“BEFORE THEY LOCKED THEIR DOORS: The True Story of the Shell Lake Murders” and MORE! #WeirdDarkness

2024/12/19

Weird Darkness: Stories of the Paranormal, Supernatural, Legends, Lore, Mysterious, Macabre, Unsolved

Darren Marlar

Shell Lake惨案讲述了1967年萨斯喀彻温省Shell Lake社区发生的悲惨大屠杀，以及由此引发的关于偏远地区心理健康服务的全国性讨论。该事件中，患有严重精神疾病的Victor Hoffman随机枪杀了Peterson一家九口人，仅有两名女儿幸存。此事件凸显了加拿大农村地区心理健康服务资源匮乏的问题，以及未能及时干预和治疗严重精神疾病患者的严重后果。Peterson一家在当地社区享有盛誉，他们的悲惨遭遇引发了人们对心理健康服务的关注和反思，并促使萨斯喀彻温省对精神卫生服务体系进行改进。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why did Victor Hoffman target the Peterson family in the Shell Lake Massacre?

Victor Hoffman, a 21-year-old with untreated schizophrenia, randomly chose the Peterson home after wandering the streets. His mental illness, marked by violent impulses and hallucinations, led him to target strangers rather than his own family.

How did the Shell Lake Massacre impact mental health care in Canada?

The massacre highlighted the lack of mental health resources in rural areas, prompting a national conversation about the need for better access to psychiatric services and post-release care for patients. It led to significant improvements in mental health care in Saskatchewan.

What was the role of Dr. Henry Lee in solving the Helle Crafts murder case?

Dr. Henry Lee, a forensic scientist, played a crucial role by using advanced scientific methods to analyze tiny pieces of evidence, including bone fragments, teeth, and hair, which helped prove Richard Crafts' guilt despite the absence of a complete body.

Why did Henry Trigg request an unconventional burial in his will?

Henry Trigg was terrified of grave robbers and requested that his body be placed in a coffin in the rafters of his barn for at least 30 years to prevent it from being stolen and sold to medical schools.

What happened to Karlie Gusé after she disappeared in 2018?

Karlie Gusé was last seen walking along Highway 6 in California with a piece of paper in her hand. Despite extensive searches and investigations, she has never been found, and her disappearance remains a mystery.

What evidence led to Richard Crafts' conviction in the Helle Crafts murder?

Evidence included a chainsaw found in Lake Zoar with Helle's blood on it, tiny bone fragments and teeth recovered from the wood chipper, and forensic analysis proving the remains belonged to Helle. This case marked Connecticut's first murder trial without a complete body.

Why do some people believe ancient astronauts visited Earth in prehistoric times?

The theory, popularized by books like Erich von Däniken's 'Chariots of the Gods,' suggests that extraterrestrials visited ancient civilizations and influenced their culture, technology, and architecture, particularly in non-European regions. This belief is often tied to colonialist and racist ideologies.

What was the estimated size of the UFO witnessed by Richard and Helen in 1992?

Richard estimated the UFO's wingspan to be about 2,000 feet, which is larger than six football fields placed side by side. The craft also had the ability to camouflage itself by blending with the sky.

Chapters

The peaceful life of the Peterson family in Shell Lake, Saskatchewan was shattered on August 15, 1967, when Victor Hoffman, a mentally ill young man, murdered nine family members. This tragedy sparked a national debate about mental health care, particularly in rural areas.

Victor Hoffman, a 21-year-old with untreated mental illness, committed the Shell Lake Massacre.
Nine members of the Peterson family were killed, with only two surviving.
The tragedy highlighted the lack of mental health resources in rural Canada and the need for better care.

Shownotes Transcript

When Victor Hoffman's hallucinations and violent impulses went untreated in rural Saskatchewan, the result was devastating: nine members of the Peterson family murdered in their home, a community's trust shattered, and a national awakening to the dire need for mental health care.Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateInfo on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScreamInfo on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TVIN THIS EPISODE: One October morning in 2018, sixteen-year-old Karlie Gusé walked away from her California home after attending a party the night before – and despite three witnesses who saw her walking with a piece of paper in her hand, she was never seen again. (She Disappeared, Paper In Hand) *** A Sunday drive to an antiques fair becomes an encounter with the impossible when Richard and Helen witness a massive UFO mothership. (Mothership In Gorse Field) *** A suspicious purchase of a freezer chest, a chainsaw, and a wood chipper during a snowstorm seemed strange - but it would lead investigators to one of the most shocking murder cases in Connecticut history, and revolutionize how crimes are solved. (Wood Chipper Murder of Hele Crafts) *** In 18th century England, a wealthy grocer named Henry Trigg was so terrified of grave robbers that he made an unusual request in his will: instead of burial, his body should be stored in a coffin in his barn's rafters for at least 30 years - but his attempt to protect his remains would lead to an ironic and mysterious fate. (Coffin In The Rafters) *** In the quiet farming community of Shell Lake, Saskatchewan, a family's peaceful life was shattered on August 15, 1967, when Victor Hoffman, a troubled young man with untreated mental illness, randomly chose the Peterson home and methodically killed nine members of their family - leaving only two survivors and forever changing how rural Canada approached mental health care. (The Horror That Shook Shell Lake) *** The idea that aliens visited Earth in ancient times has captivated millions through books, documentaries, and TV shows - but what does our willingness to credit extraterrestrials rather than ancient peoples reveal about modern society? (Did Aliens Visit Ancient Earth?)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Cold Open00:02:12.503 = Show Intro00:05:28.607 = The Horror That Shook Shell Lake00:26:11.478 = Mothership In Gorse Field00:31:28.574 = The Wood Chipper Murder of Hele Crafts00:38:48.234 = Did Aliens Visit Ancient Earth Civilizations?00:49:08.999 = She Disappeared, Paper In Hand: The Karlie Guse’ Disappearance00:55:38.969 = Coffin In The Rafters01:01:42.408 = Show CloseSOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…“The Horror That Shook Shell Lake”: https://rephonic.com/podcasts/the-shell-lake-massacre,https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/saskatchewan-s-worst-mass-murder-occurred-exactly-50-years-ago-1.3547051,https://www.ckom.com/shell-lake-massacre/, https://library.usask.ca/sni/stories/her11a.html,https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111731070/victor-ernest-hoffman,https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/marking-50-years-since-the-shell-lake-murders-canada-s-worst-random-mass-killing-1.4244265, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuNYCAHgybw“Coffin In The Rafters”: https://www.ourstevenage.org.uk/content/place/old-town/buried-in-the-loft-the-legend-of-henry-trigg-and-the-old-castle-inn, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Trigg_%28testator%29,https://burialsandbeyond.com/2023/04/09/henry-trigg-and-the-coffin-in-the-rafters,https://www.hertsmemories.org.uk/content/herts-history/topics/supernatural-and-unexplained-phenomena/henry-triggs-house-buried-roof, https://www.readtheplaque.com/plaque/the-coffin-of-hentry-trigg,https://www.amusingplanet.com/2024/11/henry-trigg-and-coffin-in-roof.html, https://www.spookyisles.com/haunted-stevenage, https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101096090-triggs-barn-stevenage-old-town-ward,https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/triggs-barn-coffin-in-the-rafters/view/google/,https://www.andrewgrantham.co.uk/thegranthams/paul/graves/trigg.html“She Disappeared, Paper In Hand (The Karlie Guse’ Disappearance)”: https://disappearedblog.com/karlie-guse,https://allthatsinteresting.com/karlie-guse, https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/karlie-lain-guse,https://thecinemaholic.com/karlie-guse-found-or-missing-is-she-dead-or-alive, https://charleyproject.org/case/karlie-lain-guse“Mothership In Gorse Field”: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ufo-hearing-congress-uap-takeaways-whistleblower-conference-david-grusch-2023, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pentagon-ufo-expert-says-secret-group-has-non-human-material-k9556s7rc, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Lights,https://www.archives.gov/research/topics/uaps“Wood Chipper Murder of Hele Crafts”: https://casetext.com/case/state-v-crafts,https://crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/family/woodchipper_murder/12.html,https://www.mrpalermo.com/uploads/9/8/9/6/9896107/woodchipper_case_study.pdf, https://morbidology.com/the-wood-chipper-murder-helle-crafts, https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920223/1477398/this-job-is-murder-and-renowned-forensic-expert-excels-at-it, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Helle_Crafts“Did Aliens Visit Ancient Earth Civilizations” by Orrin Grey for The-Line-Up.com, used with permission: https://the-line-up.com/ancient-alien-theoryWeird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = =(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 ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: December 18, 2024SOURCES PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/ShellLake

“BEFORE THEY LOCKED THEIR DOORS: The True Story of the Shell Lake Murders” and MORE! #WeirdDarkness 01:03:36 Share