{"podcast":{"title":"The Scarecast: Scary Stories, Mysteries, and True Crime","slug":"the-scarecast-scary-stories-mysteries-and-true-crime-432528","podcast_index_feed_id":432528,"rss_url":"https://feeds.redcircle.com/1a5a2b50-ba56-48fc-a05b-ce2a55cac801","website_url":"https://redcircle.com/shows/the-scarecast","image_url":"https://media.redcircle.com/images/2025/5/20/19/d7ba3561-4cd7-47c7-8800-2dc18994ee1c_-eb8309a3693b_1e50921ec5f9ea596dcb2087714c51e7.jpg","author":"Michael Crutchfield","episode_count":258,"summary":"For almost a decade, The Scarecast—hosted by Michael Crutchfield—has captivated audiences with spine-tingling stories that explore the shadowy depths of real-life horror. Originally launched on YouTube as MaddMike, The Scarecast masterfully narrates true accounts of chilling encounters, from paranormal experiences to unsettling run-ins with strangers. With over a hundred episodes, The Scarecast stands out for its dedication to authentic, listener-submitted tales that leave audiences both unsettled and eager for more. Crutchfield’s storytelling prowess and commitment to sharing genuine scares have made The Scarecast a must-listen for fans of the eerie and unexplained.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-14T12:19:30.221466+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-scarecast-scary-stories-mysteries-and-true-crime-432528"},"episode":{"title":"EP17 - 3 Disturbing Craigslist Encounters","slug":"ep17-3-disturbing-craigslist-encounters","published_at":"2026-07-02T17:51:49+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-scarecast-scary-stories-mysteries-and-true-crime-432528/ep17-3-disturbing-craigslist-encounters","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-scarecast-scary-stories-mysteries-and-true-crime-432528","url":"https://redcircle.com/shows/1a5a2b50-ba56-48fc-a05b-ce2a55cac801/episodes/f0cf1574-4960-4e7c-acf0-8ff8b0293a48","audio_url":"https://audio2.redcircle.com/episodes/f0cf1574-4960-4e7c-acf0-8ff8b0293a48/stream.mp3","summary":"3 ordinary Craigslist interactions that turned into pure nightmare fuel. In this episode of The Scarecast, we dive into three disturbing real-life cases where a simple online listing led to violence, manipulation, and murder: a clean-cut med student living a double life as “The Craigslist Killer,” a pregnant woman lured to a house by a fake maternity clothes ad, and desperate job seekers drawn into the woods by a fake farmhand listing that was really a trap. You’ll hear about: Philip Markoff, the Boston medical student who used Craigslist adult services ads to target women in hotels. Dynel Lane, who staged a “free baby clothes” meetup that turned into a brutal attack on a pregnant stranger. Richard Beasley, a so-called street preacher who posted fake farm job ads to lure vulnerable men to their deaths. These stories are a chilling reminder that danger can wear any face: a promising doctor, a friendly mom-to-be, or a man of “faith” offering a fresh start. If you’ve ever had a creepy or dangerous experience answering an online ad, I want to hear it. Your story could be featured in a future episode of The Scarecast. Send your story to: mike@thescarecast.com Be safe out there… and thank you for listening. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy","meta_description":"3 ordinary Craigslist interactions that turned into pure nightmare fuel. In this episode of The Scarecast, we dive into three disturbing real-life cases w…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1097,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-scarecast-scary-stories-mysteries-and-true-crime-432528/episodes/ep17-3-disturbing-craigslist-encounters/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-scarecast-scary-stories-mysteries-and-true-crime-432528/ep17-3-disturbing-craigslist-encounters.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}