Creepy Calls, Mysterious Roads, and Haunted Encounters: Exploring the Unexplained on Open Mic Live
Written by Castmagic (Virtual Assistant)
Edited by Within the Trenches Media
Within the Trenches Media's recent episode of Open Mic Live (10/29/23) delves into the eerie world of the unexplained. From mysterious road names to paranormal encounters, this episode takes us on a thrilling ride into the realm of the unknown. Join us as we explore the highlights of the episode, discussing car crashes, haunted hotels, creepy phone calls, and more.
Strange Car Crash and a Haunting Voice
One of the captivating stories featured in the episode is about a baffling car crash. The tragic incident involves a woman who meets a mysterious fate on her journey home. Investigators find no skid marks or signs of mechanical failure, leaving them puzzled. Amidst this perplexing case, Spanish Fork Police Officer Beddoes confirms hearing a voice inside the vehicle pleading for help. His account is supported by Officer Warner, who assures us that the voice was not just a figment of their imagination. Such uncanny occurrences in the midst of tragedy send chills down your spine.
The Legends of Shades of Death Road
The episode further takes us on a journey through the dark and mysterious Shades of Death Road. The road, located in a secluded part of the state, has earned its infamous name through tales of murder and death. One legend suggests that the road was once inhabited by a gang of ruthless squatters, leading to deadly altercations over women. As civilization intervened and the bandits were disbanded, the road retained its dark reputation. While the exact origins of the name remain uncertain, the legend adds a spine-chilling aura to this isolated and eerie thoroughfare.
Haunted Hotels and Paranormal Encounters
The host of this episode, Ricardo, shares a personal anecdote about a haunted hotel from the area where he grew up. The Yellow Motel, infamous for its putrid yellow appearance, has been associated with ghostly encounters. Ricardo references a news story, recounting a visit to the hotel and an eerie conversation with the caretaker. This tale gives us a glimpse into the supernatural side of the episode, leaving listeners intrigued and wondering about the existence of spirits in seemingly ordinary places.
Dispatch Stories and Creepy Calls
The episode also features a discussion about collecting creepy calls and strange incidents from dispatch. The speaker brings up the Twilight Zone episode, where a young boy receives a fake telephone as a birthday present and starts conversing with his deceased grandmother. This eerie story sets the stage for exploring dispatch stories and the unexplained encounters that emergency responders face. These tales shed light on the unnerving experiences that dispatchers encounter on a daily basis.
The Unpredictable Nature of the Unknown
Throughout the episode, the stories shared serve as a reminder of the unpredictable and mysterious nature of the world around us. From unexplained car crashes to haunted buildings and strange calls, the existence of the unexplained remains a fascinating yet unsettling aspect of our lives. These stories captivate our imagination, keeping us on the edge of our seats as we delve into the realm of the unknown.
Open Mic Live takes us on a thrilling journey into the unexplained. From the chilling voice in a tragic car crash to haunted hotels and creepy dispatch stories, this episode leaves us with a sense of wonder and unease. The tales shared serve as a reminder that there is still much about the world we inhabit that defies rational explanation. As we conclude this episode, we're left pondering the mysteries that lie beneath the surface of our seemingly ordinary lives, forever intrigued by the unexplained.
Watch the full episode here.
Stories submitted to Open Mic Live -
I work in a Comm Center in a somewhat rural part of Michigan. Our year round population isn’t huge, but we get a lot of tourists and summer residents. this means we have a lot of vacation properties that sit vacant the majority of the year. Occasionally, when it rains, we will get a barrage of calls from certain parts of the county. The explanation from the phone company is that the water is causing shorts in the system. These are always hang up 911 calls from land line phones, and for precaution we send an officer to go check the property the calls are coming from. One fall I was working a midnight shift in dispatch and the calls started up. So I got an officer on the way out there because the address was a decent way from town, and I kept answering them… and hanging them up. The last one I answered there was a weak, creaky voice on the other end. I said “do you need help?” And the voice said slowly “Yessss”. I updated my officers and tried to ask the caller more questions. I got some moans and groans… a few more yes and no answers, really nothing of substance. My officers got out there and cleared quickly. When they called me they asked me to play the tape for them, I did. Then they informed me that the house was clearly not inhabited for a LONG time, and that there were not even any power lines to the structure, let alone a phone line. They also informed me that they would not be checking any more hang ups for me that night because they were creeped out. I played that tape for EVERYONE for weeks. And they all agreed there was someone on the other end.
Downstairs in the admin hallway when there’s nobody in the hall (weekends & evenings) I heard faint sounds of papers shuffling & the sound that a mouse makes when you readjust it on the desk. I asked my co-worker, did you hear that? Also, I AND MY TRAINEE heard fast footsteps go from our left to right behind us while we were sitting at the console together. I looked over my left shoulder to see who it was and then over my right shoulder to follow the sound and she was looking over her right shoulder too. We both said “Did you hear that?”
I work at a small center that sits on the grounds of a former state mental hospital. The hospital was in operation from 1936 to 1997 and there are still several of the original buildings that are being used, they just remodeled the inside. Some buildings have basements or tunnels that connect them underground.
If that wasn’t crazy enough the building we are in used to be the research building where research in treating mental health conditions of the time was conducted. One night it was just me and another dispatcher working. We were the only 2 people in our entire building and knew that because we have cameras at all the doors plus we can hear if any door is opened or closed. While we were in there alone we all of a sudden heard music playing from the 1950’s. We figured someone left a radio or computer on with music playing so I took a walk down the hallway and checked every office.
When I got to the last one, the music was coming from a storage closet where our emergency preparedness kits for the building are kept. I figured they were cleaning it out and left a radio in there, when I went to open the door I turned the knob. As soon as I started to open the door the music stopped. When I looked inside there was no radio, no phone, no computer, just water and old food that probably needed to get changed out. I started walking back and saw my coworker standing in the hallway asking what happened and if the person in the office had left it on. I told her and she was like no way “shut up! I’ve never told anyone because I didn’t want people to think I’m crazy but I’ve heard footsteps walking around when I’m alone.” We each have had stuff happen but we are always alone so hard to prove but once we each talk about it similar things have happened.
Our center took a 911 landline call. When the call taker answered it, it started making a ringing sound, like dialing out… When it stopped a voice said "Maine" (our state) and what sounded like a female laugh. When the Deputy arrived, the house was locked from the inside and the only occupants car was inside the garage. After making entry to the house, the Deputy found the very deceased remains of the homeowner. When we were looking at pictures from the scene, we could clearly see the landline phone OFF THE HOOK!!! There's no way a call was made from inside that house.
About Within the Trenches - True stories from the 911 dispatchers who live them
Within the Trenches started as a college project in 2010 around the time that the creator and host, Ricardo Martinez II, a 13 year public safety veteran, was struggling with the emergency calls he was taking in 9-1-1 dispatch. He discovered that it was therapeutic to share his dispatch stories, first through a blog, and then through podcasting. This podcast is based on the experience of being a 9-1-1 dispatcher. It gives a true depiction of what it's like to be in this profession. The stories involve all types of calls. The show is meant to be informative, humorous, serious and all around eye opening to the world of 9-1-1 dispatch. The idea for this started a long time ago and the video that started it all can be seen here.