Recent Episodes
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The Murder of Troy DeWayne Smith
On May 24, 2020, 50-year-old Troy DeWayne Smith was found dead inside his apartment on South New York Avenue in Evansville, Indiana. Troy was a quiet guy who had studied mechanical engineering at ITT Tech and was working locally at Tri-State Resource Recovery.
Initially, authorities treated his death as an overdose or natural causes. Because of that initial call, weeks went by before an autopsy revealed the truth: Troy had actually been shot in the back of the head while sitting on his couch. By the time the case was reclassified as a homicide, the apartment had already been cleared out by family, contaminating potential evidence. On top of that, the story broke during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning it barely received any media coverage and quickly slipped through the cracks.
In this episode, Troy’s brother, TaRon, steps up to share what happened from his perspective as the person who found Troy that day. TaRon opens up about the suspicious circumstances surrounding how he was called to the apartment, the strange details about the locked door, and the rumors circulating in the community about who might have been in the apartment that night. He also addresses the struggles the family has faced over the years trying to keep investigators focused on finding answers.
Even though Troy fell into the wrong crowd and struggled with substance abuse near the end of his life, his family wants to make sure his story isn't forgotten and that the person responsible is brought to justice.
Troy's family is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction in this case. If you know anything about what happened to Troy DeWayne Smith, please contact the Evansville Police Department at 812-436-7979 or leave an anonymous tip at 800-78-CRIME. -
Buried Treasure in the Tri-State?
When most people picture buried treasure, they think of pirates on a tropical beach or old West gold prospectors out in California. But buried loot might be a lot closer to home than you think. Before the FDIC came along to insure bank accounts, plenty of folks simply didn't trust banks with their hard-earned cash. It was pretty common to bury savings in a field or hide them somewhere safe. When people passed away without telling anyone where their stash was, those valuables stayed right where they were put. Just look at what happened in July 2023, when over 700 rare Civil War-era gold coins worth millions were unearthed right in a Kentucky cornfield.
In this episode, we dig into several local treasure legends scattered across the Tri-State area.
Over in Farmersburg, Indiana, a recording from 1987 tells the story of a wagon full of gold buried by soldiers near an old dirt trail. They hid the stash before heading off to confront a group of bandits, but since none of the soldiers survived the fight, the location was lost to time.
Moving over to Southern Illinois, the area around Cave-in-Rock has a wild history of river pirates and outlaws. Rumor has it that stagecoach robbers hid around $200,000 in gold and silver coins inside a cave along the Ohio River. Not far down the river in Golconda, local stories talk about hundreds of 1800s silver dollars occasionally washing ashore, possibly coming from an old wrecked riverboat.
Down near Dixon, Kentucky, America's first serial killers, the Harpe brothers, built up a massive fortune by robbing their victims over a nine-year spree. After they were tracked down and killed just outside Henderson, rumors spread that their hidden stash of around $300,000 in gold coins remains buried in a cave above a stream near what is now Harpes Head Road.
Whether these stories are completely true or just heavily embellished over the generations, there is almost always a grain of truth behind local folklore. Just remember, if you decide to grab a metal detector and go hunting for long-lost gold yourself, always get permission from the property owner first. -
Disappearance, True Crime, Unexplained
Where is Andi?
In August 2022, 24-year-old Andi Wagner disappeared from Evansville, Indiana. She was last heard from around August 5th or 6th, and her family officially reported her missing a few days later. Ever since, her loved ones have been fighting to keep her name out there so her case doesn't just fade into the background.
In this episode, we focus on the ongoing efforts to bring Andi home. I share a clip from an interview by YouTuber JuJu’s Rabbit Hole featuring Andi’s cousin, Frankie Lee. Frankie opens up about the toll this has taken on the family and addresses some strange details surrounding the case, including a neighbor with a weird interest in ring camera footage from Andi's grandparents' house and a notebook left behind that listed names of people who might be connected to her disappearance.
