Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Episode 26 - Blanche Monnier and Belle Gunness
16 Plays20 days ago
Nym and Nylene cover different early 20th century women with very different stories. Nylene tells the story of Blanche Monnier who was held prisoner in her own home, and Nym talks about Belle Gunness and her murder farm.
Enter the Nightmare for show notes, sources, transcripts, and more!
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to 'Nightmare Cottage'
00:00:29
Speaker
Welcome to Nim and Nyleen's Nightmare Cottage, where we discuss dark locations, sinister media, and other tales of the macabre. I'm Nim. And I'm Nyleen. Let the nightmare begin.
00:00:49
Speaker
into the nightmare if you dare hi hi how you doing you know you saw what it's like being here this is a little chaos little bit of chaos a little mean a little you thrive you thrive in chaos god this dog i love her so fucking much but i also just want to like Lay there with her 40-pound body and just just squeeze her as hard as I can until she just stops me. Just for like five
Fern and the Lesson of Responsibility
00:01:27
Speaker
seconds. i don't want to hurt her. i don't want to I just want to just stay still.
00:01:32
Speaker
Did you let her out? Yeah. Oh, okay. She's going to scratch. Shut the door. was going to say she's being real quiet. Yeah. Because she's not in here. Eating everything. Yeah. That's been her thing lately.
00:01:42
Speaker
ah Last night she... yeah Because I've stopped putting her in the kennel at night. Because she's she's gotten really good. And she's usually like, she'll sleep next to me on the floor. Like, she's good.
00:01:53
Speaker
She tried to sleep on the bed with me. And then I guess she didn't like it. Or sushi didn't. Someone didn't like it. But um she snuck out last night. Snuck out? Of my room. Oh.
00:02:04
Speaker
Went out into the living room where Sebastian's toys were. And she tore apart his puzzle, one of his puzzles. Oh, no. Which one? His favorite Paw Patrol puzzle. Oh, no. Tore it up.
00:02:18
Speaker
And he came out and it was so hard because I've been telling this kid to pick up his toys before bed. Every freaking day for the past, like, month, it's always a fight.
00:02:35
Speaker
And when he came out and he saw those torn puzzle pieces, he was just... He screamed like somebody had just murdered Elmo.
00:02:46
Speaker
um my god It was heat the way he grabbed his face too. It was ah oh So funny. um But yeah, he was honestly, he was, he was pretty fine. ah he he had, he told Fern, he was like, no Fern, bad Fern.
00:03:01
Speaker
You don't do that to Fern. That's so sad. So sad Fern. And then I was like, do you understand why we can't leave our toys out now? And he goes, Yeah.
00:03:13
Speaker
And he's like, we can buy another one, though.
Exploring Intrusive Thoughts
00:03:15
Speaker
And I was like, nope. It's like, yeah it's gone now. So you're telling me I should not buy him that puzzle again. Can I get him a different Paw Patrol puzzle? You're going to be the reason why he's a brat.
00:03:28
Speaker
You can just say no. I'll wait and I'll find a Halloween Paw Patrol puzzle and I'll give him it for his birthday. It's coming up.
00:03:39
Speaker
but I'm sorry. I love your child. ah So I did have a question for you So I was actually listening to, I think it was, I don't know if it was last week's episode, but we were talking about intrusive thoughts.
00:03:54
Speaker
Okay. Okay. So- I know. I've talked – I've actually asked some friends about this before because everyone kind of has, you know, the same intrusive, like, thoughts, but then there's always that one that is very specific and particular to a person, right? Okay.
00:04:11
Speaker
So for me, there's two. Okay. So my intrusive thoughts are i hate going over anything that's, like, a great or, like, has a bunch of little holes in it because my intrusive thoughts tell me, like, if I'm holding a book or a laptop, just drop it.
00:04:28
Speaker
see what happens or a keys, just drop it. See what happens. Like, um, or if I'm driving on the highway, my brain's like, I could just turn the wheel. Like I could, that's just, I don't know why that's like, that is my intrusive thought. Like always, if I'm in the left lane, just to like turn the wheel. I obviously don't cause I'm here. i think unless this is a simulation, who knows but what is your most common intrusive thought?
00:04:56
Speaker
I don't know that I really... oh so you're just going to out me for being a fucking weirdo, basically. i I have... ah I do have... i don't know, man.
00:05:08
Speaker
ah the The driving stuff, but I feel like that might be more because people piss me off. And I imagine what it would be like, but I don't ever... Obviously, I never act on it because I'm terrified of everything. Is it like ramming into them or something?
00:05:24
Speaker
Sometimes. I really hate disrespectful drivers. Like people that um like there's a long like it's slow and people wait until like they go in the fast lane up until the last minute to merge and all the rest of us have been waiting our turn.
00:05:43
Speaker
So I will inch right up behind an asshole and and not make any room because fuck that guy. So yes and no. Yeah, I know. It's not the same. It's that's fucking road rage. But like, I also have I mine's not the terrible like I should lose my stuff down a hole.
00:06:01
Speaker
But anytime ah great or something like that, or I i stayed at a hotel once that um had a completely open sink, like oh Like there was no stopper. And I was like, I'm going to lose my ring. I'm lose my ring. This ring cannot be
Uneventful Week and Overcoming Social Anxiety
00:06:15
Speaker
in this room. I can't even pee in this room with this ring on because it will jump off of my finger and fall down that hole. I think that's just anxiety.
00:06:23
Speaker
Oh, so maybe I don't have intrusive thoughts, but I have really horrible anxiety.
00:06:29
Speaker
Oh my gosh. What was like, i had a friend... And I think actually two two of my friends. So one of my friends told me hers was because she would straighten her hair every morning.
00:06:41
Speaker
And one of her big ones was... just to grab it. Like she just wanted like her intrusive thoughts were like, just grab it, just grab it. Oh, just watch it sizzle. Just watch it sizzle. Like that was her, that was her intrusive thought.
00:06:54
Speaker
Like obviously none of us acted upon these things. And then I had another friend, his had to do with cooking very similar. Like just when he sees it turn red hot to just, just put your hand on.
00:07:06
Speaker
I think that my mental health issue is an obsessive, clincher on like um risk aversion and so yeah maybe that's why i am not prone to intrusive thoughts like that because yours ends at anxiety yeah yours ends at panic and exactly thing nope nope yeah nope i just nope the fuck out of it so very interesting yeah i'm broken hi i'm broken how are you weird You're weird. I am weird. That's so fucking true.
00:07:38
Speaker
How's your week been? I mean, I'm the most boring human on the planet. and But to be fair, we only went a week between... To be fair. To be fair. We only went a week between our last recording and this one.
