Scary Mysteries

Top 5 Most Disturbingly Haunted Asylums and Hospitals Hospitals and asylums are places where people go to get cared for and seek refuge. Some of them are kept to the best standards and flourish, while others dwindle, eventually abandoned and forgotten by time.5. Beechworth Lunatic Asylum A few hours away from Melbourne, Australia sits the Beechworth Lunatic Asylum in Victoria. Founded in 1867 the asylum was once the second largest in Australia, occupying 206 acres of land. At its peak, it housed 1200 patients spread out into 57 buildings. Anyone could be admitted at the recommendation of a family member along with two signatures from a medical practitioner – no examination required. The police could also bring in anyone loitering in public or prisoners with behavioral problems.4. Byberry State Mental AsylumIn Philllidelphia, the Byberry Mental Asylum facility was constructed between 1907 and 1928 . From its inception, it had been plagued by allegations of mistreatment and neglect. Like most mental institutions at that time, it became a dumping ground for people with problems that were misunderstood. Alcoholics, victims of abuse, homeless people, menopausal women, epileptics and even those with cerebral palsy made up parts of the population. 3. Old Changi Hospital With death and cruelty permanently embedded in its walls, the Old Changi Hospital is regarded as one of the most haunted places in the world. Old Changi Hospital was first built in 1935 and known as the Royal Air Force Hospital. When the war broke out, the British withdrew and the Japanese occupied Singapore in 1942. The Japanese then used the hospital as a prison camp where British soldiers along with their allies were imprisoned. It was also believed to be the main base for the Kempeitai Japanese secret police who were known for their brutality and ruthlessness.2. Waverly Place HospitalThroughout the 1800’s America had been fighting the "white plague" –- a once deadly, incurable disease we now know as tuberculosis. The contagious disease eradicated families and in 1900 Louisville, Kentucky suffered one of the highest tuberculosis death rates withinin the US. By 1910, a two-story hospital, known as Waverly Place was built to house 40-50 people suffering from the deadly disease. However, with the growing number of patients, it was deemed too small and was torn down and replaced with a bigger facility equipped with better accommodations to house and treat patients. 1. Athens Lunatic Asylum (The Ridges)The Ridges, formerly known as the Athens Lunatic Asylum in Ohio, has gone on in infamy because of one thing – a mysterious ghostly stain permanently embedded in the attic. Designed using the famous "Kirkbride Plan," The Ridges was considered revolutionary when it opened back in 1874. They catered mostly to Civil War soldiers who suffered from what we now call PTSD, but also treated children and violent criminals within the facility. Those were Top 5 Most Disturbingly Haunted Asylums and HospitalsThey may have started out as places intended to help people but over time these hospitals and asylums turned into something else. The nightmarish conditions they forced upon their patients left a lasting impression on these facilities, one that can still be felt even today.Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 Most Sick and Twisted KidnappersKidnapping is the abduction or unlawful transportation of a person, usually to hold the person against his or her will.While reports of these crimes are always shocking, there have been some kidnappers in our history that have taken these acts to the extreme. it to the extreme. These are 5 of the most sick and twisted kidnappers.5. Wolfgang PriklopilOn March 2, 1998, 10-year old Natasha Kampusch was walking to school when a man dragged her inside his white minivan. Her captor then drove back to his home in the Viennese suburb of Strasshoff and kept her hidden inside a secret cellar under his garage for eight years. 4. Kenneth Parnell Born in Texas during the Great Depression, Kenneth Parnell had a troubled childhood which he spent most of moving in and out of several mental institutions and juvenile detention centers.In 1951, when he was 20, he was charged with sodomizing a young boy whom he had lured in by pretending to be a police officer. He was arrested, convicted and imprisoned but managed to escape.3. Marc DutrouxHis goal was to create an "underground city" filled with his victims. An unemployed electrician, Marc Dutroux is a Belgian rapist, child molester and murderer who scrounged up money to survive through muggings, theft and drugs. By 1986, he escalated and together with his wife, Michelle, kidnapped and raped five young girls. He was caught and sentenced to 13 years but was released on parole after serving just 3. His own mother wrote to the parole board warning them of the consequences of his release, but it fell on deaf ears. 2. Phillip Craig GaridoWhen 11-year old Jaycee Duggard went missing, it became national news. On June 10, 1990, Jaycee stepped outside her home wearing her favorite all-pink outfit and walked uphill to the bus stop. A car pulled up and thinking they needed directions she approached. The man in the vehicle surprised her by using a stun gun, shocking her unconscious, and then abducting her. This man was Philipp Craig Garrido. 