The Misery Machine

This week, Yergy and Drewby take a break from the weekly grind of true crime to bring to you an even bigger viral threat: Murder Hornets. The Asian Giant Hornet (or Murder Hornet) is native to East Asia, South Asia, Mainland Southeast Asia, parts of Far East Russia, and was found in the Pacific Northwest in late 2019. It is currently the largest hornet species in the world by far. We discuss the impact this species could mean for the US, what dangers it could present, and if the media hype around them is a fair assessment. We also compare the Murder Hornets to similar known species as far as venom toxicity and pain on the Schmidt sting pain index. We also can confirm that Murder Hornets are what killed Macaulay Culkin in My Girl. Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1 Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachine PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/themiserymachine Instagram: miserymachinepodcast Twitter: misery_podcast #truecrime #podcast #mystery 

  This week, Yergy and Drewby conclude the case of James Rodney Hicks, arguably Maine's only known serial killer - and speculate as to why Hicks got away with his crimes for so long. On 1 November 2000, Maine's Penobscot County grand jury formally charged confessed killer James Hicks, 49, with the murders of Jerilyn Towers and Lynn Willette. Hicks served six years of a 10-year prison sentence for killing his first wife, 23-year-old Jennie Hicks, who disappeared from the couple's Carmel home in 1977. Hicks was not arrested for her murder until 1983 and was convicted in 1984. Before his arrest, Towers, 34, of Newport, disappeared after leaving a Newport bar with Hicks. In fact the police investigation into Towers' disappearance prompted the re-examination Jennie Hicks' disappearance and subsequently the charging Hicks with her murder. At the time he was not charged with Towers' death because police lacked adequate evidence. After his release from prison in 1990, Hicks met 40-year-old Willette of Orrington with whom he worked at the Twin City Motel in Brewer. The two eventually lived together at a South Main Street apartment where Hicks now claims he killed Willette on May 26th 1996. Though also suspected in her disappearance, Hicks was never charged with her death because of lack of evidence. That is until he was handed a 55-year sentence in Lubbock, Texas, and confessed to the three killings and led authorities to their bodies. Hicks was convicted in Texas of holding a gun to the head of a 67-year-old woman, forcing here to write a check to him and sign over the title to her car, and then write a suicide note. He planned to drug and drown the woman to make it look like a suicide, but she somehow managed to escaped. When he was convicted to 55 years in prison Hicks asked to cut a deal with authorities in Maine whereby he agreed to direct them to the bodies of the three missing in exchange for serving his time in Maine instead of Texas. Back in Maine Hicks located the remains of his three victims after two days of digging around his former home in Etna and at several roadside sites in Aroostook County, Maine. The remains of his former wife and Towers were found 100 feet apart next to the home where he grew up. Willette's remains were found in concrete buckets buried next to the road in Aroostook County. Apparently all the bodies were dismembered and some parts he allegedly tossed in a nearby river. Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachinePayPal: https://www.paypal.me/themiserymachineInstagram: miserymachinepodcastTwitter: misery_podcast #truecrime #podcast #mystery 

