On November 27, 1928, in Rehmeyer’s Hollow, Pennsylvania, three men brutally murdered 60-year-old folk healer Nelson Rehmeyer. Believing Rehmeyer had cast a fatal curse, John Blymire and his accomplices hunted him down to steal his copy of the traditional healing text Long Lost Friend and break the spell.

In this episode, we dive into the chilling 1928 "Hex Murder" of York County, Pennsylvania. We explore the rich, complex traditions of Pennsylvania Dutch "powwowing" (folklore healing) and how a dangerous cocktail of fear, mental instability, and superstition led to a tragic, sensationalized murder trial that shocked the nation.

Sources & Further Reading

• Baseline history and context via the  ...