Morbid

When Kathleen Peterson died in December 2001, it was assumed her death had been the result of an accidental fall down the stairs after combining alcohol and Valium. However, within a few weeks, suspicion fell on Kathleen’s husband, Michael, after the medical examiner concluded that Kathleen’s injuries were consistent with assault, not an accidental fall.
By the time Michael Peterson went to trial, the case had attracted national attention, particularly after details about his personal life came to light. The case gained even more attention when it was learned that, in 1985, Michael Peterson’s friend Elizabeth Ratliff died under very similar circumstances to those of his wife.
References
Associated Press. 2002. "Durham novelist insists wife's death caused by fall on stairs, not beating." Winston-Salem Journal, February 20: 6.
Cain, Brooke. 2022. A ‘Staircase’ timeline from Kathleen Peterson’s death to her husband’s trial and plea. May 10. Accessed July 16, 2026. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article260637047.html.
Curliss, J. Andrew, and Vicki Cheng. 2001. "Death of former candidate's wife under scrutiny." The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), December 11: B1.
Dalesio, Emery P. 2003. "Prosecution: Death was no accident." Charlotte Observer, October 4: 26.
Griffin, Anna. 2003. "Durham writer found guilty of killing wife." Charlotte Observer, October 11: 1.
—. 2001. "High-profiler gets unwanted attention." Charlotte Observer, December 16: 23.
—. 2003. "Peterson murder case goes to jury." Charlotte Observer, October 7: B1.
Jarvis, Craig. 2002. "Peterson case takes a turn." The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), May 11: 1.
Jarvis, Craig, and John Sullivan. 2001. "Peterson seen as vibrant, devoted." The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), December 23: 1.
Johns, Michael. 2002. "Peterson's motive?" The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), January 20: 28.
Jones, Aphrodite. 2013. A Perfect Husband. New York, NY: Pinnacle.
Kane, Dan. 1999. "Mayoral candidate's fake-wound disclosure splits backers." News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), September 23: 3B.
Lee, Demorris. 2003. "Agent's findings point to beating." The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), August 15: 1.
—. 2002. "Durham DA seeks exhumation." The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), October 19: 1.
—. 2003. "Sisters grant autopsy request." The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), February 17: B1.
—. 2002. "Stepdaughter files suit against Peterson." The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), October 30: B3.
Lee, Demorris, and Aisling Swift. 2001. "Peterson indicted in death." The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), December 21: 1.
—. 2001. "Peterson to spend holiday in jail." The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), December 22: B1.
Lee, Demorris, and Craig Jarvis. 2003. "Autopsy: Peterson friend slain." The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), April 29: 1.
Modell, Josh. 2018. "The real killer in The Staircase might be -- an owl?" Vulture, June 14.
Murphy, Dennis. 2006. Death at the bottom of the stairs. November 25. Accessed July 16, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15894727.
Peterson, Michael. 2019. Behind the Staircase. Durham, NC: Independently published.
Press, Associated. 2001. "Special grand jury called in death of arts patron." Charlotte Observer, December 20: 23.
Rogers, Patrick, and Lori Rozsa. 2022. Revisit PEOPLE's 2002 Conversation with Michael Peterson, Whose Wife's Death Inspired HBO Max's 'The Staircase'. May 5. Accessed July 16, 2026. https://people.com/crime/people-magazine-2002-interview-with-michael-peterson-the-staircase/.
Saker, Anne. 2003. "Peterson Trial: Trial opens, rival lawyers offer weapon theory, accident scenario to jury." The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), July 1: 1.
—. 2003. "Sexuality introduced into the trial." The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), August 8: 1.
Sheehan, Ruth. 2002. "Is Peterson the wrong man, too?" The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), February 21: 15.
—. 2002. "Win-win tactic for DA." The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), October 28: 15.
State of North Carolina v. Michael Iver Peterson. 2007. 547A06 (Supreme Court of North Carolina, November 9).



Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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When Tina Bowen and her sister, Karen, began hearing knocking in the walls of their home in Pepperell, Massachusetts, the girls believed it was their recently deceased mother trying to reach out to them from beyond the grave. In time, however, the knocking became more intrusive and aggressive, and it was soon accompanied by objects being moved around the house and frightening messages left on the walls. After months of torment, the Bowens discovered that it wasn’t a ghost haunting their home, but sixteen-year-old Daniel LaPlante, a boy Tina had briefly dated and who’d become obsessed with her.

