HAPPY NEW YEAR! WOHOO! 2026
Jess will be starting this new year out right…with a spooky tale from the Oklahoma Panhandle!
Before Robbers Roost became legendary, the Oklahoma Panhandle—once called the Public Land Strip or "No Man's Land"—had a complex history shaped by 19th-century territorial politics and frontier life. After the Compromise of 1850 and boundary adjustments in 1854, a roughly 34-by-168-mile rectangle remained unattached to any state or territory until 1890. The area was traversed for centuries (Santa Fe Trail, Spanish explorers), controlled for a time by Comanche bands, and later overrun by buffalo hunters and Texas cattlemen who grazed open range into the Strip. From the late 1870s settlers and squatters established informal ranches and towns without legal title, relying on self-surveyed claims, local governance, and vigilante justice. Persistent confusion about jurisdiction—exacerbated by the Post Office and mistaken assignment to "Indian Territory"—delayed formal homestead rights until the 1890 Organic Act made the Strip part of Oklahoma Territory, enabling legal land ownership, railroad-driven development, and eventual statehood in 1907.
Robbers Roost, on Black Mesa near Kenton in the Panhandle, was a natural stronghold and outlaw haven in the late 1860s, most famously used by William Coe and his gang to raid travelers, ranches, and military posts. Coe fortified a stone fortress with thick walls, portholes, and support structures in nearby canyons; after murders in 1867, a U.S. Army bombardment shattered the fortress, many gang members were captured or lynched, and Coe was later seized and extrajudicially hanged. The site’s foundation remains, and folklore endures—tales of buried treasure, ghostly apparitions, and phantom battle noises persist—though Robbers Roost sits on private land and visitors must not without permission!
Join Jess and Tiff this year as they continue to explore all things kooky and spooky in the state of Oklahoma!
Sources:
Tiff wraps up the fascinating and enormous history of the Cherokee Nation’s FIRST female Principal Chief; Wilma Mankiller.
Wilma Mankiller rose from community development work to become a transformational leader of the Cherokee Nation. In 1983 she joined Ross Swimmer as Deputy Chief and, despite severe gender-based hostility—including threats and vandalism—won election and later became the first woman Principal Chief in 1985 when Swimmer joined the BIA. As deputy and then chief she prioritized community development, improved health care and housing, and pursued a balanced economic strategy that respected Cherokee culture while supporting responsible business growth. She reformed council elections to improve local representation, expanded cultural and literacy institutions, and used media access to counter stereotypes and educate voters. Her 1987 and 1991 campaigns emphasized self-determination, federal partnerships, and protecting social programs amid federal budget cuts; she also overcame health crises while maintaining leadership and earning national recognition.
As Principal Chief (1987–1995) Mankiller advanced economic diversification, infrastructure projects, and programs supporting small business, education, and healthcare, negotiated tax and self-governance compacts, and pursued resource claims—including the long Arkansas River litigation that led to a 2002 settlement. Her administration faced legal and jurisdictional conflicts with the United Keetoowah Band but also strengthened tribal courts and law enforcement cooperation. After leaving office due to health concerns, she taught, wrote, and campaigned on tribal sovereignty, women’s rights, and public health, receiving many honors (Presidential Medal of Freedom, numerous honorary degrees, hall‑of‑fame inductions). Her legacy endures through community projects, the Mankiller Foundation, cultural recognition, expanded tribal services, and ongoing tributes such as films, a US quarter, and a Barbie in her honor.
Wilma Mankiller not only represents the fundamental importance of recognizing our Native roots, but also she represents what ALL girls and women can accomplish. Being a role model does not stop with the Cherokee Nation, but with all of America. What a true gem we had right here in Oklahoma.
Sources:
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Wilma Mankiller: Chief of the Cherokee Nation by Pamela Dell
This week, Tiff talks about a true Oklahoma warrior woman…Wilma Mankiller.
