The Dark Oak

Episode 109: Reincarnation - The Shanti Devi Story

Shanti Devi’s reincarnation case, one of the most compelling and well-documented in modern studies, unfolded in 1920s and 1930s India, a period of cultural revival and anti-colonial resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi. Born in Delhi on December 11, 1926, Shanti began claiming at age four to be Lugdi Devi, a woman from Mathura who died in 1925 after childbirth, about a year before Shanti’s birth. She provided precise details about Mathura, her husband Kedar Nath Chaubey, their son, and her past life, using Mathura’s dialect and terms unfamiliar to her Delhi family. Her school principal verified Kedar’s existence, and a surprise visit from Kedar and his family saw Shanti correctly identify them, emotionally reconnecting with her former husband and son. Intrigued, Gandhi commissioned an investigation in 1935, during which Shanti led researchers to Lugdi’s Mathura home, noted town changes, and located an empty coffer where she claimed to have hidden money (Kedar admitted removing it). The 1936 commission report concluded Shanti was Lugdi’s reincarnation, finding no rational explanation for her knowledge. Shanti later described her death and afterlife experiences, lived a quiet spiritual life, and passed away in 1987. Her case, extensively studied and covered by media, remains a cornerstone in reincarnation research.
 
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to the Dark Oak
5:45 Shanti Devi
48:00 The Brand of Hope - JED Foundation
 
Sources:
Hartzman, M. (2024, April 29). Shanti Devi, the girl who claimed she was reincarnated. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/shanti-devi
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 108: The Disappearance of Ben McDaniel

30-year-old Ben McDaniel had been through a lot by the time he reached the age of 30; He had lost his brother, his business and his home. In 2010, Ben was in the middle of a year-long sabbatical when he went scuba diving in a dangerous underwater cave late one afternoon and was never heard from again. It was assumed that Ben had run into trouble and drowned in the cave, but despite numerous searches, Ben's body has never been found. 
Did Ben really drown in Vortex Spring? Did he stage his own death so he could run away and start a new life, or was his death the result of foul play? 
 
Sources: 
Caterina, D. (2025, May 27). The Deeper You Go. . . - Dellantonio Caterina - medium. Medium. https://medium.com/@dellantonio.caterina/the-deeper-you-go-e5c2c94e85f7
Lovethesepicture. (2012, June 29). Adrenaline Junkies Cave Diving Vortex Spring [Pics, Videos]. lovethesepicture.com. https://lovethesepicture.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/adrenaline-junkies-cave-diving-vortex-spring-37-pics-5-videos/
Battison, J. (2024, September 12). Haunting theory about what happened to diver who jumped into Vortex Spring water and never came back. LADbible. https://www.ladbible.com/community/ben-mcdaniel-vortex-spring-missing-diver-133757-20240912
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 107: The Murder of Penny Bell

On June 6, 1991, Penny Bell, a 43-year-old businesswoman and mother of two, was brutally stabbed over 50 times in her Jaguar in the busy Gurnell Leisure Center parking lot in Greenford, London, in a frenzied attack that left no witnesses despite the public setting. Penny, a happy and successful director at a recruitment agency, lived in an affluent Buckinghamshire neighborhood with her husband, Alistair, and their children, Matthew and Lauren. That morning, she left home for an unspecified 9:50 a.m. appointment, mentioning it to builders renovating her home, but no record of it was found. Three days prior, she withdrew £8,500 from a joint account, an unusual act possibly linked to her murder. Witnesses reported seeing a man enter a blue Jaguar, a slow-moving Jaguar with hazard lights, and Penny mouthing “Help me” with a passenger, but no one intervened. The investigation, which interviewed over 8,000 people, was hampered by compromised forensic evidence and no clear motive, though the attack’s savagery suggested Penny knew her killer. Suspects like Alistair, a former neighbor, John Richmond, and serial killer Robert Napper were cleared. In 2021, Penny’s daughter, Lauren, who was nine at the time and has no memories of her mother, renewed efforts with a £20,000 reward and media campaigns, believing the killer was motivated by personal rage. The case remains unsolved, leaving Lauren to honor her mother’s vibrant legacy by naming her daughter Penny.
 
