New York's Dark Side

26/07/2024

Which one are you? I’m in the middle. There are some fake horror movies that I laugh at myself for taking that extra look out the window or extra check of the locks on doors and windows over. And there are true crime documentaries that keep me awake at night.

25/07/2024

25/07/2024

Have you heard the story of the missing NYS Supreme Court Justice Joseph Force Crater? If not, I have you covered. 😉

On August 3, 1930 Supreme Court Justice Joseph Force Crater would step off a curb outside Billy Haas' Chop House and disappear, never to be seen again. This is the 93 year old unsolved case of Joseph F. Crater, dubbed the most missing man in America. This story is wild, filled with love, s*x, m_rder, & scandal. I also bring you some history on some American Holiday culture, discuss the corrupt Tammany Hall and its connection to the famous dual between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. I might even sing a little. You've been warned.

23/07/2024

Update 7/25/2024: Maria has been located in good health. Thank you everyone for your assistance.

———————————————————————————
The New York State Police in Troop K are attempting to locate Maria Ortiz, age 25, of Poughkeepsie, NY.

Maria is small in stature with brown eyes, black hair, and of a thin build. The images provided are the only one's available at this time.

She is known to frequent the Poughkeepsie and New York City areas.

Anyone with any possible information is asked to please contact the New York State Police at (845) 677-7300. Please refer to case number 11910794. All calls can be kept confidential.

Please do not leave any tips on Facebook.

22/07/2024

🚨 Missing Person ⚠️

Cynthia Bulmer went missing from Lockport, NY in late March of 1998. She's not been seen since. Last known location was at Kendzie's Restaurant on Main Street in Lockport around 10:30 pm.

If you have any information about Cynthia's disappearance please call Lockport Police (716) 433-7700 or e-mail the information to: [email protected]

21/07/2024

Some historical photos of Split Rock Quarry before and after the explosion.

21/07/2024

📣 New Episode Alert! 🎧

This week we head back in time to explore the history of Split Rock Quarry in Camillus, NY. The limestone quarry produced the material used in the original Erie Canal along with many other canals in the state. In 1915, a munitions factory was opened in the quarry site that was essential to the Allies efforts in World War I. We dive deep into the history of the quarry and the explosion in 1918 that had the potential to take out the city of Syracuse in the process. Listen to the all new episode 'The Explosion of Split Rock Quarry' now, wherever you get your podcasts.

For more: https://bit.ly/4cFW5S9

20/07/2024

Happy Sunny Saturday (at least it is where I am 🙂, hope it is for you as well)

Join me tomorrow for a new episode of New York’s Dark Side! This week travel back in time to explore some history outside of Syracuse, NY. The site was essential to World War I. While nature has started to take over the area, there are still signs of what was once there, including potentially the spirits of those who lost their lives one fateful night in 1918.

Any guesses on what tomorrow’s episode covers?

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20/07/2024

44-year-old Shin Lee was a registered nurse at Willowbrook State School in Staten Island, NY who was last seen on July 20, 1978 walking home through the woods after her 3pm-11:45 pm shift in building 11 as she regularly did. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find much information on her case, aside from two news articles and her case being mentioned in a video about another potential victim Ethel Louise Atwell. One article referenced that Shin Lee was reported missing by her on July 20th while another one said she wasn’t reported missing until July 22nd. Police would spend a couple of days searching for her, but she was not found until a few weeks later in August when members from her church and family searched the grounds and her partially decomposed body was found in a shallow grave. The area she was found had been searched multiple times, but police felt that a recent heavy rain had loosened the dirt which led to her being found when she was. Shin Lee had reported receiving a death threat prior to her disappearance from a coworker that she had given a negative evaluation, but that was reportedly unrelated to her disappearance and murder. This case unfortunately remains unsolved.

