Highway to Hell
Welcome to Highway to Hell, the unique crossroads where wanderlust meets mystery. Every episode, I take you on a journey to breathtaking destinations around the globe, unveiling not just the beauty of travel but the shadows that lurk behind the postcard-perfect views. From unsolved mysteries to infamous crimes, I explore the darker tales hidden within the world's most enchanting locales. So pack your curiosity, keep your wits about you, and join us as we dive deep into the thrilling intersection of travel and true crime. Your adventure into the unknown starts now.
Episodes
61. The Warrens & The Conjuring Empire
Our longest episode EVER. The ultimate deep dive on The Warrens, their history and their conjuring Empire! Ed and Lorraine were born in a factory town in Conneticut just 19 weeks apart. For both of them, a significant moment at 5 would help shape the course of their future. A chance meeting at a movie theater led to their marriage and the occult awakening and the Satanic Panic in the US would enab
60. The Dyatlov Incident
What could possibly cause experienced hikers to cut their way out of a tent, WALK half clothed to the treeline, and die from the elements?**Special thanks to our patreon supporters for making this show possible patreon.com/highwaytohellpodcast**In January 1959, ten students from the Ural Polytechnical Institute set out on a Category III ski trek through the northern Urals, led by 23-year-old Igor
59. YES, NO, GOODBYE- The History of the Ouija Board
Get episodes ad free and support the show at patreon.com/highwaytohell The Spiritualist movement swept America, enticing people to entertain the question, "can we truly talk to the dead?". The Fox Sisters in 1848 entranced interest with their rapping phenomena in Hydesville, NY. Beleivers in contact were already using talking boards, alphabet cards, taple tipping and planchette writing by putting
58. The Butcher Baker
Please support the show, get ad free episodes and bonus content at patreon.com/highwaytohellpodcastRobert Hansen was born in Estherville Iowa to Danish immigrant parents. His father, was a baker and very domineering. Hansen had a pronounced stutter, acne scars and experiences social rejection and humiliation. As retaliation for this humiliation, and for the rejection of young women who would bully
57. Herb Baumeister
Herbert Baumeister was born in Indiana in 1947 and grew up in a middle-class family near Indianapolis. Even as a young man he showed troubling signs, and he spent time in a mental institution as an adult. Still, he built what looked like an ordinary life. He married Julie Saiter in 1971, raised three children, and ran a chain of successful thrift stores called Sav-A-Lot. To neighbors and customers
56. Lights Out Volume 1
Today a little palette cleanser!After some heavy true crime and hauntings we wanted to do an episode sharing claimed in person paranormal encounters. If you'd like to submit a story- submit to info@montemader.com
55. The Worlds Most Haunted Places Part 2
As always special thanks to our hellions supporting us on patreon! patreon.com/highwaytohellpodcastThis episode closes the two-part countdown of the most haunted places on earth, covering the top five. We open in Edinburgh, Scotland — a city that sealed off its medieval streets and built a new city on top of them, leaving the original closes and vaults intact beneath the surface. The South Bridge
54. The Worlds Most Haunted Places Part 1
Today we start a two part series on the most haunted places in the world. This is the bottom 5 of the top 10. Little bit different format here with each individual place having its own haunted story and mini travel itinerary. Hoia-Baciu Forest in Romania — a 295-hectare forest outside Cluj-Napoca where locals refuse to enter, a circular clearing where nothing grows, and fifty years of documented r
53. Real Life Horror: The Case of Junko Furuto
TRIGGER WARNING: We typically don't have trigger warnings since it is a crime podcast, but this episode is ESPECIALLY graphic in topics of kidnapping, torture, and sexual assault. Not appropriate for young listeners. NEW: Fireside behind the scenes fireside chats available now at patreon.com/highwaytohell podcast with EVERY episode. Get ad free episodes 5 days early and then bonus chats on release
52. Bring Me The Beauties
In the early 1980s, Hoyt Richards was on track to become the world's first male supermodel. He worked campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Versace, Cartier, Burberry, and Valentino all while being part of a cult that would consume 2 decades of his life. On a Nantucket beach in 1978, 16-year-old Richards met Frederick von Mierers: older, charismatic, and full of Eastern philosophy, astrology, and talk o
51. The Haunting of Anneleise Michel
