H.H. Holmes & The Murder Castle

I’ll never forget the first time I heard the story of H.H. Holmes. It was near Halloween, and my husband and I were off on one of our favorite adventures—exploring winding dirt roads in the mountains. To set the mood, I downloaded a handful of old-time radio shows, the kind once hailed as the most chilling and suspenseful stories of their era. One of them was called “The Murder Castle.”

It was terrifying. A hotel designed with trapdoors, hidden hallways, gas chambers—something straight out of a horror movie. But what chilled me more than anything was discovering afterward that the story wasn’t fiction. It was based on the real-life crimes of H.H. Holmes. Since then, I’ve spent more hours than I can count researching the case—and it still haunts me.

The deeper I dug, the more I realized just how much myth has become tangled with truth. Holmes’ story has taken on a life of its own over time, making it difficult to separate what really happened from what’s been exaggerated for headlines or horror. But even when you peel away the folklore, the facts are still deeply disturbing.

What surprised me most was how much Holmes got away with before he ever built the so-called Murder Castle. He was already a prolific con artist, swindler, and suspected murderer long before the building was even sketched. And once construction began? Somehow, no one truly questioned what he was doing. How does someone build an elaborate trap-laden death maze and avoid suspicion? Was it the lack of communication and oversight in that era—or something more chilling about how people ignored the signs?

I think that’s why this case still matters today. As technology advances, so do the methods of deception. We like to believe we’re safer now, smarter, more aware—but there are always people willing to use new tools for old crimes. Understanding the psychology behind someone like Holmes can help us stay sharp in a world that’s just as vulnerable in new ways.

So I invite you to think about it: Could something like this happen today? Could someone build a “castle of horrors” right under our noses—and would we even notice?

So with that in mind, let’s open the file and take a closer look. Here’s the full script from the H.H. Holmes case, complete with dates, deception, and the dread that still lingers:

The Script

It stood like a looming shadow against the Chicago skyline... a place where guests checked in, but many never checked out. Behind its brick walls lay a labyrinth of secrets, corridors that led nowhere, and rooms designed not for comfort—but for horror. This... was the Murder Castle. And at the center of it all, a man whose charm masked something truly sinister. A man known as H.H. Holmes.

In the late 19th century, Chicago was a city on the rise, bustling with opportunity and ambition. But amid the excitement of the 1893 World’s Fair, something dark lurked in the shadows. Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, a seemingly respectable businessman, had built a hotel designed not just for travelers—but for murder. And by the time the truth emerged, his crimes would shake the nation.

The so-called ‘Murder Castle’ was unlike any hotel the city had ever seen. A sprawling, three-story structure filled with hidden passageways, soundproof rooms, and a basement straight out of a nightmare. Inside, Holmes’ victims met their fates—some suffocated in airtight chambers, others plunged through trapdoors, their bodies disposed of with chilling efficiency. He lured young women under the guise of employment... and business partners into fatal schemes. And for years, no one suspected a thing.

Among his many victims were Julia and Pearl Connor—a mother and her young daughter who vanished without a trace. Then there was Emeline Cigrand, a stenographer who was last seen inside the castle. And Benjamin Pitezel, Holmes’ own business associate, whose gruesome end would ultimately lead to Holmes’ downfall. But these were just the names we know. How many more were lost to the twisted corridors of Holmes' design?

At first glance, Dr. H.H. Holmes was the very image of success—handsome, intelligent, and endlessly charming. He used his charisma to swindle, manipulate, and deceive. He wasn’t just a murderer—he was a conman, a fraudster, and a master of deception. His crimes stretched far beyond his ‘castle’... and yet, for years, no one suspected the true depths of his evil.

It was greed that finally unraveled his deadly empire. When Holmes attempted to collect an insurance payout on a faked death, investigators followed the trail... and what they uncovered was far worse than fraud. Detective Frank Geyer, determined to find the missing Pitezel children, traced their tragic fate across multiple states. In the meantime, authorities combed through the Murder Castle—finding hidden chambers, false walls, and evidence of unimaginable horrors.

Holmes' trial in 1895 captivated the nation. He represented himself with eerie confidence, spinning tales of innocence. But the evidence was overwhelming. The jury found him guilty of murder, and in May of 1896, he was hanged for his crimes. Yet, even in his final moments, he remained unrepentant... his last confession a mixture of truth and lies.

The case of H.H. Holmes fascinated and horrified the public. Newspapers painted him as a real-life villain, a figure so monstrous he seemed almost fictional. Over the decades, the legend of the Murder Castle grew, inspiring books, films, and endless speculation. Some believe he killed hundreds, far beyond what was ever confirmed. Others even theorize that Holmes may have been Jack the Ripper himself.

The Murder Castle was demolished long ago, but its dark legacy remains. Was Holmes truly America’s first serial killer... or just the first to be caught? How many victims did he truly claim? And perhaps most chilling of all—could someone like Holmes exist today, hiding in plain sight, just as he did over a century ago?

Watch the Full Video: 



Download the Printable Case File: Holmes Case File
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Stay curious. Stay cautious. And keep your agenda a little dreadful.

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