Episode 287: The Cult of Synanon - Part 3

The voice of an angel, the soul of a change maker, the mind of a businessman. Sam Cooke was the highest selling artist of the 1960s, second only to Elvis, and his crossover appeal made him a fan favorite of audiences of all races. He was at the height of his career when he was gunned down in a seedy Los Angeles motel. Was it a justifiable homicide as the police would have you believe? Or did something more sinister happen? Support Sinisterhood

20 Feb 20191h 1min

Usually, you send flowers and chocolate on Valentine's Day, but Al "Scarface" Capone decided he was going to send a bloody message to his longtime rival Bugs Moran. On Feb. 14, 1929, seven of Moran's men from his North Side gang lay dead on a warehouse floor, gunned down by Thompson Submachine guns. Was a power struggle to control the lucrative bootlegging operation the motive for this massacre, or, like love, is this story a bit more complicated? Support Sinisterhood

13 Feb 20191h 6min

Her case was splashed across tabloids throughout the world - A drug and sex-fueled night that ended in a blood bath. But the real story behind one of Itay's biggest cases may surprise you. Was this just another botched investigation, or a prosecution team and a bloodthirsty media more concerned with grandiose stories and slut-shaming than the facts? Support Sinisterhood

6 Feb 20191h 22min

Mind control, drugging, blackmail, and celebrity glitches. The United States government claims it will do whatever it takes to protect its citizens, but what if they very citizens they claim to be protecting are unwittingly part of a horrific psychological experiment? One journalist blew the lid on this decade long government-sanctioned torture. But did it really ever end? Support Sinisterhood

30 Jan 20191h 17min

Millions of people go missing each year and there are as many as 100,000 active missing persons cases in the U.S. at any given time. While some of these stories have happy endings, sometimes the events surrounding the disappearance, and eventual discovery of their loved ones, are so bizarre that friends and families are left with more questions than answers. Could harsh environments or predatory animals explain what happened, or is something more sinister to blame? Support Sinisterhood

23 Jan 20191h 7min

Is evil born or made? Given the right circumstances will good people turn on their fellow man or woman? In 1971 an elite psychology professor conducted what some would call the most groundbreaking and controversial experiment the world has ever seen in search of the answer. But was the experiment unbiased or were the results tainted because of the professor's own sadistic tendencies? Support Sinisterhood

15 Jan 20191h 8min

A charismatic leader, a devoted group of followers, and the largest military group ever gathered against civilians. The siege at Waco brought an end to David Koresh's reign. Was he a persecuted Messiah or an apocalyptic madman brought to justice by the government. Support Sinisterhood

9 Jan 20191h 29min

A man-sized bird creature that stands 6 feet tall, has a wingspan of 15 feet, and ominous glowing red eyes. There have been many speculations as to Mothman's origins since he was first spotted in Point Pleasant, West Virginia in 1966. Some believe he is an alien creature or a government experiment gone wrong. Skeptics dismiss the phenomena saying Mothman sightings are really just sightings of a Sandhill Crane or an elaborate teenage prank. So what exactly is Mothman? And more importantly, does he visit cities and towns to warn them of impending danger or is his presence what causes the tragedies? Support Sinisterhood

2 Jan 20191h 4min