Badger Bizarre
True crime, unsolved mysteries, paranormal tales and bizarre happenings in the state of Wisconsin.
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49. What Happened to Kayla Berg?
01/16/2025
49. What Happened to Kayla Berg?
On August 11th, 2009, 15-year-old Kayla Berg, after a fairly unremarkable day of hanging out with friends, went out with a trusted family friend, named Kevin Kielcheski. Although Kevin was 9 years older, Kayla had known Kevin virtually her entire life, was somewhat of a 'protective older brother-type,' and there was nothing unusual about them spending time together, according to her friends and family. Kayla has never returned home. After 16 years of investigations and searches, authorities have been unable to find her. Kevin, who is the last person known to be with her, reports he dropped her off at a friend's house, though has been unable to give much more information. Scott and Mickey discuss the missing persons case of Kayla Berg, some of the theories about what may have happened to her, the important players, and ask you for more help. Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources: Please visit our sponsor:
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48. INTERVIEW: Wisconsin Legends for Kids
12/13/2024
48. INTERVIEW: Wisconsin Legends for Kids
Scott and Mickey talk with Jeff Finup, of Badgerland Legends and the Wisconsin Legends Podcast, about his newly published children's book, "Wisconsin Legends for Kids." The book is a wonderful piece to stir your child's ever-inquisitive mind and sense of wonder, as well as learn about the rich cultural heritage of our state. 10 tales of Wisconsin history are featured, some fact, some maybe up for debate, but all with a flair of enchantment. "Beneath the farm fields and rolling hills lies a darker side of Wisconsin. Mysterious creatures including werewolves, ghostly phantoms, and even lions roam the land. Put your explorer's cap on and dive into some of the best mysteries America’s Dairyland has to offer." Jeff Finup is an author, researcher, explorer, and the creator of Badgerland Legends and co-host of the Wisconsin Legends Podcast. When he's not writing about legends, he's exploring the backroads of Wisconsin in search of the strange and the bizarre. In the opening banter, Scott and Mickey discuss the strange tale of Randy Borgwardt and discuss a haunted Wisconsin road trip. All here, complete with Scott's lingering effects of 'Pneumonia Voice,' on a light-hearted Holiday Episode 48 of Badger Bizarre - "Wisconsin Legends for Kids." "Wisconsin Legends for Kids," is now available for purchase here: See Jeff's work on And hear his work on the , or on your favorite podcast platform. Please Visit our sponsor: Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design:
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47. The Smiley Face Killers
12/03/2024
47. The Smiley Face Killers
From 1997-2010, a rash of drownings in the Mississippi River in La Crosse were mostly blamed by police on the culture of alcohol in Wisconsin. The deaths being attributed to people becoming inebriated, wondering down by the river, and ultimately falling in, unable to find their way out of the rushing or icy waters before succumbing. However, a pattern soon began to appear, as all of the victims were college-aged young men, athletic, popular, good-looking, good students, were drinking, and ended up in the river. All of these deaths were the result of a culture of marriage between alcohol and college, according to law enforcement. A group of independent investigators, some retired NYPD detectives, believed otherwise. They believe the deaths to be homicides, committed by a network of serial killers, deemed "The Smiley Face Killers," as smiley face grafitti was repeatedly found in the vicinity of these deaths, according to the detectives. Scott and Mickey discuss the "Smiley Face Killers" theory, the rationale behind it, the drownings in La Crosse and how they correlate with others throughout the country. In the opening Banter, we discuss the case of murder victim Mary Schlais, finally solved by DNA after 50 years, and the continued rise of familial DNA in solving cold cases. All here, on Episode 47: "The Smiley Face Killers." Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources: Please Patronize our sponsors:
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46. Halloween ParaShare II
10/28/2024
46. Halloween ParaShare II
We celebrate Halloween again this year by bringing you stories collected at the 2nd Annual Great Lakes Paranormal Conference. Real people telling us their real paranormal experiences, in their own voice. Happy Halloween, everyone. We hope your week is frightful... Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources: Please Visit our sponsors:
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45. Margaret Anderson
10/01/2024
45. Margaret Anderson
On the night of December 26th, 1983, friends Margaret Anderson and Terry Apfel entered a Green Bay bar named the Back Forty, at 618 Bodart Way, during a night out. The Back Forty was owned by a member of the Drifters Motorcycle Club, and known as a popular hangout for Drifters members, and members of other motorcycle clubs as well. Clubs like the DC Eagles, thought by some to be a more menacing, renegade motorcycle gang. The motorcycle club subculture was prominent in NE Wisconsin at the time, and still holds a steady influence today in the region. On this particular night, however, during the holiday season of 1983, members of the Drifters and the DC Eagles committed acts so disturbing, the event is still remembered today for its pure cruelty and brutality, even leading to the motorcycle clubs themselves to aid in the resulting investigations. Scott and Mickey discuss this case, called the most brutal murder in Green Bay's history, and some of the arising issues in our sentencing laws. In the opening banter, we recap the 2nd Annual Great Lakes Paracon, and a sad update on Elijah Vue. All here, on Episode 45 of Badger Bizarre, "Margaret Anderson." Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources: Please visit our sponsor:
