A summer re-release of a classic episode! On July 10th, 1967, 25 year old mother of three, Leota Camp, was found by her young children, stabbed and bleeding in a small bedroom of the family’s home in Des Moines, Iowa. There was no sign of a robbery, forced entry, or sexual assault. In short, there doesn't seem to be a motive, and the attack happened when family and neighbors were within earshot. The murder of Leota Camp still haunts her family and friends to this day and has become one of Iowa's most notorious cold cases.

With special guest Bill Whirity.

Anyone with information about Leota Camp’s unsolved murder can contact the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation at (515) 725-6010 or email at dciinfo@dps.state.ia.us.

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/

Instagram: @astudyofstrange Website: www.astudyofstrange.com

Hosted by Michael May

Email stories, comments, or ideas to astudyofstrange@gmail.com

©2025 Convergent Content, LLC

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Links:

https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/leota-camp/ https://www.dsm.city/departments/police-division/index.php https://www.communitynewspapergroup.com/independence_bulletin_journal/news/article_d8c57172-3d40-11e5-84c3-63934fcead6e.html https://iowacoldcases.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/1967-7-11-dmr-leota-camp-six-unsolved-murders-2pgs.pdf https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/2015/07/25/years-later-memory-mothers-brutal-death-lingers/30682451/

https://www.newspapers.com/search/?query=leota%20camp&p_province=us-ia&dr_year=1967-1967

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76258647/leota-maecamp

https://madison.com/news/iowa/who-killed-leota-camp-48-years-later-and-still-no-answer/article_5959062c-ddfa-5c02-a8e9-bdb7e4dea47a.html?mode=comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQZpgfnOm8w&t=10061s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51AzHqs_N6I

We conclude the devilish and mysterious story surrounding the disappearance of a group of women involved in a small cult run by new age author Carlos Castaneda.

Not many are aware that one of the most successful New Age authors, Carlos Castaneda, lead a cult. The women that made up the inner circle of his cult were called “the witches” and five of them disappeared after Castaneda’s death in 1998. In an all too familiar trope, Castaneda’s mythology was built on lies, narcissism, hypocrisy, and abuse, yet the witches remain missing. Did they commit mass suicide, or are they still in control of the cult’s workshops (Tensegrity) and publishing empire?

With Special Guest Mariah Klapatch!

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8088.Carlos_Castaneda

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APXVFG

https://www.altaonline.com/dispatches/a60923618/carlos-castaneda-cult-geoffrey-gray/

https://deleuze.cla.purdue.edu/people/carlos-castaneda/

https://www.castaneda.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Sorcerers-Apprentice-Life-Carlos-Castaneda/dp/1583942068/ref=asc_df_1583942068?mcid=0d8519cc17a73ea982de07dd78440a03&hvocijid=5328905483217033375-1583942068-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5328905483217033375&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031201&hvtargid=pla-2281435177378&psc=1

Not many are aware that one of the most successful “new age” authors, Carlos Castaneda, lead a cult. The women that made up the inner circle of his cult were called “the witches” and five of them disappeared soon after Castaneda’s death in 1998. In an all too familiar trope, Castaneda’s mythology was built on lies, narcissism, hypocrisy, and abuse, yet the witches remain missing. Did they commit mass suicide, or are they in control of the cult’s workshops (Tensegrity) and publishing empire.

Theme Music by Matt Glass: https://www.glassbrain.com/

Instagram: @astudyofstrange

Support the Show! astudyofstrange.substack.com/

Website: www.astudyofstrange.com

Hosted by Michael May

Email stories, comments, or ideas to astudyofstrange@gmail.com!

©2025 Convergent Content, LLC

LINKS

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8088.Carlos_Castaneda

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APXVFG

https://www.altaonline.com/dispatches/a60923618/carlos-castaneda-cult-geoffrey-gray/

https://deleuze.cla.purdue.edu/people/carlos-castaneda/

https://www.castaneda.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Sorcerers-Apprentice-Life-Carlos-Castaneda/dp/1583942068/ref=asc_df_1583942068?mcid=0d8519cc17a73ea982de07dd78440a03&hvocijid=5328905483217033375-1583942068-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5328905483217033375&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031201&hvtargid=pla-2281435177378&psc=1