Topsy the Elephant is one of the more tragic figures in history, remembered for her death in 1903, which involved an early and controversial use of electricity. Topsy was executed on January 4, 1903. Her execution was part of a highly publicized event that was attended by spectators and filmed by the Edison Manufacturing Company. The short film, El…

Over the years, numerous individuals have been suspected of committing this horrendous crime—some backed by compelling evidence, others even confessing to the act. Yet, the mystery of who is truly responsible for the death of JonBenét Ramsey remains unsolved. In this episode, we delve into the most popular theories surrounding this case, examining …

Happy New Year Everyone! In this episode, we bring you a true crime update with the sentencing of Richard Allen. Don't worry—we’ve kept things fairly lighthearted for most of the show! We share some New Year’s reflections, talk about the games we’ve been enjoying over the holiday season, and dive into a couple of bizarre animal stories—one involvin…

We've been wanting to cover this case for a long time. In part one we dive into the chilling and unsolved murder of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey, whose body was discovered in her family’s Boulder, Colorado home on December 26, 1996. Her death sparked national intrigue and outrage. A suspicious ransom note, mishandled evidence, and conflicting theor…

We go from shocking, to funny and then onto tragic in this episode. Starting out with a semi-recent true crime case from South Korea. We also take a closer look at the controversial proposal to turn Jonestown into a tourist destination, share some lighthearted Christmas mishaps, and highlight the remarkable and wholesome story of the world’s oldest…

This week we are hopping into the Old Timey Crimey Machine to explore the bizarre and darkly humorous story of Michael Malloy, a man who survived numerous attempts on his life by a group of desperate men during the Great Depression. Despite the conspirators' relentless efforts to kill him, by poisoning, hypothermia and running him over, they would …

In this very special episode of The Grim Curriculum, we interview filmmaker Billie Mintz and Manson historian James Dawson about the documentary 'Making Manson.' We explore the complexities of Charles Manson's narrative, the impact of mental health on his actions, and the differing perspectives of those involved in the case. We highly recommend wat…

In this episode, we've got a lot to discuss: the recent Paul Bernardo parole hearing, another Icelandic volcano eruption, a Thanksgiving-related fatal incident, listener emails, and of course our usual strange and unusual death. Follow us on Twitch! We are aiming for affiliate status! Help us get to 50 followers! ⁠https://www.twitch.tv/thegrimcurri…

In this episode, we continue to unravel the chilling case of Rodney Alcala, the serial killer who shockingly appeared on The Dating Game in the 1970s. We definitely noticed the unsettling contrast between his "charming" TV persona and his horrific crimes, including the harrowing survival story of 15 year old Monique Hoyt. This case is one that frus…

Rodney Alcala, often referred to as the "Dating Game Killer," was a convicted serial killer (amongst other heinous things) in the United States between 1971 and 1979. His crimes were marked by extreme brutality and premeditation, and he is believed to have murdered at least eight people, though investigators suspect the true number of his victims c…

In this episode, we share tales of lawyers behaving badly, a loyal canine who played a key role in solving his owner’s murder, a smuggling story that’s nothing like you’d expect, and a cause of death that will leave you speechless. As always, we aim to take you on a rollercoaster ride through the grim and the unusual. Follow us on Twitch! We are ai…

Gloria Ramirez, often referred to as the "Toxic Lady," died under mysterious and highly unusual circumstances on February 19, 1994, in Riverside, California. Her case remains one of the most bizarre and hotly debated medical mysteries. While attempting to save her life, several medical staff members experienced severe symptoms after exposure to her…

This story not only inspired Mr. Zak Bagans to make his Demon House documentary, it most recently gained notoriety when it inspired the 2024 Netflix movie, The Deliverance with Glenn Close. Known as the "Ammons haunting case," it began in 2011 and gained significant media attention due to the bizarre and disturbing events reported by the family, la…

Honestly y'all this is just a collection of crazy and gruesome stories. But isn't that what you're here for? Peanut, a beloved pet squirrel with a devoted following, and his raccoon friend met a tragic and heartbreaking fate, leaving fans outraged. Charlotte shares a medical horror story that’s bound to make you cringe. We also explore another haun…

The 2011 Dupont de Ligonnès murders are one of France's most mysterious and haunting criminal cases. In April of that year, the bodies of five members of the Dupont de Ligonnès family were found buried beneath the terrace of their home in Nantes. The victims included Agnès Dupont de Ligonnès and her four children: Arthur, Thomas, Anne, and Benoît. …

The legend of the Black-Eyed Children (or Black-Eyed Kids, often abbreviated as BEKs) is a fairly modern urban legend involving supernatural or mysterious children who appear at people's doors, usually asking to be let inside. They’re described as having pale skin, unusual behavior, and completely black eyes without any white sclera or iris, making…

On October 16, 2024, the Menendez family held a press conference in Los Angeles to advocate for the possible re-sentencing of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez. Members from both Kitty and José's families emphasized that the brothers, now in prison for over three decades, co…

