On Thanksgiving Day in 2009, Paul Michael Merhige opened fire on his family after their joyful Thanksgiving celebration and dinner, killing 4 people - including his pregnant sister and the six year old daughter of his cousin. What brought him to this heinous act? Let's deep dive into the horrific murders that occurred in Jupiter, Florida on November 26, 2009 - now infamously known as "The Thanksgiving Day Massacre".

Today's sources include:

An unusual suspect: Merhige was likable honors student before he did the unthinkable - Adam Playford
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/crime/2012/03/31/an-unusual-suspect-merhige-was/7757281007/

Slain Girl's Parents to Sue Thanksgiving Killer's Mom and Dad for Negligence - Janie Campbell
https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/parents-of-makayla-sitton-to-sue-thanksgiving-killer-paul-merhige-parents/2055945/?amp=1

Thanksgiving Massacre Witness: Paul Merhige Ate Dinner, Sang Songs Then Executed Family - Edecio Martinez
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thanksgiving-massacre-witness-paul-merhige-ate-dinner-sang-songs-then-executed-family/

A History of Violence: Merhige had been arrested once, in 1998 - Janie Campbell
https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/a-history-of-violence/2055615/?amp=1

Man admits murdering 4 relatives on Thanksgiving, gets life in prison - CNN Wire Staff
https://www.cnn.com/2011/10/27/justice/florida-thanksgiving-killings/index.html

Murderer Paul Michael Merhige
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/noose-was-found-in-the-room-of-paul-michael-merhige-at-the-news-photo/112849404

Court: Parents Not Negligent in Thanksgiving Massacre
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/miami/news/court-parents-not-negligent-in-thanksgiving-massacre/

Knight v. Merhige (2014)
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-district-court-of-appeal/1657743.html

Parents of Thanksgiving Massacre Victim Welcome Baby Girl
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/parents-of-thanksgiving-massacre-victim-welcome-baby-girl/

10 Years After the Jupiter Thanksgiving Murders: A Family Remembers - Kelley Dunn
https://www.wptv.com/news/region-n-palm-beach-county/jupiter/10-years-after-the-jupiter-thanksgiving-murders-a-family-remembers

Murderpedia: Paul Michael Merhige

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Love alien stories? So do we! Join The Ghosty Girls as we chat about some alien abduction stories, and share some creepy tales from our own experiences. You do NOT want to miss this fun episode, Earthlings!

Today's Sources Include:

The Manhattan Alien Abduction - Netflix

Linda Napolitano: The Alien Abduction Case of the Century - YouTube

How Betty and Barney Hill's Alien Abduction Story Defined the Genre - Linda Lacina
https://www.history.com/news/first-alien-abduction-account-barney-betty-hill

A Honeymoon Hijacked by Aliens - Alien Abduction: Betty & Barney Hill - YouTube

Close Encounter: When Betty and Barney Hill's Alien Abduction Story Shocked the World - Shannon Leigh O'Neill
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/649683/betty-and-barney-hill-alien-abduction

Remembering Zimbabwe's Great Alien Invasion - Sean Christie
https://mg.co.za/article/2014-09-04-remembering-zimbabwes-great-alien-invasion/

The Ariel School Phenomenon, When Dozens of Schoolchildren in Zimbabwe Claimed They Met Aliens - Austin Harvey
https://allthatsinteresting.com/ariel-school-phenomenon

The Ariel School Phenomenon: What Really Happened When 68 Children Witnessed a UFO?
https://www.iflscience.com/the-ariel-school-phenomenon-what-really-happened-when-68-children-witnessed-a-ufo-63873

Like our podcast? Be sure to follow us on Facebook at The Ghosty Girls Podcast!

You can also leave us some love on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheGhostyGirlsPodcast

Have feedback or an idea for a show? E-mail us at:
theghostygirlspodcast@gmail.com

On Sunday, May 1st, 2005 around 2:45 am, Aetna Hose and Ladder firefighters responded to calls reporting smoke at 81 Thorn Lane, located at The Towne Court Apartments in Newark, Delaware. There, they found the bound and strangled body of University of Delaware college student, Lindsey Bonistall in a bathtub.

Join us to discuss Lindsey's tragic and senseless murder as well as the aftermath of the monster who murdered her.

Today's sources include:

Murderpedia: James Cooke
https://murderpedia.org/male.C/c/cooke-james.htm

Ten years later, remembering Lindsey Bonistall - Jia Din and Cait Simpson
https://udreview.com/ten-years-later-remembering-lindsey-bonistall/

Bite-Sized Crime - Episode 082: Lindsey Bonistall
http://www.bitesizedcrimepod.com/episodes/episode-082-lindsey-bonistall/

PEACE OUTside Campus - The Lindsey M. Bonistall Foundation
http://www.peaceoutsidecampus.org

Defendant in 2005 rape and murder of UD student takes witness stand
https://whyy.org/articles/defendant-in-2005-rape-and-murder-of-ud-student-takes-witness-stand/

Jury Convicts James Cooke of Murder of Lindsey Bonistall
https://news.delaware.gov/2012/04/13/jury-convicts-james-cooke-of-murder-of-lindsey-bonistall-2/

Bonistall family: 'Here we are again' - Sean O'Sullivan
https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/crime/2014/05/07/bonistall-family/8821881/

Del. Supreme Court Nixes Ex-Death Row Inmate's Appeal in College Killing
https://www.wboc.com/archive/del-supreme-court-nixes-ex-death-row-inmates-appeal-in-college-killing/article_405683ca-6255-5546-ae2b-9baf996d8815.html

Twice-Sentenced-to-Death College Student Killer, Rapist Appeals Again
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/cooke-bonistall-death-row-appeal/2112263/

On the night of Sunday, August 20, 1989, Jose Menendez, a powerful music executive and his wife Kitty were found shot to death in their Beverly Hills mansion. Their two sons, Lyle and Erik, were ultimately convicted of their murders and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. But was this an act of cold blooded murder, or were the boys justified in their actions? Today we deep dive into the true story of the Menendez brothers to try to make sense of what REALLY happened and more importantly, why it happened.

Todays sources include:

Crime Scene Photos: Inside the Grisly Double Murder of Lyle and Erik Menendez’s Parents - Tod Betzold
https://radaronline.com/p/menendez-crime-scene-gallery/#

The shocking 911 call the Menendez brothers made just moments after killing their parents as new Netflix show retells the harrowing tale - Alice Wade
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13872773/menendez-brothers-audio-police-parents-dead-killed.html

Why the Menendez Brothers Killed Their Parents - Biography.com Editors and Jordan Zakarin
https://www.biography.com/crime/menendez-brothers-murder-case-facts

Lyle and Erik Menendez’s Cousin Who Testified About Their Sexual Abuse Speaks Out for First Time - ABC News
https://abcnews.go.com/US/lyle-erik-menendezs-cousin-testified-sexual-abuse-speaks/story?id=44420173

The Gruesome, Real-Life Murders Behind Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” - Emiliana Betancourt https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/monsters-lyle-and-erik-menendez-true-story-1236148334/#

Menendez Brothers’ Trials: 1993-94 & 1995-96
https://www.encyclopedia.com/law/law-magazines/menendez-brothers-trials-1993-94-1995-96

DA wants Menendez brothers resentenced, which could free them from prison for parents’ murders - Phil Hershel and Antonio Planas https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/menendez-brothers-resentence-prison-murder-da-george-gascon-rcna175627

Where are the Menendez Brothers Now? - Sara Kettler and Biography.com editors
https://www.biography.com/crime/a46572449/menendez-brothers-now

The Menendez brothers built a green space in prison. It’s modeled on this Norwegian idea - Vanessa Gera, Jan M. Olsen and Stefanie Dazio
https://www.yahoo.com/news/menendez-brothers-built-green-space-111628919.html

Dominick Dunne's Courtroom Notebook: The Menendez Murder Trial

Snapped: The Menendez Brothers

The Menendez Brothers - Netflix

Happy Halloween, ghouls! Today we wanted to bring you a special bonus episode in honor of our most favorite day of the year - HALLOWEEN! What better way to celebrate than discussing one of (if not the most) TOTALLY iconic horror movie of all time - John Carpenter's Halloween!

Today's sources include:

Rogerebert.com - Halloween

The Story Behind the Original Halloween - Jason Bailey https://www.vulture.com/2018/10/the-story-behind-the-original-halloween.html#

Making Halloween (1978): The Film That Changed Horror https://www.ciffcalgary.ca/blog/2022-10-31/making-halloween-1978-the-film-that-changed-horror

Halloween Behind the Scenes https://halloweenmovies.com/films/halloween-1978/halloween-behind-the-scenes

The Halloween Movies: 13 Behind The Scenes Facts About The Horror Movie Franchise - Jason Wiese https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/the-halloween-movies-behind-the-scenes-facts-about-the-horror-movie-franchise

17 Bizarre Stories From Behind The Scenes of The Halloween Movies - Christopher Myers https://www.ranker.com/list/behind-the-scenes-stories-from-the-halloween-movies/christopher-myers

20 Wild Details Behind The Making of The Halloween Movies - Matthew Thomas https://screenrant.com/halloween-movies-trivia-details-behind-scenes-making/

10 Interesting Behind The Scenes Facts About The Halloween Franchise - Alyssa Tyra https://www.cultureslate.com/lists/10-interesting-behind-the-scenes-facts-about-the-halloween-franchise#google_vignette

The Movies That Made Us: Halloween - Netflix

Ever wonder how Spirit Halloween came to be? Join us today in a special Halloween Week bonus episode to find out the history and cultural impact of the most popular Halloween costume store.

Today's sources include:

Spirit Halloween Wiki
https://spirit-halloween.fandom.com/wiki/Spirit_Halloween

Spooky Icon: How Spirit Halloween went from a costume store to a Halloween staple - James Powel
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/retail/2023/09/23/spirit-halloween-stores-are-everywhere/70828291007/

The Grim Reaper of Retail: Spirit Halloween - Brittany Luse, Jessica Mendoza, Jamila Huxtable, Andrea Gutierrez, Liam McBain and Jessica Placzek
https://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131120009/the-grim-reaper-of-retail-spirit-halloween

Happy Halloween week, ghouls! Today, the girls are deep diving into the urban legend of poisoned Halloween candy to find out why our parents had to check our candy back in the 90s, and also chatting about mischief night shenanigans. You don't want to miss this fun episode!

Today's sources include:

Do Strangers Really Tamper with Halloween Candy? - Matt Bartosik
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/do_strangers_really_tamper_with_halloween_candy

Criminal Minds Wiki - Ronald Clark O’Bryan

The True Story of the Notorious Trick-or-Treat Murderer - Michael Segalov
https://www.vice.com/en/article/halloween-killer-ronald-clark-o-bryan-candy-man/

The Men Who Murdered Halloween - Joni E. Johnston Psy.D.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-human-equation/201510/the-men-who-murdered-halloween

Halloween Sadism: A Review of Poisoned Halloween Candy - Cassidy Baldwin and William Ruston
alacep.org

L.I. Children Get Poison “Treat”; Accused Housewife Committed”
nytimes.com

LI Woman remembers Halloween she got poison with candy - Candice M. Give
nypost.com

When a Long Island Housewife Handed out Arsenic to Kids on Halloween - Ellen Gutoskey
mentalfloss.com

The Story of the Woman Who Handed out Arsenic on Halloween - Leslie Veliz
grunge.com

Today we discuss one of the douchiest couples in American murder history, Erika and Benjamin "BJ" Sifrit. These guys are pretty much insufferable and the story is disturbing to say the least. Join us as we discuss their vile and senseless murders of Joshua Ford and Martha "Geney" Crutchley in Ocean City, Maryland in 2002.

Today's sources include:

Murderpedia.org - Erika Elaine Sifrit and Benjamin Sifrit

Snapped: Killer Couples (S11 E2) - “Erika and BJ Sifrit”

Oceancitytoday.com: “Ocean City marks 20 years since infamous Sifrit slayings”

wtop.com: “Benjamin Sifrit refused parole in 2002 killing of Fairfax couple in Ocean City”

people.com: “People Magazine Investigates: Who Wanted a Vacationing Couple Dead?”

Investigationdiscovery.com: “Virginia Couple Murdered While on 2002 Beach Vacation”

seacoastonline.com: “South Boston man faces double family tragedy”

talkmurderwithme.com - “Killing for Kicks: Benjamin and Erika Sifrit”