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Ever wondered what happened to all those vampires that supposedly haunted New Orleans? They're still here—but they're not what you think.

Journey with us as we pull back the curtain on modern vampire communities thriving right under our noses. Maven Lore, the reluctant king of New Orleans' Vampire Court, and Merticus of the Atlanta Vampire Alliance reveal a world where garlic is welcome on pizza, coffins are replaced by comfortable beds, and acceptance is the highest value.

We explore the three fascinating types of modern vampires: sanguinarians who consume small amounts of blood from tested donors, tantric vampires who draw energy from physical touch, and psychic vampires who can absorb energy from something as simple as a stranger's smile. These communities exist worldwide, creating safe spaces where people from all backgrounds can find belonging without judgment.

Forget the Hollywood stereotypes—today's vampires are your neighbors, coworkers, and friends. They hold day jobs as graphic designers, DJs, and antique furniture experts. While they might don fangs for special events, their vampire identity is just one aspect of their multifaceted lives.

The episode takes a serious turn as we discuss real vampire hunters who terrorized the community in the 1990s, including a shocking stabbing incident. We also share information about the Unity Project, a new website connecting vampire communities nationwide. www.unityproject.life

Whether you're vampire-curious or simply fascinated by subcultures that challenge social norms, this episode offers a rare glimpse into a world where being different isn't just accepted—it's celebrated. Listen now to discover the true power of finding your tribe in unexpected places.

Source Material:

Varner, Grant, Oct 2022, Vampires in New Orleans, sink your teeth into this interview, https://www.whereyat.com/vampires-in-new-orleans

Andrew, Scottie, Oct 2022, Inside the world of real-life vampires in New Orleans and Atlanta, https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/29/us/real-vampires-new-orleans-atlanta-cec

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Step into the shadows of New Orleans' French Quarter, where legend and reality blur in the haunting tale of Jacques Saint-Germain. When this mysterious aristocrat arrived in early 1900s New Orleans, he quickly captivated high society with his charm, wealth, and extravagant dinner parties at his Royal Street residence. But something wasn't quite right - he never ate with his guests, preferring instead to sip from an ornate chalice while regaling them with vivid stories of centuries past.

What made Jacques truly fascinating was his claimed connection to the Count of Saint-Germain, an enigmatic 18th-century European nobleman whom Voltaire once described as "a man who knows everything and who never dies." The resemblance between the two men was uncanny, both physically and in their mannerisms, leading some to whisper - what if they weren't merely related, but the same immortal being?

This fascinating mystery took a sinister turn when a terrified woman leaped from Jacques' second-story balcony, hysterically claiming he had bitten her neck. When police arrived to investigate, they found Jacques had vanished overnight, abandoning most possessions. The truly chilling discovery came when authorities found numerous wine bottles in his home, each containing a mixture of wine and human blood.

Had an actual vampire been entertaining the elite of New Orleans? The legend of Jacques Saint-Germain continues to haunt the Crescent City, where sightings of the man were reported throughout the 1900s. His tale serves as a perfect embodiment of New Orleans itself - beautiful, mysterious, seductive, and harboring secrets just beneath its enchanting surface.

Join us as we explore this captivating vampire legend that reminds us why New Orleans has long been considered America's most haunted city. Subscribe now and share with friends who appreciate a good supernatural mystery - your neck will thank you for it!

Sources
“1039-1041 Royal St.” The Collins C. Diboll Vieux Carré Survey: Property Info. The Historic New Orleans Collection®. https://www.hnoc.org/vcs/property_info.php?lot=22915.

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. “comte de Saint-Germain.” Encyclopedia Britannica, April 17, 2015. https://www.britannica.com/biography/comte-de-Saint-Germain.

McCann, Erin. “Meet The Count Of Saint Germain, A New Orleans Vampire Who Probably Still Walks Among Us.” Ranker, September 23, 2021. https://www.ranker.com/list/count-saint-germain-vampire-legend/erin-mccann.

Oakley, I. Cooper. The Comte de St. Germain: The Secret of Kings. Milan: Sulli-Rao, 1912. https://books.google.com/books?id=FGH5CRoW1vQC.

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"Miss Hannah is mean to me." These words, spoken by six-year-old Bella Fontenelle, now haunt everyone who knew the vibrant little girl from Harahan, Louisiana. What happens when a child's complaint about an adult caregiver goes beyond typical childhood protest and becomes a desperate cry for help? And what dark impulses drive someone to silence that voice forever?

