Today I tell you the story of Helen Doe, an unidentified woman hitchhiker who was discovered dead after the semi truck driver who picked her up was involved in a tragic wreck that killed both him, and his unknown passenger near Kalama, WA in 1991. I cover the details of the wreck, how investigators were able to trace the truck drivers route, and the methods that investigators have used to try to reunite this young woman with her identity and loved ones. Sources: https://www.bia.gov/missing-murdered-cases/helen-doe Yakima Herald Republic - Native woman known as Helen Doe among 145 unidentified human remains in Washington The Chronicle - Genetic Genealogy The Next Step in Identifying Native Woman Killed in Fiery 1991 Crash in Southwest Washington --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

It's a solo Trista Side Show straight from Olympia Oddities new studio and I'm here to recap the end of summer, including my second ever burlesque show stage kitten experience, the Roy Pioneer Rodeo, and a camping trip. Ft. The coroner leaving the campsite as I show up, Oakville's bigfoot statue, and Trista's True Crime Roundup making it's return --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode, Trista tells you the story of Richard Russell, an unassuming baggage handler at SeaTac who shocked the world and those who knew him by stealing a plane. I cover the flight path his comandeered plane took, the radio communications that transpired between those trying to get him to safety and keep others out of harms way, and the tragic end to his flight. Sources: Rolling Stone - The Sky Thief, June 24th 2021 Seattle Times - Richard Russell was a jokester who complained about work, but SeaTac plane heist still baffles friends, August 19 2018 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

It's a solo Side Show episode and my return from my summer break! I talk the future of Side Show & some exciting plans coming up, recap my summer so far, including my trip to the Paranormal Circus, a podcast live show, and one of my favorite Washington establishments, Sharkys. Also in this episode: opinons on juggling, buildings shaped like coffee pots, and Godzilla pinball --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode, we're covering the haunted history and paranormal experiences encountered at Oregon's Heceta Head Lighthouse. We cover the many services the lighthouse and it's grounds have provided to it's community, the urban legend behind the ghostly apparation allegedly haunting the grounds, and some of the eerie encounters staff and B&B guests have encountered. Sources: The Columbian - Rue the resident ghost haunts Heceta Head house, 11/02/2017 Does the ghost of a Heceta Head Lighthouse keeper's wife haunt the Oregon Coast?, 8/31/2019 HECETA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE B & B, YACHATS, OR Oregon Coast Beach Connection - Oregon Coast's Haunting Lighthouses: Spooked or Not, 2009 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In this episode we cover a cryptid who is described as being Idaho's Loch Ness Monster! We cover the history of the sightings of a large creature swimming in Lake Pend Oreille's depths beginning in the early 1900s, cover the sightings of the creature up till modern times, and discuss some theories about what the monster could be, including a possible shady government cover-up. This one is a goofy one, so get ready to laugh! Sources: Cedar Post - The Pend Oreille Paddler Cour d’Alene Press - Meet your N. Idaho lake monster, Paddler Go Sandpoint Magazine - Tales from the Deep The Spokesman Review - Did Navy Use Fish Story As Cloak? Pend Orielle Paddler Said to Be Subs --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

Two brothers went missing, a little over two years apart from each other. Despite some shared similarities, investigators believe that these two disapperances are completely unrelated. Today, we're telling you about the 1988 & 1991 disappearances of George and Edwin Pooler. George disappeared after leaving a tavern in Omak, WA with a group of people. Shortly after his disappearance, his burned out car was discovered just 3 miles from town. Edwin disappeared from the Alice Flats HUD site in Keller, after being spotted with a group of men and one woman. We discuss the solved murder of Edwin and the questions that still surround his death, and cover the still unsolved disappearance of George, as well as some of the amazing work their sister has done to try and help solve their cases. Sources: Charley Project - George Wayne Pooler Charley Project - Edwin Oliver Pooler The Spokesman Review - No body, but persistence gets indictment, 2006 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode, we're talkin' paranormal baby! errr, paranormal babies? We share two legends of Water Babies from the west, including a story from Idaho, and one from Utah. Legends say that in these places, you can hear the eerie unmistakable sound of a baby crying coming from a water source. We explore the legends, and discover what other cryptid horrors could be in store for those who escape the underwater grasp of Lake Utah's water babies. CW: child death Sources: Weird US - The Water Babies of Massacre Rocks Exemplore - Urban Legends: The Native American Water Babies --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode, we're paying a visit to one of our favorite things to talk about: Aliens! We're talking about the alleged alien encounter of Dr Johnathan Reed, in which an alien killed his dog in Washington's Cascade Mountains while they were on a hike. He claims to have hit the alien over the head, taken it home, and captured photos and videos as evidence. We break down the encounter, including the photos he captured of the alleged alien and it's craft, discuss the chaos that bringing the alien home caused, and try to uncover the real identity of Dr Johnathan Reed and figure out if he really is who he claims he is. CW: animal harm, animal death Sources: Youtube: shockingmysteries - Dr Johnathon Reed Alien Encounter 15 Oct 1996 Full Coverage Art Bell’s Dark Matter - Jonathan Reed - Alien in The Freezer, September 18th, 2013 UFOWatchdog Mirror.co.uk - Man probes alien he claims to have caught while walking his dog - but there's bad news as now says it has ESCAPED, August 25th, 2016 Yahoo News - Man Claims He Killed Alien After It ‘Vapourised His Dog’, August 26, 2016 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode, we cover the extremely bizarre disappearance of Gilbert Gilman. When 47 year old Gilman disappeared off the short and well marked Staircase Rapid Loops Trail in Olympic National Park on June 24th, 2006, his disappearance left investigators, and his family, puzzled. How did this man with an extensive military training, including time as an interrogator in Iraq. Investigators were left wondering: could Gilbert Gilman have faked his disappearance and taken up a career as a spy? We cover the details of his disappearance, the discovery of his car, and run down a few theories on what could've happened to Gilbert Gilman. Sources: Charley Project - Gilbert Mark Gilman Strange Outdoors - The puzzling disappearance of ex-paratrooper Gilbert Gilman from Olympic National Park --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode, we cover our first ever John Doe case. In this listener submitted episode, we cover the mysterious Harstine Island John Doe. The unidentified man was discovered dead on the beach of Harstine Island in January 2022, and at the time of this recording, his identity is still unknown. Investigators tested a DNA sample, but no matches were found. Dental records and fingerprints are unavailable for this John Doe, so we hope that we can help spread the word and help this man reclaim his identity, and help his loved ones get some closure too. Sources: Shelton-Mason County Journal - Body found on Harstine Island Jan. 16 still unidentified, Feb 10th, 2022 KIRO 7 - Officials asking for help in identifying man found dead on beach, Jan 22, 2022 Facebook: Coroner Mason County, Washington - Dec 22nd, 2022 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In November of 1970, a 45 foot long whale washed up on the beaches of Florence. When all local rendering plants turned down the carcass, ODOT got creative with their solution: explosives. The resulting exploding whale, complete with video, went viral across the world. We examine what led up to the events, a warning that wasn't heeded, and laugh so damn much. Sources: Wikipedia - Exploding Whale The Oregonian - Exploding-whale engineer George Thornton has died at age 84, 2013 Offbeat Oregon - Exploding whale? It's a true Oregon tale --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

Delayed by some tech issues but not forgotten, our Year End Holiday special is finally here! In this Side Show episode we discuss our feelings on Dragula Titans, share some of our favorite holiday season tropes, Trista shares her strong feelings on A Christmas Story, chat about the National Finals Rodeo, have a few chair malfunctions, and discuss our favorite holiday songs, including how Dean Martin sounds like he's about to fall down your staircase and take our your lamp in his rendition of Silver Bells. We wrap up with a few holiday crimes courtesy of Steven! Happy New Year!  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode we discuss the 1991 disappearance of Cora Christmas McGuirk from Seattle, Washington. Cora was just 22 years old when she disappeared from her Seattle residence for a day, then returned home and asked a family member a question that was very alarming to them. Cora left, and she was never seen or heard from again. We explore the circumstances leading up to Cora's mysterious disappearance, and a possible connection this case may have to a very well known, very much hated serial killer of ours.  Sources:  Charley Project - Cora Christmas McGuirk The Doe Network - Cora Christmas McGuirk Seattle P.I - Martell's Story: Sophomore's path to stardom anything but smooth --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

