Beyond the Ferns

This week we are headed to Georgia!

On a cold January morning in 2002, 20-year-old Christopher "Chris" Thompkins was working with a land surveying crew in rural Ellerslie, Georgia, when he took off in a dead sprint out of nowhere. According to those with him that day, there was nothing chasing him nor any signs that he wanted to leave his life behind.

What investigators found only deepened the mystery. Some of Christopher's personal belongings were left behind, including one of his work boots, his tools, and a few random things scattered throughout the fence line.

Over the years, the case has sparked countless theories, but we seem to be no closer to the truth of what actually happened. Christopher's disappearance remains one of Georgia's most baffling unsolved mysteries, leaving his family searching for the truth.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we are headed to Canada!

Hidden in the quiet town of Penetanguishene, Ontario, the Oak Ridge Psychiatric Facility was once home to some of Canada's most dangerous offenders—and some of the country's most controversial psychiatric experiments. What began as an ambitious attempt to rehabilitate violent patients eventually evolved into a series of unconventional treatment programs that continue to spark debate decades later. Former patients have described experiences that ranged from groundbreaking therapy to outright psychological and physical abuse, while supporters argued the hospital was pushing the boundaries of mental health treatment in hopes of finding a cure. In this episode, we explore the history of Oak Ridge, the people behind its radical programs, and how a hospital built to heal became one of the most infamous institutions in Canadian psychiatric history.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we are headed to Canada!

On a stormy night in November 1980, a brilliant and eccentric mechanic named Granger Taylor seemingly vanished without a trace from his hometown of Cowichan Bay. Long before his disappearance, Taylor had gained a reputation as a mechanical genius, capable of restoring old locomotives, rebuilding aircraft, and creating incredible machines despite having little formal education. But alongside his talent for engineering was a deep fascination with the mysteries of the universe, particularly the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

In the months leading up to his disappearance, Taylor became increasingly interested in UFOs and the idea that intelligent beings might exist beyond Earth. Then, one night, he left behind a message that would spark decades of speculation and transform his case into one of Canada's most enduring mysteries. Was it an elaborate plan, a tragic accident, or something far stranger?

More than four decades later, no one can say for certain what happened to Granger Taylor. His disappearance remains a captivating blend of true crime, mystery, and the unexplained—a case that continues to leave both investigators and believers searching for answers.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final road trip stop in the US of A - we are headed to Hawaii!

In the mid-1980s, a series of murders transformed what many considered paradise into a community gripped by fear. Between 1985 and 1986, five women disappeared from the Honolulu area and were later found dead in isolated locations across Oʻahu. The victims came from different backgrounds, but investigators began noticing striking similarities in the way the crimes were carried out, leading them to believe they were dealing with Hawaii's first known serial killer.

As the body count grew, panic spread throughout the island. Police launched one of the largest homicide investigations in Hawaii's history, bringing together homicide detectives, sex crimes investigators, the FBI, and criminal profilers. Undercover officers patrolled bus stops and known dumping grounds, warnings were issued to the public, and residents became increasingly cautious about accepting rides from strangers.

The case eventually focused on a local man whose background, vehicle, and personal history appeared to align with several aspects of the investigation. Detectives became convinced they had found their suspect, but proving it in court proved far more difficult. Despite years of investigation, no one was ever charged with the murders.

Today, the Honolulu Strangler case remains one of Hawaii's most notorious unsolved mysteries. It is a story of an intensive manhunt, forensic limitations of the era, and a lingering question that continues to divide those closest to the investigation: did police identify the killer but lack the evidence to convict him, or was the real Honolulu Strangler never found at all?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode we are headed to the greate state of Alaska!

On April 26, 1993, 20-year-old Sophie Sergie was found murdered in a women's restroom inside Bartlett Hall at University of Alaska Fairbanks. Sophie, a Yup'ik student from the small village of Pitkas Point, had traveled to Fairbanks for orthodontic appointments and was staying with friends in the dormitory. Investigators determined that she had been sexually assaulted and shot in the back of the head sometime during the early morning hours of April 26. Despite hundreds of interviews and years of investigation, the case went cold and remained unsolved for more than two decades.

However, investigators would have their breakthrough in 2018. Despite knowing the person responsible for murdering Sophie, there were many questions that have continued to puzzle investigators. No murder weapon, an unclear motive, what exactly would lead someone to do such a heinous act?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices