Latest Episodes

In the 8th Christmas episode of the Dark Poutine podcast, we once again dive into the shadowy side of holiday traditions that often go unnoticed amidst the festive cheer. This episode will explore the dark origins of some Christmas customs, such as mummering, a practice steeped in mystery and community engagement, where masked individuals visit homes to entertain and sometimes frighten. We will also recount the chilling tale of Isaac Mercer, who met a tragic end at the hands of mummers in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, in 1860. Additionally, we’ll dig into the age-old custom of telling ghost stories during Christmas, which has deep roots in ancient traditions. This custom entertains and serves as a poignant reminder of mortality amidst the holiday festivities, adding an intriguing layer to our understanding of Christmas celebrations. We’ll share some chilly Canadian ghost stories along the way.

This week, we discuss the shooting death of American Mark Harshbarger during a 2006 hunting trip to Newfoundland. The Meshoppen, Pennsylvania, man was shot by his wife, Mary Beth Harshbarger, who claims she thought he was a black bear. In 2010, Harshbarger was extradited to Newfoundland, where she stood trial for criminal negligence causing death. The prosecution cited insurance money as Mary Beth’s motive for the killing. After two weeks of hearings in September, the presiding judge found her not guilty. The shooting death of Mark Harshbarger has been a source of controversy since it occurred. Some people believe that Mary Beth Harshbarger was guilty of first-degree murder, while others believe that she was justified in shooting her husband because she thought he was a bear. It is important to remember that this topic is very sensitive for many people. The family and friends of Mark Harshbarger are still grieving his death, and Mary Beth Harshbarger has gone through a great deal. Mark’s children have lost their father. We aim to be respectful of all parties involved when discussing this case.

The strongest earthquake ever recorded in eastern Canada, measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, occurred at 5:02pm Newfoundland time on the 18 of November in 1929. It was felt as far west as Ottawa and as far south as New York City. The quake, centred around 250 km south of Newfoundland along the southern edge of the Grand Banks caused a massive sub-ocean landslide. Two and a half hours after the quake a series of tsunami waves smashed into Newfoundland’s isolated Burin Peninsula devastating property, upending the fishery and causing 28 deaths.

Episode 221: On the morning of December 31, 1888, in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, friends found 61-year-old fisherman François Coupard dead in his fishing shack. Someone had brutally slain Coupard and had mutilated his body horribly after his murder. A quick investigation led to two men, Auguste Neel and Louis Ollivier, trying to flee to Newfoundland on a stolen fishing boat. The pair later admitted their roles in the murder and were tried and convicted. Ollivier was sentenced to 10 years at hard labour, while Neel, against whom the evidence was more solid, received a death sentence, which was carried out on August 24, 1889. This execution was the first and last in North America using a guillotine to do the deed.Sources:ExecutedToday.com » auguste neel19/02/1930 : Affaire NEEL Auguste et OLLIVIER Louis – Saint-Pierre et Miquelon : Ephéméridesaffaire néel - Histoire des îles St Pierre et MiquelonSaint Pierre and Miquelon - WikipediaL’Île-aux-Marins - WikipediaCanada’s top court says voluntary extreme intoxication a defence in violent crimes | Globalnews.caR. v. Brown, 2022 SCC 18 (CanLII), the dive spell: Saint Pierre Island: site of the only guillotine execution in north americaLa Veuve de Saint-PierreHistory of the Guillotine8 Things You May Not Know About the Guillotine - HISTORYThe Paris Review - The Bloody Family History of the GuillotineLouis XVI - WikipediaDoes the head remain briefly conscious after decapitation (revisited)? - The Straight DopeExploring The French Instrument Of Death: The Guillotine | Thought CatalogGuillotine by Robert Frederick Opie - Ebook | ScribdExecution by Geoffrey Abbott - Ebook | ScribdThe Widow of Saint-Pierre - WikipediaSt. Pierre, a Tiny Pin Point of France and Al Capone’s Prohibition Haunt: Canadian Odyssey on the Looney Front — Part 10 | HuffPost LifeSept. 10, 1977: Heads Roll for the Last Time in France | WIRED5 really cool things about Saint-Pierre and Miquelon - Newfoundland and Labrador, CanadaSupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/darkpoutine

Episode 107 - In June of 1993, 9-year-old Cindy Young found her mother, Brenda, deceased on the floor of their St. John’s, Newfoundland apartment. Brenda Marie Young, 26, and a mother of two was brutally murdered while her children slept. Almost immediately, police had focused on a suspect, Brenda’s boyfriend, 28-year-old Randy Druken. But, in this case, things are not always as simple as they first appear. Come see us at CrimeCon in Orlando from May 1-3, 2020. Use POUTINE2020 when buying your tickets. End of episode promo for Deadly Misadventures hosted by Justin from Generation Why and Tyler from The Minds of Madness. Sources and Further Reading: [Police interviewing children tend to ask ‘largely inappropriate’ questions which could lead to wrongful convictions: study | National Post] [Randy Druken says he's innocent - CBC]  R. v. Druken (R.J.), 1995 CanLII 10478 (NL SC), R. v. Druken (R.J.), 1994 CanLII 10500 (NL SC), R. v. Druken (R.J.), 1995 CanLII 10537 (NL SC), [The Lamer Report]  [#wrongfullyconvictedwednesday Randy Drunken - Toronto Defence Lawyers] [Randy Druken - Innocents Database of Exonerations] [3 Nov 1994, 4 - The Gazette at Newspapers.com] [Randy Druken back in St. John’s court today | Provincial | News | SaltWire] [Fisherman’s Road: ‘What kind of sick bastard would kill and rape their mother’] [PressReader.com - Drug Addict Wins 2M in Wrongful Conviction Case] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/crown-drops-3-charges-against-randy-druken-1.727346 Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/darkpoutine

Dana Bradley was murdered on December 14, 1981 in St John's, NL. Her slayign remains unsolved.

Samantha Walsh disappeared on a 3 minute walk home on a cold winter night in Fleur de Lys NL. The community was shocked when it turned out one of their own had been responsible for her disappearance.