This week, Yergy and Drewby discuss the crimes of James Rodney Hicks, arguably Maine's only known serial killer.  On 1 November 2000, Maine's Penobscot County grand jury formally charged confessed killer James Hicks, 49, with the murders of Jerilyn Towers and Lynn Willette. Hicks served six years of a 10-year prison sentence for killing his first wife, 23-year-old Jennie Hicks, who disappeared from the couple's Carmel home in 1977.  Hicks was not arrested for her murder until 1983 and was convicted in 1984. Before his arrest, Towers, 34, of Newport, disappeared after leaving a Newport bar with Hicks. In fact the police investigation into Towers' disappearance prompted the re-examination Jennie Hicks' disappearance and subsequently the charging Hicks with her murder. At the time he was not charged with Towers' death because police lacked adequate evidence. After his release from prison in 1990, Hicks met 40-year-old Willette of Orrington with whom he worked at the Twin City Motel in Brewer. The two eventually lived together at a South Main Street apartment where Hicks now claims he killed Willette 26 May 1996. Though also suspected in her disappearance, Hicks was never charged with her death because of lack of evidence. That is until he was handed a 55-year sentence in Lubbock, Texas, and confessed to the three killings and led authorities to their bodies. Hicks was convicted in Texas of holding a gun to the head of a 67-year-old woman, forcing here to write a check to him and sign over the title to her car, and then write a suicide note. He planned to drug and drown the woman to make it look like a suicide, but she somehow managed to escaped. When he was convicted to 55 years in prison Hicks asked to cut a deal with authorities in Maine whereby he agreed to direct them to the bodies of the three missing in exchange for serving his time in Maine instead of Texas. Back in Maine Hicks located the remains of his three victims after two days of digging around his former home in Etna and at several roadside sites in Aroostook County, Maine. The remains of his former wife and Towers were found 100 feet apart next to the home where he grew up. Willette's remains were found in concrete buckets buried next to the road in Aroostook County. Apparently all the bodies were dismembered and some parts he allegedly tossed in a nearby river. Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachinePayPal: https://www.paypal.me/themiserymachineInstagram: miserymachinepodcastTwitter: misery_podcast #truecrime #podcast #mystery #documentary 

We hope you're all staying safe in quarantine out there! This week, Drewby and Yergy discuss the case of Mona Fandey - a failed pop singer later turned shaman and murderer from Malaysia. Fandey was executed at the age of 45, after being convicted of the murder of a politician, Mazlan Idris in 1993, who had solicited Fandey to perform a "witchcraft ritual" to help his position within his political party. Ending Song: "Ratapan Anek" By Mona Fandey Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachinePayPal: https://www.paypal.me/themiserymachineInstagram: miserymachinepodcastTwitter: misery_podcast #truecrime #podcast #mystery #documentary 

This week, Drewby and Yergy cover the ghastly crimes of Futoshi Matsunaga, who is a Japanese serial killer who kidnapped, defrauded, and tortured his victims in what is collectively known as the Kitakyūshū Serial Murder Incident. Matsunaga was convicted of six counts of murder and one count of manslaughter between 1996 and 1998 and sentenced to die by hanging. He murdered his victims with an accomplice, Junko Ogata, who also received a life sentence. Both were on Japan's most wanted list, and remained at large for years. This also makes the pair one of the very few known serial killer duos in the world, and the only known serial killer duo in Japan. This week's episode was brought to you by our sponsor, Ghost Town: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jason-horton-3/ghost-town Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1 Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachine PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/themiserymachine Instagram: miserymachinepodcast Twitter: misery_podcast #truecrime #podcast #mystery #documentary   

This week, Drewby and Yergy review the unsolved murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German, two teenage girls from the small town of Delphi, Indiana. On February 14, 2017, the bodies of Abigail Williams and Liberty German were discovered near the Monon High Bridge Trail, which is part of the Delphi Historic Trails in Delphi, Indiana, United States, after the young girls had disappeared from the same trail the previous day. The murders have received significant media coverage because a photo and audio recording of an individual believed to be the girls' killer was found on German's smartphone. Despite these recordings of the suspect that have been circulated, and the more than 26,000 tips that police have received, no arrest in the case has been made.Please email abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com if you know ANYTHING about this case. The reward is currently $225,000 for anyone that can provide evidence that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the killings.Stay safe and practice social distancing! Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachinePayPal: https://www.paypal.me/themiserymachineInstagram: miserymachinepodcastTwitter: misery_podcast #truecrime #podcast #mystery

