History, Urban Legend

The Bunny Man – Urban Legend

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In this episode we discuss the creepy and bizarre tale of the Bunny Man.  This urban legend originates in Fairfax county, Northern Virginia.  This strange story begins in the 1970’s, when several people encounter an ax-wielding man supposedly dressed in a full bunny suit.  In the coming weeks suddenly dozens of people reported having encounters with this so called ‘Bunny Man.’  Police searched the woods around the area but could find no trace of who this man was.

Soon the origin story became known to the public which only caused this urban legend to spread further.  In the early 1900’s a prison bus transporting mentally insane criminals crashed.  One man, guilty of slaying his family on Easter Sunday, escaped into the woods and evaded any police search.  Soon the corpses of rabbits would be found hanging from an overpass, a landmark that would later become known as the famous Bunny Man Bridge of Virginia.  Through the decades further crimes would be pinned on the Bunny Man, including the murder of groups of teens visiting the bridge on Halloween as a scare.

In the modern day there are dozens of twists and variations on this infamous urban legend tale.  Some say the Bunny Man is a wild woodsman wearing rabbit pelts, or a chainsaw carrying lunatic who wears a bunny costume, or a man who snapped and attacks groups of bullying kids who come to his bridge.  Local historians and archivist have worked to debunk and find the truth behind this weird story.  Is there any legitimacy to this particular urban legend?  Was there an actual man wearing a rabbit suit who liked to attack others with an ax? Listen to this episode and hear all about this creepy and disturbing tale and make up your mind!

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Cryptozoology, History, Unsolved Mystery

The Navajo Legend of the Skinwalker

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In this episode we discuss the legend of the Navajo Skinwalker – a shapeshifting Native American witch that has reached the highest tiers of priesthood. These terrors are known to chase cars at remarkable speeds and are frequently seen spying through windows of homes in order to strike fear into their victims. The Navajo people almost universally accept the existence of these poltergeist-like creatures however sightings are rare and usually limited to those of the Navajo nationality. What is this strange menace? Is it fact or fiction? Tune into this episode and learn a little bit more about the Skinwalker!

Unsolved Crime, Unsolved Mystery

The Erdington Similarity Murders

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On this episode of Strange Matters we will be discussing two mysterious murder cases in Erdington, England. These particular murders share a striking number of similarities to each other.  The victims had the same birthday, were killed on the same day, died under similar circumstances, and whose bodies were discovered almost in the exact same area.  One might believe the murders would obviously be the work of a serial killer. However… the two murders took place 157 years apart.  

In 1817 Mary Ashford’s body was found drowned in a pit near her home.  The main suspect, Abraham Thornton, had been alone with her most of the night.  He was found with blood on his undergarments, his boots were a near match to those found at the scene of her death, and earlier suggestive comments made the night earlier led many to believe he had harmful intentions towards Mary.

In 1975 Barbara Forrest was dropped off at a bus stop to return home after a night of fun.  She never was seen actually getting on the bus however, and after a week of her missing Barbara’s body was found in a shallow ditch.  This time the main suspect was a man named Michael Thornton, a co-worker of Barbara.  He was also found with blood on him and a faulty alibi for that night.

Despite what looked like obvious motives and evidence, both men were acquitted of all crimes and let go.  The deaths of both young ladies remain a mystery in Erdington to this day.  What’s even stranger are the striking similar circumstances surrounding this case. Could there be some type of connection between these two murders?  Is this the work of a copy cat killer who was trying to duplicate the famous murder that happened over a century ago in the Erdington area?  We discuss all the possibilities to these two bizarre murder cases and why we think this mystery is so fascinating!

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Conspiracy, History

Hitler’s Fate: Death or Escape?

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Battle of Berlin, April 1945.  The last major European offensive of World War II. As Soviet troops push into the German capital, a defeated Adolf Hitler commits suicide in his underground bunker… Or did he?  In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss the claims that Adolf Hitler not only survived the battle and escaped Berlin, but went on to live for years afterwards hiding in multiple countries.  Sean presents the known facts leading up to Hitler’s supposed death, and the evidence supporting the existing fate of the German dictator.  Ethan then goes on to show the clues that could point to the case that Hitler in fact did escape Berlin, and the likely path he took on his way to freedom.  Investigators have discovered a possible escape route Hitler could have used to slip away from the Soviet and American armies.  New evidence may also show that many in the Nazi high command managed to escape from Germany and stay hidden in several South American countries.

Could Hitler really have escaped from the Red Army surrounding Berlin? If so where did he go and what was he up to?  Or is it all just false leads and Hitler actually died in his bunker?  Listen to the episode and let us know what you think!

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History, Unsolved Crime, Unsolved Mystery

The Mysterious Case of Anneliese Michel – A Strange Matters Short

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In our latest Strange Matters short, Eric discusses the mysterious exorcism of Anneliese Michel. This young lady was raised in a family of devout Catholics, however she eventually began experiencing strange symptoms including auditory hallucinations and a strange aversion to religious symbols. As her violent symptoms continue to spiral out of control she eventually finds a priest who is willing to attempt an exorcism. After numerous exorcisms the unimaginable happens. What really happened to Anneliese Michel? Was she truly possessed or was this simply an extreme case of psychiatric instability with a taste of religious fanaticism? Check out this episode and form your own opinions!

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Cryptozoology

The Wendigo: The Winter Monster- A Strange Matters Short

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This Strange Matters Short is all about the Wendigo, the legendary Native American man-eating creature.   This episode continues our series on cryptozoology, the study of beings that are considered myths and legends.  The Wendigo is a tale that was told for generations by the Algonquian people who inhabited the northern regions of the U.S and Canada.  This bizarre creature was supposedly a terror that haunted the local tribes. Hiding in the frozen woods of the North and attacking their villages, the Wendigo would kill and devour men, women, and children.  Even stranger than the story of the Wendigo is the disturbing mental disorder that plagued the Algonquian people.  This so called “Wendigo Psychosis” would spontaneously drive members of the native tribes to kill and eat anyone around them.

Is there any legitimacy to this mysterious and terrifying monster?  Why were the Algonquian people so obsessed with the possibility of falling into the practice of cannibalism?  Could the Wendigo monster really just be a tall tale describing the acts of those who became mentally ill and driven to eat their fellow tribesman?  Listen to this episode and hear all the theories about this strange creature!

If you like this episode check our our earlier discussion on the The Chupacabra!

Background & Ambient music can be found by artist on Cryo Chamber

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