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The Book of the Dead

The Book of the Dead

By: Courtney Liso
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 Hosted by Courtney Liso, The Book of the Dead is a true crime podcast that focuses on the victims of lesser-known crimes. Each episode presents a deep dive into a case from around the world, dissecting the details to tell the whole story of who each victim was, in addition to what happened to them. Formerly hosted by a mother-daughter team, the podcast has evolved with one host, taking the care necessary to ensure each victim is honored as they should be. Join Courtney every Wednesday at 12am EST for a new chapter in The Book of the Dead.Copyright The Book of the Dead Podcast Politics & Government True Crime World
Episodes
  • Chapter 114: The Devil in the Details-The Unsolved Death of Jeannette DePalma w/ Brian Santana

    Chapter 114: The Devil in the Details-The Unsolved Death of Jeannette DePalma w/ Brian Santana
    Sep 3 2025
    On August 7, 1972, 16-year-old Jeannette DePalma left her home in Springfield, New Jersey, to go to work, but she never made it back home. Six weeks later, Jeannette's body was found atop Devil's Teeth, a cliff in Houdaille Quarry. With very little evidence, no clear suspects, and rumors of her being the victim of a Satanic Cult, her case has gone cold with no answers to be had for any of the countless questions left in the wake of her death. 53 years later, the mystery of what really happened to Jeannette DePalma has continued to baffle those who still remember her. Today, I am joined by Brian Santana to break down the case file and walk you through one of my home state's most baffling crimes. If you have any information about the death of Jeannette DePalma, please contact the Springfield Police Department at (973) 376-0400.Visit the Justice for Jeannette website and sign the petition Get A Murder On Campus: The Professor, The Cop, and North Carolina's Most Notorious Cold Case hereCheck out Chapter 91 with Brian and Cameron Santana hereCheck out Chapter 105: Summer's Almost Gone with Brian Santana and J.T. Townsend hereConnect with us on Social Media!You can find us at:Instagram: @bookofthedeadpodX: @bkofthedeadpodFacebook: The Book of the Dead PodcastTikTok: BookofthedeadpodOr visit our website at www.botdpod.comFeaturing a promo for The Final Trace:The Final Trace is a true crime podcast unraveling the most chilling disappearances, cold cases, and solved mysteries that still leave us asking questions. Hosted by two friends with a passion for true crime (and a little bit of sass), each episode explores the final known moments, forgotten clues, and the theories that keep us up at night. From strange sightings to shocking conclusions, we follow the clues wherever they lead—because sometimes the scariest part isn’t the mystery… it’s the truth.Listen hereAssociated Press. (1972a, September 30). Witchcraft seen possible in teen-age girl’s death. The Central New Jersey Home News, 3.Associated Press. (1972b, October 3). Say witch is murder probe aid. The Daily Register, 1.Associated Press. (1972c, October 31). Satanism seen gaining followers. Asbury Park Press, 26.Associated Press. (1973, January 19). Drifter sought in girl’s death. Press of Atlantic City, 37.Burke, E. C. (1971, July 6). ‘Satan Cult’ Death, Drugs Jolt Peaceful Vineland, N. J. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1971/07/06/archives/-satan-cult-death-drugs-jolt-peaceful-vineland-nj-satan-cult-death-.html#:~:text=There%20are%20also%20other%2C%20new,Body%20is%20FoundDeak, M. (2019, September 10). Judge denies DNA test of Jeannette DePalma’s clothes. The Central New Jersey Home News, 1A-9A.DePalma, Jeannette. (1972, September 21). The Star-Ledger, 60.Entry | Timelines | US Religion. (n.d.). The Association of Religion Data Archives (the ARDA). https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/history/timelines/entry?etype=3&eid=47#:~:text=Description,the%20modern%20Christian%20music%20industry.Everett, R. (2021, February 7). A tragic mystery, but likely no satanic rite. The Star-Ledger, A17–A18.FACTS | Justice for Jeannette DePalma. (n.d.). https://justiceforjeannette.com/facts/Harland, P. (2006, March 23). Satanic Conspiracies of the 1970s and 1980s (Satan 12). Ethnic Relations and Migration in the Ethnic World. https://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2006/03/satanic-conspiracies-of-1970s-and-1980s-satan/Jeannette Christine DePalma (1956-1972) - Find a. . . (1956, August 3). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/245014849/jeannette_christine-depalmaMuscavage, N. (2019, August 25). What happened to teen found dead in 1972: Jeannette DePalma’s arm, then body was discovered 47 years ago. The Central New Jersey Home News, 1A-11A.Schwartz, A. (2015, January 5). Conspiracy or serial killer? Two theories offered on unsolved 1974 murder of NB teens. The Hudson Reporter. https://web.archive.org/web/20150610051820/http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/26402295/article-Conspiracy--or-serial-killer----Two-theories-offered-on-unsolved-1974-murder-of-NB-teens-?instance=north_bergenUPDATED: Who killed Jeannette DePalma? (n.d.). https://weirdnj.com/weird-news/jeannette-depalma/If you enjoyed the episode, consider leaving a review or rating! It helps more than you know! If you have a case suggestion, or want attention brought to a loved one's case, email me at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.com with Case Suggestion in the subject line.Stay safe, stay curious, and stay vigilant.
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Novela 10: Hannah Cranna, The Witch of Monroe w/ Rogue Darkness