For More: https://bit.ly/3xfDGw4

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18/07/2024

I ❤️ NY. Also 👋🏻 across the river to all our Canadian listeners ❤️

15/07/2024

Holly Ann Hughes was born January 23, 1974. On July 15, 1981, Holly was sent to purchase soap at a nearby deli at around 9:30 pm by her mother. She was wearing a beige bathing suit, blue shorts, and beige or brown shoes. She had shoulder length brown hair at the time of her disappearance and blue eyes. She did make it to the Port Richmond Deli to purchase the soap but wasn’t seen after that. Her parents were in the process of a custody dispute at the time of her disappearance and her father Peter who was interviewed in the documentary said that he was looked at briefly as a suspect because he and Holly’s mother, also named Holly were not on speaking terms at the time. In the documentary Cropsey, there is discussion of some pre-trial testimony that was sent to the filmmakers by Andre Rand, a convicted s*x offender and alleged serial k*iller, where a detective testified that Rand had admitted to him that he had given Holly Ann money for soap because she was “dirty” however Rand wrote in the margins that this never happened and was a fabricated statement. Rand’s car was reported to be in the area, at the time of her disappearance. He was taken in for questioning at the time, his car was searched, there was no found evidence linking him to the disappearance and he was released. He wouldn’t be charged with Holly Ann’s disappearance until 17 years later in 2001.

For More: https://bit.ly/3xfDGw4

15/07/2024

Audrey Lyn Nerenberg lived in NYC with her parents, brother and sister. At the age of 15, Audrey was diagnosed with hebephrenic schizophrenia- a condition also referred to as disorganized schizophrenia. Audrey had been hospitalized multiple times from the time of her diagnosis but was improving. On July 14, 1977, it was the hottest day on record on the east coast, reaching 98 degrees in NYC. To escape the heat, the family went to Staten Island and saw a movie at the Jerry Lewis Theater, then had dinner and enjoyed their day. The next morning started as a normal day. Audrey told her family she was going to go for a walk to a store around the corner and a couple blocks away to buy ci******es. That was the last time she was seen. Audrey is still very much missed by her family. She has freckles on her nose and cheeks and a tiny gap between upper front teeth. She preferred to dress in cut off dungaree shorts, tube tops and sweaters, which she usually tied around her waist.

If you have any information, please call: New York City Police Department
Missing Persons Squad New York, New York (212) 473-2042
or e-mail the information to: [email protected]

For More: https://bit.ly/3xfDGw4

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15/07/2024

How absolutely terrible… 😞
I hadn’t heard of this case until today, and while it’s not a New York one, it needs to be shared. Alex should be remembered…

https://www.hrc.org/news/remembering-alex-franco-21-year-old-transgender-man-with-a-big-heart-killed-in-utah?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1KxZ-CRyiOxaw0kB1C24ppSURKy24UHaluO6XzAyaVK0mjnimmrhKEA2w_aem_0a5Y7RYYzJNTxD4tSWIXdg

The 21-year-old transgender man, whose friends remembered as having a "big heart", was shot and killed in Taylorsville, Utah on March 17, 2024.

13/07/2024

12/07/2024

Story time-
I went back and forth most of the day on whether to post this or not, and decided that I would share an experience I had today.

I had requested today off from work a while ago and it worked out because I had a doctor’s appointment and some other errands to run. One of those errands was stopping at the DMV. (I know, so fun am I right?) Since I was already down that way, I stopped at the DMV I usually go to in Endicott. I had heard from my husband that they’re doing a lot of work on Washington Ave and as expected the road was blocked off and I was detoured a block over to park. No worries, I parked in the public lot and locked my car. There’s no one around, but I notice some crime scene tape around a utility pole. It’s a remnant, not an active scene, but it was a reminder that this neighborhood isn’t what it was when I was younger…

On my way to the DMV, I make note of the construction workers, the road is completely torn up and they’re laying new piping. There is some sidewalk available to make my way to where I need to go, but it’s very narrow pushing people close to the businesses that line the street. I pass a couple on the cramped sidewalk, we smile awkwardly at each other as we try not to bump into each other.

The noise from the work outside permeated the lobby making it hard to hear at times. There is a line starting to form but I made it at a good time. Thankfully my business at the DMV was quick. As I am returning the pen to the holder on my way out, I notice an older gentleman walk in and get in line. I make my way out the door and someone follows me out before the door had even closed. I didn’t look back until he spoke. He made mention of the road being torn up and I glanced back to see if he was talking to me. He was, aside from the construction workers busy with their equipment, there was no one else around. I kept walking but commented over my shoulder that it looked like they were making a lot of progress. He said something about having used to work for the village, to continue making small talk, I thanked him for the work he had done. The words were barely out of my mouth when he stopped in his tracks and he asked where I parked, his tone made the hair on the back of my neck stand on edge.