In 1952, a devout Catholic girl was born in a small Bavarian town. By 1976, she was dead at 23, weighing 66 pounds, after 67 exorcism sessions conducted by two Catholic priests while a medical diagnosis went untreated. Her name was Anneliese Michel. You probably know her as Emily Rose. At 16, Anneliese began experiencing seizures and was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy and depression. She wa
50. The I -5 Killer
Title: The I -5 Killer The I-5 Killer Randall Brent Woodfield seemed, on the surface, like everything America admired. A gifted athlete from Oregon, he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1974 — only to be cut before the season and later arrested multiple times for indecent exposure, a pattern the NFL had quietly noted. Despite early warning signs, Woodfield drifted in and out of trouble throu
49. "No Humans Involved"- Green River Killer
Apologies this episode is late! We had a major tech issue that showed our podcast no longer existed on our dashboard but all is well and recovered! Thanks for your patienceThank you to our supporters on patreon.com/highwaytohellBetween 1982 and 1998, Gary Leon Ridgway murdered at least 49 women in and around Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, making him one of the most prolific serial killers in Amer
48. Rehabilitation Imitation- Jack Unterweger
Thank you so much for all of the kind comments, likes and shares. It truly means so much to us! If you'd like ad free episodes, travel itineraries and first dibs on merch please join us as a HELLION at patreon.com/highwaytohellpodcastHe was born in 1950 in a small Austrian town called Judenburg, the son of a waitress turned occasional prostitute and an American GI he would never meet. Raised by a
47. Metal AF: Music, Satanic Panic, Hype & Hauntings
Between roughly 1980 and 1995, the United States experienced one of the largest collective delusions in its modern history. A significant share of the public, along with police departments, prosecutors, social workers, and clergy, came to believe that an organized network of Satanic cults was ritually abusing children, sacrificing infants, and operating in plain sight through churches, daycares, a
46. Above All Obey- Warren Jeffs Part 2.
Apologies for the delay! Monte recently moved and had no internet due to delayed set up. I’m back! In Part 2, we pick up right where the FBI did. Warren Jeffs made the Ten Most Wanted List in 2006 and was arrested that August. A Utah conviction followed in 2007, but was overturned on a technicality. Texas proved far less forgiving.In 2011, prosecutors presented DNA evidence proving Jeffs had fathe
45. Above All Obey- Warren Jeffs Part 1
Warren Jeffs was the self-declared prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the FLDS) a polygamist offshoot of mainstream Mormonism. He inherited leadership from his father Rulon Jeffs in 2002, even marrying some of his father's wives after his passing. At its peak, Jeffs controlled an estimated ten thousand followers, primarily concentrated in the twin border
44. Don't Whistle After Dark: Appalachia Hauntings
Thank you to our Hellions for your voted in topic! Subscribe for ad free episodes, voting topics and upcoming bonus episodes at patreon.com/highwaytohellpodcast.The Appalachian Mountains are the oldest range on Earth, and something has been living in them since before this country had a name. In this episode, we trace the full history of one of America's most distinct and haunted regions. Walk
43. La Llorona - Haunted Costa Rica
Few legends cut as deep as La Llorona, the Weeping Woman. This week we're trading the highway for the rainforest as we trace one of Latin America's most enduring and chilling folk stories into the heart of Costa Rica. We break down the origins of La Llorona, the grieving mother condemned to wander waterways for eternity searching for the children she lost, and how her story evolved differe
42. The Chicken Coop Murders
Gordon Northcott and a trip to Canada.In the late 1920s, one of California’s most disturbing child murder cases unfolded on a remote ranch in Wineville—a place so stained by violence that it would later change its name in an attempt to escape the legacy. At the center of the case was Gordon Stewart Northcott, a sadistic rancher whose crimes against children shocked the country and exposed serious
41. "We need to come inside"- Black Eyed Kids
Don't let them in! Black-Eyed Kids (BEK) is one of the most unsettling modern urban legends to emerge from late 20th-century folklore. Described as pale children with completely black eyes, no sclera, no iris. They are most often reported appearing at night, knocking on doors or approaching cars, and asking for permission to enter. And its not just their appearance thats disturbing, its the sense
40. Andrew Cunanan- Versace Spree Killer
In the summer of 1997, a cross-country killing spree gripped the United States, ending in one of the most shocking celebrity murders in modern history. At the center of it all was Andrew Cunanan—a charismatic, intelligent young man whose life of deception unraveled into violence.This episode traces Cunanan’s story from the beginning: his upbringing in San Diego, his father’s financial crimes and a
