00:00:00
NARRATOR
In October of 2011, 4 college students disappeared in the woods near Porter Township Pennsylvania while researching a documentary on children’s author Jakob Stanley. They remain missing to this day. Last month their recordings appeared online.
00:00:15
NARRATOR
In an effort to aid in the investigation, the families of those missing have agreed to release the following sound files. If anyone has information on those missing or the identity of the person or persons who uploaded these files, please use the contact information provided. Anything submitted may be used in future episodes. Certain materials referenced in this podcast, including the published works of Jakob Stanley, are currently protected under U.S. copyright law and may be redacted. For legal reasons, some names have been withheld and voices altered. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the podcasters and participants, and do not represent the official policy or position of the Iphigenia County Police Department of Porter Township Pennsylvania or its associates. This podcast contains adult themes and language. Listener discretion is advised.
00:01:09
PROFESSOR WHITAKER
File labeled: “002 Rough Cut, Episode 2 - Tell Me a Story: The True Life of Jakob Stanley.”
SFX: Tolen, RJ and Chuck are finishing setting up for the interview with Jane Stanley. The old house creaks as the storm outside continues, a few pops coming from a fire in the fireplace crack through the room. A lav is being placed on Jane.
[Jane laughs.]
00:01:35
TOLEN
(faint, not on mic)
Alright, Jane, whenever you’re ready.
00:01:40
JANE
My name is Jane Stanley and I am the only living relative of the world renowned author, Jakob Stanley.
SFX: A violent thunder clap rings out loudly causing the house to creak.
JANE (CONT’D)
Do you want me to take that again?
TOLEN
No, that was great, Jane.
JANE
So. Shall we begin?
00:02:14
PODCAST INTRO SEQUENCE
NEWS ANNOUNCER
WN [BEEP REDACTED] TV New York.
MUSIC: [80’s NEWS INTRO THEME]
NEWS ANCHOR ‘83
If your child has been to a school book fair recently, chances are they came home with one of this author’s scary books-
MUSIC: [80’s SUNDAY TALK SHOW THEME]
SUNDAY MORNING TALK SHOW HOST ‘81
Our guest’s first anthology leapt to the top of the New York Times Best Sellers list -
MUSIC: [LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW INTRO APPLAUSE]
LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST ‘86
- Thank you. Thank you! Over the past few years, he has become a household name-
MUSIC: [PODCAST THEME]
PUBLIC RADIO HOST ‘92
- Bridging the gap between Alvin Schwartz and Stephen King -
TV PREACHER
- The devil is among us, friends.
CONGREGATION
AMEN!
TV PREACHER
He’s among us, in the form of a writer. -
SUNDAY MORNING TALK SHOW HOST ‘81
- The book might have struggled during it initial release in 1977, but now “Tell Me A Story: Under the Bed That’s Over My Head”, has skyrocketed -
ALSC COMMITTEE REP
- So many parent organizations complained that his work was too sophisticated for children-
TV PREACHER
- He has infiltrated your homes, and your children’s minds-
PUBLIC RADIO HOST ‘92
- His second macabre anthology “Tell Me A Story: Moonless Sky and Other Friends” sold out from bookstores in mere minutes. Becoming a controversial -
NEWS ANCHOR ‘83
- Stanley's books ranked on the American Library Association’s “100 Most Frequently Challenged Books” from 1981-1993 -
TV PREACHER
- Stanley’s books promote disobedience, violence and the occult! Lord have mercy -
PUBLIC RADIO HOST ‘92
- The 3rd volume in his “Tell Me A Story” collection “The Floor That Creaks, the Closet That Speaks and the Tip Toes That You Walk On” was released in 1986 to mass acclaim -
ALSC COMMITTEE REP
- All that fussing, just made his work more popular -
TV PREACHER
- Check your children’s rooms, check their bookshelves, check their back-packs! -
YOUTUBER
- I do think his final book, released in ‘99, “TMAS: The nightmare, The Dream and the Places Between,” was by far his best work.-
PUBLIC RADIO HOST ‘92
- His work has been described as “subversive” and “dark,” I simply describe it as genius.