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44. Kenny Ray & Nancy
08/26/2024
44. Kenny Ray & Nancy
In October of 1978, Adams County was rocked by the brutal murder of 20-year-old Nancy Potts, a nurse practitioner at Adams County Memorial Hospital, who was supposed to be married on the very day her body was found. The killing of this seemingly innocent would-be bride opened up unhealed wounds around past violent crimes in the area, including an unsolved double murder with ties to Nancy's fiancee, Kenny Ray Reichhoff. Reichhoff was actually associated with several other deaths over previous years, which impacted his reputation in the community, shocking locals when the truth of Potts's murder was finaly realized. Scott and Mickey discuss this story, which takes place over several years. Many details remain unsolved still today, accentuating the dark secrets many small towns in Wisconsin still hold. In the opening banter, we discuss some upcoming appearances, an earthquake in WI (what?) and some of the most famous UFO sightings in our state. All here, on episode 44 of Badger Bizarre: "Kenny Ray & Nancy." Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources: Please Visit our sponsors:
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43. Rosemary Kennedy
08/02/2024
43. Rosemary Kennedy
In 1949, St. Coletta of Wisconsin, a non-profit organization in Jefferson providing residential services for people with disabilities, accepted a new resident. This resident had a unique history, however, and the facility would need to implement very specific arrangements. Her name was Rosemary Kennedy, the 30-year-old sister of the current senator from Massachussettes, and future President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. Rosemary's life to that point was one of both privelage and hardships, as physical and intellectual disabilities led to her being bounced around between numerous group homes and boarding schools, as the Kennedy family's ambitions left them unabe to adhere to her needs at home. In 1941, a horrific failed lobotomy performed on her when she was only 23 complicated her situation even more, leading her parents to send their daughter away, and her siblings wondering what had happened to her. Scott and Mickey discuss this heartwrenching story, and Wisconsin's connection to the most influential American family in history. In the opening banter we discuss one of the oldest cold cases in the state finally being solved, and which haunted cemetery in the state is also "one of the most beautiful." Only here, on episode #43 of Badger Bizarre, "Rosemary Kennedy." Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources: Please visit our Sponsor:
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42. The Murder of Rev. Alfred Kunz
07/09/2024
42. The Murder of Rev. Alfred Kunz
On March 4th, 1998, the small town of Dane, WI awakened to the shocking news that the Rev. Alfred Kunz, the priest at St Michael's Catholic Church had been murdered in a brutal scene in the elementary school. Found as teachers began to arrive for the school day, Father Kunz was lying in a pool of blood in a hallway, a gaping wound in his throat, which was slit by an edged weapon. In the 26 years years since the homicide, the investigation into Kunz's murder has been the most extensive and expensive in Dane County's history, featuring a suspect list including everyone from local petty thieves, to the hierarchy of the clergy. Scott and Mickey discuss this still unsloved crime which has captivated true crime slueths worldwide, and the shocking secrets which have since come to light. In the opening banter, we discuss the legends of Wisconsin Lake Monsters, as told by Chad Lewis. All here, in episode 42 of Badger Bizarre, "The Murder of Rev. Alfred Kunz." Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources:
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41. Stevie Ray Vaughan
06/14/2024
41. Stevie Ray Vaughan
On August 25th and 26th, 1990, Alpine Valley Music Festival hosted 2 sold-out shows featuring headliner Eric Clapton, along with special guests, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, and the Robert Cray Band. Both shows played to 40,000 strong, and the second show ended with one of the most legendary collections of guiratists on one stage at the same time, when Clapton was joined on stage by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Cray, Jeff Healy, Buddy Guy, and Stevie's brother, Jimmie Vaughan. The concert turned out to be Stevie Ray's final show, as by the end of the night he would be dead, and the music world left stunned and saddened. What exactly happened on that night? And why, almost 35 years later, do people who witnessed the show still talk about Stevie appearing almost supernatural... as if almost already a ghost? Scott and Mickey discuss one of the most iconic shows in rock music history, its aftermath, and Stevie Ray Vaughan's life, one that ended way too soon, on the side of a ski hill in East Troy, WI. Hear it all, on episode 41 of Badger Bizarre, "Stevie Ray Vaughan." Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources:
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40. INTERVIEW: Unlock the Unknown; Keys to the Paranormal
05/25/2024
40. INTERVIEW: Unlock the Unknown; Keys to the Paranormal
Authors Heather Bourget and Kristin Menth have conducted paranormal investigations in some of the most haunted places in the nation, all part of continuing their quest to discover the true answers to the questions of the unexplained. In their book, "Unlock the Unknown; Keys to the Paranormal," Heather and Kristin document their investigations in many of these locations, including numerous places right here in the great Badger State. The book details their experiences while in these famous ghostly haunts, including methods and techniques, equipment utilized, as well as the dedication it takes to conduct proper research, validation of historical accuracy, and evidence review for the absolute best results. Scott and Mickey sit down with Heather and Kristin for a livley discussion about their book, their paranormal joureys, and just what being a true paranormal investigator really entails. The opening banter provides updates on several cold cases throughout the state, including the skeleton of... Santa? found in a chimney in Madison. Hear it all only here, on Episode 40 of Badger Bizarre, "INTERVIEW: Unlock the Unknown; Keys to the Paranormal." Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Please visit to purchase Heather and Kristin's fantastic book. Sources:
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39. Wisconsin's Legendary Haunted Roads
05/07/2024
39. Wisconsin's Legendary Haunted Roads
Wisconsin's thoroughfares are steeped in paranormal legend, often times having multiple roads being named in the nation's "Most Haunted" directories. Murder victims, bloody brides, phantom cars, family tragedies, and lynched witches all make up some of the colorful stories of our highways, byways, and bridges, some having endured for many generations, others having been born of more recent events. Scott and Mickey discuss a number of these legendary haunted roads, attempting to locate possible origins of the legends and the meanings behind them, while understanding that some of these are stories born from actual events, lived by real people, and deserve to be looked at a little more respectfully than maybe they have been up to now. In the opening banter, we discuss several updates to previous cases, as well as the beginnings of a larger project we hope you join us in participating in. All here, in Episode 39 of Badger Bizarre, "Wisconsin's Legendary Haunted Roads." Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources: Get your tickets to the Great Lakes Paranormal Conference: Sept 13, 14, and 15...
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38. The Ballad of Ruben Borchardt
04/12/2024
38. The Ballad of Ruben Borchardt
On Easter morning, 1994, 40-year-old Ruben Borchardt was murdered in his own home by 2 intruders. Ruben was a life-long resident of Jefferson County, well-known, liked and respected in his community. Ruben was a loving father and also a widower, losing his wife and mother of two of his children in a tragic car accident in front of the home that he built by himself for their family. The investigation into Ruben's murder would shatter sercrets of a seemingly happy family, ripping open old wounds clearly still unhealed, and would become storyline material for scripted TV series, docu-dramas and Hollywood talk shows gracing televisions in homes across America. Scott and Mickey discuss this case and the pattern of behaviors seen in countless relationships, throughout time, of manipulation, gaslighting, domestic violence, abuse, and worse. In the opening banter we discuss several ongoing high-profile true crime cases in our state, and just where in our world was Carmen San...er..no... Al Capone? Only here, on Episode 38 of Badger Bizarre, "The Ballad of Ruben Borchardt." Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources:
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37. Legends of Devil's Lake
03/25/2024
37. Legends of Devil's Lake
The land on which Devil's Lake State Park sits on displays some of the oldest illustrations of human occupation in all of North America. The landscape still bares the work of hands of over a thousand years ago, and the legends and rich mythology of the Native Americans have lasted the test of time. Is it posssible that some of what modern civilization has attributed to native mythology is actually very real, and affecting our world today? Scott and Mickey discuss these legends of Devil's Lake, and stories passed down through centuries, along with some of the more recent sightings, hauntings, and bizarre ocurrances that have happened in the area over the decades, culminating in a poignant discussion about the tangible world that was left us from those who came before, and how too much of it has been misused. The opening banter updates a few stories we've been following, including the case of missing 3-year-old Elijah Vue and the anniversary of the murder of Father Kunz. Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources:
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36. The Lost Dauphin
02/29/2024
36. The Lost Dauphin
In the summer months of 1789, during the public uprisings that would eventually turn into the French Revolution, the backlash against the French Royal family turned bloody as the family is captured and imprisoned in the medieval tower known as The Temple. King Louis XVI, Queen Marie-Antoinette, and their adolescent children, daughter Marie-Therese and son (and heir to the throne, or "the dauphin") Louis-Charles were kept mostly separated and fearing for their lives. Eventually, the King and Queen are executed by guillotine, leaving Louis-Charles the new king of France, at 8 years-old. Remaining held in captivity, beaten, raped, and tortured for years, the boy dies in captivity of "prison fever," ravaged by disease and mistreatment at only 10 years old. But in time, rumors flew, floating the idea that the boy-king was actually secretly rescued and whisked away to the New World, a different dying boy kept in his stead. After the rumors and innuendo had seemingly died off, 44 years later, an Indian Missionary in Green Bay, 50 year-old Eleazer Williams, claims that HE is the "Lost Dauphin" and rightful heir to the French Throne. Williams becomes an international celebrity, vouched for by artists, doctors, and even several members of the former royal staff that swore Williams was actually the former boy-king, thought to have died in captivity decades before. Hear this fantastical tale of Wisconsin's brush with European Royalty, and find out of we really did have a King among us. In the opening banter, Scott and Mickey discuss a high-profile missing child case currently in Two Rivers, and discuss the Top 10 "Magical and Mystical" places in our state. All on Episode 36 of Badger Bizarre, "The Lost Dauphin" Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources: Opening Sources:
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35. The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund
02/06/2024
35. The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund
The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund is known today as the most documented case of supposed demon possession and exorcism in American history. Although occurring over several months in the small town of Earling, IA, the main players in the story - Anna Ecklund and the exorcist priest - were both Wisconsinites. The exorcism is famous today for its grueling and brutal sessions, which resulted in Anna becoming emaciated from refusing to take in food, and seemingly supernatural occurrances of her body withstanding contortions and disfigurement, vomiting impossible amounts of fluids, and scaling room walls. Actual conversations had between the exorcist, Appleton priest Theophulis Riesinger, and numerous demons speaking through Anna, including Satan himself, were also documented. Much of the surviving documentation became the source material for the 1973 American horror classic, "The Exorcist." Scott and Mickey discuss this case, filling in the backrounds of Theophilus Riesinger of St. Joseph's Parish in Appleton, and Anna Ecklund, which is a psudenym for a woman believed to be from Marathon, WI named Emma Schmidt. Listen to this one with the lights on! Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for logo design: Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Sources:
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34. Barbara Hoffman
01/10/2024
34. Barbara Hoffman
On Chirstmas Day, 1977, 31-year-old Jerry Davies walked into the Madison Police Department and reported information that culminated in the most highy publicized trial in Wisconsin's history to that point. Just hours prior, Jerry participated in burying a human body in a frozen snowbank on the outskirts of Madison, and initiated an investigation that blew the lid off of Madison's secret underground Red Light District, hiding for years under the guise of massage parlors, 'health spas,' and burlesque clubs. Trafficking in sex, drugs, and an antidote for lonliness, the scene provided the backdrop of one of the most sensational murder cases ever in our state, providing a study in human manipulation and a lesson that you may never quite know someone as well as you think you do. Scott and Mickey kick off 2024 discussing this case as well as more true crime stories featuring your favorite state in the opening banter, including that of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Sources: Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design:
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33. The Rubber Stamp Murderer
12/21/2023
33. The Rubber Stamp Murderer
In January of 1927, a large crowd of onlookers was gathering in a secluded woods outside of Platteville in an area where a search party had recently ensued for a missing person. Something had indeed been found, but just what was it that the crowd was hoping to see? The story of how authorities were led to this place, and the macabre scene in the woods, would again put Wisconsin on the front page of newspapers throughout the nation for reasons of the bizarre and the unbelieveable. Mickey and Scott discuss this case, which has since become known as the "Rubber Stamp Murder," and delve into the broader issues which became discussion points around the country at the time, due to this very situation. In our opening banter, we touch on the recent Ed Gein documentary, "Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein," and talk about some of the most popular ghost walks throughout the state. So, join us as you head into your Christmas weekend with a little true crime holiday cheer, with a side of Badger Bizarre! Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources: Media discussed:
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32. Slenderman
11/24/2023
32. Slenderman
In May of 2014, two young girls lured a third girl into the woods in a park in Waukesha and proceeded to set in motion one of the world's most talked about true crime stories of the last 2 decades. Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier's attempted murder of their friend Peyton Leutner sent shockwaves through Wisconsin, and shed light on the dark side of internet culture, "Creepypastas," and one icon in particular named, Slenderman. Although sensationalistic media focused on Slenderman's influence in the crime, the more important aspects of the story were mainly missed, such as teen and adolescent mental illness, parental control, and the grand scheme issues of criminal justice and mental health care of juveniles. Scott and Mickey discuss the case, how it happened, and hit those deeper issues which continue to be talked about and debated today, almost 10 years after the crime. The opening banter covers a few current WI true crime cases, and 10 of the creepiest roads in the U.S, in which the Badger State is, of course, represented! Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources:
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31. Halloween ParaShare
10/30/2023
31. Halloween ParaShare
We celebrate Halloween this year by sharing your stories told to us at the Great Lakes Paranormal Conference this past September. Many of you shared with Scott and Mickey your personal paranormal experiences, and we share them here, in your own words. Wisconsin has often been referred to as the most haunted state in America, and this episode will demonstrate exactly why that is. Enjoy, and Happy Halloween. Sleep with one eye open! Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Special Thanks to the following:
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30. The Milton House
10/06/2023
30. The Milton House
The institution of slavery is the darkest stain on our nation. Wisconsin's role, in both its implentation and end, is not usually thought of as significant, though history tells a different story. As early as the 1830's, abolitionists in Wisconsin were building a network of resources to aid in shielding freedom-seekers from those who sought to steal their God-given right to life and self-determination. By 1854, The Badger State, by then only 6 years in the Union, was leading the charge in defying federal slave laws, creating a domino effect followed by other states, and stoking the fires of Civil War. Places like the Milton House, outside of Janesville, continued the secrecy of the Underground Railroad in the north to aid those fleeing from bondage, leaving a legacy of compassion for others, and the resiliancy of the Human Spirit. In the beginning banter, Scott and Mickey discuss our time at the Great Lakes Paranormal Conference, and give a heartfelt sendoff to our friend, Jim Cooper. Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources:
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29. Sennett & Winslow
09/15/2023
29. Sennett & Winslow
On a cold, unseasonably snowy November night in Madison in 1947, two unsuspecting co-eds found themselves thrown into what has since become known as one of the most heinous crime sprees in our state's history. 25-year-old Carl Carlson and his 19-year-old sister-in-law, Janet Ann Rosenblatt, had met in Madison to attend the Badger vs Michigan football game the next day, as Rosenblatt was a student at UM, while Carlson was a pre-med student at Madison. What transpired that night has gone down in the annals of Wisconsin True Crime and the resulting abductions, rape, and murder are remembered still today as being what nightmares are made of. In the opening banter, Scott and Mickey discuss a new documentary in the Steven Avery saga, and kick off the Halloween season with 12 places in the Badger State where the "Ghost Hunting Game is High." Hear all this and more on Episode 29 of Badger Bizarre: "Sennett & Winslow." Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for logo design: Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Sources: For more informatio on the upcoming Great Lakes Paracon:
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28. Mineral Point: Legends of the Gray Gold
08/21/2023
28. Mineral Point: Legends of the Gray Gold
Lead mining is one of the oldest industries in Wisconsin, and with it, comes some of the oldest tales and stories of the strange and bizarre. Mineral Point, and the hills of southwestern Wisconsin, is home to some of our most unique architecture, beautiful landscapes, as well as apparent centuries-old paranormal happenings. Although today this area is an artist's haven, in the early decades of the 19th century, it was a rough and tumble region rife with miners, gamblers, and drifters, where crime was prevalent, and law enforcement was not. Lead mining led to an influx of European immigrants and those looking to strike it rich, and with them came stories and legends already generations old. Scott and Mickey discuss these "Ghosts of the Gray Gold," including purported vengeful spirits, phantoms, the mysterious 'tommyknockers,' and even vampires. In the beginning banter, we discuss the latest in the Taylor Schabusiness saga, as well as the recent UAP hearings in front of Congress. All right here, on Episode 28 of Badger Bizarre: "Mineral Point: Legends of the Gray Gold." Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources: All audio clips used via Fair Use.
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27. The Bay View Massacre
07/28/2023
27. The Bay View Massacre
On May 5th, 1886, a standoff between state militia and strikers protesting working conditions came to a climax outside of the Bay View Rolling Mills on Milwaukee's South side. After a hail of bullets, 9 people lie dead, and a state - and in due time, a country - would be forever changed. Scott and Mickey talk about this incident, known as the Bay View Massacre, (or the Bay View Tragedy) its causes, immediate aftermath, and legacy, which effects every current American worker today. The challenges of accurately telling the full story in context, with all its nuances, in today's highly divisive and politicized climate, is also largely discussed. The opening banter includes updates on current cases we're follwing, and also several Wisconsin Cold Cases "you may not have heard of." All on Episode 27 of Badger Bizarre! Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources:
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26. Legends of the Kettle Moraine
07/05/2023
26. Legends of the Kettle Moraine
The Kettle Moraine State Forest is one of the crown jewels of our state. Roughly 60,000 acres of some of the most unique landscape in the world, molded and carved out by the last ice age. While its reputation for some of the best outdoor recreation in the country is well known, the Kettle Moraine has a much more mysterious side as well. For decades, thousands of eyewitnesses have reported sightings of creatures seemingly unknown to our sciences roaming these woods. Half-man, half-wolf beasts, goatmen, UFOs, witches, ghostly hauntings, and even a possible vortex have followed hundreds of years of Native folklore surrounding this most uncommon of regions. Scott and Mickey dicuss these legends, with emphasis on the Beast of Bray Road, Goatman, otherwordly visitors, and the famous Witches of Whitewater on Episode 26 of Badger Bizarre! Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources:
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25. The Summer of 1987
06/15/2023
25. The Summer of 1987
In episode 25, Scott and Mickey discuss the events of the tumultuous summer of 1987, when violent crime was rampant, and numerous women were abducted and later found dead throughout the state. We focus our attention on the murders of 3 women from the south-central region - Angela Hackl, Barbara Blackstone, and Linda Nachreiner. When the bodies of these 3 women were found naked and dumped in wooded areas, within weeks of each other, the similar nature of the crimes led many to believe a serial killer was terrorizing the Wisconsin Dells area, abducting young, attractive women and dotting our state with their lifeless bodies. The crime wave that plagued the state in the summer of 1987 is remembered today as one of the deadliest on record, creating fear and panic in areas that are usually reserved for family fun and waterparks. Hear about what happened that year, and the controversial aftermath of some of the cases - at least those cases that have been "closed. " In the beginning banter, Scott and Mickey discuss more about an impending visit to Summerwind Mansion, and Wisconsin again makes a strong showing in another list - this one involving obscure documentaries about paranormal happenings. The Badger State never seems to disappoint! Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources:
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24. The Monfils 6
05/23/2023
24. The Monfils 6
In episode 24, Scott and Mickey discuss the somber case of the "Monfils 6," a high-profile trial of six men charged with the murder of their co-worker. On November 22nd, 1992, the body of Tom Monfils was found in a pulp vat at the James River Paper Company, where he had been employed for the previous 10 years. In what seemed like it should've been a fairly clear-cut homicide case in a closed space with limited access, police had more than their share of trouble piecing together just what happened to the 35-year-old Monfils. After an almost 3 year investigation, prosecutors brought to trial six men, known collectively as the "Monfils 6," for his murder, though over 30 years later, there seems to be more questions than ever about the murder, the men charged, and the police department who conducted the investigation. In the opening banter, the reaction to episode 23, 'St. Nazianz," is discussed, along with how you could join Scott and Mickey at one of the most haumted locations in the state, possibly for the very last time ever! Welcome to Badger Bizarre... Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources: For more information regarding Summerwind trip, July 14th/15th, 2023: For more information on the "Cold Case: Frozen Tundra" Podcast:
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23. St. Nazianz
05/01/2023
23. St. Nazianz
In Episode 23, Scott and Mickey discuss the mystery that is St. Nazianz, in Manitowoc County, WI. Founded in 1854 by a German immigrant priest claiming to have mystical powers bestowed upon him by The Almighty, St, Nazianz went on to become one of the most important communities in the nation in regards to Catholicism. After Father Oschwald's unexpected death in 1873, the Salvatorian's from Rome took over the property, modernized it, and built what at that time was known to be the most modern and best equipped Catholic Seminary in the nation, the Salvatorian Seminary. After ceasing operations in the 1980's, lastly as a co-ed high school named JFK Prep, rumors of rogue priests, abusive nuns, suicides, and curses upon the village took hold, leading to trespassers and vandalism over the 40 years the property has been mostly abandoned, and ghost stories run rampant to this day. We again welcome back our resident paranormal expert Jim Cooper to break down the history of St. Nazianz, Father Oschwald, and JFK Prep, to determine fact from folklore. Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design:
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22. Ed Edwards: The Sweetheart Murders
04/16/2023
22. Ed Edwards: The Sweetheart Murders
In episode 22 of Badger Bizarre, Scott and Mickey discuss the crime-ridden life of Edward Wayne Edwards and how he forever impacted a small community in southeast Wisconsin. In August of 1980, a young teenage couple in Fort Atkinson went missing and were later found murdered. For 30 years, their murder went unsolved, until a surpring tip was called in to Jefferson County authorities in 2009, leading to the arrest of their killer, Ed Edwards. The arrest would open a Pandora's Box of other crimes Edwards committed, including confessions to several other murders. As his life of crime came to light, researchers and cold-case detectives today link Edwards to many other murders, some very famous, such as Jimmy Hoffa, Jon Benet Ramsey, and even the Black Dahlia, making Edwards, if true, potentially the most prolific serial killer in history. Sources: Cameron, John - Cameron, John - Edwards, Ed - To Tell the Truth - Goodson-Todman Productions, CBS Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for logo design: Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha
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21. The Reign of King Strang
03/24/2023
21. The Reign of King Strang
Scott and Mickey discuss the very bizarre story of James Jesse Strang, founder of the now-defunct city of Voree, WI in Walworth County. Strang claimed to be the rightful heir to the leader of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, after its founder, Joseph Smith, was gunned down in 1844. After claiming he was shown where to find buried ancient texts in Voree by visions of angels, Strang amassed a following of thousands who praised him as a prophet of God and eventually crowned him as their king - in the only royal coronation ever held on American soil. Corrupted by a rule of absolute power, Strang's "royal" reign was strewn with violence, greed, and deciept, as his followers began to conspire against him, and even the then President of the United States schemed to take him down. Learn about this fascinating personality in American history on episode 21 of Badger Bizarre, "The Reign of King Strang." Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Attribution for logo design: Sources: Harvey, Miles -
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20. Fond du Lac County Jane Doe
03/03/2023
20. Fond du Lac County Jane Doe
The 2008 gun deer season was unlike any other in recent memory, with 3 human bodies being found in the woods by hunters throughout the state. Two of them were rather quickly identifed, while one, found in a frozen creek in Fond du Lac County, would lead investigators on a murder mystery they are still attempting to solve yet today. Hear the heartbreaking tragedy of the young girl who came to be known only as the 'Fond du Lac County Jane Doe.' By the end, a name and a face will be added, but her story - who she truly was and what happened to her - is yet to be told. The beginning banter has an update about Taylor Shabusiness, and a recent missing persons case from Grant County, 34 year-old, Ronald Henry. Email us: [email protected] Opening Trailer: Ed Gein Sound Byte : "Hard Copy" - Paramount Domestic/CBS Televsion Frank Lloyd Wright and Jeffery Dahmer Sound Byte - WISN 12 News - Milwaukee, WI Jeffery Dahmer Quotes: "Inside Edition" - King World/CBS Television/CBS Media Attribution for logo design: Attribution for Music: Trailer: Composer: Adam Phillip Zwirchmayr Intro: Outro: Composer: Viacheslav Sarancha Sources:
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