Piece Description

The small town of Villisca, Iowa isn't the setting you would expect for one of America's most sensational murder mysteries, but listeners are immediately swept into this century-old story as they tour the town with Darwin Linn, owner of the Villisca Axe Murder House. Not only is the house the site of the grisly murders, but it's also ranked as one of the 50 most paranormal homes in America--and yes, a paranormal moment is caught on tape.

On June 10, 1912, an entire family and their two overnight guests were brutally murdered with an axe, and the crime was never solved. In this suspenseful narrative, we encounter Darwin in a sleepy storefront, and then take a ride with him through the town. We visit the homes of various suspects, including a traveling minister and an Iowa State Senator. As we approach the scene of the murders, we're pulled a hundred years back in time.

Inside the Villisca Axe Murder House, we retrace the tragic killings and its bizarre aftermath. At the same time, we develop an odd fascination with our guide, who confesses that owning the place has changed his world view. Finally, we're brought face-to-face with an eerie, supernatural moment that occurs inside the house, during the interview itself.

The Guardian of the Murder House is an unforgettable retelling of a terrible Midwestern crime, but it also acts as profile of a man whose life is intimately affected by his ownership of the home.