SUNDAY MORNING TALK SHOW HOST ‘81
- It is my pleasure to introduce -
LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST ‘86
- Please welcome -
PUBLIC RADIO HOST ‘92
- Ladies and gentleman, please welcome -
SUNDAY MORNING TALK SHOW HOST ‘81
- Jakob Stanley.-
LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST ‘86
- Mister Jakob Stanley.
PUBLIC RADIO HOST ‘92
- Author, Jakob Stanley.
[Applause.]
MUSIC: [POD THEME SYNTH]
00:03:55
AVERY/NARRATOR
Little to nothing is known about the life of this elusive author. And since 1999 Jakob Stanley seems to have completely dropped off the face of the earth. ... Until a short two-line obituary appeared in a small town paper, over a year ago.
TOLEN/NARRATOR
From BOO Labs and Red Cup Media, I'm Tolen Reid -
AVERY/NARRATOR
And I'm Avery Fischer, this is TELL ME A STORY: THE TRUE LIFE OF JAKOB STANLEY.
00:04:25
AVERY/NARRATOR
Check, check, check, check, check check, check, check. [Slate] Jane Stanley interview intro, Take 1: Jane Stanley has shoulder-length red hair and round red glasses that nestle deep into her cheeks. She’s in her thirties, but comes off a little old-fashioned. Kinda has an Aunt Linda circa 1987 vibe about her... You’ll get what I mean.
RJ
Avery.
AVERY
You don’t think that’s accurate?
RJ
It sounds kinda mean.
AVERY
Okay, fine, but I’m gonna leave it for now. Here’s you.
RJ/NARRATOR
(clears throat)
Jane Stanley was gracious enough to speak with us for several hours-
SFX: A beer can is popped open and slurped.
RJ
Seriously?!
AVERY
Sorry. My bad.
RJ/NARRATOR
Jane Stanley was gracious enough to speak with us for several hours. She even allowed us to leave with a number of boxes filled with journals, and an assortment of recordings... everything from reel-to-reels to super 8s, and the equipment to play them on.
SFX: Click of equipment switching on and off, and a beep.
00:05:29
AVERY
Uh. Production note: Tolen, the sound is really weird? Uh, all the equipment was working fine, when we were there, but when we offloaded it...
RJ
I have a theory.
AVERY
Yeah. RJ has a theory.
RJ
You can dismiss it all you want to, but I’m telling you right now that’s EVP.
AVERY
Or it could be that we need to change out the cable. Possibly use a different mic for interviews?
RJ
Whatever.
AVERY
So, we kinda just tossed the interview together with the cleanest segments, sound-wise. But there is a bunch more material, it's just not very usable.
RJ
And I am digging your music pulls, BeTeeDUBs.
AVERY
Agreed.
SFX: The old house creaks as the storm outside continues, and a few pops coming from a fire in the fireplace crack through the room.
00:06:11
JANE
My mom’s name was Marie, she was Uncle Russys - I call Uncle Jakob Uncle Russys, cuz his first name was Russell and his middle name was Jakob, so... Uncle Russys.-
TOLEN
(Off-mic)
I’m sorry, Jane, can we try to use “Jakob,” instead of “Russell”... just so we don’t confuse people?
JANE
Yes, sir director man, sir!
TOLEN
(Off mic)
Oh, I didn’t-
JANE
- Anyways, so mom was Uncle Russys - sorry, Uncle Jakob’s - younger sister. She’s been passed, oh I guess 5 years now.
RJ
(Off-mic)
I’m so sorry Jane.
JANE
Still miss her everyday. But well... where was I... Uh, so mom was born in 1958, in this very house, right ... over ... there. And about 13 years later, Grandma Stanley died in this very house, right ... over ... there.
00:07:11
TOLEN
(Off mic)
That must have been very hard for your mother and Jakob, their mom dying so young?
JANE
Well, yes. Uncle Jakob had to finish raising my mom himself. He was only 20 at the time. ... But, he got married right around then. So, his wife stepped in and took care of mom.
AVERY
(Off-mic)
Jakob was married!?
JANE
It was only for a few years... they weren’t exactly a “good pairing.” When my mom left home, she took off after that.
RJ
(off mic)
Why weren’t they a “good pairing”?
JANE
Huh? Oh, don’t know. It was such a short time and they were so young. Who can say? I don’t even think I know her name. ... Yeah, no sorry.
00:07:51
TOLEN
(Off mic)
Where was their dad?
JANE
Pop-pop was not in the picture as far as I know. He left when Uncle Jakob was 6.
TOLEN
(Off mic)
You mean 8, right? Sorry. I just did the math-
SFX: Jane slams her hand on her lav.
JANE
Oh, my. Did you guys catch that on the mic? My tummy is making the worst sounds, I must be nervous. Charlie, did you hear that tummy sound?
CHUCK
(Off mic)
Uh, no you’re good. The mic didn’t pick anything up.
RJ
(Off mic)
Don’t worry Jane, you’re doing a great job.
TOLEN
(Off mic)
So-
JANE
-Am I? I hope so. I really want to help you out as much as I can... Well, so mom’s off roaming the world, when in ‘81 she finds herself in the family way. So, she comes back home and Uncle Rus- Uncle Jakob takes her in. Then, ta-da, I’m born... right over there ... I’m kidding, I was born in the hospital.
[The group awkwardly laughs.]
00:08:48
JANE (CONT’D)
He was doing very well for himself by then, so tried to make sure mom had the best of everything. He had already purchased some of the nearby land and was gonna build mom and I our own place, but my mom, well, mom had... she battled addiction.
RJ
(Off-mic)
Oh, I’m so sorry Jane.
TOLEN
(Off mic)
I’m sorry.
JANE
No, it’s okay. I mean it’s not “okay” but it is okay. ... Uncle Russys, a-hem, Uncle Jakob - got mom into a facility and he took care of me while she was gone. Mom was in and out of rehab until I was 8 or so? ... But then, like a bolt of lightning, she just stopped, completely cleaned up her act. ... Which was perfect timing because Uncle Jakob had been living full time in the camper van... to write, ya know.
TOLEN
(off mic)
Wait! THE camper van? There was an actual camper van? He references it so many times in his work, but I never was sure-
AVERY
(off mic)
SO, you were living alone in the house... at 8 years old?
TOLEN
(off mic/under his breath)
Sorry.
JANE
More or less. It did make me very self-sufficient.
SFX: The house creaks and the fire pops in the absence of conversation.
SFX: Tree branches gently tap the sides of the house.
00:09:59
AVERY
(off mic)
Uh, what year was this?
JANE
‘88-89? Somewheres’ in there. That’s when he completely stopped coming to the house. Then in ‘92 mom got a new job a bit aways’ and it didn’t feel right for us to be here anymore, so we left... I didn’t see Uncle Jakob again after that. We wrote each other from time to time, but...
SFX: The wind picks up and a large tree branch slams against the house causing the screen door to unlatch and flap against the door frame.
00:10:27
JANE (CONT’D)
Well, I guess the wind had to share it’s opinion. Excuse me for just a sec.
SFX: Jane gets up to address the screen door. Her mic continues to pick her up, until it mysteriously cuts off.
TOLEN
Avery! There was a camper van!
AVERY
I know, it’s very exciting, but keep it together, she’s talking some serious shit here.
TOLEN
But?!
AVERY
I know, I know... the camper van!
CHUCK
He neglected a small child.
TOLEN
Well, she said it made her self-
RJ
Don’t do that.
JANE
Charlie!
SFX: Jane appears. The group collectively jump.
JANE (CONT’D)
You look so cold over there, some coffee? Warm ya up?
CHUCK
Uh, sure? Thank you?
RJ
I’ll help.