00:07:51
Speaker
And apologies, but my story today is very long, which means I did all of the research and all of the writing of this very long story this week, which means I haven't really done anything aside from work and podcast stuff. And my mommy's in town. So we've been hanging out and watching Dr. Who and,
00:08:10
Speaker
Yeah, no, I'm very boring. How are you? Haven't y'all finished Doctor Who? Yeah, we're rewatching it because I've been painting and I need something on in the background that I've heard. you've already. Yeah. ah feel that. Yeah. And that's something that I knew she would be into. so So we're rewatching it. We started at the beginning of the Chris Eccleston ones, the you don't watch Doctor Who, but for others that do.
00:08:29
Speaker
I'm not that type of nerd. No. Yeah. But I'm not, I mean, I'm kind of an all-inclusive nerd. I dabble in all of the nerdisms. Not all, but so many nerdisms.
00:08:41
Speaker
there's There's very few I haven't, at least. I'm i'm a nerd of all trades, I guess. well Master of none.
00:08:49
Speaker
But yeah, what about you? You know. So we start everything. You know, I did take Bashi to a water park for the first time last weekend. Yes, you sent me pictures and it was great, dude. I did not think he was going to like it because like he's kind of a fruit of water. But I was like, he really likes water slides.
00:09:10
Speaker
And like he likes like fountains and stuff. So I was like, maybe this will work. So I went as soon as they opened. My social anxiety didn't let me last longer than i think I was able to make it like an hour, maybe an hour and a half, which I think is amazing.
00:09:25
Speaker
ah No, I think that's great. And that's plenty of time for something like that because you're in the sun all around. Oh, yeah. I got ah a sunburn and everything. There is a red light behind you. So it does not look like a sunburn. Just saying.
00:09:36
Speaker
I love you. Roxanne. Oh, yeah. Our audience might be too young to get that. Oh, no, you're so right. That's not necessarily true. my mom's our biggest fan.
00:09:49
Speaker
Hello, Mommy Nim. Mommy Nim. It's like Mommy Dearest, but Mommy Nim.
00:09:57
Speaker
She'll appreciate that.
00:10:00
Speaker
This is a shout out to our biggest fan, Mommy Nim. Hi, mommy. Anyways. um Yeah. So you said your story is really long. Mine is not as long as usual. So maybe it'll work out.
00:10:15
Speaker
Yeah. No, I think it'll be great. Or you guys are just going to have to listen to a really long story and you better like it. I mean, you don't have to like it. That
The Tragic Tale of Blanche Monnier
00:10:23
Speaker
is. But you will. You you do. you need to listen. You do. You do need to Well, maybe not like it because that's fair because I'm my shit's pretty gruesome today.
00:10:30
Speaker
That's gross. No one asked. Why? Why are you like the way you are? I don't know, man. don't know. that a giant Dragon Ball? yes that's cool okay see thank you so the people at work were like who would want to try and dragon ball and i was like well my husband would yeah so i'm gonna get it for him it's a lamp that's cool yeah exactly it's got like floating stars in it that's it's the four yeah that's really i got him all of the tiny ones yeah i've seen the tiny ones there before but i hadn't seen that one that's cool yeah
00:11:05
Speaker
Anyways.
00:11:13
Speaker
Do we want a story? Yeah, I think it's time for nightmares. Who's going first? I'll go first since mine is short. That works. So what is your nightmare? um So first I have to find it.
00:11:27
Speaker
By the way, Ozzy Osbourne died. i know. I know. I'm so glad that he was able to do that last performance. That final performance. And, you know, me, because, you know, Legends Never Die, I was like, oh, last performance of my ass. That's a ploy. He'll be back. Whatever. I didn't realize. I did not realize.
00:11:47
Speaker
I didn't realize how far he was. Yeah, I started seeing a lot of interviews of him and he was like, he was basically saying existence was hell for him and ah He was at a point where he couldn't even hold up his head anymore by himself.
00:11:59
Speaker
And walking and standing were difficult. So, and like just basic functions. So, you know. Well, his music was a big part of my ah my upbringing.
00:12:12
Speaker
but So, yeah, that's one that will be missed. Sorry. I was doing our fake music. Okay. No. All right. and I have Roxanne stuck in my head.
00:12:24
Speaker
Roxanne! You don't have to... Sorry. um She's not sorry. By the way, is your phone on silent? It's always on silent. Okay. term volume up It does buzz, though. I'll put it up here. so Yeah.
00:12:37
Speaker
Wow. Don't interrupt my story. Are you so ready to hate me right now? I'm feeling really feisty today. I've been alone all day except with these dogs and I can't beat up the dogs, so... All right.
00:12:52
Speaker
Our story begins in 1901. The attorney general of Paris received a letter from an anonymous source. The following is a quote of the letter translated.
00:13:06
Speaker
Monsieur attorney general, I have the honor to inform you of an exceptionally serious occurrence. I speak of a spinster who is locked up in Madame Monnier's house. half-starved and living on a putrid litter for the past 25 years in a word in her own filth.
00:13:24
Speaker
End quote. 25 years? Yes. I just realized I was just nodding. As everyone can see. So the Moniers had an estate in the city of Poitiers. I cannot say these words. These are all French words. I'm so sorry. Potier?
00:13:40
Speaker
Potier. Potier! Sure. The Moniers had an estate in the city of Poitiers. That's how we're saying and And we're known to be one of the richest and most devout families in the area.
00:13:53
Speaker
Louise Monier was known to Parisian high society for her charity. Her husband was a university professor before he passed and came from old money. This meant he had left a hefty fortune in estate to his wife, Louise, and their two children.
00:14:10
Speaker
They had a son named Marcel, who was a law graduate and worked as an administrative official with the Puget-Teniers Commune. They also had a daughter named Blanche.
00:14:21
Speaker
She was described as, quote, very gentle and good natured. And she was very, very beautiful. Police are alarmed by the report and the police commissioner and some of his guys head over to the estate and Louise is not happy to see them.
00:14:35
Speaker
She's acting really shifty and doesn't want them to come into the house. When they do get in the house, they notice a really bad smell coming from upstairs. One door in particular is just really, really bad.
00:14:50
Speaker
So they knock down the door and what they see is chilling. I will include this picture on the site in case anyone listening wants to see it. But they find a room that is nearly pitch black because the shutters are locked and the curtains are drawn.
00:15:04
Speaker
There's rotting food and human waste all over the floors and the walls. In the back of the room is a bed with an extremely emaciated woman in it, lying in a pile of rot. One newspaper at the time described her as, quote, poor creature, old, reduced to a living skeleton, and almost childish in her ignorance of speech, end quote.
