In this episode, we dive into two cases where the line between domestic tragedy and urban legend becomes dangerously blurred. One is a cold-blooded murder-for-hire that spanned decades and continents; the other is a mass murder that birthed a haunting so famous it defined a genre.

*Trigger warning child death*

In this haunting double-feature, we explore the thin line between a tragic physical reality and a terrifying psychological legend. We begin with one of America’s most famous cold cases—the discovery of Joseph Augustus Zarelli—before diving into the pitch-black origins of the woman behind the mirror: Bloody Mary.

We conclude the episode by reflecting on identity. One story is about a child who lost his name to the shadows of history; the other is about a spirit who gained a thousand names through the shadows of our imagination.

Tips regarding the cold case of Joseph, which saw a major breakthrough via DNA in December 2022, can be submitted to the police, often through local Philadelphia news stations' tips lines or the Citizens Crime Commission.

• ​Philadelphia Police Department (Homicide Unit): 215-686-3334/3335
• ​Tipline: 215-686-TIPS (8477)
• ​Website: PhillyPolice.com
• ​Citizens Crime Commission: 215-546-TIPS