    Novela 10: Hannah Cranna, The Witch of Monroe w/ Rogue Darkness
    Aug 27 2025
    As I work on a case that is far more involved than I originally thought, dive into the chilling legend of Hannah Cranna, often called the Wicked Witch of Monroe in this episode hosted by Raven of Rogue Darkness. Feared throughout 19th-century Connecticut, Hannah’s reputation was built on tales of witchcraft, curses, and paranormal misfortune said to befall anyone who crossed her. Even her death and burial became the stuff of haunted New England folklore, cementing her place in history as one of the region’s most infamous legends. Was Hannah Cranna truly a witch—or just a woman condemned by rumor and superstition?

    Check out Rogue Darkness here

    Connect with us on Social Media!
    You can find us at:
    Instagram: @bookofthedeadpod
    X: @bkofthedeadpod
    Facebook: The Book of the Dead Podcast
    TikTok: Bookofthedeadpod
    Or visit our website at www.botdpod.com

    If you enjoyed the episode, consider leaving a review or rating! It helps more than you know!
    If you have a case suggestion, or want attention brought to a loved one's case, email me at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.com with Case Suggestion in the subject line.

    Stay safe, stay curious, and stay vigilant.
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    17 mins
  • Chapter 113: Blood in the Hudson-The Bag Murders, Addison Verrill, and The Exorcist Curse

