Appalachian Arcana

In 1952, amidst growing speculation about UFOs sweeping the country and looming cold war paranoia, residents of a tiny West Virginia town experienced an uncanny event that has yet to be thoroughly explained. In this week's episode, Sarah and Cam discuss the creature known as the Flatwoods Monster,the Braxton County Monster, the Phantom of Flatwoods, or simply the Green Monster.

In 1982, Dr. Charless Lee Scudder and his partner, Joseph Odom, were living the American dream. They had built their own home in the mountains, where they entertained friends and enjoyed their retirement. Then one night, two supposed friends turned on them, and the evening ended in murder. Cam and Sarah discuss Georgia's infamous Corpsewood Manor murders. Mentioned in this episode "A Castle in the Country" (Charles L. Scudder, Mother Earth News, March/April 1981) "The Tragic Case of Dr. Charles Lee Scudder, Satanist" (churchofsatan.com) "Haunted Horror: The True Story of Georgia's Corpsewood Murders" (Ken Summers, weekinweird.com, February 10, 2014) Find-a-Grave Corpsewood Manor — A Castle in the Woods (memorial Facebook page)

In this episode, Cam and Sarah discuss one of Tennessee's most infamous murders, as well as some local ghost stories. Mentioned in this episode Lillelid murders still haunt East Tennessee, 20 years later (Matt Lakin, Knoxville News-Sentinel, July 7, 2017) A Blackened Rainbow: How do we make sense of the Lillelid murders? (Jesse Fox Mayshark, Weekly Wire, April 20, 1998) Suspects held in family's slaying dabbled in occult (Wes Smith, Chicago Tribune, April 14, 1997) Lillelid murders Wikipedia entry Six Documentary [VIDEO]

Just in time for Halloween, Appalachian Arcana returns! Episode six introduces Appalachian Arcana's new cohost, Sarah Faulk. We're also trying something new — we're only going to cover one story in this episode. But don't worry — there's a lot to cover here. Cam and Sarah discuss Tennessee's most famous ghost — The Bell Witch! Mentioned in this episode The Bell Witch: An American Haunting, Brent Monahan (2000) The Bell Witch Anthology: The Essential Texts of America's Most Famous Ghost Story, Nick Moretti (2008) bellwitch.org

This week Ben delves into the unique species and characteristics of Appalachia's ecosystem, from rare salamanders to slime molds and more. Then Cam digs into the mysterious Georgia Guidestones — a monument inscribed with "guidelines" intended to guide post apocalyptic humanity to a "new age of reason" and commissioned by an anonymous group of self-described "loyal Americans" in 1981 — and the controversies and conspiracy theories they have sparked. Mentioned in this episode [PDF] Guide to the Georgia Guidestones, Elberton Granite Finishing Company (1981) [VIDEO] The Georgia Guidestones: America's Most Mysterious Monument [VIDEO] The Hidden Jewels of Appalachia (Salamanders) American Stonehenge: Monumental Instructions for the Post-Apocalypse Hunting Mushrooms, and What Makes Some Glow in the Dark Photo info: "Beacon" © 2013 Jeremy Taylor, used under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license 2.0. Thanks, Jeremy!

Appalachian Arcana interviewed Virginia Highlands Comic Con attendees about their own paranormal experiences. Some of these are super spooky! Thanks again to VHCC for inviting us, to everyone who came out to support this awesome local event, and especially to these awesome folks who shared their own stories with us. If YOU've seen a ghost, or experienced some other weird phenomenon you'd like to tell us about — or if you have a topic you'd like to see us cover on the podcast — send us an email at appalachianarcana@gmail.com.

Abingdon, VA, is a town steeped in history... and ghosts, according to many reports! In this episode, Cam tells the stories of some of Abingdon's most haunted locations, while Ben tells a story worthy of a Hollywood script. William Kenneth Wagner — crack shot, moonshiner, and escape artist — spent his life hopping between the Northeast Tennessee/Southwest Virginia area, Mississippi, and Texas, and left a trail of bodies in his wake. Mentioned in this episode The Martha Washington Inn Barter Theatre The Tavern William Kenneth Wagner at FindaGrave.com [VIDEO/SONG]: Kinnie Wagner's Surrender by Vernon Dalhart

"Zoo Man" Thomas Huskey may have been Knoxville, TN's first serial killer, but he avoided conviction on four counts of murder with a defense strategy worthy of your favorite daytime soaps — he claimed he had multiple personalities. Cam discusses the bizarre details of this 1992 case, while Ben tackles the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights. Recorded live at our favorite brewery, Elderbrew in downtown Bristol, TN. Mentioned in this episode [VIDEO] "Appalachian Unsolved: Why the 'Zoo Man' case will go unsolved" and accompanying article (WBIR, March 21, 2017) "Even though Huskey will never be tried in serial killings, 'he did it,' detective who worked on case" (Matt Lakin, Knoxville News-Sentinel, November 20, 2010) Murderpedia profile State of Tennessee v. Thomas Dee Huskey, E1999-00438-CCA-R3-CD (Tenn.Crim.App.2002) (courtlistener.com) [VIDEO] NatGeo footage "No Explanation" (Charlotte Observer, 1913) Carolina Haints Podcast "Brown Mountain Lights: Solved! (Again!)" (Skeptical Inquirer Vol. 40.1, Jan/Feb 2016) Dan Caton "Decades-Old Brown Mountain Lights Photo Uncovered in 'Secret' Collection" (Micah Hanks, Mysterious Universe, August 15, 2016) "Origin of the Brown Mountain Light in North Carolina" (Geological Survey Circular 646, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1971)

Join us on a camping(ish) trip to Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, VA, where we'll share some spooky local legends from around Southwest Virginia. Mentioned in this episode: Haunts of Virginia's Blue Ridge Highlands by Joe Tennis

In our debut episode, Ben covers the disturbing case of Howard Hawk Willis, convicted in 2010 of murdering a newlywed teen couple and hiding parts of their bodies in a Johnson City, TN, storage unit. Cam discusses Appalachia's scariest cryptid kitty — the Wampus Cat! This episode was recorded live at Elderbrew in Johnson City, TN. Thanks to everyone who came out for the show! You were amazing.

Welcome to Appalachian Arcana, a podcast exploring the strange and unusual in Appalachia.