We dive deep into one of the most disturbing child murder cases from recent Louisiana history. Hannah Landon, a former stripper who had been dating Bella's father for four years, was entrusted with caring for Bella and her older sister when their dad was working late. But beneath the surface of this seemingly normal blended family arrangement lurked a sinister dynamic that would ultimately turn deadly.

The case unfolds through a trail of disturbing evidence: surveillance footage of Landon pulling a wagon containing Bella's body in a chlorine bucket to her mother's lawn, premeditated internet searches for criminal defense attorneys, and the shocking motive that emerged during trial. We examine the warning signs that appeared in Bella's behavior at school, where teachers noted increasing anxiety and sadness, especially following time spent in Landon's care.

Most heartbreaking are the efforts Bella made to speak up. Working with a child psychologist for separation anxiety following her parents' divorce, she finally gathered the courage to tell her father about Landon's treatment. His confrontation with Landon triggered the ultimate betrayal - rather than changing her behavior, Landon chose to eliminate the "problem" permanently.

Though justice was eventually served with Landon's conviction and life sentence, this case leaves us questioning how we respond when children voice concerns about their caregivers. Are we listening closely enough? Join us for this emotional episode that reminds us why protecting vulnerable voices matters more than we can possibly imagine.

Subscribe, share your thoughts, and join us next week for our special vampire-themed episode where we'll explore more Louisiana true crime legends!

Link to article containing Ring.com Video and restraining order:

https://www.wlbt.com/2023/04/27/court-documents-reveal-history-fights-between-fontenelles-mother-accused-murderer/

Source Material:

Purpura, Paula, May 6, 2025, Bunnak ‘Hannah’ Landon gets life plus 80 years for murdering 6-year-old Bella Fontenelle https://www.jpda.us/bunnak-hannah-landon-gets-life-plus-80-years-for-murdering-6-year-old-bella-fontenelle/

Purpura, Paula, May 2, 2025, Jury rejects Bunnak Landon’s insanity defense, convicts her of murdering 6-year-old Bella Fontenelle https://www.jpda.us/jury-rejects-bunnak-landons-insanity-defense-convicts-her-of-murdering-6-year-old-bella-fontenelle/

Photo credit WLBT3, Court documents reveal history of fights between Fontenelle’s mother, accused murderer, https://www.wlbt.com/2023/04/27/court-documents-reveal-history-fights-between-fontenelles-mother-accused-murderer/

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Have you ever wondered about the true cost of extraordinary talent? The story of Robert Johnson takes us deep into the heart of Mississippi Delta Blues, where legend and reality collide at a dusty crossroads under moonlight.

Robert Johnson was born in Mississippi in 1911, just one generation removed from slavery. What's captivating about his story isn't just his revolutionary blues playing but the mysterious transformation that made it possible. As a young man, Johnson was merely adequate on guitar—so mediocre that blues legend Son House once cruelly declared, "Boy, you ain't never gonna amount to nothing playing like that." Then something extraordinary happened.

Johnson disappeared. When he returned, his fingers danced across the guitar with impossible dexterity, creating sounds that seemed to come from another world. His sudden mastery gave birth to whispers—had he made a midnight deal at a lonely crossroads with a smooth-talking stranger dressed in black and red? The folklore surrounding Johnson's supernatural transformation connects to ancient traditions about crossroads as liminal spaces where realms intersect. What many don't realize is that the "devil" figure in these tales closely resembles Papa Legba, a deity from West African and Haitian traditions who serves as a gateway between humans and spirits.

Despite recording only 29 songs and dying mysteriously at just 27 years old, Johnson's influence reaches across generations. His innovative techniques became the foundation for modern blues and rock music, with legends like Eric Clapton calling him "the most important blues singer who ever lived." Songs like "Crossroad Blues" and "Hellhound on My Trail" hint at the supernatural bargain that may have sealed his fate, creating a legacy that continues to haunt American music nearly a century later.

Join us as we explore the man behind the myth, the cultural significance of crossroads deals, and the enduring power of a musical genius whose brief life cast an impossibly long shadow. Whether you're a blues enthusiast or simply love a good supernatural tale, this story of talent, ambition, and possible cosmic consequences will leave you wondering about the price we pay for greatness.

Sources:

Courtney Ingle - July 13, 2023
https://magnoliatribune.com.dream.website/2023/07/13/robert-johnson-the-man-myth-legend-and-legacy/


https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/25/obituaries/robert-johnson-overlooked.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson

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Curses, revenge, and a town in flames—the legend of the Yazoo Witch stands as one of Mississippi's most spine-chilling local tales.

We dive deep into this haunting Southern story made famous by renowned Mississippi author Willie Morris, exploring how a mysterious woman living along the banks of the Yazoo River became the subject of fear and suspicion in the 1880s. Accused of luring fishermen to their deaths during storms and practicing dark magic, her story takes a dramatic turn when young Joe Bob Duggett discovers her performing rituals over dead bodies.

What follows is a chase into the swamp that ends with the witch sinking into quicksand—but not before she utters a terrifying curse: "I will break out of my grave and burn down the whole town on May 25th, 1904." Though buried with heavy chains wrapped around her grave to prevent escape, exactly twenty years later, Yazoo City erupts in flames. When the smoke clears, residents discover the chains around her grave mysteriously broken.

The witch's nameless grave still stands in Yazoo City's Glenwood Cemetery, just 50 feet from Willie Morris himself, who immortalized her legend. Unlike many folk tales that fade with time, this one comes with physical evidence you can visit today—a lasting reminder of promises kept from beyond the grave.

We also share exciting podcast updates, including our new merchandise line, upcoming vampire-themed episodes, and our growing listener map across four countries. Have a vampire legend from your hometown? We'd love to feature it during our special vampire week!

Listen now to discover why some chains can't contain vengeance, and why the residents of Yazoo City will never forget May 25th, 1904.

Source Material

Photo Credit: WLBT news

Morris, Willie (1980). Good old boy: A Delta boyhood. Oxford, MS: Yoknapatawpha Press, Inc. 3-7.

Beavers, Ben, Willie Morris: A Biography, https://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/mississippi-writers/willie-morris

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Deep in the Georgia mountains stands the haunting ruins of Corpsewood Manor, a handcrafted brick sanctuary built by two men seeking escape from modern society. Their dream of peaceful isolation ended in bloodshed on a cold December night in 1982.

Dr. Charles Scudder wasn't running from anything specific when he left his prestigious position as a pharmacology professor at Loyola University. At 50, with his marriages behind him and children grown, he simply craved something different—a life untethered from societal expectations. Alongside his companion Joseph Odom and two massive mastiffs named after demonic figures, he purchased 40 acres near Tryon, Georgia, and began building what locals would come to call "the castle."

What they accomplished was remarkable. With no construction experience beyond what Scudder learned from books, they laid 45,000 bricks by hand, created stained glass windows, established gardens, beehives, and a vineyard. They lived modestly on $200 monthly, keeping their wealth in banks rather than their home. Their eccentric residence featured occult imagery, pink gargoyles, and a notorious "Pink Room" in their three-story chicken coop where they entertained guests with homemade wine and hallucinogens Scudder had brought from his research days.

The story turns tragic when Kenneth Avery Brock, a local allowed to hunt on their property, shares details about the "homosexual devil worshippers" with his roommate—a man with a previous murder conviction. What began as a robbery attempt quickly descended into horrific violence, leaving Scudder, Odom, and their beloved dogs dead, their killers fleeing with little more than trinkets and coins.

This wasn't just a random crime—it reflected the emerging Satanic Panic of the 1980s, when alternative lifestyles were viewed with suspicion and fear. Corpsewood shows how prejudice can transform into violence, and how living authentically can sometimes come at an unimaginable cost.

Visit our website to see images of Corpsewood Manor and learn more about this fascinating case where the American dream of freedom collided with the darkest aspects of human nature.

Sources:

https://www.northgeorgiahistory.com/post/death-comes-to-corpsewood-manor

Luke Gregson, October 21,Fearful Symmetry in the North Georgia Woods. 2024https://oxfordamerican.org/oa-now/the-corpsewood-manor-murders

The Corpsewood Manor Murders in North Georgia - Amy Petulla (2016)

Mother Earth News - A Castle In the Woods by Charles Scudder - April/May (1981)

Various newspaper articles from 1982-1983

Ellis, David “Corpsewood: A True Crime Like No Other”, 2016
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JSJ1BJC/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Grey, Orrin “House of Horror: The Brutal Murders at Georgia’s Corpsewood Manor”, 2019
https://the-line-up.com/corpsewood-manor

Petula, Amy “The Corpsewood Manor Murders in North Georgia”, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Corpsewood-Manor-Murders-North-Georgia-ebook/dp/B01IFYLMZ4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1548036178&sr=1-1

Scudder, Charles “A Castle in the Country”, 1981
https://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/castle-in-the-country-zmaz81mazraw


West v The State, 1984
https://law.justia.com/cases/georgia/supreme-court/1984/40134-1.html
​

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The story of missing teenager Brittany Robinson begins with pure excitement – a 14-year-old girl bouncing with joy at the rare opportunity to spend a weekend with her estranged father in Mobile, Alabama. So enthusiastic was Brittany that she had to run back into the house to give her mother one last kiss and "I love you" before heading off on what should have been a simple two-day visit. That June weekend in 2012 marked the beginning of a mystery that has haunted her family for over a decade.

Brittany's mother described her as the quintessential caring teen – bright, bookish, opinionated yet shy, with an unwavering moral compass and a smile that could light up a room. Despite her father's minimal presence in her life, Brittany maintained hope for connection, making this visit all the more significant. When she failed to return home, her mother's initial worry about a custody dispute quickly evolved into something far more sinister as the weeks passed with no sign of her daughter.

The investigation took a disturbing turn when authorities located Demetric Hooper, Brittany's father, at a mental health facility in Arkansas six weeks after her disappearance. Not only was Brittany nowhere to be found, but Hooper possessed her pink iPod along with knives and rope. His erratic travel patterns across multiple states, history of schizophrenia treatment, and constantly changing story raised immediate red flags. Yet despite searching his home and questioning relatives, investigators struggled to piece together what actually happened during that fateful weekend visit.

After years of investigation, cold case detectives gathered enough evidence to secure a murder indictment in 2024, though prosecutors acknowledge the significant challenges of trying a case without a body. As Brittany's mother poignantly asked through tears, "Did he give her to somebody? Did he sell her?" These agonizing questions persist as the legal process unfolds. If you're drawn to cases where family dynamics, mental health issues, and determined investigators intersect, this episode offers a heartbreaking yet compelling exploration of a mystery that continues to evolve.

Source Material:

Poole, Summer, Nov. 11, 2023, Brittany Robinson: 14-year-old goes missing while visiting with her dad, https://www.wkrg.com/true-crime/brittany-robinson-14-year-old-goes-missing-while-visiting-with-her-dad/

Gunter, Brad, May 23, 2024, 12 years later, Brittany Robinson’s father back in Mobile to face murder charges, https://mynbc15.com/news/local/12-years-later-brittany-robinsons-father-back-in-mobile-to-face-murder-charge

Keith, Damali, Nov. 30, 2023, Missing Brittany Shante Robinson last seen 11 years ago at 14 years old, https://www.fox26houston.com/news/the-missing-14-year-old-missing-more-than-11-years

Jones, Jeremy and Poole, Summer, June 12, 2024, Brittany Robinson’s father pleads not guilty in connection with murder, https://www.wkrg.com/mobile-county/brittany-robinsons-father-pleads-not-guilty-in-connection-with-murder/

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The forgotten ones. The files that gather dust. The faces on faded missing person flyers that no one notices anymore. These are the cold cases that have too little information for full episodes but too much importance to ignore completely.

We're shining light on three unsolved disappearances from Arkansas that have haunted families for years and stumped investigators. First is April Dawn Andrews, a shy 15-year-old who vanished in 2006 while supposedly walking to a church clothing giveaway. A witness reported seeing her speaking with someone in an old brown pickup truck before she disappeared completely. Despite being described as a devoted "mama's girl" who had recently lost her father, police initially classified her as a runaway, potentially costing precious investigation time.

Then there's 75-year-old Sylvester Nicholson, an avid walker who disappeared in 2003 during one of his regular walks through Little Rock. Despite being mentally sharp with a distinctive facial characteristic due to Bell's palsy, Sylvester seemed to vanish without trace from a populated area of Highway 565. His community knew him well, yet no credible sightings ever materialized.

Most suspicious is the 1987 disappearance of Patsy Clark, whose ex-husband claimed she left their home in a taxi. Investigations revealed no taxi was ever dispatched to their address, and mysteriously, someone cashed Patsy's social security checks for two months after she vanished. Her son has spent decades searching for answers, convinced there was foul play involved in his mother's disappearance.

These cases represent the reality of most missing persons reports – they quickly go cold without sensational elements or solid evidence. But behind each case is a family still waiting, still wondering, still hoping for answers. We're sharing contact information for each case in hopes that someone, somewhere might have information that could finally bring closure.

Have you seen something that could help solve these mysteries? Do you know of other forgotten cold cases that deserve attention? Share your thoughts with us at steeped@holdmysweettea.com or on our socials. Sometimes all it takes is one memory, one tip, to break a case wide open.

Sources:

NamUs.gov

https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/MP5799

https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/MP12809

Uncovered: Cold Case

www.uncovered.com

https://uncovered.com/cases/patsy-clark-little-rock-ar

https://uncovered.com/cases/sylvester-nicholson

https://uncovered.com/cases/april-andrews-pea-ridge-ar