    Chapter 113: Blood in the Hudson-The Bag Murders, Addison Verrill, and The Exorcist Curse
    Aug 20 2025
    In the 1970s, New York's LGBTQ Community was gripped by fear; from a string of grisly unsolved killings known as the “Bag Murders,” to the shocking murder of film critic Addison Verrill, and whispers of a Hollywood curse surrounding The Exorcist. At the center of these intersecting stories stands Paul Bateson, a man described as handsome and charismatic, yet linked to both cinema lore and real-life violence. In one of New York City's darkest chapters, fact and fiction collided, spawning an evil that was very much rooted in reality. Connect with us on Social Media!You can find us at:Instagram: @bookofthedeadpodX: @bkofthedeadpodFacebook: The Book of the Dead PodcastTikTok: BookofthedeadpodOr visit our website at www.botdpod.comFeaturing a promo for Rogue Darkness PodcastWelcome to Rogue Darkness! Let’s talk about how misinterpretations and misinformation surrounding witchcraft, the occult, and other beliefs have lead many to do unthinkable crimes. From cults and ritualistic killings, to exploration of the macabre and delving deep into the unknown, let’s explore the darkness of mankind one crime at a time!Listen hereA pride guide to gay Greenwich Village. (n.d.). https://www.incentravillage.com/a-gay-pride-guide-to-greenwich-villageAddison Harding Verrill Jr. (1941-1977) - Find a. . . (1941a, August 11). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22207547/addison_harding-verrillAssociated press. (1979, April 7). Police tie homosexual killings to slaying of Variety film critic. Newsday, 15.Bono, S. (2021, July 2). How the Bag Murders and the Last Call Killer Put in Focus the Dangers the New York LGBTQ+ Community Faces. Inside Edition. https://www.insideedition.com/how-the-bag-murders-and-the-last-call-killer-put-in-focus-the-dangers-the-new-york-lgbtq-communityContreras, C. (2025, January 28). The exorcist cast endured deaths, fires and more mishaps - was the set haunted? SYFY. https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/was-the-exorcist-set-really-cursed-and-hauntedGrey, O. (2019, August 19). One Day This City’s Gonna Explode: Friedkin’s Cruising (1980) on Blu-ray. Unwinnable. https://unwinnable.com/2019/08/19/cruising/Hardwick, C. (2021, October 27). QUEER CRIME: The legend of the serial killer who was in 'The Exorcist' IN Magazine. https://inmagazine.ca/2021/10/queer-crime-the-legend-of-the-serial-killer-who-was-in-the-exorcist/Martin, & Roland. (2023, September 22). The Exorcist | Summary, Cast, Curse, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Exorcist-film-by-FriedkinMcKennett, H. (2024, February 27). Paul Bateson: the “Mindhunter” murderer who appeared in “The Exorcist.”All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/paul-batesonMiller, M. (2018a, October 25). Searching for the truth about the actual murderer in the exorcist. Esquire. https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a23724262/paul-bateson-the-exorcist-murderer-true-story/Miller, M. (2018b, October 25). Searching for the truth about the actual murderer in the exorcist. Esquire. https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a23724262/paul-bateson-the-exorcist-murderer-true-story/Murderer of a Writer Is Implicated in Cases Of Unsolved Slayings. (1979, April 7). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1979/04/07/archives/murderer-of-a-writer-is-implicated-in-cases-of-unsolved-slayings-he.htmlProfessional, C. C. M. (2024, December 19). Angiogram. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4977-angiographySUSPECT HELD IN KILLING OF REPORTER FOR VARIETY. (1977, September 24). New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1977/09/24/archives/suspect-held-in-killing-of-reporter-for-variety.htmlThe Crooked Timber: A Conversation with William Friedkin. (2012, August 13). MUBI. https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/the-crooked-timber-a-conversation-with-william-friedkinThe Exorcist. (1974). Castle of Frankenstein, 22, 30–37. https://archive.org/details/Castle_of_Frankenstein_022_whole_Vol6n2_1974c2cChersUsedRazor-DREGS/page/36/mode/2upThe Village Voice - Google News Archive Search. (n.d.-a). https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1299&dat=19771031&id=-QBOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=94sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6360,2217416The Village Voice - Google News Archive Search. (n.d.-b). https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AXRhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OYsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5662%2C5217392The Village Voice - Google News Archive Search. (n.d.-c). https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9gBOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=94sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4659%2C4348Velkova, V. (2024, May 17). Paul Bateson, From “The Exorcist” To A Murderer. Medium. https://medium.com/@victoria.vlkva/paul-bateson-from-the-exorcist-to-a-murderer-cf8fefef34f2Villarreal, D. (2019, September 8). Netflix’s ‘Mindhunter’ presents the scary, mysterious story of a real-life gay serial killer. LGBTQnation. https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2019/09/netflixs-mindhunter-presents-scary-mysterious-story-real-life-gay-serial-killer/If you enjoyed the episode, consider leaving a review or rating! It helps ...
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    31 mins
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