This week on Dearly Departed, Alyssa takes us inside the Missouri State Penitentiary, one of the oldest and most violent prisons in American history. From brutal inmate murders and executions to overcrowding, corruption, and cruelty, this prison earned a reputation as a place few survived unchanged.

But the violence didn’t end when the prison closed. Visitors and former staff report footsteps in empty cellblocks, voices echoing through the halls, shadow figures, and a feeling that something is still watching.

We explore the penitentiary’s dark past, the lives lost within its walls, and the paranormal activity that refuses to fade. Was this place ever truly empty, or did the prison keep its prisoners forever?

This week, Kailie presents the haunting history of the Salem witch trials. We break down what led to the accusations, how fear spread through the town, and the devastating consequences that followed. From hysteria to power struggles, this episode explores the real story behind the trials and why Salem’s past still echoes today.

This week on Dearly Departed, Kailie shares the paranormal experiences that happened to her over the holidays. What should have been a normal season quickly became unsettling after encounters with a haunted doll and her first time using a spirit box.

We talk through exactly what happened, what responses she received, and how these moments affected her in real time. From eerie timing to unsettling answers, these experiences left more questions than explanations.

We also dive into the chilling legend of the Melonheads, one of the Midwest’s most disturbing urban legends. Where did the stories come from, and why do they continue to resurface decades later.

This week, Alyssa takes the lead on one of Florida’s most unsettling urban legends, the I-4 Deadzone. Stretching through the heart of Central Florida, this infamous highway has earned a reputation for deadly accidents, unexplained phenomena, and an alarming number of tragedies.

From chilling statistics to paranormal theories and local lore, Alyssa explores why I-4 is considered one of the most dangerous roads in America and whether there is more than bad driving at play. Is the I-4 Deadzone simply the result of poor infrastructure and heavy traffic, or is something darker influencing this road?

This week, we’re ditching the history and diving straight into chaos with a smash or pass cryptid edition. From famous folklore creatures to unsettling paranormal legends, we’re judging cryptids based on vibes alone. It’s unserious, unhinged, and possibly a terrible idea, but we committed anyway. Listener discretion advised.

This week, Alyssa leads the episode on one of America’s most enduring legends, the Jersey Devil. Growing up in New Jersey herself, she brings a personal connection to the story that has haunted the Pine Barrens for centuries.

We dive into the history behind the legend, including the infamous Leeds family origins, early sightings, and eerie stories that helped cement the Jersey Devil as one of the most famous cryptids in American folklore. From whispered campfire tales to documented encounters, we explore why this creature continues to capture imaginations today.

Is the Jersey Devil fact, folklore, or something in between? Join us as we uncover the history, the sightings, and the stories that refuse to fade.

This week, Kailie takes us into one of the most unsettling locations in haunted history. Molly Stark Sanatorium has seen sickness, sorrow, and more than a few unexplained shadows in its halls. Once a tuberculosis hospital and now an abandoned relic surrounded by ghost stories, this place holds a past that refuses to stay quiet.

We uncover the real history, the tragic events tied to the grounds, and the paranormal encounters that keep investigators coming back. If you love ghost stories that blend history with chills, this episode is for you.

Alyssa dives into the chilling legend of the Van Meter Visitor, a creature that terrified an Iowa town in 1903. From glowing lights to massive wings and multiple credible eyewitnesses, this story is one of the most intriguing cases in cryptid history. We break down the encounters, possible explanations, and why this mystery still fascinates paranormal investigators today.

Tune in for a mysterious, informative, and eerie journey into one of America's strangest cryptid encounters.