After the murders, Lyle and Erik spent lavishly, using their parents' money, which raised suspicion. In 1990, Erik confessed to his therapist, Dr. Oziel, which ultimately led to their arrest. The defense team, led by Leslie Abramson, argued that the brothers killed their parents out of fear for their lives after years of abuse. The prosecution argu…

In this episode, we explore a variety of true crime topics ranging from a recent "serial killer" in Toronto, a bizarre LAPD incident involving an MRI machine, and the murder of a judge by a sheriff. We also delve into the wacky world of wildlife trafficking with a story coming out of Montana involving sheep and Dina expresses her frustration over t…

On the evening of August 20, 1989, José and Kitty Menendez were viciously murdered in their Beverly Hills mansion. The crime scene was so brutal that police initially suspected it might be a mob hit due to the level of violence. Their sons, Lyle and Erik, who called 911 after the murders, initially appeared as grief-stricken victims. However, in th…

We were originally planning to have a Grim Encounters episode closer to Halloween but we couldn't wait. We have some fabulous listener stories and a fictional creepy tale that will have your hair standing on end. Enjoy! If you want to read more of Manen's stories: https://www.reddit.com/user/manen_lyset/ Follow us on Twitch! We are aiming for affil…

On May 31, 2014, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier lured their 12-year-old friend, Payton Leutner, into a forest after a sleepover, attempting to take her life to appease the fictional character and internet cryptid, Slender Man. Geyser and Weier believed that by sacrificing their friend in Slender Man's name, they would be invited to live in his mans…

American serial killer Gary Ridgway, also known as the Green River Killer, has recently been transferred from one penitentiary to another, sparking speculation that he may reveal additional information about his victims. Ridgway, convicted of murdering at least 49 women in the 1980s and 1990s, has long been suspected of having more victims than pre…

Most of us know Slenderman as a fictional, supernatural character that originated from an internet meme sometime back in 2009. He's tall, features a completely blank face and is seen sporting a crisp black suit. His backstory as a malevolent entity who stalks and abducts children came from a photoshop contest, but the inspiration for this internet …

In the finale of our series on Jodi Arias we discuss the lengths that she went to to provide herself an alibi, how she got caught, and her very messy trial. The media were all over it and many believed that Jodi may be able to bat her eyelashes and actually get away with Travis Alexander's brutal murder. We will be starting Grim Live streams over o…

Back in Episode 119 of The Grim Curriculum, we covered the particularly awful Wade Wilson, (No, not Deadpool). Well, this week he was finally handed his official sentence and we have a few more updates on how it's been going for him since we last introduced you. We will be starting Grim Live streams over on Twitch in September so go give us a follo…

Travis Alexander’s friends repeatedly voiced their deep concerns about Jodi Arias, warning him that her increasingly erratic behavior could pose a serious threat to his safety. Their fears only grew as her actions became more alarming with each passing day. In the second part of our series on Jodi Arias, we delve into the chilling descent that led …

Jodi Arias and Travis Alexander were involved in a tumultuous and ultimately tragic relationship that ended in one of the most infamous murder cases in recent history. After meeting at a Pre-Paid Legal Services convention, Arias and Alexander quickly became romantically involved. Despite the physical distance between them—Arias lived in California …

If you have a Disney Plus subscription, you might want to take a closer look at the terms and conditions. Jeffrey Piccolo has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Disney and the owners of a restaurant after his wife died in 2023 from a severe allergic reaction following a meal at Disney World in Florida. We also have an amusing local true crime s…

In 2010, Lori Erica Ruff tragically took her own life in Longview, Texas. After her death, her husband Blake and his family discovered a lockbox containing documents revealing clues to her true identity. However, what they found raised more questions than answers, including the discovery of her original name and the bizarre steps she took to erase …

We don't usually cover ongoing and recent cases on The Grim Curriculum, usually we save those for Extra Credit. However, we had a few thoughts on this fella so we figured we'd try a slightly different format for this episode. Wade Wilson, (No, not Deadpool) is known for his involvement in a series of brutal killings in Cape Coral, Florida. His tria…

I mean the title really says it all with this one. Dina brings us two tales from tumultuous couples. We love, Love here at the Grim Curriculum but these folks clearly need some counselling. Charlotte decided after all the brutal sadness from the regular show over the last few weeks, she wanted to chat about two of her favourite things: Nuclear Test…

Today, we conclude our series on Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka by discussing Paul's arrest and trial. This includes examining the controversial "Deal with the Devil" made by the Canadian legal system, where Karla Homolka was portrayed as a battered wife coerced into participating in the crimes by her abusive husband. However, we now know that thi…

In Part 3 of our Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka series, we discuss their farcical wedding and Paul's misguided attempt to profit from their guests. Despite their wedding, they did not slow down in their hunt for new victims. Together, they lured young women and girls, often using Karla to gain their victims' trust. Tragically, 15-year-old Kristen …