00:15:25
Speaker
It turns out the person in the bed is Louise's daughter, Blanche Monnier. As I mentioned earlier, Blanche was very beautiful and had many suitors.
00:15:36
Speaker
The only problem was that the one she had chosen was not a young, wealthy aristocrat worthy of her status, but an older lawyer who was very, very broke. Her mother strongly advised her to find someone more suitable for her status, and Blanche refused.
00:15:52
Speaker
Was it actually love? Was she in love with this man? she was in love with him. Well, that's the story. oh So at age 26, Blanche's mother decided to padlock her in this room because of her love affair with a man outside of her status and to leave the undivided fortune and estate to her only son, Marcel.
00:16:12
Speaker
Suddenly, neighbors and family members noticed that Blanche was not strolling the estate grounds on her nightly walks anymore. They assumed that she had gone traveling overseas with her new love. After a long while, they pressed Louise Monier on the situation of her daughter.
00:16:25
Speaker
She would tearfully tell her neighbors and close friends that Blanche was mentally ill and that she just loved her daughter too much to confine her to an asylum and instead would keep her in her room where she would could have anything her heart desired.
00:16:38
Speaker
Except for freedom and lots of other things. of About eight years after Blanche had been confined, neighbors reported they would hear her cries for help and liberation, but assumed it was just the poor, insane socialite that had been locked away for her own good.
00:16:53
Speaker
Soon after, the small window in Blanche's room was boarded up so no one could hear her cries for help. In true horror story fashion, investigators reported they found, scrawled on the walls, quote, Shall I ever regain my freedom, or am I to be forever consigned to this living tomb?
00:17:11
Speaker
End quote. Was that written in blood or shit? I didn't look closer. Okay. Her mother kept her locked in this room for 25 years, meaning Blanche was 52 when she was found.
00:17:26
Speaker
Even after her love had passed about 10 years into the imprisonment, she was still held captive. From the police commissioner's report, quote, the spectacle which we encountered as we battered in the door of the girls prison was heart rendering.
00:17:42
Speaker
We found Blanche de Monier entirely nude in a small dark room, the only window of which was boarded up with heavy pine planks. Not a ray of light penetrated the foul abode, whose air was pestilential.
00:17:56
Speaker
The poor creature was covered in vermin. Shriveled to a human skeleton, she sat upon a bed of miserable straw, which had not been renewed in weeks, and stared at the wall. My men swept up the remnants of decaying food and filth and took them away.
00:18:10
Speaker
They filled a large dry goods box with it. The woman's hair had not been combed in 25 years. The long braid, which must have been luxuriant once, was matted like a piece of felt.
00:18:22
Speaker
Her body was covered with a thick brown crust, made from excrement, fragments of meat, vegetables, fish, and rotten bread. We also saw oyster shells and bugs running across Madame Azuel Monnier's bed.
00:18:36
Speaker
Is this really the sky? She stammered as we carried her through the frowning gate to the ambulance and remarked how, quote, lovely it was to breathe fresh air again.
00:18:47
Speaker
The detectives find her and seeing how emaciated she is, only weighing 55 pounds. Wow. They take her to the hospital for treatment. Her brother and mother are also taken in for their crimes against her.
00:18:59
Speaker
After only 15 months in prison, 90 year old Louise dies in jail from heart problems. Oh, poor bitch. Blanche's brother, Marcel, the last one alive, is now the only one on the hook for this crime.
00:19:12
Speaker
He had a few defenses. He stated that Blanche could have left whenever she wanted to and was not a true prisoner. Additionally, he claims that he's nearsighted so he couldn't tell that Blanche was in such bad condition god when he would go visit her daily.
00:19:28
Speaker
He knew that she hated the light and insisted her room be dark. In his trial, he stated that Blanche was in fact insane and prone to fits of violence. Regardless, he would go daily to read newspapers to her and talk to her when she seemed like she might be lucid.
00:19:43
Speaker
He felt that his sister should have been institutionalized, but his mother ran the household and he felt that he could not interfere. Another interesting piece, Marcel's wife and daughter lived at the residence as well, but stated they had no idea what was going on.
00:19:57
Speaker
wow So it might have also been a situation where his mother might not let him live there if he interfered and, you know, all of his money's tied up in the estate. ah Not saying that makes it okay or anything, just right citing motivations to keep quiet.
00:20:11
Speaker
So it seems that Blanche eventually just got so weak that That she couldn't get out of bed anymore and just lay there with rotting food and waste around her. Her brother Marcel was convicted as a conspirator, but was only sentenced to 15 months in prison for his involvement in the crime. Oh, that's gross.
00:20:28
Speaker
He was eventually acquitted, citing that a, quote, duty to rescue law, end quote, did not exist in the region at the time. Additionally, it was argued that as far as he knew, she was free to go the whole time.
00:20:40
Speaker
Which is messed up, because why would there be a padlock on the door? Right. Anyway, so Blanche obviously wasn't mentally well enough to be on her own after this. yeah um So she did spend the rest of her life in a sanatorium in Boise where she passed at the age of 64 in 1913.
00:20:57
Speaker
But she did have 12 years of freedom. As for the one who tipped off the police, there is a rumor that it was the husband or boyfriend of a servant for the family who just couldn't let it continue anymore.
00:21:09
Speaker
Where was that conscience 25 years ago? So this was Blanche. um Around the time she disappeared. Yeah, she's beautiful. And be ready. This is her when they found her. Yeah.
00:21:25
Speaker
That is the story of Blanche Monnier and how she was kept in prison for 25 years for loving a man below her status in the 1900s.
Belle Gunness: Mystery and Murder
00:21:38
Speaker
That's awful. Also, it just made me think of whatever happened to baby Jane. That's really fucked up. Yeah. I can't believe, i mean, 25 years. I can't believe a year, a month. Yeah. That's insane.
00:21:53
Speaker
Let me get prepared for this shit.
00:22:00
Speaker
Are you familiar with Belle Gness? Gness? Gness. Gness. Like gun-ess. Gun-ess.
00:22:10
Speaker
I went into this one blind. I'd never heard of her by name. i hadn't heard the story. I'm thinking you may have heard it. what like You might pick up on it if you've heard it from other true crime stuff you've listened to it. There's a lot here, um I'm just going to jump in.
00:22:22
Speaker
Actually, no, no. First, I have to mention that this story takes place a bit in the the late 1800s, but is mostly the early 1900s. World's getting bigger but very quickly through transportation and media advancements.