1. Josef FritzlAt 18, Elisabeth Fritzl was drugged and shoved inside a homemade cellar in their large family home. The culprit responsible was her own father, Josef Fritzl. Born in Austria in 1935 as an only child, Josef was raised by an abusive single mother who he described as very controlling. Later on, he admitted that he locked his mother inside his attic until she died. Those were 5 of the Most Sick & Twisted Kidnappers you’ll ever hear about. They were diabolical, cunning and extremely perverse. And there could be more out there right now, in any town on any street, looking to pick up their next young victim.Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Top 5 Deadliest and Most Brutal Hitmen in the WorldIn books and movies, hitmen are portrayed as expert killers, tagged with an aura of "coolness" because of their chosen profession. But in real life these contract killers are often far more brutal and even more perplexing then any fictional character could ever be. These are the top 5 deadliest and most brutal hitmen in the world. 5. Glennon EnglemanDentist by day and hitman by night, Glennon Engleman led a double life. For over 30 years, he carried out multiple murders for profit. These killings were often commissioned by loved ones, friends or co-workers. Born in St. Louis in 1927, Engleman was the son of a railroad clerk. Even though he was a mediocre student, he managed to earn a degree in dentistry and set up his own practice in the neighborhood he grew up in. Engleman married twice, the first was to Edna Ruth which lasted three years, and his second marriage was to Ruth Jolley with whom he had one son named David. 4. Christopher Dale FlanneryKnown as "Mr. Rent-A-Kill," Christopher Dale Flannery has been called Australia's worst hitman. Born in 1948, even as a young boy he was constantly in and out of trouble with police. After moving around to several jobs, he ended up working as a bouncer. He quickly grew bored there and that’s when he decided to move into contract killing for an occupation. 3. Giuseppe "Pino" GrecoComing from a long line of Mafiosi, it was no surprise Giuseppe Greco would turn into one of the most prolific mafia criminals to ever live. During his lifetime, it's estimated he killed somewhere between 80 to 300 people. Even though he rarely killed alone, he took part in each of the killings – making sure he was present when his victims died. 2. Alexander SolonikNicknamed, "the Superkiller," Alexander Solonik was a primary killing tool for the highest mob bosses in Russia. What makes him unique is that he was ambidextrous and could shoot a gun using either hand. Despite being imprisoned twice, he managed to escape both times. By his second escape, he decided to join a local syndicate and become a hitman. His first kill was the leader of a rival gang in 1990. After six months, he travelled to Moscow and killed another important Russian mob boss. He also eliminated one of the most powerful mobsters in Russia, Otari Kvantrishvili, after Alexander failed to extort money from him. 1. Richard KuklinskiNicknamed the "Iceman," Kuklinski admits to getting excited about the hunt more so then the actual killing. During his reign, it's estimated he killed between 100-250 people. However, he proclaims it is his rule to never kill women and children so all the people he killed were men. Born in New Jersey in 1935, Kuklinski grew up in a rough family and had to constantly put up with abuse from his parents. The daily beatings he and his siblings got took a toll on all of them. One of his brothers died at the age of 10, his older brother turned out to be a killer and rapist while Richard also turned to killing for a profession. So far, only his sister managed to live a "normal" life. So those were the Top 5 Deadliest and Most Brutal Hitmen in the World. Contract killings happen all the time. Perhaps the scariest part about it isn’t the murder itself, but the idea that if the price is right, then there’s someone sick enough who’s happy to get the job done.Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 Terribly Disturbing Christmas Killings"'Tis the season to be jolly,". Unfortunately Christmas isn't always about spreading holiday cheer. The next five real life stories detail the grim and horrific side of an otherwise joyis holiday. From strangers killing at random, to families murdering loved ones, these are 5 Terribly Disturbing Christmas Killings. 5. Patty White It was Michelle O' Dowd's favorite time of the year. She had just finished decorating her brothers' business space where she was working. All the presents for her nephews and family were wrapped and under the tree in her apartment. When she didn't show up for work one day, her twin brother was concerned and went over to visit. To his shock, he found 67 year old Michelle dead in bed with a bloody towel on her bruised-up face and Christmas presents covering her body. 4. Charlie LawsonDecember 25, 1929, 17-year old, Marie Lawson woke up early to bake her famous Christmas cake. After mixing the ingredients, she set it aside to be iced so it would ready for her family to enjoy later that night. While She was cooking, Charlie Lawson and his eldest son, Arthur, went out hunting. The two had run out of bullets and Charlie sent his son into town, about 15 minutes away, to get some more.3. Bruce Jeffery PardoIt was December 24, 2008, approximately 11 PM at the Ortega residence. Everybody was cheerful while celebrating the holidays and in the middle of festivities, an eight-year-old girl ran towards the door to answer the doorbell. She opened it and found Santa holding a huge present.2. Azizolah “Bob” YazdanpanahKnown as a "conservative and strict" man, the portrait of Azizolah "Bob" Yazdanpanah is often conflicting. On the one hand, he is described as a strict father who forbid his daughter to date and monitored her cellphone use. On the other, his friends see him as a sweet man who adored his family. Whichever side of "Bob" was the truth, there's no denying that he was a disturbed individual. 1. Ronald Gene SimmonsBy nature, Ronald Gene Simmons was a private man who previously served in both the United States Navy and the Air Force. At home, he was a strict father who bossed his wife and children around. He would give them various tasks and chores around the house, from building a fortress wall of cinder blocks to various repairs – there was always something to do. So those were 5 Terribly Disturbing Christmas KillingsSongs of cheer and hope usually sound off during the holidays, but for these many victims, their Christmas celebrations were cut short. Instead of a merry holiday cheer, theirs turned out filled with hatred, violence and blood.Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Top 5 Most Haunted Houses in AmericaHome is where the heart is. A place where families and couples can grow old together and live happily ever after. But sometimes, things don't always go as planned. The next five houses started out full of promise but ended up filled with tragedy. As time passed something other then people has taken up residence within their walls. These are the top 5 most haunted houses in America. 5. The Sylvester K. Pierce Victorian MansionThe SK Pierce mansion was a true marvel for its time. Built in Gardner Massachusetts, The 7,000 sq. foot home contained 10 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, large Victorian windows, 11-foot ceilings, marble fireplaces and beautiful moldings in every corner. Nothing was overlooked.4. The Kreischer MansionBuilt on top of a hill in Staten Island, the Kreischer Mansion overlooks the Arthur Kill, a small body of water that separates New York and New Jersey. When it was first built, there were actually two identical mansions right next to each other but the other mansion has since burnt down. Built by Balthasar Kreischer, he found his fortune creating fireproof bricks. He created the identical mansions for his two sons, Charles and Edward. A year after it was finished, Balthasar died and the company business fell on tough times. Not soon after, Edward shot and killed himself following an argument with someone in the factory or some say, after arguing with his brother. 3. Franklin CastleBuilt in 1881, Franklin Castle served as the home of German immigrant, Hannes Tiedemann. After moving from Germany, Hannes became a successful grocer and banker and he amassed a large fortune. The home was built not just to house his family in Cleveland Ohio but also to accommodate immigrating relatives for the first few months of their arrival.Even before moving into the community, Hannes had gained a reputation in the community for being a "loud and harsh man." This demeanor caused many to speculate that the many mysterious deaths that happened within the castle had something to do with him.2. The Whaley HouseHistory and folklore convene at San Diego's Whaley House. First built in 1855, many people say the house was destined to become haunted even before it was built. The land where it stands was once a graveyard. Subsequently, it was used for public executions including the public hanging of famous Yankee thief, Jim Robinson. However, this wouldn't stop Thomas Whaley from building his home on the property. Built as the first brick building in California, it featured Greek Revival architecture and completed with rosewood and mahogany furniture. 1. The Amityville HouseOne of the most famous haunted houses in the US, the legacy of the Amityville horror has lived on for generations. While many criticize the story as a hoax, others believe there was something sinister in the home while the Lutz's lived there. So what really happened in Long Island, NY at 112 Ocean Avenue? It all began with the flies. Despite being the middle of December, plagues of flies would swarm the house as George and Kathy Lutz, along with their three kids, unpacked. Their new dream home, which they nicknamed "High Hopes" was the start of a new beginning for the family. The Dutch Colonial style home featured six bedrooms, a swimming pool and a boathouse since it was near a canal. The house had sat empty for nearly a year before the Lutzes purchased it for $80,000 –a bargain for a home of that style and size. But there was a good reason why. So those were the Top 5 Most Haunted Houses in AmericaThey say time heals all wounds but in the case of these houses, it seems the wounds and the entities living there refuse to heal and they certainly aren’t moving on anytime soon.Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices