Olympia Oddities

For this episode of Side Show, I start the show by giving an update on Matthew Anfeldt's case, cover some updates to the podcast, then wrap the whole thing up with a PNW cryptid ranking list, some bizarre local crimes & news stories and fill you in on what's been going on in my life.

On December 21st, 2014 teenager Jarom Thomas decided to resolve a fight over a minor car accident with a single punch. That punch thrown by one of his friends ended up in Jarom Thomas' death. The next year, his parents revealed to the media that they had heard a different version of the story. The details they heard were upsetting, and conflicted with the original version of the story Jarom's friends and the police had told them. Head to Spotify or your favorite podcast platform to listen.

It's a solo Trista Side Show straight from Olympia Oddities new studio and I'm here to recap the end of summer, including my second ever burlesque show stage kitten experience, the Roy Pioneer Rodeo, and a camping trip.

Ft. The coroner leaving the campsite as I show up, Oakville's bigfoot statue, and Trista's True Crime Roundup making it's return

In today's episode, Trista tells you the story of Richard Russell, an unassuming baggage handler at SeaTac who shocked the world and those who knew him by stealing a plane. I cover the flight path his comandeered plane took, the radio communications that transpired between those trying to get him to safety and keep others out of harms way, and the tragic end to his flight.

Sources:

Rolling Stone - The Sky Thief, June 24th 2021

Seattle Times - Richard Russell was a jokester who complained about work, but SeaTac plane heist still baffles friends, August 19 2018

It's a solo Side Show episode and my return from my summer break! I talk the future of Side Show & some exciting plans coming up, recap my summer so far, including my trip to the Paranormal Circus, a podcast live show, and one of my favorite Washington establishments, Sharkys. Also in this episode: opinons on juggling, buildings shaped like coffee pots, and Godzilla pinball

Two brothers went missing, a little over two years apart from each other. Despite some shared similarities, investigators believe that these two disapperances are completely unrelated. Today, we're telling you about the 1988 & 1991 disappearances of George and Edwin Pooler. George disappeared after leaving a tavern in Omak, WA with a group of people. Shortly after his disappearance, his burned out car was discovered just 3 miles from town. Edwin disappeared from the Alice Flats HUD site in Keller, after being spotted with a group of men and one woman. We discuss the solved murder of Edwin and the questions that still surround his death, and cover the still unsolved disappearance of George, as well as some of the amazing work their sister has done to try and help solve their cases.

Sources:

Charley Project - George Wayne Pooler

Charley Project - Edwin Oliver Pooler

The Spokesman Review - No body, but persistence gets indictment, 2006

Delayed by some tech issues but not forgotten, our Year End Holiday special is finally here! In this Side Show episode we discuss our feelings on Dragula Titans, share some of our favorite holiday season tropes, Trista shares her strong feelings on A Christmas Story, chat about the National Finals Rodeo, have a few chair malfunctions, and discuss our favorite holiday songs, including how Dean Martin sounds like he's about to fall down your staircase and take our your lamp in his rendition of Silver Bells. We wrap up with a few holiday crimes courtesy of Steven! Happy New Year! 

In today's episode we discuss the 1991 disappearance of Cora Christmas McGuirk from Seattle, Washington. Cora was just 22 years old when she disappeared from her Seattle residence for a day, then returned home and asked a family member a question that was very alarming to them. Cora left, and she was never seen or heard from again. We explore the circumstances leading up to Cora's mysterious disappearance, and a possible connection this case may have to a very well known, very much hated serial killer of ours. 

Sources: 

Charley Project - Cora Christmas McGuirk

The Doe Network - Cora Christmas McGuirk

Seattle P.I - Martell's Story: Sophomore's path to stardom anything but smooth

Today we tell you all about a Seattle legend that became a worldwide legend, with the help of a few musicians. That's right, we're talking about THE Spoonman. Now a Port Townsend resident, you used to be able to catch Artis at Pike Place, with his mat of assorted tools laid out in front of him while he slapped and smacked the spoons across his body to make his music. Part performance art, part musical performance, it was really something to see. We talk about Artis's childhood and how he discovered his special spoon playing talent, how his path crossed ways with Frank Zappa, and later Soundgarden, discuss how the song Spoonman came to be, Trista geeks out really hard over everything, and we wrap it up by talking about where Artis is now, and what he's up to. 

