The Villisca Axe Murders (Part One: A Town Asleep)

"Call the marshal. Tell him to come quick. There's something awful in there."On the morning of 10 June 1912, Mary Peckham stepped out her back door to hang her laundry. Her house stood next to the Moore family's home in Villisca, Iowa; close enough that she could usually hear the soft chaos of their mornings. The Moores were early risers, and their routine rarely varied.That morning, though, the house next door was silent. And that stillness unsettled Mary Peckham. She eventually sought help and had a Moore relative drop by to check in on the family. What they found would make the town's very name synonymous with horror...Part 1/2Research, writing, hosting, and production by Micheal WhelanLearn more about this podcast at http://unresolved.meIf you would like to support this podcast, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or ProducerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved--3266604/support.

On this special episode of Unresolved, Micheal is joined by bestselling author and CNN lead anchor Jake Tapper to discuss his new book, Race Against Terror, a nonfiction thriller that begins on a crowded refugee ship in the Mediterranean and ends in a courtroom in Brooklyn.The book revolves around Ibrahim Sulieman Adnan Harun, also known as Spin Ghul ("The White Rose"), an al-Qaeda jihadist who was prosecuted for his actions during the War on Terror; as well as the family of an American soldier killed during an ambush by Spin Ghul. Along the way, you get to meet the officials involved in the decade-long case, many of whom spent years working on it in various ways.During this conversation, Micheal and Jake discuss the book, what drew Jake to the story, what Spin Ghul's prosecution may mean for the future, how it relates to current events, and so much more.Thanks to Jake Tapper for chatting with us, and make sure to check out his new book, Race Against Terror, wherever you can find it!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved--3266604/support.

"We just want our daughter's remains returned so we can have some closure to our grief."On 15 August 2015, employees at the Mission Park Funeral Chapels North in San Antonio, TX closed up for the evening. They'd just held a service for a young woman named Julie Mott who had perished after a lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis. By 4:30 PM that Saturday, the doors were locked and the ADT alarm system was set.When staff returned to the facility the following morning, they were surprised to see that Julie's casket had been moved from an empty hallway and now rested in a strange position near an exit door. And inside the casket, there was nothing. Her remains were missing...Research by Ira RaiWriting by Amelia WhiteHosting & production by Micheal WhelanLearn more about this podcast at http://unresolved.meIf you would like to support this podcast, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or ProducerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved--3266604/support.

There has been an update in the Austin Yogurt Shop Murders (episodes #133 - #135 from 2020). In September 2025, authorities announced that they had identified a suspect in the 1991 murders of four teenage girls in Austin, Texas...If you would like to support this podcast and others, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or ProducerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved--3266604/support.

"State officials have probably noticed an increase as well as an unusual distribution of Medfly infestation in Los Angeles County since March 1989. This was no coincidence."The Mediterranean fruit fly, better known as the medfly, is about as unassuming as an insect can get. But the pest, native to sub-Saharan Africa, comes with enormous stakes. The medfly can infest more than 200 plant species, proving to be a nightmare for farmers everywhere. For farmers in California, though, they're an existential threat. That's why state officials treat every sighting like a five-alarm fire.California has been fighting medfly invasions since the mid-1970s, throwing everything at them in an attempt to save their billion dollar agricultural industry. But in 1989, a strange outbreak of medflies were reported in Los Angeles and Orange counties. They appeared in clusters, as if they'd been placed there on purpose. Before long, a mysterious group calling themselves "The Breeders" claimed responsibility for this act of eco-terror...Research & writing by Amelia WhiteHosting, production, and additional research/writing by Micheal WhelanLearn more about this podcast at http://unresolved.meIf you would like to support this podcast, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or ProducerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved--3266604/support.

"It was clearly part of our investigation that she was killed prior to the fire, and the fire was used to cover up her murder."On the morning of 20 October 2016, firefighters were called to a quiet suburban neighborhood in Lockport, New York. There, they found a small fire burning in the front bedroom of a duplex, which was easily quelled. However, amidst the charred linens was the body of the homeowner, 54-year-old Holly Seiler.Initially believing this was a fatal accident, Holly's relatives and neighbors had no reason to feel alarmed. But the medical examiner would soon determine that Holly had been strangled before the fire had been set, presumably to cover up her death. A domestic dispute hours beforehand seemed to point to a potential motive, but a second fire set in the same building just weeks later would cast doubt on any assumptions...Research & writing by Amelia WhiteHosting, production, and additional research/writing by Micheal WhelanLearn more about this podcast at http://unresolved.meIf you would like to support this podcast, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or ProducerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved--3266604/support.

"Serial killers in the past have often been found to have started with animal torture."In October 2017, the mutilated body of a cat was found in a rural area outside of Olympia, Washington. At the time, people tried to explain it away. Maybe it was a car. Maybe coyotes. Nobody wanted to consider the alternative.But as winter turned into 2018, more fragments turned up. Severed limbs in a field outside of Lacey, a suburb outside of Olympia. Another partial body a week later. No witnesses, no clear pattern, just grisly remains. Maybe it was scavengers, some insisted. But the unease had started...Research, writing, hosting, and production by Micheal WhelanLearn more about this podcast at http://unresolved.meIf you would like to support this podcast, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or ProducerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved--3266604/support.

“... to date, there are no confirmed reports of any clowns actually abducting, harming, or killing kids… There just aren’t. There are zero.”Do you remember when there were a bunch of clown sightings a few years back? It seemed like every week brought new reports of creepy clowns lurking at the edge of woods, roaming neighborhoods, and leering from parking lots. They waved at startled onlookers, chased kids with knives, or whispered from the tree line... at least, that's what people said.People flooded 911 lines with calls about these boogeymen in big shoes, yet concrete evidence was scarce. It was a bizarre social media-fueled hysteria that spread across dozens of states and even overseas, equal parts absurd and unsettling...Research, writing, hosting, and production by Micheal WhelanAdditional research & writing by Ira RaiLearn more about this podcast at http://unresolved.meIf you would like to support this podcast, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or ProducerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved--3266604/support.

This is a preview for the 24th episode of the Patreon-exclusive show Resolved. To access the rest of this episode - as well as the other bonus material available to supporters of Unresolved Productions - head on over to Patreon and help support this show. To learn more: https://www.patreon.com/posts/btk-part-three-135956817Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved--3266604/support.

There has been an update in the GirlsDoPorn story (episode #156 from 2020). In June 2025, Michael James Pratt pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges. This follows guilty pleas from the rest of the conspirators linked to the site that was shut down by federal authorities in 2019...If you would like to support this podcast and others, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or ProducerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved--3266604/support.