Among Monsters delves into the chilling true story of Marcus Wesson, the self-proclaimed "Vampire Father" who orchestrated one of America's most horrific family massacres in Fresno, California.

In this harrowing episode, host Damien Vale unearths the twisted life and dark legacy of Marcus Wesson, a man who transformed his own family into a captive cult. Discover how Wesson, a drifter from Kansas, meticulously groomed, abused, and controlled his daughters and nieces, fathering multiple children through incest, all while constructing a terrifying, personalized theology centered on blood, divine death, and his absolute power as "Master."

Explore the disturbing details of his isolated household, where children were denied education, lived in squalor, and were indoctrinated into a bizarre "Arrangement"—a suicide pact meant to "preserve holiness." Learn about the dramatic standoff on March 12, 2004, when police responded to a child custody dispute that tragically unmasked Wesson's house of horrors, revealing nine bodies—seven children and two young women—all executed.

This isn't just a crime story; it's a deep dive into the psychological terror of generational abuse, religious manipulation, and cultic control. Damien Vale examines Wesson's background, his time in the military, and the insidious methods he used to bind his victims to him, even unto death. Understand the complex trial that followed and the lasting impact on the survivors and the Fresno community.

Join us as we question the true nature of evil and explore how monsters can emerge in the most unexpected places—within a family, under the guise of faith. A crucial listen for true crime enthusiasts, those interested in cult dynamics, and anyone seeking to understand the darkest corners of human behavior.

#MarcusWesson #TrueCrime #FresnoMurders #FamilyMassacre #Cults #ReligiousAbuse #IncestSurvivor #ChildAbuse #AmericanCrime #VampireFather #PsychologicalThriller #MurderMystery #DamienVale #AmongMonsters #Podcast #CrimePodcast #TrueCrimeCommunity #CrimeDocs #DarkHistory #PsychologyOfCrime #SerialKiller (though he was not a serial killer in the traditional sense, people might search this for extreme cases) #DomesticViolence #ColdCaseFiles (though solved, the impact resonates) #CriminalJustice #ForensicFiles (for those interested in investigation) #UnsolvedMysteries (even if solved, the 'why' remains a mystery) #CultLeader #RealCrime #HorrorStories #CaliforniaCrime

Uncover the deeply unsettling, unsolved deaths of Ira Briscoe and Limon Little in Sikeston, Missouri, in 1953, in this Among Monsters episode. Explore how these two Black men met their violent ends within months of each other, during the harsh era of Jim Crow segregation. This podcast meticulously details the official, yet highly contested, narratives: Briscoe's alleged suicide by hanging in police custody at the Sikeston city jail, despite evidence of severe bruising, and Little's supposed accidental drowning after a confrontation with a white city marshal, despite signs of a beating. Investigate the overwhelming community suspicion of murder and cover-up by local authorities, fueled by eyewitness accounts of injuries inconsistent with official reports. This professionally narrated true crime story sheds light on the systemic racial injustice, lack of accountability, and widespread fear that plagued Black communities in the mid-20th century South. Essential listening for true crime enthusiasts, historians, and those interested in civil rights cold cases, offering a profound look into the monsters of unchecked power and prejudice.

#IraBriscoe #LimonLittle #SikestonMO #MissouriTrueCrime #JimCrowSouth #RacialInjustice #UnsolvedMurders #PoliceBrutality #ColdCase #1953Mystery #AfricanAmericanHistory #Segregation #SystemicRacism #AmongMonsters #CrimePodcast #CivilRightsHistory #MissouriHistory #UnaccountableJustice #ForensicFiles #ConspiracyTheory #TrueCrimeCommunity #PodcastSEO #ApplePodcasts #GooglePodcasts #OrganicRanking #UnheardStories #BlackHistory #SouthernGothic #TrueCrimePodcast

Uncover the heartbreaking truth behind the murder of Hailey Owens in this Among Monsters episode. Explore the tragic 2014 abduction of the 10-year-old girl in Springfield, Missouri, and the swift, brutal crime committed by Craig Michael Wood, a seemingly ordinary and trusted neighborhood cable technician. This podcast details the immediate Amber Alert, the frantic community search, and the horrific discovery of Hailey's body at Wood's residence. Delve into the killer's methodical depravity, his lack of prior violent history, and how his profession provided a chilling cover. The episode meticulously recounts the investigation by the Springfield Police Department (SPD), Wood's subsequent trial and conviction for first-degree murder, kidnapping, and rape, and his ultimate death sentence. This professionally narrated true crime story emphasizes the profound betrayal of trust, the devastating impact on the Springfield, Missouri, community, and the ongoing advocacy for child safety. Essential listening for true crime enthusiasts, parents, and anyone seeking to understand the insidious nature of predators hiding in plain sight.