This week, Drewby and Yergy discuss the case of Joe Exotic, recently thrust back into the spotlight as the subject of the new Netflix docuseries "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness." Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, (né Schreibvogel; born March 5, 1963), popularly known as Joe Exotic, is an American former zoo operator. He previously owned and ran the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma. He claimed to be the most prolific breeder of tigers in the United States. He ran as a candidate for President of the United States as well as for Governor of Oklahoma, but neither campaign garnered significant public support. In 2019 he was convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse (eight violations of the Lacey Act and nine of the Endangered Species Act) and two counts of murder-for-hire, for a plot to kill Carole Baskin, the chief executive officer of Big Cat Rescue, an animal rescue organization for exotic cats. He is currently serving 22 years in federal prison. This week's episode was brought to you by our sponsor True Crime XS: https://www.truecrimexs.com/Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachinePayPal: https://www.paypal.me/themiserymachineInstagram: miserymachinepodcastTwitter: misery_podcast #truecrime #podcast #mystery #documentary #sanctuary

This week we are covering a chilling and ghastly case of Fan Man Yee(樊敏儀), a young woman who was tortured and ultimately killed by three men: Chan Man-lok(陳文樂), Leung Shing-cho(梁勝祖), and Leung Wai-lun(梁偉倫) in the Kowloon District of Hong Kong over stolen money despite it being paid back over double the amount taken. The slaying gets its name from the victim's skull being discovered in a plush Hello Kitty stuffed animal mermaid, after she was dismembered, boiled, and had her remains disposed of in a trash pickup. Only her skull, a tooth, and some internal organs were recovered. The trio were eventually sentenced to life in prison due to the testimony of a thirteen year old girl that took part in the torture. Two films were made based off these events: There is a Secret in My Soup, and Human Pork Chop Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachineInstagram: miserymachinepodcastTwitter: misery_podcast #truecrime #podcast #mystery #urban #legend

Yergy and Drewby give you the latest updates on the state of COVID-19 in Lewiston/Auburn Maine, and share with you what you can do on a local level to support small business in your area during this trying time. Please stay home as much as you can and practice social distancing, every little bit goes a long way! We also talk about the lack of prisoner care regarding the virus at this time, and what could happen if the Coronavirus enters the prison system. The first small business we outline in this episode is the Craft Brew Underground in Auburn, Maine. You can support this business during the outbreak by purchasing a gift card for yourself, a friend (or us) here!!! Next, go check out Courtney at Quiet City Books in Lewiston for all of your art and reading needs! She's got a wide arrange of books, postcards, local art, and much more! You should go visit my friend Drew at Mr. Drew's Exotic Rescue & Education Center in Lewiston for all of your feeder needs! He's got a wide selection of crickets, meal worms, roaches, and frozen/live rodents to keep your scale babies happy. You can also support the center via their Amazon Wish List or by donations through PayPal here!!! Go check out Caribbean Life Grocery & Gift Shop in Lewiston for all of your specialty grocery needs. The have a wide variety of drinks, rice, yams, plantains, meats, hot sauces, and other goods that you can't find anywhere else - and some of the sweetest owners ever (they literally taught Yergy how to cook some of the veggies she purchased on the fly)! Make sure to check them out in Freeport at Jeff's Jamaican Cuisine after the pandemic is over and they open back up! Last but certainly not least, if you have little ones - please go check out my cousin Laura at Sippy Cup Consignment in Lisbon Falls for all of your clothing and toy needs. She updates her inventory album daily (which you can view on her Facebook page here) and can ship orders to you, as well as hook you up with curbside pick up!  Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1 Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachine Instagram: miserymachinepodcast Twitter: misery_podcast

In this bonus episode, Drewby and Yergy review the happenings about our local area now that the Wuhan Coronavirus (now known as COVID-19,) has not only hit the USA, but has hit the twin cities of Lewiston/Auburn here in Maine. We cover some of the latest national news updates on the pandemic, discuss our own preparations for an eventual lockdown, and our journey into Hannaford in masks - as well as the lack of food and paper goods in supermarkets.  Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1 Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachine Instagram: miserymachinepodcast Twitter: misery_podcast #truecrime #documentary #mystery

This week, Drewby and Yergy delve deep into the chilling real-life story of Chris Benoit, a Canadian professional wrestler with an illustrious career (WWF/WWE, WCW, ECW, NJPW) that was found dead by suicide due to hanging after murdering his wife and young son. This was a high profile case given Benoit being at the top of the WWE at the time, and came with many theories about what the motive was or if Benoit was the one responsible at all. Also present in the autopsy was Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) which claimed Benoit had the brain of "an 85 year old Alzheimer's patient" by one doctor. We cover the rampant use of steroids and painkillers in wrestling, the lack of action from promotions who discover their wrestlers are abusing drugs, and the string of deaths of wrestlers at young ages from heart complications tied to the misuse of steroids and other substances.  Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachineInstagram: miserymachinepodcastTwitter: misery_podcast #truecrime #documentary #mystery

This week, Yergy and Drewby take a break from the macabre and discuss a few of the many tales and urban legends surrounding their home state of Maine. Stories we cover are:-The Sabattus Well (which we take a journey to try to find)-Colonel Buck’s Tomb in Bucksport -The Robie-Andrews Dorm which is an allegedly haunted dorm at The University of Southern Maine's (USM) Gorham campus -The Wood Island Lighthouse -The Seguin Island Lighthouse Hauntings -Pamola (not the beer) -The Hermit of North Pond Christopher Knight -Paul Bunyan -The Monster Of Pocomoonshine Lake -The Ghost Bride Of Haynesville Woods-The Fort William Henry Haunting -Maiden's Cliff Haunting in Camden -The Legend of Wessie -Bigfoot -Andre the Seal -The Royal Tar Circus Ship That Sank Off Vinalhaven -Portland's Whorehouse Riots-The Turner Beast Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachineInstagram: miserymachinepodcastTwitter: misery_podcast #truecrime #documentary #mystery

This week, Drewby and Yergy discuss the tragic case of Junko Furuta, a Japanese high-school student who was abducted, tortured, raped, and murdered in the late 1980s. Her murder case was named "Concrete-Encased High School Girl Murder Case," due to her body being discovered in a concrete drum.  Approximately 100 people knew about Furuta's captivity, but either did nothing about it or themselves participated in the torture and murder. Most of the participants were friends of the teenage boys, who were low-ranking members of the Yakuza. We draw parallels between this case and the murder of Kitty Genovese regarding the many people who knew about what was going on and refused to act despite clear knowledge that somebody was suffering or dying. Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachineInstagram: miserymachinepodcastTwitter: misery_podcast #truecrime #documentary #mystery

As a companion to our Monday episode, Yergy and Drewby get into the mind of Ed Kemper with Sage and Ood of the Occultae Veritatis Podcast, and ask the tough questions - What would Ed have been like had he grown up in the internet age? Would it have saved him - or fueled his murderous behavior? Is he genuine? What does he get from being so painfully transparent?  Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1 Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachine Instagram: miserymachinepodcast Twitter: misery_podcast Check out our sponsor for this episode, Podcorn: https://www.podcorn.com #truecrime #documentary #mystery

This week, join Yergy and Drewby as they embark on a two part episode exploring the life and crimes of Ed Kemper also known as "The Co-ed Killer"- a man standing 6 foot 9 inches tall with a larger than life personality and a genius level IQ who was an American serial killer and necrophile who was committed to a mental institution for the murder of his paternal grandparents when he was 15 years old, and then later in life terrorized female hitchhikers in Santa Cruz, California in the early 1970's, finally culminating in the murder of his mother which lead to his capture and final incarceration. He is often scrutinized in theories of "nature vs nurture" in serial killers due to overwhelming physical and emotional abuse he suffered at the hands of his mother growing up.  He was the subject of the Netflix original series "Mindhunter" Join Our Facebook Group to Request a Topic: https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1 Support Our Patreon For More Unreleased Content: https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachine Instagram: miserymachinepodcast Twitter: misery_podcast Reddit AMA from Ed Kemper's nephew: https://www.reddit.com/r/serialkillers/comments/a1in93/ed_kemper_is_my_uncle_ama/ #truecrime #documentary #mystery