investigation:

Feeling weary after a long day traveling in a rickety wagon? Stop into a cozy little house and forget your worries with a simple seance ritual; or so you think. Join us on today's episode as Hatter takes us on a messy ride to the Osage trails multitudinous murders of unsuspecting travelers, succumbing to the charms of a sweetly dubious Kate Bender and her devious family0:00 Settling back into the frontier with this intro03:44 Benders arrive to conduct seance business with some pretty weird mannerisms12:13 Too many disappearing travelers for the Osage trails taste18:15 The Bender’s constant evasion from the law concerning their heinous crimes26:14 Conflicting narratives of incarceration or executions of the Benders31:07 Unknown family origins and shocking discoveries of who they truly are35:55 Share your thoughts at investigatingwithus@gmail.com and help us debunk the way complete strangers could conspire together37:40 A sneak peek into our next episode & outroResources:Kansas Historical Society Legends of America Richmond, Kansas: A History of the Sunflower State Zink, Wicked Kansas Smithsonian Magazinehttps://www.humanitieskansas.org/get-involved/kansas-stories/people/true-crime-in-kansas-the-mystery-of-the-bendershttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Bendershttps://web.archive.org/web/20111010080847/http://www.flexassistant.com/images/Benders.pdfhttps://legendsofkansas.com/labette-county-kansas/https://kualumni.org/stories/bloody-benders-property/https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2024/10/bloody-benders/https://nypost.com/2022/03/26/how-a-serial-killer-family-murdered-8-and-got-away-with-it/https://www.kansashistory.gov/kansapedia/bender-knife/10106https://www.kansashistory.gov/kansapedia/kate-bender/11980https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ks-benders/

Dig deep into today's episode with us as we uncover the secrets of what truly happened with the rumor of sinkhole Sam and the possible offspring of a 12 foot gorilla known as the Bayman Monster. Hatter tells us the tragedies of sinkholes and the creature that may lurk below and slither above, and Scoot takes us on a wild ride to the countryside investigating circus train derailments0:00 Kicking off the intro with some interesting sinkhole facts and stories08:02 Sinkhole Sam makes his slithery debut13:30 Monster hunters swarm the site expecting an encounter16:12 Dig deeper with us into the snake theory as we conclude sinkhole Sam 20:00 Giant gorilla's escape from the circus train derailment23:04 Mysterious timeline doesn't add up: Bizarre sightings of the beast26:57 A hunter’s horrifying experience with the monster29:02 Sorority prank or legitimate creature? Share your final thoughts with us at investigatingwithus@gmail.com 32:32 Outrohttps://www.stronghold-nation.com/history/myth/the-beaman-monsterhttps://flinthillsparanormal.com/cryptozoology/kansas-cryptids/cryptids-kansas-beaman-monster/https://1428elm.com/2023/01/31/call-of-the-cryptid-beaman-monster-gorilla-wolf-coyote-missouri/https://themercury.com/opinion/columns/off-the-beat-the-colorful-cryptids-of-kansas/article_a38d69ce-461f-5606-a271-e2ad799a6739.htmlhttps://101theeagle.com/not-mo-mo-missouris-other-bigfoot-known-as-the-beaman-monster/https://www.circusesandsideshows.com/circus_train_wrecks.htmlhttps://www.onlyinyourstate.com/experiences/kansas/4-cryptids-in-kansashttps://contacting2109.com/the-beaman-monster-escaped-circus-gorilla-mates-with-local-bigfoot/https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/news/2008/02/27/monster-tales-alive-in/21518630007/https://www.reddit.com/r/Cryptozoology/comments/11m63mk/the_beaman_monster_is_a_cryptid_ape_reported_from/ (Reddit story)

Imagine this: you're a successful business woman during the great depression with your family waiting for you to come home after work, but you do not show up one night. You're snatched from the driveway of your own home and whisked away to an unfamiliar place forced to transcribe a ransom note. Join your hosts today as this episode throws us a severe curve ball in the case0:00 Terrifying introduction01:08 Building her designing business creating a target on her back06:09 The devious trap is set into motion11:11 Lawyer takes action when her absence is made known13:17 One does not simply mess with the mob17:20 Panic-stricken perpetrators located abroad19:24 Clutch your pearls in this scandalous revelation in the case24:28 Finale that will leave you shooketh to the core: we may be attending therapy after this. Join us at investigatingwithus@gmail.com28:57 Outro and bloopershttps://pendergastkc.org/names/lazia-john-fhttps://www.mentalfloss.com/crime/mob-saved-kidnapped-nell-donnelly-reedhttps://kchistory.org/blog/nelly-gone-kcq-traces-kidnapping-nell-donnellyhttps://pendergastkc.org/articles/kidnapping-nell-donnellyhttps://research.fashionconservatory.com/blog/nelly-dons-unexpected-legacyhttps://atomicredhead.com/2023/03/29/the-tale-of-nell-donnelly-fashion-icon-rescued-by-the-mob/https://iandrummondvintage.com/blogs/fashion-history/the-incredible-true-story-of-the-woman-behind-nelly-don?srsltid=AfmBOoq4YnyZ_mklv2iES2sdQYW9-ptgZ_W7M14gOzH-MpOl_5pQW4WVhttps://kchistory.org/this-week-kc-history/strange-bedfellowshttps://mhctc.missouri.edu/collection/nelly-don/https://www.kansascity.com/news/your-kcq/article255215101.htmlhttps://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/nell-donnelly-reed/#:~:text=The%20company%20survived%20the%20Great,the%20children%20of%20her%20employees.https://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/exhibit/nelly-don/#:~:text=Nell%20Donnelly%20Reed%2C%20born%20Ellen,study%20at%20Lindenwood%20College%2C%20Missouri.https://www.kctv5.com/video/2025/12/16/this-day-history-kansas-city-fashion-designer-nellie-don-is-kidnapped/