Wilma Pearl Mankiller (born November 18, 1945) was a Native American activist and community developer who became the first woman elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. She revitalized the Nation’s government, improved healthcare and education, and advanced a Nation‑to‑Nation model of self‑government with the United States. Raised as one of eleven children on Mankiller Flats in Oklahoma, she experienced poverty, federal relocation to San Francisco under the Indian Relocation policies, and cultural alienation—events she later described as her “own little Trail of Tears.” Those early hardships, combined with her political awakening during the 1960s Red Power movement (including supporting the Alcatraz occupation), led her into organizing, social work, and advocacy for tribal sovereignty and Native children’s welfare.
After returning to Oklahoma in the mid‑1970s, Mankiller earned degrees in social science, worked in tribal offices, and survived a near‑fatal 1979 car accident and subsequent health challenges. She channeled her experience into concrete community development: securing grants, leading projects such as laying 16 miles of water pipeline in Bell, Oklahoma, and directing the Cherokee Nation’s Community Development Department. Her leadership emphasized the Cherokee principle of gadugi—working together for the common good—and left a lasting legacy of tribal self‑help, cultural preservation, and strengthened institutions for the Cherokee people.
And that’s all just in part 1! Stay with us for part 2 next week!
Sources:
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Wilma Mankiller: Chief of the Cherokee Nation by Pamela Dell
Thanks for sticking with us while we took care of some home stuff! We appreciate you all!
This week’s drop is in with cahoots with one of our favorite cousins, Raven Rollins, host of The Sirens Podcast AKA Sirens | A Southern True Crime Podcast.
Remember when Jess covered the Roger Wheeler Case (Season 3: Episodes 128, 129, 130, 131)? Jess and Tiff got the privilege of sitting down with the lead detective, thanks to Raven’s invitation!
Oklahoma Hall of Famer and retired Tulsa PD Detective Mike Huff spoke candidly with Raven and your favorite cousins regarding his time working the murder case of Roger Wheeler. When Det. Huff discovered organized crime was involved, you better believe he was shocked! Tune in to the captivating, first hand account, of one of Tulsa’s, as well as Oklahoma’s, most notable heroes. With almost 40 years in law enforcement—and three decades in the Homicide Unit—Huff shares his insights on one of Oklahoma’s most notorious murder cases—the infamous Roger Wheeler / Whitey Bulger investigation—from his new book “Killing My Father: The Inside Story of The Biggest FBI Corruption Scandal In History”, which he wrote with Roger's son, David Wheeler, and historian Laurence J. Yadon.
Raven Rollins is an Investigative Journalist, and the host of The Sirens Podcast. Raven focuses on Advocacy of the victims of these crimes, as well as prevention by discussing safety and situational awareness. She investigated the cold cases from the ground up to see if anything may have been missed to convey them in their storytelling accurately. With notorious and unknown cases alike, every victim sees the light on our show. Additionally, she is the author of several books, most notably “Sins of the South”, “Allegedly”, and “This is True Crime”. Please check out her books, or give them this gift giving season to the favorite true crime lover in your life!
Get Killing My Father on Amazon
Get all three of Raven’s book on Amazon
This week Jess wraps up the devastating and horrific case of Heather Rich. Hang on tight cousins, this is going to be a bumpy ride to justice…
Last week’s discussion covered the investigation into the atrocities that befell Heather Rich, and the interrogations of Josh Bagwell, Curtis Gambill, and Randy Wood. All three were tried as adults in Texas because the murder occurred there. Curtis Gambill’s trial began first after a change of venue; he agreed to plead guilty to avoid the death penalty and to testify against Josh Bagwell. Bagwell’s defense relied heavily on victim‑shaming Heather, while the prosecution’s case depended on testimony from Gambill and Randy Wood. Randy Wood ultimately rejected a plea deal, chose to testify against Bagwell without a promise of leniency, and incriminated himself, claiming Bagwell knew of the plan and helped dispose of the body.
After the convictions, all three men served time in Texas prisons and experienced further legal and extralegal events (seriously, you gotta listen to the episode…it’s WILD!!). Additionally, the Rich family pursued a wrongful‑death civil suit over the sale of ammunition. Finally, the case left lasting community and family trauma.