Today, we have a mix of science and true crime, along with a bizarre and unsettling death story that's sure to make you cringe. Despite our best efforts to avoid discussing Gypsy Rose Blanchard, her latest antics keep drawing us back in. We apologize, but we can't promise it won't happen again. In other news, another official but unmanned Titanic e…

Last week we introduced you to Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka. Two people who we would argue are among the most well known Canadian killers. We spoke about their early lives, how they met, and their relationship dynamic. Today, we are heading into even darker territory, with the murder of Karla's sister Tammy and the murder of Leslie Mahaffy. If y…

Buckle up. This is some rough subject matter. Well here we finally are. After having these 2 monsters on our list since the very beginning, we are finally covering Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo A.K.A. The Ken & Barbie Killers. This infamous Canadian couple is responsible for the rape and murder of at least three young women including Karla's own …

We've got a couple of space stories including a couple of astronauts "stuck" on the ISS and a pretty cool space rock. We like to switch it up and include a wholesome story once in a while and Diesel the Donkey does not disappoint. And as it turns out pretty much everyone really, REALLY liked meth during WW2. Enjoy! If you wanna see the video episod…

We are delving into one of the most baffling unsolved mysteries of the early 20th century: the disappearance of Dorothy Arnold. On December 12, 1910, the young New York socialite and aspiring writer vanished without a trace while shopping in Manhattan. Despite extensive searches and countless theories, to this day over a century later, her fate sti…

Lake Lanier, officially known as Lake Sidney Lanier, is a reservoir in northern Georgia, USA. Its history is tied closely to the mid-20th-century development and the region's evolving needs for water management, recreation, and economic growth. This all sounds fine and dandy before you dive into the tragic history of this man made lake. Turns out t…

Well the Dr. Pepper Museum, in Waco, Texas is haunted (allegedly), and there's a Coprolite Museum (Poozeum) in Williams, Arizona that's free to tour. Apparently there was good reason to discontinue some of the lesser known Boy Scout Merit Badges and our Strange & Unusual Death this episode might have your anxiety spiking if you're not a fan of snak…

Grace Budd was a ten-year-old girl who lived in New York City with her family. On May 25, 1928, they had the tragically bad luck of meeting Albert Fish, when he visited the Budd family home under the pretense of offering their son, Edward Budd, a job. After gaining the family's trust, Fish invited Grace to a supposed children's birthday party, prom…

Albert Fish has been on our list to cover for a long time now, and fair warning—he's one of the absolute worst. Born Hamilton Howard Fish on May 19, 1870, in Washington, D.C., Albert had a deeply troubled early life marked by significant psychological and familial issues. This old-timey "gentleman" was one of the most perverse and depraved individu…

We've got some pretty big true crime updates, volcano updates, another interesting geology lesson and a 1920's strange & unusual death involving a spiritual experiment. If you wanna see the video episode, check out our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/TheGrimCurriculum We'd love to hear your thoughts on the episode! Do you have a case you'd like us…

The "Easter Sunday Family Massacre" occurred on March 30, 1975, in Hamilton, Ohio, when James Urban Ruppert fatally shot 11 members of his family during a gathering. Among the victims were his mother, brother, sister-in-law, and eight nieces and nephews. Many who knew James were shocked by the senseless violence, unable to fathom that he could murd…

It's time again for another cryptid episode! This strange and unusual creature has been haunting the rural roads of Wisconsin and Michigan, more specifically, Elkhorn, Wisconsin, for the past one hundred years. Descriptions of the creature typically depict it as an often bipedal, wolf-like or bear-like animal standing between 6 and 7 feet tall, wit…

We have a myriad of modern cases for you in this episode. A John Doe who was found in a Wisconsin record store chimney was recently identified. A Norwegian man who was performing "extreme body modification" procedures on paying "customers" and streaming them online has been been handed a life sentence along with 6 accomplices. A Plymouth woman had …

In December 1957, seven-year-old Maria Ridulph vanished from her Sycamore, Illinois neighborhood while playing outside, sparking one of the nation's oldest cold cases. Despite initial suspects, the trail went cold until 2011, when new evidence led to the arrest of Jack McCullough (A.K.A. John Tessier), who was convicted in 2012. Yet, in a dramatic …

In this episode we delve into the unsettling world of nuclear accidents, exploring the stories behind Faded Giants, Empty Quivers, Bent Spears, and Broken Arrows. Between 1950 and 1980, the world witnessed several significant nuclear accidents, many of which occurred during the height of the Cold War. Join us as we navigate the murky waters of huma…

We both have some true crime updates to share with you from episodes past, as well as a couple of interesting stories involving 2 of Charlotte's favourite wild animals. David Berkowitz A.K.A. "The Son of Sam" is still kicking in prison and apparently up for parole, though it remains to be seen if he's actually going to try for it. There's always sh…