In 1897, Adolph Luetgert — Chicago’s self-made “Sausage King” — became the center of one of the most disturbing and sensational murder cases in American history. When his wife Louisa vanished on the night of May 1st, police followed the evidence straight to the basement of his northwest side sausage factory. What they found there changed criminal justice forever — and allegedly left something behind that never quite left.

This week on Creepy Shit Podcast, we break down the fully documented, court-record-verified story of the Luetgert murder case: the lye vat, the bone fragments, the engraved ring, the forensic anthropologist who took the stand in one of America’s earliest uses of forensic science in a murder trial, and the two trials that captivated an entire city. We also get into the ghost sightings that started almost immediately after the crime — the white figure at the fireplace, the watchmen who ran, the twice-relocated house, and the basement that still makes people uneasy today.

No embellishment. No invented details. Just the real, documented, deeply unsettling truth — which, as always, is scarier than anything we could make up.

References & Resources:

∙ Alchemy of Bones: Chicago’s Luetgert Murder Case of 1897 — Robert Loerzel

∙ WTTW Chicago: Chicago Mysteries with Geoffrey Baer

∙ Mysterious Chicago — Adam Selzer

∙ Cook County Court Records, 1897–1898 (Illinois State Archives)

∙ CBS Chicago: Chicago Hauntings series​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Appalachian Mountains are older than the dinosaurs — and something has been living in them ever since. This week, I’m joined by Danielle and Cassie of the National Park After Dark podcast as we pull back the curtain on the true paranormal history of Appalachia.

From Dogman encounters and Mothman sightings to cryptid folklore rooted in centuries of documented eyewitness accounts, we’re going deep into the haunted heart of America’s most mysterious mountain range.

I’ve been tiptoeing around this region — you heard me cover Dudley Town — but today we go all the way in. This one is not for the faint of heart, Press play if you dare

Not all horror is paranormal. This week on Creepy Shit, we’re diving deep into McKamey Manor—the controversial “extreme haunted house” in Summertown, Tennessee that has sparked nationwide debate, multiple investigations, and over 170,000 petition signatures calling for its closure.

What happens when a haunted attraction crosses the line from entertainment into something far more disturbing? Former Navy veteran Russ McKamey operates what he calls “survival horror” experiences that require a 40-page waiver, proof of medical insurance, and a doctor’s clearance. Participants endure waterboarding, physical assault, psychological torture, and hours of documented abuse—all technically legal because they consented.

But what happens when safe words are ignored? When participants end up hospitalized? When the $20,000 prize that no one has ever won might not even exist?

We examine the documented survivor testimonies, including Laura Hertz Brotherton’s 2016 hospital visit after extensive injuries. We explore the 2023 Tennessee Attorney General investigation, the 2024 attempted murder charges against Russ McKamey (later dropped), and the Hulu documentary that exposed the truth behind America’s most extreme haunted attraction.

This episode investigates the psychology behind extreme haunts, the legal gray areas of consent, and the disturbing question: where’s the line between consensual thrill-seeking and actual torture?

**CONTENT WARNING** This episode contains detailed discussions of physical assault, waterboarding, psychological torture, domestic violence allegations, and extreme physical experiences. Listener discretion advised.

Primary Sources & Documentation:

1. Hulu Documentary (2023)

- “Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House”

- Directed by Andrew Renzi

- Features survivor testimonies and investigation footage

2. Netflix Documentaries

- “Haunters: The Art of the Scare” (2017)

- “Dark Tourist” (Season 1, Episode featuring McKamey Manor, 2018)

3. Investigative Journalism

- Nashville Scene: “Tennessee’s McKamey Manor: Torture on Demand” by Megan Seling (February 2018)

- CBS42: “The Truth of McKamey Manor, Tennessee’s Extreme Horror Attraction” (October 2022)

- WKRN: “Owner of McKamey Manor charged with attempted murder, rape” (July 2024)

4. Legal Documents

- Tennessee Attorney General Investigation announcement (October 31, 2023)

- Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office arrest records (July 2024)

- McKamey Manor lawsuit against Tennessee AG (2024)

5. Podcast Series:

- “Inside McKamey Manor” (8-part series, 2024)

- Hosted by Elizabeth McCafferty

- Audio Always production

- Available on all podcast platforms

Petitions & Public Response:

- Change.org: “Shut down McKamey Manor” (170,000+ signatures)

- Created by Frankie Towery

- Active petition ongoing

Official Sources:

- McKamey Manor official website (operational as of December 2024)

- McKamey Manor YouTube channel (contains edited tour footage)

- McKamey Manor social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)

Media Coverage:

- Los Angeles Times coverage

- The Guardian reporting

- New York Daily News articles

- Travel Channel’s “Halloween Craziest” feature

Expert Commentary

- Lawrence County District Attorney Brent Cooper statements (2018)

- Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti investigation (2023)

- Lawrence County Commissioner Scott Franks public statements (2017)

Research on Extreme Haunts:

- Academic studies on consent in extreme entertainment

- Psychological research on ordeal experiences

- Legal analysis of consent waivers and liability

Additional Context:

- Extreme haunt industry standards and safety protocols

- Comparison to legitimate extreme attractions (Blackout, Ten Thirty One Productions)

- BDSM community consent practices and safe word protocols

- Medical ethics literature on informed consent

Gather around, creepy crew, because this one stopped me dead in my tracks & then you voted and requested for more, and I love to deliver.

At Edington Priory Church in Wiltshire, England — a 14th-century medieval priory consecrated in 1361 — there is a stone coffin that exists in a permanent spiritual no-man’s-land. It doesn’t rest in the ground. It doesn’t rest inside the church. It sits mounted on the boundary wall, sealed, ornate, and shrouded in legends so dark they’ll make your skin crawl.

