In the second part of our discussion of sex-trafficking legends we discuss some actual rumored and documented cases of sex trafficking, Susana Trimarco--a mother fighting back against sex traffickers, and how legends about sex trafficking interact with these actual case in contemporary culture.

National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline (USA) 1-888-373-7888

Polaris Project has resources for Trafficking victims. 

Sources:

Anne. 2020. “Stop the Spread of Fake News: No One Is Sex Trafficking You at Target.” Iowa City Moms.  https://iowacity.momcollective.com/2020/02/08/stop-the-spread-of-fake-news-no-one-is-sex-trafficking-you-at-target/. 

Barron, Alexis. 2019. “Letty Serrano Was Abducted And Trafficked For Sex At 13; Two Years Later She Committed Suicide.” Mitu. https://wearemitu.com/things-that-matter/human-slavery-is-alive-and-well-letty-serrano-committed-suicide-two-years-after-being-rescued-from-sex-traffickers/. 

BBC News. 2013. “Argentina Convicts 10 in Marita Veron Sex Trafficking Case,.  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-25429736. 

Buenos Aires Times. 2018. “32 Years after Her Kidnapping, Argentine Woman Rescued in Bolivia,” December 26. https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/32-years-after-her-kidnapping-argentine-woman-rescued-in-bolivia.phtml. 

Chiaramonte, Perry. 2019. “Houston Teen Takes Own Life after Surviving Sex-Trafficking Ring,.” Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/us/houston-teen-takes-own-life-sex-trafficking-ring-ongoing-epidemic. 

“Corinna Paige Slusser–Charley Project.” https://charleyproject.org/case/corinna-paige-slusser. 

“FBI Informant Speaks with News10NBC; Says He Witnessed Brittanee Drexel’s Murder.” 2019. WHEC-TV. https://www.whec.com/news/fbi-informant-speaks-with-news10nbc-says-he-witnessed-brittanee-drexels-murder/5260439/. 

Jackson, Angie. 2018. “Man Named in Brittanee Drexel Investigation to Be Released on House Arrest.” Post and Courier. https://www.postandcourier.com/news/man-named-in-brittanee-drexel-investigation-to-be-released-on/article_f97655aa-9fc4-11e8-b719-e3e542ec89c4.html. 

Johnson, Scott C. 2012. “Argentina’s Susana Trimarco: One Mother’s Fight Against Human Trafficking.” Newsweek, https://www.newsweek.com/argentinas-susana-trimarco-one-mothers-fight-against-human-trafficking-65407. 

Lahman, Sean. 2019. “Jailhouse Informant in Brittanee Drexel Disappearance Files Lawsuit.” Democrat and Chronicle,  https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2019/02/28/brittanee-drexel-jailhouse-informant-lawsuit/3015000002/. 

Pasqualini, Kym L. 2020. “The Reality of Sex Trafficking in the US: Corinna Slosser Missing.” Medium. https://kympasqualini.medium.com/the-reality-of-sex-trafficking-in-the-us-corinna-slosser-missing-74e617cbd2dc. 

Recklein, Courtney M. 2020. “The Strange and Unsolved Disappearance of Amy Lynn Bradley.” Film Daily. https://filmdaily.co/news/amy-lynn-bradley/. 

Roy, Anusha. 2017. “Read This before You Share That Viral Facebook Post about Ross.” KUSA.Com. https://www.9news.com/article/news/verify/read-this-before-you-share-that-viral-facebook-post-about-ross/73-455672734. 

“R/UnresolvedMysteries: On the 4th of March 1998, 11-Year-Old Rui Pedro from Portugal Disappears near His Mother’s Workplace. 3 Years Later, His Photo Is Found on the Database of Wonderland Club, a Child Pornography Ring. This Is the Last Anyone Saw of Him.” n.d. Reddit.  https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/9iiawr/on_the_4th_of_march_1998_11yearold_rui_pedro_from/. 

Staver, Anna. 2017. “Do Child Sex Traffickers Look for Victims at the Store?” KUSA.Com, https://www.9news.com/article/news/verify/verify-do-child-sex-traffickers-look-for-victims-at-the-store/73-455918970. 

In part 1 of an impromptu 2 parter, we discuss legends of women being abducted into sex trafficking. We look at older versions of the legends (who knew ice cream parlors were so dangerous?) as well as modern variants spreading on social media. 

Sources

Anne. 2020. “Stop the Spread of Fake News: No One Is Sex Trafficking You at Target.” Iowa City Moms (blog). February 8, 2020. https://iowacity.momcollective.com/2020/02/08/stop-the-spread-of-fake-news-no-one-is-sex-trafficking-you-at-target/.

Ellis, Bill. 2009. “Whispers in an Ice Cream Parlor: Culinary Tourism, Contemporary Legends, and the Urban Interzone.” Journal of American Folklore 122 (1): 53–74. https://doi.org/10.1353/jaf.0.0053.

