PHANTOM FLAMES: The Terrifying True Story of a Haunted Family’s Poltergeist Fires #WeirdDarkness
Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories
Darren Marlar
4.6 • 4.1K Ratings
🗓️ 22 March 2025
⏱️ 74 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
IN THIS EPISODE: In the late 1950s, the Tuck family of Alabama found themselves at the center of a terrifying ordeal as mysterious fires spontaneously erupted in their home. Despite their best efforts to escape the flames, the fiery phenomenon followed them from one residence to another, consuming their possessions and leaving them homeless. We’ll look at this case and other similar ones where the seeming explanation is nothing short of paranormal. (Paranormal Flames) *** In the sleepy Kentish hamlet of Charing, a centuries-old mystery unfolds every May Day. As the clock strikes midnight, ghostly children emerge from their moss-encrusted graves, their ethereal feet dancing to the silent fiddle's tune. It’s all part of the "Night of the Dancing Feet." (Dancing After Death) *** Before his wife's murder in June 2009, Eli Weaver had numerous affairs with women he met through online dating sites, where he called himself an "Amish Stud." But only one mistress was willing to kill for him. (Eli Weaver, Amish Stud and Murderer) *** The American West evokes iconic images often seen in movies: bold adventures, noon shootouts, resolute sheriffs and marshals maintaining order, and the cavalry arriving just in time. However, the history of the Wild West, replete with myths and stereotypes, presents a more complex and sometimes disturbing reality about justice in that era. (Wild West Justice) *** On the morning of July 13, 1997, the body of Denise Johnson was discovered inside her burning childhood home in Kill Devil Hills, NC. Emergency responders quickly realized they weren't dealing with a simple arson, but a murder as well. Now, more than two decades later, the case remains unsolved. (The Unsolved Murder of Denise Johnson) *** Hachishakusama, often referred to as the "Japanese Slender Man," is a haunting figure from Japanese urban legends that rivals the terror of her American counterpart. While the Slender Man has gained a cult-like following and has even inspired real-life horror stories, Hachishakusama's tale is equally spine-chilling and capable of keeping you up at night. (The Japanese Slender Man)
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Lead-In
00:01:39.446 = Show Open
00:04:48.027 = Paranormal Flames
00:24:26.752 = The Unsolved Murder of Denise Johnson
00:38:08.456 = Dancing After Death (Night of the Dancing Feet)
00:46:29.513 = Wild West Justice
00:56:30.302 = Eli Weaver, Amish Stud and Murderer
01:06:14.321 = The Japanese Slender Man
01:11:41.698 = Show Close, Verse, and Final Thought
SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…
BOOK: “Ablaze – The Mysterious Fires of Spontaneous Human Combustion” by Larry E. Arnold: https://amzn.to/3Uqdhmz
BOOK: “A Killing In Amish Country” by Gregg Olsen and Rebecca Morris: https://amzn.to/44wghmb
“Paranormal Flames” source: Marcus Lowth at UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4eb8xht2
“The Unsolved Murder of Denise Johnson” source: Jacob Shelton at Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8t3b7p
“Dancing After Death” by Ken DaSilva-Hill submitted directly to Weird Darkness and used with permission
“Wild West Justice” source: Christy Box at Weird History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8db9vj
“Eli Weaver, Amish Stud and Murderer” source: Hannah Reilly Holtz at AllThatsInteresting.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4jfmybjh
“The Japanese Slender Man” source: Curry L Mitchell at ListVerse: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bdd7fthz
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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: May 01, 2024
EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/PhantomFlames
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This month's email newsletter winner is Louise and Clark, and they went a free Weird |
| 0:04.7 | Darkness t-shirt just for being subscribed to the email newsletter. |
| 0:08.9 | If you want to be in next month's random drawing, subscribe to the free newsletter at |
| 0:13.0 | Weirddarkness.com slash newsletter. |
| 0:15.6 | That's Weirddarkness.com slash newsletter. |
| 0:18.2 | And congratulations to Louise and Clark. |
| 0:21.6 | When Salem Rowanoke took a job near his family's new home as a hired hand in the |
| 0:26.6 | Texas Hill Country, he anticipated learning the ranchers trade, but a series of strange |
| 0:31.6 | events, shocking murders, and unholy revelations divert him down another path. This terrifying trajectory puts him directly |
| 0:40.4 | into the middle of a struggle between monsters, magic and men. Armed and backed by a militia of ranchers, |
| 0:47.7 | Salem attempts to combat the creeping tide of evil that threatens to engulf his new home |
| 0:52.3 | and destroy the people most important to him. |
| 0:55.2 | Will Salem manage to save his home, or have his actions condemn everyone he hopes to save? |
| 1:01.6 | The Witch Trials. A Summer of Wolves and Season of the Witch by S. R. R. Anoke. Available in |
| 1:07.1 | Paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. Look for The Witch Trials by S.R. Roanoke |
| 1:12.4 | on Amazon or find it on the audiobooks page at Weird Darkness.com. That's weirddarkness.com |
| 1:18.3 | slash audiobooks. |
| 1:21.3 | As heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third-party agencies |
| 1:25.3 | outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement |
| 1:27.7 | by Weird Darkness or myself. |
| 1:29.6 | Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and is intended |
| 1:33.9 | for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised. |
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