This is part 3 of 3.
Listener discretion is advised this week.
Sources:
Last week, Jess introduced us to the tragic story of Heather Rich of Waurika.
Sixteen-year-old Heather Rich went missing after sneaking out the night of October 2, 1996, and her body was later found in Belknap Creek with severe, fatal wounds; so bad that she could only be identified by a ring. Local law enforcement initially treated her disappearance as a runaway case, so Heather’s parents, Duane and Gail Rich, conducted their own inquiries. Investigators from Montague County, Jefferson County, the FBI, and the Texas Rangers interviewed many people but faced a community “code of silence.” Attention focused on a party at Josh Bagwell’s house the night she vanished and on several local youths—Curtis Gambill, Randy Wood, and Josh Bagwell himself—whose behavior and histories (including violence, drug use, and prior offenses) raised suspicion. Forensic evidence later linked Bagwell and Gambill.
Ranger Lane Akin, emotionally affected by the case, and Montague County investigators pursued leads that culminated in the arrest of Gambill, Wood, and Bagwell on October 25, 1996. Under interrogation, Curtis Gambill gave a detailed account implicating Randy and Josh, claiming Heather had been intoxicated and assaulted before being taken to the creek and shot; Randy’s statement aligned closely but portrayed himself as fearful and passive, while Bagwell refused to speak. Curtis failed a polygraph; Randy passed. The scene, witness remarks, and the presence of a matching shotgun—along with confessions and inconsistent accounts—drove the investigation forward.
This is part 2 of 3.
Listener discretion is advised this week.
Sources:
Listener request this week! Join us as Jess walks us through part 1 of the death of Heather Rich.
Heather Rose Rich, a vivacious Waurika, Oklahoma high‑school sophomore and cheerleader’s body was found in Belknap Creek on October 10, 1996. Heather, known for her beauty, bubbly personality, and popularity, had been struggling with personal issues: family stress after her father’s severe workplace injury, self‑harm, eating‑disorder behaviors, experimentation with drugs, and the recent breakup with her boyfriend Randy Wood. She disappeared after a heated argument with her mother over an expensive phone bill; initial sheriff’s deputies dismissed the missing‑person report as a likely runaway case. As rumors about local drug activity and possible links to other troubled teens circulated, a rancher ultimately discovered Heather’s badly mutilated, gunshot‑wounded body in a backwater creek, and her father identified her by a gold heart‑shaped
This week’s episode is situated around Heather’s death against the backdrop of Waurika and the Red River country—a small, tight‑knit town with a lawless past and a present marked by limited outlets for youth, drug problems, and social divisions. Key suspects quickly include ex‑boyfriend Randy Wood, a quietly troubled football player from a poor family, and Josh Bagwell, a wealthy peer with whom Heather had flirted; both were absent or evasive around the time she vanished and became persons of interest in the community’s gossip. The discovery of Heather’s body galvanized searches, rumors, and an escalating investigation, and the promise of justice.
Listener discretion is advised this week.
Sources:
Happy Halloween! What better way to wrap up Spooky Season 2025 than with some haunting tales from Oklahoma’s most haunted town? And with Tiff at the reins, you know the spooks and kooks will keep your spine chill!
Guthrie, Oklahoma, was established almost overnight during the Land Run of 1889, transforming from a railroad station into a bustling city as tens of thousands of settlers staked claims. Designated as the capital of the Oklahoma Territory and later the first state capital upon statehood in 1907, Guthrie experienced a brief period of prominence before the capital was moved to Oklahoma City in 1910. This shift slowed the city's growth, inadvertently preserving its extensive collection of late 19th and early 20th-century architecture, leading to the establishment of the Guthrie Historic District, one of the largest urban historic districts in the nation.
Guthrie is often considered one of the most haunted cities in Oklahoma, with numerous ghost stories tied to its historic sites. Notable locations include the Santa Fe Depot, which served as a bustling railway hub and is now a private event center, and the Blue Belle Saloon, known for its colorful past and spectral inhabitants. The old Logan County Hospital, now converted into a senior living community, is also reputed to be haunted, with reports of ghostly apparitions and eerie occurrences. These sites, rich in history and folklore, attract visitors looking to explore their haunted legacies, especially during the Halloween season.
So wrap up our favorite time of the year with your favorite spooky and kooky cousins!
Sources:
Jess wraps up her look at Oklahoma during World War I in this week’s episode. It’s a treat (not a trick) because it includes a brief history of your favorite cousins’ ties to the Great War.
The University of Oklahoma experienced a significant transformation during World War I, with strong patriotic sentiments leading many students to consider joining the military. As a result, classrooms emptied, and the university formed a volunteer regiment, allowing male students to participate in military training while continuing their studies. The university actively equipped students for military service, with participation from various groups, including the creation of a regimental band and involvement from female students through the Red Cross.
Conversely, Cordell Christian College faced challenges due to its pacifist beliefs, leading to its eventual closure amid local council scrutiny and accusations of disloyalty. Despite some faculty and students participating in the war effort, the college's stance created conflict with patriotic citizens, ultimately resulting in harassment and investigations by local defense councils.
Meanwhile, Native Americans played a crucial role in the war, with many serving in the military and contributing to agricultural efforts to support the war. The war brought significant social changes, including increased employment opportunities for women and racial tensions, culminating in incidents of violence against African American soldiers returning home.
Come along with Jess and Tiff as we explore the years right after statehood, and how Oklahomans were showing that “Oklahoma Standard” before it was a thing!
Sources:
Oklahoma became a state in 1907…less than 10 short years later our nation was thrown into the very first World War. Where did that leave OK? What part did we play? This week Jess takes us through those beginning stages…or Part 1 of World War I Oklahoma.
Oklahoma's involvement in WWI evolved from initial aversion to enthusiastic participation due to economic pressures. The state experienced significant agricultural decline as European markets closed, leading to falling crop prices. As the U.S. prepared for war, Oklahoma began organizing for the draft, with high rates of registration despite initial resistance. The Green Corn Rebellion in 1917, driven by anti-draft sentiment among farmers, highlighted tensions within the state, leading to arrests and increased patriotism. Public sentiment shifted rapidly, with the government enforcing loyalty and suppressing dissent, further complicating the landscape for Oklahomans during the war. We wonder where all this was during OK History class…
Sources:
Tiff concludes her 2-parter this on one of OK’s worst bank robberies of all time…
On December 14, 1984, the Geronimo bank robbery and murder shocked the small town of Geronimo, Oklahoma, when 19-year-old Jay Wesley Neill, along with his boyfriend Robert Grady Johnson, committed heinous acts that resulted in the deaths of several bank employees and customers. Armed with a handgun and knife, Neill stabbed three female tellers, including a pregnant woman, and shot four customers, killing one. The duo fled with approximately $17,000 and was arrested three days later in San Francisco after using marked bills from the robbery. Both were convicted of murder and sentenced to death, with their appeals process taking seven years, during which unusual events, including competency trials and allegations of misconduct, unfolded.
As the legal proceedings continued, both men found themselves embroiled in a web of accusations and appeals. Neill, seeking to save his life, pleaded guilty while attempting to shift blame onto Johnson, leading to a renewed trial where he was again found guilty and sentenced to death. Johnson, who maintained his innocence, faced a trial with circumstantial evidence linking him to the crime but was ultimately convicted as well. The case raised significant questions about the influence of their sexual orientation in the judicial process, with some arguing that Neill's death sentence was affected by anti-gay bias. As of 2024, Johnson continues to file for new trials based on claims of withheld evidence, while the families of victims have also pursued civil actions against the bank for negligence regarding security measures.
Join us for the heartbreaking and tragic conclusion to one of Oklahoma’s darkest crimes.
Sources
Clark County Prosecuting Attorney
Oklahoma’s Most Notorious Cases Volume 2 by Kent Frates
This week, Tiff tackles a truly savage and senseless case. A case that is still known as the deadliest bank robbery in recent Oklahoma history.
