Twisted and Mysterious

<p>On Christmas Eve 1945, a house fire in Fayetteville, West Virginia destroyed the Sodder family home. By morning, five of the ten Sodder children were missing — and no bodies were ever found.</p><p>Officials ruled that the children died in the fire, but almost nothing about the investigation made sense. No remains were recovered from the ashes. A ladder vanished. The family’s trucks mysteriously wouldn’t start. And in one of the strangest moments of the case, the local fire chief secretly buried a beef liver at the scene and later presented it to the family as the supposed heart of one of their children.</p><p>As years passed, the Sodders received unsettling sightings, warnings, and even a photograph that suggested at least one child may have survived. Their parents spent more than four decades searching for answers — and never stopped believing their children were alive.</p><p>In this episode of <em>Twisted &amp; Mysterious</em>, we explore the baffling disappearance of Maurice, Martha, Louis, Jennie, and Betty Sodder, the deeply flawed investigation, and the theories that continue to haunt this case nearly 80 years later.</p><p><em>Audio note: This episode contains occasional background noise.</em></p><p>Was it a tragic accident… or something far more sinister?</p><p>Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and consider subscribing to the show. You can find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us at [email protected].</p>

<p>This week on <em>Twisted &amp; Mysterious</em>, Faren tells the unforgettable reincarnation story of Shanti Devi, a young girl in 1930s India who insisted she was not a child at all—but a grown, married woman with three children, a past life, and some very strong opinions about how things used to be done in the kitchen.</p><p>Her claims were so detailed and consistent that they eventually caught the attention of the Indian government, leading to a formal investigation into her alleged past life. While officials took the case seriously, we’re left asking the practical questions: is it fair to criticize your mother’s cooking when you can’t reach the stove, aren’t allowed near knives, and still need to hold someone's hand when crossing the street? And how exactly do you ground a 30-year-old mother of three who is currently eight years old?</p><p>Add in historical documentation, existential whiplash, and a chaotic cold open featuring a kitten who clearly wants a producer credit, and you’ve got an episode that’s equal parts fascinating and ridiculous.</p><p>Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and consider subscribing to the show. You can find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us at [email protected].</p>

<p>In this week’s episode, Sarah tells the heartbreaking story of Molly McLaren—a bright, driven 23-year-old whose life was stolen by a man who refused to take “no” for an answer. What began as an online romance quickly spiraled into obsessive control, violent threats, and stalking so severe that Molly did everything she could to protect herself… yet the system failed to protect her in return.</p><p>We dive into Molly’s life, her bravery in speaking up, the escalating red flags, and the tragic final moments that should have been prevented. This case has stuck with us for years because it underscores a devastating truth: violence is <em>not</em> always a warning sign before homicide. Stalking itself is violence—and legislation must reflect that reality.</p><p>We also include resources for listeners who might need help or know someone who does. If you or someone you love is experiencing abuse:</p><p><strong>U.S.:</strong> Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) — The National Domestic Violence Hotline.</p><p><strong>U.K.:</strong> Contact Women’s Aid via the freephone 24/7 National Domestic Abuse Helpline: <strong>0808 2000 247</strong> or visit <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://womensaid.org.uk">womensaid.org.uk</a> to access live chat support.</p><p><strong>If you or someone you know is in immediate danger: call 999 (UK) or 911 (US).</strong></p><p>We hope this episode honors Molly’s memory — and maybe helps someone in a dark place find a path to safety.</p><p>Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and consider subscribing to the show. You can find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us at [email protected].</p>

<p>It’s our 1-year podiversary, so naturally we threw a full-on <em>rager</em>… and by “rager,” we mean we raged <strong>nonstop</strong> about the infuriating disappearance of Bryce Laspisa. </p><p>In true Twisted &amp; Mysterious fashion, we celebrate twelve months of chaos by diving into a case that feels like it could have — <em>should have</em> — been prevented. Bryce’s strange behavior, the endless red flags, the baffling choices made along the way… we unpack all of it while yelling into our microphones like caffeinated gremlins.</p><p>If you’ve ever listened to this case and felt your blood pressure rising, congratulations — you’re invited to the podiversary party. We break down the timeline, the theories, and every “ARE YOU SERIOUS?!” moment that still haunts this story.</p><p>Happy 1 year of being <em>Twisted &amp; Mysterious</em> with us. 💙🖤</p><p>Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and consider subscribing to the show. You can find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us at [email protected].</p>

<p>In this week’s episode, Sarah unpacks the infamous Waukesha, Wisconsin Slender Man stabbing—a case where internet horror, childhood delusion, and the absolute chaos of being 12 all merged into one of the most bizarre true crime stories of the last decade.</p><p>We break down the origins of Slender Man, how he crawled out of the “spooky noodles” world of creepypasta, and why two middle-schoolers genuinely believed they had to sacrifice their friend and then walk 300 miles to the Nicolet National Forest to live with him. For the record, the only people on Earth who want to walk 300 miles are The Proclaimers.</p><p>This episode also dives into the impossible task of trying to protect kids from the endless parade of creepy images and viral monsters online. Instead of bubble-wrapping them, we talk about the real solution: helping kids tell the difference between real vs. fake, scary-but-fun vs. scary-and-dangerous, and reassuring them that liking spooky stuff is <em>totally</em> normal. (Sarah has been reading Stephen King since age 10 and somehow watched Cujo at age 3, so clearly some of us turned out mostly fine… mostly.)</p><p>Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and consider subscribing to the show. You can find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us at [email protected].</p>