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Down the Crooked Path

Amanda Joy: true crime, mysteries, supernatual and folklore podcaster

Welcome to "Down the Crooked Path," where the shadows of history, folklore, and mystery converge. Hosted by Amanda Joy, this podcast explores the world’s most chilling tales and unanswered questions, from unsolved crimes and eerie legends to the dark corners of human nature. Each episode delves deep into the stories that haunt small communities, challenge our understanding, and push us to question the forces beyond our comprehension. Whether it’s tracing forgotten lore, unraveling strange disappearances, or confronting the unknown, "Down the Crooked Path" invites you to journey into the enigmas that shape our world. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and walk the path where answers aren't always what they seem.

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S2 · E35
Yesterday · 31 min
The Hammersmith Ghost Case
In the winter of 1803, a terrifying specter held a small English village in a state of total mass panic. Long before the Victorian era, witnesses were already reporting chilling encounters with a phantom lurking in the pitch-black lanes, leaping out from behind tombstones, and physically assaulting residents. The paranormal terror grew so intense that armed citizen patrols took to the streets to hunt down the entity. But on January 3, 1804, a tragic case of mistaken identity ended in a brutal, real-world shooting and a sensational courtroom showdown. But the story doesn't end with a royal pardon. What started as terrifying neighborhood ghost stories about a haunted churchyard ultimately forced the justice system to fundamentally rewrite the rules of self-defense for generations to come. Join us as we break down the documented facts of the haunting, the frantic race against the execution clock, and the landmark case that changed the law forever.. 📱 Connect With Us Follow us down the crooked path for episode visuals, behind-the-scenes deep dives, and community discussions: Instagram: @DownTheCrookedPath TikTok: @DownTheCrookedPath ✨ Shoutout to the Squad: A massive shoutout to our incredible creative collective, the Spooky Pod Squad on Instagram! Thank you for keeping the lights on in the dark and supporting independent true crime storytelling. Give them a follow for your daily dose of the strange and unusual! 📚 Documented Historical Sources The 1804 Court Proceedings: The original details of the trial, the jury's attempts to lower the charge, and the forced murder conviction are preserved in the Proceedings of the Old Bailey (Ref: t18040111-79, 11th January 1804) [Old Bailey Online]. The Murder Act of 1752: The strict penal mandate requiring the dissection of executed murderers is cataloged under the historical statutory records of Great Britain (The Murder Act 1752, 25 Geo. II c. 37). The 1984 Appellate Resolution: The formal overturning of the paradox and the creation of the modern "honest belief" standard is archived under R v Williams (Gladstone), available via the British and Irish Legal Information Institute (BAILII) [UK Court of Appeal]. The Legal Conundrum: The long-term academic debate regarding ignorantia facti (mistake of fact) originating from the 1804 trial is heavily documented in British common law textbooks, including Glazebrook's Criminal Law Theory.
S2 · E34
September 3 · 48 min
The 1982 Chicago Tylenol Murders: PT2
In Part 2 of our true crime deep dive into the 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders, we look past the initial nationwide panic and focus directly on the aftermath, the primary suspects, and the intense manhunt that gripped Illinois. We break down how the newly formed Tylenol Murders Task Force scrambled to track down who was slipping lethal doses of potassium cyanide into Extra-Strength capsules. The trajectory of the investigation completely shifts when an anonymous extortion letter demanding $1 million is sent to Johnson & Johnson, triggering a coordinated FBI search for the writer. We untangle the web of the key figures who fell into the crosshairs of law enforcement, focusing heavily on the enigmatic James W. Lewis—the man convicted of that extortion plot who spent decades playing a cat-and-mouse game with investigators. We also look into local Chicago dock worker Roger Arnold, whose suspicious behavior made him a prime suspect in the product tampering nightmare. Finally, we explore how this unprecedented act of domestic terrorism targeted vulnerable store shelves and forever altered over-the-counter medicine, forcing McNeil Consumer Products to pioneer tamper-proof triple-seal packaging and inspiring the federal Tylenol Act. Decades later, this case remains one of the most chilling unsolved mysteries in American history. Connect With Us on Social Media Don’t miss out on case photos, archival newspaper clippings, and mid-week updates! Follow our community on these platforms: 📸 Instagram: @DownTheCrookedPath 🎵 TikTok: @DownTheCrookedPath 👥 Facebook: Down The Crooked Path Podcast Proud Member of The Creators Collective Find us on Instagram : @spookypodsquad "A Bitter Pill" Feature by Joy Bergmann – The definitive investigative deep-dive from the Chicago Reader exploring alternative supply chains, warehouse tracking, and suspect timelines. NPR Archival Obituary Report – The historical look-back breaking down the life, extortion conviction, and 2023 death of prime suspect James W. Lewis.WTTW Chicago Stories Special Feature – The comprehensive digital home for the multi-perspective documentary on the local victims, complete with reporter roundtable reflections. PBS Video: Inside the Tylenol Murders – Full streaming entry for the seasoned documentary investigating how the laced capsules upended consumer safety. CBS News Chicago 40-Year Retrospective Hub – The centralized network hub detail archive capturing the tracking efforts of the Tylenol Murders Task Force. CBS News Chicago: Profiles of Suspects & Persons of Interest – Detailed historical breakdowns of Roger Arnold, James Lewis, and other key figures scrutinized by the FBI.James W. Lewis Case Documentation on Wikipedia – Full historical repository outlining his financial crimes, extortion trial background, and decades of legal scrutiny.
