Interview with Evansville's Forest Witch

01/18/25 • 74 min

River City Mystery - Exploring the darker corners of Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky

This episode features an interview with Crystal Folz, also known as Evansville's Forest Witch. Crystal has been practicing witchcraft since the 1990s, with a practice deeply rooted in animism and Kentucky folklore. She is also actively involved in the pagan and paranormal communities, serving as a co-chair for both the Three Corners Pagan Circle and the Southern Indiana Paranormal Investigators.

Here are some of the key topics discussed in the episode:

Introduction to Crystal: Learn about Crystal's background in witchcraft and her connection to animism and Kentucky folklore. [01:37]
Community Involvement: Discover Crystal's roles in the Three Corners Pagan Circle, serving witches in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky, and her involvement in paranormal investigation teams. [02:15]
"Back Porch" Approach to the Paranormal: Understand Crystal's common-sense approach to paranormal encounters. [02:45]
Defining Witchcraft: Explore the broad definition of what it means to be a witch and how it can vary for different individuals. [03:25]
Witchcraft vs. Wicca: Clarification on the distinction between witchcraft as a practice and Wicca as a specific religion within witchcraft. [08:13]
Understanding Dark Magic: Gain insight into Crystal's perspective on what constitutes dark magic. [13:16]
Ethical Sourcing: Learn about Crystal's practice of scavenging materials and her views on unethical labor standards in mass consumerism. [16:36]
Psychic Abilities in Investigations: Discover how Crystal uses her psychic abilities to provide readings of spaces during paranormal investigations without relying on equipment. [23:23]
Involvement in Missing Persons Cases: Hear about Crystal's experience as a psychic consultant in search and rescue operations and her emphasis on avoiding assumptions. [34:01]
Kentucky Folklore and Superstitions: Delve into fascinating local folklore and superstitions related to ghosts and witches. [45:57]
Animistic Beliefs: Understand Crystal's animistic worldview, where everything possesses a spirit and energy, and the importance of respecting those spaces. [59:07]
Three Corners Pagan Circle Events: Learn about the public rituals and events organized by the Three Corners Pagan Circle to educate and connect the community. [01:05:38]

Show Notes: https://www.rivercitymystery.com/18

Join the River City Mystery Discord channel to meet others from the tri-state area who are into true crime and the paranormal. https://www.rivercitymystery.com/discord

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://kentuckyconjurer.me/

https://www.threecornerspagancircle.com/

Crystal's email: [email protected]

Here are some of the key topics discussed in the episode:

Introduction to Crystal: Learn about Crystal's background in witchcraft and her connection to animism and Kentucky folklore. [01:37]
Community Involvement: Discover Crystal's roles in the Three Corners Pagan Circle, serving witches in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky, and her involvement in paranormal investigation teams. [02:15]
"Back Porch" Approach to the Paranormal: Understand Crystal's common-sense approach to paranormal encounters. [02:45]
Defining Witchcraft: Explore the broad definition of what it means to be a witch and how it can vary for different individuals. [03:25]
Witchcraft vs. Wicca: Clarification on the distinction between witchcraft as a practice and Wicca as a specific religion within witchcraft. [08:13]
Understanding Dark Magic: Gain insight into Crystal's perspective on what constitutes dark magic. [13:16]
Ethical Sourcing: Learn about Crystal's practice of scavenging materials and her views on unethical labor standards in mass consumerism. [16:36]
Psychic Abilities in Investigations: Discover how Crystal uses her psychic abilities to provide readings of spaces during paranormal investigations without relying on equipment. [23:23]
Involvement in Missing Persons Cases: Hear about Crystal's experience as a psychic consultant in search and rescue operations and her emphasis on avoiding assumptions. [34:01]
Kentucky Folklore and Superstitions: Delve into fascinating local folklore and superstitions related to ghosts and witches. [45:57]
Animistic Beliefs: Understand Crystal's animistic worldview, where everything possesses a spirit and energy, and the importance of respecting those spaces. [59:07]
Three Corners Pagan Circle Events: Learn about the public rituals and events organized by the Three Corners Pagan Circle to educate and connect the community. [01:05:38]

Show Notes: https://www.rivercitymystery.com/18

Join the River City Mystery Discord channel to meet others from the tri-state area who are into true crime and the paranormal. https://www.rivercitymystery.com/discord

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://kentuckyconjurer.me/

https://www.threecornerspagancircle.com/

Crystal's email: [email protected]

Previous Episode

Who Killed Elizabeth?

In this episode, I join Savannah on her YouTube channel, "Don't Hate. CREATE", as we examine the unsolved murder of 18-year-old Elizabeth Bannister, who was found dead in her Evansville, Indiana, apartment around 1:00 AM on January 20, 2000.

Here are the key points explored in the episode:

The Unexplained Crime: This episode highlights the perplexing circumstances of Elizabeth's murder, noting that despite other residents being present in the house, no one reported any disturbances. [02:22]
Elizabeth's Background: The episode sheds light on Elizabeth's difficult past, including experiences with assault and time spent in group homes. [03:01]
Suspect: Mark: Learn about Mark, her mother's former abusive boyfriend who later became Elizabeth's boyfriend. Although questioned, he had an alibi. [00:00], [09:46]
The Confession of William Clyde Gibson: The episode discusses the confession of convicted serial killer William Clyde Gibson, who claimed responsibility for Elizabeth's murder on a podcast. However, inconsistencies in his account raise doubts about its validity. [16:02], [23:22]
Unusual Events: Discover the strange occurrences leading up to Elizabeth's death, including her borrowing money for a payphone call and a taxi being called to her residence but leaving without a passenger. [11:00], [11:41]
Witness Account: Hear about a neighbor who reported seeing a man fleeing the scene around the time of the murder. [12:14]
Ongoing Investigation: Understand that despite a confession and the passage of time, Elizabeth's case remains open, with the Evansville police department maintaining an active investigation. [14:18], [14:36]
The Family's Search for Justice: Learn about the efforts of Elizabeth's sister, Sarah, who continues to seek justice for her sister and shares her own experiences of abuse. She does not believe Gibson's confession. [03:14], [18:07]

If you have any information that could help solve Elizabeth’s murder, please contact the Evansville Police Department at 812-436-7979.

Show Notes: https://www.rivercitymystery.com/17

Join the River City Mystery Discord channel to meet others from the tri-state area who are into true crime and the paranormal. https://www.rivercitymystery.com/discord

Links mentioned in this episode:

"Don't Hate. CREATE" YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@donthate.create

Where The Bodies Are Buried - S1 E1 William "Clyde" Gibson - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6VNbbx3u5qa0useqeRaENf?si=b118e30a4bea462e

Dealing Justice - Episode 8: Queen of Diamonds: Elizabeth Bannister, IN Deck - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6YfuNICxTf9nOmTpcLcO2x?si=168b6b2c199c4e31

Next Episode

Who Killed Jean Cook?

This episode delves into the tragic and unsolved murder of Georgia "Jean" Cook, a 56-year-old mother who was shot and killed on October 6th, 2005, while working at a gas station on 41 North in Evansville, Indiana.

Here's a summary of the key points covered:

The Crime: Learn about the details of the shooting, where Jean Cook was fatally shot during a robbery at her workplace. [01:07]
Eyewitness Account: Hear the description provided by a witness who saw a woman leaving the scene in a bluish-gray sedan. [02:03]
Conflicting Details: Understand the uncertainty surrounding the perpetrator's identity, with some accounts suggesting a man in disguise. [02:56]
First-hand Accounts: Listen to the emotional interview with Jean's coworker, Andy Hinton, who received a call from Jean immediately after the shooting, and her son, Fred Cook, who shares the lasting impact of this crime on their family. [03:10], [03:55]
Possible Leads and Theories: Explore potential motives, including the possibility that Jean may have witnessed illegal activity at the gas station. [08:21]
The Cold Case: Discover the current status of the investigation, which remains unsolved after two decades. [01:42]
Call for Information: The episode serves as a renewed effort to seek justice for Jean Cook, urging anyone with information to contact the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department. [25:57]

Show notes: https://www.rivercitymystery.com/19

Join the River City Mystery Discord server to meet others from the tri-state area who are into true crime and the paranormal.
https://www.rivercitymystery.com/discord