In part 1 of this two-parter, Tiff details the brutal Geronimo Bank Robbery on December 14, 1984, in Geronimo, Oklahoma, which resulted in the murders of four people and severe injuries to three others. The primary suspects were local men, Jay Wesley Neill (age 19) and Robert Grady Johnson (age 21), who were a couple facing severe financial hardship and were known to the small-town bank as "problem customers."
The attack began at 1:00 p.m. when Neill entered the First Bank of Chattanooga and held three female tellers hostage:
Kay Bruno (age 42, bank manager)
Jerri Bowles (age 19)
Joyce Mullenix (age 25 and six months pregnant)
While Neill was in the back room, several customers entered the bank. Neill took five customers hostage.
Ralph Zeller (age 33, farmer)
Bellen Robles (age 15) and her husband Reuben Robles (age 20) and their child Marie Robles (age 14-month-old baby)
Marilyn Roach (age 34, local restaurant owner)
The perpetrators fled by 1:30 p.m., leaving behind "a sea of bloody carnage."
Due to the severity, the FBI took jurisdiction. And the hunt for two men was on. Once the suspects were apprehended, all the strings started to unravel. The finger pointing started resulting in court room drama at its finest. Join us as we unwind the premeditation and planning that went into this heinous crime.
Sources:
Clark County Prosecuting Attorney
Oklahoma’s Most Notorious Cases Volume 2 by Kent Frates
Do you feel that tiny nip in the air? It must mean one thing…the start of SPOOKY SEASON! Jess will kick our favorite season off with a part 2 of the Spooks found at the University of Oklahoma.
The Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center was originally built as The Auditorium in 1918. It is a historic building at the University of Oklahoma, but was later renamed Holmberg Hall in 1938 after Fredrick Holmberg, a key figure in the university's music program. In 2005, after a multimillion-dollar renovation, the building was renamed to honor Donald W. Reynolds and features Oklahoma's only European-style performance hall, hosting many famous visitors and significant university events. The center is home to ghost stories, particularly related to Professor Mildred Andrews Boggess, a prominent organist whose spirit is believed to linger, causing mysterious occurrences. Gittinger Hall, named after a notable history professor, is known for its ghostly secrets, including a "coffee-loving" spirit and unexplained sounds. The Delta Gamma Sorority House, on the OU campus, features a ghostly doll named Hannah, believed to embody the spirit of sisterhood, causing playful disturbances and pranks throughout the house.
We hope you cousins are ready for a spin-tingling good time!
Sources:
University of Oklahoma Website
This week Tiff dives in and discusses Oklahoma’s very own prima ballerina…Maria Tallchief.
Born Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief on January 24, 1925, on the Osage Indian Reservation in Oklahoma, Maria became not only Oklahoma’s, but also America's first major prima ballerina. She is celebrated for her dedication and pride in her heritage.
Rising from humble beginnings, she navigated dual cultural worlds, being trained rigorously by her ambitious mother, who ensured her daughters received artistic opportunities. Maria's ballet career flourished in Los Angeles under renowned instructors, leading her to join the prestigious Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in New York City. There, she gained recognition through her partnership with choreographer George Balanchine, who created roles specifically for her, showcasing her strength and technical prowess. Throughout her nearly two-decade tenure with the New York City Ballet, she became a key figure in American dance, known for iconic roles like the Firebird and the Sugar Plum Fairy. After retiring in 1966, she dedicated herself to teaching and preserving ballet, influencing future generations. Honored with numerous accolades, including a Kennedy Center Honor and the National Medal of Arts, Tallchief's legacy as a trailblazer and cultural icon continues to inspire dancers and audiences.
If you have an aspiring dancer, have them listen to this week’s story and dive in with us! Perhaps our next big prima ballerina is a CCOK fan!
Sources:
This week, Jess wraps up her second installment of Women on Death Row: Marilyn Kay Plantz. This story really feels like a textbook case, with all the betrayal, twists, turns, affairs, greed, and manipulation!
