Too Close to Home Podcast

46: The Alaskan Avenger

Just imagine The Avengers theme song playing for this one, because we ain’t messing with the Disney beast. We explore the tragic past of Jason Vukovich who, after his own experiences as a victim, became an avenging angel and brought vigilante justice to registered pedophiles in Alaska. How can a man's actions be wrong, yet at the same time oh so right?

45: Dorothea Puente - All About The Bennies, Baby

That sweet-looking old woman couldn’t possibly hurt you, right? Right…? Meet habitual liar and convicted serial killer Dorothea Puente, who preyed upon the elderly and disabled tenants of her boarding house for those sweet, sweet social security checks.

44: Mysteries of the Alaskan Triangle

Everybody has heard of the Bermuda Triangle.. but have you ever heard of its obtuse cousin? This vast region between Anchorage, Juneau, and Barrow (now called Utqiagvik) is known for missing airplanes and up to tens of thousands of disappearances. The only things more wild than the incredible amount of vanishings are the theories which attempt to explain them. Don your tinfoil hats, because we discuss theories of murder, aliens, energy vortexes, cryptids, and of course the unforgiving wilderness itself. Journey with us to this mysterious location within The Last Frontier!

43: Ghosts of Eastern State Penitentiary

What could possibly be more American than our prison system? It's time to receive a history lesson on the world's very first penitentiary, where the goal was for prisoners to receive their penance (spoiler alert: hence the name!). From escapes to famous residents, from dubious practices to paranormal soup, we explore how this now preserved ruin came to be, and why it is considered one of the most haunted buildings in America.
As an added bonus, featured throughout this episode are select audio recordings taken during Jenn and Jimmy's twilight tour of Eastern State Penitentiary in May 2022! Do they contain sounds of the living... or artifacts of the dead? Tune in to judge it for yourself!

42: The Toybox Killer, Part 2 - Death by 1000 Cuts

It doesn't get any easier to swallow. With little justice against the perpetrators, and up to dozens of bodies lost in the unknown, this unsatisfying conclusion to David Parker Ray's story will be sure to cause some heartache.

41: The Toybox Killer, Part 1 - Do You Want To Play A Game?

You may have heard of toys in the attic, but how about toys in the torture trailer? Here in part 1 we introduce David Parker Ray, a real-life Jigsaw with less morality and even more sadism. Live or die… the choice is not yours.

40: Ed Gein, Part 2 - Painfully Midwestern Confessions

We finish out our series on Ed Gein, the Butcher of Plainfield, WI. You will learn all about the potential grave robbing, his house of horrors and flesh artisanry, and actual confession transcripts which have inspired (for better or worse) countless songs, games, and movies. Don your finest skin, and enter at your own peril.

39: Ed Gein, Part 1 - The OG Mama’s Boy

Let's tell you a story about a man named Ed... who looked like everybody's grandpa, only much more stinky and with an Oedipus complex. In part 1 of this very midwestern series, you will find out all about his family and upbringing, mama's favorite bible verses, and the events which led to his initial arrest. It's time to take a trip to Wis-CAN-sin.