Marlene’s Newsletter

Marlene's Newsletter explores a diverse range of stories encompassing bizarre historical facts, ghostly legends, true crime, and the paranormal. It dives into forgotten tales and the darker side of human nature, featuring accounts of unexplained phenomena, haunting, witchcraft, and mysterious disappearances with both factual and speculative narratives.

True Crime Paranormal Activity Historical Anomalies Ghost Stories Witchcraft Urban Legends Haunted Locations

The hottest Substack posts of Marlene’s Newsletter

And their main takeaways

Foxborough Hospital's Secret Grave

4 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
💾 History Scandal Treatment Closure
  1. Foxborough State Hospital, initially focused on treating alcohol and opium addiction, faced numerous scandals and abuse claims over the years, leading to investigations and scrutiny from the public.
  2. The hospital's history reflects a mix of treatment approaches, including questionable methods like the Keeley Cure which involved controversial ingredients and raised concerns about efficacy and ethics.
  3. As the hospital shifted to treating psychiatric patients and faced financial struggles during the Great Depression, many patients, especially those without families, faced harsh conditions, unknown burials, and challenges in tracking their histories.

THE DEAD MAN TRAPPED INSIDE A MANNEQUIN

9 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration
  1. 150 years ago, a French taxidermist created a diorama with a man battling lions, using a real human skull hidden under the plaster.
  2. The taxidermist, Jules Verreaux, was known for his morbid work, like creating a complete body of an African tribesman by digging up and preserving the corpse.
  3. The human remains in the exhibits were often controversial, like the case of the African warrior's body that was eventually returned to Botswana for burial.

GHOSTS OF THE MAGIC CITY

4 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture History Paranormal Crime Architecture Travel
  1. Certain places in Miami are known for encounters with the paranormal, like the Alfred I. duPont Building.
  2. The Biltmore Hotel is not only famous for hosting celebrities but also for being haunted, with reports of ghostly sightings and unexplained phenomena.
  3. The Deering Estate has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s and is rumored to be haunted by several spirits, making it a place of interest for those intrigued by the supernatural.

THE MAN WITH NO TONGUE

4 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
💾 History Archaeology Rituals
  1. Archaeologists discovered a mysterious burial involving a man with his tongue amputated and a flat stone placed in his mouth.
  2. Similar unusual substitutions for missing body parts were found in other burials from Roman Britain.
  3. Different burial practices like sickles across necks and stones in mouths indicate beliefs in vampires and fears of the dead returning.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

THE FRENCH ARISTOCRAT MURDER MYSTERY

0 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
📰 News Crime Investigation Family Dynamics Religion Media Coverage
  1. In 2011, a French aristocrat may have murdered his family and disappeared, with many unanswered questions remaining.
  2. Despite exhaustive searches, there is no conclusive evidence of Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès' whereabouts or fate.
  3. The case involves intricate details including financial troubles, marital issues, possible cult connections, and mysterious disappearances.

THE SCOTTISH WITCH

0 implied HN points • 22 May 23
💾 History
  1. Lilias Adie admitted to witchcraft after being accused in 1704.
  2. Lilias Adie was buried with precautions to prevent her spirit from returning.
  3. The prosecution of witches was often a result of religious competitions during the 1500s.

High Strangeness at Mardi Gras

0 implied HN points • 22 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Supernatural Celebrations
  1. Stories of the Supernatural Live Stream with Henry and Marlene on Feb 21 at 8 PM EST
  2. Explore urban myths, ghost stories, and weird history about Mardi Gras with Henry and Marlene
  3. Learn about the celebration that pre-dates crazy floats and Mardi Gras beads

UNHOLY HAUNTING ON EAST DRIVE

0 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Supernatural Paranormal Horror
  1. Number 30 East Drive in Yorkshire, England has been haunted for over fifty years.
  2. The paranormal activities at the house included objects moving, mysterious puddles of water, and strange noises.
  3. Despite attempts to exorcise the spirit, the haunting at East Drive continued until the appearance of the Black Monk of Pontefract.

