Dawn of Mantis: True Crime, Mysteries and More
Join longtime friends Joe and Ivan on a comedic journey through the mysteries of true crime. Since 2002, Joe and Ivan have been crafting comedy bits and skits together, honing their unique style. With their producer and co-host, Sam, at the sound processing helm, the trio dives into the depths of true crime mysteries, as well as music, history, and various other topics, with a twist.
Joe and Ivan's comedic banter adds levity to even the darkest of subjects but always with a respectful approach. Their motto: Victims are never the subject of the joke; instead, the focus is on the perpetrators, pointing out irony and puns along the way. So buckle up and get ready to laugh, cringe, and ponder the mysteries of the human psyche with Joe, Ivan, and Sam on Dawn of Mantis!
Episodes
396 episodes
DOM Ep357 - The Mysterious Death of Karen Silkwood
In this episode, we dive into the story of Karen Silkwood — a lab technician at the Kerr-McGee plutonium plant near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma who stumbled into a nightmare. After raising alarms about contaminated equipment, falsified inspection r...
•
1:03:25
DOM Ep356 - Mile Markers & Murder - The Story of the "Highway Serial Killings Initiative”
In this episode, we cover the origins of “The Highway Serial Killings Initiative”- an FBI program that identifies and links unsolved murder cases that have occurred along interstate highways to support law enforcement agencies. We also talk abo...
•
55:57
DOM Ep355 - The Strange Disappearance & RE-appearance of Brenda Heist
In this episode, we cover the extraordinary disappearance, and RE-appearance, of Brenda Heist. On an ordinary morning in February of 2002, the 43-year-old mother dropped her two children off at school near her home in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Afte...
•
58:38
DOM Ep354 - The Kidnapping of J Paul Getty III
J Paul Getty III was the grandson of J Paul Getty, the richest and as well as the cheapest man alive. When he was kidnapped and held for ransom in 1973, his famously frugal grandfather refused to pay. That is, until pieces of J Paul III began a...
•
50:14
DOM Ep353 - The Cult of "Profundity Yours"
This episode is about a New Age cult and it’s strange leader, a middle aged woman named Linda Good McGillis. Linda claims to be the equivalent of every religious deity combined, and says she is the leader of an intergalactic ...
•
54:46
DOM Ep352 - The Unsolved Disappearance of Tammy Lynn Leppert
In July of 1983, actress, beauty queen and model Tammy Lynn Leppert vanished without a trace. In the preceding weeks her mental state had diminished, and she had insisted someone was out to kill her. Were her fears justified, or another p...
•
46:13
DOM Ep351 - Art Bell and "Coast to Coast AM"
In this episode, we cover the life of legendary radio host Art Bell, as well as the origin story of his unconventional but incredible radio show, “Coast to Coast AM”. We’ll also cover the show’s evolution throughout the years and where it is to...
•
1:18:07
DOM Ep350 - The Clutter Family Murders (Pt. 2)
Episode 350 concludes our two part series on the Clutter Family murders. We'll follow killers, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, as they made their 45 day run around the U.S. and Mexico. We'll also cover the investigation, their capture, and finall...
•
1:02:45
DOM Ep349 - The Clutter Family Murders (Pt. 1)
Episode 349 is part one of our two part series on one of the most infamous cases in all of true crime, and the basis for Truman Capote's legendary book "In Cold Blood" - the Clutter family murders. The Clutters were a prominent farm family in r...
•
50:19
DOM Ep348 - The "Hillsville Massacre"
In 1912, Floyd Allen was put on trial for intercepting deputies and "wrongfully freeing prisoners"- prisoners who happened to be his family. He was pronounced guilty, and sentenced to a year in prison. However, as soon as the verdict was announ...
•
56:26
DOM Ep347 - "Walking Tall" - The Story of Sheriff Buford Pusser
In this episode, we cover the life of Buford Pusser, the man who inspired the hit 1973 film "Walking Tall".
•
1:06:19
DOM Ep346 - The Unsolved Disappearance of April Andrews
April Dawn Andrews was 15 years old when she was last seen speaking with an unknown male in an old truck in front of her apartment complex in Pea Ridge, Arkansas on November 18th, 2006. The investigation into her disappearance was inadequate to...
•
40:28
DOM Ep345 - Another "Smash & Grab!"
In this episode, we present to you a mixed bag of strange things and events throughout history- from minced mummies to witch bottles to a war that nearly started over the death of a pig.
•
56:29
DOM Ep344 - The Lawson Family Massacre
Episode 344 is about the Lawson Family Massacre. On Christmas Day of 1929, an Iowa tobacco farmer named Charlie Lawson grabbed a shotgun and killed his wife, six of their seven children, and finally- himself. To this day, no one is sure exactly...
•
53:16
DOM Ep343 - The Mysterious Death of Jordan Grider
Episode 343 is about the unsolved death of Jordan Grider. Jordan was a New Mexico native who enjoyed living off the grid. However, after traveling to northern Minnesota in October of 2018, he vanished in the wilderness. His remains were discove...
•
1:04:44
DOM Ep342 - The "Baraboo Bone Breaker" Joe Clark
In episode 342, we cover the disturbing case of Joe Clark, aka the "Baraboo Bone Breaker". Clark was responsible for the kidnapping and torture of two young boys in Baraboo, Wisconsin, back in the mid-90s. One of his victims, a boy named Chris ...
•
56:07
DOM Ep341 - The Legend of Sawney Bean, the Scottish Cannibal
In this episode, we discuss the horrific tale of Sawney Bean, who raised a family of cannibals who terrorized a section of Scotland's west coast for decades.
•
47:56
DOM Ep340 - The Twisted Life and Tragic Murder of Babara Daly Baekeland
Barbara Daly Baekeland was a wealthy socialite with everything anyone could ever want. Or at least that's how it appeared from the outside. But in reality, her perfect marriage was a sham, she was suffering from mental health issues, and her so...
•
50:58
DOM Ep339 - The Life, Career and Murder of David "Stringbean" Akeman
In this episode we cover the life and tragic death of David "Stringbean" Akeman, an icon of both the Grand Ole Opry and classic television show Hee-Haw.
•
1:13:54
DOM Ep338 - "Truth Is Stanger Than Friction" - Bizarre HOA Rules & Stories
In our first podcast about something other than Jim Jones in 3 1/2 months, we attempt to cleanse your and our palate with a light hearted episode about HOAs and some crazy stories involving them.
•
58:30
DOM Ep337 - Jim Jones and The Peoples Temple...of Doom (Pt. 14) - Jim's Last Crusade
This episode is the FINAL part of our series on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. We cover Leo Ryan's volatile visit to Jonestown, his attempts to help several defectors escape, and the terrible tragedy that ultimately resulted from Jim Jones' ...
•
59:59
DOM Ep336 - Jim Jones and The Peoples Temple...of Doom (Pt. 13) - Smoke & Mirrors
In this 13th part of our series on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. We discuss Jim's continued legal battles, his attempts to repair Jonestown's damaged public image, and finally, the dreaded visit from California Congressman Leo Ryan.
•
50:47
DOM Ep335 - Jim Jones and The Peoples Temple...of Doom (Pt. 12) - Teamwork Makes the Nightmare Work
In the 12th part of our series on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. We cover the continued downfall of Jim's empire, his out of control drug use, and the legal and media firestorm that would eventually lead to the event that caused the mass sui...
•
1:04:56
DOM Ep334 - Jim Jones and The Peoples Temple...of Doom (Pt. 11) - Ya Don't Mess Around With Jim
In this 11th part of our series on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. We cover Jim's harsh reign over Jonestown, the difficult assimilation of the new wave of settlers, the custody battle with Grace Stoen, and the ever-growing group back i...
•
1:00:17
DOM Revisited - Ruby Stapleton - An Interview With Author Catherine Rathe
In episodes 309 through 311, we did a three part series on the unsolved murder of Ruby Stapleton. A huge part of the information in that series came from the book "The Washeteria Mystery: Who Killed Ruby?", written by Catherine Rathe. In this e...
•
57:14