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?

🕯️ Into true crime, folklore, and the kind of history that makes you say WTF? Follow @downthecrookedpath on TikTok and Instagram for weekly chills, twisted tales, and behind-the-scenes peeks into the stories that didn’t make your history textbook. 🎧 New episodes drop every week—don’t miss the strange, the sinister, and the forgotten. 📲 Tap follow and walk the crooked path with us.

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In this episode, we unravel the chilling legend of the Philadelphia Experiment—a rumored 1943 naval test that allegedly rendered the USS Eldridge invisible, teleported it through space, and left its crew physically fused to the ship. Was it a misunderstood radar cloaking experiment, or something far more disturbing?

We trace the story from its wartime origins to the strange letters of Carl Allen, the man who claimed to witness the event. Along the way, we explore the science that may have inspired the myth, the psychological toll on those who believed they were involved, and the eerie silence from official sources that only deepened the mystery.

Whether fact, fiction, or something in between, the Philadelphia Experiment remains one of the most haunting stories in military folklore. Dim the lights, press play, and step into the fog.

What happens when a man disappears during a storm and reappears years later with a new name, a new life, and no memory of his past? In this episode of Down the Crooked Path, we unravel the bizarre and haunting tale of Lawrence Bader—who vanished from Lake Erie in 1957 and resurfaced as John Fritz Johnson, a charismatic TV personality in Omaha.

Was it amnesia, a calculated escape, or something even stranger? Join Amanda as she dives deep into one of the most perplexing identity mysteries of the 20th century. From the stormy night that sparked his disappearance to the shocking fingerprint match that blew his cover, this story is a rollercoaster of deception, psychology, and unanswered questions.

🧠 What You'll Hear:

• The timeline of Bader’s disappearance and reappearance
• The psychological theories behind his identity shift
• Family reactions and media frenzy
• Legal and ethical dilemmas surrounding his double life

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