LaCapria, Kim. n.d. “Department Store Sex Trafficking Rumor.” Snopes.Com. Accessed March 10, 2021. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/department-store-sex-trafficking/.

Roy, Anusha. 2017. “Read This before You Share That Viral Facebook Post about Ross.” KUSA.Com. July 11, 2017. https://www.9news.com/article/news/verify/read-this-before-you-share-that-viral-facebook-post-about-ross/73-455672734.

Staver, Anna. 2017. “VERIFY: Do Child Sex Traffickers Look for Victims at the Store?” KUSA.Com, July 11, 2017. https://www.9news.com/article/news/verify/verify-do-child-sex-traffickers-look-for-victims-at-the-store/73-455918970.

Returning from an unplanned hiatus, Jesse and Kristina discuss the classic urban legend known as "The Boyfriend's Death." What are the implications of stories about couple's being attacked at lovers' lanes? Why is it the man who pays the ultimate price in this story? What things happen when you go outside of populated areas? As always, we compare the legend to true crime stories, discussing some cases in which couples were actually attacked at lover's lanes.

Sources:

Brunvand, Jan Harold. 2002. Encyclopedia of Urban Legends. Illustrated Edition. New York; London: W. W. Norton & Company.

Dziemianowicz, Joe. 2021. “On The Colonial Parkway, The Mark Of Unsolved Murders Remains Thanks To Urban Legends.” Oxygen Official Site. February 5, 2021. https://www.oxygen.com/lovers-lane-murders/crime-news/colonial-parkway-murders-why-lovers-lanes-inspire-urban-legends.

“Frank Mitchell (Prisoner).” 2020. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frank_Mitchell_(prisoner)&oldid=993131399.

Glazer, Mark. 1987. “The Cultural Adaptation of a Rumour Legend: The Boyfriend’s Death in South Texas.” In Perspectives on Contemporary Legend II, edited by Gillian Bennett, Paul Smith, and J. D. A. Widdowson, 93–108. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press.

“Kray Twins.” 2021. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kray_twins&oldid=1004039759.

Wilson, Michael. 1998. “Legend and Life: ‘The Boyfriend’s Death’ and ‘The Mad Axeman.’” Folklore 109: 89–95.

This episode is dedicated in memory of Kristina's beloved cat Wash Seamus Downs, who passed away suddenly in February. 

We take a break from legends and talk about another common form of folklore--jokes! We go over a collection of jokes about serial killers and murder in general. Then we talk about some joke theory and discuss why we joke about things that are so horrible.

Sources:

Kornheiser, Tony. “Explosive Humor.” Washington Post. April 1, 1996. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1996/04/14/explosive-humor/8e8a9557-c2f8-425f-9156-612212dbda9b/

And the following web links: 

https://upjoke.com/serial-killer-jokes

https://upjoke.com/ted-bundy-jokes

https://twitter.com/ed_solomon/status/1332537804241444870

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/67w7k4/police_were_on_the_lookout_for_serial_killer_john/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/amk5zt/damn_girl_are_you_john_wayne_gacys_floorboards/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/5rc8vj/whats_the_difference_between_obsequious_behaviour/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/jxsr7i/it_was_on_this_day_in_1978_that_cult_leader_jim/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/8mhvgh/why_did_ed_gein_keep_his_house_so_hot/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/8fpc46/what_do_you_get_when_you_cross_the_golden_state/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/5rqkza/you_know_whos_a_real_lady_killer/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/eyrnvh/if_jack_the_ripper_was/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/ec1679/jack_the_ripper_goes_to_the_dr_with_a_stabbing/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/ejjtwy/someone_once_asked_me_how_id_feel_if_i_was_a/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/itldw7/what_do_winnie_the_pooh_and_jack_the_ripper_have/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/i17t6m/jack_the_ripper_once_auditioned_for_a_mens_music/

Starting with the legend known as "The Kidney Heist," we embark on a conversation about the realities of organ trafficking. In this legend, a man meets a woman at a bar and accompanies her to her hotel room, only to wake up missing his kidneys. What's the truth behind this legend? Along the way we cover everything from cattle mutilations, the definition of life, and the fact that you really CAN buy everything on Craig's List.

Sources:

Brickwood, Becky. 2020. “Forced Organ Harvesting: ‘This Is Beyond Understanding.’” Health Europa (blog). January 27, 2020. https://www.healtheuropa.eu/forced-organ-harvesting-this-is-beyond-understanding/96933/.

Campion-Vincent, Véronique. 2002. “Organ Theft Narratives as Medical and Social Critique.” Journal of Folklore Research 39 (1): 33–50.

Coffman, Keith. 2020. “Colorado Funeral Home Operators Indicted for Illegally Selling Body Parts.” Reuters, March 18, 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-bodies-idUSKBN21509C.

Kish, Phillip. 2018. “Mother of Model Whose Body Was Found without Organs Still Seeks Answers.” Wusa9.Com. December 28, 2018. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/nation-world/mother-of-model-whose-body-was-found-without-organs-still-seeks-answers/507-625177206.

Smith, Saphora. 2019. “China Forcefully Harvests Organs from Detainees, Tribunal Concludes.” NBC News. June 18, 2019. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-forcefully-harvests-organs-detainees-tribunal-concludes-n1018646.

Staff, DecodingScience. 2019. “Organ Harvesting, Human Trafficking, and the Black Market.” Decoded Science (blog). November 12, 2019. https://decodedscience.org/organ-harvesting-human-trafficking-and-the-black-market/.

Thompson, Don. 2015. “NorCal Inmate Was Cut Nearly in Two, Organs Missing.” KCRA. July 11, 2015. https://www.kcra.com/article/norcal-inmate-was-cut-nearly-in-two-organs-missing/6423766.

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A young babysitter is tormented by creepy phone calls until the operator gives her some unthinkable information, "The call is coming from inside the house!" The legend has been in circulation for half a century and inspired multiple movies, but what's the truth behind the legend? Are babysitters really in danger? And what do these legends tell us about the anxieties of contemporary life?

Sources:

Berry, Craig. 2018. “The Unsolved Murder of Janett Christman.” True Crime Articles (blog). March 30, 2018. https://truecrimearticles.com/2018/03/30/the-unsolved-murder-of-janett-christman/.

Brunvand, Jan Harold. 1981. The Vanishing Hitchhiker:  American Urban Legends and Their Meanings. New York: W. W. Norton & Co.

———. 2002. Encyclopedia of Urban Legends. Illustrated Edition. New York; London: W. W. Norton & Company.

Greaney, T. J. 2010. “Who Killed Janett Christman?” Columbia Daily Tribune. March 7, 2010. https://www.columbiatribune.com/article/20100307/NEWS/303079884.

Sweeney, Gary. 2017. “This 15-Year-Old Babysitter Disappeared Over 60 Years Ago — And Was Never Found.” Woman’s Day. February 24, 2017. https://www.womansday.com/life/real-women/a58048/what-happened-to-evelyn-hartley/.

“The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs.” 2020. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_babysitter_and_the_man_upstairs&oldid=991197865.

In perhaps our darkest topic yet, this week we take on the topic of maternal infanticide. We talk about the legend of La Llorona, some of La Llorona's exploits, and some real cases of mothers who drown their children.

We have to give a shout out to Mariana Esquivel, whose unpublished research shed light on some of La Llorona's contemporary representations.

Sources:

Axtman, Kris. 2001. “Why Juries Often Spare Mothers Who Kill.” Christian Science Monitor, July 9, 2001. https://www.csmonitor.com/2001/0709/p3s1.html.

Elbein, Asher. 2015. “The Return of La Llorona.” The Texas Observer. February 23, 2015. https://www.texasobserver.org/la-llorona-return/.

Jones, Pamela. 1988. “‘There Was a Woman’: La Llorona in Oregon.” Western Folklore 47 (3): 195–211.

Leon-Portilla, Miguel, ed. 1990. The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico. Boston: Beacon Press.

Limon, Jose E. 1990. “La Llorona, the Third Legend of Greater Mexico: Cultural Symbols, Women, and the Political Unconscious.” In Between Borders: Essays on Mexicana/Chicana History, edited by Adelaida R Del Castillo, 399–432. La Mujer Latina Series. Encino, CA: Floricanto Press.

Perez, Domino Renee. 2008. There Was a Woman: La Llorona from Folklore to Popular Culture. University of Texas Press.

“Woman Who Threw Six Children in Bayou Gets Probation.” 1987. UPI. 1987. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/06/19/Woman-who-threw-six-children-in-bayou-gets-probation/9409551073600/.

Kristina and Jesse discuss a legend that shaped (a small portion of) their childhoods and that keeps making the news: Are Satanists injecting poison and hiding razorblades in Halloween candy? Are hippies handing out cannabis laced edibles to unsuspecting children? No. None of these things is happening (aside from the occasional isolated incident). We discuss the origins of the legend, why it is so persistent, and a few random Halloween memories.

Sources:

Associated Press. n.d. “Warning of Marijuana Halloween Candy Derided as Scare Tactic.” Snopes.Com. Accessed November 5, 2020. https://www.snopes.com/ap/2017/10/29/warning-marijuana-halloween-candy-derided-scare-tactic/.

Best, Joel, and Gerald T. Horiuchi. 1985. “The Razor Blade in the Apple: The Social Construction of Urban Legends.” Social Problems 32 (5): 488–99. https://doi.org/10.2307/800777.

Segalov, Michael. 2016. “The True Story of the Notorious Trick-or-Treat Murderer.” Vice. October 31, 2016. https://www.vice.com/en/article/8ge87v/halloween-killer-ronald-clark-o-bryan-candy-man.

Snopes Staff. 2000. “FACT CHECK: Poisoned Halloween Candy.” Snopes.Com. November 2, 2000. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/halloween-non-poisonings/.