Zachsolved Mysteries
We solve the mysteries that Unsolved Mysteries couldn't solve! Stephanie, Keeper of Mysteries, regales you with sordid tales from TV's Unsolved Mysteries, while Super Sleuth Zach applies his keen detective skills to crack each case.
This isn't your standard recap podcast - our unscripted banter leads you down surprising tangents, mixing humor with genuine discussion about mental health and life's bigger questions. Stephanie's centered presence perfectly balances Zach's rough-around-the-edges approach, creating a unique blend of the bawdy and the profound.
Whether you're hiding from your family, partying with D.B. Cooper, or cruising the cosmos with aliens, join us on this wild ride through the unexplained. New episodes drop every other Friday. PRAISE STACK!!
Zachsolved Mysteries
Episode 50! The Austin Servant Girl Annihilator
They said it couldn’t be done, they said it SHOULDN’T be done, and yet—here we are, standing atop a metaphorical moontower, bathing in the eerie glow of history, mystery, and questionable decision-making. It’s our 50th episode, and to mark this milestone, we’re stepping outside our usual Unsolved Mysteries coverage to tackle a case so chilling, so brutal, and so deeply tied to our city’s past that it still haunts Austin today.
Before “serial killer” was even a term, Austin’s shadowy figure stalked the night, leaving blood and terror in its wake. In 1885, as the city grew, the Servant Girl Annihilator struck—one of America’s first serial murder cases, yet still largely forgotten. Overshadowed by bigger cities, more infamous killers, and deep-seated racial injustice, the victims—mostly Black domestic workers—were met with indifference from the white elite and incompetence from law enforcement.
Join us as we unravel one of America’s first true crime legends, dragging you (consensually) through a case full of eerie footprints, axe-wielding horror, and police work that was worse than a Matthew McConaughey impression at open mic night. We’ll cover the victims, the suspects, and the lasting impact these murders had on Austin—including the moontowers, which - fun fact- still illuminate our overpriced tacos and drunk tourists to this day.
Also in this episode:
🔪 Zach probably possibly solves a 140-year-old case
🕯️ Stephanie makes a compelling argument for separate bedrooms.
🎶 A historical deep dive somehow leads to - or starts with - a Beastie Boys tangent.
🚨 And, of course, Robert Stack is with us in spirit.
It’s episode 50. We did it. You did it. And somebody sure as hell got away with it.
Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of extremely violent crimes, including sexual violence and brutal attacks. Listener discretion is advised.