Blood on the Frontier: The Harpe Brothers

Before H.H. Holmes built his infamous murder castle, before Jack the Ripper haunted London’s alleys, two men roamed the American frontier leaving a trail of blood and terror. In this episode, we dive into the chilling legacy of Micajah and Wiley Harpe—widely considered America’s first documented serial killers.

From the brutal discovery of John Langford’s body to the Harpes’ arrest, escape, and the bounty that launched a manhunt, we unravel the true story behind the myth. Who were these men? Why did they kill without motive? And how did their reign of violence shape early American folklore?

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