In response to the onset of German bombing raids during World War II, many of England’s most vulnerable citizens evacuated or were temporarily evacuated out of urban areas to safer, more rural parts of the country. Those who remained in the cities would ultimately spend years enduring wartime blackouts, periods where the city was plunged into complete darkness in order to prevent German bombers from easily identifying their targets. The blackouts were a significant inconvenience and safety risk for everyone, but for at least one Londoner, they offered a perfect opportunity to enact his darkest fantasies.

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Bolton News. 1942. "Is 'killer' at large?" Bolton News, February 14: 1.

Campbell, Duncan. 2010. "London in the blitz: how crime flourished under cover of the blackout." The Guardian, August 28.

Driscoll, Margarette. 2022. "Ranmpage of the Blackout Ripper." Daily Mail, November 24.

Evening Standard. 1942. "Accused of murder of 4 women." Evening Standard (London, England), March 26: 8.

Evening Telegraph. 1942. "'Killer' theory in wave of London murders." Evening Telegraph (Derby, England), February 14: 8.

Herald Express. 1942. "Cadet's defense in murder trial." Herald Express (Devon, England), April 28: 1.

Hull Daily Mail. 1942. "London murders." Hull Daily Mail, February 11: 1.

Imperial War Museum. n.d. Imperial War Museum. https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-nation-at-a-standstill-shutdown-in-the-second-world-war.

Liverpool Daily Post. 1942. "Another London murder." Liverpool Daily Post, February 14: 1.

Storey, Neil. 2023. The Blackout Murders: Homicide in WW2. South Yorkshire, England: Pen and Sword.

The Citizen. 1942. "Cadet sent for trial." The Citizen (Gloucester, England), March 27: 1.

—. 1942. "'Evidence was overwhelming'." The Citizen (Gloucester, England), June 9: 8.

—. 1942. "Fresh Jury to be sworn in." The Citizen (Gloucester, England), April 24: 1.

The Times. 1942. "Airman charged with three murders." The Times (London, England), March 13: 2.

Venning, Annabel. 2017. "The Blackout Ripper; under cover of the Blitz." Mail on Sunday, January 29.

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On January 12, 1983, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a frantic driver who reported they’d just witnessed a shooting on the side of the side of the road in Fulton, California and the shooters had fled the scene a pickup truck. Deputies quickly located the truck and were led on a forty-five minute high-speed chase through Sonoma and Napa counties before finally being apprehended and identified as Michael and Suzan Carson.

The Carsons were held on a charge of murdering the truck’s original owner, Jon Charles Hellyar, but they refused to say a word to police. In time, however, Michael and Suzan Carson began to talk and eventually held a press conference during which they revealed a great deal about themselves and even went so far as to make ambiguous confessions to other recent murders in Northern California.

In the months that followed their arrest, Michael and Suzan Carson reveled in their notoriety and the media attention their statements captured. In addition to the murder of Hellyar, they would also be convicted of two other murders, claiming themselves to be Muslim warriors on a mission to rid the world of witches and other practitioners of dark magic, earning them the nickname “The San Francisco Witch Killers.”

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Associated Press. 1983. "Couple complains their trial didn't get enough publicity." The Californian, April 28: 29.

Brewster, Rod. 1983. "Carsons claim their killings were 'will of God'." Petaluma Argus-Courier, May 4: 1.

—. 1983. "Carson's preliminary hearing on murder stats." Petaluma Argus-Courier, March 4: 2.

Daily Beast. 2020. "Daughter of serial 'witch kiler': if he goes free, 'someone else will be dead'." Daily Beast, May 27.

—. 2015. "Witch-killers' family: Keep them in Jail." Daily Beast, December 3.

Manes, George. 1983. "Probe of suspects widens." Press Democrat, January 30: 1.

Napa Valley Register. 1983. "Chase probe continues." Napa Valley Register, January 18: 2.

Navarro, Mireya. 1984. "'Good witch' to the rescue." San Francisco Examiner, May 30: 11.

—. 1984. "Remorseless 'witch-killers' get 25 to life." San Francisco Examiner, July 2: 15.

Reynolds, Richard D. 1988. Cry for War: The Story of Suzan and Michael Carson. San Francisco, CA: Squibob Press.

Saludes, Bony. 1985. "Carson says trial unfair." Press Democrat, June 19: 2.

San Francisco Examiner. 1984. "Carson comptent for trial." San Francisco Examiner, January 9: 14.

Sharpe, Ivan. 1983. "Couple boasts to police of killing 3 'witches in holy war'." San Francisco Examiner, April 28: 24.

United Press International. 1984. "Guilty verdict in 'witch' murder." Petaluma Argus-Courier, June 5: 2.

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Happy New Year, weirdos, and we're celebrating the holidays with Holiday tales brought TO you, BY you, For you, FROM you, and ALLLLL about you!

Today we have boogens, a Hanukkah haunting, horrible Fourth of July discovery, delivery people getting waaaaay much more than a tip, and messages from Beyond sent via ornament! Don't forget to check out the VIDEO from this episode available on YouTube on 1/2/2025!

If you’ve got a listener tale please send it on over to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line :)

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