Marilyn Kay Plantz became discontent in her marriage to Jim Plantz, leading her to engage in an extramarital affair with 18-year-old William Bryson. Instead of seeking a divorce, she conspired with Bryson to murder her husband for the $300,000 life insurance payout. Jim's charred body was discovered in his burned pickup truck, and initially treated as a potential accident. However, the investigation revealed inconsistencies in Marilyn's behavior, such as her lack of emotional response to Jim's death and her swift attempt to claim the insurance money, which raised suspicions about her involvement. As detectives dug deeper, they uncovered Marilyn's affair and her previous comments about wishing Jim were dead, indicating premeditated intent.
Following the investigation, Marilyn and Bryson were arrested, with Bryson eventually confessing to the murder plot in detail. He implicated Marilyn as the mastermind behind the crime, revealing that she had orchestrated the murder with calculated precision. During the trial, the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence of Marilyn's manipulation and planning, while her defense argued she was not involved. Ultimately, both Marilyn and Bryson were found guilty of first-degree murder, and they received death sentences. Marilyn was executed by lethal injection on May 1, 2001, becoming the second woman executed in Oklahoma since 1907, while Bryson had been executed previously in 2000.
Sources:
We’re baaaaaaccckkkk!!
Welcome cousins to Season 4! We are so excited that you all are with us again this season!
We’re kicking off Season 4 with Jess’ second installment of “Women on Death Row”. This episode, part 1 of 2, covers Marilyn K Plantz.
Marilyn Kay Plantz, originally Marilyn Kay Sellers, was executed by lethal injection after spending 12 years on Oklahoma's Death Row. Born in 1960 into a modest, working-class family, Marilyn had a quiet upbringing that emphasized traditional roles for women. She married James "Jim" Plantz, her childhood sweetheart, at a young age, and they appeared to live a typical suburban life with their two children. However, underlying tensions began to surface as Marilyn grew increasingly dissatisfied with her domestic situation. Feeling emotionally isolated and unappreciated, she sought attention outside her marriage, which led to an affair with an 18-year-old named William Clifford Bryson.
This relationship quickly escalated from casual conversations to a deadly plan against Jim Plantz. Marilyn manipulated Bryson into believing her husband was abusive, fostering a scheme to stage Jim's death to collect on a life insurance policy. She involved Bryson's friend, Clinton McKimble, and together they plotted Jim's murder. On the night of August 26, 1988, after a brutal attack with a baseball bat, they attempted to set his body on fire in his truck. Following the murder, Marilyn helped cover up the crime and mislead investigators while her children remained asleep in the house. The tragic events ultimately led to her arrest and a trial that would reveal the shocking details of the crime.
Join us as we dive into how a church-going mother ended up on death row.
Sources:
Tiff is going to wrap Season 3 up with a banger of a creepy place…St. Vincent’s Home in Oklahoma City.
The property, often mistaken for an abandoned church, was once a hospital established in 1944 by the Catholic Brothers of Mercy. Initially intended to care for mentally and physically ill men and boys, the facility expanded over the years, adding more rooms and amenities. Its history includes a tragic incident in 1962 when a former nurse confessed to murdering patients, leading to the hospital's eventual closure. In 1968, the building was repurposed as a rehabilitation center for alcoholics and renamed The Main Artery, managed by Father Richard Frank Dolan until his unsolved murder in 1988.
Today, the property is private and strictly off-limits to the public due to safety concerns. Those who dare to visit report eerie experiences, such as cold sensations, strange noises, and sightings of shadows, reflecting its haunted reputation. Despite the risks, thrill-seekers and ghost hunters are drawn to the site, leading to increased security measures. The property remains a point of intrigue, with rumors of a demonic presence and ongoing paranormal investigations, but it is crucial to remember that entering the premises is illegal and dangerous.
And cousins, this ends Season 3! Thank you so much to all our friends, family, and fans! We couldn't and wouldn't do this without you. We hope you will stick around for season 4 when we can bring you even more kooky and spooky stuff in and around the great state of OK.