Today we tell you all about a Seattle legend that became a worldwide legend, with the help of a few musicians. That's right, we're talking about THE Spoonman. Now a Port Townsend resident, you used to be able to catch Artis at Pike Place, with his mat of assorted tools laid out in front of him while he slapped and smacked the spoons across his body to make his music. Part performance art, part musical performance, it was really something to see. We talk about Artis's childhood and how he discovered his special spoon playing talent, how his path crossed ways with Frank Zappa, and later Soundgarden, discuss how the song Spoonman came to be, Trista geeks out really hard over everything, and we wrap it up by talking about where Artis is now, and what he's up to.  TW: brief suicide attempt mention Sources:  Wikipedia - Artis the Spoonman Wikipedia - Spoonman Seattle PI - 'Spoonman' stunned by death of Soundgarden's Chris Cornell Port Townsend Leader - PT's Spoonman tied to Seattle --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

Today we're telling you about the murder of Nicole Hutchings. Nicole Hutchings was lured to a fake Halloween party that was part of a ruse created by two men with plans to murder her. They drugged her and left her in a shallow grave on Forest Service land near Sunriver, Oregon. The case was cold for years until one woman approached the police with information that cracked the entire thing open: the incredibly sad motive. We discuss the circumstances around Nicole Hutchings murder, the investigation and how police were able to find the two men who were responsible, and share the fate of these callous killers.  TW: CSA mention, rough episode Find a Grave - Nicole Marie Hutchings Bend Bulletin - Man gets life in prison for Hutchings murder Bend Bulletin - Murder plot detailed at sentencing --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's special Halloween episode of Side Show we cover a little bit of everything. From books and movies we've enjoyed lately, to that Rugrats episode with the Quaker Oats man, rooting for The Boys, selling towels out of a trench coat, our Halloween plan, Fat Heads, that worm from Labyrinth, and wrap the whole thing up by telling you about one of the most compelling possible paranormal encounters we had earlier this year at the Mossyrock Dam.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's Spooky Season episode, we tell you all about the tragic sinking of the ship The Andelana, which caused the deaths of 17 crew members who were trapped on board as the ship sank to the ocean's floors in just minutes on January 14th, 1899. We get into the details of how the ship sank and the attempts to raise the ship from the ocean's depths, which caused another unbelievably tragic death during some efforts to raise the ship. And of course, because it is spooky season after all, we discuss some reported paranormal activity going on in the area of Tacoma, Washington where the Andelana sank and some mythology surrounding the eerie last photo of the crew.  Sources:  History Link - The bark Andelana disappears while lying at anchor at Tacoma on January 14, 1899. SouthSoundTalk - Few Relics Remain of The Andelana – Tacoma’s Largest Maritime Disaster --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

Side Show has risen from the grave and this time it's in the form of a Very Special Episode where we recap our PNW True Crime Fest Experience! Stay tuned at the end of this episode for an exciting announcement about a local mini live show we're doing right here in Olympia. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message

In today's episode, we try to wrap our minds around one of the most baffling disappearances and unexplained deaths we have ever heard of in the True Crime world. David Glen Lewis was a Texas based judge and attorney, well respected and incredibly active in his community. That's why it was so shocking when his wife and daughter returned from an out of town shopping trip to find him missing, their VCR still recording a football game, and freshly made turkey sandwiches in the fridge. Shockingly, on the same day that David Lewis was reported missing by his wife in Texas, his unidentified body was discovered on the side of a lonely stretch of highway near Yakima Washington. We'll get into the strange details leading up to his disappearance, the detective's outside the box thinking that helped the family get some closure, and discuss our theories and some questions we're left with from this case. Sources: Seattle PI - 1993 hit-run victim is finally identified, 2004 Find A Grave - David Glen Lewis CBS News - Google Helps Solve John Doe Case Del Rio News Herald - Baffling trail stumps police searching for missing attorney, 1993 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/olympiaoddities/message