Daniel LaPlante was arrested and charged with various crimes, for which he was convicted and served a sentence in a juvenile detention center. Unfortunately, the court’s decision to try LaPlante as an adult meant that he was granted bail and after just one year in detention, he was bailed out and allowed to live with his mother pending trial. It turned out that brief period of freedom was all the time LaPlante needed to find a new object of his obsession and by the time the police learned of his violent intentions, it was already too late.

References

Campbell, Jerome. 2019. Mass. High Court Rejects Early Parole Petition For Man Convicted Of Murder In 1987. June 6. Accessed July 9, 2026. https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/06/06/daniel-laplante-parole-denied.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Daniel J. LaPlante. 1993. 416 Mass. 433 (Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, November 16).

Conteras, Cydney. 2023. Daniel LaPlante hid in walls before murdering pregnant woman and her children. July 28. Accessed July 7, 2026. https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/daniel-laplante-murder-priscilla-gustafson-family.

Crimaldi, Laura. 2017. "Doctor doubts killer's remorse." Boston Globe, March 23: B1.

Cullen, Kevin, and Jim Gomez. 1987. "LaPlante ordered to undergo tests." Boston Globe, December 5: 1.

Cullen, Kevin, Diego Ribadeneira, and Doris Wong. 1987. "Suspect in slayings is captured." Boston Globe, December 4: 1.

Cullen, Kevin, Richard Kindleberger, Paul Langer, Diane Lewis, Diego Ribadeneira, and Doris Wong. 1987. "A youth who sowed fear." Boston Globe, December 4: 1.

Lagner, Paul. 1988. "4 more letters given to judge in LaPlante murder case." Boston Globe, September 16: 82.

Lane, Tom. 2021. The Elm Street Nightmare. July 8. Accessed July 7, 2026. https://www.celticssentinel.com/2021/07/the-elm-street-nightmare.html.

Langner, Paul. 1988. "LaPlante convicted, gets life in 3 killings." Boston Globe, October 26: 1.

Ribadeneira, Diego, and Doris Wong. 1987. "Police seeking 17-year-old suspect for slayings of three in Townsend." Boston Globe, December 3: 1.

Ribadeneira, Diego, and Jim Gomez. 1987. "Two families shaken by close calls as suspect in murders roamed free." Boston Globe, December 5: 10.

2015. Your Worst Nightmare. Directed by Pat Rogers. Performed by Pat Rogers.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Stamford, Connecticut was terrorized by a killer who was strangling women and leaving their bodies by the side of the parkway. After four years and five confirmed victims, police arrested a local self-proclaimed preacher named Benjamin Miller, bringing the murders to an end and closing the case on what the press had dubbed the Bra Murders—or so they thought.

From the moment Miller was arrested, there were some in the community who questioned whether the police had arrested the right man or if they’d simply chosen Miller as a scapegoat. Among other things, Miller had a long history of mental illness and, although he had initially confessed to the murders, he eventually recanted his confession and claimed that detectives had manipulated him into confessing.

To this day, many Connecticut residents still wonder whether Benjamin Miller was really responsible for the Bra Murders, or if the real killer was allowed to walk free.

References

Arnold, Martin. 1972. "A 'minister' is seized in 5 Connecticut stranglings." New York Times, March 18: 64.

Associated Press. 1973. "Miller ordered to mental institution." Stamford Advocate, March 31: 3.

—. 1972. "Black citizens prodded investigation." The Journal (Meriden, CT), March 18: 5.

Buffa, Denise. 1989. "Ex-postal worker freed in 'Bra Murders'." Stamford Advocate, May 9: 1.

—. 1989. "Maintaining his innocence." Stamford Advocate, May 21: 1.

—. 1989. "State may not try suspect in '73 deaths." Stamford Advocate, April 4: 1.

Connecticut Post. 1972. "Mental patient accused of slaying five women." Connecticut Post, March 17: 1.

—. 1971. "Stamford eyes slaying's link to 'Bra Murders'." Connecticut Post, July 13: 2.

—. 1971. "Strangler's 5th victim found in parkway woods." Connecticut Post, August 23: 1.

—. 1969. "Troopers set skull identity." Connecticut Post, April 11: 1.

—. 1969. "Woman's skeleton found in 3rd parkway mystery." Connecticut Post, April 5: 1.

Gold, Julie Anne. 1982. "Figure in murders seeking his release." Stamford Advocate, December 17: 1.

Gombossy, George. 1989. "Doubt clouds 'solved'Stamford slayings." Hartfort Courant, May 28: 333.

Greenhouse, Linda. 1971. "Police seek clue to Stamford murders." New York Times, August 29: 38.

