The Vanishing Hitchhiker

Three separate stories, one title, but is there any truth?In this chapter, we examine the 'Dog Boy' of Arkansas – tracing the documented history of Gerald Bettis, reports of abuse and cruelty inside the family home, and how that address later became a stop on ghost tours, whilst also delving deeper into two other stories that share striking similarities between them.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the showIf you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected] For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast

In this chapter, we trace the evolution of the haunting ‘Humans can lick too’ Urban Legend. From early cautionary tales about young women alone at night through to its modern form shaped by fears of home invasion, serial killers, and the thin line between security and vulnerability in our own homes.We examine how this legend blurs folklore and reality, how it has absorbed real crimes and media scares, it's surprisingly long history, and why the simple act of a hand reaching down in the dark continues to haunt listeners long after the story is told.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the showIf you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected] For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast

In this chapter, we trace the story of the so called 'Frozen Hill People' from 19th century Vermont newspaper accounts and family scrapbooks to modern retellings in magazines, folklore collections, and online media, asking where it sits between rural desperation, hoax, and horror. We separate what can be verified from what was likely invented, and explore why the idea of humans placed into a kind of living hibernation still fascinates us in an age of cryonics and medical hypothermia. To many, the Frozen Hill People are another Urban Legend, but for those who return to the story each winter, they are a reminder of how far people imagine they might go when the cold closes in.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the showIf you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected] For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast

Some stories are kept secret for a reason, and among the Diné, the figures outsiders call 'skinwalkers' is one of them.In this chapter, we examine how this subject sits within Diné teachings about witchcraft rather than monsters, why many details are not shared publicly, and how 19th-century accusations, modern reporting, and internet mythmaking reshaped the idea for the rest of the world.We separate community perspectives and documented history from hearsay and pop-culture distortion. To many, the Skinwalker is another Urban Legend, but to those who know its secrets, it is far more than that.__________________This week’s mid-roll ad features 'Out There: A Cryptid Podcast', a show that follows Josh and his team as they dive into the world of cryptids, paranormal encounters, and unexplained phenomena. Each week, Josh takes you on an adventure beyond the edges of reality - uncovering strange stories, exploring eerie legends, and asking the big questions about what might really be... out there.Find them by searching 'Out There: A Cryptid Podcast' in your podcast app.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the showIf you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected] For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast

The 'Dead Children’s Playground' urban legend is most often linked to the small play area beside Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville, Alabama. A place where grief and suggestion overlap. Visitors report swings moving on their own, childlike voices emitting from the dark, and odd lights appearing in photographs, but is there any truth to it?In this chapter, Urban Legends examines what can be verified, what is only claimed, and how a modern haunt grows from older histories and the psychology of play.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the showIf you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected] For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast

Each Halloween, stories circulate of decorations that look disturbingly real, until someone realises theres a very good reason for that.The 'Halloween Hanging' story is often dismissed as an Urban Legend as scattered reports over the years have blurred fiction and fact, leaving many to wonder how much truth hides behind the tale. Join us as we discuss the origins of this eerie story, and how very real incidents may have shaped its spread.This week’s episode also features a mid-roll ad from our friends at www.oddityshoppodcast.com, a show that dives into the bizarre, the unexplained, and the wonderfully strange. Check them out by clicking that link, or simply searching 'oddity shop' in your chosen podcast provider.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the showIf you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected] For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast

Long before online conspiracies took hold, one of the most famous legends in music history began to circulate claiming that Paul McCartney had died in 1966 and had since been secretly replaced by a double.Known as the 'Paul is Dead' urban legend, it transformed Beatles fans into detectives, studying the bands lyrics, album artwork, and audio recordings for hidden clues, but just where did this story come from? and is there any truth to it at all?Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the showIf you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected] For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast

In this chapter, we explore a story that’s grown far beyond its origins, from a simple Raggedy Ann doll to a symbol of modern horror. The legend of 'Annabelle'.Join me as we trace her history alongside Ed and Lorraine Warren, the couple who shaped her fame and controversy. We’ll examine the psychology that makes dolls so unsettling, uncover the real events behind the story, and look at how belief, media, and myth turned a children’s toy into a global icon of fear.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the showIf you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected] For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast

Urban Legends returns next week, but today, we’re sharing a guest episode from our friends at Weekly Spooky — one that connects closely to our most recent chapter.____On July 4, 1984, police dogs uncovered a shallow grave in the quiet town of Northport, Long Island. Inside lay the mutilated body of 17-year-old Gary Lauwers—stabbed more than 30 times in a drug-fueled frenzy by his friend Ricky “The Acid King” Kasso. Within days, the story became national news, sparking headlines of Satanic sacrifice and cementing Kasso as the terrifying face of America’s 1980s Satanic Panic.But was this really the work of a Satanic cult, or simply the grim fallout of teenage drug abuse, mental illness, and neglect? In this episode of Terrifying & True, we dive deep into the disturbing murder in Aztakea Woods, Ricky Kasso’s descent into drugs and occult posturing, and how the media turned one horrific killing into a nationwide moral hysteria.We’ll examine:The brutal murder of Gary Lauwers and Kasso’s infamous demand, “Say You Love Satan.”How the case fueled the fire of the Satanic Panic sweeping America.The media’s sensational claims versus the grim reality of drugs, rage, and tragedy.The trial of Jimmy Troiano and the lasting legacy of the “Acid King” myth.From grave robbing to cult rumors, from teenage rebellion to national paranoia, this is the chilling true story of Ricky Kasso, the Acid King of Northport.We’re telling that story tonight.To find out more, simply search 'Weekly Spooky' in your chosen podcast providers or visit http://WeeklySpooky.comText Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the showIf you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected] For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast

**Trigger Warning: This chapter involves harm to children.**In this chapter, let's delve into the urban legends that brought forward what is now known as 'The Satanic Panic‘, from the first sensational cases and flawed investigations to the media frenzy and courtrooms that followed.  We’ll look at how fear, politics, and culture combined to create a moral wildfire, one that still echoes in today’s conspiracy movements.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the showIf you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected] For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast