WHY WE FALL FOR CONSPIRACY THEORIES

The “paranoid style” of thinking in American politics has a long history. The periodic emergence of narratives about clandestine, malevolent actors secretly plotting political and social calamities influences policy debate about vaccine regulations, genetically-modified food labeling, foreign diplomacy and domestic elections. But conspiracy theories are not the delusions of paranoid minds -- recent polls show that more than 50 percent of Americans believe in one conspiracy or another. What makes conspiracies an interesting phenomenon is that they have loyal followers and are believed, more or less, by ordinary people.

A few common characteristics of conspiracy theories are that, first, they locate the source of unusual social and political phenomena in unseen, intentional and malevolent forces. Second, they often interpret political events in terms of the struggle between good and evil. And third, most conspiracy theories suggest that mainstream reporting of public affairs is a ruse or an attempt to distract the public from a true source of power. 

According to a study conducted by the University of Chicago:

19% of Americans believe the government was behind the 9/11 attacks;
25% believe the 2008 recession was caused by a small cabal of Wall Street Bankers;
11% believe the government mandated a switch to compact fluorescent lightbulbs in government buildings because “they make people obedient and easier to control”

Conspiracy theories are captivating because they provide explanations for confusing, emotional and ambiguous events especially when official explanations seem inadequate.

Conspiracies provide structured narratives of events that comport with how some people process information. Conspiratorial beliefs flourish at the extremes of the political spectrum. Political extremism fosters conspiricism due to the highly-structured thinking style of engaged individuals who construct narratives that make sense to them based on prior beliefs. Some argue that “conspiracy theories are for losers,” that they are tools used by the powerless to attack and defend against the powerful.

Although conspiracies are frequently outlandish and implausible assertions, their power lies in the fact that they confirm what people want to believe.

People naturally try to make sense of their world. Motivated reasoning is a psychological phenomenon that describes how people rely on biased cognitive processes while assessing, constructing and evaluating beliefs. Prior beliefs and attitudes “anchor” the evaluation of new information. These motivations, or biases, affect our perceptions of an issue, and how we assign blame or causality. An important point is that the motivation to be accurate is often the driving factor while reasoning new information, however, accuracy-goals are in constant tension with the motivation to arrive at a particular conclusion that confirms one’s prior beliefs. Partisan and emotionally evocative messaging often overwhelms to desire to be accurate.

Some conspiracy theories have been proven true - so you never know what it out there!

MY THOUGHTS: DISAPPEARANCE OF AMY BRADLEY

Again, I highly recommend the Netflix documentary on Amy Bradley. With a 3 part series I was sure there were gonna be some twists and turns, but my initial conclusion upon hearing the facts did not change at any point throughout the episodes.

Here’s what most likely happened to Amy: she falls asleep on the balcony after telling her brother she’s feeling sick. Dad wakes up and sees her legs shortly later. After that, she wakes up and realizes she’s going to throw up. She opens up the slider to take off her shirt so she doesn’t get puke on it, takes off her shoes, then pushes the table towards the ledge so she can lean over without getting puke blowback in her face or on the balcony. Then, she falls. It’s the equivalent of falling off a multi story building so she likely died instantly, and given the time of day, height, noise from the ocean and ship, it’s likely no one saw or heard it.

If there was definitive proof she left the room, I would feel differently. But all we know for sure is the last place she was seen alive was on the balcony of a ship, and then she disappeared in a 30 minute window. It’s very sad, but there’s not much of a mystery here.

RE all the eyewitnesses, I’m sure a few of them truly believe they saw her. If anyone watched the McStay case play out in real time, there were multiple sightings of not one person, but an entire family (including a boy with a unique birthmark on his face), footage of them supposedly crossing the border, testimonials from people who knew them about how disappearing off to an island was something they’d do… only for them to be found buried in the desert a few years later, shortly after they disappeared. Not to mention, the series online about photographers who find complete strangers that look like identical twins.

It happens, people look alike, people misremember stuff, or people make things up. It’s still exponentially more likely Amy was gone shortly after she disappeared than all of this stuff happening PLUS her never having the chance (or desire) to contact anyone she knew at any point in nearly 30 years.

It’s very sad and my heart breaks for her family and loved ones. But not having closure can be more painful than knowing - with closure you can try and move on as best as possible, but not knowing has kept the whole family stuck in this sad 1998 limbo. My wish for everyone that knew her is that they can look back on her memory as a blessing and find peace...

AMY BRADLEY IS MISSING

Last month I watched the gripping and chilling documentary Amy Bradley Is Missing on Netflix. I was too young when the event first happened, so I learned a lot. Amy Bradley is an American woman who went missing during a Caribbean cruise on the Royal Caribbean International cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas in late March 1998 while en route to Curaçao. Her whereabouts remain unknown. She was a 23-year-old Longwood University graduate at the time of her disappearance.

On March 24, 1998, the ship's door lock system recorded Amy returning to her family cabin at 3:40am, after staying up late dancing. Her father Ron awoke around 5:30am, to see her sleeping on a deck chair, but at 6:00 a.m. she was missing. When authorities were alerted, the Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard conducted a four-day search in the surrounding waters and along the cruise lines to no avail. Authorities began to speculate that she may have fallen overboard and drowned.

There have been possible sightings of Amy in Curaçao. In August 1998, tourists saw a woman resembling Amy on a beach and in 1999 a member of the U.S. Navy claimed a woman in a brothel said she was Amy and asked him for help. In the years following her disappearance, some new evidence would arise leading to theories including Amy being sold into a human trafficking industry or potential remains. The case has been presented on Dr. Phil and America's Most Wanted. In July 2025, the three-part documentary series Amy Bradley Is Missing was released on Netflix.

There is a fascinating website dedicated to info on Amy Bradley. You can find the site HERE

Please contact the FBI with any tips or leads...

VIDEO BREAK: THE HOLLOW EARTH THEORY

DOES THE HOLLOW EARTH ACTUALLY EXIST?

Is there any chance both hypothetically and theoretically that hollow earth can exist? Maybe not as fantastical as movies portray them with a jungle landscape where prehistoric animals live, but something like the deep ocean where large marine animals live there, but much much deeper than the Mariane Trench?

When I think of "hollow earth" I think of vast networks of deep, expansive underground cave systems. But the "popular" conception we see in movies and conspiracy theories I often feel has been intentionally exaggerated as the Earth being *literally* entirely hollow, which makes the idea - and even nuanced discussion - seem ridiculous.

Just the top-most layer of the planet (the crust) by itself extends 20 miles down (18 miles deeper than the ocean), yet that layer of rock makes up less than 1% of the planet's internal volume. We learn all the time that life finds a way to grow in even the most extreme environments. Anything could have adapted to live down there closer to the core where heat is easy to come by and space for cavities and caverns to form is functionally endless.

There have been massive caves and tunnels discovered in the Earth's crust over the years, and I imagine there's plenty yet to be found. Modern science and academia, at least how it manifests to the general public, usually seems to always think that whatever their current understanding is of reality is the absolute state of things. We didn't believe life was possible in the deepest depths of the ocean until hydrothermal vents and chemosynthesis based food chains were discovered.

Our technology is pretty good these days so I don't doubt that the planet's core is at least close to what is generally accepted, but I wouldn't be surprised if we found way more and more extensive cave systems within the crust than previously estimated. Underground rivers and springs can carve out insane spaces and life finds a way. It may be filled with water, toxic gases, strange and small flora and fauna, or maybe the Ant people and Hyperborians are chilling in underground crystal cities with antigravity tech. I doubt it but who knows...

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE LOCH NESS MONSTER IS FOUND?

People have been looking for Nessie for almost 100 years.

Humps have been seen moving across Loch Ness, and strange sounds heard from beneath the surface - but no actual monster. A four-day "quest" - the latest in a long series of efforts to unravel the mystery - has been held this week.

But what would happen if the Loch Ness Monster was found - besides, of course, creating a global sensation?

A spokesperson told us: "The Nessie Contingency Plan was produced back in 2001, at a time when there was a lot of Nessie-hunting activity on the loch.

"We were regularly being asked by the media and others what we would do if or when she, or he, was found.

"The code of practice, which was partly serious and partly for a bit of fun, was drawn up to offer protection not just to the elusive monster, but to any new species found in the loch."

The plan stipulates that a DNA sample should be taken from any new creature, and then it should be released back into the loch. The animal would also be afforded the same legal protection as Scotland's other native wildlife, such as wildcats and golden eagles.

It means it would be illegal to kill, injure or capture the monster.

The authorities have raised concerns for Nessie in the past.

In 1938 a senior police officer warned the Scottish Office of a planned hunting expedition "determined to catch the monster dead or alive".

The party claimed they were having a special harpoon gun made and were headed for the loch with 20 "experienced men".

The legend of a monster dates back to the Middle Ages when Irish monk St Columba is said to have encountered a creature in the Ness, a river that flows from Loch Ness. The modern myth of Nessie began centuries later. In April 1933, hotel manageress Aldie Mackay told of seeing a whale-like creature and the loch's water "cascading and churning".

The Inverness Courier newspaper reported the sighting and the editor at the time, Evan Barron, suggested the beast be described as a "monster".

Sightings continue to be made in recent times, with the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register having received 1,161 reports since its launch in 1996. There were three last year and one report for 2025 so far, according to the register.

This year's sighting described two humps moving across the loch. Over the years, the reports have included objects moving fast across the loch, and a creature with crocodile-like skin.

For those contingency planners at NatureScot the worry is something unpleasant might be uncovered in Loch Ness.

The spokesperson added: "While the evidence for the existence of the Loch Ness Monster is questionable, the threat posed by climate change and biodiversity loss to all the plants and animals that live in our lochs is all too real."

THE VICTIMS OF CHARLES MANSON

The Tate-LaBianca murders, committed by members of the Charles Manson cult, resulted in the deaths of seven individuals in two separate locations in Los Angeles during August 1969...

Tate Murders (August 9, 1969 at 10050 Cielo Drive): 

Sharon Tate: 26, actress and wife of Roman Polanski, eight and a half months pregnant.
Jay Sebring: 35, celebrity hairstylist.
Abigail Folger: 25, heiress to the Folgers coffee fortune.
Wojciech Frykowski: 32, aspiring screenwriter and friend of Roman Polanski.
Steven Parent: 18, visiting the property's caretaker.

 
LaBianca Murders (August 10, 1969 at 3301 Waverly Drive): 

Leno LaBianca: 44, grocery store executive.
Rosemary LaBianca: 38, wife of Leno LaBianca.

 
It is important to note that the Manson family were also convicted of two additional murders, those of Gary Hinman and Donald "Shorty" Shea, which occurred in July and August 1969 respectively.

CHARLES MANSON: MYSTERIES AND THEORIES

The exact reasons behind the Tate-LaBianca murders of August 9 and 10, 1969 remain debated. The prosecution, led by Vincent Bugliosi, argued the killings were instigated by Manson's delusional interpretation of the Beatles' song "Helter Skelter" to ignite a race war. This is still a widely accepted theory, but other possibilities have been suggested, such as:

Attempt to frighten music executive Terry Melcher: Some theorize Manson directed his followers to target the Cielo Drive home to send a message to Melcher, who previously lived there and had refused to offer Manson a recording contract.

Retaliation for a botched drug deal: A business partner of victim Jay Sebring suggested the murders might have been connected to a failed drug deal.

Manson's paranoia: A former associate suggested Manson used the killings to maintain control over his followers.

A central aspect of the mystery is how Manson, a charismatic yet dangerous individual with a troubled past, managed to convince his followers to commit heinous crimes in his name. This raises questions about his manipulative skills and the vulnerabilities of the young people he targeted.

Some theories, explored in documentaries like "Chaos: The Manson Murders," suggest Manson may have had connections to government programs related to mind control or brainwashing, such as the CIA's MKUltra project. However, these theories are disputed and lack definitive proof.

While Manson and several followers were convicted for the murders of seven people, including Sharon Tate and the LaBiancas, Manson is believed to be responsible for as many as 35 murders, with many cases remaining untried due to insufficient evidence. Ultimately, the "Manson mystery" stems from the shocking nature of the crimes, the ambiguity surrounding Manson's true motives, and the unsettling questions about how one person could lead others to commit such horrific acts...

BERMUDA TRIANGLE SOLVED?

A scientist thinks he has cracked the code of one of the most enduring mysteries of the modern world – the Bermuda Triangle.

The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, is an area of the Atlantic Ocean between Florida, Puerto Rico and Bermuda that is best known for its stories of ships and airplanes that seemed to have disappeared without a trace.

Conspiracy theories on their disappearance include everything from magnetic forces to aliens to methane bubbles to even the Lost City of Atlantis.

Australian scientist and author Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki explained this week that perhaps the legends aren’t as mysterious as they seem.

"Well, if you go to the facts, they come from both the United States Coast Guard and the massive insurance company, Lloyd’s of London," he told FOX Weather meteorologist Amy Freeze. "Both of them reckon that there’s no extra losses of ships or airplanes in that area."

Kruszelnicki added that, as a percentage, the disappearances are comparable to losses of ships and airplanes in other parts of the world.

"Some years a bit more, some years a bit less," he said. "But it averages out the same."
The mystery of Flight 19 in the Bermuda Triangle.

No one knows the exact number of disappearances that have occurred in the Bermuda Triangle, but common estimates include about 50 ships and 20 airplanes. Among those include the doomed Flight 19, a group of five torpedo bombers that disappeared over the Bermuda Triangle. Kruszelnicki explained that Flight 19 took off in early December 1945 on a training mission because World War II had just ended, and the U.S. Navy was teaching their aviators a new trade.

"In charge of them was Lt. Charles Taylor, who, on two occasions, was such a bad navigator that he got lost at sea," Kruszelnicki said.

Kruszelnicki said that Taylor tried to get someone to cover his shift but was unsuccessful. He was also seen traveling without a watch which "was very unprofessional."

"Once out at sea, he then did not follow the standard lost at sea procedure with regard to the training mission," Kruszelnicki added. "And instead of heading back to the west, he kept on going east, further out into the Atlantic Ocean, ran out of fuel and vanished."

Kruszelnicki said the original story of the Bermuda Triangle was written by Vincent Gaddis and appeared in the science fiction magazine Argosy.

Author Charles Berlitz followed up with a book called The Bermuda Triangle, and then author Larry Kusche debunked all the stories in 1980, referencing both the Coast Guard and Lloyd’s of London, according to Kruszelnicki.

The size and depth of the ocean may have been fueling the flames of the Bermuda Triangle, according to Kruszelnicki.

"Another fact to be felt, beside the massive number of storms, is the fact that the ocean goes down to, not 5,000 feet – 30,000," he said. "When it’s going down, it’s staying down."

There’s also a slight chance that something beneath the ocean waters could be responsible for the loss of some ships.

"There is a microscopic chance of something called methane clathrate," Kruszelnicki said. "Which are methane gas bound in ice could bubble loose from the ocean floor, come up to the surface and then have a shower of bubbles appearing at the surface."

Kruszelnicki said that experiments conducted by Australia’s CSIRO (the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) showed that with model ships if enough bubbles are coming to the surface, the density of water is reduced.

So, Kruszelnicki said there’s a slight possibility that a situation like that is instrumental in some of the disappearances "but very remote."

CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT WERE ACTUALLY TRUE

There are so many conspiracy theories out there. You have to read each out to see if they could actual happen or not. For example, regarding the Hollow Earth theory I am not too sure about that one. However, I believe that the Kennedy assassination had more than one gunman. Here are a few conspiracy theories that were proven true...

1. Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment

In 1932, the U.S. Public Health Service conspired with the Tuskegee Institute to create a phony syphilis treatment program. The experiment, which involved lying to almost 400 African-American men who had been diagnosed with syphilis, was initially only supposed to last six months. It took until 1972 before the public became aware of the research and the government was forced to investigate and shut the program down.

For 40 years these 400 men were often given dangerous chemicals and offered painful and unnecessary medical procedures under the guise of actual treatment. The fact that penicillin had become a known cure for syphilis was hidden from the patients so that the researchers could learn more about the disease. A government panel eventually deemed the study “ethically irresponsible” and in 1974, a class action suit was settled out of court for $10 million with lifetime health benefits for the surviving participants.

2. Operation Snow White: The Church of Scientology Versus The U.S. Government

During the 1970s, 5,000 covert agents from L. Ron Hubbard’s Church of Scientology conspired to perform the largest infiltration of the U.S. government in American history. The church infiltrated 136 organizations including the IRS, the DEA, foreign embassies and other government agencies. They installed wiretaps and stole hundreds of documents with the hopes of protecting their church and from paying millions of dollars in taxes.

The U.S. government fought back. In July of 1977, the FBI organized a raid of various Scientology locations involving 156 agents. The raid uncovered the group’s illegal actions against the government as well as additional conspiracies against other perceived enemies of the church. On December 6, 1979, Operation Snow White ended when Mary Sue Hubbard, wife of L. Ron Hubbard, and 10 other high-ranking Scientologists received five-year prison sentences. L. Ron Hubbard remained an “unindicted co-conspirator” and spent the rest of his life in hiding.

3. CIA Assassinations

In 1975, after the Watergate scandal, Senator Frank Church helped form the precursor to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Commonly referred to as the Church Committee, their purpose was to investigate the CIA and FBI to ensure that they were operating within the law. The Committee quickly discovered that the CIA had started a hit man business.

The CIA were responsible for the assassinations of Mossadegh in Iran, Allende (below) in Chile, as well as other leaders and revolutionaries in Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Asia. They made their assassinations appear like car accidents, suicides, cancers, and heart attacks. When their declassified “Heart Attack Gun” wasn’t necessary, they would just shoot their targets with actual bullets. While all of this is part of the congressional record, it’s still common for people to laugh this one off as a nutty conspiracy theory.

VIDEO BREAK: SON BEHEADS FATHER

THE BEHEADING OF MICHAEL MOHN

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania man charged with fatally shooting then beheading his father and posting it on YouTube said on the stand recently that the killing was “Plan B” after trying to arrest his father for what he called false statements and treason.

Justin D. Mohn, 33, took the stand in a suburban Philadelphia courtroom on the third day of his trial on murder and other charges stemming from the Jan. 30, 2024, homicide of his father, Michael F. Mohn.

Mohn, dressed in a blue sport coat, shirt and tie, with his arms shackled to his waist, spoke clearly without any apparent emotion for more than two hours of direct testimony and cross examination.

Responding to questions from his attorney, Steven Jones, Mohn said he shot his father in the bathroom of the family's Levittown home after telling him he was going to arrest him. Mohn said his father, who he said was an experienced martial artist, told him he would kill him before he let that happen and reached for the gun.

“Unfortunately, he resisted,” Justin Mohn said, adding: “I was hoping to perform a citizen’s arrest on my father for, ultimately, treason."

He described a list from his notebook, shown during the trial, that had the lines “Boom” and “Slice” as his “Plan B,” and said he expected his father to go along with the citizen's arrest.

He said he differed politically from his parents, describing them as on the left. He told the court he believed his father wanted to stop him from becoming a politician similar to President Donald Trump and that his father gave false statements in an unrelated civil case Justin Mohn brought in federal court.

Asked why he beheaded his father, he said he wanted to send a message to federal government workers to meet his demands, which included their resignation as well as the cancellation of public debt, among other things. He said he didn't do it out of hatred for his father or to cause trauma to his family. His mother, Denice Mohn, cried in court at the end of the direct questioning from his attorney.

“I knew something such as a severed head would not only go viral but could lessen the violence,” Justin Mohn said.

Prosecutors said Mohn shot his father with a newly purchased pistol, then decapitated him with a kitchen knife and machete. The 14-minute YouTube video he posted was live for several hours before it was removed.

Mohn was arrested later that day after scaling a fence at Fort Indiantown Gap, the state’s National Guard headquarters. He said in court he knew it was wrong to jump the fence at the site. Prosecutors said he called for others to join him in attempting to overthrow the U.S. government.

Mohn had a USB device containing photos of federal buildings and apparent instructions for making explosives when he was arrested, authorities said.

He also expressed violent anti-government rhetoric in writings he published online, going back several years. Earlier in the trial, the judge heard from Justin Mohn’s mother, who said police came to the house he shared with his parents and warned him about his online postings before the killing.

Denice Mohn testified that she and her husband had been offering financial support and guidance as Justin Mohn looked for a job.

Prosecutors described the homicide as “something straight out of a horror film.” They said Justin Mohn killed his father — who had been an engineer with the geoenvironmental section of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District — to intimidate federal workers, calling it a “cold, calculated, organized plan.”

The YouTube video included rants about the government, immigration and the border, fiscal policy, urban crime and the war in Ukraine.

In court, Michael Mohn was remembered as a good neighbor and supportive father. In the video posted on YouTube, Justin Mohn described his father as a 20-year federal employee and called him a traitor.

During a competency hearing last year, a defense expert said Mohn wrote a letter to Russia’s ambassador to the United States seeking to strike a deal to give Mohn refuge and apologizing to President Vladimir Putin for claiming to be the czar of Russia. The judge ruled Mohn was competent to stand trial.

Evidence presented at the trial included graphic photos and the video posted to YouTube. The judge warned members of the public at the trial about the images and said they could leave before the photos were shown. The proceedings are known as a bench trial, with only a judge, not a jury.

While awaiting trial on murder and terrorism-related charges, Justin Mohn admitted in writing more than 11 times that he killed and decapitated his father in an attempt to incite a violent overthrowing of the U.S. government.

In letters to, among others, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and conservative political pundits Sean Hannity, Joe Rogan, Alex Jones and Tucker Carlson, Mohn shared that he killed his father, a semi-retired federal employee, while attempting a citizens arrest for treason.

"The federal government destroyed my life and they are destroying America," Mohn wrote in a July 2024 letter to then GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump...

THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF THELMA TODD

There are a million unsolved mysteries of classic Hollywood. One such mystery involving one of the most beautiful starlets was of the 1930s was the mystery of Thelma Todd. Throughout the late '20s and early '30s, Thelma Todd was one of the most prominent comedic actresses in film. She is perhaps best remembered for her roles in the Marx Brothers' Monkey Business and Horse Feathers, as well as a slew of Charley Chase's short comedies and Laurel & Hardy films.

On the morning of Monday, December 16, 1935, Todd was found dead, wearing a mauve and silver gown, mink wrap and expensive jewelry in her chocolate-colored 1934 Lincoln Phaeton convertible inside the garage of Jewel Carmen, a former actress and former wife of Todd's lover and business partner Roland West. Carmen's house was approximately a block from the topmost side of Todd's restaurant. Her death was determined to have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. West is quoted in a contemporaneous newspaper account as having locked her out, which may have caused her to seek refuge and warmth in the car. Todd had a wide circle of friends and associates and a busy social life.

Police investigations revealed that she had spent the previous Saturday night (December 14) at the Trocadero, a popular Hollywood restaurant, at a party hosted by entertainer Stanley Lupino and his actress daughter Ida. She had a brief but unpleasant exchange there with her ex-husband, Pat DiCicco. However, her friends stated that she was in good spirits and were aware of nothing in her life that suggested a reason for her to commit suicide. She was driven home from the party in the early hours of December 15 by her chauffeur, Ernest O. Peters.

LAPD detectives concluded that Todd's death was accidental, the result of her either warming up the car to drive it or using the heater to keep herself warm. A coroner's inquest into the death was held on December 18, 1935. Autopsy surgeon A. P. Wagner testified that there were "no marks of violence anywhere upon or within the body" with only a "superficial contusion on the lower lip." There are informal accounts of greater signs of injury. The jury ruled that the death appeared accidental, but recommended "further investigation to be made into the case, by proper authorities."

A grand jury probe was subsequently held to determine whether Todd was murdered. After four weeks of testimony, the inquiry concluded with no evidence of foul play. The case was closed by the Homicide Bureau, which declared the death "accidental with possible suicide tendencies." However, investigators found no motive for suicide, and Todd left no suicide note.

Todd's memorial service was held at Pierce Brothers Mortuary at 720 West Washington Blvd in Los Angeles. The body was cremated. After her mother's death in 1969, Todd's remains were placed in her mother's casket and buried in Bellevue Cemetery in her hometown of Lawrence, Massachusetts...

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF JIMMY HOFFA: 50 YEARS LATER

Former Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa disappeared on July 30, 1975, but while he is presumed dead, in the nearly 50 years since his disappearance, no one has successfully found his body. Maybe he was buried in the foundation of Detroit's Renaissance Center. Maybe he wasn't. Still, it's a question that's occupied people's minds for decades — Where is Jimmy Hoffa buried? Later this month, we may find out, because a three-person team of independent investigators claims they now have the answer, WLNS reports.

Investigative reporter Scott Burnstein has been working with Richard Convertino, a retired federal prosecutor and Nove Tocco, a former mobster who later became an informant, and they recently announced an event on July 23 at Macomb Community College, where they plan to reveal what they've found. According to the event's website, tickets are $30 each, and attendees will get an "80-minute multimedia presentation concluding with providing attendees the actual name of the person who killed Jimmy Hoffa." The site also promises "[n]ever-before-seen photos from FBI investigative files, video reels, and news reports from the national-television archives in New York City" and will conclude with a Q&A session.

You'd think any information they uncovered would probably be something you'd want to bring to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, not reveal in a presentation at a community college that costs $30 to get into, but when the Detroit News asked Burnstein that exact question, he claimed the FBI "already knows," adding, "They might not come out and say it, but the FBI has come to the same conclusion we have."

If this event were announced by three random people, it would be easy to brush it off as a handful of true crime enthusiasts looking to make a quick buck, but there's actually reason to believe the three guys in question might have actually figured it out. Burnstein is a journalist and organized crime historian, while Convertino has a history of going after the mob and prosecuted at least one case involving Detroit-area mobsters who were accused of being involved in Hoffa's disappearance. Meanwhile, Tocco may be a snitch who allegedly retired from the mob, but it's still reasonable to assume he knows people who know people.

So maybe they really do have it all figured out. That would be pretty neat. I mean, wouldn't it be cool to finally get the answer to a 50-year-old mystery? On the other hand, for decades, people have claimed they know who killed Hoffa and where he was buried, and nothing has come of it. So it's probably best not to get too excited just yet. Instead, let's just wait and see what they have to say later this month.

It's also entirely possible they figured it out, and the truth just isn't that interesting. I mean, would it really be that shocking to learn Hoffa was killed by someone working for the Provenzanos, and they let some hogs get rid of his body for them? Mystery solved, sure, but that isn't nearly as cool as burying the body in the foundation of the Ren Cen. Regardless, we'll all have to wait until July 23 to see what these guys actually have...

THE CONFESSION OF THE IDAHO COLLEGE MURDERER

Bryan Kohberger's full one-page murder confession has been released by county officials, but it didn't provide an explanation or motivation behind his crimes. Kohberger admitted to breaking into an off-campus house near Idaho State University, stabbing and murdering four college students in November of 2022.

Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, suffered stab wounds from a knife not yet recovered. Kohberger's DNA was found on the knife sheath lying next to Mogen's body.

In the document published by the Fourth Judicial District Court, Kohberger admits to four counts of premeditated first-degree murder, as well as one count of burglary...

BIGFOOT: KNOWING FACT FROM FICTION

Of course with real genuine Bigfoot stories, there's bound to be people attempting to make up fake ones to stir up buzz. What are some things in sightings/encounter stories that make you think their fake? Here are some of the items I have run across with studying and researching the Bigfoot mystery through the years.

I won’t discount people’s experiences, but I immediately tune out when people start talking about telepathy or them walking in and out of this dimension.

I’m personally of the mind that they’re flesh and blood creatures if they are real or have existed in the past. I heard Les Stroud once, I think on Sasquatch Chronicles, talk about how one was telepathically communicating with him that it was sleeping. I’m not saying that wasn’t his experience, but it honestly made him sound a little insane versus the times I’ve heard him tell stories about hearing hoots and howls in remote places.

People sometimes report orbs and lights…those don’t turn me off as much but I’m not sure they’re Sasquatch related. There are definitely some strange things out in the deep forests. I’m not sure we understand it all, but I don’t think it necessarily means it’s all connected.

I usually get very sus when there is a video that begins and ends for no reason. So you're filming a legendary creature for several seconds and you just hit 'stop' for no reason whatsoever? It's literally right there, non-threatening, and 50+ yards away walking away from you in open terrain....and you stop recording for no reason? You might have something to rival the Patterson-Gimlin film... and you decide to just magically stop recording for no reason 

Another thing that's always suspect are random solitary pictures of an alledged Bigfoot, but there is no lead up to the picture, what you were doing or the Bigfoot doing that led up to the snap shot. Yes you may have a legit pic, but no lead up info to your picture is bad faith 99.9% of the time.

For me, it's usually when the story seemingly gets more elaborate and outrageous the longer the storyteller talks. Like in a podcast episode I listened to recently, a man claimed he saw a female and a young one from 100-150 yards away while sitting with his back to a boulder (in Idaho?). Then the male appeared out of the trees, saw the "witness", crossed the 150 yards in a few seconds, and cornered him against the boulder, where they had a face to face staring contest. During the staring contest it blinked in code at him so he blinked back in that same code and they kept staring and it kept turning its head side to side... and I turned the podcast off. I can only appreciate a creative writing project in the correct context.

Is Bigfoot real or fake and will we ever know the truth...

MYTHS AND MYSTERIES OF INDEPENDENCE DAY

The Fourth of July is upon us, and whether you’re gathering with friends for a barbecue, enjoying local festivities, or simply taking a moment to reflect at home, it’s an ideal time to reconsider some of the traditions and assumptions surrounding America’s most patriotic holiday.

Like almost all holidays, Independence Day has many myths. Here are six, along with the facts behind them:

Myth No. 1 – On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain and announced the formation of the United States of America.
False. The formal vote to declare independence was taken two days earlier. It was not until early August that enough delegates signed the document to make it official. On July 4, the document was merely read aloud to a crowd outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The last delegate, Thomas McKean of Delaware, didn’t sign until January 1777.

Myth No. 2 – Thomas Jefferson was the sole author of the document.
False. Jefferson was one of five contributors to the language. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman were the other delegates who made equal contributions to the wording. Jefferson put pen to paper (in this case, parchment) and has mistakenly been credited with being the sole author for all these years.

Myth No. 3 – There were fireworks on July 4, 1776, to celebrate the document and the newly formed nation.
False. Fireworks weren’t used in an official celebration until July 4, 1777, one year later.

Myth No. 4 – Betsy Ross designed and made the first American flag.
False, in part. The Philadelphia seamstress made one of the first flags, but the design was created by George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross (her late husband’s uncle) and presented to her around the time of the Declaration.

Myth No. 5 – The Declaration of Independence galvanized the colonists to rally for the idea of a revolution against the British and the creation of a new nation.
False. Not all colonists supported severing ties with the crown. Four delegates from New York refused to vote on July 2, 1776, when the body decided to create the document. In North Carolina, several Loyalists were imprisoned and exiled to prevent them from undermining the patriotic cause. An estimated 60,000 to 80,000 Loyalists left the colonies during the American Revolution, either returning to the UK or fleeing to places like Canada.

Myth No. 6 – The Liberty Bell cracked during the celebration on July 4, 1776.
False. The Liberty Bell is connected to the Declaration of Independence and Fourth of July celebrations, but not because of its famous fracture. It was just one of the bells that rang out on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia.

The Liberty Bell continued to chime during events celebrating the document for years. It also tolled to mark the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781, the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, and the gathering of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. During the early 1800s, the Liberty Bell became a symbol among abolitionists, earning its moniker. In 1846, a small crack was repaired so the bell could be rung to commemorate George Washington’s birthday. Soon after chiming on Feb. 22, 1846, the crack widened, silencing the bell forever...

THE SMILING MAN IS REAL

 This story is from a writer on Reddit. I am not sure if this is true or not but it gave me chills...

The Smiling Man is real. I’m not saying this as some twisted way to gain attention. This isn’t clickbait or some cruel joke either. This is a warning for anyone who finds themselves walking alone in the darkness of the night. He is still out there, prowling whatever street or alleyway for his next victim. Before I tell you about the night that left me scarred for life and subjected me to an existence of constantly looking over my shoulder, I will need to provide a little backstory.

I’m twenty-six years old and live in a major city. I won’t reveal the name of it in case any thrill seekers get any dumb ideas. I work long hours in an office in the middle of the city. The parameters of my job are not important. I spent four years performing the same routine. Get up, take the bus, work, take the bus, come home, repeat.

The day that it happened was like any other day. I took the bus to work, listening to the Archive 81 story for the umpteenth time. I was particularly tired that day due to my upstairs neighbor hosting a get together. I had to fight the urge to drift off so I wouldn’t miss my stop. Thankfully I didn’t and I trudged my way into the office. The workday was pretty normal. I completed mind draining tasks while trying not to drift off. The first unexpected event of the day occurred when my boss asked me to work overtime on a proposal with him.

My normal route to the bus station was a ten-minute walk through a police patrolled park and a couple blocks of alleyways and side-streets. Usually, the sun hadn’t completely set when I walked this path. Since this wasn’t a normal night, the sky was pitch black. The traffic lights were still on, but there was virtually no traffic. I brushed this off to it being late and everyone was already cozy in their homes.

When I entered the park, the silence was deafening. I couldn’t even hear any sounds of nature. No crickets, no birds. Just the sounds of my feet hitting the pavement. I felt slightly anxious by this but wasn’t all that concerned. Every time I look back on my stroll through the park, I cringe at my lack of concern. Even in the dead of night, I would’ve at least heard crickets. But there was nothing.

By the time I exited the park, I was approaching the structures that signaled my entrance back into the city. I wanted to take a shortcut to the bus stop as I didn’t want to spend any more time in the dark. So, I turned down a short side-street as a way to cut my journey in half. The second I turned onto that road; I saw him.

My blood ran cold. At the far end of the street, on my side, was the silhouette of a man dancing.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was the smiling man from the story.

The rational side of my mind tried to reason that it was some drunk guy, but I knew what I was seeing. I mean, the story was about an insane person stalking an unsuspecting man on a nightly stroll. That could actually happen in real life. It was happening right in front of me.

Speaking of the story, he was exactly the way the original author described. His dance was similar to a waltz, in which he indeed finished each box with an odd forward stride. As he danced closer, he passed under a lit lamp and my fears were confirmed.

Although I saw his features for only a split second, I knew he fit the author’s description to a tee. He was tall and lanky, about six eight. The old suit he was wearing was similar to the one I was wearing, except slightly looser and lacking a tie. He had thin shoulder length black hair that swayed in the midnight air as he waltzed closer.

It was his face that scared me the most and I will be forever haunted by it. His eyes were wider than humanly possible, head tilted back slightly, staring off at the night sky. The “painfully wide cartoon of a smile” was stretched across his lips, his teeth as white as the moon. I stood there for what felt like hours, paralyzed and staring in disbelief. I spent my whole life consuming horror stories like it was candy, but never once had a reason to believe any of it was real. Yet here it was. Dance walking towards me.

The realization that he was still coming closer snapped my body out of its trance. I remembered the author’s mistake of attempting to pass him, so I turned back the way I came and went down another side-street. I tried walking as swiftly yet quietly as possible. I feared that provoking him in any way could instigate a chase and I wasn’t ready for that.

When I entered the other side-street, I increased my pace to that of a power walk. I repeatedly glanced over my shoulder, fearing I would see his head poke out. But he was nowhere to be found. I decided to briefly watch the sidewalk in front of me. The idea of him jumping out in front of me covered me with goosebumps. The street and sidewalk in front of me were completely empty. I crossed the street of a small four-way intersection while looking both ways. I realize now my mistake of not looking behind me while doing so.

The second I made it across, I glanced behind me and stopped dead in my tracks. On the opposite corner of the four way stop from me was the same smiling man. He had one arm wrapped around a light pole while the other hung loosely at his side. He was leaning forward, his arm barely keeping him from toppling over. He was facing me but still looking skyward, his devilish smile still wide on his lips. How did he get there so quickly? How did I not hear him? I knew that he moved fast in the story, but this was ridiculous. I was utterly petrified and stood there for some time, watching him as he stared off at the sky.

My mind wandered a bit while I stared him down. I recalled how in the story, he cartoonishly tiptoed towards the protagonist until stopping a car length away. I quivered over the thought of what happened after that scene. But you probably predicted that my experience didn’t match his. It was much worse.

I watched in a mix of utter disbelief and pure terror as he let go of the lamppost. And then he started moving toward me again. He took slow, graceful steps, dragging his feet across the ground with the backfoot shooting into the air, as if he was skating across the concrete. His arms swayed side to side as he did so. And then he stopped again, in the middle of the intersection. Still looking at the sky, still smiling.

At this point, some of you reading are yelling at me to simply make a break for it. But I couldn’t. I just stood there completely frozen. I once read that severe anxiety and fear could cause someone to literally freeze, unable to move even if they wanted to. That was what happened to me. I desperately wanted to flee and not stick around, but my body wouldn’t listen.

Similar to the protagonist, I found my voice. I decided to choose my words carefully to avoid an incoherent whimper escaping my mouth. I took a deep breath and asked him, “Who are you?” I stuttered as I said this. The fear in my own voice made me feel much more afraid. But the man didn’t respond nor move.

After about a minute of dead silence, I asked another question, “What the hell do you want?” My fear increased some more as I sounded like I was on the verge of tears. But he still didn’t react at all. He just stood there in the middle of the road, still smiling.

After what felt like forever, I had the urge to say something else. I will forever regret saying what I said at that moment. I told the man, “I’m not afraid of you.” The shaky tone in my voice didn’t sound convincing. I almost didn’t believe myself.

What happened next is what utterly destroyed me. It still haunts my dreams to this day, and I hope no one ever has to experience this kind of fear.

Almost a minute after speaking, the man’s head slowly tilted down. His head stopped and was perfectly upright, eyes staring directly at me. I watched in horror as his smiling face slowly morphed into one of absolute rage. His smile turned upside down, his teeth still visibly glowing in the moonlight. His eyes were still as wide as before, his eyebrows furrowing into a big frown.

This was enough to break my paralysis. He must have known I could move again as he lunged towards me. I ran as fast as I could down the street, tears streaming down my face. While running, I looked behind me and was horrified that the man was giving chase, anger still cemented on his face. I ducked into an alleyway and continued running. I ran out of that alleyway, on another side-street, and down another alley. I was hoping to lose him in the twists and turns, but I didn’t. He was too fast. And he was gaining on me.

I turned down one more alley and saw I was fast approaching a chain link fence. It was too late for me to slow down or turn back, so I leapt off the ground and latched onto the fence. The fence shook as I scrambled up it as fast as I could. I pulled myself up onto the top, not looking back. I managed to throw my right leg over when suddenly, a hand grabbed my left leg.

I was too scared to turn and face him as he tried pulling me down. I resisted his efforts, but he was proving to be very strong. During the tug of war, I felt an incredible sensation of agonizing pain erupt from my leg. The sudden pain gave the pump of adrenaline I needed to tug with all the strength I could muster. The man’s grip on my leg released and I let myself fall to the ground on the other side of the fence. My right ankle exploded in a fiery pain.

I pulled myself up to my feet, struggling to keep balance due to my injuries. I turned towards the fence and saw him. He was standing there; his face having returned to the initial smile. His head was still upright, staring me down through the holes of the fence. After what felt like forever, he tilted his head up to the sky again. He turned around, very slowly, and began dance-walking away. Just like that.

I bought a gun and signed up for firearm training. I fear the smiling man will come back for me. If it is switching cities, looking for victims, I want to be ready if he decides to settle an old score. The author motivated me to write this story to you now. To warn you that the smiling man is still out there. Although I can barely call him a man. Monster or devil seems more fitting. I hope to God none of you stumble upon him. So, I'm begging you. Don’t go out into the city in the dead of night. You may never know what monster lurks in the darkness...

SOURCE

THE SAGA OF INDRID COLE

The Grinning Man is reported to be human-like in appearance, though he is commonly associated with UFO activity and is sometimes believed to be an alien. It is also believed to be possible that he is connected with the Men In Black. In his first sighting, he was described as being over six feet tall and wearing a reflective, green suit with a black belt. He had a dark complexion and small, beady eyes set far apart. He was described as not having any nose, ears, or hair.  In his second known encounter, his suit was said to be blue instead of green, but still retained its reflective property. Other than that he was described as looking perfectly natural with slicked back hair, a coat with the top two buttons unbuttoned, and having pants lighter than the coat but still the same material. He was also described as being quite tan, though not dark, and looking like any normal human being.

According to reports made by Woodrow Derenberger, Indrid Cold came from a planet named Lanulos in the Genemedes galaxy, and there were two other "grinning men" by the names of Demo Hassan and Karl Ardo. 

Indrid Cold was first seen on October 16, 1966, when two boys, Martin "Mouse" Munov and James "Jimmy" Yanchitis, in New Jersey were walking on Fourth Street when they saw a surreal figure standing near a fence. As they walked closer, the figure was a tall bald man wearing a metal green suit who was staring right at them with a huge grin. The idiosyncratic man chased them until they got away from him. UFO sightings were also reported around the area. 

"Jimmy nudged me...and said "Who's that guy standing behind you?" I looked around and there he was...behind that fence. Just standing there. He pivoted around and looked right at us. Then he grinned a big old grin." 

According to Night Mind, the boys only recalled the more frightening details of their encounter later on. They would recall that the man in the green suit was unusually tall and had unnatural facial features, such as the lack of ears and a nose. Even though most sources mention the New Jersey sighting, Indrid Cold and the grinning man could be completely different entities.

On November 2, 1966, in Parkersburg, West Virginia (around the same area and time as the Mothman came about), Woodrow Derenberger was driving his way home on Interstate 77 until he heard a crash. Then, an unidentifiable vehicle appeared to land in front of his truck. He described it as "an old-fashioned kerosene lamp chimney, flaring at both ends, narrowing down to a small neck and then enlarging in a great bulge in the center." The Grinning Man came out of the vehicle with a dark tan, and walked up to Derenberger and telepathically said his name was "Indrid Cold" and he meant no harm. Cold said he just wanted to know more about the human race and he would visit Derenberger again. After the encounter, Derenberger stated that Cold revealed he was from the planet Lanulos in the galaxy of Genemedes.

During the same period in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, the Lilly family had been reporting poltergeist activity in their home, such as diamond shaped lights. The Lillys' daughter, Linda, was sleeping one night and awoke to see a man standing over her.

Valiant Thor, who may have presented himself as “Indrid Cold” to the Derenberger family, appeared at Howard Menger’s UFO convention in High Bridge, New Jersey in 1957. Publisher Gray Barker worked with Thor to convince several contactees to approach authorities and publish books, in an apparent attempt to influence public opinion on a variety of political issues.

"It was a man, a big man. Very broad. I couldn't see his face very well, but I could see that he was grinning at me. He walked around the bed and stood right over me. I screamed again and hid under the covers, when I looked again he was gone."

NEWS BREAK: THE CASE OF SUZANNE MORPHEW

A Colorado man indicted again in connection with the murder of his wife in a homicide case that drew national headlines has been living in Arizona and was arrested in Gilbert by Arizona Department of Public Safety detectives.

It is unclear why Barry Morphew, 57, was living in the Phoenix area. He had an address at the Stardust Trailer Park in Cave Creek, tax records showed. Morphew was being held in Arizona while authorities sought to extradite him to Colorado to face first-degree murder charges in the death of Suzanne Morphew. She was reported missing on Mother's Day 2020 and later found dead.

Barry was indicted the first time in 2021 on charges of first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence after Suzanne, 49, was reported missing on May 10, 2020. Those charges were later dropped in April 2022 before Barry's trial date and before Suzanne's remains were discovered. The charges were dropped without prejudice, leaving the opportunity for prosecutors to charge him in the future with new evidence.

A district attorney for the San Luis Valley in rural south-central Colorado announced June 20 that on June 18, a grand jury had indicted Barry on a first-degree murder charge in Suzanne's death and that Barry had been arrested in Gilbert. Law enforcement in Colorado "has never stopped working to obtain justice" for Suzanne, the mother of two, and her family, Colorado 12th Judicial District Attorney Anne E. Kelly said at a June 20 news conference announcing the new indictment and arrest.

An Arizona DPS detective saw Morphew driving a black Ford pickup about 11 a.m. June 20 and conducted a traffic top near Civic Center Drive and Gilbert Road, according to court records. Morphew was taken into custody without incident on a warrant issued for his arrest issued following the indictment, court records said. A $3 million bond has been set, according to the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office in Colorado.

The indictment came 21 months after Suzanne's remains were located on Sept. 22, 2023, in a shallow clandestine grave near Highway 17 in Saguache County, Colorado. The location where the remains were found is about one hour south of the Morphews' residence near Salida, Colorado, the indictment said.

There were no visible signs of trauma to the remains, the indictment said. Toxicology testing, however, found traces of a chemical mixture used to tranquilize deer called BAM in the bone marrow of the remains belonging to Suzanne, the indictment said. Several people told investigators that before moving to Colorado in 2018, Barry was a deer farmer in Indiana, where he used BAM to sedate deer, the indictment said. Prescription records also showed that Barry was the only private citizen in the entire state of Colorado who had access to BAM at the time of Suzanne's death, the indictment said.

Law enforcement officers also found a dart gun, a tranquilizer gun and tranquilizer darts stored in a gun safe at the Morphews' residence, the indictment said. Law enforcement officers also found the needle cap from a dart in a dryer in the home along with a pair of men's shorts that appeared similar to the shorts Barry was seen wearing on a video on May 9, 2020, the day before Suzanne's disappearance, the indictment said.

A forensic pathologist told investigators it was unlikely Suzanne's body decomposed at the location where it was found, the indictment said. Many of the bones were significantly bleached, there was no hair mass, and there was a lack of evidence of animal and bug activity in the area, the indictment said. The bike clothing found at the site matched clothing Suzanne was known to wear. However, the clothing, unlike the remains, was not decomposed, the indictment said.

"All these features would have been expected if this had been the original gravesite where decomposition occurred," the indictment said.

In early interviews, Barry told investigators his marriage to Suzanne was "the best" and the two had had a "wonderful weekend" before she went missing, the indictment said. But investigators learned that Suzanne had confided to people in the weeks and months leading up to her disappearance that she was unhappy with the marriage, maintained notes of problems in the marriage and had discussed plans with a close friend to divorce Barry, the indictment said.

What's more, Suzanne had been having a "secret affair" with an old acquaintance who lived out of state, the indictment said. She communicated with him daily over LinkedIn and WhatsApp, the indictment said.

Suzanne communicated with this person at 2:11 p.m. on May 9, 2020, just 32 minutes before Barry returned home that day. It was her last known electronic message to anyone, the indictment said.

A forensic download of Barry's phone showed he had deleted a text chain with Suzanne, the indictment said. Investigators found a screenshot on his phone of a single text that remained from the conversation with Suzanne that said, “I’m done. I could care less what you’re up to and have been for years. We just need to figure this out civilly," according to the indictment.

Barry has heavily denied having anything to do with her disappearance. In May 2023, he filed a $15 million lawsuit against prosecutors and investigators, accusing them of violating his constitutional rights...

THE MYSTERIES OF THE DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Denver International Airport (DIA) has been the center of bizarre and mysterious rumors for decades. From secret underground bunkers to eerie artwork with hidden meanings, these theories have captured the imagination of travelers and conspiracy enthusiasts alike. With so many strange stories, it's no wonder the Denver airport conspiracy theories remain popular today. But how much of it is true, and how much is just speculation?

One of the most persistent theories about Denver International Airport (DIA) is that it houses a vast network of underground tunnels hiding something far more sinister than a train system. Conspiracy theorists believe these tunnels serve as secret bunkers for the world's elite in case of an impending apocalypse. Some even go as far as to claim that these hidden spaces are home to alien lifeforms or reptilian creatures controlling global events. While DIA does have underground tunnels for transportation and a now-defunct automated baggage system, there is no evidence that they stretch to places like NORAD, nearly 90 miles away. Constructing such a tunnel would take decades, making this theory highly unlikely. However, the rumors persist, fueled by the airport’s own playful marketing that teases its supposed connection to the underworld.

Many speculate that DIA was built as a secret headquarters for the New World Order (NWO), a shadowy organization believed to control world events. The theory gained traction due to the airport’s dedication marker, which mentions a group called the "New World Airport Commission." Strangely, no records exist of such an organization outside of its involvement in the airport's opening. Additionally, some believe the airport's runway layout resembles a swastika when viewed from above, fueling speculation about ties to Nazi symbolism. While DIA officials have dismissed these claims, conspiracy theorists argue that the massive cost overruns and construction delays indicate something hidden beneath the surface—perhaps a global control center waiting to be activated.

DIA seems to enjoy fueling its own conspiracy theories, and nothing proves this more than the talking gargoyle statues near the baggage claim area. These statues, part of an art installation called "Notre Denver," occasionally speak to passersby, sometimes jokingly referring to the Illuminati. The airport even embraces the myth, with the gargoyles saying things like, "Welcome to Illuminati Headquarters… I mean, Denver International Airport!"

Historically, gargoyles have been used in architecture to ward off evil spirits, but at DIA, they’ve become part of its mysterious reputation. The playful approach has done little to convince conspiracy theorists that the airport isn’t hiding something, but it certainly keeps the myths alive—whether as a joke or a cryptic hint at something bigger.

While the Denver airport conspiracy theories make for fascinating stories, there is little evidence to support them. Most of these myths stem from coincidences, artistic choices, and the airport’s unusual design. DIA has embraced the rumors with humor, using them as a unique marketing tool rather than trying to deny them outright. Whether you believe in secret societies or not, one thing is certain—Denver International Airport remains one of the most talked-about airports in the world...

LARRY RANDOLPH: PITTSBURGH DENTIST AND MURDERER

In the fall of 2016, Lawrence Rudolph and his wife Bianca traveled to Zambia so Bianca could kill a leopard.

Larry and Bianca Rudolph were no strangers to guns and big-game hunting. During their 34-year marriage, the couple stalked animals all over the world. But at a remote safari camp in Kafue National Park in Zambia in 2016 — where Bianca was hoping to bag a leopard — her 12-gauge shotgun went off in the early morning hours of Oct. 11. The blast hit the 56-year-old mother of two in the chest, killing her.

Larry, 67, said he was in the bathroom when the gun went off and dashed to the bedroom, where he discovered Bianca lying on the floor. Larry told authorities that Bianca accidentally discharged the weapon as she was packing it into a travel case.

Zambian authorities quickly ruled her death as accidental, but the grieving spouse soon raised the suspicions of American officials. Within days of Bianca's death, he had her body cremated — even though, as a suspicious investigator noted, Larry was a big-game trophy collector with plenty of experience transporting bodies overseas. Soon after, the F.B.I. received tips from Bianca's friend saying Larry had cheated on her and the couple had argued over money.

Authorities discovered he collected nearly $5 million in life and accidental death insurance benefits when Bianca died. At Bianca's funeral, on October 22, family and friends were surprised that there was no Catholic mass or large gathering. When Larry was asked how his wife died, prosecutors would later say that "he used the same clinical phrase that he used with the life insurers: accidental discharge of a firearm."

After a five-year investigation, Larry was arrested in late 2021. During his dramatic trial, he testified in his own defense, saying, "I did not kill my wife, I could not murder my wife, I would not murder my wife."

But on Aug. 1, he was found guilty of murder and mail fraud by a federal jury in Denver. His girlfriend, Lori Milliron, an executive administrator of his dental offices with whom he began a relationship in 2004, was convicted of being an accessory after the fact to the murder, obstruction of justice and two counts of perjury before a grand jury.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that Larry masterminded the homicide so he could collect on his wife's life and accidental death insurance benefits and be with Milliron, 64.

Larry's lawyers countered that Bianca and Larry had an open relationship and that Larry had no financial motivation to commit murder. In the end, it may have been Larry's own words that sealed his fate. At a Phoenix steakhouse where Larry and Milliron were dining in 2020, bartender Brian Lovelace overheard and later testified about an explosive argument between the pair, who were regulars.

"Larry and Lori were having a drink," federal prosecutor Bishop Grewell said during opening statements. "The music in the background made it difficult for Brian Lovelace to hear the conversation going on around him, but at some point, all of a sudden, the music stopped. And in that brief interlude, that brief silence between the songs, Larry Rudolph growled, 'I killed my f-----g wife for you!'

"He and Lori were having an argument," continued Grewell. " …And he pulled out the ace up his sleeve. The trump card that he could use to win any argument with Lori. What more did she want from him? He killed his wife for her. For her. Nobody would have heard him if the music hadn't stopped just then and there; but there it was."

Larry, who took the stand in his own defense, countered that Lovelace misheard him, arguing that what he said was, "Now they're saying I killed my f-----g wife for you."

But jurors voted to convict. The Pittsburgh dentist appealed the conviction and lost in 2023...