In the spring of 2001, single father Steven LaChance moved his family from a cramped apartment to a spacious house in Union, Missouri. The house was intended to be a new start for the family, but before long their excitement turned to dread as life in the new house became a nightmare.

Within weeks of moving into the house, Steven and his children began experiencing strange and unexplainable phenomena. Lights turned on and off by themselves, temperatures fluctuated wildly from room to room, and there was an ever-present feeling of being watched. In time, whatever entity lived in the house began focusing its malevolent attention on the children, exploiting their fears and terrifying them night after night. After several months, the LaChance family couldn’t tolerate the home anymore and moved out but, little did Steven know, that was only the beginning of his journey into the paranormal.

Cline, Chris. 2006. "Paranormal team investigates Arcadia Academy." Daily Journal (Flat River, MO), October 29: 1.

LaChance, Steven. 2004. The Union, Missouri Haunting. Accessed October 13, 2026. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-unionhaunting/.

Schmidt, Kaprise. 2007. "Top ten most haunted places in Franklin County." Washington Missourian (Washington, MO), October 27: 37.

Wiecha, Joe. 2006. A Haunting. Directed by Joe Wiecha.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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On May 2, 1933, the Harwich Center School received a telephone call from the father of ten-year-old Peggy McMath, a student at the school. Mr. McMath informed them that he was sending a driver to pick up his daughter and he expected her to be ready. However, when the driver showed up, Peggy didn’t recognize the man and was hesitant to get into the car. In response, the driver of the car, Kenneth Buck, grabbed the girl, threw her in the car, and drove off before anyone could stop him.

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Associated Press. 1933. "Buck removed to hospital." Boston Globe, May 29: 1.

Boston Globe. 1933. "Kenneth Buck in prison to serve 24 to 25 years." Boston Globe, June 26: 4.

—. 1933. "Latest description of Peggy and man who kidnapped her." Boston Globe, May 4: 23.

—. 1934. "McMath family to leave Cape Cod." Boston Globe, March 29: 12.

Cox, Carolyn. 2021. The Snatch Racket. New York, NY: Potoman Books.

Haviland, Alexander. 1933. "Buck brothers gain two points." Boston Globe, June 15: 1.

—. 1933. "First ransom demand called for $250,000." Boston Globe, May 7: 1.

—. 1933. "General and boy star witnesses." Boston Globe, June 17: 1.

—. 1933. "Peggy and Cyril tell vivid stories to jury." Boston Globe, June 22: 1.

Kingsbury, Alex. 2016. "Kidnapped on old Cape Cod." Boston Globe, August 28: K6.

Sibley, Frank. 1933. "Kidnaper "in trouble" before but was not prosecuted." Boston Globe, May 8: 5.

—. 1933. "State police refuse to halt girl search." Boston Globe, May 5: 1.

Springfield Daily News. 1933. "Police called off while father of child pleads with her abductors." Springfield Daily News, May 3: 1.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For as long as human beings have been locking one another up in cages or dungeons, there have been other human beings scheming and strategizing ways to escape their cells and break free of their prisons. More often than not, their attempts prove futile and they’re recaptured, their punishments extended and the conditions of their surroundings made worse. But in their experiences with freedom, however brief they may be, the escapee becomes legendary, their exploits going on to be told and retold in books, films, and songs long after the prisoner has passed away.

While some prison breaks—like those of the wrongfully incarcerated or unduly punished—can be justified and go on to be romanticized, others are less romantic or exciting and can even lead to deadly outcomes. And yet, no matter the circumstances and outcomes, each one can tell us something about the system and culture responsible for the initial sentence and subsequent escape. Here is the first volume of this fascinating subject!

Associated Press. 1986. "Supervisor apparently kidnapped by escapee." Ann Arbor News, December 6: 1.

—. 1962. "Alcatraz 'age' held factor in trio's escape." Los Angeles Times, June 14: 5.

Frishman, Dan. 1962. "Big Bay manhunt on for three Alcatraz escapees." San Francisco Exminer, June 13: 1.

Hanson, Tom. 2023. Prison escapes in America: How common are they and what's the real risk? September 18. Accessed September 12, 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/prison-escapes-in-america-how-common-are-they-and-whats-the-real-risk/.

Hotz, Mark. 2012. "Awaiting trial Dillinger escapes." Bank Note, June: 10.

Indianapolis Star. 1934. "Dillinger, 3 state felons caught." Indianapolis Star, January 25: 1.

—. 1934. "Expecting death, prisoner tells of crime career." Indianapolis Star, January 31: 1.

—. 1934. "Vast army hunts John Dillinger." Indianapolis Star, March 4: 1.

Kinkopf, Eric. 1987. "Escape." Detroit Free Press, January 2: 16.

Leff, Lisa. 2012. Escape from Alcatraz: 50 years later, mystery remains. June 12. Accessed September 9, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna47782343.

Martindale, Mike. 1987. "Escapee murders way across country." Burlington Free Press, June 14: 1.

New York Times. 1962. "3 Alcatraz convicts cut their way out with spoons." New York Times, June 13: 1.

—. 1962. "3 Alcatraz convicts cut their way out with spoons." New York Times, June 13: 1.

Press, Associated. 1986. "Police say Ypsi center worker adits he aided man's escape." Herald-Palladium (Benton Harbor, MI), December 26: 17.

Richardson, Randi. 2021. Beryl Hovious and Public Enemy No. 1. March 22. Accessed September 8, 2026. https://monroehistory.org/2021/03/22/beryl-hovious-and-public-enemy-no-1/.

Swickard, Joe. 1987. "Suspects in deadly tales." Detroit Free Press, January 22: 1.

Warren, Jenifer. 1993. "Escape from Alcatraz?" Los Angeles Times, November 11: 3.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.