Mared & Karen

We investigate claims that the Park Service has a history of transferring troubled rangers. An NPS whistleblower explains a coverup culture within the agency, and shares the story of a ranger who investigated both the Shenandoah and Colonial Parkway murders.Resources and Links: The Case of the Indian Trader — The book in which Paul Berkowitz extensively documents his investigation at Hubbell Trading Post. Recommended for fans of police procedurals. Culture of Sexual Harassment — Washington Post, 2016 Big Problem with Sexual Harrassment — The Atlantic, 2016 Hubbell Trading Post — Official site Bill Malone Trading — Billy Malone’s current site for trading, Gallup, NM Interviewees: Paul Berkowitz — NPS Special Agent who took over the investigation of Clyde Yee at Hubbell Trading PostSarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

Eight Years Earlier: The Navy undertakes “purges” of lesbians from its ranks. The first of Virginia’s Colonial Parkway murders looks eerily familiar. A southern con-man helps find the killer — and defrauds the victims’ families. Resources and links: The Lover’s Lane Murders — Oxygen Network show about the Colonial Parkway murders, for which guest Bill Thomas served as consulting producer. Mind Over Murder — Entire podcast covering all the details of the Colonial Parkway Murders. Hosted by our guest Bill Thomas and Kristen Dilley.Interviewees: Bill Thomas — Brother of Cathy Thomas, who was killed with her girlfriend Rebecca Dowski in the first of the Colonial Parkway Murders.Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

Someone is pulling over dozens of women on a road just 15 miles from Skyline Drive. Alicia Reynolds disappears. At least three bodies turn up in a small hamlet nearby. The Innocence Project fights to free a man convicted of murder.Resources and links: Rt 29 Stalker Unsolved Mysteries WikiTwenty Years Later — Article by Scott Shenk on the 20th anniversary of the murder of Alicia Showalter ReynoldsInterviewees: Scott Shenk — Reporter with the Fredericksburg Freelance-Star.Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

A massive hunt for Julie & Lollie's killer begins. Some demand a hate crime investigation, drawing parallels to the attack of another lesbian couple hiking the Appalachian Trail. A lesbian defense lawyer finds herself arguing for the prosecution.Resources and links: "Panic Defense" — Podcast episode from Criminal with Phoebe Judge explaining the fascinating history of the gay/trans panic defense. "In the Hollow" — 15-minute documentary/short film featuring Claudia Brenner returning to the scene of Rebecca Wight's murder for the first time in decades. Supplemented with scene reenactments. The Claudia Brenner Papers — Tons of resources on the Brenner/Wight story from the Cornell University Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Interviewees: Abbe Smith — Director of the Criminal Defense and Prisoner Advocacy Clinic, Co-Director of the E. Barrett Prettyman Fellowship Program, and Professor of Law at Georgetown University. (Importantly for our story, she was also the persona

The unsolved murder of a young couple in Shenandoah National Park shakes the gay and lesbian communities. One year later, a bicyclist is assaulted in the same area, and authorities begin to suspect him of serial murder.Resources and Links: "Murder on the Mountain" (1996) — Barry Yeoman's article quoted and discussed in this episode. Trail map of Shenandoah National Park — Julie and Lollie were killed just off the Skyland / Big Meadows Horse Trail, not far from Skyline Drive.Interviewees: Yvonne Malbasha — A Canadian paramedic and cyclist, enjoying a ride along picturesque Skyline Drive in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. Yvonne does not realize she is being stalked by a man named Darrell Rice, who eventually tries to abduct her. Yvonne tells a harrowing story about the man who will soon become a suspect in multiple homicides. Barry Yeoman — A journalist teaching at Duke and Wake Forest universities. Barry wrote the best existing article on the lives of Julie Williams and Lollie Winans,

A lesbian couple is found brutally murdered near the Appalachian Trail. As authorities build the first federal hate crime prosecution in the nation's history, a web of horrific crimes creeps down the Blue Ridge mountains into the heart of Virginia. A special agent who has been on the case for twenty five years details his own recollections. Season 3 of Appalachian Mysteria explores the terrifying characters and narratives that weave through these stories, culminating in the violent death of a serial killer -- just not the one we started with.Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

The conviction of Glen Woodall begins to look suspicious as a rookie lawyer ushers West Virginia into a new era of DNA testing. Prosecutors fight the new forensic method tooth and nail, but the results will uncover a trail of crime unprecedented in U.S. history.Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

