In 1827, Maria Marten vanished, but her secret wouldn't stay buried. A dark true crime story featuring a charming killer, William Corder, a shocking betrayal, and a mother whose terrifying, prophetic dreams revealed the exact spot of her daughter's remains beneath the floor of the Red Barn. We dive into the sensational trial, the gruesome public dissection, and the macabre fate of Corder's skin. A Wyrd tale of deception and death.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

"Foxey" Corder: The background of William Corder, a "ladies' man" and fraudster whose early crimes were capped by a chilling prophecy: "I'll be damned if he will not be hung some of these days."

The Ruse: Corder's elaborate deception, including a fake elopement to Ipswich and a claim he couldn't return because of his 'angry friends and relatives'.

The Power of Dreams: The chilling account of Maria's stepmother, Ann Marten, who dreamt of her daughter's murder and the precise location of her body in the Red Barn.

The Shocking Trial: The sensational 1828 trial, which required ticket-only entry and was packed with over 20,000 spectators, featuring evidence of pistols, a fake passport, and the final, damning confession.

The Gruesome Epilogue: The unforgiving justice of the time, including Corder's public execution, the galvanism experiments performed on his body, the phrenological examination of his skull, and the truly unsettling fate of his skin.

The Macabre Souvenirs: The fate of Corder's remains, including the famous and horrific account of his skin being used to bind copies of his own trial history.

The Conspiracy Theory: The doubts raised about Ann Marten's dreams and the theory of a possible love triangle and betrayal that complicates the entire story.

Wyrd News & Recommended Listening

If you enjoyed the link between crime and the paranormal, be sure to check out our previous episode on the Greenbrier Ghost—the only known case where the testimony of a ghost was used in court!

For bonus material and the latest Wyrd news, check out our bonus show AfterWyrd. Don't blame the owls!

Thank you again for joining us, everyone. Until next time...

Stay Wyrd!

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

Buy our merch here

Written by Craig Brooks and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.