TW: brief suicide attempt mention

Sources: 

Wikipedia - Artis the Spoonman

Wikipedia - Spoonman

Seattle PI - 'Spoonman' stunned by death of Soundgarden's Chris Cornell

Port Townsend Leader - PT's Spoonman tied to Seattle

Today we're telling you about the murder of Nicole Hutchings. Nicole Hutchings was lured to a fake Halloween party that was part of a ruse created by two men with plans to murder her. They drugged her and left her in a shallow grave on Forest Service land near Sunriver, Oregon. The case was cold for years until one woman approached the police with information that cracked the entire thing open: the incredibly sad motive. We discuss the circumstances around Nicole Hutchings murder, the investigation and how police were able to find the two men who were responsible, and share the fate of these callous killers. 

TW: CSA mention, rough episode

Find a Grave - Nicole Marie Hutchings

Bend Bulletin - Man gets life in prison for Hutchings murder

Bend Bulletin - Murder plot detailed at sentencing

In today's special Halloween episode of Side Show we cover a little bit of everything. From books and movies we've enjoyed lately, to that Rugrats episode with the Quaker Oats man, rooting for The Boys, selling towels out of a trench coat, our Halloween plan, Fat Heads, that worm from Labyrinth, and wrap the whole thing up by telling you about one of the most compelling possible paranormal encounters we had earlier this year at the Mossyrock Dam. 

In today's Spooky Season episode, we tell you all about the tragic sinking of the ship The Andelana, which caused the deaths of 17 crew members who were trapped on board as the ship sank to the ocean's floors in just minutes on January 14th, 1899. We get into the details of how the ship sank and the attempts to raise the ship from the ocean's depths, which caused another unbelievably tragic death during some efforts to raise the ship. And of course, because it is spooky season after all, we discuss some reported paranormal activity going on in the area of Tacoma, Washington where the Andelana sank and some mythology surrounding the eerie last photo of the crew. 

Sources: 

History Link - The bark Andelana disappears while lying at anchor at Tacoma on January 14, 1899.

SouthSoundTalk - Few Relics Remain of The Andelana – Tacoma’s Largest Maritime Disaster

Here's our recording of our first ever live show, recorded at the first ever PNW True Crime Fest. Matthew Anfeldt was just 20 years old when he disappeared from his family's home in Grand Mound, Washington under incredibly bizarre circumstances. After telling his sister he was going to grab his phone, he ended up in a nearby roadway in a panic, yelling at cars that his family had been killed and that someone was after him. He was last seen at the Speedway Grocery before fleeing out the side door, and police discovered that his family was perfectly fine. Matthew has never been seen since. We explore the details of the case and explore some possible theories behind his disappearance. Thank you to everyone who came out to make this live show possible!

Sources:

Records Request with Thurston County Sheriff's Office

Charley Project - Matthew Anfeldt

Q13 Fox - Detectives investigating whether young man's disappearance is linked to previous attack in Lacey, February 23rd, 2020

KOMO News - 'They're after me!' Thurston County man disappears after bizarre rampage, March 7th, 2019

Today we're telling you about the life of child-killer Michele Dee Gates, starting with her chaotic childhood. We discuss the tragic murders of Ruth Anne O'Neil and Natyah Ottino that Michele committed when she was just a child herself, her later failed hitman plot, and how her new husband ended up being murdered. By her father. Buckle up for this one. 

Ft. the audacity, the nerve, and the Sqweegel episode of CSI

TW: child murder, child abuse, sexual assault mention

Sources: 

Oregon Live - The strange case of child-killer Michele Gates and how it changed Oregon forever, 2019

The Spokesman Review - Father of Portland child killer Michele Dee Gates accused of shooting her husband in Stevens County

The Spokesman Review - Man who shot son-in-law near Colville pleads guilty to manslaughter, gets 7 years in prison

Today we're covering a UFO story for the first time in a long time! In fact, it's Steven's first UFO story as a co-host! In this episode we discussed the 1950 McMinnville UFO photos, which were a series of photos captured by a farming couple, the Trents, near McMinnville, Oregon. We chat about the sighting, discuss some investigations and examinations of the photos, and come to our own conclusions. 

Ft. the funniest dialogue I have ever read in a UFO interview, car side mirrors, and the Dean from Community 

Sources:

Wikipedia - McMinville UFO Photos

The Oregonian - Past Tense Oregon: UFO photos taken near McMinnville in 1950 still raise questions

The Oregonian - 1997 story: Fifty years of UFO, the truth is still out there

Today we're covering a famous PNW legend, the mythical Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus. We dive into the wacky world of the Save The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus website and learn about the diet, movements, and life-cycle of the tree octopus, then dive into where exactly this legend originated from. 

Ft. land sushi, sasquatch as an apex predator, and octopus hood ornaments

Sources: 

Library of Congress Web Archive - Save The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus

Today we're covering the 1988 disappearance of Tina Marie Finley. Tina Finley had a rough start to life, and her family ended up splitting up. She ended up in an even worse situation in the foster system, but was eventually able to run away and reconnect with a family member back in Idaho. Her future in Idaho seemed bright, as she held down multiple jobs and was even considering enrolling in college to follow in her sister's footsteps. Tragically, Tina Finley went missing after accepting a ride from a man she met at a party that night. We cover Tina Finley's childhood, her reunion with her uncle, discuss the night of her disappearance and some of the suspects in the case. 

TW: alcoholism, sexual abuse mention

Correction: I mistakenly said 1989 instead of 1988 as the year of her disappearance. It was a long recording day and I apologize! 

Sources: 

Charlie Project - Tina Marie Finley

The Doe Network - Tina Marie Finley

NAMUS - Missing Person / NamUs #MP9768

The Spokesman Review - Silence Envelops Mystery Many Feel They Have Solution, But Lack Proof

In the 2010's Superheros began roaming the streets of Seattle, helping people out, posing for pictures, and breaking up bar fights. Soon, the police had a list of more than 10 working superheros that made up The Rain City Superhero Movement. We get into how the movement started, discuss some of the altercations they were involved in, and tell you the tale of Phoenix Jones, which may just prove that you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. 

Sources:

Wikipedia - Phoenix Jones

Wikipedia - Rain City Superhero Movement

KOMO News - Real-life superhero 'Phoenix Jones' in super trouble, facing drug charges

On February 28th 2001, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the lower Puget Sound area, near Olympia. Trista shares her own story of experiencing the earthquake as a first grader in the lunchroom, we cover the type of earthquake it was, the damage caused by it, and how things have changed since then.  Ft. an Ember Goods shout-out, the worst Stevie Nicks impersonation you have ever heard, and being misquoted in the newspaper as a kid 

Sources: 

Wikipedia - 2001 Nisqually Earthquake

Wikipedia - Intraplate Earthquake

Wikipedia - 1700 Cascadia Earthquake

KIRO7 - Nisqually Earthquake: 20 Years Later

Today we tell you the mystery of the Lady of the Lake. On a summer morning in 1940, two brothers discovered a woman's remains floating on the surface of Lake Crescent in Washington. Even stranger, the woman's remains had a bizarre, soap like consistency. Listen to find out who the Lady of the Lake was in life and how she died, how investigators were able to determine the identity of the remains, the subsequent murder trial, and the bizarre decomposition process known as saponification.

Ft. foot pudd, Monty being a cat name, and the worst outro we have ever recorded

Sources: 

Historylink.org - Lady of the Lake

Morbidology - Lady of the Lake: Hallie Illingworth

Today we tell you about the mysterious disappearance of Misty Copsey, a 14 year old girl who disappeared after a fun day spent with a friend at the Puyallup Fair. We discuss some of the possible suspects, a possible connection to some other murders in the area, how botched the investigation into Misty's disappearance was, new methods investigators are using to try to get information about Misty's disappearance, and try to figure out why her friend was later caught in a lie by the cops. ft. escape goats

Sources:

The Charley Project - Misty Donna Copsey

The Doe Network - Case File 688DFWA Misty Donna Copsey

Bustle - A Missing Teen is Tweeting 25 years after her disappearance

In today's episode we tell you all about one of my favorite cryptids, the Fresno Nightcrawlers, and a few other sightings of similar creatures around the country. In 2007, a man was woken up by his dogs and security system going off. When he checked his security camera footage, he didn't find a burglar like he expected, but instead multiple tiny white creatures that resembled walking pajama pants. We cover some sightings, and get into the theories behind what these creatures are and where they could've come from. 

ft. Jimmy Neutron, Office Space references, and throwin' lil shorty in a leglock

Sources:

Cryptidwiki - Fresno Nightcrawlers, Medford Shmoos

Ranker - Fresno Nightcrawlers are Terrorizing the Dark, and They’re Spreading Far From California

Astonishing Legends - Fresno Nightcrawlers

Join us for episode 1 of our new side show, Olympia Oddities Podcast: Sideshow. This week we recapped some of the weirder local headlines and police scanner reports that Trista gathered over the past few years, talk Thanksgiving plans & traditions (Alice's Restaurant and B horror movies anyone?), what podcasts we've been listening to lately and how we were introduced to the podcast world, bizarre flavors of grapes and apples, and a local true crime holiday connection.