Again thanks for listening…
Sources:
This week, Jess tackles one of Oklahoma’ s many instances of the US Government going back on a treaty made with Native Tribes…
Chitto Harjo, also known as Crazy Snake, was born in 1846 into the Muscogee Creek Nation, which held onto important ceremonial roles even as other Native tribes faced significant changes due to U.S. policies. The Muscogee people, descendants of a rich culture that once thrived across the Southeastern United States, constructed impressive ceremonial complexes and formed a sophisticated political confederacy. However, in the early 19th century, U.S. Indian policy aimed to remove the Muscogee and other tribes from their ancestral lands. This led to a forced relocation, with many Muscogee settling in Indian Territory, where they established farms and a new governance structure. Harjo emerged as a prominent figure opposing land allotment policies that threatened tribal sovereignty and cultural identity, advocating for the restoration of traditional customs.
As tensions escalated in the late 19th century, Harjo led a faction known as the Snakes, which opposed the Dawes Commission's allotment system. Their resistance involved organizing a separate government and engaging in protests rooted in ancient Muscogee traditions. Despite initial successes, including establishing jurisdiction over a small area, Harjo's movement faced significant backlash from both tribal governments and U.S. authorities. The situation intensified with violent confrontations, ultimately leading to Harjo's arrest and imprisonment. Although he was never captured after his release, his life took a mysterious turn, with rumors of his death in various locations. Harjo's story exemplifies the broader resistance of the “Five Civilized Tribes” against U.S. encroachment and the struggle to maintain their identity and autonomy.
Join us this week as we examine Chitto Harjo and the Crazy Snake Uprising.
Sources:
When picturing the stomping grounds of serial killers Oklahoma doesn’t quite come to mind…right? Well, Tiff is going to trample right over that belief in this week’s episode!
The Oklahoma City Butcher is an unidentified serial killer responsible for the brutal murders of three young, unhoused Native American women—Cathy Lyn Shakelford, Arley Bell Killian, and Tina Marcia Sanders—between 1976 and 1986. All victims were subjected to brutal deaths at the hand of someone unknown. Cathy, 18, was found in an abandoned house, her mutilated body parts scattered, while Arley, 22, had her body parts discovered by children playing basketball. Tina, also 22, was found in a similar gruesome manner, indicating a pattern of violence against women from marginalized backgrounds. Despite investigations, including connections to notorious serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, the cases remain unsolved, highlighting the alarming rates of violence against Native American women, who are often overlooked in criminal reporting. The killer is believed to still be at large, prompting ongoing calls for information from the public.
This episode comes with listener discretion due the graphic deaths. Trigger warnings for various kinds of abuse as well.
If you have any information, please contact OSBI Cold Case Unit at cold.case@osbi.ok.gov or OKC Crime Stoppers at 405*235*7300…or you can visit their office or mail them a tip at 700 Colcord Dr, OKC, OK 73102 or contact Oklahoma City Police Department at 405-297-1180
Sources:
The Daily Oklahoman: April 17, 1986; November 30, 1993
Nothing says kooky and spooky like a jail, turned church, turned handicap home, turned cult headquarters! But Jess found just the place!
"Church Row" is located on Noble Avenue in Guthrie, OK. It features a series of houses of worship. Guthrie became a city, almost quite literally, overnight during the 1889 Land Run. This area also houses the notorious Black Jail, constructed in 1892, to manage the outlaws that plagued the region. Initially deemed "escape-proof," the jail, in fact, saw multiple successful escapes, including several notorious figures from the American Frontier. Over time, it transitioned from a federal prison to a church and later housed the controversial Samaritan Foundation cult, whose leader, Linda Greene, was linked to bizarre beliefs and the mysterious disappearance of her husband, Allen Ross. Following Greene's death, the jail has remained abandoned, attracting paranormal investigators who report strange occurrences, including ghost sightings and unexplained sounds, adding to its eerie legacy. Today, efforts are underway to restore the building, though its haunted history continues to intrigue and mystify.
Join us this week as we explore one of Oklahoma’s most well-known haunted towns!
Sources: