Victoria’s Black Swan Inn (San Antonio, TX)

Following their investigation into New Mount Carmel Center, Hadley and Alyssa resume their discussion of the infamous 1993 Waco siege. Hoping to better understand the actions of those embroiled in the conflict, they’re joined by author and cult scholar Daniella Mestyanek Young, who, as a cult survivor and Army veteran with a Masters in Organizational Psychology, provides valuable insight into the perspectives of each side. Speaking to her own experiences, Daniella talks about growing up in the Children of God cult as well as her time serving in the Army, and the parallels she’s noticed between those two chapters in her life. The hosts also pick her brain on all things coercive control, including how cult leaders utilize isolated locations and strict living conditions to control their followers. Wrapping up the episode, Alyssa and Hadley reflect on the stories they shared this season.  SWEEPSTAKES *IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: Following @Darkhousepodcast and liking Darkhouse’s ‘Uncultured’ Memoir sweepstakes post is required to enter Darkhouse’s ‘Uncultured’ Memoir Sweepstakes and does not necessarily signify an endorsement of the brand or post.* NO PURCH. NEC. TO ENTER OR WIN. Darkhouse ‘Uncultured’ Memoir Sweepstakes. Sponsored by Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. From 11/15/23 at 12:01 AM (ET) - 11/22/23, at 11:59 PM (ET), follow @Darkhousepodcast on Instagram and like Darkhouse’s ‘Uncultured’ Memoir sweepstakes post. Open to US, DC, & Canada (excluding Quebec) residents from age of majority. Void in Puerto Rico. Subj. to rules at https://www.housebeautiful.com/promotions/sweeps/a45701029/darkhouse-uncultured-memoir-sweepstakes-2023/. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor To advertise on the show: https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse or email us at [email protected].  RELATED LINKS ‘Uncultured: A Memoir’ by Daniella Mestyanek Young: https://amzn.to/497qeIQ  ‘Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism’ by Amanda Montell: https://amzn.to/406FPnQ  “Joaquin Phoenix and Rose McGowan Spent Their Early Years in a Religious Cult. Then it Became Infamous.” Esquire (ARTICLE): https://bit.ly/3Q7gTb9  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alyssa and Hadley turn their attention to New Mount Carmel Center, an isolated ranch just outside of Waco, Texas where a 51-day standoff between the FBI and the Branch Davidians—a religious cult led by self-proclaimed prophet David Koresh—came to a disastrous end on April 19, 1993, when the group’s massive compound burned to the ground with 76 Branch Davidians still inside. Setting out to understand what led to the government’s siege of Mount Carmel, the hosts go back to the beginning, reviewing the tumultuous history of the cult and their property. They also examine the harsh living conditions that Koresh’s followers were subjected to while living there, and how the compound's rudimentary design and construction played a significant role throughout the conflict. Finally, Alyssa and Hadley uncover what happened to Mount Carmel after the fire, how the remains of the compound became a macabre tourist attraction, and the chilling sounds that visitors and caretakers have reported hearing on the grounds since.  CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor To advertise on the show: https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse or email us at [email protected].  RELATED LINKS ‘Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and A Legacy of Rage’ by Jeff Guinn: https://amzn.to/3FtvqZL  “The Bizarre History of the Branch Davidian Headquarters in Waco, Texas” House Beautiful (ARTICLE): https://bit.ly/40o8CVb  “The Ghosts of Mount Carmel” (ARTICLE): https://bit.ly/3M9U4m3  “Branch Davidian Compound, Mount Carmel Center” (VIDEO): https://bit.ly/3Q7gBRB  “David Koresh SERMON” (VIDEO): https://bit.ly/45IZL15  “The Sinful Messiah: Read the series” Waco Tribune-Herald (ARTICLE): https://bit.ly/3Mf4lNT  “The hounds of Waco” Salon (ARTICLE): https://bit.ly/497qMyo  “End Of Days” BBC Radio 5 Live (PODCAST): https://bit.ly/409UKNP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hadley and Alyssa investigate the Ammons House, a modest, single-story home in Gary, Indiana where, in the spring of 2011, Latoya Ammons and her three young children were reportedly possessed by demons. After unpacking the history of the region, the hosts dig into the Ammons family’s case, from the first signs of paranormal activity to the extreme behavior that eventually led Latoya to flee the home and seek medical attention for her children. They also review reports made by healthcare professionals, law enforcement officers, and government workers whose eyewitness accounts point to two chilling possibilities: either the Ammons family suffered a psychological phenomenon, or the house really was infested by something evil and otherworldly. Hadley and Alyssa also discuss what happened to the house after Ghost Adventures host Zak Bagans bought it in 2014. Later, they’re joined by Karl Rosengren, a professor in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Psychology departments at the University of Rochester, to discuss how belief in the paranormal and magic affect early childhood development, the psychology behind superstition, and more.  CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor To advertise on the show: https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse or email us at [email protected].  