Too Close to Home Podcast

85: The Final Fantasy 7 Cult- This Guy Are Sick

Today we are going a bit off the rails and looking into a different flavor of cult: one that is not based on faith, but on one of the most popular video games of all time... Final Fantasy 7! After providing some background on the video game franchise and the story-beats/characters of the 7th installment, we explore a bizarre tale of manipulation, abuse, and "soulbonding" which infamously made waves on the internet in the early 2000's. Brandish your Buster Sword and equip your finest Materia, because we are about to do battle with Jenova; not Final Fantasy 7's extra-terrestrial calamity from the skies, but Jennifer Cornett from State College, Pennsylvania... the elusive and glittery human who twisted an innocent fandom into a living nightmare.

84: Kelly’s Correction Corner And The Jersey Devil

In this hilarious and different episode, we bring in a very special guest: Jenn's little sister... the rainbow agent of chaos herself... Kelly! In the first half, the librarian brings her own little fun facts and corrections to past episodes. To finish out, she educates us on the brief history of the screeching swole lord of the Pine Barrens: The Jersey Devil! Is it the cursed 13th child of Mother Leeds? What is it's association with Benjamin Franklin? Did Napolean Bonaparte's elder brother actually see the devil? It is time for a little GTL in southeast New Jersey.
This episode is dedicated in loving memory of Jenn and Kelly's father, Ernest Strickland. May he enjoy that everlasting safety meeting in the sky.

83: Gary Heidnik, Part 2 - Stocks And Bondage

In part 2 of our story on the intelligent and evil "Monster Preacher" Gary Heidnik, we see the events that transpire in a true basement of horrors. A series of kidnappings is followed by terrible physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, and that does not even count the atrocities performed inside the hand-dug hole in the basement floor. Beware what's cooking in the kitchen, because it may not actually be pot roast.
We apologize for the delay, Jenn lost her father to a terminal illness this past week. We can’t thank you enough for your patience and support!

82: Gary Heidnik, Part 1 - What is He Even Doing?

"It puts the lotion on its skin"... everyone knows the chilling words of fictional serial killer Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb; some people may even know that his modus operandi was based on the traits of real serial killers. The least known of this murderous mash-up was an intelligent, manipulative, and eccentric monster named Gary Heidnik. With a very flavorful soup filled with childhood trauma, military service, religious cults, and cookies shoved down the throat by the devil himself, part one of his story is just as eclectic and deviant as the very thing he helped inspire.
Listen on Podurama!

81: Splitisode - Missing Persons Case and Bigfoot Encounters

This week we have a unique split episode as we recover from William Bonin's crimes. We begin with an interview with a friend, Candace, on a missing loved one and the update that we have gotten since recording.
For the second half we speak to her son Eli on his first-hand bigfoot encounter which is, as we all know, one of our favorite subjects! While we’re green with envy, Eli has a unique story that will have you rethinking who Bigfoot is and why he has this special connection.
Thanks to Candace and her husband Michael for their support and their trust to share their stories!
Listen on Podurama!

80: William George Bonin, Part 5 - Rookie Mistakes

We are finally here at the end of the road, and the end sure didn't come fast enough! In the conclusion of this 5-episode arc, we see Bonin initially held on the charge of rape of a minor, but with the mixture of mounting evidence and flapping jaws (I guess Bonin didn't consider his co-conspirators to be "witnesses"...), a grisly picture is painted; one that will forever change the landscape of southern California. Listen on Podurama! https://podurama.com

79: William George Bonin, Part 4 - Thanks Steve

After a long time period of seemingly unrelated murders, the dots were at last connected; the news media dubbed this monster the "Freeway Killer", and the story gained traction everywhere very quickly. In part 4 of this series, Bonin relishes in his infamy as he continues down his road of terror with new (and old) accomplices. As bodies are found, police start gravitating toward their suspected perpetrator, and it's only a matter of time before Bonin takes his last joy ride.

78: William George Bonin, Part 3 - Just Don’t Ask Questions

Welcome back to the uplifting, feel-good story of William Bonin! In the third part of this series, we see his escalation and brutality evolve during both his solo and accomplice-supported murders. With a jail sentence looming on the horizon, Bonin wastes no time in making sure he gets his "fix" before imprisonment. Of course, it doesn't stop there; the ramping up continues after his early release, and a twisted dream of his finally becomes fulfilled.