S2 · E33
August 27 · 34 min
The 1982 Chicago Tylenol Murders: PT 1
A true Crime Classic: The security of daily life vanished over a few terrifying days in late September 1982. What started as a localized nightmare in the suburbs of Chicago quickly exploded into a nationwide panic, fundamentally changing the way we look at household items forever. In this episode, we trace the heartbreaking chronological timeline of the seven Chicago victims, the frantic street-level responses, and the corporate crisis that followed. But just when investigators thought they were dealing with a regional emergency, a cold case from the mountains of Wyoming blew the entire timeline wide open. We end tonight’s story on a dark Chicago street corner in 1983, where a random execution leaves investigators completely blind and leaves us down a crooked path of unanswered questions. Connect With Us If you loved this episode and want to dive deeper into the darkness with us, make sure you are following our journey across social media. Come say hi, share your theories, and hang out with the community! Instagram: @DownTheCrookedPath TikTok: @DownTheCrookedPath Facebook: Down The Crooked Path Podcast The Creators Collective This show is a proud member of the Creators Collective. We are a network of independent true-crime storytellers dedicated to ethical reporting, deep-dive research, and supporting indie creators. Check out the collective website to find your next favorite podcast binge! Sources & Further Reading To verify the facts, timelines, and case files discussed in tonight's episode, please visit our verified source directory: The Janus Family & Incident Overview: Explore the detailed interactive timeline of the initial suburban collapses through the CNN Interactive Timeline of the Janus Family Tragedy. The Chicago Investigation & Retrospective: Read the full historical case breakdown and investigative overview provided by the PBS NewsHour Tylenol Murders Archival Report. The Wyoming Connection: Verify the case files and toxicological breakthroughs regarding the death of nineteen-year-old Jay Mitchell via The New York Times Cyanide Death Archive. The Shooting of John Stanisha: Review the original 1983 crime records and arrest reports details surrounding the June 18 street-corner execution through the UPI Archives 1983 Crime Records.
S2 · E32
August 20 · 34 min
The Hex Hollow Murder
A historical True crime story dealing with witches and hexes and perhaps, some midguided ideas. On November 27, 1928, in Rehmeyer’s Hollow, Pennsylvania, three men brutally murdered 60-year-old folk healer Nelson Rehmeyer. Believing Rehmeyer had cast a fatal curse, John Blymire and his accomplices hunted him down to steal his copy of the traditional healing text Long Lost Friend and break the spell. In this episode, we dive into the chilling 1928 "Hex Murder" of York County, Pennsylvania. We explore the rich, complex traditions of Pennsylvania Dutch "powwowing" (folklore healing) and how a dangerous cocktail of fear, mental instability, and superstition led to a tragic, sensationalized murder trial that shocked the nation. Sources & Further Reading Baseline history and context via the York Daily Record's Hex Hollow Feature. Background on regional folklore and local preservation from WGAL News. Deep dive into the legal and cultural aftermath via Rehmeyer’s Hollow Wikipedia Overview. Connect With Us TikTok: @DownTheCrookedPath – Join us live for cemetery walks and behind-the-scenes content! Instagram: @DownTheCrookedPath Community Shout-Out A huge shout-out to the incredible Creators Collective over on Instagram! We are so proud to be part of the community alongside you all as the #spookypodsquad. Go give them a follow for more incredible indie audio content!
S2 · E31
August 13 · 27 min
Teresita Basa: Her ghost solved her murder
True crime meets ghost story: Teresita Basa was a Filipina immigrant living in Chicago in 1977, known for her quiet routine and her work as a respiratory therapist at Edgewater Hospital. She was studying music at Loyola University and taught piano from her apartment, keeping a small circle and a steady life. On the night of February 21st, a fire in her 15th‑floor unit led to the discovery of her death, and early signs pointed toward a staged scene with very few clues to work from. Detectives spent months trying to make sense of what happened inside that apartment, and the direction the case eventually took was nothing anyone expected. Follow along: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@downthecrookedpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/downthecrookedpath If you want more creator updates, spooky project drops, and behind‑the‑scenes looks at what we’re building, you can find us over at the SpookyPodSquad. It’s where we share collabs, bonus content, and everything happening across the collective. SpookyPodSquad: https://www.instagram.com/spookypodsquad
S2 · E30
August 6 · 42 min
Dr. Christie's Kentucky Goblin Emails
Are they a cryptid? Are they Aliens? OR are they some sort of ultra-terrestrial super being? When a paranormal investigator starts receiving these unusual emails from a man claiming to be a Dr. Christie whose home under siege, it send Greg Newark down a rabbit hole he never expected. The writer claims these little men are coming of of an abandoned cave system behind his yard and kidnapped his dog. He is begging for help before the emails abruptly stop. Looking into the case Grey and his team are sent on a wild goose chase by someone... or something that is more then meets the eye. Find Down the Crooked Path on TikTok and Instagram at @downthecrookedpath. Find the Creators Collective on Instagram at @spookysquad.
S2 · E28
July 30 · 24 min
Canadian Creepies Cross Over: The mysterious Barbe Halle
This week on Down the Crooked Path, we’re stepping aside from our usual chapter and sharing one of our Tuesday segments from the Canadian Creepies podcast. It’s filling in for our regular episode while we work on what’s coming next, and it fits naturally into the crooked world we’ve been building. We’re bringing you the story of Barbe Hallay. Born around 1646, she was a young settler in 17th‑century New France and became the focus of what is considered the earliest recorded case of alleged demonic possession in Quebec. After arriving from France in 1659, she reportedly experienced strange disturbances that were blamed on a local miller accused of practicing witchcraft. You can find Canadian Creepies on Instagram at @canadiancreepies. You can follow me at @downthecrookedpath on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook for updates, behind the scenes notes, and everything else we’re working on. We’ll be back next week with a full Down the Crooked Path episode.
S2 · E27
July 23 · 36 min
The Kelly Hopkinsville Encounter
During the UFO crazy in the 1950's this case of possible Alien encounter is considered to be taken seriously and coined the term little green from outer space. The Kelly–Hopkinsville encounter remains one of the most detailed multi‑witness creature reports in American folklore. Eleven people described small, silver beings moving around the Sutton farmhouse for hours, returning even after police and military left the property. Theories range from territorial owls to escaped carnival primates to a small extraterrestrial scouting party. No physical evidence was ever recovered, and the family never changed their story. Check me out on TikTok and Instagram at @downthecrookedpath. Email: crookedpathsocials@gmail.com Shout‑out to The Creators Collective, a group of independent podcasters telling strange stories with care and curiosity. Find them on Instagram at @spookysquad.
S2 · E26
July 16 · 24 min
Canadian Creepies Edition: Project Magnet
This week, Down the Crooked Path is taking a short pause while we celebrate a busy week of milestones and good chaos. We’ll be back next week with fresh stories, strange history, and more crooked paths to wander. Today’s mini‑episode covers Canadian Project Magnet — the government’s mid‑20th‑century investigation into UFOs, aerial anomalies, and unexplained phenomena. We touch on what the project was, why it was created, and the legacy it left behind in Canadian paranormal research. Follow us on social media: Down the Crooked Path – TikTok, Instagram, Facebook Check out the Canadian Creepies Podcast for more spooky Canadian lore.
S2 · E25
July 9 · 36 min
Flatwoods Monster: The 1952 Encounter
On this episode, we walk through the 1952 Flatwoods encounter in Braxton County, West Virginia for cryptid tale... or maybe it was alien that crash landed in a flying saucer... or even a robot? We cover the eyewitness accounts from the May family and Eugene Lemon, the reported crash on the hill, the physical symptoms described by the boys, and the immediate media attention that followed. We look at the government response, including National Guard involvement, Project Blue Book’s on‑site investigation, and the conflicting claims about recovered materials. We break down the major theories: the meteor explanation, the barn owl hypothesis, and the Cold War prototype idea. We also touch on the local reports of lights in the sky that same night and how Cold War fear shaped the way people interpreted what they saw. Find us on TikTok and Instagram at @downthecrookedpath. Shout‑out to the Creators Collective @spookysquad.
S2 · E24
June 18 · 41 min
The Keddie Cabin Murder
A grounded look at the Keddie Cabin murders, the 1981 crime that left investigators with conflicting evidence, missing records, and a case that continues to raise questions more than four decades later. This episode covers the known timeline, the recovered evidence, the documented investigative errors, and the modern re‑examination that brought new leads back into focus. 3 people were brutally attacked and their bodies discovered by the eldest daughter. The younger sister missing for years until her skull was found miles away. This is one of the creepies true crime cases, which at time was poorly investigated All details are sourced from publicly available reporting, law enforcement statements, and archived case materials. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram: @downthecrookedpath Shout‑out to the Creators Collective: Find them on Instagram @spookysquad
S2 · E23
June 11 · 41 min
The Aberfan Tragedy and The Premonitions Bureau
This episode looks at the reports that came in before the Aberfan disaster. It covers the dreams, warnings, and statements people made before the collapse, and the way these reports were collected and reviewed. The episode also goes through the early work that led Dr John Barker to focus on premonitions and the question of whether a warning can ever stop an event. Find us on TikTok and Instagram at @downthecrookedpath. You can also find the Creators Collective on Instagram at @spookysquad.
S2 · E22
June 4 · 37 min
The Haunting of Sallie House
In this episode, we go through the historyconnected to the Sallie House, the claims that built the story, and the details that followed the Pickman family after they moved in. We cover the background of the property, the origins of the “Sallie” name, the reports that came out of the house in the 1990s, and the parts of the story that never matched the records. We also include the theories that formed around the case, the role local tourism played in keeping the legend alive, and the questions that still surround the house today. You can find Down the Crooked Path on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram at @downthecrookedpath. If you have your own stories or case suggestions, you can email them to crookedpathsocials@gmail.com. A shout‑out to The Creators Collective, a group of independent podcasters who support each other’s work. You can find them on Instagram at @spookysquad.
S2 · E21
May 28 · 38 min
The Pazuzu Algarad Case
In this episode we walk through the case of Pazuzu Algarad, a story shaped by neglect, untreated mental illness, and a community that missed every warning sign. We look at the victims, the failures that allowed the violence to continue, and the impact on the people who lived around that house on Knob Hill Drive. This is not a story about the occult. It is a story about what happens when systems break down and no one steps in. We cover the timeline of the investigation, the pleas from Amber Burch and Krystal Matlock, the questions surrounding Pazuzu’s death in custody, and the demolition of the house that became a symbol of everything that went wrong. We also talk about how the media leaned into satanic panic instead of the real issues at the center of the case. If you want to dig deeper into the themes we touched on, this episode pairs well with discussions about mental health access, community responsibility, and the long term effects of violence on neighborhoods. Find us on TikTok and Instagram at @downthecrookedpath. Send your stories or suggestions to crookedpathsocial@gmail.com. And check out the Creators Collective on Instagram at @spookysquad.
S2 · E20
May 21 · 22 min
Canadian Creepies Edition: The Curse of Bird Rock Island
This week, we’re pulling from our Tuesday segment on the Canadian Creepies podcast and heading out to Bird Rock off the coast of Quebec — a place with more trouble than landmass. The lighthouse out there has a long history of bad luck, disappearances, and one story that locals still talk about in lowered voices. Keep in mind, this is a rock barely big enough to stand on, yet somehow it managed to collect more tragedy than most towns. We walk through the early shipwrecks, the lighthouse keepers who didn’t make it home, and the strange run of events that gave Bird Rock its reputation. It’s one of those places where the line between accident and something else gets thin fast. You can find me on Instagram at @downthecrookedpath, and you can follow Canadian Creepies on Instagram as well for updates, behind‑the‑scenes bits, and our weekly Tuesday deep dives.
S2 · E19
May 14 · 39 min
The Lost Franklin Expedition
In this episode, we look at the Franklin expedition, the search efforts that followed, and how both ships were finally found in the Arctic. We walk through the discoveries of Erebus and Terror, the role of Inuit knowledge, and the strange stories that kept circling long after the expedition vanished. Find us on Instagram and TikTok: @downthecrookedpath Send your stories or suggestions to: crookedpathsocials@gmail.com Shout‑out to the SpookySquad Creators Collective on Instagram — a group of indie creators doing great spooky work.
S2 · E18
May 7 · 42 min
The Axeman of New Orleans
In this episode, we look at the Axeman of New Orleans and the panic that followed him through the city. We go through the attacks on grocery families, the letter printed in the Times Picayune, the chalk message near the Maggio home, and the suspects who were pulled into the story over the years. We also look at how newspapers shaped the case, how the investigation stalled, and why the Axeman disappeared as suddenly as he arrived. You can find Down the Crooked Path on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram at @downthecrookedpath. If you have your own stories or case suggestions, you can email them to crookedpathsocials@gmail.com. A shout‑out to The Creators Collective, a group of independent podcasters who support each other’s work. You can find them on Instagram.
S2 · E17
April 30 · 51 min
The Nahanni Valley and the Mystery of the Headless Men
The Nahanni Valley built its reputation on the sheer number of people who went in and never came back. Prospectors, trappers, outlaws, and travelers moved through that stretch of the Northwest Territories for decades, and many of them were later found under circumstances that didn’t match the usual hazards of the region. Enough bodies turned up without their heads that the place picked up the name Valley of the Headless Men. This episode looks at the pattern that formed around those disappearances. It includes the early prospectors who vanished in the late 1800s, the McLeod brothers found near the Flat River in 1908, and the later deaths that followed the same outline. One of those was Yukon Fisher, an outlaw who hid in the valley after a violent bar fight in the Yukon. He lived alone for years and only surfaced at remote posts like Poole Field’s store for supplies. In 1927, his burned camp was found in the same region where earlier deaths had occurred, and his body was there without a head.
S2 · E16
April 23 · 42 min
The Hinterkaifeck Murders
A remote Bavarian farm. Six people who never saw spring. Footprints in the snow that led in but never led out. And an attic that seemed to breathe when no one was looking. In this episode, we walk the crooked path to Hinterkaifeck, a case that feels less like true crime and more like a folktale that refuses to settle. We trace the strange days leading up to the murders, the unsettling signs the family tried to ignore, and the theories that still cling to the rafters more than a century later. If you want to follow the strange cases and the stories that wander onto this show, you can find me on TikTok and Instagram at @downthecrookedpath. If you have your own story, a family legend, or a case you want me to look at, send it to crookedpathsocial@gmail.com.
S2 · E15
April 16 · 37 min
The Hexham Heads: Cursed, Haunted, or What
The Hexham Heads have been blamed for hauntings, poltergeist activity, wolf‑man sightings, and a decades‑long argument between scientists, folklorists, and anyone who ever walked through that house. This episode looks at the theories people built around two small stone faces and why so many different groups became convinced they were dealing with something more than a garden find. We get into the Stone Tape theory, the “recording device” angle, the hoax claims, and the psychological side of why multiple witnesses reported similar experiences. No single explanation settles the case, which is exactly why the Hexham Heads refuse to fade out of the paranormal world. If you want to keep up with the strange cases, the odd stories, and whatever else decides to wander onto this show, you can find me on TikTok and Instagram at @downthecrookedpath. And if you’ve got your own story, a family legend, or a case you want me to look at, send it to crookedpathsocial@gmail.com. I love seeing what you’ve got hiding in your drafts.

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