The Church has no records. Historians have no consensus. And whoever — or whatever — lies inside has been denied holy ground for centuries.

The why is where it gets really interesting.
We’re going to talk about it.

Get ready to explore one of America’s most haunted cities! We’re diving DEEP into Salem, Massachusetts—where history, tragedy, and the paranormal collide in the most spine-chilling ways possible.

In this episode, we’re taking you on a twisted tour through Salem’s most significant and sinister locations. We’ll uncover the real story behind Gallows Hill, where nineteen innocent people were executed during the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. But that’s just the beginning—we’re also exploring the some of the most Haunted Inn's for your stay and the eerie energy that blankets this entire town.

And we’ve got something EXTRA special for you—we’re joined by the amazing Mandy and Avery from the Thick Thighs, Creepy Vibes podcast! Together, we’re swapping stories, discussing the lingering hauntings that plague these historical landmarks, and getting into why Salem remains one of the most paranormally active places on Earth.

From spectral sightings near the execution site to unexplained phenomena at the Witch Trials Memorial, this episode is PACKED with creepy history, supernatural theories, and the kind of dark mysteries that will keep you up at night.

Whether you’re a history buff, a paranormal enthusiast, or just obsessed with all things spooky, this Salem deep-dive is not to be missed!

In 1863, blood seeped from under the door of 716 Dauphine Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter. What police found inside was one of the most brutal mass murders in American history—an entire household hacked to pieces, and a wealthy Turkish nobleman buried alive in his own courtyard.

This isn’t the LaLaurie mansion. This isn’t Marie Laveau. This is the true story of the Sultan’s Palace massacre—a case of international revenge, Ottoman assassins, and a crime so violent it still haunts New Orleans today.

We dive deep into the documented police reports, explore theories about stolen treasure and royal theft, and examine over 150 years of paranormal activity reported at this location. From phantom music and exotic incense to apparitions on the balcony, 716 Dauphine Street remains one of the French Quarter’s most actively haunted—and least known—locations.

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References & Resources

Historical Sources:

∙ New Orleans Police Department Records, 1863 (Louisiana State Archives)

∙ “The Times-Picayune” historical archives, 1863-1865

∙ “Historic New Orleans Collection” - French Quarter property records

∙ Federal occupation records, New Orleans Civil War period

Books:

∙ Haunted New Orleans: Southern Spirits, Garden District Ghosts, and Vampire Venues by Colin Dickey

∙ The Ghosts of New Orleans by Troy Taylor

∙ New Orleans Ghosts, Voodoo, and Vampires by Kalila Katherina Smith

Additional Research:

∙ French Quarter historical walking tour documentation

∙ Dauphine Street property deed transfers (New Orleans Notarial Archives)

∙ Ottoman Empire historical records regarding missing nobility (limited availability)

∙ Contemporary tenant accounts and paranormal investigation reports (various online sources, 1990s-present)

Note: Some specific details of the massacre vary between sources due to sensationalized reporting common in the 1860s. This episode prioritizes documented police records and corroborated accounts.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Buckle up, ghost hunters - we’re diving deep into one of Connecticut’s most haunted locations. Norwich State Hospital operated from 1904 to 1996, and let me tell you, the spirits there are NOT at peace. This abandoned psychiatric hospital is crawling with paranormal activity that’ll make your skin crawl.

In this episode, we explore the dark history of Norwich State Hospital, from its brutal treatment methods to the hundreds of patients who died within its walls. We’re talking apparitions in hospital gowns, disembodied screams echoing through empty corridors, and underground tunnels that serve as highways for the dead.

I’ll walk you through the most active paranormal hotspots - the morgue where bodies stacked up, the hydrotherapy rooms where torture masqueraded as treatment, and the isolation cells where desperate patients clawed at the walls. Plus, we dive into the children’s ward reports that’ll absolutely wreck you.

This isn’t your typical ghost story. These are the spirits of forgotten souls who suffered real trauma in a system that failed them. Whether you’re a paranormal believer or skeptic, the documented hauntings at Norwich State Hospital will make you question everything you think you know about life after death.

References & Resources
Historical Sources:

- Connecticut State Library Archives - Norwich State Hospital Records

- “Institutional Care in Connecticut” - CT Department of Mental Health, 1985

- Norwich Historical Society - Hospital Documentation

Paranormal Research:

- New England Ghost Project - Norwich State Hospital Investigation Reports

- Paranormal investigators’ documented encounters (2010-2023)

- Urban exploration photography and witness accounts

Additional Reading:

- “The Shameful History of America’s Asylums” - Mental Health America

- Connecticut State Hospital system closure documentation

- Deinstitutionalization movement historical records

*Note: This episode contains mature themes including historical medical practices, death, and intense paranormal accounts. Listener discretion advised.*

Discover the chilling true story of Marshall Field’s Death Elevator in Chicago - a fully functioning elevator that was permanently sealed after multiple deaths and relentless paranormal activity. This isn’t urban legend; it’s documented history.

Between 1943 and the early 1950s, three people died in connection with one specific elevator at Chicago’s iconic Marshall Field’s department store. What followed were decades of unexplained phenomena: elevator operators feeling unseen presences, the smell of phantom perfume, doors opening onto blank walls, and machinery that malfunctioned despite being mechanically sound.

The corporate response was unprecedented: Marshall Field’s permanently decommissioned the elevator, sealing it behind walls. But even decades later, employees report hearing the elevator moving, doors opening, and footsteps where no elevator exists anymore.

Explore documented accounts from the Chicago History Museum’s oral histories, newspaper archives, and corporate records that prove this haunted elevator’s terrifying legacy. From 1940s elevator operators to modern-day Macy’s employees, the Death Elevator continues to make its presence known.

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