BORN UNDER CROSSED STARS

0 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
  1. A family in Kansas tragically lost two sisters to murder almost 20 years apart.
  2. The first sister, Pamela Butler, was abducted, raped, and murdered by Keith Dwayne Nelson.
  3. The second sister, Casey Eaton, was shot to death by Enemencio C. Lansdown in Armourdale.

SKULDUGGERY AT THE VATICAN

0 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
🌐 International Mystery Conspiracy Crime Religion Cover-up Investigation
  1. Dark deeds can happen even in places like the Vatican, hinting at unexplained disappearances and conspiracy theories
  2. The disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi in 1983 led to a complex web of theories involving the Vatican, terrorist organizations, and the mafia
  3. Recent developments, including a reopened investigation and revelations from a Netflix documentary, shed new light on the Orlandi case

THE CHINESE GHOST OF STEWART'S FOLLY

0 implied HN points • 04 May 23
💾 History Scandals
  1. Stewart's Castle, once considered 'Stewart's Folly,' was a grand but short-lived mansion built in Washington D.C. after the Civil War.
  2. The mysterious haunting at Stewart's Folly was connected to the Chinese Legation that occupied the building from 1886 to 1893.
  3. Tragic stories of unrequited love and possible suicide intertwined with the history of Stewart's Castle, adding a ghostly element to its narrative.

THE PRICE OF DISOBEDIENCE AT THE CHURCH OF SACRIFICE

0 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
💾 History True Crime Cults Trial
  1. The murders were brutal and linked to an alleged cult called the Church of Sacrifice.
  2. Clementine Bernabet confessed to 35 murders, claiming a connection to voodoo and human sacrifice.
  3. The case involved dark mysteries, potential religious motivations, and a chilling pattern of killings across Louisiana and Texas.

The Abandoned Leper Colony

0 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
💾 History Natural Disasters War Disease
  1. In 1885, patients with contagious diseases like smallpox were isolated on North Brother Island to prevent the spread of illness in an overcrowded New York City. Life was tough, with food shortages and high mortality rates.
  2. Tragic events like shipwrecks, fires, and disease outbreaks shaped the history of North Brother Island, including the infamous case of Typhoid Mary who unintentionally spread typhoid fever.
  3. After serving various purposes over the years, North Brother Island was left abandoned in the 1960s. Its decayed buildings and haunting stories make it off-limits to the public, now a bird sanctuary.

LEAKIN PARK: BALTIMORE'S OPEN AIR CEMETERY

0 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
📰 News Crime True Crime Mystery Documentary Investigation
  1. Leakin Park in Baltimore has a dark history of being a dumping ground for murder victims since the 1940s, with many bodies found mutilated.
  2. The park has been the scene of various heinous crimes, including the murders of four young boys in 1968 and the disappearance of high school student Hae Min Lee in 1999.
  3. Despite its infamous reputation and numerous bodies discovered, authorities believe there are still many more yet to be found in Leakin Park.

How Did Friday the 13th Become Unlucky

0 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture History Folklore Mythology Traditions
  1. The superstition around Friday the 13th being unlucky has a long history, which was popularized by cultural references like the slasher movie series 'Friday the 13th.'
  2. One of the early promoters of the number 13 as unlucky was Captain Fowler, who established the Thirteen Club to challenge superstitions around the number.
  3. Various cultures and historical events have contributed to the superstitions surrounding the number 13 and Friday the 13th, with examples ranging from maritime traditions to myths in Norse mythology.

Houses With a Murderous Past

0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Crime Real Estate Paranormal History
  1. Realtors specialize in selling properties with a history of murder and bloodshed.
  2. Murders can reduce house sale prices by 15-25% and extend the time a house spends on the market.
  3. Notoriety and violence can drive down the asking price of a property, but some buyers may not be deterred by a house's dark history.

THE HAUNTED UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

0 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Supernatural
  1. College campuses can have haunted stories and urban myths circulating among students.
  2. Victoria Bailey's experience in the radio station at Northwest Missouri State University campus is an example of a spooky encounter.
  3. The haunted history at the university includes stories of ghosts like Amos Wong and Roberta Steel.