#HaileyOwens #TrueCrime #SpringfieldMO #MissouriMurders #ChildAbduction #CraigWood #TrustedNeighbor #SerialKiller #Kidnapping #Rape #DeathPenalty #UnspeakableCrimes #AmongMonsters #CrimePodcast #PoliceInvestigation #JusticeForHailey #ChildSafety #PredatorInPlainSight #CommunityImpact #TrueCrimeCommunity #PodcastSEO #ApplePodcasts #GooglePodcasts #OrganicRanking #TragicDeath #ForensicFiles #CriminalPsychology #LocalCrime #MidwestCrime

Explore the perplexing and unresolved death of Lauren Cho in this Among Monsters episode. Delve into the mysterious disappearance of the 30-year-old former music teacher from Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in June 2021, from an Airbnb property between Yucca Valley and Morongo Valley, California. This podcast details the argument with her friend and former boyfriend, Cody Orell, her departure without a phone or essentials, and the initial search efforts by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Uncover the heartbreaking discovery of her remains in October 2021 and the crucial autopsy results that listed her cause and manner of death as "undetermined" and "unknown." Examine the theories surrounding her vanishing, including voluntary disappearance, accidental death in the harsh desert, or potential foul play. This professionally narrated episode also addresses the media attention disparity compared to other missing persons cases and the family's persistent search for answers. A compelling listen for true crime enthusiasts, those interested in missing persons cases, and the mysteries of the California desert.

#LaurenCho #YuccaValley #MissingPerson #UnsolvedMystery #TrueCrime #CaliforniaMystery #MorongoValley #JoshuaTree #UndeterminedDeath #ColdCase #AmongMonsters #Podcast #TrueCrimeCommunity #SanBernardinoCounty #DesertMystery #CodyOrell #Disappearance #MusicTeacher #CaliforniaDesert #UnexplainedDeath #JusticeForLaurenCho #PodcastSEO #ApplePodcasts #GooglePodcasts #OrganicRanking #Missing411 #TrueCrimePodcast #UnresolvedCase #MysterySolved #SanBernardino #CaliforniaTrueCrime #HikingMystery

Explore the shocking and iconic performance art piece Marina Abramović's Rhythm 0 in this Among Monsters episode. Delve into the 1974 performance in Naples, Italy, where Abramović stood passive for six hours, allowing the audience to use 72 objects, ranging from a rose to a loaded gun, on her body. This podcast meticulously details the chilling escalation from gentle interactions to acts of extreme depravity, including cutting her clothes, slicing her skin, and aiming a loaded gun at her head. Discover how this powerful endurance art piece became a real-time study in human nature, power dynamics, and the absence of consequence, echoing notorious social experiments. Learn about the psychological implications of the audience's behavior and Abramović's profound insights into humanity's capacity for both care and cruelty when inhibitions are removed. Essential listening for art enthusiasts, psychology students, and anyone fascinated by the darkest aspects of the human condition and the power of performance art to reveal uncomfortable truths.

#MarinaAbramović #Rhythm0 #PerformanceArt #HumanDepravity #SocialExperiment #Psychology #NaplesItaly #ArtHistory #EnduranceArt #UnsettlingArt #HumanNature #TrueCrimePodcast #AmongMonsters #PsychologicalThriller #Vulnerability #PowerDynamics #AbsenceOfConsequence #MilgramExperiment #StanfordPrisonExperiment #ArtisticExpression #ControversialArt #DamienVale #PodcastSEO #ApplePodcasts #GooglePodcasts #OrganicRanking #HumanCruelty