39. Haunted Highways
Several American roads have become famous not just for travel but for paranormal folklore, drawing visitors interested in ghost stories and unexplained sightings. The historic U.S. Route 66 stretches across eight states and is filled with haunted lore tied to abandoned mining towns, old motels, and roadside cemeteries; travelers often report shadowy figures, ghostly hitchhikers, and strange lights
38. Unsolved! Jack The Ripper
Special thanks to our Hellions on Patreon! Subscribe for ad free episodes at Patreon.com/highwaytohellpodcastJack the Ripper was an unidentified serial killer who murdered at least five women in the Whitechapel, London in 1888.The victims—Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly—were mostly impoverished women who worked as prostitutes. The killer wa
37. America's Most Famous Cold Case- The John List Murders
Edit: On our second ad break I gave the wrong patreon (got my podcasts mixed up). If you'd like to support this show please sign up to be a hellion at patreon.com/highwaytohellpodcast.On November 9th, 1971, John List walked behind his wife at the breakfast table and shot her in the back of the head. After moving her to the ballroom of the families mansion, he went upstairs to his mothers private a
36. All Power- No Accountability: Epstein Part 2
After his sweetheart deal in 2008, Epstein was able to reintegrate into life and maintain his trafficking ring without any loss in wealth, associations or connections. This episode tracks his life and dealings from 2008 to his death in 2019, the aftermath of his cruelty, the arrest and trial of Ghislaine Maxwell and the recent release of the Epstein files. As of now, no man involved with Epstein a
35. Boys will be Boys & The Sweetheart Deal - Jeffrey Epstein Part 1
**Please forgive some slight changes as this had to be recorded remotely*Please support the show at patreon.com/highwaytohellpodcast3 million more Epstein files were released and yet in the US there has been no further investigation, no arrests. Files that detail the rape, murder, cannibalism of children result in no arrests. The release of the files almost extend Epsteins story- a man of deceptio
34. The Curious Case of Jon Benet
A ransom note was found on the stairs of the Ramsey house on December 26, 1996. Patsy Ramsey quickly called police and reported that her daughter, JonBenét, was missing. The police treated it as a kidnapping since the three page ransom note demanded $118,000, the exact Christmas bonus, her father John had received.Police failed to secure the entire scene, failed to search the house thoroughly,but
33. Quiver Over Care- The Story of Andrea Yates
Andrea Yates, a Texas mother of five, drowned her children in a bathtub on June 20, 2001, shocking the nation. She immediately confessed to police and was later found not guilty by reason of insanity. Her medical history showed years of severe postpartum depression and psychosis, multiple hospitalizations, and suicide attempts. Doctors had warned her husband, Rusty Yates, that further pregnancies
32. Skinwalkers & The Navajo Nation
In this episode, we step into one of the most unsettling corners of American folklore: the legend of the skinwalker.Rooted in Navajo (Diné) tradition, the skinwalker—often called yee naaldlooshii, “with it, he goes on all fours”—is not a cryptid or campfire monster, but a deeply serious and taboo figure tied to witchcraft, shapeshifting, and the deliberate misuse of spiritual power. Medicine men w
31. West Memphis 3- Part 2
The continuation of the West Memphis 3 case with a travel itinerary in Memphis!!! Want these episodes ad free? Subscribe to be a hellion at patreon.com/highwaytohellpodcast
30. West Memphis 3- Part 1
Occasionally there's a story with so much to it and so much nuance, that we break it up into two pieces instead of making a three hour episode. So here is part one! On May 5, 1993, three eight-year-old boys—Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers—were reported missing in West Memphis, Arkansas. Their bodies were discovered the next day in a drainage ditch in an area known as Robin
29. The Candyman- Houston, TX
⚠️ Content Warning:This episode contains discussion of extreme violence, sexual abuse, and the murder of minors. Listener discretion is strongly advised.This episode examines the crimes of Dean Corll who operated in early 1970s in Houston, Corll, later dubbed “The Candyman”, used manipulation, coercion, and the assistance of two teenage accomplices to abduct, torture, and murder dozens of boys and
28. Harm and Hauntings in East State Penitentiary
Welcome to our new release schedule! Midnight every Tuesday (we'll explain more next episode about the schedule change) Want ad free episodes? Bonus content? Early access to merch? Become a Hellion for $5 a month on patreon at patreon.com/highwaytohellpodcastOpened in 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most radical and influential prison in the world. Built on the belief that isolat
27. Missing & Murdered- Laci Peterson
Christmas Eve release for a Christmas Eve crime! Thank you so much for the love and support from new Hellions who have become followers and subscribers! Follow us on IG at @highwaytohellpodTopic you want to hear? Highway@montemader.comOn December 24, 2002, Laci Peterson, eight months pregnant, disappeared from her home in Modesto. Investigators uncovered inconsistencies in Scott Peterson’s stateme
26. Beast of Jersey
For more than a decade, Jersey (one of the Channel Islands off the coast of Normandy) was haunted by a figure locals came to call the Beast of Jersey. A masked man who moved through hedgerows and farm lanes at night slicing phone lines and entering homes while families slept. He abducted women and children from their beds assaulted them in their rooms or out in the fields and then returned them ho
25. Heavens Gate
In this episode, we examine the rise and tragic end of Heaven’s Gate, one of the most infamous cults in modern American history. Founded by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, the group fused New Age spirituality, Christian apocalypticism, and science-fiction belief into a rigid worldview centered on ascension to a higher evolutionary level. We trace the group’s origins in the 1970s, its recru
24. Devil in the White City- HH Holmes
Thank you for listening! Please share and subscribe!Herman Webster Mudgett — better known as H.H. Holmes — is often regarded as America’s first documented serial killer, but long before the murders came fraud, reinvention, and carefully engineered charm. A medical student with a fascination for cadavers, he began his criminal life forging documents, taking out insurance policies on stolen corpses,
23. Albert Fish- New York City
And here's the Albert Fish episode! Sorry every body I uploaded them out of order on accident. But here we are.TW: Extreme child abuse and assaultAlbert Fish (1870–1936) was an American serial killer, cannibal, and sadomasochist whose crimes in the early 20th century remain some of the most disturbing in U.S. criminal history. Raised in an abusive orphanage and plagued throughout his life by v
22. The Oakland County Child Murders
Please review and subscribe to our show!Between 1976 and 1977, Oakland County, Michigan was gripped by fear as four children—Mark Stebbins, Jill Robinson, Kristine Mihelich, and Timothy King—were abducted and murdered in what became known as the Oakland County Child Killer case. This episode walks listeners through the verified timelines of each disappearance, the forensic evidence recovered, the
21. The Cecil Hotel
Nestled in the heart of Los Angeles’ Skid Row, the Cecil Hotel was meant to be a beacon of glamour when it opened its doors in 1927. Instead, it became one of America’s most infamous landmarks—a towering witness to tragedy, violence, and urban decay. This episode dives deep into the history of the Cecil: from its grand opening during the Roaring Twenties to its rapid decline during the Great Depre
20.Ed Gein and American Horror
In this episode, we delve into the life of Ed Gein — the isolated Wisconsin boy whose descent into necrophilia, murder and grave-robbing would ripple through popular culture to become the blueprint for some of horror’s most iconic monsters. We trace his roots: a domineering, religious mother whose moral fanaticism and isolation of her two sons planted the seeds of psychosis; a father whose abusive
19. The Amityville Horror
We are back! Welcome to the second season and total revamp of Highway to Hell where we take you all across the country and the world telling the craziest true crime, the scariest paranormal stories and if you are a true crime fan like us, we give you the best places in the area to see, eat and drink. Who doesn't love a little spooky in their travels.SO happy to welcome my cohost Andy Jones, my
18. The Atlanta Child Murders
29 missing children and young people
29 bodies
Was Wayne Williams guilty? Or a scapegoat?
17. "Florida Man"
I wanted to do something lighter this week! a collection of some of the funniest "Florida Man" true crime ending with a "Florida Man Mayor"
16. The Toy Box Killer
VERY DISTURBING CONTENT.
The "Toy Box Killer," David Parker Ray, was an American criminal who is believed to have tortured and killed numerous women in the mid-1990s. Ray lived in Elephant Butte, New Mexico, and worked as a mechanic for the New Mexico Parks Department. His crimes came to light in 1999 when a woman named Cynthia Vigil escaped from his trailer, where she had been held cap
15- Gilgo Beach Murders
In 2010-2011, 10 bodies were dug up on the shores of long island. The body count of one killer hiding in plain sight.