I waved vaguely to the right and said a couple blocks in that direction which was partially true. I had no intention of walking to my car should he choose to follow me, formulating a plan to instead beeline as quickly as possible to the post office across the street should I need to. He goes on to say that he knows all the short cuts in the village and asks me to follow him, opening a door to one of the buildings. The businesses in this particular building are closed, all the lights are off, but the door is unlocked to allow the residents of the apartments above to enter. I thank him and tell him no, I’m not going that way. He becomes more agitated and starts insisting I take his short cut. I start backing away and pull my phone up to my ear, calling my husband but pretending that I was the one receiving the call, telling him again I am not following him and walk quickly towards the street corner where there is thankfully a man with a stroller. The older man did not follow and I proceed to have a small conversation with my husbands voicemail until he calls me back a moment or two later.

While thankfully I am fine… this event left me feeling very vulnerable. I know that there is a possibility that this man was trying to be a helpful stranger, but my gut says otherwise. I can’t shake the feeling that I was in a precarious situation. Had he grabbed me and pulled me into the building, I am not confident anyone would have heard me with the noise of the construction outside.

I don’t think the crime scene tape I saw on the pole had anything to do with this event, but it had served as a reminder to be aware of my surroundings. The neighborhood I had once walked so carefree when I was younger has changed… I have been unnerved the remainder of the day, to the point I drove an hour and a half out of town to purchase pepper spray. So, the moral of my story is… trust your gut. Stay vigilant. Protect yourself.

Also, NYers write your representatives and tell them to make pepper spray more accessible.

12/07/2024

Happy Friday everyone!!

09/07/2024

12-year-old Jennifer Schweiger lived in Staten Island, NY with her parents Karen and Kenneth. On July 9, 1987 Jennifer told her parents she was going to go for a walk and never returned. The community rallied to search for this sweet girl. Donna Cutugno, a local resident of the area, was heavily active in the search and started the volunteer search organization “Friends of Jennifer”. The group searched the grounds, tunnels, and buildings of Willowbrook State School. Donna was interviewed on the documentary Cropsey and said that when they were searching the grounds, there were a lot of people who had previously been patients of Willowbrook that were still living there. During the initial investigation, a couple of witnesses came forward to authorities stating that they had seen Jennifer walking with a middle-aged man who was pushing a green women’s bike with a basket on the front. One of the people interviewed on the Cropsey documentary was now retired detective Robert Jenson, who said that when this information came forward, he remembered that he had seen Andre Rand (a now convicted s*x offender and alleged serial k*iller) at a ShopRite the week prior who left on a green women’s bicycle with a basket on it. He knew it was Rand because he remembered him from a prior case. And so, Rand was taken in for questioning but ended up being released due to lack of evidence. Rand would eventually be arrested for Jennifer's disappearance in August. Jennifer's body would be found a week later on the grounds of Willowbrook State School.

For More: https://bit.ly/3xfDGw4

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07/07/2024

Alice Pereira was born on October 1, 1966 and lived in Staten Island, New York with her family. On July 7, 1972, a few months after Andre Rand, a convicted s*x offender and alleged serial k*iller, was released from prison for the attempted s*xual assault of a 9-year-old girl, Alice was playing in the lobby of the 600 block of the Tysen’s Lane Apartment Complex with her 8-year-old brother Angelo. Around 3:30 pm, Angelo stepped away for a few brief moments and that was the last confirmed sighting of 6-year-old Alice. Alice had black hair, hazel eyes, and was wearing a pair of blue shorts with gold buttons, a red polo shirt, and red sneakers. She was reported missing by her mother, Inez Pereira around 6:30 pm. Her parents were separated at the time of her disappearance and her father was initially looked at as a suspect but was later cleared. Andre Rand was working as a painter at the apartment complex, and a witness would later come forward saying that Alice was seen walking away with him on the day of her disappearance. He was questioned regarding her disappearance, but because there was no evidence linking him, he was released. The case of Alice Pereira's disappearance is still unsolved to this day. If you have any information on her disappearance please call New York City Police Department (New York) 1-212-694-7781.
NCMEC: 604013

https://bit.ly/3xfDGw4

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05/07/2024

On July 5, 1995, a disturbing 911 call was placed by a Park Slope resident, reporting that she had been assaulted and shot by a man who had broken into the apartment she shared with her girlfriend. When police responded, they could hear someone screaming inside the apartment for help, but the door was locked. It took several moments for the caller to reach the door to let them in, and what they would find inside was a horrible scene. This episode covers the vicious attack on Amanda Leach and Sylvia Lugo, that would leave Sylvia sadly deceased and Amanda looked at as the main suspect. Meanwhile the person truly responsible was left to continue to wreak havoc on Park Slope for several months before finally being caught. You can catch this episode more wherever you get your podcasts.

https://bit.ly/45DGq34

Apple Podcasts Spotify Podchaser

04/07/2024

Update- found safe!

🚨 Missing Mom & Baby 🚨

03/07/2024

Well, now I know what’s keeping me up tonight. 🤔🤔🤪

Happy Wednesday everyone! ❤️

03/07/2024

Traveling for the 4th of July and looking for a podcast to keep you entertained on the road or in the air? We've got a catalog of past episodes just for that! Check out New York's Dark Side podcast, where we discuss all things true crime, dark history, and more from all around New York State. From the history of Central Park, some bad politicians, and to some of New York's lesser told cold cases, there's something for whatever you're interested in. And don't forget to subscribe and share to keep in the know for when the newest episodes drop! ;)

https://bit.ly/45NyHj0

゚ ゚viralシ ゚viralシfypシ゚ Play More Pods

New York State is alive with all things true crime, dark history, the paranormal and the unexplained and this podcast aims to explore it all. Join Amanda Morgan, the host, as we travel across the state and beyond, exploring stories that you may never have heard before. We start off with a bang,

02/07/2024

On July 2, 1990, Jackson Heights resident Alan Sack had stopped while walking home to speak with a friend after parting ways with his life partner Julio Rivera about 20 minutes earlier near Public School 69 on 78th Street when they were approached by a panicked man yelling that a man was being murdered in the nearby school yard. The group started running in the direction of the school yard and what they would find would alter not only the lives of the group but would lead to the first prosecutions and convictions for a hate crime in New York State and spur a flurry of pro-LGBTQ changes across the state and the nation. In this episode we delve into the life and legacy of 29 year old Julio Rivera whose life was brutally taken from him in a senseless act of hate and violence. The act would unite the LGBTQ community in Queens to have the first successful march in Queens and lead to change in law enforcement handling of crimes against LGBTQ+ community members and to the start of the Queens pride parade that still takes place today. In case you missed it, you can catch the full episode covering Julio's story now wherever you get your podcasts.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3S9ADH8KCiZcm95TziBYgN?si=12W_p0LxQP2nKOBkIWmJhw

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01/07/2024

On April 19, 1986, 13-year-old Tammie Anne McCormick missed her bus to Saratoga Springs Junior High School in New York State. She told her sister that she planned to hitch hike to a friends house and has not been seen by her family and friends since. She had told a friend around the time of her disappearance that she had planned to run away to Florida, however she left all of her personal belongings behind and the day she disappeared she didn’t appear to be dressed in a manner that would cause her family concern that she was running away. She was last seen in a denim jacket, a yellow-striped shirt, worn black corduroy pants, and beige boots that her mom said gave her blisters. She was carrying a shoulder bag. She has a homemade tattoo or scar of her initials TAM on her upper left arm. She was reported missing by her family two days after her family last saw her. There were possible sightings of her over the years in Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and California but none of these have been confirmed. In February 2011, law enforcement announced that Tammie had been m*rdered potentially by a man named Arthur Mason Slaybaugh II who had died in a New York Correctional Facility in 2001. Tammie looked up to him as a mentor, and he had been looked at as a person of interest in her disappearance for years, but there was no evidence to connect him. Several witnesses came forward after his death with information they had been too scared to disclose prior to his death. What happened to Tammie remains a mystery.
Saratoga Springs Police Department 518-584-1800
NIC
https://wnyt.com/.../saratoga-springs-mom-still-has-no.../