Summary:

On a humid August evening in 1966, two Brazilian technicians set out on a secretive trip that ended with their lifeless bodies on Vintém Hill—dressed in suits, wearing homemade lead eye masks, and carrying a cryptic note that spoke of “swallowing capsules” and “awaiting a signal.” Nearly six decades later, the Lead Masks Case remains one of the most chilling and confounding unsolved mysteries in true crime and paranormal history.

In this solo episode, Jesus takes listeners through the haunting timeline of Manoel Pereira da Cruz and Miguel José Viana: their strange detour to Niterói, the last purchases they ever made, and the bizarre instructions that led them up the hill. Along the way, we dive into the tangled web of theories—UFO encounters, spiritualist experiments, drug overdoses, and possible foul play—that have kept this case alive in headlines and conspiracy circles for decades.

Key Talking Points:

Discovery of the bodies on Vintém Hill by a young boy.

The eerie crime scene: lead masks, raincoats, wet towels, and a cryptic note.

Timeline of the men’s final days, including their strange purchases and lies to their families.

Witness accounts of UFOs in the skies over Niterói that same evening.

Theories explored:

A failed “scientific spiritualist” experiment to contact aliens or spirits.

Foul play or a deadly scam tied to missing money.

Accidental overdose or misadventure with unknown capsules.

The curious involvement of their friend Élcio Gomes.

The confession of Hamilton Bezani and why investigators dismissed it.

Why the lack of autopsy and toxicology doomed the case from the start.

How this mystery lingers as a modern myth—blurring the line between science, faith, and the unexplained.

Contextual Deep Dive:

Background on Spiritism in Brazil during the 1960s and how it shaped beliefs about extraterrestrial contact.

Cultural fascination with UFOs during the Space Race era and how that influenced local narratives.

Investigative failures: how delays, decomposition, and bureaucratic backlog erased crucial forensic evidence.

Parallels to other unexplained “lead mask” deaths in Brazil, including a similar case from 1962.

The enduring legacy of the case in books, podcasts, and UFO literature.

Listener Prompts:

Do you think Manoel and Miguel died as a result of their own experiment gone wrong—or were they tricked by someone else?

How much weight do you give to the UFO witness sightings? Coincidence, embellishment, or genuine phenomenon?

If you were an investigator in 1966, which theory would you have pursued first?

Part of Hosts Jesus' story Arc #1 series

In 2013, 21-year-old Elisa Lam vanished from the infamous Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Weeks later, her body was discovered floating inside a rooftop water tank. The only clue? A haunting piece of elevator footage that went viral, triggering global conspiracy theories, ghost stories, and internet sleuth hysteria.

In this eerie deep dive, Jesus breaks down the disturbing timeline, chilling theories, and tragic truth behind one of the internet’s most enduring mysteries. We explore the real Elisa — her mental health struggles, her vulnerable writings — and the cursed legacy of the Cecil Hotel, where death and darkness have long checked in.

• Elisa Lam’s solo journey down the West Coast
• Her final days inside the Cecil Hotel
• The viral elevator footage: frame-by-frame breakdown
• Discovery of her body and the hotel’s disturbing water issue
• Autopsy report and inconsistencies

• Deep dive into theories:
• The Elevator Game
• LAM-ELISA TB test connection
• Cover-up and missing elevator footage
• Supernatural claims tied to the hotel
• The internet’s obsession and the harassment of Pablo Vergara (Morbid)
• The modern-day Cecil Hotel: supportive housing or still haunted?
• Final reflections: trauma, spectacle, and remembering Elisa as a person

• The Cecil Hotel has a long and bloody history, including ties to serial killers Richard Ramirez and Jack Unterweger.
• Elisa’s Tumblr (nouvelle-nouveau) gave the world insight into her inner world — from poetic quotes to cries for help.
• Her death sparked a cultural phenomenon that blurred lines between true crime, horror, and viral content, raising questions about mental health, media ethics, and the internet’s thirst for darkness.
• The Netflix documentary (2021) introduced new witnesses and controversies — including hotel staff perspectives and accusations of mishandled footage.
• The LAM-ELISA tuberculosis test, real and active during a nearby outbreak, added fuel to biowarfare conspiracies.
• Morbid (Pablo Vergara) was falsely accused by internet sleuths, leading to real psychological harm.
• As of 2024–2025, the Cecil Hotel is partially reopened as supportive housing, but much of it remains sealed off and vacant — its haunted reputation far from gone.

• Do you think Elisa Lam’s death was purely accidental… or something more sinister?
• What do you believe happened in the elevator?
• Should internet sleuths be held accountable when real lives are affected?
• Have you ever stayed somewhere with a dark history? Would you stay at the Cecil Hotel today?

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a35480838/elisa-lam-tumblr-nouvelle-nouveau-blog-crime-scene-online/

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-02-10/netflix-the-vanishing-at-the-cecil-hotel-crime-scene-elisa-lam

https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/elisa-lam-elevator-video-at-cecil-hotel-spawned-wild-theories

We're back. After some time away, Dudes VS Everything returns with new stories, fresh chaos, and the same two dudes ready to tackle whatever's weird, dark, or completely unexplainable. In this comeback episode, Jesus breaks down the mysterious disappearance of Brandon Lawson, a case that's haunted the internet for over a decade. Meanwhile, Rudy dives into the Pascagoula Abduction—an alien encounter so bizarre that even the cops believed it. This episode is part personal catch-up, part true crime, part high strangeness. No matter how you found us, we're glad you're here. Let's get weird again.

• Why we took a break
• Real-life updates from Jesus and Rudy
• What’s changing with the podcast moving forward
• New website, new polls, new community stuff
• The vibe check: where we’re at mentally, creatively, and with the world

• Timeline breakdown: August 8–9, 2013
• The chilling 911 call and its possible interpretations
• The confusing movements the night he vanished
• Drug use, paranoia, and the possibility of being chased
• Police response and missed opportunities
• His phone activity hours after the call
• 2022: His remains are found. But does it answer anything?
• The internet theories: cartel, cops, hallucination, or cover-up?
• What makes this case stick with so many people a decade later?

• 911 Call Audio and Analysis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f26k-5lX1g

• Written Transcript:

https://deadrunkcrime.home.blog/2019/12/13/episode-24-brandon-lawson

• Official Family Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/helpfindbrandonlawson

• News Coverage of Remains Discovery (2022):

https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/dna-confirms-remains-of-missing-texas-man-brandon-lawson/504-227b3261-9918-4e4b-b1f0-632e60341979

• Wikipedia Summary:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Brandon_Lawson

• October 11, 1973: Calvin Parker and Charles Hickson are fishing
• Their claim: they were paralyzed, floated into a spacecraft
• Description of the beings: robotic, no neck, crab-like claws
• Physical marks left on their bodies
• Hypnosis sessions and polygraph tests
• Skeptics vs believers: who was right?
• The secret police tape: what they said when they thought no one was listening
• Calvin Parker’s later life, public appearances, and final interviews

• Wikipedia Overview: