x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend

Carole Townsend

Author and veteran journalist Carole Townsend shares remarkable tales from the South, tales of mystery, terror, and wonder. Townsend has built a career on the premise that truth really is stranger than fiction.Here in the South, we love our stories. We begin in childhood huddled around campfires, whispering of things best spoken in the dark, confiding in our small trusting circles. Why is that, do you suppose? I have researched and investigated Southern history for more than 20 years and I believe

true crime drama

All Episodes

29:29

Anjette Lyles

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/12/16

The story begins with the comfort of small-town ritual: a packed lunch counter on Mulberry Street, a hostess who knows every name, and a city that believes it knows its own. Then the pattern breaks. A husband collapses with mysterious convulsions, a second falls to a sudden fever, a mother-in-law fades under watchful care, and a child is tormented by vivid hallucinations no medicine can explain. We follow the arc from gentle hospitality to hard suspicion, from porch whispers about black candl...

en-us

22:51

Waverly Hills: Beauty And Bloodlines

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/11/20

A picturesque hill in Louisville once held America’s fiercest struggle against the white plague—and the echoes haven’t faded. We follow the unlikely path from a one-room schoolhouse to a sprawling, five-story sanatorium where doctors chased a cure with fresh air, rest, and desperate procedures that often hurt more than they healed. When loss became routine, a 500-foot tunnel meant for supplies turned into a discreet route for the dead, shielding hope while the numbers climbed.We share the verified

en-us

23:26

Queen Of Shadows: Marie Laveau

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/10/29

The streets of New Orleans carry stories like river water—slow, heavy, and charged with memory. We follow those currents into the life of Marie Laveau, a free woman of color who became the city’s most enduring symbol of power, faith, and fear. Between jazz funerals and above-ground tombs, we explore how a healer and hairdresser rose to be called the Voodoo Queen, and why her shadow still stretches across the Gulf Coast. We set the stage in the early 1800s, when French, Spanish, African, and ...

en-us

22:15

The McRaven House

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/10/08

Night settles on the porch, the river hums in the distance, and we follow that sound to a Vicksburg mansion that refuses to grow quiet. McRaven House isn’t just “the most haunted home in Mississippi”—it’s a three-part time machine where an outlaw’s bedroom, a grieving mother’s lullaby, and a war-torn hospital all occupy the same breath. We walk the Great River Road, trace the Natchez Trace, and pull at the threads linking moving water, old brick, and stories that won’t lie flat. We start wit...

en-us

24:44

The Mothman

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/09/11

Lurking in the shadows of Appalachia's misty mountains is a tale that defies rational explanation. When a group of gravediggers in Clendenin, West Virginia reported seeing a massive winged figure soaring overhead in November 1966, no one could have predicted how this sighting would become entwined with one of America's greatest tragedies. The creature they glimpsed—soon to be known as the Mothman—stood seven to eight feet tall with a wingspan of ten feet and hypnotic red eyes that paralyzed ...

en-us

13:28

The Aftermath

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/08/28

After weeks of silence, we're back with a deeply personal journey through trauma, healing, and the mysterious corners of the South that continue to call to us even in our darkest moments. The devastating head-on collision that abruptly ended our previous episode left me shattered – both legs broken with compound fractures, broken ankles, shattered kneecaps, four broken ribs, and a surgically reattached left foot. July exists as little more than a foggy haze of pain medication and the natural...

en-us

2:53

The Date

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/07/10

Sometimes life throws unexpected curves that temporarily interrupt even our most cherished routines. In this brief but deeply personal episode, I share news that's difficult to deliver—a serious head-on collision has temporarily paused my storytelling. What began as a promising evening on June 25th—my husband and I heading to a rare midweek date night of dinner and a concert—turned catastrophic in an instant. The accident left me with multiple broken bones in both legs, broken ankles, damage...

en-us

43:00

The Jefferson Davis Eight

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/06/26

In the small Louisiana town of Jennings, a troubling series of murders has remained unsolved for nearly two decades, revealing dark truths about how some communities value certain lives less than others. Between 2005 and 2009, eight women were found dead—Loretta Chasson, Ernestine Patterson, Kristen Gary Lopez, Whitney Dubois, Laconia "Muggy" Brown, Crystal Benoit Zeno, Brittany Gary, and Nicole Guillory—all connected through their struggles with addiction, involvement in sex work, and roles ...

en-us

32:46

Terror in Southern Louisiana

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/06/12

Beneath the mystical façade of Louisiana's voodoo legends and Creole culture lurks a modern horror story few could imagine. For over a decade, from 1993 to 2006, the Baton Rouge area was gripped by fear as women disappeared and turned up murdered with alarming frequency. The community transformed – doors once left unlocked were bolted shut, morning jogs became dangerous endeavors, and the friendly Southern hospitality gave way to justifiable paranoia.What makes this case extraordinary

en-us

30:36

Creatures in the Mist

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/05/29

The blue mist shrouding the Great Smoky Mountains hides more than just breathtaking vistas and ancient forests – it conceals centuries of mysteries that continue to elude explanation. This rugged wilderness, spanning Tennessee and North Carolina, draws millions of visitors annually to its trails and streams. Yet beneath its serene beauty lurks an unsettling statistic: the Great Smoky Mountains ranks among America's five deadliest national parks, with 101 recorded deaths in just thirteen

en-us

27:28

Malice Aforethought: The Susan Smith Murders

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/03/14

A mother's desperate claim that her two young sons were kidnapped by a carjacker unravels into one of the most shocking murder cases in South Carolina history. The Susan Smith case reveals how a web of lies, inconsistencies, and a devastating confession led to the discovery of a premeditated crime that shocked the nation. • Susan Smith reported her sons Michael (3) and Alex (14 months) were taken during a carjacking on October 25, 1994 • For nine days, America watched as Susan and her husban...

en-us

26:46

The Missing Sodder Children

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/02/27

On Christmas morning in 1945, a family's holiday joy shattered when flames consumed their home and five children mysteriously vanished. The Sodder family of Fayetteville, West Virginia, faced unthinkable tragedy that sparked theories of conspiracy and kidnapping. Starting with a strange phone call that Jenny Sautter received just before the blaze began, the episode delves into the moments leading to the horrifying fire that would change their lives forever. We explore the bizarre occurrences...

en-us

33:57

The Alday Murders

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/02/13

Discover the shocking crime spree of Carl Isaacs and his gang, whose violent escape from the Maryland State Penitentiary led to a terrifying series of events in 1973. How did a group of fugitives leave a trail of car thefts, burglaries, and brutal murders across several states? Unravel the gripping narrative of their journey southward, culminating in the harrowing Alday family massacre in Donaldsonville, Georgia, an event that left an indelible mark on the community and the justice system. E...

en-us

32:09

Diamond Doris: Unveiling a Southern Jewel Thief's Legacy

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/01/31

I love hearing from listeners. Please write a review and rate the show. And please, tell your friends and share episodes on your social media. You can connect with me by clicking the links below. Facebook: Instagram: Website: Tiktok:

en-us

30:07

The Garden of Good and Evil

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2025/01/16

Ever wondered what secrets lie beneath the cobblestone streets of Savannah? Join me, Carole Townsend, as I unravel the ghostly allure and historical intrigue of this Southern city, with tales that will leave you questioning the line between myth and reality. Our journey takes us first to the Mercer House, where the echoes of a dramatic event from May 2, 1981, continue to haunt Savannah's storied past. Inspired by John Barrett's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," we'll peel back the la...

en-us

32:13

The Lost Colony of Roanoke

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2024/12/27

What if a single word could hold the key to one of America's oldest mysteries? Join me, Carole Townsend, as we journey through the haunting story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Set against the dramatic and often perilous landscape of North Carolina's Outer Banks, we'll unravel the complex tapestry of hope, ambition, and possibly tragedy that defined the fateful expedition led by Sir Walter Raleigh in the late 16th century. With only the enigmatic word "Croatoan" as a clue, the disappearance o...

en-us

26:11

Kings Tavern

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2024/12/05

What eerie secrets lurk within the walls of King's Tavern, the oldest building in Natchez, Mississippi, where history and the paranormal intertwine? Journey with me, Carole Townsend, as we unravel the spine-chilling tales of murder and betrayal that haunt this ancient site and explore the historic Natchez Trace, a travel corridor rich with stories of coexistence and conflict. As we gather on my front porch, I promise you'll be captivated by the legends that echo through this historic site, qu...

en-us

29:46

The Woolfolk Family Murders

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2024/11/27

What if the deepest scars of Southern history were hidden within one family's tragic saga? Join us as we unravel the haunting mystery of the Woolfolk family massacre, a tale rooted in post-Civil War Georgia's tumultuous soil. Through the eyes of Thomas George Woolfolk, we walk a path littered with personal tragedy, failure, and a legacy of resentment. This episode paints a haunting portrait of a man ensnared by the complex web of family dynamics and Southern tradition, leaving listeners ponde...

en-us

24:46

The Chilling Story of Corpsewood Manor

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2024/11/14

What drove Dr. Charles Scudder, a disillusioned pharmacology professor, to trade a life of urban hustle for the shadowy solace of the Appalachian foothills? Join me, Carole Townsend, as we unravel the enigmatic and tragic tale of Corpsewood Manor, a story that defies conventional wisdom and leaves us questioning the boundaries between idyllic dreams and chilling realities. Dr. Scudder and his partner Joey Odom sought refuge in the Chattahoochee National Forest, constructing a secluded sanctua...

en-us

27:31

The Horrors Hidden in the LaLaurie Mansion

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend ·

2024/10/30

What if the dark, twisted secrets of New Orleans could chill you to the bone from the comfort of your front porch? Join me, Carole Townsend, as I unravel the sinuous history of the Big Easy, starting with the notorious Madame Delphine LaLaurie. Known as one of history's most malevolent figures, LaLaurie's story is one of opulence masking unimaginable cruelty. Step into the haunted corridors of her infamous mansion, where tales of supernatural horror and unspeakable atrocities converge. Discov...

en-us

25 results

Similar Podcasts

Australian True Crime

Bravecasting

True Crime Podcast 2025 - Police Interrogations, 911 Calls and True Police Stories Podcast

True Crime Podcast 2025

Ontario Cold Cases - The Podcast

Jay Nicoll

The Conspiracy Files

Bloody FM

Crime at Bedtime

Jack Laurence