Coldest Cases

20 years before Jamestown and John Smith became known as the first English settlement in the New World, a different group of English men, women and children tried to set roots in present-day North Carolina... twice. Both attempts ended in disaster, with one settlement disappearing completely.

June 28th, 1776. A member of George Washington’s Life Guard (basically America’s first Secret Service) is executed for conspiring to turn on the General and take his life in the name of Great Britain. The plot, discovered by random chance, would have irrevocably changed the course of America’s history. And according to witnesses, several other Life Guards were in on the traitorous plans.

Jack joins Lauren to discuss the crazy things we’ve learned about the mysterious life of Grigori Rasputin. Plus, hear what crazy old mystery from history Lauren is working on next.

Just weeks after Rasputin’s murder, Russia’s Tsar Nicholas abdicated and his family ended up under house arrest. 18 months later, the entire family was murdered in the basement of Ipatiev House in cold blood. So... is there any truth to Alexandra’s claims that Rasputin was a Holy Man sent to protect her family? Lauren explores fact and fiction in Part Three on Grigori Rasputin.

Rasputin met Russia’s Tsar & Tsarina in late 1905, after a tumultuous year for the country. Despite protests from the government, the church & the people, Nicholas & Alexandra continued to give this Siberian peasant more access to the Royal Palace & Court. Part Two looks into why & how Rasputin’s influence was able to stretch as far as it did... & why Nicholas & Alexandra continued to ignore the warnings that no good would come from the situation.