I also have a conversation with Rick White, the Emergency Management Director in Union County, Kentucky, who also runs the Tik Tok channel Front Porch America. Rick has stepped up to help lead independent search efforts. He breaks down how he got involved, the challenges of navigating private land and old strip mine pits, and his partnership with search teams like Narked Divers and Brothers Underwater Recovery to scan local waterways with sonar.
Andi is 5'6" and around 115 pounds, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. She has a dreamcatcher tattoo on her left forearm and the name "Joshua Brown" tattooed on her right forearm. She was last seen wearing an orange tank top and jeans, and she frequently spent time in the Newburgh and Oakland City areas.
If you or anyone you know has information about Andi Wagner, even a detail that seems tiny or insignificant, please call the Evansville Police Department adult investigations unit at 812-436-7979. -
Phantom Train
In this episode, I dive into a bizarre paranormal phenomenon that I had almost completely forgotten about until a news story brought it all rushing back: phantom trains.
It started with a recent report out of England where two police officers heard the deafening roar and whistle of a locomotive rolling right past their station, even though the tracks there had been torn up over 70 years ago. Reading that reminded me of a wild story my sister, Barbie, told our family back in the late 80s or early 90s.
I brought Barbie on the show to recount what happened to her as an 11-year-old attending a massive outdoor youth revival near Highway 41 and Boonville New Harmony Road. Thousands of people were gathered in a field right by the railroad tracks. Right at the key moment of the service, when the pastor invited everyone to bow their heads, the loud rumble of a passing train, a blaring horn, and powerful gusts of wind swept through the crowd. Chairs flipped over, kids scattered, and the entire altar call turned into complete chaos.
The strangest part? There was no actual train. The crossing lights never flashed, the gate stayed up, and nothing was on the tracks. Yet thousands of witnesses heard it, felt the wind, and watched the chaos unfold.
We also touch on a few other famous ghost train legends, including the iconic story of Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train that reportedly haunts the rails every year.
Did you happen to attend that revival back around 1989 or 1990? Have you ever heard or felt a train that wasn't really there? -
High Strangeness, UFOs, Unexplained
The Kelly-Hopkinsville “Little Green Men” Encounter
On August 21, 1955, eleven people at a farmhouse in Kelly, Kentucky, experienced one of the most famous and unsettling close encounters in UAP history.
In this episode, I speak with Geraldine Sutton Stith, author and daughter of Elmer "Lucky" Sutton, one of the main witnesses to the events of that wild night. Geraldine shares what it was like growing up in the aftermath of a legendary event, passing down the real details of what her family saw, heard, and survived.
We talk about how a quick trip to the outdoor water well turned into a hours-long siege by glowing, floating entities. Geraldine walks us through why the family resorted to firing shotguns through windows and doors, and how the creatures seemed impervious to bullets.
We also dive into the wild "invasion of the people" that followed, as a media frenzy and curious locals ultimately forced the family to pack up and sell their home just weeks later. Along the way, we clear up some of the biggest myths surrounding the case, including the real origin of the phrase "Little Green Men," the persistent rumors about alcohol, and why the prank theory just doesn't hold up under scrutiny. Plus, she shares her experiences returning to the property years later and the physical traces left behind on the land.
Geraldine is a fantastic storyteller with a perspective you just can't get anywhere else. If you are into local mysteries, UAP lore, or just a solid paranormal story, you will love this episode. -
Interview with Joni Mayhan
In this episode, I speak with local author, medium, and paranormal investigator Joni Mayhan about the weird and ghostly side of Posey County, Indiana. Joni has written books like Haunted New Harmony and Haunted Posey County, and she has plenty of wild stories to share about investigating hauntings right here in our backyard.
We get into what makes New Harmony, Indiana, feel so different from surrounding towns. With its deep history tied to two early 1800s utopian societies, unique energy, and local ghost walks, it turns out to be a hotbed for activity. Joni breaks down how her own primary medium gift works, how she tunes into distinct tones when spirits are nearby, and why ghosts end up lingering in historical buildings, local spots, and even brand-new locations like the town Dollar General.
