This week, A.C. Roberts dives into unidentified deaths.Most true crime cases start with the same questions—who did it, why did they do it, and how did they get away? But what if the biggest mystery isn’t the crime itself, but the person at the center of it? What happens when someone dies and no one comes forward to claim them—no name, no past, no answers? In the first part of our two-part season finale, we explore three of the strangest unidentified cases in history: The Somerton Man, found dead on an Australian beach with no ID and a cryptic code tied to his case; Lyle Stevik, a man who checked into a motel under a fake name and left behind nothing but a suicide note; and the bizarre Lead Masks Case, in which two men were found dead in Brazil under unexplained circumstances, their faces covered by lead masks and their deaths shrouded in mystery. Who were they? Why did their identities disappear? And what secrets did they take with them? Tune in as we explore the erased—the mystery of those who vanished without a name.

TRIGGER WARNING READ BY:

• ND Simpson

INTRO/OUTRO

• Apex Music

MUSIC

• Danijel Zambo

SOURCES

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerton_Man
• https://www.eleceng.adelaide.edu.au/personal/dabbott/wiki/index.php/
• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-body-on-somerton-beach-50795611/
• https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-26/somerton-man-identified-by-adelaide-university-researcher/101266006
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyle_Stevik
• https://dnadoeproject.org/case/lyle_stevik/
• https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/internet-sleuths-dna-link-john-doe-to-northern-new-mexico/article_5b9b5b6e-34b0-5b6b-8b1b-1b5a9f7a0c7a.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_Masks_Case
• https://www.damninteresting.com/the-lead-masks-mystery/
• https://www.vice.com/en/article/4w7gq9/the-bizarre-lead-masks-case-still-haunts-brazil

This week, A.C. Roberts explores one of Hollywood’s most haunting mysteries—the death of Natalie Wood. On a November night in 1981, the beloved actress disappeared from her yacht off Catalina Island, only to be found floating in the Pacific the next morning. The official ruling? Accidental drowning. But as the years passed, witness testimonies shifted, bruises on her body raised questions, and the actions of those aboard theSplendour came under scrutiny. Was it an accident, a tragic fight gone too far, or something even more sinister? With reopened investigations, new evidence, and a person of interest officially named, the truth about what happened that night may still be out there. Join us as we break down the contradictions, psychology, and unanswered questions surrounding one of Hollywood’s greatest unsolved tragedies. Justice is stillWanted.

TRIGGER WARNING READ BY:

• Lushika Preethrajh

INTRO/OUTRO

• Apex Music

MUSIC

• Patrick Runblad
• AVBE
• Euchmad

SFX

• Bosnow

Sources:

• "Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind" (2020)

• "A Complete Timeline of Natalie Wood's Mysterious Death" – Harper's Bazaar harpersbazaar.com
• "What Really Happened to Natalie Wood?" – The Cut thecut.com
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Wood

DETAILS

This week, A.C. Roberts explores one of the most chilling unsolved crimes in history—the Hinterkaifeck Murders. In 1922, an entire family was brutally slaughtered on their remote Bavarian farmstead, but the most terrifying part? The killer lived among their corpses for days before vanishing into thin air. With eerie footprints, missing keys, and whispered warnings from a terrified maid, the case is filled with disturbing clues but no clear answers. Was this an act of revenge, a crime of passion, or something even darker? Join us as we break down the crime, the flawed investigation, and the most compelling theories behind Germany’s most infamous unsolved mystery.

TRIGGER WARNING READ BY:

• Tess Hogue

INTRO/OUTRO

• Apex Music

MUSIC

• Dominique Charpentier
• Benjamin Botkin
• John Hayes
• Danijel Zambo
• Holly Jones

SFX

• Ivo Vivic

Sources:

• Wikipedia: "Hinterkaifeck Murders" A comprehensive overview of the Hinterkaifeck case, detailing the events, investigation, and various theories surrounding the unsolved murders.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinterkaifeck_murders
• Mental Floss: "The Chilling Story of the Hinterkaifeck Killings, Germany’s Most Famous Unsolved Crime" An article that delves into the eerie details of the case, exploring the mysterious circumstances and lasting impact of the murders.
  https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/502044/chilling-story-hinterkaifeck-killings-germanys-most-famous-unsolved-crime
• Dark Histories Podcast: "The Hinterkaifeck Murders" A podcast episode that provides an in-depth look into the Hinterkaifeck case, utilizing contemporary German primary sources to offer a detailed narrative.
  https://www.darkhistories.com/the-hinterkaifeck-murders/
• Medium: "The Hinterkaifeck Murders: Germany's Oldest Unsolved Massacre" An article that examines the historical context and enduring mystery of the Hinterkaifeck murders, discussing various theories and the case's legacy.
  https://medium.com/the-mystery-box/the-hinterkaifeck-murders-germanys-oldest-unsolved-massacre-17dea740e031
• Vocal Media: "The Hinterkaifeck Murders: Germany's Most Intriguing Unsolved Mystery" An article that provides a narrative of the events leading up to and following the murders, exploring the various theories that have emerged over the years.
  https://vocal.media/criminal/the-hinterkaifeck-murders-germany-s-most-intriguing-unsolved-mystery

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