RELATED LINKS “Paranormal activity: Do Catholics believe in ghosts?” U.S. Catholic (ARTICLE): https://bit.ly/3QDiqak “White flight followed factory jobs out of Gary, Indiana. Black people didn't have a choice” The Guardian (ARTICLE): https://bit.ly/3FyLSry  “Resilient Midtown Tour to explore Gary’s historic district on foot” Indiana University Northwest (ARTICLE): https://bit.ly/3s74nQX  “The exorcisms of Latoya Ammons” Indianapolis Star (ARTICLE): https://bit.ly/406svzQ  Demon House (MOVIE): https://bit.ly/3s2BHse  “We almost lost our lives': Woman possessed by demons in 'portal to hell' house that terrified even the police chief reveals new details of her family's terrifying ordeal” Daily Mail (ARTICLE): https://bit.ly/3s2qzf8  “Childhood trauma and the development of paranormal beliefs” PubMed (STUDY): https://bit.ly/3Q0Ge6o  “Exorcism is something we can’t quite quit” Los Angeles Times (ARTICLE): https://bit.ly/3tSUKpm  Silhouette in the Ammons House window (PHOTO): https://bit.ly/3QsAYtJ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tackling the story most requested by Dark House listeners, Alyssa and Hadley come face to face with 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, the Dutch-Colonial house that inspired The Amityville Horror. The best-selling-book-turned-hit-movie tells the dramatic tale of George and Kathy Lutz, a young newlywed couple who purchased 112 Ocean Avenue in December of 1975, just a year after previous owners Ron and Louise DeFeo and four of their children were brutally murdered in the home. Having fled from the house only 28 days after moving in, the Lutzes told friends and neighbors that "unseen forces" drove them out. Looking to understand why today—despite the fact that the movie remains a classic—the Lutz's story is widely regarded as a hoax, the hosts dig for nuggets of truth buried under a mountain of lies and internet theories. They take a closer look at the DeFeo case and what could’ve possibly motivated Butch DeFeo, Ron and Louise’s eldest son, to commit such a heinous crime, as well as what exactly the Lutzes said happened to them in those 28 days living at the house, and how their credibility has been called into question since. Plus, they discover why the next family to move in after the Lutzes was also forced to abandon the home. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor To advertise on the show: https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse or email us at [email protected].  RELATED LINKS Amityville Horror (MOVIE): https://amzn.to/3EyXTgi  ‘The Amityville Horror’ by Jay Anson: https://amzn.to/3ZbAqLP  ‘The Golden Avenue: The History and People of Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY: The History and People of Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY’ by Doug Robinson: https://amzn.to/3RjQ9GC  ‘My Amityville: Memories of a Golden Time’ by Doug Robinson: https://amzn.to/44JnJc8  ‘High Hopes: The Amityville Murders’ by Gerard Sullivan and Harvey Aronson: https://amzn.to/489vefp  “Why Do We Have To Rely On The Federal Government To Protect Us?” United For Justice In Policing Long Island (BLOG POST): bit.ly/3PfN9ID “The Confession Takers” Newsday (ARTICLE PDF): bit.ly/45NfaOV “'Amityville' Prisoner Says Movie Money Tainted Defense” The New York Times (ARTICLE): bit.ly/3RjBrzA “BEHIND THE BEST SELLERS” The New York Times (ARTICLE): bit.ly/3PiVQlk The Amityville House of Horror (VIDEO): bit.ly/3EUTC7j “Ex-resident of house debunks much of Amityville ‘horror’” The Seattle Times (ARTICLE): bit.ly/3PBeLJC My Amityville Horror (MOVIE): https://amzn.to/45PCz22  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hadley and Alyssa venture to Victoria’s Black Swan Inn, a lush, 35-acre home and wedding venue cloaked by 100-year-old oak trees in San Antonio, Texas. Built in the mid to late 1800s on a plot of land where, 50 years earlier, 60 Mexican soldiers were killed in the Battle of Salado, the Greek Revival manor has had a plethora of owners—including many who died there. Operating today as a residence and special events venue, many guests have reported strange experiences while visiting the property. To get to the bottom of the hauntings, Hadley and Alyssa run through the history of the home, diving into the lives of all of its former occupants and their (alleged) lingering spirits. Working their way through the home’s history up to the present day, the hosts share some of current owner Jo Ann Rivera’s paranormal encounters, including one of the most sinister spectral presences they’ve ever heard of. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer To advertise on the show: https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse or email us at [email protected].  RELATED LINKS Victoria’s Black Swan Inn (HOMEPAGE): https://bit.ly/46hu00n “Victoria's Black Swan Inn—Historical Dossier LSF/It Feels Evil” by Celina Sommers (BLOG POST): https://bit.ly/3tarZUT  “Owner of San Antonio's Historic Black Swan Inn Unveils Her Paranormal Experiences” My San Antonio (ARTICLE): https://bit.ly/467NFjb   “Ungesund: Yellow Fever, the Antebellum Gulf South, and German Immigration” Southern Spaces (ARTICLE): https://bit.ly/3PI5dvd ‘The Trail Drivers of Texas: Interesting Sketches of Early Cowboys’ by J. Marvin Hunter (excerpt from Christoph Wilhelm Ackermann): https://amzn.to/48CEgSp  “Salado Creek, Battle Of” Texas State Historical Association: https://bit.ly/46eL07b  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Follow MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge the first 8 episodes, early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today.   