Imagine you're standing in front of a display case at a museum, Moises Hall Museum, to be precise.

The historic stone building in Suffolk, England, dates back to the 12th century and houses an eclectic mix of exhibits. One tells the story of William

Carter and the Red Barn Murder of 1827. Among the artifacts in the case are William's death

mask and a book detailing his crimes and trial bound in William's skin. Next to that is a second piece of his skin, including his ear, preserved for nearly two centuries.

Before William was even convicted of killing his lover, Maria Martin, the story had already

become legendary.

Since then, the Red Barn murder has gone down in history as one of the most

infamous crimes of its era. It spawned ballads, sermons, and stage plays all over the world

that are still put on to this day. So what made this story so enduring? Was it that the lives of both victim and killer felt particularly tragic?

Perhaps it was the prophetic nightmares that reportedly led Maria's father straight to the

spot where William kept her remains hidden for months.

Or maybe it has to do with a strange journey that William Carter's body took after his death

when he was dissected, displayed, and reportedly traded among collectors, leaving a string of ghost stories in his wake.

Welcome to serial killers, a Spotify podcast.

Every Monday, we bring you the true crime stories that stand out.

I'm your guest host, Sapphire Sandalo.

You may know me from my shows Stories with Sapphire

or from Discovery's The Ghost Town Terror.

Be sure to check us out on Instagram at Serial Killers Podcast.

We'd love to hear from you.

If you're listening on the Spotify app, swipe up and give us your thoughts.

This episode includes discussions of violence, child death, suicide, and murder.

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