00:22:35
Speaker
The news of heinous crimes just got around just really fast. And people, much like now, are fascinated with the mystery of it all. Unfortunately, much like now, some people just want to be a part of it and add a spin to the story that might, but probably isn't based on some loose thread of truth.
00:22:50
Speaker
they They might add a bit to the story that that has nothing to do with anything just for the attention of it. So anyways, there's there's a lot of like red herrings and like sideways directions this story went. i'm I'm omitting most of that.
00:23:03
Speaker
Any of the ones I include, I'll make sure to to mention that they're they're part of the bullshit. It's also important to note that due to sensationalist reporting without fact checking, it's difficult to corroborate some bits of the story.
00:23:14
Speaker
um But again, i'll I'll point it out if we get to any of that. Are we ready? Mm-hmm. That happened. Belle Ganes was born Brunhild Paulsdahrer Storset in 1859 in Selbu, Norway.
00:23:26
Speaker
She moved to Chicago when she was 21, which is when she changed her name to Bella or sometimes Belle. Belle stuck around, so we're just going to call her Belle. Okay. Chicago had real shopping with department stores and boutiques at that time, and Belle really liked stuff.
00:23:42
Speaker
Unfortunately, the money she made doing housekeeping and such went to the family that she was staying with for her upkeep. She worked hard her whole life and- Wait, so she was-
00:23:53
Speaker
Okay, so she wasn't like their cleaner. No, no. she she There was a family that was keeping her, like like letting her stay there in like room and board kind of situation, and she just paid them her wages so she could be there.
00:24:05
Speaker
She had worked hard her whole life and wanted a change. She knew she wanted to marry and to marry rich. Neither looks or personality came into play when considering her options. Just give me the cash.
00:24:17
Speaker
She found her man in Mads Ditlev Anton Sorensen. Not wealthy, but employed as a night watchman at a department store and could provide an improved life for her. They were married in 1884.
00:24:29
Speaker
She loved children and very much wanted a child, but it wasn't happening. She adored her sister's youngest of five and tried to convince her to let her adopt her. Obviously, her sister refused. Couldn't.
00:24:40
Speaker
And then they barely spoke again after that. I feel like that would be a very awkward conversation. Oh, yeah. Just give me your child. No worries. You've got four more. It doesn't matter. In 1891, friends of Belle and Mads had a baby named Jenny.
00:24:55
Speaker
Before Jenny was even a year old, her mother lay on her deathbed. Belle begged her to let her take care of Jenny. which she agreed to. Oh. And she did. Belle brought Jenny to see her father frequently and took excellent care of her.
00:25:08
Speaker
Eventually, though, when the father remarried and tried to regain custody, the courts ruled in Belle's favor. Yeah, I would think so, because she's been taking care of the kid most of the time. that's That's what the kid knows. Exactly.
00:25:21
Speaker
But I'm surprised even without maternity, they would do that. it's You know, not as many rules at that point. That's true. And they probably saw women as more capable of taking care of a child than men.
00:25:33
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. Especially in that time. Yeah. Yeah. um After saving for a few years, the Sorensons opened a little shop in a bustling area. It unfortunately was not doing great despite its prime location.
00:25:46
Speaker
Less than a year after it opened, the shop caught fire while Belle and three-year-old Jenny were inside. They got out and screamed for help. Belle said that a lamp had exploded and caught fire.
00:25:57
Speaker
They did not find any broken glass or lamps in the wreckage, but the Sorensons were still able to collect the insurance. They sold the shop and moved on.
00:26:07
Speaker
The insurance payout got them a lovely home in an upscale neighborhood. It's worth noting that during this time, the couple obtained four more children. Obtained? Birth records were not available for any of these kiddos, but it's generally believed that they were adopted or procured for a price.
00:26:22
Speaker
my God. The two youngest died within a year. Which, I mean, that wasn't abnormal for the two. Exactly. It wasn't viewed with suspicion because the and the infant mortality rate was so high. Mm-hmm.
00:26:34
Speaker
Around this time, Mads was approached by a man for a very lucrative job. Mads was her husband? Mads was her husband, yeah. If he committed to working at a mine in Alaska for a year, not only would he get us a solid weekly salary, he would also get to keep a percentage of what he mined.
00:26:49
Speaker
He would also be given shares in the company, and Bell would receive a monthly stipend to keep the household running while he was away. Since Belle didn't care about Mads as a person, she was all about this opportunity.
00:27:01
Speaker
They put forth an initial investment of $700, which is about $25K a day. Yeah. ah To cover some of the startup expenses of the the whole operation. so wait, did she move to Alaska with him? No, she was going to stay there. okay And he was going to go to Alaska for a year. So she was going to be able to stay in their nice house and get some money. And he was going to go and make more money for them. Okay, got it.
00:27:22
Speaker
Perfect setup for her. Yeah. And her... three kids no five at this moment oh no you're right you two died two died so three yeah you're right if there's five kids oh my god three of them get murdered Sorry.
00:27:38
Speaker
So, yeah, they they put the put forth the initial investment of $700, which is about $25K today, to cover up some of the startup expenses for the whole operation. They had taken out a loan against their new home to make this happen.
00:27:51
Speaker
When it came time for the job to commence, the company and the man who offered the job were nowhere to be found. oh The source ensued the company, but there were no assets to claim, but they did get their initial investment back. Soon after this, a faulty heater caught their home on fire.
00:28:05
Speaker
yeah They were able to save the house, but there was about $650 worth of damages ah inside paid out by the insurance company. Which would probably be what, around $20,000?
00:28:16
Speaker
At this point, Mads went but back to work at the department store. A few months later, Mads was reviewing his life insurance policy. Bell insisted he needed a larger one. He set his existing $2,000 policy to lapse and signed up for a new policy for $3,000 that would start on the last day of his current one.
00:28:34
Speaker
On this very day of the policy overlap, a doctor that the Sorensons knew was summoned by a panicked bell. Apparently Mads had come home from work with cold symptoms and then began to complain of a fearful headache.
00:28:45
Speaker
And this was like on the day that both of the policies were active at one time? Yep. Oh. She had given him some medicine and then went to make dinner for the kids. When she went back up to check on him, he was dead.
00:28:58
Speaker
no The life insurance payout of 5k would be over $150,000 today. Oh my gosh. After Mads' death, Belle decided to take her riches and purchase a farm in La Porte, Indiana with her three remaining children, Jenny, Lucy, and Myrtle.
00:29:14
Speaker
How did no one find this suspicious? I don't know. There were some questioning and... He died on the day that both policies... The one day.