The human body is a miracle. But when it’s not working, it can be the stuff of nightmares. On this new series from master storyteller MrBallen, we’re sharing medical horror stories and diagnostic mysteries that are surgically calibrated to make your blood run cold.   From bizarre, unheard-of diseases and miraculous recoveries to strange medical mishaps and unexplainable deaths — you’ll never hear the phrase “heart-stopping” in the same way again. MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries is a first of its kind collaboration between MrBallen and Wondery, the award-winning company behind Dr. Death. Listen Now: Wondery.fm/MBMM_DAH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nothing is as terrifying as the sounds we hear in the dark. The slow creak of a door opening late at night... or a whisper in a room when you thought you were alone... or a distant scream in the wind. One noise at the wrong time or place can scare us for days. Each episode of I Hear Fear plunges the listener into a tale inspired by real events, from a deadly dance party to a cursed film set. Join host and two-time Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan for six immersive stories designed to jangle your nerves and haunt your dreams.   Follow I Hear Fear on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes of I Hear Fear ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus. Listen now: Wondery.fm/IHF_DH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hadley and Alyssa chat with One Tree Hill star Hilarie Burton Morgan about her new book, Grimoire Girl: A Memoir of Magic and Mischief in a special Dark House minisode. The trio discuss the inspiration behind the book and Hilarie’s encounters with haunted homes, including a meaningful connection she made with a spirit “guide” while living in Wilmington, North Carolina. Plus, Hilarie shares her empowering interior design philosophy, how to incorporate magic into your everyday routine, and the case that inspired her true crime docu-series, It Couldn’t Happen Here.  CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor RELATED LINKS ‘Grimoire Girl: A Memoir of Magic and Mischief’ by Hilarie Burton Morgan: https://amzn.to/46hElcx  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alyssa and Hadley explore the haunting past of the Hardie-Coleman House—or, as it’s better known online, the Lucy Murder House—in Uniontown, Alabama, where the remains of 13-year-old Allan Lucy were found buried beneath the front porch in January of 1994. Allan, who lived at the home with his adoptive parents, Phillip and Margaret Lucy, disappeared without a trace in May of 1985. In the months that followed, Jason Lucy, Phillip and Margaret's biological son, told classmates that his father killed Allan and buried him in the backyard. As they work to uncover what really happened, the hosts hear from former Uniontown resident David B. House, who explains why, at the time, no one believed Jason's story, and shares the rumors that were circulating about the Lucy family long before Allan disappeared. Later, in trying to understand why—even years after Allan Lucy's murderer was brought to justice—the house has still not recovered, Hadley and Alyssa discuss the environmental issues that have driven many residents out of Uniontown, and left those who remain fighting for justice of their own. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer To advertise on the show: https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse or email us at [email protected].  RELATED LINKS Uniontown Historic District Nomination Form (PDF): bit.ly/3YJmg44 ‘REPORTER: Covering Civil Rights...And Wrongs in Dixie’ by Alvin Benn: https://amzn.to/3P6yTTJ  Exploring An Abandoned Murder Mansion | Boy Buried Under The Porch (VIDEO): bit.ly/3OK07xZ “Environmental Injustice in Uniontown, Alabama, Decades after the Civil Rights Act of 1964: It's Time For Action” American Bar Association (ARTICLE): bit.ly/3P8tN9I “Uniontown is polluted with coal ash. Here’s how some UA students are helping” The Crimson White (ARTICLE): bit.ly/3E5Ullp “Judge orders Uniontown to stop fighting $31M sewer fix” Alabama.com (ARTICLE): bit.ly/45eKdTo “Alabama sues Uniontown again over sewage issues” Alabama.com (ARTICLE): bit.ly/3P9DW61 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a better understanding of the victim, Elizabeth Short, Hadley and Alyssa set their sights on the Black Dahlia’s suspected killer: prominent California doctor George Hodel. Dr. Hodel lived in the John Sowden House—Frank Lloyd Wright Jr.'s surrealist magnum opus in Los Feliz—from 1945 to 1950, until he abandoned his family and fled the country after the home was bugged by the district attorney's office. Following the trail of a popular theory, the hosts explore the history of Sowden House, from its magnificent Mayan Revival architecture and many former owners to the events and evidence that have led many to believe it was the site of Elizabeth Short’s murder.  CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer To advertise on the show: https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse or email us at [email protected].  RELATED LINKS Sowden House, 5121 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles (PHOTOS): https://bit.ly/3PBihm5  ‘Black Dahlia Avenger’ by Steve Hodel: https://amzn.to/468kDj4  Root of Evil: The True Story of the Hodel Family and the Black Dahlia (PODCAST): https://bit.ly/45iciIU  Historic American Buildings Survey, Sowden House (PDF): https://bit.ly/3ZwglA1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices