Episode notes
Cult of the Unknown Tongues — Episode Notes
Buried in the Bluegrass — Episode 7 An Ole Gerg Media / OGM Podcast Network Production
In this episode, Greg examines one of the strangest and most disturbing religious crime stories in Kentucky history — the 1933 “Cult of the Unknown Tongues” case from Tomahawk in Martin County, Kentucky.
What began as a Pentecostal-style religious revival reportedly spiraled into hysteria, fear, alleged demonic possession, and ultimately the death of 72-year-old Lucinda Mills. Newspapers across the country sensationalized the story as a “human sacrifice,” helping create one of the most infamous Appalachian cult legends ever reported.
This episode explores:
- The isolated religious culture of eastern Kentucky in the 1930s
- The week-long revival tied to the Mills family
- Reports of speaking in tongues and spiritual possession
- The death of Lucinda Mills
- Arrests and media coverage following the incident
- How Appalachian communities were often sensationalized by national media
- Themes of group hysteria, manipulation, and religious extremism
- Analysis connected to Tongues of Deception by Harry H. Reed
⚠️ Listener discretion advised: This episode contains discussion of violence, alleged abuse, coercive religious practices, and disturbing historical events.
Sources
- Tongues of Deception — Harry H. Reed
- Contemporary newspaper archives covering the 1933 Tomahawk, Kentucky case
- Historical reporting on the “Cult of the Unknown Tongues” / Mills Family case
- Martin County, Kentucky historical references and archived regional reporting
- Appalachian religious history resources regarding Pentecostal revival movements in the early 20th century
🎙️ Buried in the Bluegrass covers Kentucky true crime, corruption, folklore, mysteries, and the stories still haunting the Commonwealth.
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