American Hauntings Podcast

72:49

A Valentine for Bugs Moran

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/10/06

On February 14, 1929, the most infamous gangland massacre in American history occurred in a dingy garage on the North Side of Chicago when five mobsters, plus a mechanic and a wanna-be gangster optometrist, were ripped apart in a hail of bullets. The events of that morning left a lasting effect on Windy City history and still reverberate today as several unsolved mysteries, strange legends, baffling tales and, of course, tales of ghosts. Join us as we delve into PART ONE of the St. Valentine’s Day

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52:30

Chicago Rackets

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/09/29

In the summer of 1928, Al Capone was back in Chicago and was still building his empire. Things like gambling, prostitution, and, of course, liquor, were still making up the bulk of his profits – but he knew that wasn’t going to last forever. He knew that he needed to diversify, a lesson he learned from John Torrio, who knew that Prohibition would only last for so long. Capone’s most profitable alternative to liquor was racketeering. A racketeer was defined as the boss of a supposedly legitimate

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22:58

No Grave for William Rose: The Murder of Axl Rose’s...

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/09/23

In 1984, William Bruce Rose, the biological father of Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose, vanished in Southern Illinois. Nearly three years later, a teenager came forward with a disturbing story of murder, a body hidden in an abandoned mining area, and a knife thrown into a reservoir.A man was eventually convicted of William’s murder, but his remains were never recovered.Check out our new American Hauntings Podcast Network for even more spooky shows.Have a question or comment? Text us on the Haunt Line

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97:22

American Nightmares 28: "The Grand Ole Opry Curse"

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/09/18

The Devil’s Music comes in a lot of forms – from rock-n-roll to the blues, to the music that spawned them both – country music, the kind that was played at the Grand Ole Opry. You see, not all musical curses are linked to performers or the songs they sing. Some of them are connected to the places where music is played – like the Ryman Auditorium, located in downtown Nashville, which was the center of repeated tragedies for many years. “When’s it all going to end?” one record promoter asked years ago

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104:58

Blood, Sunshine & The "Pineapple Primary"

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/09/15

Chicago mayor “Big Bill” Thompson’s first year back in office had been a disaster as far as political observers – and anyone with any integrity at all -- were concerned. Unhappiness about his incompetence and the corruption in City Hall was spreading, especially since the city of Chicago was now almost $300 million in debt. Primary elections for state and county offices were set for April, but election violence began in January, 10 weeks before anyone went to the polls. This time came to be known as

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28:19

American Dread: The Murdered Girl the Coroner Kept:...

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/09/09

In 1977, seventeen-year-old Louise Betts disappeared from Loves Park, Illinois. Months later, her remains were found in a rural Boone County field, and Curtis Brownell was eventually convicted of her brutal murder.But more than forty years after Louise was buried, her family learned something almost unimaginable: the Boone County coroner who handled her remains had kept her skull.This is the disturbing story of Louise Betts — a missing girl, a convicted killer, decades of parole battles, and a final

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102:46

American Nightmares 26: "The Devil & the Movie that...

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/09/03

This is an episode of the podcast that could have gone in a lot of directions – it’s an episode about the Devil, cults, true crime, satanic films, witchcraft, music, mind control, murder, and more – and really, maybe all these things and not even half of them. Who knows? It’s gotten so convoluted over the last 50 years that no one can say for sure. There are so many theories, excuses, and strange claims that have been wrapped up in all that I’m going to tell you about that one theory may be right,

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87:39

Bring Me the Head of Al Capone

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/09/01

In the fall of 1926, the best friend of Chicago gangsters returned to politics and got his name added to the Republican mayoral primary ballot. William “Big Bill” Thompson was back from political exile – he just couldn’t stay away. In early July, he sailed his yacht down the Chicago River and into Lake Michigan, carrying an motley crew of politicians, businessmen, beer-swilling clowns, assorted cronies, and a gangster or two. They were cheered on by thousands of people who lined the shoreline. The

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39:48

Blood in the Streets

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/08/20

If there was any one thing that motivated Hymie Weiss it was revenge. Since the murder of his friend Dean O’Banion, he’d been the de facto boss of the North Side gang that Dean had founded, mostly because none of the rest of the guys had wanted to be in charge. They were content to have Hymie make the decisions and if they weren’t sure what to do, they voted on it.And their lack of initiative probably came from the fact that they seemed less interested in making money and more interested in

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32:07

American Dread: The Silence in Room Five: The Death...

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/08/12

In 1997, 13-year-old John Ushman was found dead inside Room Five of the Southern View Motel in Springfield, Illinois. Authorities ruled that he died while playing Russian roulette with a stolen revolver.But newly obtained police records reveal changing statements, hidden guns, a motel room reportedly wiped for fingerprints, and days of silence before John was finally found.In this episode, American Dread reconstructs John’s final days and the troubling questions that still surround Room Five.Check

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26:09

American Dread: The Finch Drive Murder: Who Killed...

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/08/05

On August 5, 1994, Decatur Realtor Sherry Lewis left to show a home. She never came home. More than three decades later, her murder remains unsolved. In this special anniversary episode, American Dread revisits one of Central Illinois' most haunting cold cases and the ongoing search for justice. Check out our new American Hauntings Podcast Network for even more spooky shows.Have a question or comment? Text us on the Haunt Line @ 217-791-7859New Facebook page

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34:20

Death of the Hanging Prosecutor

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/08/04

On the same day that the corpses of the last of the men who tried to revive the “Terrible Genna’s” operation was found, the Vice President of the United States, Charles Dawes, demanded that the U.S. Congress begin a federal investigation into the lawlessness that was occurring in the streets of Chicago...Check out our new American Hauntings Podcast Network for even more spooky shows.Have a question or comment? Text us on the Haunt Line @ 217-791-7859New Facebook page

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42:01

American Nightmares 25: "The Devil's Music - Part 5"

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/07/31

When it comes to music curses – and the Devil’s Music itself – there is no musician more closely linked to the supernatural than Robert Johnson, the legendary bluesman who allegedly sold his soul to the Devil at a crossroads in the Mississippi Delta for magical playing skills and a handful of tunes. Robert would go on to become the founding member of the sinister “27 Club” but that’s not the only curse that’s been linked to the young guitar player. There’s also the so-called CROSSROADS’ BLUES

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25:01

American Dread: Five Little Birds

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/07/29

On April 27, 1968, five children from the Cox family were murdered near their rural home outside Mattoon, Illinois. The killer was someone they knew and trusted: 18-year-old Thomas Charles Fuller II, who was dating their older sister. This is Five Little Birds: The Cox Family Murders. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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84:00

The End of the "Terrible Gennas"

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/07/21

In May 1925, Angelo and Lucille found a home they liked in suburban Oak Park and began planning to move. On the morning of May 25, Angelo set out in his Roadster coupe to pay for the new house in cash. He drove south from Belmont Harbor on Sheridan Road and then turned southwest onto Ogden Avenue, which at that time extended to Lincoln Park. As he approached Hudson Avenue, a large black touring car carrying four unknown assailants sped up next to Genna's car. The passengers in the other car

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20:48

American Dread: Four Hours Before Dawn: The Ray...

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/07/15

In July of 1977, G. Ray Timmons left his Bloomington, Illinois home for a walk and never returned. Hours later, he was found murdered in a downtown alley off East Market Street, a cinder block had been placed on his neck and head. Nearly fifty years later, the most important hours of that night remain missing.Check out our new American Hauntings Podcast Network for even more spooky shows.Have a question or comment? Text us on the Haunt Line @ 217-791-7859New Facebook page

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69:18

Jazz Bars, Smoke Shops, and Gangland Hotels

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/07/07

The murder of Dean O’Banion – followed by the near-miss on John Torrio – became the opening battles in what would become the longest and bloodiest gang war in Chicago history. This wasn’t just gangland maneuvering, Hymie Weiss’ thirst for revenge – it went beyond all that. The control of the entire Chicago underworld was at stake. Check out our new American Hauntings Podcast Network for even more spooky shows.Have a question or comment? Text us on the Haunt Line @ 217-791-7859New Facebook page

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20:43

American Dread: The Last Walk: The Billie Lee Boyce...

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/07/01

Two days before Halloween in 1987, 13-year-old Billie Lee Boyce was found behind a garage in Springfield, Illinois.She had left home two nights earlier and said she would be back in about an hour. She never returned. Her body was discovered near East Melrose Avenue, and her clothing was later recovered under a bridge along Fox Road.Police investigated. A suspect was arrested and charged. DNA testing was expected to help move the case forward. But the charges were dropped before trial, no one was

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17:47

LIVE From The 2026 Haunted America Conference

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/06/30

Ghost stories recorded from friends and vendors at the 2026 Haunted America Conference. Check out our new American Hauntings Podcast Network for even more spooky shows.Have a question or comment? Text us on the Haunt Line @ 217-791-7859New Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/troytaylorodditiesCheck out our updated website and sign up for our newsletter at AmericanHauntingsPodcast.comWant an episode every week, plus other awesome perks and discounts? Check out our Patreon pageFind out merch

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2:24

AMERICAN NIGHTMARES UPDATE

American Hauntings Podcast ·

2026/06/26

An update from Troy Taylor about the status of AMERICAN NIGHTMARES and an explanation about why it hasn’t been in your feed lately. In mid-June suffered a series of strokes and has been on the mend ever since. But new episodes will be coming in July, so thanks for all your support and good wishes.If you’re feeling generous and would be willing to donate to the GO FUND ME for Troy’s medical recovery, you can follow the link to https://gofund.me/919e3e82c Advertising Inquiries:

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