She also opens up about her approach to paranormal investigations. We talk about balancing healthy skepticism against genuine evidence, using gear like spirit boxes, and why animals always seem to pick up on things before we do.
Give the episode a listen and let me know your thoughts in the comments. -
Murder, True Crime, Unexplained
The Murder of Doris McDonough
In this episode, I dive into a tragic cold case from right here in Evansville, Indiana: the October 3, 1968 murder of Doris McDonough. Doris was a 36-year-old mother of two who was brutally beaten to death in her own kitchen in the middle of the day. Decades later, her killer has never been named, and the case remains completely unsolved.
The day started like any normal Thursday for the McDonough family. After their car broke down during an early morning paper route, William took their two young sons out on their bikes while Doris stayed behind at their home on Southeast Riverside Drive. Everything seemed fine when the boys left for school, but by early afternoon, Doris stopped answering the phone. Concerned, William asked a neighbor to go knock on the door. Moments later, the neighbor discovered Doris deceased on the kitchen floor. She had suffered severe trauma from a heavy blunt object. Strange details surrounding the scene raised immediate questions: there were no signs of forced entry, nothing of value was taken, and two towels were neatly folded around her head. The only thing missing from the house was a claw hammer.
In the episode, I take a close look at the timeline William provided to local reporters just days after the crime, which leaves a lot of open questions. He claimed he stopped back home around 9:00 AM to drop off a son's clarinet, staying just long enough to chat about making a birthday cake, take out the trash, and agree to leave the back door unlocked for the morning light. However, running a sun path analysis for that exact date and address shows the sun wouldn't have even been shining through that door at 9:00 AM. Other stops on his morning schedule also seem remarkably rushed, including a client meeting at a coffee shop that lasted a total of five minutes.
William eventually took a polygraph test that came back inconclusive. When asked about his wife’s death a year later, he simply remarked, "the less said about it, the better." He eventually remarried, relocated to South Carolina, and lived to be 86. His 2019 obituary detailed his career as a college professor and highlighted his 45-year second marriage, but omitted any mention of Doris or her untimely death.
Doris McDonough deserves to be remembered, and her story shouldn't be swept under the rug. -
Interview with Joe Weigant
In this episode, I speak with Joe Weigant, a retired Evansville police detective who turned his background in law enforcement into founding Evansville Paranormal Investigations and Consulting (EPIC).
Rather than just hunting for ghost footage or spooky EVPs, Joe’s main focus is actually helping trapped spirits cross over and bringing resolution to affected homeowners. He breaks down why spirits get stuck in the first place, ranging from sudden trauma and fear of judgment to basic attachments, and clears up the difference between human spirits and negative, non-human entities that feed off fear.
Throughout our discussion, Joe shares some wild field stories, including an intense encounter with two bizarre, dog-like entities and a haunting tied to Native American history. He also talks about his experience on Travel Channel’s Paranormal 911, comparing the reality of field work with how the paranormal gets hyped up on TV. -
The Murder of Blake Crews
In this episode, we step away from the supernatural to cover a heartbreaking local case that hits way too close to home. Back on the night of January 16, 2015, 20-year-old Blake Crews was shot and killed inside a house in Henderson, Kentucky. It has been over a decade, and his murder is still officially unsolved.
If you read the initial headlines about the case, it would be easy to jump to conclusions. The home where Blake was staying was well known locally for having people coming and going at all hours, and the police investigation quickly pulled in local drug charges. But once you actually learn who Blake was, the "drug deal gone wrong" theory falls completely flat.
Blake was a genuinely good kid. He was an avid musician who marched in his high school band, played in local rock groups, and was actually recruited by Kentucky Wesleyan to help revive their college percussion program. He was a state bowling champion, did Science Olympiad, was active in his fraternity, and went on church mission trips where he wrote in his journal about wanting to spend his life helping others. On the day he was killed, he had spent hours trying to print out business cards so he could start giving drum lessons to local kids.
