Don’t worry if you don’t have to believe in curses… Robert the Doll believes enough for the both of you.

Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate

DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
IN THIS EPISODE: From creepy voices to mysterious movements to strange laughter and eerie deaths, the legend of Robert the Doll outshines many cursed object stories and has been haunting people for over a hundred years, and shows no sign of slowing down. (The True Story Behind Robert The Doll) *** In Brazil, two corpses were found on a hill, dressed in matching suits with homemade lead masks draped over their eyes. (The Lead Masks Case) *** If you were to be asked who the most horrible, terrifying figure in the Bible was, you would likely say Lucifer – that is, Satan himself. But there is a figure even more terrifying – and it is God’s right-hand man in the book of Revelation. (God’s Right Hand Man) *** Horror – the stories and images seem to change with each passing year, but there was a violent shift in horror shortly after the violent reality of the “War to End All Wars”. (How Horror Changed After World War 1) *** Two sisters rebel against their depressing family life by diving into witchcraft – and soon learn it was not a wise decision. (Leftover Magic) *** In 1827, young Maria Marten slipped into a red barn to meet her secret lover. It was the last time she would be seen alive. (Murder in the Red Barn) *** Madeleine Smith had a rich fiancé, a secret lover, and one heck of a secret hot chocolate recipe. A lethal secret recipe. (The Hot Cocoa Killer) *** Was the 1971 Lloyds Bank safety deposit robbery a covert operation to retrieve compromising photos of Royalty? (The Baker Street Robbery) *** From mouths nailed shut to being buried headfirst in the ground, throughout history the fear of witches has led to extraordinary measures to keep the dead from rising from the grave. (How To Bury a Witch)

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00.00.000 = Lead-In
00:01:26.878 = Show Open
00:04:06.804 = The True Story Behind Robert The Doll
00:12:49.695 = The Lead Masks Case
00:17:49.768 = God’s Terrifying Right-Hand Man
00:29:25.952 = How Horror Changed After WW1
00:44:57.564 = How To Bury A Witch
00:51:04.416 = The Hot Cocoa Killer
00:56:04.077 = Murder In The Red Barn
01:05:28.702 = Leftover Magic
01:11:06.093 = The Baker Street Robbery
01:31:57.360 = Show Close, Verse, and Final Thought
01:33:06.815 = Bloopers

SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…

”The True Story Behind Robert The Doll” by Melissa Brink: https://tinyurl.com/rnlbjxp
“The Lead Masks Case” by Orrin Grey: http://ow.ly/Re9h30nA2ZX
“God’s Terrifying Right-Hand Man” by Matthew Lavelle: https://tinyurl.com/u88mpbe
“How Horror Changed After WW1” by W. Scott Poole, from the book “Wasteland: The Great War And The Origins of Horror”: https://amzn.to/2t4ZmpT
“The Baker Street Robbery”: https://tinyurl.com/wltn62d
“How To Bury a Witch”: https://tinyurl.com/ttqfd2c
“Leftover Magic” by Weirdo family member Ilsa Beauchamp
“Murder In The Red Barn” by Stephanie Almazan: http://ow.ly/CV4K30nAJDp
“The Hot Cocoa Killer” by Jennifer Jackson: http://ow.ly/8bHt30nAJSg
=====
(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
= = = = =
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
= = = = =
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
=====
Originally aired: May 2022
EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/RobertTheDoll