Join hosts Arica Frisbey, Mike Gallagher and Nick Lien as they cover some of Michigan's most notable historical events, urban legends and oddities.
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In this week’s episode, we aren’t in Michigan— we’re out of state on a technicality as we follow the odd tale of one former resident of Peck, Michigan. This week, we’re trekking out to Montana as we discuss the curious case of Ira Armstrong Pres
As Sharee Miller's case headed to trial in 2000, the internet evidence slated to be used against her was also on trial as the prosecution and defense fought it out. When the case began in December 2000, Sharee had found a lawyer who was ready to try and
(This episode contains description and discussion of suicide. Listener discretion is advised.) While the Genesee County Sheriff's Office investigated a seemingly stronger suspect following Bruce Miller's murder on November 8, 1999 , cracks began to show
Jerry Lee Cassaday was at an odd time of his life when he struck up a conversation with Sharee Miller in the spring of 1999, and he had no idea his life was going to take a turn for the dangerous as the Flint woman told him lies and cast a spell. That spe
The story of Sharee Miller and her crime has been told many times before, most notably through a TV movie based on the book written about the case, but the reason why it’s so oft-told is because it has a few distinctions-- it made history for all of the
It's late November 1925, and the bank in St. Clair County's village of Jeddo just shut it doors for good as its only bank clerk, Squire Langs, disappears with the bank's cash in hand. Where did the respectable man go, and why did he take the bank dow
This week, we're diving back into the story of Sarah Haviland, getting into her trial, punishment, and other finer details of the case. While we left off our last episode with a coroner’s jury heading to Sarah’s door on Saturday, December 16, 1865,
When this case took place, the American Civil War had only ended some seven months earlier, and many were trying to make sense of their lives and losses. However, this tragedy happened in a Michigan home seemingly untouched by the war between the states,
A little more than two months before Timothy McVeigh and former Decker resident Terry Nichols committed the Oklahoma City Bombing of 1995, there was another bombing that rocked the thumb area. It wasn’t of any government building— in fact, it didn’t
At 9:30 p.m. on January 22, 1984, Jerry Western was found with a single gunshot wound to the back in Colfax Township. As the first murder to have occurred in over six years in Huron County, it sent ripples through the community--especially since the conte
The death of Douglas Hendricks in 1973 remains unthinkable. He was 19 at the time and a resident of Lexington, having been found dead just outside of the Cadillac House. It was a little over 24 years later that his stepfather, Douglas Bowers, would disapp
On February 4, 1976, the body of Carol Wudarcki was found in Worth Township. She had been struck by a snow plow mere minutes before being discovered by Mark Ernst, making it near impossible for investigators to determine her cause of death. What was curio
With Esther McPhee deceased, the trial for her husband began on the afternoon of October 17, with Prosecutor RJ West calling her older brother, George, to the stand. He was joined by at least 25 other residents of Melvin, with much of his account detailin
A small village in Sanilac County's Speaker Township, Melvin boasts a hearty population of 148 residents, with it not being much bigger over 100 years ago. What began as a lone saloon built in 1862 quickly sparked the construction of a drug store, the Po
Prohibition officially hit the United States in 1919 when the 18th Amendment was ratified. While it may have intended to veer people away from excessive drinking, within weeks, an underground market had sprung up across the country. This volatile period w
The dog, the myth, the legend--it's about time Dogman got his own episode! That's right, we're diving head first into cryptozoology and exploring one of Michigan's most mysterious cryptids. While perhaps not as well-known as others like Bigfoot or Mot
Daniel Lewis Hazard made his way to Croswell on July 21, 1998, unaware that it would be his last day alive. Over 26 years later and there remains a question as to who murdered him. Was it a friendship gone awry or perhaps something more sinister? While cu
On this special edition of Thumbing Through the Archives, we’re returning to our roots by taking some time to revisit the Sparlings and their confusing history. The topic might be the same, but the conversation sure isn’t! With almost 40 episodes unde
This might be our final gambit regarding the drug trade in St. Clair County, but we're going out with a bang! One man has more history with the St. Clair County drug trade than any other: Dave Dean. Some of our listeners may be familiar with him while ot
The St. Clair County Drug Task Force officially began its operations on January 2, 1985, with its tip-line being installed the same month. Despite such a strong start, authorities had yet to discover what their residents were truly getting up to--both at
Located within the region of the Thumb, St. Clair County has a complicated history as part of the drug trade. It’s one that spans several years across several nearby communities, including the likes of Canada. With cocaine at its core, just how deep doe
On April 10, 1974, President Nixon campaigned his way across the Thumb, visiting Saginaw, Bad Axe, Cass City, and Sandusky. Despite being in the midst of the Watergate scandal, hundreds were drawn in by his presence alone. Some were hoping to see him in p
From Blue Moon to Superman to Moose Tracks, we’re scooping up another origin story on this week’s episode! Join us as we discuss some of Michigan’s iconic ice cream flavors. Where did they come from, what do they taste like, and just who is Tracks t
There is murder within today's case, but it's not the main focus of the story. This is a tale of a judge and his son, his friends and colleagues, and the many missteps made in St. Clair County. Many of which would see a man undergo three separate trials
The story of January 9, 1993, might never have a conclusion. This day involves the death of a man in the kitchen he once called home, with those at its center being wealthy 39-year-old William “Bill” Paasche and his wife, 35-year-old Joann “Jodi”