As ice storms sweep over Huntington, WV, a masked rapist is stalking the mall. After two abductions, suspicion falls on a nearby grave-digger with a checkered past. As evidence begins piling up, a forensic science superstar helps set the stage for a court case that will echo through West Virginia history more than anyone can possibly know.  (This episode does not contain graphic details of sexual assault, but the topic matter is mature. Listener discretion advised.) Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

After the Mysteria crew receives a concerned email from a professional working on sexual assault issues, we invite her on the show to critique Season 2, Big Savage. What follows is a discussion of Megan Shaffer’s poor defense, the biological response to trauma, how the absence of expert testimony may have worked against her, and some ways that language affects how we perceive issues surrounding rape. Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

A lot has happened since the season finale of Big Savage, including Megan Shaffer’s appeals, the unfortunate death of Alexander’s father, and a scandal involving the judge who presided over Megan's trial.Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

A stranger approaches Teresa as the jury deliberates. The verdict is finally delivered, and we speak with two jurors about the discussion and debate that went on behind closed doors.Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

Two medical examiners take the stand. Megan finally takes the stand to testify about the entire ordeal, closing out the trial.Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

Kromatic Media sets legal precedent in Maryland by obtaining Megan's 911 call from the morning Alex was found dead. Jay and Tristan – Alex's father and sister – take the stand. Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

Sarah and Kendall get personal, Alex's therapist takes the stand, and a stranger testifies about finding Alex on her doorstep one week before High Rock. Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

Three defense witnesses all make a claim that could swing the jury's opinion. But is there any evidence? One of those witnesses helps to arrange a third police interview with Megan, only 48 hours after Alex is found dead. Megan's story has one more important change. Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

The trial of Megan Shaffer begins with testimony from Steven Moon.  We examine Megan's slightly shifting story of what happened that night.  Sarah, Kendall and Teresa each make a visit to High Rock -- bringing a realization to all that only confuses the story more.Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

In this episode, we try to find out who Alex & Megan really were. The second case file discovered by reporters makes the whole situation even more confusing. Pretrial hearings set the stage for an unusual prosecution. Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

Two “extremely close friends” perform a ritual on a clifftop in Savage River Forest.  By  morning, only one is still alive.  Big Savage: The Death of Alexander Stevens is an 8-part investigation into the baffling trial of a young woman charged with murder and assisted suicide for the same death.In this opening episode, we follow the early investigation of reporters Teresa McMinn and Michael Sawyers as the bizarre details of the case begin to trickle out.  Nine months pass until charges are filed, but the charges are conflicting, and no up front bail is required.  What can we expect from the trial?Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) Kromatic Media

This episode is the last of a three-part update on Appalachian Mysteria Season 1 — Mared & Karen: The WVU Coed Murders. Without a doubt, these three episodes will be the most important updates since the season finished airing in 2018.In this episode, Devona Coffey — formerly Devona Daft — finds out about the existence of Geoff and Sarah’s book, and one paragraph in particular makes her blood boil. The passage leads to an emotional confrontation in the holler, and eventually to Devona contacting the Mysteria crew to share a long-buried family secret.The terminally ill aunt who took care of Devona after her father’s death confides in her about the night Mared & Karen went missing, and a growing chorus of voices in the family echo the story. But is it all true, or a story contrived to create a dangerous mystique around career criminals?Sarah & Geoff's book about the WVU Coed Murders(available on Amazon) Kendall's Appalachian Motorcycling Travel Channel(@motoappalachiadiscovery on YouTube) K

These three episodes will be the most important updates since the season finished airing in 2018.In this episode, we’re reintroduced to Danny Strakal, host of the YouTube series Spirit Walk Paranormal. Danny’s history with the spirit realm began in his childhood, but his full-scale investigations began after the release of our first podcast season.A viewer of Danny’s channel connects him with Dave Campbell, another man who was there at the moment Mared and Karen’s bodies were discovered. After spending time together on several investigations, Dave claims to have received a vision of two men that he believes are the murderers. When Sarah shows him a lineup of our best suspects, he tells us that two of the men — members of the same family that lived in the hollow where the girls were killed — were known to pick up and rape hitchhikers.This leads to the first of two damning testimonies from members of their family. Their niece struggles with the dark history of her childhood, and their sister finally reveals a s