIN” South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sep 9, 1997   Creeptastic theme music by: Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast   Privacy Policy

Actor Shelley Malil was best known for his role in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, but his life took a shocking turn when a troubled romance ended in a brutal stabbing. In August 2008, his former girlfriend, Kendra Beebe, barely survived a vicious attack at her California home.   For ad-free and bonus episodes: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts -OR- Subscribe on YouTube -OR- Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/horrorwoodpodcast   Follow us! IG, FB   Send us an email: [email protected]   Episode Sources: “Shelley Malil, '40-Year-Old Virgin' actor, granted parole after serving 8 years for stabbing ex-girlfriend” by ABC7, August 30, 201 “'40-Year-Old Virgin' Actor in Prison for Attempted Murder To Be Released” by NBC7 Staff, August 28, 2018, NBC7 San Diego “Shelley Malil Attempted Murder Trial: Actor Charged with Stabbing Ex With a Butcher Knife” by Carlin Miller, September 1, 2010, CBS News “'40-Year-Old Virgin' actor gets life in stabbing with data” by Elliot Spagat, December 17, 2010, NBC News “'40-Year-Old Virgin' Actor: I Stabbed Girlfriend by Mistake” by Dahvi Shira, September 9, 2010, People “'Virgin' Actor Found Guilty Of Attempted Murder” by The Associated Press, September 16, 2010, CBS News “Shelley Malil Attorneys Question Ex Kendra Beebe's Credibility” by Caroline Black, September 2, 2010, CBS News “Knife-Attack Survivor Featured on TV Series” by Eva Knott, July 12, 2012, San Diego Reader "'40-year-old Virgin' actor's ex reacts to parole: 'I'll always have to watch my back'” from ABC News, September 22, 2018 “DA: 'Mountain of evidence' against 'Virgin' actor” by The Associated Press, September 15, 2010, Today “Jurors Learn Lurid Details at ‘Virgin' Actor Trial” by Artie Ojeda, August 30, 2010, NBC7 San Diego Shelley Malil Biography on IMDb “Episode 79: Hollywood Horror” by Not Today, April 26, 2022   Creeptastic theme music by: Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast   Privacy Policy

Everyone knows the Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus, but could their story have a connection to three real sisters from Salem's dark past? Rebecca Nurse, Mary Eastey, and Sarah Cloyce were caught in the deadly witch trials of 1692, where accusations of witchcraft tore their family apart. Discover the tragic true story of the Towne sisters and their connection to the beloved Halloween classic.   For ad-free and bonus episodes: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts -OR- Subscribe on YouTube -OR- Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/horrorwoodpodcast   Follow us! IG, FB   Send us an email: [email protected]   Episode Sources: “Hocus Pocus” on Disney Wiki “The Witchcraft Trial of Mary Easty” by Rebecca Beatrice Brooks, December 15, 2015, History of Massachusetts Blog “The dark history behind the seasonal comedy Hocus Pocus” by Anna Parsons, October 29, 2020, The Uproar “Towne Family” from Salem Links and Lore “Sarah Cloyce: Accused in the Salem Witch Trials” by Jone Johnson Lewis, May 24, 2017, ThoughtCo. “Rebecca Towne Nurse – Hanged as a Witch” from Legends of America “Towne Family Celebrates Lineage at the House of the Seven Gables” by Kevin Letourneau, August 14, 2011, Updated August 21, 2011, Patch “The Real Life Sanderson Sisters“ by The FilmFanTwins, October 30, 2025, The FilmFan Blog!!! “The Woman Who May Have Inspired Hocus Pocus” by Veronika Lee, September 13, 2022, Grunge “The Real Story Behind Hocus Pocus” by Mister D, September 30, 2025, Bootleg Betty - A DailyDose of the Divine Bette Midler “Sarah and Peter Cloyce Home, Site of” from Salem Witch Museum “The Baby Girl of the Towne Family, Sarah Cloyce Part 1” by WomenOfEssex, September 17, 2023, Medium “Salem Village, Sarah Cloyce Part 2” by WomenOfEssex, September 27, 2023, Medium “The Towne Sisters, Sarah Cloyce Part 3” by WomenOfEssex, October 23, 2023, Medium “The Towne Sisters go to Trial, Sarah Cloyce Part 4” by WomenOfEssex, October 24, 2023, Medium   Creeptastic theme music by: Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast   Privacy Policy

In 1878 a 13-year-old girl moved in with another family and lived with them for three months...as their dead daughter.   For ad-free and bonus episodes: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts -OR- Subscribe on YouTube -OR- Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/horrorwoodpodcast   Follow us! IG, FB   Send us an email: [email protected]   Episode Sources: “The Watseka Wonder” by Dr. E. Winchester Stevens, 1878 “Lurancy Vennum (Watseka Wonder)” PSI Encyclopedia “Ghost Brothers: Lights Out” S1E1 - Roff Family Rituals “Buried Secrets” NBC, 1996 “The Watseka Wonder” by Monica Otoide, Univ. of IL Urbana-Champaign, Oct 29, 2018 “Through a glass darkly: patients of the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane at Jacksonville, USA (1854–80)” “Nevins v. the City of Peoria” Supreme Court of IL, 1866 Asa Berry Roff Biography - Iroquois County Genealogical Society Roff House - 2020 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Restoration “The Water-Cure Journal and Herald of Reform” by Rachel Williams, Jan 31, 2017   Creeptastic theme music by: Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast   Privacy Policy

*Special Announcement* We've got a little something for ya in this episode. Be sure to listen!   For ad-free and bonus episodes: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts -OR- Subscribe on YouTube -OR- Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/horrorwoodpodcast   Follow us! IG, FB   Send us an email: [email protected]   Creeptastic theme music by: Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast   Privacy Policy