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Ashley and Alena both promised part twos for their tales and both delivered just that in Episode 41! Ashley starts with the already incredulous life of Zack Bowen. Part 1 left off after detailing how Zack struggled to fit in growing up, how he became a father before he expected to, and what happened during his time in the military. They say opposites attract and Zack’s next girlfriend, Addie Hall, proved just that. Aside from their height differences, the two both had PTSD from their life experiences but found a way to bond during their time surviving Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately, they also both became drug abusers and heavy drinkers. This caused multiple fights and break ups. Addie was often negative and a ‘mean drunk’ and lashed out at everyone, including the friends that tried to be there for her. Zack was constantly complaining about Addie, but always found his way back to her, even at the expense of his relationship with his kids. Eventually, when police found Zack’s body and the note in his pocket telling investigators to check his apartment, it led to a gruesome discovery. One day, Zack had “calmly strangled” Addie, cut up her body in pieces, cooked it to dispose of it easily, and spent the last days enjoying life. It wasn’t until the guilt got to him and he confessed everything in Addie’s journal and his suicide note. Tune in to Ashley’s retelling of this roller coaster of a relationship, because there is way more details that will leave you in shock.   Alena follows up her sirens with a few steps back into history. She talks about Triton and Glaucus, two original mermen, whose tales are different but show how merpeople were around long before sirens merged appearances. Following the Ancient Greek stories, take a trip into other cultures and see just how they’ve always incorporated sea creatures into their myths and folklore. Listen in to learn what countries had merpeople, kelpies, sea nymphs or water deities. This mini intro into merpeople and mermaids is one that will have you wondering just how plausible it is of finding proof of their existence.

Maybe two weeks is too long...but Ashley and Alena are back with Episode 40! Alena starts the episode with part 1 of the mysterious sirens. The tales of these creatures are often confused with mermaids and Alena explains why.  They have been described as sea creatures, when in reality they were more bird-like! Listen in to learn the history behind these seductive temptresses and why their tale twists with each retelling. Ashley also starts a part 1 with the eerie story of Zack Bowen. Even in the beginning, before it gets crazier and weirder, Ashley goes over the unfortunate origin of Zack's life and how he was led to do what he did later in life. They say patience is a virtue, but you will want to hear part 2 as soon as you are done listening to Ashley's telling of part 1. Tune in to discover the gruesome facts about a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat. 

Ashley tackles Episode 39 solo, with the story of Lori Vallow. This woman was very recently charged with the murder of her children Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow. Once known as a patient and "ideal" mother, especially for her adopted son JJ Vallow, who had autism, this woman's life role takes a complete 180. Around 2017, Lori's obsession with doomsday author Chad Daybell took its toll on her marriage with Charles Vallow, with her referring to him as a "demon," even threatening to kill him. In early 2019, Charles was killed by Lori's brother in self-proclaimed self-defense. Later on that year, Tylee and JJ both vanish with no explanation. Tune in to hear Ashley's detailed retelling of the case, the facts and opinions of every person of both families that was involved. The craziest part is that this is an ongoing case! You'll definitely want to listen to this story ASAP.

Holy cow, Ashley and Alena are finally back from their longer-than-it-was-supposed-to-be hiatus! A lot has happened since the last episode & a late welcome to 2022! This episode gives off the same creepy & spine-tingling vibes of past episodes, so it's like there was never a time where you missed these two podcasters. *TRIGGER WARNING - CONTAINS CONTENT OF INFANT DEATHS* Ashley starts off the episode with the lives of Amy Grossberg & Brian Peterson, Brooke/Skylar Richardson and Melissa Drexler. While the specifics of these stories differ greatly, it is the similarity of them that will break your heart while also possibly leaving you angry and confused. The three women all got pregnant at a time where they did not see being a mother as a feasible or desired option. Whether it was age, parental concern, or a mix of the two, these women all made the decision to carry a baby to full term and abandon it, otherwise seen as murder. Listen in to these stories and ask yourself if these women deserve sympathy or jail time. Alena continues the episode with the life of Anatoly Moskvin, a Russian grave robber turned doll maker. This man was a linguist, philologist, and historian that had an obsession with the dead. He studied gravestones, burial rituals, and the occult in his spare time and on work hours. He was considered such an expert that he studied 752 cemeteries for a work project, but it was never published. In 2011, he was arrested after the police found the bodies of several girls aged 3-12, wrapped in cloth, wearing children's clothes, face masks and wigs. He was doing this horrifying work for at least a decade before he was caught. Moskvin claims he loved these girls like they were his own, but many people see this as an atrocious act. Tune in and learn why this man decided to mummify corpses and keep them as dolls.

Welcome one and all to Episode 37! Alena travels the solo episode route with a delicious cocktail in hand. Many people have heard the name Baba Yaga, but thanks to pop culture references, there might be some misinterpretation. As early as the 17th century, Baba Yaga, a Russian witch, has made a name for herself, and captured the hearts, hands, arms, legs, and lives of many people, but mostly children. Deciding to live alone, in the forest, in a hut that can up and move whenever she wants it to, no one can really tell if she is the villain or a savior, because that depends on the tale being told. Tune in to part one and learn the origin of this witchy woman and just how she's stepped out of the past and into current events, like being referenced on social media and in tv/movies. 

Welcome back! Ashley and Alena are back just in time for spooky season. This episode picks up where the energy left off with Ashley covering the puzzling death of Brittany Murphy. This celebrity death was picked up by the media after Brittany was pronounced dead, but the investigation is what raised several eyebrows. Her husband Simon's involvement seemed suspicious, as did her mother's, after certain details came out. Listen in as to how the cause of death of pneumonia, anemia and multiple drug intoxication was twisted into a tale of betrayal and murder. Alena continues with the Herrmann family's experience with poltergeists. While not as dramatic, it was the base story for the movie Poltergeist. The activity was witnessed several times by many people throughout the family's time there. Tune in to learn about the Seaford, NY family's experience and just how extra Hollywood was in recreating the story of poltergeists, possessions, and skeletons in a pool full of mud.

Welcome back to Cheers to Fears! We hope you had a chance to rewind and listen to some of our earlier episodes that you may have not listened to originally. We're back with episode 35 and this one has the best of both worlds. Alena starts off with a place that Charles Dickens dubbed "the worst prison on Earth", and it even scarred the tough crime kingpin Al Capone during his stay. The Eastern State Penitentiary's solitary confinement layout made it impossible for any prisoner to make a sound and while its purpose was to reform criminals, there was a lot of torture that went on behind the tall walls. From tongues being ripped out, to a place called The Hole, an underground cellblock that the worst prisoners we confined to, this place was basically hell. Tune in to listen about a place that was so awful it was shut down and the entire solitary confinement plan was never repeated. Ashley gives us a lot of information on Heaven's Gate. If this sounds familiar, it's because this cult was so weird that it involved aliens, religion and a lot of strict rules for its followers. Somehow, the leaders, Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles convinced a bunch of random people to dress the same, give up all their belongings, and eventually commit mass suicide. Listen in to learn how charismatic you have to be to get a lot of people to believe in something that seems so ridiculous to most people.

Ashley and Alena apologize for the missed week but tune in to Episode 34 for some mysterious murders! Alena covers a string of murders in St. Croix that have police believing it was tied to Voodoo, or Obeah. Several couples were found dead by cyanide poisoning, but none of them had any signs of struggle or forced death. Tune in to learn how one man may be responsible and how he would be able to convince several people to take their own life. Ashley covers the more-recent-than-not murder of Kendrick Johnson that took place in 2013. His body was found in a rolled up mat, but the circumstances and the investigation lead people to believe a cover up took place. From botched police work, to an hasty cause of death, Kendrick's family continue to fight for a real investigation into his death. Listen in as Ashley explains the weird details and just what is being done in the year 2021 in regards to this obvious but unexplained murder.

Come join Ashley and Alena for a wild episode where things just seem unbelievable. Ashley covers the story of Jasmine Richardson and Jeremy Steinke, a match made in an online forum. These two embody the goth lifestyle but take it to the extreme when they believe murder will help them be with each other forever. Tune in to find out who their actions were aimed at and why this weird pair went so far to be with each other. Alena shares the story of Mary Lurnacy Vennum, a young girl who was apparently possessed several times before living the life of a deceased Mary Roff. This is also known as America's first account of a spiritual possession, taking place in the 19th century. Listen in to learn why this possession was unlike ones in horror films, why people accepted it, but also why there were many skeptics. 

Alena delves into the world of unknown cryptids that seems to be straight from the imagination. This solo episode focuses on the Dobhar-chú, Ireland's "immature Loch Ness", also known as the "hound of the deep" or King Otter. Its characteristics are fairly consistent with a half-dog/half-otter image and its aggressive nature can only be described as terrifying in local sightings. Tune in to learn how this carnivorous lake monster may have origins in the real world. To follow up, Alena goes into the legend of the Grootslang. If you haven't heard of it, no worries because she did not either. This legendary cave dweller has rarely been seen, but that didn't stop people from recreating a horrifying, yet powerful looking monster. Listen in to learn which two animals created the smartest, strongest and most cunning creature that even the gods were afraid of its existence.

This week, Ashley flies solo and covers the gruesome murder of Travis Alexander by his ex girlfriend Jodi Arias. How can an instant connection between two adults quickly turn into a pleasant relationship and just as quickly turn deadly?? Tune in to learn just how looney Jodi acted from the start and why Travis' friends knew she was the murderer right away.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend and cheers to Episode 30! Ashley and Alena are back to talk about two very different cases, but both will have you scratching your head in confusion. Ashley kicks off the episode with a disappearance, a murder and questionable antics of a mysterious caller. Not known for a lavish or wild lifestyle, Dorothy was called a great mom, a good friend and a faithful Christian. The whole case starts with a series of phone calls from an unknown person and escalates to Dorothy's disappearance. While the case is unsolved, listen in to learn how this disappearance from the 80's is still baffling police. Alena backtracks to the case of the McMartin Preschool, previously mentioned in Episode 28 about the Satanic Panic of the 80's/90's. From standard child abuse accusations to outrageous claims that police still looked into, the preschool was one of many schools affected by people claiming that teachers and caretakers were involved in Devil worship. It all started with one woman who claimed her son was violated and it all went downhill from there. Tune in to understand how the longest and most expensive case with over 300 counts of child abuse ended with no convictions and no arrests.