Season 09 Episode 13: The Weight of Empty Space

Season 09 Episode 27: Death in Vegas, the Ted Binion Mystery (Pt. 1 of 3)

Jul 3, 202635 minSummary

In this first installment of a three-part series, the podcast explores the mysterious death of Ted Binion, a prominent figure in the Las Vegas gambling dynasty. The narrative begins in September 1998, when local police in Pahrump, Nevada, made a startling discovery: two men were caught digging up an enormous cache of silver bars and coins worth millions. The man overseeing the operation, Rick Tabish, claimed he was merely securing the assets for Ted Binion’s daughter following Ted's sudden death from a suspected drug overdose just days prior. The episode delves into the complex history of the Binion family, tracing the legacy of Ted’s father, Benny Binion, who built the Horseshoe casino and established a legendary, often ruthless, reputation in the gambling world. Against this backdrop of family power struggles and historical mob ties, the host examines Ted’s descent into addiction and his complicated relationship with his girlfriend, Sandy Murphy. As incriminating evidence surfaces, the episode sets the stage for a deep investigation into whether Ted’s death was truly an accident or a sinister plot involving those closest to him.

Season 09 Episode 26: In Through the Out Door

Jun 26, 202630 minSummary

In this episode of Unexplained, host Richard McLain Smith examines the baffling disappearance of Brian Shaffer, a medical student who vanished without a trace in 2006. Shaffer, a high-achieving student at Ohio State University, was dealing with significant personal turmoil following the recent death of his mother when he met his father for dinner and later went out with friends to a campus bar. The mystery centers on a high-traffic student bar called the Ugly Tuna Saloona. Security footage clearly shows Shaffer entering the bar with friends, but he is never seen leaving. Despite an exhaustive investigation, including extensive searches of the building’s construction-filled surroundings and reviews of surrounding camera footage, authorities found no evidence of his exit or his ultimate fate. The episode explores the theories surrounding his disappearance, from the possibility of foul play to the slim chance of a voluntary exit, while highlighting the devastating impact on his family, particularly his father’s tireless, lifelong search for answers. This episode serves as a haunting look at a case that remains an active, unresolved mystery two decades later.

Season 02 Episode 03: The Last Flight (RERUN)

Jun 19, 202630 minSummary

This episode of Unexplained revisits the mysterious 1978 disappearance of Australian pilot Fred Valentich, a case frequently cited by ufologists as compelling evidence of extraterrestrial visitation. The narrative explores the final, harrowing radio transmissions Valentich made while flying over the Bass Strait, during which he reported being shadowed by a large, unidentified aircraft that performed impossible maneuvers and exhibited a mysterious green light. Beyond the UFO speculation, the episode provides a nuanced psychological profile of Valentich, a young man deeply committed to his dream of becoming a commercial pilot. Despite his dedicated training and studious reputation, later investigations revealed a more complex reality: Valentich had struggled academically, failing crucial exams and hiding his failures from his family and girlfriend. The podcast examines whether this intense pressure to succeed, coupled with a series of inconsistencies in his final plans, suggests a more grounded explanation for his disappearance. By contrasting the cosmic mystery of his final flight with the human struggles of an aspiring pilot, the episode offers a thought-provoking look at how truth and tragedy often remain obscured by the unknown.

Season 09 Episode 25: Desert Rain (Pt. 2 of 2)

Jun 12, 202631 minSummary

In this second and final installment of the Desert Rain series, the podcast Unexplained concludes its deep dive into the mysterious disappearance of Daniel Robinson, a young geologist who vanished in the Arizona desert in June 2021. The episode centers on the investigative efforts of Detective Larry Biffin and a private investigator hired by Daniel’s family, as they attempt to reconcile conflicting evidence regarding Daniel’s final movements. The discussion highlights the puzzling state of Daniel’s Jeep, which was found in a ravine with signs of a crash, leading to intense debate over whether the accident was staged or the result of a mental health crisis. The narrative explores Daniel’s erratic behavior leading up to his disappearance, including his interest in spiritual teachings and cryptic interactions with friends. The episode also scrutinizes a suspicious witness named Billy, whose inconsistent testimony and questionable background add layers of intrigue to an already complex case. Through careful analysis of forensic reports, digital footprints, and failed search leads, the host examines the agonizing ambiguity that persists in a case that remains an enduring, haunting mystery.

Season 09 Episode 25: Desert Rain (Pt. 1 of 2)

Jun 5, 202630 minSummary

In this episode of Unexplained, host Richard McClain Smith examines the baffling disappearance of 24-year-old hydrogeologist Daniel Robinson. On June 23, 2021, Daniel vanished while working at a remote site in the Arizona desert. He had met with a colleague, Ken Elliott, for the first and only time before abruptly driving his Jeep deep into the desolate Sonoran landscape. Despite extensive searches by police and his father, Daniel remained missing for weeks. The investigation uncovered a troubling narrative involving Daniel’s recent mental state, which included an obsessive, unrequited pursuit of a woman he had met briefly as a food delivery driver. Friends noted he had become increasingly preoccupied and erratic. The case took a strange turn when a rancher finally located Daniel’s wrecked Jeep at the bottom of a ravine. Although the vehicle contained Daniel’s personal belongings—including his wallet, phone, and clothing—there was no sign of his body, no footprints, and the vehicle appeared suspiciously clean despite being exposed to the harsh desert environment for nearly a month. The episode leaves the mystery wide open as authorities struggle to reconcile the evidence.

