A yoga teacher turned self-proclaimed messiah built a secretive cult in Australia—stealing children, dosing them with LSD, and preparing them for a doomsday that never came.

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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.
IN THIS EPISODE: The Hamilton-Byrne family was anything but typical, rather it was a doomsday cult with a leader who believed herself to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. (Inside the Family Cult) *** On this date, October 24, 1953, Evelyn Hartley, a 15-year-old sophomore from La Crosse, Wisconsin, vanished without a trace while on her way to a babysitting job. It was like something out of a Halloween urban legend but in this case, the horror was real. (The Babysitter Who Vanished) *** The odd happening that takes place here and there in a house more than likely can be explained in some rational way. Even quite a few strange occurrences could probably be explained by science. But when the events seem to never stop, perhaps it’s time to think something else is going on. (An Assortment of Experiences) *** Legend tells a centuries-old curse was placed upon Dudleytown in Connecticut. The town turned into a horrible place where people committed suicide or went insane. (Cursed Dudleytown) *** Exactly 92 years ago today – October 24, 1926 - something went wrong during a performance by Harry Houdini. A week later, he would be dead. (Houdini's Final Performance) *** In the Oakland Cemetery, a bronze monument to tragedy is said to bring death to anyone who touches it. (Black Angel of Death) *** While camping, a man has dreams of a dark-haired woman several nights in a row. Normally it wouldn’t be anything to be all that concerned about, but it’s something to fear if you are near the French Broad river. (Siren of the French Broad) *** Alien visitors, beings from a different dimension, our planet even had tree monsters and sentient pyramids showing up – and all in the year 1965. (The Inter-Dimensional Interlopers of 1965) *** A retired naval officer reports rocks falling through his home’s roof – dozens in a single day – with no explanation of where they came from. (Cappy Ricks and the Stones) *** In 1994 a man has a paranormal experience with a popular song recorded two decades earlier. (The Joker) *** Is there a clandestine space program designed to save the elite from a global catastrophe? (Alternative 3)

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Lead-In
00:00:52.887 = Show Open
00:02:10.120 = Inside the Family Cult
00:10:17.627 = The Babysitter Who Vanished
00:18:34.842 = An Assortment of Experiences
00:26:32.579 = Cursed Dudleytown
00:31:56.143 = Houdini’s Final Performance
00:39:35.610 = Alternative 3
01:03:06.389 = Oakland Cemetery’s Black Angel of Death
01:07:41.975 = Siren of the French Broad
01:16:13.438 = Interdimensional Interlopers of 1965
01:27:55.755 = The Joker
01:31:35.249 = Cappy Ricks and the Poltergeist Stones
01:38:22.107 = Show Close

SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…
“The Babysitter Who Vanished” by Troy Taylor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3nzr6k3t
“An Assortment of Experiences”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bdfnz8u5
“Inside the Family Cult” by Joel Stice: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mtvduhy3
“Cursed Dudleytown”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bf3668np
“Houdini’s Final Performance” by Troy Taylor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yrwap7k9
“Alternative 3”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2wnw9jv6
“Oakland Cemetery’s Black Angel of Death” by Orrin Grey: http://ow.ly/v2m430mkGWs
“The Interdimensional Interlopers of 1965” by Brent Swancer: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5n7u987t
“Siren of the French Broad”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/an3ehray
“The Joker” by Rory Kavenagh – submitted directly to Weird Darkness.com
“Cappy Ricks and the Poltergeist Stones” by Cropster: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/zsar9cna
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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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Originally aired: October 24, 2018

EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/FamilyCult