SFX: RJ and Jane exit to the kitchen to get the coffee.
CHUCK
Jesus Christ.
AVERY
We’re gonna need her to review this. I don’t wanna use anything about her childhood she isn’t comfortable with.
TOLEN
Yeah, yeah. Totally.
AVERY
And she is all over the place. Let’s try to keep her focused.
TOLEN
10-4.
00:11:18
AVERY
WATCH OUT! Ha-ha. It’s me. Uh, this is one of the segments I was talking about earlier. It starts out fine, but it goes kinda weird.
SFX: Avery eats some chips.
AVERY (CONT’D)
Uhm, but RJ made me keep it in.
RJ
You can dismiss it all you want-
AVERY
WHHhhhoooooooooo-ahhhhh.
[RJ exhales.]
AVERY (CONT’D)
I don’t know.
SFX: Beep.
SFX: The old house creaks as the storm outside continues, the fire crackles and pops.
00:11:46
JANE
Well... told you a little about the house... The land around it was evidently a steal, on account of its proximity to the Mendenhall Institute... Some claim the woods between here and there are haunted.
RJ
(Off mic)
Oh! Wait! - The Mendenhall. Yeah, I’ve heard about that place.
JANE
Oh, yes. ... They say that in the 1960s, a woman escaped the Mendenhall and hanged herself right in one of those trees on the edge of the old property line. ... Right ... over ... there. ... The story goes, that she broke out of the Institute late one night-
TOLEN
(Off mic)
- Sorry.
JANE
Yes?
TOLEN
(Off mic)
Uh, can we come back to - refocus back on Jakob?
AVERY
(Off mic)
He didn’t do many interviews and when he did, he never talked about his life at all.
SFX: There is a wave of static.
00:12:40
JANE
He was a very private person. Kept to himself. You know... But my mom told me a little.
TOLEN
(Off mic)
Like?
SFX: There is a wave of static.
JANE
Like... Uncle Russys - Uncle Jakob -was really sick as a child, had the scarlet fever.
SFX: There is a wave of static and interference. Her words are hard to discern.
JANE (CONT’D)
- Uh... Grandma raised them mostly on her own. She even home schooled them herself. Yup, she was one hell of a lady. Full-time mom, full-time homeschool teacher, full-time cocktail waitress.
AVERY
(off mic)
Cocktail waitress?
JANE
I know, I know, this doesn’t seem like the kinda town a cocktail waitress could pull enough tips to raise 2 kids on...
SFX: There is a wave of static and interference. Her words are hard to discern.
JANE (CONT’D)
And it isn’t. No, that poor thing had to work one town over. There used to be a train station thataway’, it did a lot of business. She was gone from 4 to 4 every night. Sometimes for days at a time.
AVERY
(off mic)
That’s quite a lot of time for young kids to be on their own.
JANE
Some might think that, yes, but I know I thrived and really became my own person, having a lot of time to myself at an early age.
TOLEN
(off mic)
Made you “self-sufficient.”
JANE
Oh, heaven’s yes... But, I was no troublemaker.
SFX: There is a wave of static and interference. Jane’s words are hard to discern.
TOLEN
(off mic)
So, Jakob, was a bit of a “troublemaker?”
SFX: There is a wave of static and interference. Jane’s words are hard to discern.
JANE
“Boys will be boys” as they say.
AVERY
(off mic)
They don’t really say that anymore.
JANE
Well, it was a different time, you know...
SFX: There is a wave of static and interference. Jane’s words disappear in the sound.
JANE (CONT’D)
-When he wanted.
SFX: The fire pops.
00:14:28
JANE (CONT’D)
Loved a good campfire!
TOLEN
(off mic)
Who doesn’t enjoy a campfire?
SFX: There is a wave of static and interference.
JANE
Now ....
SFX: There is a wave of static and interference. Jane’s words disappear in the sound.
JANE (CONT’D)
... He was very kind, even as a little boy. When my mom was like 6 years old, someone hit a deer with their car and just left it on the side of the road out there. My mom saw it and started crying, so my uncle goes and checks on the poor thing and discovers this little baby fawn cowering next to her. He plucked that baby up and the two of them hand-fed it until it could go off on it's own. There was a deep kindness to him.
SFX: The fire pops loud.
TOLEN
(off mic)
You know what that reminds me of? His story “The Wolf Who Fed the Fawn”
AVERY
(off mic)
Rightrightright. From the second book.
CHUCK
(off mic)
Oh, shit.
RJ
(off mic)
What?
00:15:15
CHUCK
(off mic)
I know that one. Uh, my older brother, he loved this show from the 90’s “Long Ago and Far Away”?
JANE
I remember that show! It was hosted by James Earl Jones.
CHUCK
(off mic)
Well, he taped most of the episodes, and when I was little, we would watch them together and they did that story once.
JANE
Oh Charlie, do you still have them? I’d love to see that.
TOLEN
(off mic)
So would I!
CHUCK
(off mic)
I converted them from VHS, so they’re all on my computer, I can make you a copy.
AVERY
(off mic)
I think I know what we’re doing tonight!
MUSIC: [TRANSITION]
00:15:52
RJ/NARRATOR
Ladies and gentlemen, from the PBS television show “Long Ago and Far Away” the incomparable James Earl Jones, reading “The Wolf Who Fed the Fawn“ by Jakob Stanley, courtesy of Charles Young.
SFX: A few seconds of the intro music is interrupted by a low toned BEEP.
00:16:07
NARRATOR
Unauthorized material redacted.
SFX: Low toned BEEP
SFX: The old house creaks as the storm outside continues, the fire continues to faintly crackle.
00:16:18
JANE (CONT'D)
He was a bit heartbroken, after the final book came out. I think he really thought it would be as well received as his other work and it just wasn’t. In 1999, everything was Harry Potter... and his book was not Harry Potter. ... And with everything he did to make sure it got released.
RJ
(off mic)
How do you mean?
JANE
Well, from what I know, he told his publishers as long as they guaranteed to release that last book, he would sign over the rights to all of it.
TOLEN
(off mic)
When you say “all of it”?
JANE
I mean all of it. They own the copyright and publishing rights to every book he ever wrote... in perpetuity.
AVERY
(off mic)
Holy shit.
JANE
But, my -
SFX: There is a wave of static and interference. Jane’s words disappear in the sound and come back.
JANE (CONT’D)
-So, maybe I’ll be able to get the copyright back? And then get another publishing company to put his work back into print, or online.
TOLEN
(off mic)
That would be amazing. I would love that.
AVERY
(off mic)
But, to give up the copyrights... why would he ever agree to that?
00:17:20
JANE
Trust me, I know, it boggles the mind.
AVERY
(off mic)
Had they ever turned down one of his manuscripts before?
JANE
I don’t know, maybe? He was writing constantly when I lived here, so to not have a book come out until ‘99 seems weird, but who knows.
TOLEN
(off mic)
When was this?
JANE
When was what?
TOLEN
(off mic)
When he was writing constantly? You said before he had moved out to the camper?
JANE
It was right after his 3rd book came out, so like probably 1988? 89?
AVERY
(off mic)
Did he ever say what he was working on?
JANE
No, just that he was writing. I could tell he was really into it though. Even had an assistant for a while.
TOLEN
(off mic)
Really?
AVERY
(off mic)
Do you know who this assistant was?
RJ
(off mic)
That would be a great interview.
JANE
Oh, I never met him, they mostly stayed in the camper.
00:18:11
TOLEN
(off mic)
Was it an assistant or an illustrator?
JANE
Oh don’t know, why?
TOLEN
(off mic)
His first few books were all illustrated by different artists.
AVERY
(off mic)
Each individual drawing was by a different person and they were never credited.
TOLEN
(off mic)
Except for his last book. That book was done by one illustrator: L.L. Randolph. Does that name ring any bells?