Put your boots on with Scoot and Hatter as they dig up the truth behind Fox Hollow farm taking the path of the I-70 Strangler connecting it all. Be leary about who you meet at the bar, because they might just be your worst unsuspecting nightmare waiting to happen. Witness with us what happened to multiple men expecting a party on a supposedly fun and exciting night in the city0:00 Introduction: Upbringing and oddly disturbing childhood behaviors of Herb Baumeister03:25 Unstable work life and lack of “the diddle” in marriage life06:04 The seemingly good public image at Fox Hollow farm with a secret life forming09:40 The I-70 Strangler strikes inheriting his name16:47 Suspicions arise as preferred disposal site switches locations19:33 Investigators find a plethora of remains at the prime suspect’s farm24:17 Herb flees and commits suicide himself: blames failing marriage and business29:16 The unsettling aftermath for what becomes of the farm32:04 Outro & bloopers. contact us at investigatingwithus@gmail.comresources:CBS News (detailed investigative reporting):Serial killer Herbert Baumeister victims DNA investigationWRTV (local Indiana reporting):ABC docuseries sparks new clues in Fox Hollow murdersvictims (WRTV Indianapolis)PEOPLE Magazine (recent updates):Wikipedia (summary with multiple cited sources):

Join us this week as we travel back in time to one of the worst and most well known devastatingly fatal diseases in human history: The Spanish flu. But that's not all we cover in this historic cultural episode; we take you through the beginnings of Fort Riley eventually evolving into the big red 1. So entertain your curiosity with us and take a ride down the perilous Santa Fe trail0:00 Introduction: Fort Riley and It’s History 04:19 Violent massacres: the war between pro and anti slavery07:41 The lives of confederate prisoners held behind the fort walls12:07 9th & 10th Calvary training academy14:26 The birth of the terrorizing disease claiming the lives of ⅓ of the US population20:04 The ever growing outbreak of rapid deaths and burials24:37 Facts and speculation collide: not just a training facility?34:04 Final summarization involving a theatrical outro. Email us at investigatingwithus@gmail.com with any theories you may haveRecourses:Fort Riley Official Websitehttps://home.army.mil/riley/about/historyU.S. Army Center of Military Historyhttps://history.army.milKansas Historical Societyhttps://www.kshs.orgCenters for Disease Control and Prevention — 1918 Pandemic Overviewhttps://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-pandemic-h1n1.htmlNational Institutes of Health — Scientific analysis of 1918 influenzahttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3291398/Smithsonian Magazine — Kansas origin discussionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/journal-plague-year-180965222/National Park Service — Bleeding Kansas overviewhttps://www.nps.gov/articles/bleeding-kansas.htmKansas Historical Society — Bleeding Kansas archiveshttps://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/bleeding-kansas/14578U.S. Army Center of Military Historyhttps://history.army.milLibrary of Congress — WWI & WWII collectionshttps://www.loc.gov1st Infantry Division Official Pagehttps://home.army.mil/riley/index.php/units-tenants/1st-infantry-divisionCamp Concordia — POW Camp Historyhttps://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/prisoners-of-war-in-kansas/16582Smithsonian Institution — POW program overviewhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/german-pows-america-180961088/National WWII Museum — POWs in Americahttps://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/prisoners-of-war-usFort Detrickhttps://home.army.mil/detrickDugway Proving Groundhttps://home.army.mil/dugwayWorld Health Organizationhttps://www.who.intCenters for Disease Control and Preventionhttps://www.cdc.govU.S. Army Center of Military History — Biographical infohttps://history.army.milCalifornia State Library — California governance historyhttps://www.library.ca.govhttps://lplks.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2018/04/Hike-Through-History-Page-3.pdf

Settle into the cozy town of Holcomb, KS with Scoot and Hatter for a lovely afternoon of an unsuspecting burglary turned dark as they uncover the twisted events that took place in the Clutter family farm. Was it really just a burglary gone wrong, or a deep seeded sinister plot conspired years in the making? Tune in and find out! 0:00 Introduction: A seemingly peaceful town0:50 Clutter family malicious murders discovered03:53 Case breakthrough from surprising source: an inmate from the Kansas Penitentiary08:10 Taken hostage in their own home: Leave no witnesses12:07 Stolen joy ride heading towards death row16:34 Unlikely and strange friendship brewing20:43 Controversial last words before execution24:33 Rough backgrounds doesn't mean excusable actions30:02 Interested in sharing your own thoughts? Email us at investigatingwithus@gmail.com 30:31 Outro & bloopersResources: https://legendsofkansas.com/clutter-family-murders/https://www.gcpolice.org/254/Clutter-Family-Murdershttps://www.aetv.com/articles/the-clutter-family-murders-the-story-behind-in-cold-bloodhttps://www.newspapers.com/topics/crimes-mysteries/clutter-family-murders/https://www.historyhit.com/culture/the-real-story-behind-in-cold-blood-truman-capotes-true-crime-masterpiece/https://themobmuseum.org/blog/sixty-years-later-in-cold-blood-murders-still-resonate/https://crimearchives.net/1959_clutter/html/bios.htmlhttps://www.truecrimeedition.com/post/the-clutter-family-murders#google_vignettehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/inside-the-brutal-murders-that-inspired-a-foundational-work-in-the-true-crime-genre-180985238/https://allthatsinteresting.com/perry-smithhttps://theamericanreader.com/24-january-1965-truman-capote-to-perry-smith/ (The American Reader link)https://crimereads.com/how-truman-capote-was-destroyed-by-his-own-masterpiece/https://medium.com/bedcloud/the-destructive-bond-between-capote-and-smith-558929e4127a