That evening, Blake was house-sitting for an acquaintance. Around 7:00 PM, he posted a simple tweet about watching Groundhog Day on VHS. Sometime between then and midnight, absolute tragedy struck. Someone called the police to report a burglary in progress, and when state troopers arrived, they found Blake lying in the open doorway, shot multiple times in the face. Everyone else was gone.
What makes this case so infuriating for his family and friends is the sheer lack of answers. Eight people who hung around that house were eventually arrested on minor drug offenses or charges for failing to report a death, but not a single person has ever been charged with Blake's murder.
For this episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Blake's mother, Donna, and his sister, Amanda. Hearing Donna talk about the toll this has taken on their family is brutal. She described how a part of her died right alongside her son that night. They opened up about their frustration with local law enforcement, feeling like the case got shuffled around between different agencies and caught up in red tape instead of getting solved.
We also talked about who Blake was as a person outside of the tragedy. Donna and Amanda shared stories about his quirky style, like how he used to hunt for vintage clothes at Goodwill, insisted on wearing these ridiculous leather shoes he called his "chackas," and cut his own hair in ways his friends ended up copying. His high school buddies Brandon and Kyle also came on to talk about how Blake genuinely had zero enemies. To everyone who knew him, it feels like Blake was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, caught in the crossfire of someone else's mess.
Toward the end of the episode, I even spoke with the girlfriend of one of the guys who was interrogated early on by police. It sounds like the state police are holding their cards close to their chest, waiting for that one critical tip or for someone to finally break their silence.
Someone out there knows what happened in that house on Fairmont Avenue. The Kentucky State Police are offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. If you know anything at all, no matter how small it might seem, please reach out to KSP Post 16 or call their anonymous tip line. -
The Odon Fire Poltergeist
For this episode, we head up to Daviess County, Indiana, to look into a case from 1940 that the Indiana State Fire Marshal called "the most baffling mystery he had ever seen" before officially closing it as unsolved. People in the area still call it the Odon Fire Poltergeist.
Before we even get to the day the fires started, you have to talk about the history of this piece of ground because it makes you wonder if the place was cursed long before 1940. Back in the mid-1800s, a man named Marshall Ketchum built a house there. In the 1880s, five members of his family died on the property from what was called burning fever, which was likely typhus. Later on, the home was sold to a spiritualist named Andrew Wickle. Tragic bad luck struck again when Wickle’s son was killed in a hunting accident. Devastated by grief, Wickle had his son buried right in the yard in a custom casket with a glass window so he could look down at his face, and he claimed he regularly talked to his deceased son's spirit.
By 1940, a man named William Hackler lived on the farm with his wife Minnie and their five kids. Everything was uneventful until Friday, June 21, 1940.
That morning, wallpaper in an upstairs room suddenly burst into flames. The fire department rushed out, assuming it was a bad chimney. But when they tore down the plaster, there was no chimney anywhere near that wall, no electrical wiring, and no stove fire burning. From 9:00 AM until 11:00 PM that night, 28 separate spontaneous fires broke out all over the house.
The fires were completely unexplainable. Papers inside a closed desk drawer caught fire. Curtains ignited right behind visiting neighbors, but the window shades underneath them were untouched. A calendar burned up on the wall without even scorching the wallpaper behind it. Paper between a bed spring and mattress burst into flames and destroyed the bed. The family was so terrified they slept out in the front yard that night.
The State Fire Marshal investigated thoroughly, but they never found a single trace of arson, chemical reaction, or electrical fault. The story went nationwide and was even featured in a Collier’s Magazine ad for Travelers Insurance in 1941.
I actually got the chance to talk with 90-year-old Daviess County historian, Don Cosby, for this episode. He shared that the Hackler family left the county not long after the fires, and no trace of the family remained in the area. With help from Don's son-in-law, I managed to get the exact location of the old farm and took a drive up there. The old house is long gone now, and the site is just open farmland today.
Was it a genuine poltergeist, a bizarre natural phenomenon, or something else entirely? Listen to the episode and judge for yourself!