00:29:28
Speaker
It was questionable enough to let it go. This was at the end of 1901. Okay. Backing up just a moment to 1893, the Sorensons had played host to some people visiting for the World's Fair.
00:29:41
Speaker
One of the men who boarded with them was a very attractive and very Norwegian, Peter Ganes. After the fair, he went back to Minneapolis and started a family. He had his first daughter, Swan Hild, with his wife, Jenny, in 1897.
00:29:55
Speaker
Jenny died four years later while giving birth to their second child. When Mads died, Belle made a point to visit Peter. In April of 1902, Peter and Belle were married. Five days later, Peter's seven-month-old baby died of edema of the lungs.
00:30:13
Speaker
No. Damn, so she didn't want any more kids. We'll see. Less than a year later, Ganesa's nearest neighbors woke to pounding on the door. It was the then 12-year-old Jenny asking them to come help as her father had been burned.
00:30:28
Speaker
When the neighbors arrived at the farmhouse, Peter was already dead. Belle was next to the body, sobbing hysterically. The medical examiner thought it was all a little sus, so he ordered an investigation into the matter.
00:30:41
Speaker
Yeah, because like, how did he get burned? Yeah. So Belle was interrogated. She explained that Peter kept his shoes behind the stove to keep them warm and dry. He must have been reaching for them and somehow bumped their meat grinder off of the shelf where it landed on his head.
00:30:57
Speaker
She heard the commotion and came to check on him. He was responsive, but saying that he was in a lot of pain. She stayed up with him for a while until he insisted she go to bed. A while later, she heard him calling for her, saying that there was something wrong with his head.
00:31:12
Speaker
That's when she sent Jenny for help. Wait, I thought he was burned. Getting there. God, there's so much to this case. Jenny was interrogated as well and gave a matching story, but it was almost too matchy considering Jenny was supposed to have been asleep for part of the events. She denied talking to her mother to get her story straight.
00:31:31
Speaker
This is the first time rumors begin to swirl about Belle being a black widow. However, after the interrogations, examinations, and witness testimonies from the neighbors, Peter's death was ruled an accident. It does appear I left that south. The other part of it was that after he got hit by the meat grinder, there was a bowl of brine that she had boiled and was letting cool for the next day that he had bumped into and it had burned him. What was his three stooges?
00:31:56
Speaker
yeah I know, right? But the thing about that, like, I don't understand why she leaned so hard into that because when they examined him, there were no burns on his skin. So I don't. Maybe it's because Jenny had said. Maybe. That he was burning. And so they they had to like follow through with it. I guess.
00:32:13
Speaker
Peter's brother, Gust, was pretty suspicious at this point. He came back to he came to the farm to check on his niece, Swanhild. She had been listed as the sole beneficiary of his twenty five hundred dollar life insurance policy.
00:32:24
Speaker
When he asked Bella about this, she told him that Peter had invested the money in stocks of a mining company and that if it paid off, Swanhild would be very rich. Belle was unable to produce the stock certificates, but offered for Gus to stay at the farm and help.
00:32:37
Speaker
Gus didn't trust her as far as he could throw her. He ended up sneaking out in the middle of the night and taking Swanhield with him. Shortly after Peter's death, Belle introduced another child into her household, Philip.
00:32:49
Speaker
It seems this one was procured. Wait, he just ran away with the baby and we're just like, cool. Well, with the kid and they we're just like, cool, that's it? He took his brother's older daughter that had no relation to Belle.
00:33:00
Speaker
Okay. Because it was his oldest with his previous wife. Yeah. She was, but i mean, she was supposed to get this in insurance as money. Belle's being weird about it. He feels the whole thing suspicious. He's just trying to get Swan Hill out of their safe.
00:33:13
Speaker
That's fair. Yeah. Shortly after Peter's death, Belle introduced another child into their household, Philip. It seems this one was procured rather than born from her as well, based on encounters with the neighbors.
00:33:25
Speaker
So wait, has she had any kids of her own at this point? It's unclear, but... I my own opinion based on everything I read is that she I think that she wasn't able to have kids and that she would also take kids off of moms that didn't want to be moms, you know, and like if they paid her or whatever.
00:33:45
Speaker
I feel like it's the opposite of the welfare situation, you know. Jeez. At this point in 1904, Belle began managing the farm on her own. She did the planting and the harvesting. She butchered her own meat.
00:33:58
Speaker
She was very strong and capable. Despite this, she knew she needed help in keeping things running. She began putting out ads in Scandinavian papers across the Midwest asking for help with operations.
00:34:10
Speaker
Pretty soon, Olaf Lindbui of Norway in Chicago answered one of these ads. He showed up with his life savings and soon Belle and Olaf were seen being very close. People assumed they were engaged.
00:34:23
Speaker
Olaf even wrote letters home to tell his family that he'd be getting married soon. Not too long after he sent that letter, he was never seen again. Jeez. Belle asked a neighbor for help with a big job on the farm, stating that Olaf had taken off to St. Louis to see the World's Fair.
00:34:37
Speaker
She told someone else that he went back to Norway to see the new king crowned. A few months later, this was repeated with her next applicant, Henry Gerholt. He arrived with a heavy trunk with his things.
00:34:48
Speaker
He was being treated well and loved the work, as he wrote to his mother. But again, Belle soon requested help with harvest from her neighbors, citing that Henry was sick and went to Chicago. In the summer of 1905, the following ad was put out.
00:35:03
Speaker
Wanted. A woman who owns a beautifully located and valuable farm in first-class condition wants a good and reliable man as a partner in same. Some little cash is required and will be furnished first-class security.
00:35:18
Speaker
Later, the postman would report that she was getting letters daily, sometimes as many as 10 a day. Jeez. Several men that Belle introduced as cousins came and, quote, went over time, but no one really ever saw them leave.
00:35:30
Speaker
She had a room full of men's trunks just piling up. She literally is going to have a body farm in the most literal sense. Yep. Spoiler In the fall of 1906, Jenny was 16 and had grown up to be quite beautiful.
00:35:48
Speaker
Belle had set her up to go to Los Angeles for college. Jenny wasn't super thrilled about it, but she was, you know, planning for it, telling her friends about it. A professor was supposed to come and collect her soon, so she bid farewell to her friend Emil, who was also a farmhand for her mother, as well as one of her suitors from town.
00:36:05
Speaker
Both wanted to see her off, but when they came to call the day she was supposed to leave, Belle told them they had already missed her. By the summer of 1907, Emil had fallen out of love with his job with no Jenny to keep him company, so he quit and moved west.
00:36:19
Speaker
To replace him. Oh, wow. He made it out. He did. To replace him, Bell hired Ray Lamphere. Ray was the son of William Lamphere, who had been who had once been a respected man of the community. But alcoholism took away his standing.
00:36:33
Speaker
Ray was also seen to be a worthless drunk who spent all of his money on booze and sex. During the time Ray was employed by Belle, he would boast loudly and often about the gifts she would give him, how they were sleeping together and how he was basically the master of the farm. oh God.
00:36:48
Speaker
And he was riding high on that for a while. I mean, he was the town loser. And now he's like, got this bitch who's paying for everything and and he's going to get to run this big, nice farm. Meanwhile, one of the people to answer Belle's ad was Andrew Helgelein.
00:37:02
Speaker
They corresponded for over a year, flirting back and forth and planning for Andrew to come help her run the farm. So she gets a new one before she gets rid of the old one. Yeah, she she had a system, I guess. She was so fixated on this one's bank account that she courted him via mail for far longer than she had anyone else.
00:37:22
Speaker
She urged him to bring all of his cash, sell all of his things, and tell no one he was coming. Oh, that's not suspicious whatsoever. i know, right? When he did eventually arrive at the farm, he hadn't pulled out all of his cash, but he brought bank notes to be cashed instead. He didn't tell anybody he where he was going.
00:37:40
Speaker
Bell took Andrew to the bank where they were told they would have to wait a few days to change the bank notes into cash. Bell told Ray the farmhand that he had to move from his upstairs room to the barn because she was going to give Andrew that room.
00:37:52
Speaker
This kind of pissed him off, but he went along with it. The next morning, Ray was building a fire in the main room of the house like he did every day. and him and Andrew started chatting. When Bell came in and saw this, she freaked out and told Ray he had no business in the house and shoot him away.
00:38:08
Speaker
yeah. A few days later, Belle and Andrew were able to retrieve the cash from the bank. She sent Ray on an errand that night and told him to return the next day. He took a friend on his errand and at some point decided he wanted to see what Belle was up to. Yep.
00:38:23
Speaker
He told his friend he'd meet him at a bar in a bit. No. His friend waited around, but Ray didn't come back. Of course. That is not what you think. After that night, Andrew was never seen again either. Good.
00:38:35
Speaker
Great. Love this for us. The next day, ray supposedly quit, citing lack of payment for services rendered. He even reached out to a lawyer who encouraged him to go to Bell to demand he what he was owed.
00:38:47
Speaker
Not only did she refuse, but she also had him arrested for trespassing. Fucking rude. She hired Joseph Maxson to replace him just a week later. Goodness. How old is she at this point?
00:38:58
Speaker
Let's see. We're at. ah She's in her 40s. And does she have any kids in the house or what? Yes. she um At this point. Okay. Jenny's gone. So it's just Myrtle, Lucy and the youngest. Okay.
00:39:10
Speaker
Not too long after Andrew had disappeared, his brother Azel became concerned. He found the letters from Belle and determined that this was where he needed to look. When he reached out to Belle, she claimed she would also very much like to know where Andrew was as she as he had left without providing answers.
00:39:25
Speaker
After more time in probing, Belle told Azel that she received a letter from Andrew saying to wait to write again until she heard from him next so he would be there long enough to receive letters. Azel wanted to see that letter, but Belle claimed that one of her former employees stole it.
00:39:40
Speaker
Ray continued to come around and threaten Belle. She continued to have him arrested for trespassing. She even tried to convince the law that he was insane and needed to be taken away, but that didn't end up going anywhere. Good.
00:39:52
Speaker
Ray lost all of the trials, paying fees for each one. really? On the last one, Ray's lawyer asked many off-topic and pointed questions of Belle about her deceased husband, about insurance money.
00:40:05
Speaker
Belle's lawyer objected all over the place, but Belle seemed pretty shaken. No. In the weeks that followed, some neighbors said that Belle seemed quite stressed out. On Monday, April 27th, 1908.
00:40:17
Speaker
You know, when you get an actual date, something's going to happen. Yes. Belle went to her lawyers to discuss her concerns about Ray. Her lawyer actually recommended shooting his ass next time he was on her property, but Belle dismissed this.
00:40:29
Speaker
Wait, what's the other thing? Indiana. Oh, fair. 1908. Yes. Instead, she wanted to update her will in case something happened. In this will, she left everything to Myrtle, Lucy, and Philip with the stipulation that if one of them perishes before her, that the surviving children split the remaining.
00:40:46
Speaker
And if all three perished before her, all of her assets would go to the Norwegian children's home of Chicago. Hmm. She then went and purchased cakes, candies, and toys for the kiddos. Oh. Telling the clerk that it was just a nice surprise for the kids.
00:41:01
Speaker
No, no, no, nim no. I'm sorry. Why have you done this? And then she purchased a much larger and higher quality of the normal of groceries, along with two gallons of kerosene.
00:41:18
Speaker
Apparently, Ray was in the store when she made this purchase, and they didn't acknowledge each other. I'm sorry, you look so sad right now, and I i feel so bad. You should. When she arrived home that evening, Joseph helped her bring everything in. He placed the kerosene under the stairs.
00:41:33
Speaker
They had a rich dinner with extra helpings, followed by the sweets she brought home. The rest of the evening was spent playing games and having fun. Joseph was having a hard time staying awake by 8.30 and decided to go to bed.
00:41:45
Speaker
At that time, Belle was sitting on the floor playing with the kids.
00:41:51
Speaker
If I don't keep talking, they're still alive. Sorry. The next morning, Joseph awoke to the smell of what he thought was breakfast cooking. Moments later, he realized that everything was burning.
00:42:03
Speaker
He tried to call out, but the smoke was too thick. He tried to open his door to get everyone else, but the door was stuck and quite hot to the touch. He was able to make it out via an outside landing. He found an axe and tried to find a way to get in the house to find Belle and the kids.
00:42:18
Speaker
The fire proved to be too much. Nearby neighbors saw the blazes and came to help, but the fire was raging so intensely that there was nothing that could be done but wait. There was no evidence that Bella or the children had made it out of the house.
00:42:32
Speaker
Hmm. the feud between bell and ray lamfere had been very well known so authorities immediately suspected ray for the arrs and and potential murder of the family while waiting for the blaze to die down enough to search the wreckage two deputies went to the farm where ray was now employed as they approached him the first words out of his mouth did those three children and the woman get out of the building No.
00:42:55
Speaker
When questioned how he knew about the fire, he said he saw it while walking the six miles to work. When asked why he didn't do anything about it, he said, I didn't think it was any of my business. That was a quote.
00:43:05
Speaker
Wow. Ray was arrested. Later, he also said he didn't say anything because he assumed he'd be blamed. After the fire had calmed to embers, law enforcement and townspeople started to search through the rubble, looking for any sign of Belle and the kids.
00:43:19
Speaker
Eventually, they found them in what had been the cellar, completely charred, with appendages melted off. No. They found three child-sized corpses and an adult female corpse missing its head.
00:43:32
Speaker
Huh. There was a long, exhaustive search to try to locate Belle's head. Days into the search, only Joseph and a neighbor were still picking through the ash, Around this time, Andrew Helgelein's brother, Azel, arrived to try to find evidence of where his brother went.
00:43:46
Speaker
He had suspicions and wanted to see for himself. He ended up asking Joseph if there were any holes or similar that had been made since spring anywhere on the land. Joseph confirmed that there was a fenced-off area where he dug a trash pit.
00:43:59
Speaker
They went to check it out and weren't digging long before the smell of rotten decomposition slammed into them. Oh gosh. Digging further, they exposed Andrew's body. They brought this to law enforcement who came back out to check for more spot soft spots on the land.
00:44:12
Speaker
In this search, there were four bodies in total. One of these was that of an adolescent female. No. There were bits remaining, including a chunk of long blonde hair that confirmed that Jenny never made it to Los Angeles.
00:44:24
Speaker
I wonder why she killed her though. Probably because she knew too much. The day they found her remains would have been her 18th birthday. Oh, no. After this, a massive search effort was renewed.
00:44:37
Speaker
The news hit not just the whole country, but the whole world, and people were traveling in droves to witness the search. The press were eating it up and unfortunately believed more of the witness accounts than were true. Because of that, there's a lot of wild theories about how things went down here. Yeah.
00:44:51
Speaker
There were people claiming she worked for the mob to dispose of bodies. People claimed she ran a baby farm. Some even thought she was Kate Bender, if you remember her. yeah. ah Which there's a lot of proof that that is not the case. Oh.
00:45:02
Speaker
So many stories were made up for attention that just derailed the whole investigation. All in all, at least 11 victims were discovered on the farm. Since most of the bodies were cut up and buried in multiples, it was tough to be sure But there was evidence to suggest that up to 40 other people were killed. she She did that whole feeding them to the pigs thing, too. so Oh, gosh. Yeah.
00:45:24
Speaker
Many people came out to see if their missing loved ones were there. So many stories of saying their friend, brother, uncle, or whatever were moving to La Porte to marry a rich lady and run her farm. The same story over and over.
00:45:36
Speaker
The four primary theories on what had happened here, as suggested by the New York Times. One, Belle figured out she was going to get caught. The walls were closing in, so she took herself out and brought her kids with her.
00:45:47
Speaker
Two, same as the first one, but instead of herself, the body was another one of her victims in her place, removing the head so there were no dental records. I was wondering about that.
00:45:58
Speaker
I was wondering if it was even her kids, but I mean, it would make sense if she just ran off on her own. We'll talk about that. Third, Ray did it. Or four. And this is one of the things that came from the wild stories about her working for the mob is that this was the mob shutting her up because she was getting sloppy.
00:46:14
Speaker
Yeah. I will say, because I don't think I'd touch on it here. There's evidence against any of the mob stuff. Like none of that happened. it's But like, I mean, obviously it seems like she was involved in it if they put the kerosene under.
00:46:27
Speaker
Yes, we'll get there. Okay. Yeah. A lot of it is solved. I will tell you right now, not all of it is, but a lot of it is. There were reported sightings of Belle across the country. Some of them were people that knew her in life and were pretty sure of themselves.
00:46:40
Speaker
The headless body that was found with the children was smaller in frame than Belle. so but Some argued that it had melted off, but like Belle was at this point was like 280 pounds and the body that they found, not, not just because of the missing head, but it was shorter and, and had a smaller frame.
00:46:57
Speaker
Okay. Okay. There was controversy of a dental bridge that was, quote, found in the ashes, but someone present said that they saw someone pull it out of a pocket rather than from the rebel. Oh, I was like, did they pull it out of their mouth? with No. Pocket, pockets. No, it was the dentist that had worked on hers, like that was supposed to be trying to confirm whether or not he recognized the dental work.
00:47:16
Speaker
But the lawyers prosecuting Ray Limfier were so determined to win their case against him that it kind of seemed like they willfully ignored some evidence. They were very good at their jobs, though. And though the jury definitely kind of felt some way about it,
00:47:28
Speaker
They found him guilty on the lowest of the three charges, not guilty of murder or conspiracy to murder, but guilty of arson. His sentence was two to 20 years, but he died of tuberculosis before he had a chance for parole.
00:47:41
Speaker
Dang. He gave a deathbed confession, which he gave to a priest. The priest refused to share it for many, many years. And there's like a whole story that goes with that too. So here is the gist of the confession.
00:47:52
Speaker
Ray confessed to having helped Belle dispose of bodies. He had witnessed her murder people. He had witnessed her use chloroform on people. He admitted that he confronted her about wanting more money for his help and discretion.
00:48:05
Speaker
She told him to fuck right off. She fired him. He didn't quit. home That's when she started getting nervous that he would out her, which might explain why she tried to get him committed. He had planned to chloroform Bell and the kids and then search the house for money.
00:48:18
Speaker
He found a very small amount of cash, but decided to book it. He said he didn't set the fire. He claimed he had a female accomplice that may have set the fire, Liz Smith, who also has a badass story that I didn't have time for.
00:48:30
Speaker
But she denied involvement. What is not explained is whether Belle Ganesse was killed in that farmhouse fire or did she plant another body? Obviously, I feel like she planted the body, but whatever. There are so many theories and stories.
00:48:44
Speaker
There were stories of people seeing her board a train right after the fire and then alleged sightings across the country. She did take out a lot of cash before the fire. Some say she went back to Norway.
00:48:56
Speaker
One story said that not only did Belle plant a body for herself, but she planted one for Philip as well. And there was a few cases of people coming forward claiming to be Philip. Interesting. And I mean, because she had left all of her money to...
00:49:10
Speaker
you said her kids if she died or to this children's home right and how that went down is they got the money but this was like a fucking internationally crazy case right and so everybody knew about it they ended up even though they were trying to raise $25,000 for a new home they turned the money down no yeah they didn't want blood money they didn't want money that had been gained from murdering these people so Belganess was a terrifying serial killer.
00:49:39
Speaker
She did some really brutal shit for a really long time. i just can't believe I hadn't heard of her if this whole thing was just really chilling. Yeah, that's crazy. because, like, I know that you said, like, it seemed like her daughter knew, whatever.
00:49:51
Speaker
But, like, it seems like her daughter was in on it. Why would she suddenly decide to kill her? Well, how was your relationship with your mother when you were 16? That's true, but still, like...
00:50:06
Speaker
I feel like if she had helped her kill her, don't know people. I don't think that Jenny helped her kill anybody. But I think that she was faithful. in a alibi Yeah. I think that mom said, hey, you need to you know do this.
00:50:19
Speaker
And also she knows her mother's capable of murder. Right. So she's not going to go against her. What is she going to do? That's true. I wonder how she killed her daughter, though. i mean Well, pretty much everybody. ah well she was She was kind of a a chloroform and a hatchet kind of situation.
Recommendations and Nostalgia
00:50:35
Speaker
She was a big fan of both of those things.
00:50:37
Speaker
But you can't kill people with chloroform. You can kill people with chloroform. I thought it just knocked them out. Unless you use like it too often. I know she would put it in people's drinks. But I don't like i don't know a lot about chloroform and how it works and quantities needed for anything. But...
00:50:56
Speaker
So I've been watching the show called entitled. You told me about this, but I haven't watched it yet. So it's funny because it says, i think it's on Netflix. It's a Showtime make and it has, what's his name?
00:51:12
Speaker
I love this actor because I feel like he does such a good, he just, he's really good at manic energy. Okay. His name's a Brett Gelman. Okay. I don't. This guy.
00:51:25
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, that guy. So he just, he does really good manic energy. And honestly, it's just, it says it's a comedy, but it's definitely, if it's a comedy, it's a dark one. Hey, that's my favorite kind of comedy. And honestly, there's a lot in it that I like,
00:51:41
Speaker
You kind of slip into it and you're like, oh, it's going and then it just goes a whole different direction. It's been really interesting so far. Just trying to figure out what the fuck is happening. The whole thing is just a trip, but it's real, real good. i think I'm on episode four now and that doesn't seem like much, but they're really long episodes and so much happens in them.
00:52:01
Speaker
Yeah, it's crazy. You just you have to watch it. That's all I want to say because I don't want to. Yeah, no, fair. Yeah, I hate spoilers. so I also have Nightmare Fuel. One is going to be the primary source I used for this story. Okay. It was a book called Hell's Princess, The Mystery of Belganess, Butcher of Men by Harold Schechter.
00:52:20
Speaker
It was super well researched. There's a lot of threads in the story I didn't even get to touch. um I'll give a heads up, though, that the descriptions of women and minorities were not great. and But if you want all the facts and details of this case in one spot, this is really the place for it.
00:52:34
Speaker
My other nightmare fuel is Jawbreaker. Didn't you mention the past one or no, you had mentioned? You asked if I had ever if I finally ever saw it and I still hadn't. and I said I was going to go home and watch it. And I did. you like it?
00:52:47
Speaker
I did. i did. um was in high school when it came out. Right. So you have to put yourself back in that point. I didn't have to. just went there. ah The references, the humor, the fashion. It's like it just embodies the ninety the late 90s specifically in like a non-charicaturized way. Yes.
00:53:03
Speaker
Totally different tone, but it kind of gave me similar feels to watching The Craft. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. And then like the Heathers too, like a 90s version of Heathers. Yes. And I had Rose McGowan and I yeah love McGowan.
00:53:13
Speaker
And the Noxzema girl. Yeah. Who was, is that Rebecca? Rebecca Garrida. Yeah. are yeah
00:53:26
Speaker
So I'm going to do some would you rathers as usual. Okay. Would you rather erase all of your past cringe moments from everybody else's memories, but not yours, or erase them from your memory, but not everyone else? Everyone else's. Take it away from everyone else.
00:53:45
Speaker
Because that's part of what makes it so cringe, right? It's like, who else remembers that horrible? Because if it's just me that remembers it, yeah no problem. But I don't want anybody else to know. That's fair, dude. But there are some of them that I'm like, I just want off myself sometimes. i I say that jokingly, but also like, fuck my life. Like, I know we were all teenagers once, but like, God, why does it have to be so bad?
00:54:07
Speaker
Would you like to share? Nope. Yeah, I wouldn't either. Honestly, i feel bad for the people that knew me back then. And I understand a lot. Oh, yeah. I have no idea how anybody has tolerated me for this long.
00:54:20
Speaker
Same. Same. Like you even bring up like you're very how particular I am and how weird I am. And I'm like, how are you dealing with me? Oh, because I love you. Okay. Well.
00:54:34
Speaker
What? This is so specific. Okay. You're a supervillain. Okay. Who can scream supersonic classical music. Okay? That's your that's your um your power. Okay.
00:54:47
Speaker
Your name is Bok the Fuck Up. I love this. I love everything about this. So, as your supervillain thing that you do, would you rather rob banks for a living or cause random chaos the streets? random chaos in the streets. What would be your thing? You said that you, um I think you had mentioned in one of our things that, like, you you just hate stupid drivers. So, would you just, like,
00:55:14
Speaker
Light every car on. Well, and I guess you're not lighting. You're yelling them off the road or something. Right. um Oh, yeah. I would definitely. Oh, my God. am a horrible person. i wouldn't actually do anything.
00:55:26
Speaker
I think that is intrusive thoughts. Oh, no. Ace is constantly. like I had to tell him. I'm like, are you okay? like Because his was. He's like, I wish that I had a laser.
00:55:38
Speaker
And every time someone did something stupid, when i'm it's always when he's driving. It's always. He's like, I just wish I could like. Like, you know how in Diablo you have that one. Well, don't know if you ever played. did. Yeah.
00:55:50
Speaker
So you have that one. It's like a red laser that you can just like. Oh, like the wizard. what Yes. Yes. And you just like can literally obliterate. He wants that for cars. Yeah. And I'm like, those are people. And he's like, can you just let me live my fantasy? Oh, okay.
00:56:08
Speaker
Would you rather. Why would I want to do that? and Not that I'm going to read it. Would you rather be able to transform into a blueberry at will?
00:56:19
Speaker
Or have blueberries whisper to you and tell you secrets about the universe that no one else will ever believe. Why would I not want the secret? Exactly. like That is the juiciest gossip.
00:56:34
Speaker
Okay. That's it. We're done. You guys can live with that. And now that's ah recorded. So no one will be able to forget that crunch moment forever.
00:56:45
Speaker
oh sweet dreams. Sweet dreams. If you have topic requests, book or movie recommendations, or just want to say hi, email us at nightmarecottage at gmail dot com or visit our website at nightmarecottage dot com.
00:57:01
Speaker
Sweet dreams! Bye bye!