Season 09 Episode 24: Audi Altarem Partem

May 29, 202634 minSummary

In this episode of Unexplained, host Richard McLean Smith explores the intersection of the legal system and the supernatural, focusing on cases where spectral evidence has played an unexpected role in criminal justice. While historical events like the Salem witch trials and the tragic case of Annalise Michel illustrate how beliefs in diabolic forces can influence courtroom proceedings, the episode delves into more contemporary and chilling occurrences where ghost testimony seemingly led to concrete convictions. The primary narrative centers on the 1977 murder of Teresita Basa, a respiratory therapist in Chicago. Following her brutal death, a colleague named Remy Chua began experiencing vivid, unsettling dreams and episodes of apparent possession, during which she spoke in an unfamiliar voice claiming to be Basa. These trances provided specific, non-public details regarding the crime and identified the culprit as Alan Showery. Despite the skepticism of law enforcement, the information provided by these supposed communications eventually led investigators to evidence that secured Showery’s confession. The episode reflects on the lingering mystery of how such otherworldly interventions can impact real-world justice, leaving listeners to contemplate the limits of rational explanation.

Season 09 Episode 23: We All Fall Down

May 22, 202630 minSummary

In this episode of Unexplained, host Richard McClain Smith examines the bizarre and enduring mystery of the 1980 Hollinwell Incident. During an annual marching band competition in Nottinghamshire, hundreds of children and adults suddenly collapsed, suffering from symptoms including dizziness, nausea, skin blisters, and foaming at the mouth. As chaos unfolded, panicked announcements over the loudspeaker exacerbated the situation, leading to the rapid evacuation of the field. The official inquiry concluded that the event was a case of mass anxiety hysteria, triggered by the heat and the children's heavy uniforms. However, many survivors and witnesses found this explanation insufficient, pointing to the severity of the physical symptoms and reports that even animals were affected. The episode explores various theories, ranging from clandestine microwave weaponry to the leakage of subterranean gases from abandoned mines. A later re-examination by a forensic chemist suggests a more mundane yet lethal possibility: the accidental mixing of cleaning chemicals in portable toilets, which may have created a toxic chlorine gas cloud. Despite decades of investigation, the true cause of the Hollinwell Incident remains a haunting and debated mystery.

Season 09 Episode 22: Dwell Among the Bones

May 15, 202630 minSummary

In this episode of Unexplained, host Richard McLean Smith examines the harrowing history of Fox Hollow Farm, a property in Indiana that became the site of a series of gruesome murders committed by Herb Baumeister in the 1990s. The narrative explores how the farm, which had been the final resting place for numerous victims, continued to be a site of unsettling phenomena long after the crimes were uncovered. The episode chronicles the experiences of the Graves family, who moved into the property, and their tenant, Joe. They reported a series of terrifying occurrences, including the sudden movement of household objects, sightings of spectral figures—such as a man in a red shirt with missing limbs and a screaming man in white—and an audio recording that seemed to capture an ethereal, gravelly voice. The discussion delves into the theory of residual hauntings, where intense human suffering leaves a permanent imprint on a location. Ultimately, the episode serves as a haunting reflection on the lingering trauma left by serial violence and the unanswered questions surrounding the full extent of Baumeister’s depravity.

Season 09 Episode 21: Triangled Veils

May 8, 202632 minSummary

In this episode of Unexplained, host Richard McClain Smith delves into the enduring mysteries surrounding the Bermuda Triangle, a treacherous stretch of the North Atlantic long associated with vanishing ships and aircraft. The narrative weaves together historical accounts, including the strange disappearance of the Ellen Austin in 1881 and the loss of the USS Cyclops and its sister ships in the early 20th century. The episode focuses primarily on the infamous story of Flight 19, a squadron of five TBM Avengers that disappeared during a routine training mission in 1945. Smith explores the frantic final radio transmissions, the subsequent failed search efforts, and the controversial investigation that initially blamed the lead pilot, Lieutenant Charles Taylor, before his mother’s tireless lobbying eventually led to the clearing of his name. The discussion extends into how sensationalist writers later fueled the Bermuda Triangle’s paranormal reputation, linking it to Atlantis and extraterrestrial activity. The episode concludes by examining modern, albeit inconclusive, attempts to locate the wreckage and the baffling appearance of mysterious post-disappearance telegrams, leaving the fate of these lost crews as haunting and unexplained as ever.

Season 09 Episode 20: Over the Hills and Far Away

May 1, 202630 minSummary

In this episode of Unexplained, host Richard McClain Smith explores the baffling case of Jerry Irwin, a young U.S. Army private who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1959. While driving through the remote Utah desert, Irwin claimed to have witnessed a blinding light in the sky before experiencing a profound dissociative fugue. He was found disoriented, his memory fragmented, with no recollection of events between his initial sighting and his discovery by a local sheriff. The narrative follows Irwin’s subsequent struggles as he is subjected to psychiatric evaluations at Fort Bliss. Despite his impeccable military record, Irwin suffered from recurring memory lapses and mysterious episodes of physical collapse, eventually disappearing entirely after being labeled a deserter. Smith examines the two most prevailing theories surrounding the event: the possibility of an extraterrestrial encounter, which gripped the public imagination during the Cold War era, and the darker, more grounded theory involving clandestine MKUltra human experimentation by the military. By blending historical context with the unsettling details of Irwin’s psychological decline, the episode leaves listeners to ponder whether the truth lies in science fiction or the chilling reality of human exploitation.