Uncover the chilling reality of the Zebra Murders, a racially motivated serial killing spree that terrorized San Francisco, California, from 1973-1974, in this Among Monsters episode. Learn about the vicious group of four Black serial killers – J.C.X. Simon, Manuel Moore, Larry Green, and Jesse Lee Cooks – who, driven by anti-white racism and an extremist ideology often linked to splinter groups of the Nation of Islam, targeted white victims with extreme brutality. This podcast meticulously details their systematic methods, including random shootings, beatings, and instances of torture, and the horrific decapitation of one victim. Explore the San Francisco Police Department's controversial "Zebra" code and their highly criticized "stop and search" tactics. Discover how an informant, Anthony Harris, eventually brought critical insider evidence leading to the killers' convictions. This professionally narrated true crime episode offers an in-depth, unflinching look at one of America's most racially charged crime sprees, its devastating impact on San Francisco, and the historical context of its resolution. Perfect for true crime enthusiasts, students of criminal psychology, and those interested in the darker chapters of American history.

#ZebraMurders #SanFranciscoCrime #TrueCrime #SerialKillers #RaciallyMotivatedCrime #HateCrime #1970sTrueCrime #ColdCase #UnsolvedMysteries #AmongMonsters #CrimePodcast #RacialViolence #SFPD #DeathAngels #JCSimon #ManuelMoore #LarryGreen #JesseLeeCooks #AnthonyHarris #SanFranciscoHistory #CriminalJustice #TrueCrimeCommunity #PodcastSEO #ApplePodcasts #GooglePodcasts #OrganicRanking #ViciousCrimes #RacialTerror #NationOfIslam #AmericanHistory #UnspeakableActs #CriminalMinds #PodcastForTrueCrime

Dive deep into the chilling true story of Jeffrey Dahmer, the notorious Milwaukee Cannibal, in this harrowing episode of Among Monsters. Explore the disturbing life and heinous crimes of one of America's most infamous serial killers, who murdered 17 young men between 1978 and 1991. This podcast meticulously details Dahmer's horrific acts of necrophilia, cannibalism, and dismemberment, and his systematic methods of luring victims from bars and bus stops in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Uncover the controversial instances of police negligence, including the tragic return of Konerak Sinthasomphone to Dahmer's apartment, which allowed his reign of terror to continue. Learn about his eventual capture, his calm confessions, the sensational trial, and his ultimate death in prison. This professionally narrated episode provides an in-depth psychological and chronological analysis of Dahmer's descent into depravity, the impact on the victims' families, and the lasting legacy of his monstrous acts. Essential listening for true crime enthusiasts, psychology students, and anyone seeking to understand the darkest corners of criminal history.

#JeffreyDahmer #MilwaukeeCannibal #TrueCrime #SerialKiller #Necrophilia #Cannibalism #Dismemberment #Milwaukee #Wisconsin #TrueCrimePodcast #AmongMonsters #CriminalPsychology #ColdCase #HorrorStories #RealCrime #PoliceNegligence #KonerakSinthasomphone #OxfordApartments #CrimeHistory #ForensicFiles #Psychopathy #SerialKillerFacts #PodcastSEO #ApplePodcasts #GooglePodcasts #OrganicRanking #DisturbingCases #TrueCrimeCommunity #AmericanSerialKillers #PsychologicalThriller #MurderInvestigation #UnspeakableCrimes

The Honolulu Strangler: Unsolved Murders in Paradise

Join Damien Vale on "Among Monsters Podcast" as he delves into the terrifying case of the Honolulu Strangler, an unidentified serial killer who stalked Hawaii's capital in the mid-1980s. Discover the chilling pattern of five women raped and murdered, their bodies found in lagoons and streams, their hands bound. Explore the intense police investigation, the profile of the opportunistic predator, and the frustrating dead ends, including a primary suspect who was never charged. Uncover how this reign of terror shattered the tranquility of paradise and remains one of Hawaii's most haunting unsolved mysteries.

#HonoluluStrangler #Hawaii #unsolvedmystery #serialkiller #coldcase #truecrimepodcast #DamienVale #AmongMonstersPodcast #1980sCrime #VickiGailPurdy #ReginaSakamoto #DeniseHughes #LouiseMedeiros #LindaPesce #Honolulu #HawaiiCrime #UnidentifiedKiller #JusticeForVictims #SexualAssault #Strangulation #TrueCrime