The Dark Oak

Episode 08: Serial Murderer Dana Sue Gray

Impeccably dressed and put together, Dana Sue Gray spared no expense on herself. Dropping thousands of dollars on a shopping binge or a luxurious day spa was nothing out of the ordinary for Dana-nor for many wealthy women. But Dana wasn't wealthy-she was an unemployed nurse. She was also a serial murderer, who preyed upon elderly women, violently killed them, then used their credit cards to embark on wild, post-murder spending sprees.
 
Sources:Braidhill, K. (2014). To die for: The Shocking True Story of Serial Killer Dana Sue Gray. Macmillan.
D, J. E. J. P. (2022, January 6). An armchair analysis of female serial killer Dana Sue Gray. Medium. https://joniejohnston.medium.com/an-armchair-analysis-of-female-serial-killer-dana-sue-gray-1f7d7b642b7b
Blanco, J. I. (n.d.). Dana Sue Gray | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. https://murderpedia.org/female.G/g/gray-dana-sue.htm
NY Daily News - (n.d.). https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/justice-story-dana-sue-gray-article-1.1810400
 
Produced by Just Us Gals, Artwork by Justyse Holmes, Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 07: Clueless Criminals - Episode 1

We cover a lot of dark material here at The Dark Oak. Join us as we indulge in stories of the most outrageous, the most awkward, the most bizarre, and the absolute most clueless criminals we could find. Enjoy a good laugh with us!
 
Sources:
Atkin, H. (2010, July 26). Man Dressed in Wig, Clown Pants and Fake Breasts Robs Bank with BB Gun, Say Cops. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-dressed-in-wig-clown-pants-and-fake-breasts-robs-bank-with-bb-gun-say-cops/
 
Daily, & Reporter, B. D. M. (2011, July 11). Robber caught after planning hold-up in his diary. Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2013349/Robber-caught-planning-hold-diary.html
 
Cnn, B. G. F. (n.d.). Bank robbery suspect calls ahead with demand for cash - CNN.com. http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/24/phone.in.robbery/index.html
 
BBC News. (2015, April 10). Facebook boast Tesco robber Andrew Hennells jailed. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-32256720
 
Wanted fugitive gets caught after applying for job at NJ Sheriff’s Office. (2022, October 8). NBC New York. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/wanted-fugitive-gets-caught-after-applying-for-job-at-nj-sheriffs-office/3899135/
 
BBC News. (2016, January 11). US fugitive sends selfie to police after “terrible” mugshot’. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35284225

Episode 06: The Lost Panama Hikers

When two well-traveled young women seemingly disappear into thin air while on a hike in the jungles of Panama, at first it is assumed they succumbed to the dangerous terrain. Months after their disappearance, a bizarre clue is found and from that moment on the mystery only grows. 
From strange phone calls to creepy nighttime photos, we are left wondering what happened to the Lost Panama Hikers, Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon. 
 
Sources:Braddick, I. (2022, May 15). Chilling photos found on missing hikers’ camera show mysterious final moments before girls vanished in P. . . The Sun. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18531045/chilling-photos-found-camera-missing-hikers-panama-jungle/
Chilling pics after girls disappear in jungle. (2022, May 16). News. https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/eerie-photos-capture-missing-hikers-final-moments-before-disappearance-in-jungle/news-story/bd67ee7aaedca555aacdee3056cff5d7
Tonight, P. (2023, May 17). What Really Happened To Two Dutch Hikers Who Disappeared In Panama? - Journalnews. Journalnews. https://journalnews.com.ph/what-really-happened-to-two-dutch-hikers-who-disappeared-in-panama/
Kryt, J. (2019, March 26). The Lost Girls of Panama: the full story. The Daily Beast. https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-lost-girls-of-panama-the-full-story
 
Produced by Just Us Gals, Artwork by Justyse Holmes, Music by Ryan Creep
 

Episode 05: The Somerton Man

On the morning of December 1, 1948, the body of a man was discovered lying on his back in the sand, his head and shoulders propped up against the seawall on Somerton Beach, in Adelaide, Australia. The man was smartly dressed in a full suit and polished shoes, but he had no form of identification. Clues to his identity have left investigators with more questions than answers. Speculation about the man’s identity, the reason for his appearance in Adelaide, and the cause of his untimely death are still a mystery. In the past year, researchers believe they have the clues to solve Australia’s greatest mystery. But have they?
 
Sources:Turnbull, B. T. (2022, July 27). Mystery of Australia’s “Somerton Man” solved after 70 years, researcher says. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-62314555
Cheshire, B. (2022, November 21). Somerton Man Charles Webb’s true identity revealed in family photographs and divorce papers. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-21/somerton-manfamily-photographs-revealed-/101643524
Jepsen, B. (2021, May 20). A suitcase and two missing words: 4 bizarre clues in the mystery of the Somerton Man. Mamamia. https://www.mamamia.com.au/somerton-man-code/
Interesting, A. T. (2022). The Somerton Man And The Eerie Mystery Of The Tamám Shud Case. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/tamam-shud-somerton-man
 
Produced by Just Us Gals, with Artwork by Justyse Holmes, and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 04: The Curse of the Hope Diamond

The most iconic gem in history has been enchanting the world for centuries. But the largest blue diamond in the world may also hold a dark side. A curse. Those that have been beguiled by its charm have also opened their world to doom. Is the Hope Diamond a coveted piece of treasure, or a beautifully cut piece of dark magic? 
Courses, G. (2020). The Curse of The Hope Diamond. Wondrium Daily. https://www.wondriumdaily.com/curse-hope-diamond/
Conradt, S. (2017, October 24). 10 Victims of the Hope Diamond Curse | Mental floss. Mental Floss. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/19579/quick-10-10-victims-hope-diamond-curse
Hope Diamond - curse. (n.d.). https://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/hope/hcurse.html
 
Produced by Just Us Gals, Artwork by Justyse Holmes, Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 03: The Disappearance of Sneha Anne Philip

When a woman is last seen in New York on September 10, 2001, her friends and family are left wondering if she perished at the World Trade Center or if she met another fate. 
 
Sources:
“Missing”: The mystery of Dr. Sneha Anne Philip - the woman who disappeared night before 9/11. (2022, October 24). ABC7 New York. https://abc7ny.com/dr-sneha-anne-philip-doctor-missing-on-911-september-11th-episode/12209285/
Elfer, H. (2021, September 11). Sneha Philip: The mystery of the woman who disappeared on 9/11. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/sneha-philip-mystery-disappeared-9-11-b1917381.html
Hedda, B. (2022). Missing: All Theories On How Sneha Philip Vanished. ScreenRant. https://screenrant.com/sneha-philip-disappearance-theories-explained-missing-hulu/
 
Production by Just Us Gals, Artwork by Justyse Holmes, Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 02: The Mysterious Death of Tina Watson

Imagine looking at your scuba diving vacation photos and seeing the figure of a woman laying lifeless on the bottom of the ocean floor....
When Gabe and Tina Watson go on their scuba diving honeymoon, Tina drowns and only Gabe comes home. 
Was it a tragic accident or did Gabe drown his wife? 
 
Sources:
O’Loughlin, T. (2017, July 15). Husband admits killing wife in scuba death on Great Barrier Reef. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jun/05/man-guilty-manslaughter-wife-scuba-death
Crimes, C. (n.d.). Tina Watson. Chilling Crimes. https://www.chillingcrimes.com/blogs/news/tina-watson
Facts About The Death Of Tina Watson And Her "Honeymoon Killer" Husband's Trial (ranker.com)
Stephens, C. (2018, June 26). The chilling story behind this photo - the last image of 26-year-old Tina Watson. Mamamia. https://www.mamamia.com.au/tina-watson-death/
 
Produced by Just Us Gals, Artwork by Justyse Holmes, Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 01: The Devil’s Teeth Murder of Jeanette DePalma

When a 16-year-old girl is found dead in a sleepy mountain town, surrounded by strange objects, conjecture and rumors run rampant. Is it witchcraft? A killer covering their tracks? Or do our imaginations sometimes get the best of us. Follow us as we explore the 50-year-old cold case of Jeanette DePalma’s murder.
 
Sources:
Pollack, J. P. (2022). Death on the Devil’s Teeth: The Strange Murder That Shocked Suburban New Jersey. Arcadia Publishing.
UPDATED: Who Killed Jeannette DePalma? (n.d.). https://weirdnj.com/stories/mystery-history/jeannette-depalma/
 
Produced by Just Us Gals, Artwork by Justyse Holmes, Music by Ryan Creep