The Sinister Letters That Terrorized A Small Town • Mystery Files

"if i had a nickel for every time a small town was plagued by a creepy letter writing campaign I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice"

"I know aliens aren't in this story, but I was drawing a picture of an alien holding a little gun." Don't ever change, Shane. I'm so glad Mystery Files is back.

Paul's son looks really sus to me. The phrasing of the letters sounds pretty juvenile, like something a teenager would write. It also explains why Paul continued to receive letters in jail, and why he wouldn't tell the police who stole his gun, because he's trying to protect his son.

I'm so confused about why the letters Paul supposedly magically managed to send from prison weren't investigated. This case doesn't feel solved at all to me -- at least not as presented here! I'm also confused as to why Shane and Ryan are acting like it is.

WE'RE BACK BABY

felt like a lot of the threats and obscene messages about the young daughter got glossed over. like if i was a parent who started being threatened/shittalked, i'd be mad but i could take it. if someone started writing obscene messages about my 13 year old daughter... it's over

"I like him, he's got kind eyes. i think he did it." this shouldn't have made me laugh NEARLY as much as it did

Honestly shout out to the designer behind the mystery files logo. Absolute banger of a design. chefs kiss

I think it's weird that the sheriff was repeatedly mentioned in the letters, but no one looked into that?

I absolutely love the alternating episodes bc you just always know Ryan is going to have some psychological creepy crime case and Shane is going to present the most random batshit event that you've never heard of in your life

I was born and raised in Circleville. Still live here. I even went to Westfall until 4th grade. Pretty much everything you guys said about dui and everything like that is accurate lol. My very first bus driver was actually one of the female bus drivers mentioned in the letters. Everytime someone new covers this story from my hometown it makes me wonder what happened all over again. It may have been Paul and my personal opinion is that it was his son, but regardless every major player is long gone so the letter writer is more than likely already gone.

I truly think it's Mark. Paul and Mary were trying to protect their son. It would explain the letters in the house, and why the letters were continuing when Paul was in prison. Love that the show is back and I can't wait for season 2!!!

Though it is very funny that Paul was so confident that he’s telling the truth just to fail the polygraph test, but a reminder to everyone that polygraph tests don’t say shit lol, they’re incredibly unreliable and can basically be failed by just being nervous about answering questions in an interrogation, never trust them as actual 100% proof of fact

craziest thing is how they really put that man in jail for murder with no evidence 😭

Mark being the letter writer explains why paul didn't rat him out or report the gun stolen, and also why karen would be covering for the perp

I feel like the part about targeting slander towards the daughter in the signs should be emphasized more. I don’t think an aunt could think, let alone write such disgusting things about their own 8-13 year old niece.

I definitely agree that Paul was a bad dude, but I think it was one of the sons who wrote the letters. When you take into account the outlandish cartoony booby trap and that some of the letters were written on journal paper, I think it just makes more sense. Teens are super sensitive to their parent's wrong-doings, so if Mark or William witnessed their parents commit adultery, I could see them trying to scare them straight and then ultimately getting caught up in the rush of it all.

What "more important matters to attend to" could the sheriff possibly have in a small like that then people getting a bunch of threatening letters saying kill your wife and the guy he's cheating on you with or I'll do it myself?

appreciated how the music abruptly stopped when Shane said "I really hope this ends with someone getting the death penalty" with a completely blank face

Imma be honest, I’ve watched almost all of the buzzfeed unsolved series and thought I’d never find Shane and Ryan ever again. IVE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY!