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Weird Darkness: Stories of the Paranormal, True Crime, Legends, Lore, Mysterious, Macabre, Unsolved

THE MURDEROUS HARPE BROTHERS: A Reign of Terror By America’s First Serial Killers

Weird Darkness: Stories of the Paranormal, True Crime, Legends, Lore, Mysterious, Macabre, Unsolved

Darren Marlar

True Crime, History, Society & Culture, Documentary, Science, Religion & Spirituality

4.64K Ratings

🗓️ 12 June 2025

⏱️ 108 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In the lawless Kentucky frontier of the 1790s, two brothers unleashed a reign of terror so savage that even hardened outlaws were sickened by their bloodlust—culminating in an act so heinous that one brother murdered his own crying infant daughter by smashing her head against a tree.

Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate

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: Are ghosts and shadow people the same thing? Author Jacob Shelton doesn’t think so – and gives us an in-depth essay behind his reasoning. (Ghosts And Shadows) *** In September, 1935, the Labor Day Hurricane obliterated the Florida Keys, killing hundreds.  Even today, more than 83 years later, skeletal remains still continue to occasionally be found… as do some of their ghosts.  (Ghosts Of The Labor Day Hurricane) *** Nathaniel Bar-Jonah was accused of murdering a child. Soon, his neighbors remembered the strange meat he'd given them years before.  (Child Killer and Cannibal) *** Was the notorious Dr Crippen, convicted and executed in 1910 for the murder of his wife Cora, actually innocent? (Dr. Crippen and the Chamber of Murder and Horror) *** Two women decide to move into a flat together – but quickly find out they might have a paranormal third roommate they didn’t know about. (The Other Flatmate) *** In the wild frontier of the 1790s, Americans had much to be worried about.  Drought, famine, being injured with no one there to get help for you, poisonous snakes, hungry wolves, even being scalped by bloodthirsty natives of the land.  But nothing was so scary as… the Harpe brothers.  You see, the Harpe brothers didn’t choose their victims – they simply killed anyone who got in their way, including women and children. (Two of the Outlaws of Cave-In Rock) *** “The Witch in My Dream” *** “The Old Hag” *** “The Aunt and the TV” *** “The Phone Call” *** “The Terrifying Vision of a Hanging Man” *** “The Tugging Ghost of Alabama” *** “The Return of the Living Dead” *** “The Sinister Dark Shadows That Haunt My Life” *** “A Thrill From Contacting The Dead” *** "Haunted Road" *** "Greenville’s Haunted Herdklotz Park" *** "Kitchen Poltergeist" *** "Lifted Off His Feet" *** "The Strange Tale of the Italian Bride - The Haunting Story of Julia Buccola Petta" *** "Castle of the White Lady"

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
(Sorry, this information has been lost over time.)

SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…
(Sorry, sources for many of the stories in this episode have been lost over time.)
“Ghosts and Shadows” by Jacob Shelton”: http://ow.ly/QWtJ30m1gGF
“Child Killer and Cannibal” by Wyatt Redd: http://ow.ly/w3LT30m1fSy
“Ghosts Of The Labor Day Hurricane” posted at Ghosts N Ghouls: http://ow.ly/ZsTX30m1gcb
“Dr. Crippen and the Chamber of Murder and Horror” posted at The Unredacted: http://ow.ly/MsGr30m1fx1
“The Harpe Brothers: Two Of The Outlaws Of Cave-In Rock” by Troy Taylor: http://ow.ly/hk4930m1fy1
“The Other Flatmate” by Jubeele: http://ow.ly/wSxJ30m1fzu
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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.)
= = = = =
"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: September 29, 2018
EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/HarpeBros

Transcript

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0:00.0

Do you like my horrorable humor episodes called Mind of Marler?

0:05.9

If so, and you'd like more, it now has its very own podcast.

0:10.0

Comedic creeps, sarcastic scares, frivolous freights, macabre madness.

0:15.1

Every week I dive into strange history, twisted true crime, and paranormal weirdness.

0:19.9

All the stuff he'd expect from me on weird Darkness, but delivered with dark comedy, satire,

0:25.0

and just the right amount of absurdity.

0:27.5

Monsters, myths, mysteries, mirth, and more every Monday with Mind of Marler.

0:32.4

I like alliteration, can you tell?

0:34.3

You can find a list of where you can subscribe to the podcast at weirddarkness.com

0:38.5

under the menu tab for podcasts.

0:44.6

In the late 18th century, the untamed country of Kentucky and Illinois was still the wild frontier. Before it could be tamed

0:56.7

by settlers, it was the domain of some of the most bloodthirsty killers and thieves in

1:02.8

American history. Among them were two men who terrorized the frontier out of pure bloodlust.

1:12.2

It took years for the authorities to end their killing spree because the Harp Brothers

1:17.2

didn't choose their victims.

1:20.2

They simply killed anyone who got in their way, including women and children.

1:27.1

In fact, on August 16, 1978, one of the brothers smashed a baby's head against a tree.

1:36.6

He said he did it because she annoyed him by constantly crying.

1:41.1

That was bad enough, but the worst part, it was his own daughter.

1:48.4

I'm Darren Marler, and this is Weird Darkness.

1:57.0

Welcome, weirdoes.

2:01.6

I'm Darren Marler, and this is Weird Darkness.

...

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