S4 E7 The Harpe Brothers - A Brutal Reign of Terror on the Frontier

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Dive into the chilling true story of Micajah "Big" Harpe and Wiley "Little" Harpe, America's first documented serial killers, in this gripping episode of The Dark History Podcast. Born in the brutal backcountry of 18th-century North Carolina, the Harpe brothers unleashed a wave of terror across the untamed frontier, leaving a trail of mutilated bodies and shattered lives in their wake.

Discover how these sadistic killers turned murder into an art form—weighting victims with stones, performing crude surgeries on pregnant women, and leaving grotesque tableaus of their crimes. With at least 28 confirmed murders (and possibly as many as 50), their brutality shocked even the hardened settlers of the early American wilderness.

Join us as we explore:

• The Harpes' twisted upbringing and how the American Revolution fueled their bloodlust.
• Their gruesome killing methods and the eerie "signatures" they left behind.
• The dramatic manhunt that ended Big Harpe’s reign—and the shocking fate of his severed head.
• Little Harpe’s desperate attempt to escape justice—and how he met his own gruesome end.

Perfect for fans of true crime, dark history, and unsolved mysteries, this episode uncovers the horrifying legacy of the Harpe brothers—the monsters who set the blueprint for serial killers to come. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with fellow true crime enthusiasts.

🔍 Keywords: America’s first serial killers, Harpe brothers true crime, frontier murders, 18th-century killers, brutal historical crimes, dark history podcast, unsolved mysteries, gruesome killings, Natchez Trace murders, early American horror.

Listen now—if you dare.

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Step into the shadows of the past—where truth is more disturbing than fiction. The Dark History Podcast drags the forgotten, the forbidden, and the downright horrifying stories of our world into the light. From blood-soaked streets of Victorian London to the twisted minds of history’s most ruthless figures, every episode plunges you into an immersive narrative built on meticulous research and haunting detail.

Hosted by Rob Bradley, Dark History doesn’t just tell stories—it makes you feel them. Each episode unravels real events that shaped our world in ways you were never taught, told through vivid storytelling that grips you from the first word to the last breath.

History isn’t always written by the victors. Sometimes, it’s whispered from the gallows, buried beneath ruins, or etched in blood.

If you crave the truth behind the horror, and the stories history tried to forget—welcome to The Dark History Podcast.

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