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EP14- Jeffrey Dahmer
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Step into the chilling world of one of history's most notorious serial killers: Jeffrey Dahmer. In this gripping episode, I delve into the disturbing life and gruesome crimes of the Milwaukee Cannibal. From his troubled childhood and early signs of a twisted psyche to the horrifying murders that shocked the nation
EP 13- The Murder of Matthew Shepard
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Traveling to Wyoming to discuss the heartbreaking stranger murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming college student that shocked and changed the nation.
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EP 12- The Murdaugh Murders
Please like and subscribe! Traveling to South Carolina Lowcountry to explore the life and crimes of Alex Murdaugh and the entire murderous Murdaugh family!!
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Ep 11- The Exorcist
Lets travel to Washington DC!!!! We'll discuss the history of exorcism, the real life story that inspired the exorcist and the movie itself.
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EP 10- London- Fred and Rose West
Fred and Rose West were a British couple who became infamous for their series of brutal murders and sexual assaults, primarily during the 1970s and 1980s. They were responsible for at least twelve known murders, including those of their own children.
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EP9- Los Angeles- Children of God Sex Cult
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The Children of God cult, also known as The Family International, is a religious group that originated in 1968 in Huntington Beach, California, founded by David Berg. It gained notoriety for its extreme beliefs and controversial practices under the guise of Christian fundamentalism. Key elements of the cult included
EP8: Honolulu- The Island Murder
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A gang rape and assault... or was it? An innocent man is abducted and murdered... or was he? Lets travel to Honolulu and investigate the scandal of an era. A rocky marriage, racism, murder and a miscarriage of justice on this weeks Highway to Hell Episode.
Instagram: @montemader
EP7- Miami- The Sun Gym Gang
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The Sun Gym Gang, led by Daniel Lugo, Adrian Doorbal, and Jorge Delgado, embarked on a spree of violent crimes in the 1990s in Miami, Florida. Their modus operandi blended bodybuilding prowess with a penchant for ruthless criminality. Among their most infamous crimes was the abduction and extortion of wealthy bu
Ep6- Savannah- The Spirit of Alice Riley
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Show Outline:
History of Savannah
The Life and Execution of Alice Riley
The Haunted Sorrel-Weed House
The Paranormal Investigations of Savannah Theater
Travel Tips (start at 46:48)Things to do:
Ghost Tours- Genteel and Bard
Tour Sorr
EP5- Denver- The Coors Kidnapping
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Sponsors:
Intravenous Solutions
Podcast: Nashville For Nobodies
Adolph Coors III, known as Ad, was the heir to the Coors Brewing Company. He was kidnapped on February 9, 1960, while en route to work from his home in Morrison, Colorado. The route he took over Turkey Creek Bridge was where his c
EP4- St. Louis- The Street Walker Strangler
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Show Notes: Maury Troy Travis, born on October 25, 1965, in St. Louis, Missouri, was an American serial killer who terrorized the St. Louis area from 2000 to 2002. His life took a dark turn early on, as he began engaging in criminal activities, including robbing shoe stores, and developed a crack h
EP3- New York City- American Mafia
Deep dive into the history of the American Mob, the crime syndicate, La Cosa Nostra.
As always thanks for listening! Please like, subscribe and follow! Questions and Comments to: monteashleymader@gmail.com
American Mafia: La Cosa Nostra
### Early 20th Century: The Foundations
- **Origins:** The American Mafia, with roots in Sicilian and Italian organized crime, began to take shape in the late 1
EP2- New Orleans- The Butchering of Addie Hall
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The Zack and Addie case is a tragic story that unfolded in New Orleans, Louisiana, with Hurricane Katrina serving as a backdrop to the events.
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, devastating New Orleans and causing widespread destruction and displacement. Amidst the chaos
EP1- Nashville- The Bell Witch
SHOW NOTES
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Highway to Hell- Episode 1
Nashville, TN - The Legend of the Bell Witch
**Introduction**
- Welcome to Highway to Hell, the show where history meets adventure. In today’s episode, we're diving into the chilling legend of the Bell Witch, a tale that has haunted Nashville, Tennessee, for centuries. Plus, stick around as we share our top travel tips for
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