This is Crimehouse.

They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and most of the time that's true,

but in some situations, too much pain and suffering can drive a person to their absolute limit.

In 1920s, Pennsylvania, a man named John Blymire was on the brink.

He'd suffered from a mysterious, debilitating illness his entire life, and he was sick of being in pain.

So, John took matters into his own hands. He delved into a world of folk magic and rituals, in hopes of finding a cure for what ailed him.

But in the process, John discovered that the true reason for his mystery was something far darker than he'd imagined.

And in his quest to set himself free, John set down

a deadly path.

The human mind is powerful. It shapes how we think, feel, love, and hate. But sometimes it drives

people to commit the unthinkable. This is serial killers and murderous minds, a crimehouse

original. I'm Vanessa Richardson. And I'm forensicnsic Psychologist Dr. Tristan Ingalls.

Every Monday and Thursday, we uncover the darkest minds in history, analyzing what makes

a killer.

Crime House is made possible by you.

Follow serial killers and murderous minds and subscribe to Crimehouse Plus on Apple Podcasts for ad-free early

access to each two-part series. Before we get started, be advised this episode contains

descriptions of violence, so please listen with care. Today we begin our deep dive into what's

known as the Hex Hollow murder. In the 1920s, in York County, Pennsylvania, witchcraft played a very real role in many people's

lives. When a man named John Blymire became convinced that he'd been cursed, he was desperate

to find a way to end it. But this wasn't going to be an easy task, and John went to deadly extremes to make it happen.

As Vanessa goes through the story, I'll be talking about things like how some offenders are

...