The Feral Folklorist
The Feral Folklorist is a podcast that blends strange history, old-world witchcraft, and hands-on folk magic. Each episode explores a real haunting, folktale, or magical belief—then digs deeper into the spellcraft, superstition, and shadow work buried underneath. From witch bottles and death omens to crossroads myths and Southern curses, this show uncovers the folklore people whisper about but rarely explain.
Hosted by author and folklorist Papa Gee, The Feral Folklorist combines storytelling with practical magic, revealing how ancient beliefs still shape the way we protect, hex, heal, and haunt. Whether you’re into ghost stories, rootwork, or ritual, this podcast invites you to explore the eerie, the enchanted, and everything that still smells like smoke.
New episodes every other Monday.
The Feral Folklorist
9. The Hex Murder of York County: A True Crime Rooted in Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Magic
In 1928, a Pennsylvania folk healer named Nelson Rehmeyer was beaten and killed by three men who believed he’d hexed them. They weren’t strangers—they knew him, had sat at his kitchen table, and came armed with folk instructions: steal his spellbook, take a lock of hair, and destroy them to break the curse. When the fire they set didn’t catch, the legend began.
This episode unpacks the true story behind what became known as the Hex Murder of York County—a case where powwow, the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition of Bible-based folk healing, was twisted into justification for murder. We’ll dig into how Rehmeyer’s practice and The Long Lost Friend put him at the center of rural magical fear, and how folk systems like powwow and hexerei blurred the line between healing and suspicion.
Want more from The Feral Folklorist?
Dive deeper into each episode, explore merch, and get all the latest updates at:
https://feralfolklorist.com
Become a patron to unlock Feral Footnotes (our exclusive after-show), get early sneak peeks, weekly folk magic articles, and downloadable spells featured in each episode:
https://patreon.com/papagee
Stock up on your magical supplies from our metaphysical shop that’s been serving the public for over 25 years:
https://aromags.com
Browse Papa Gee’s books, tarot readings, and more at:
https://folkmagicstudio.com
Our digital magazine, Folkloreum, explores herbal recipes, spells and rituals, tales of folklore, and offers a little bit of spooky fiction in the mix. You can find it at: https://folkloreum.com/
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