Sources:
McMahon, J., & McMahon, J. (2024, August 9). The Inside Story of Britain’s Most Notorious Cold Case Murder. VICE. https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-inside-story-of-britains-most-notorious-cold-case-murder/
 
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to the Dark Oak
2:25 Penny Bell
53:09 The Brand of Hope - JED Foundation
 
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 106: The Disappearance of Shane Fell

On June 10, 2011, 36-year-old Shane Fell vanished after a car accident in Marrero, Louisiana. After a night at a bar watching his brother Brett’s pool tournament, Shane, who had some beer but wasn’t visibly drunk, took a backroad home, possibly avoiding DUI checkpoints. He crashed his car on River Road, told Brett he was fine, and exited through the window. By the time Brett arrived, Shane was missing. Police found minor blood traces, a fastened seatbelt, and later one of Shane’s shoes nearby. Extensive searches—using helicopters, dogs, and river scans—yielded nothing, nor did his phone, wallet, or keys turn up. A couple reported Shane declined their help at the scene. Despite family-led efforts, including a reward and billboard, and unverified sightings of Shane possibly homeless, the case stalled. Theories range from amnesia to a river accident, but no evidence confirms his fate, leaving the mystery unsolved.
 
Sources:
Baxter, J. (2023, June 2). Man vanished from scene of accident: Where is Shane Fell? Medium.
 
https://medium.com/@jennbaxter_69070/man-vanished-from-scene-of-accident-where-is-shane-fell-102d8bab2f9a
 
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0qXUhYwZlWfWIvVV6IUl68?si=9r6vGYDKTNyp5y6I4Gz4tw
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 105: The Yuba County Five

Described as "America's Dyatlov Pass Incident," the disappearance of five young men has baffled the world for decades.  When their vehicle is found abandoned on a rough mountain road, authorities are suddenly filled with more questions than answers. Why did the group of men drive the wrong direction from home and end up on the side of a mountain? Why did they leave the safety of the vehicle to head out, presumably on foot, completely unprepared and underdressed, into the snow? Where did they go? When signs of the men start being discovered, the questions only intensify. 
Here we are, over 40 years later, still asking.....what happened to the Yuba County Five?
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to the Dark Oak
10:15 The Yuba County Five
57:28 The Brand of Hope - JED Foundation
 
 
Sources:
Gorney, C. (2023, December 21). 5 “Boys” who never come back. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1978/07/06/5-boys-who-never-come-back/f8b30b11-baeb-4351-89f3-26456a76a4fb/
Yuba County five. (2023, July 17). Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/yuba-county-five/id1609249707
 
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep
 
 

Episode 104: Emanuela Orlandi - The Vatican Girl Disappearance

When 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi failed to come home after her music lesson on a hot summer day in Rome, her family immediately knew something was wrong. Fear grew to absolute dread when a man known only as "The American" claimed to have abducted Emanuela and threatened to kill her unless a captive terrorist was released in exchange for the girl. When the deadline for release came and went and Emanuela's body was not found, investigators had a renewed sense of hope that perhaps the teenager was still alive. The dark theories that have surrounded Emanuela's vanishing in the more than forty years since she went missing have many people wondering if all is as it seems in Rome. Could the ones meant to help be the very ones responsible for her disappearance? 
 
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to the Dark Oak
05:15 Emanuela Orlandi
01:08:10 The Brand of Hope - JED Foundation
Sources:
Vatican Girl: The Disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi. (2017). https://www.netflix.com/title/81117191
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep
 
 

Episode 103: The Sleeping Girl of Turville

Ellen Sadler, born in 1859 in Turville, England, became known as the "Sleeping Girl" after falling into a mysterious nine-year sleep starting March 17, 1871, at age 11. Living in poverty with her mother Ann and stepfather Thomas Frewen, Ellen exhibited a melancholic, dreamy demeanor and had health issues, including headaches and glandular swellings. After a brief stint as a nursemaid, terminated due to inattention and drowsiness, she was diagnosed with possible spinal disease and an abscess. Discharged as incurable from Reading Hospital, she returned home, experienced seizures, and fell into a deep, unresponsive state.
 
For nine years, Ellen remained in the same position—on her left side, hands under her head, knees drawn up—visited by doctors, journalists, and curious onlookers. Her mother fed her minimal amounts of port wine, sugar, and milk through teapots, raising questions about starvation survival. Despite scrutiny, including a government investigation in 1875, no hoax was proven, and Ann’s care was deemed devoted. Ellen awoke in late 1880, shortly after her mother’s death, showing childlike behavior and no memory of the period. She later lived a normal life, marrying and having five children, and died in 1946 at 86.
 
The case remains unexplained. Possible medical explanations include an extreme form of narcolepsy, a coma from brain infection, or a psychological response to stress from her stepfather’s behavior. Skeptics questioned the lack of bedsores and minimal sustenance, but no evidence confirmed a hoax. The story, widely reported in newspapers like The Times, puzzled contemporaries and remains a medical mystery.
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 102: Amber Hagerman and The Amber Alert System

Amber Hagerman is a 9-year-old little girl whose legacy has helped change the lives of thousands of people in the last three decades. Unfortunately, Amber Hagerman’s story has a tragic ending, but out of the tragedy a new system was born that would ultimately help save the lives of thousands of children all over the world. Every January 13 is AMBER Alert Awareness Day where the nation remembers the little girl who was abducted and murdered in in January of 1996. Her story inspired the creation of the nation-wide system, known as the Amber Alert, that allows law enforcement to quickly alert the public to child abductions.  
Though Amber's case remains unsolved and her killer has never seen justice, we can hold onto the hope that through scientific advancements in DNA research we may one day find the person responsible for taking her life. 
 
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to the Dark Oak
01:10 Amber Hagerman
45:20 The Brand of Hope - JED Foundation
 
 
Sources: 
Frequently asked Questions | AMBER Alert. (n.d.). AMBER Alert. https://amberalert.ojp.gov/about/faqs#faq3
Staff, U. (2024, April 15). 5 stories of kidnapped children who were rescued. Upworthy. https://www.upworthy.com/5-incredible-stories-of-missing-kids-that-were-rescued-in-nick-of-time-rp3
Still searching for Amber’s killer. (n.d.). National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. https://www.missingkids.org/blog/2021/still-searching-for-ambers-killer
Amber Alert | Highland Beach, FL. (n.d.). https://highlandbeach.us/230/Amber-Alert
DeLong, W. (2023, May 25). Amber Hagerman, the 9-Year-Old whose murder inspired AMBER alerts. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/amber-hagerman
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 101: The Disappearance and Undetermined Death of Mitrice Richardson

Mitrice Richardson, a 24-year-old psychology graduate, disappeared on September 17, 2009, after being released from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station in Los Angeles, following her arrest for failing to pay an $89 restaurant bill and possessing a small amount of marijuana. Exhibiting erratic behavior suggestive of a mental health crisis, possibly undiagnosed bipolar disorder, Mitrice was released at 12:28 a.m. without her phone, wallet, or car, despite her mother’s plea to hold her until morning. Last seen alive resting in a resident’s backyard six hours later, her skeletal remains were found 11 months later in a remote canyon, with her clothing 700 feet away and no clear cause of death determined. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department faced criticism for releasing her, mishandling her remains, and obstructing the coroner’s investigation, prompting lawsuits and allegations of foul play, though her death was ruled undetermined, not a homicide. Her case led to policy changes for missing persons and mental health evaluations, but her family continues to seek justice, believing she was murdered.
 
Branch of Hope for May 2025:
The JED Foundation - Jedfoundation.org
 
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to the Dark Oak
01:40 Mitrice Richardson
1:28:20 The Brand of Hope - JED Foundation
 
 
Sources:
Suspicious death: Mitrice Richardson | Malibu, CA | Uncovered. (n.d.). https://uncovered.com/cases/mitrice-richardson
Office of Independent Review, Gennaco, M. J., Katz, W. W., Miller, R., Ruhlin, J., Hernandez, C. L., Arias, A. A., Teran, D. M., Shasty, B., Calderon, A., Avery, M., & Newkirk-Ma, S. (2012). REPORT REVIEWING THE INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE DISCOVERY AND RECOVERY OF THE REMAINS OF MITRICE RICHARDSON (AND UPDATE ON PRIOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC REFORM OF RELEASE PROCEDURES). http://shq.lasdnews.net/shq/LASD_Oversight/Richardson_Coroner_LASD%20final.pdf
Croft, C. (2025, May 3). Lost compassion [Video]. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/156140192
Veliz, L. (2022, October 17). The tragic 2009 disappearance and death of Mitrice Richardson. Grunge. https://www.grunge.com/1052145/the-tragic-2009-disappearance-and-death-of-mitrice-richardson/
The Jed Foundation. (2024, August 30). The Story of JED | The JED Foundation. https://jedfoundation.org/the-story-of-jed/
Sengupta, S. (2024, April 20). Mitrice Richardson Murder: What led to her tragic end? The Cinemaholic. https://thecinemaholic.com/mitrice-richardson-murder-how-did-she-die-who-killed-her/
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 100: The Redhead Murders/The Bible Belt Strangler

The Redhead Murders, spanning 1978 to 1992, involve a series of unsolved homicides of white women found along highways in Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, with victim counts ranging from 5 to 14. While some cases may be linked to a serial killer dubbed the "Bible Belt Strangler," inconsistencies in victim profiles—such as hair color, cause of death (strangulation or blunt force trauma), and state of dress—leave uncertainty about whether all are connected. Many victims, often transient, hitchhikers, or sex workers estranged from family, remained unidentified for decades, complicating investigations during an era when serial killer profiling was nascent. Key victims include Lisa Nichols, Tina Farmer, Tracy Sue Walker, Michelle Inman, and Espy Pilgrim, with identifications often delayed until 2018 or later. Jerry Leon Johns, a trucker convicted of kidnapping survivor Linda Schacke, was linked to Farmer’s murder via DNA in 2016 and is the primary suspect, though he died in 2015. A significant breakthrough came in 2018 when Elizabethton High School students, led by teacher Alex Campbell, analyzed the cases, identified six potential victims, and implicated Johns through their podcast, Murder 101, though they received no official credit. The case underscores the marginalization of victims and the power of community efforts, with ongoing victim identifications offering hope for justice.
 
Murder 101 Podcast
 
went to town on June 6. 1984, they had no way of knowing the tragedy that would be awaiting them. While Raymond handled some business at the bank, Sherry walked to a gas station to buy a sod and was never seen again. With little clues, the case went cold rather quickly but in recent years has garnered new attention with the help of an unlikely team. In today's bonus episode, we will tell you the facts of Sherry's case and then share with you a compelling conspiracy theory that might just hold the answers to what happened to Sherry Lynn Marler.
 
Chapters
00:00 Welcome to the Dark Oak
01:15 100th Episode Celebration
09:00 The Redhead Murders
01:09:40 The Branch of Hope
 
 
Sources:
Paoletti, G. (2019, May 1). The unsolved mystery of the Redhead serial murders. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/redhead-murders
Ubiera, C. R. (2024, January 26). ‘Redhead’ serial killer case ‘is solved by high-schoolers’ during class project with same suspect now named. . . The US Sun. https://www.the-sun.com/news/10193888/redhead-murders-teenagers-solve-mystery-true-crime/
Frankie, C. (2023, May 22). The 'Redhead Murders': Are we any closer to solving the mysterious cases? A&E. https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/redhead-murders
Jun 26, 1985, page 17 - The Tennessean at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). https://www.newspapers.com/image/112755748/?match=1&terms=redhead%20murder
Nov 09, 1985, page 20 - Messenger-Inquirer at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). https://www.newspapers.com/image/378780385/?match=1&terms=redhead%20murder
Apr 25, 1985, page 12 - Intelligencer Journal at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). https://www.newspapers.com/image/563469082/?match=1&terms=redhead%20murder
Naves, A. (2022, October 19). Who is the Killer in the Redhead Murders? - A.W. Naves - Medium. Medium. https://medium.com/@awnaves/who-is-the-killer-in-the-redhead-murders-f1143a7f4c9a
North, J. (2020, June 3). Appalachian Unsolved: The trucker who liked redheads. wbir.com. https://www.wbir.com/article/news/investigations/appalachian-unsolved/appalachian-unsolved-the-trucker-intrigued-by-serial-killers/51-624ef38c-0372-42a4-8bee-25b2b1647c95
Ubiera, C. R. (2024, January 26). ‘Redhead’ serial killer case ‘is solved by high-schoolers’ during class project with same suspect now named. . . The US Sun. https://www.the-sun.com/news/10193888/redhead-murders-teenagers-solve-mystery-true-crime/
Murder 101 | iHeart. (n.d.). iHeart. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-murder-101-140096221/
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep