Unearthing the forgotten, the mysterious, and the legendary—one Southern story at a time. Hosted by Shannon Ballard, Southern Mysteries explores the rich and often untold history of the American South through a captivating mix of folklore, legends, unexplained mysteries, and true crime. Each episode uncovers a compelling tale from a Southern state, blending history with intrigue to reveal the fascinating stories that time left behind. While some episodes delve into chilling crimes, others spotlight legendary figures, ghostly lore, or baffling events.Sometimes the mystery is: why haven’t you heard the story?
Episodes
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Monday Sep 15, 2025
In June 1955, Judge Curtis Chillingworth and his wife Marjorie vanished from their Manalapan, Florida, beach cottage. There were haunting clues, but no bodies were ever found. Their disappearance exposed corruption in Florida’s courts and led to the downfall of a fellow judge. Curtis was known for integrity, Marjorie for her quiet strength — together, they became the heart of one of Florida’s most infamous true crime cases. Their story, and its unexpected ties to the legend of Trapper Nelson, remains one of Florida’s most haunting mysteries.
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Episode Sources
- Palm Beach Bar Association. Memorial Resolution for Judge Curtis E. Chillingworth. (1965) palmbeachbar.org
- Florida Memory. Justice Curtis E. Chillingworth Temporary Appointment Bio. floridamemory.com
- The Charley Project. Curtis Eugene Chillingworth Case File. charleyproject.org
- The Charley Project. Marjorie McKinley Chillingworth Case File. charleyproject.org
- Crime + Investigation UK. Judge Joe Peel and the Chillingworth Murders. crimeandinvestigation.co.uk
- The Coastal Star. Manalapan 60 Years On: Chillingworth Murders Still Shocking. thecoastalstar.com
- Mental Floss. What Happened to Judge Curtis Chillingworth? mentalfloss.com
- Town of Manalapan. History of Incorporation and Harold S. Vanderbilt. manalapan.org
- Wikipedia. Curtis Chillingworth. wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Chillingworth
- Unlikely Friends — A municipal publication from Jupiter, FL, describing the unlikely friendship between Judge Curtis Chillingworth and Vincent “Trapper” Nelson.https://www.jupiter.fl.us/DocumentCenter/View/301/Judge-Chillingworth-Murder
Episode Music
Out of the Mines, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina.
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