Neenan, Julia McNamee. 1983. "Defense: 'parkway bra murders' case to be appealed." Stamfor Advocate, November 5: 7.

—. 1983. "New trial denied in parkway slayings." Stamford Advocate, October 20: 1.

Peterson, Lisa Marie. 1988. "Ex-postal clerk may go free in 'Bra Murders' case." Stamford Advocate, May 25: 1.

Ressler, Marcy, and Frank Fedeli. 1981. "Police say body found near Merritt Parkway may be missing woman." Stamford Advocate, August 21: 1.

Ross, Don. 1973. "Bra killer insane, sent to instiution." Stamford Advocate, January 31: 1.

Seminoff, Nick. 1972. "Norwalk man charged on 5 counts in Merritt Parkway 'Bra' Murders." Stamford Advocate, March 17: 1.

Stamford Advocate. 1972. "Attempted murder charge follows parkway assault." Stamford Advocate, July 29: 1.

—. 1972. "Bra suspect is competent." Stamford Advocate, May 12: 1.

—. 1971. "'Concerned Black Citizens' urge intense murder probe." Stamford Advocate, August 27: 1.

—. 1971. "Mayor says police push murder probe." Stamford Advocate, August 30: 1.

—. 1972. "Murder suspect back in hospital." Stamford Advocate, March 20: 12.

—. 1971. "'Parkway Bra Murders' probe continues." Stamford Advocate, December 29: 17.

—. 1968. "Slaying victim was scheduled in court today." Stamford Advocate, May 6: 1.

—. 1971. "Stamford woman strangled." Stamford Advocate, August 23: 1.

Thompson, M. Cordell. 1972. "Police arrest white preacher in bizarre Conn. murder cases." Jet, April 6: 52.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Weirdos! For August's BONUS EPISODE we are focusing on an entity that has MANY faces and wears MANY hats: The bogeyman! For as long as people have been telling stories, these supernatural beings have been lurking in the woods, or in the dark alleys, or under the bed. They might look different depending on the culture they come from, or be called by another name, but their function in society is consistent: to invoke fear!

References

Briggs, Katharine. 1978. Encyclopedia of Fairies: Hobgoblins, Brownies, Bogies, & Other Supernatural Creatures. New York, NY: Pantheon.

Carbonell, Ana Maria. 1999. "From Llorona to Gritona: Coatlicue in Feminist Tales by Viramontes and Cisneros." MELUS 53-74.

Delsol, Christine. 2012. "Mexico’s legend of La Llorona continues to terrify." SF Gate, October 9.

Jones, Abigail. 2014. "The girls who tried to kill for Slender Man." Newsweek, August 22.

Leddy, Betty. 1988. "La Llorona in Southern Arizona." Perspectives in Mexican American Studies 9-16.

Newsroom. 2019. "Who was ‘Spring-heeled Jack’ who scared the women of Scotland?" The Scotsman, April 29.

Peck, Andrew. 2015. "Tall, Dark, and Loathsome: The Emergence of a Legend Cycle in the Digital Age." Journal of American Folklore 333-348.

Polidoro, Massimo. 2002. "Return of Spring-Heeled Jack." Skeptical Inquirer 22-24.

Simpson, Jacqueline, and Steve Roud. 2000. A Dictionary of English Folklore. Oxford, UK: Oxford UP.

Strebel, Erika. 2015. "Judge says keeping Slender Man case in adult court will prevent repeat of crime." Wisconsin Law Journal, August 10.

The Times. 1838. "Spring Heeled Jack - Outrage on a young lady." The Times, February 25: 7.

Times, The. 1838. "The late outrage at Old Ford." The Times, March 2: 7.

Vickery, Roy. 1983. "Lemna Minor and Jenny Greenteeth." Folklore 247-250.

Warner, Marina. 1999. No Go, the Bogeyman: Scaring, Lulling, and Making Mock. London, UK: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Young, Simon. 2019. Folklore Pamphlet: The Sources for Jenny Greenteeth and Other English Freshwater Faries. Pamphlet, Simon Young.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Weirdos! Grab your PJ's, some Aqua Net, and your favorite blue eye shadow and get ready to burn the midnight oil with us! This time, Deb has found 90's tales that will ensure that you're not the first to fall asleep at the slumber party... OH! And these tales are BY you FOR you and ALL ABOUT YOU juuuuust in case you were wondering! Don't forget to check out the YOUTUBE version is packed with extra Nicholas footage!

If you’ve got a listener tale please send it to Deb by emailing us at Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line, and if you share pictures, please let us know if we can share them with fellow weirdos! :)

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.