For decades, drivers on a dark San Jose road have reported terrifying encounters with pale figures who emerge from the shadows, armed and screaming, chasing away anyone who dares venture too close to their hidden territory.

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IN THIS EPISODE: If I say the words “headless horseman” it immediately brings up the image of a man on a black steed carrying a pumpkin instead of his head, chasing after Ichabod Crane. Washington Irving did a fantastic job of painting that picture for us. It’s too bad headless horsemen legends are just that… legends. Well, that is, until they are not. (The Headless Horseman of Neuces) *** In 1970, two teenage girls were murdered at Denver's Lumber Baron Inn. Today their killer is still unknown — but some guests say the victims' ghosts still roam the halls. (Murder at the London Baron Inn) *** A man is well-liked and respected in his community… but then he acquires a love for alcohol… his personality changes… his family disappears… and suddenly, his community see him for what he truly is – a Wendigo. (A Wendigo Named Swift Runner) *** Unexplained murder cases are, sadly, a reality. But in most cases you at least know who the victim is, or who the murderer is. In the case of “Princess Doe” however, there is no identity for the victim, the murderer, and there is no reason anyone has found for the brutal crime. (The Unexplained Princess Doe Case) *** With so many television shows, movies, documentaries, and genre artwork, you might think you know just about everything there is to know about the Wild West – but there are a few stories that are so strange, you might think they came right out of the mind of a fiction novelist. (The Wild Weird West) *** Situated alongside Almaden Quicksilver County Park, Hicks Road has become legendary in San Jose, California for all the wrong reasons. If you even mention it in driving directions, you’ll get a “No way, Jose!” response and a request for a different route. Hearing the stories about what makes Hicks Road so creepy might turn you as ghostly white as the supposedly Satan-worshipping albinos rumored to inhabit the area. It’s the legend of Hicks Road. (The Hicks Road Horror)

ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.
DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Lead-In
00:02:35.167 = Show Open
00:05:39.492 = The Hicks Road Horror
00:18:32.235 = The Headless Horseman of Neuces
00:27:10.838 = Murder at the London Baron Inn
00:36:10.434 = A Wendigo Named Swift Runner
00:46:15.329 = The Unexplained Princess Doe Case
00:58:39.981 = The Wild Weird West
01:12:38.572 = Show Close

SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…
“The Hicks Road Horror” by Laura Allan for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yj89jwv6, and from BackpackerVerse: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p98a5rx
“Murder at the London Baron Inn” by Austin Harvey for All That’s Interesting: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckk5t52
“A Wendigo Named Swift Runner” by Karen Doherty for Green Canticle: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p892ejx
BOOK: “The Manitous: The Spiritual World of the Ojibway” by Basil Johnston: https://amzn.to/3rKOjDW
“The Unexplained Princess Doe Case” by Marcus Lowth at UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4bmxyd92
“The Wild Weird West” by Genevieve Carlton for Weird History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3d9sjaay
“The Headless Horseman of Neuces” from Texas Cryptid Hunter: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/25fxhzbx
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(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
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WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
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Originally aired: July 26, 2023
NOTE: Some of this content may have been created with assistance from AI tools, but it has been reviewed, edited, narrated, produced, and approved by Darren Marlar, creator and host of Weird Darkness — who, despite popular conspiracy theories, is NOT an AI voice.
EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/HicksRoad