THE GHOST OF MAULES: Unmasking Le Loyon, Switzerland's Most Bizarre Urban Legend

For over a decade, residents of a quiet Swiss village reported encounters with a figure in a gas mask and military cloak lurking in their forests—until 2013, when someone finally captured proof on camera. Days after the photo went viral, investigators found only an abandoned coat and a cryptic suicide note in the woods, leaving more questions than answers about who Le Loyon really was. Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE for the ad-free version: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Take the WEIRD DARKNESS LISTENER SURVEY and help mold the future of the podcast: https://weirddarkness.com/survey IN THIS EPISODE: Nellie Meunch was accused of kidnapping. Her ingenious scheme to beat the charges? To kidnap again. (Kidnapping, Babies, and Blackmail) *** Before we knew it as tuberculosis, most knew it as consumption – and it was almost always fatal, with those who had it seemingly being consumed by the disease, which is probably how it got its name. So it should be no surprise that homes where the disease took up residence were devastated, and whether or not they are haunted by the paranormal, they are certainly haunted by the dark memories and energies of those who were consumed there. Including one particular home a doctor in 1915 will describe for us. (Consumption Cottage) *** Norfolk’s Horning Village is not your typical residential area of living – the village slips back and forth in time every five years. And one family knows that’s true, because they were stuck in one of the time slips. (Timeslip Village) *** When fans of the paranormal hear the name ‘Rendlesham’, the first thing that springs to mind is an incident that happened over three nights around Christmas 1980, when it was said that several spaceships visited the nearby airbase. What they don’t think of is Ariel the mermaid, or Daryl Hannah from the movie “Splash”. But maybe they should. (The Mermaid of Rendlesham) *** Isabella of France is a fantastically interesting historic figure, even more so because of how little-known she is. You’d think a queen who was known as a she-wolf would be something you might have read about in history class. (Isabella: She-Wolf of England) *** But first, the figure, who is known as 'Le Loyon' has been called Switzerland's answer to the Loch Ness Monster, wears a military uniform and a thick cloak, with a gas mask covering his or her face. Who or what is he? We begin with that story. (The Masked Man Le Loyon) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Lead-In 00:00:57.732 = Show Open 00:03:49.845 = Masked Man Le Leyon 00:19:21.165 = Kidnapping, Babies, and Blackmail 00:23:17.431 = Timeslip Village 00:28:54.081 = Consumption Cottage 00:36:26.589 = Mermaid of Rendlesham 00:41:47.218 = Isabella, She-Wolf of England 00:53:37.801 = Show Close 00:55:36.228 = Outtakes SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… Book: “Cover-Ups and Secrets: The Complete Guide to Government Conspiracies, Manipulations and Deceptions” by Nick Redfern: https://amzn.to/2S20NC5 Book: “Haunted East Anglia” by Joan Forman: https://amzn.to/3i88eCe Book: “Masks of Time” by Joan Forman: https://amzn.to/2Ez9bWt Book: Two Suffolk Friends” by William Blackwood and Sons: https://amzn.to/2RYWbMT Hidden East Anglia website: http://www.hiddenea.com Griffmonster Walks website: https://griffmonster-walks.blogspot.com/p/home-page.html “The Twelve Rules” episode: https://weirddarkness.com/archives/7101 “Ghosts on Death Row” episode: https://weirddarkness.com/archives/6868 “The Necropolis Railway” episode: https://weirddarkness.com/archives/7208 “The Horrors of Route 66” episode: https://weirddarkness.com/archives/5594 “Kidnapping, Babies, and Blackmail” by Troy Taylor: https://tinyurl.com/y57vbwpp “The Masked Man Le Loyon” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://tinyurl.com/y3y746f4 “Timeslip Village” by Stacia Briggs and Siofra Connor for Eastern Daily Press: https://tinyurl.com/y555bl3m “The Mermaid of Rendlesham” by Stacia Briggs and Siofra Connor for Eastern Daily Press: https://tinyurl.com/y4mcrbry “Consumption Cottage” by Dr. George Thomas Palmer, M.D. published in Illinois Health News, Volume 1, 1915; pp 69-71 “Isabella: She-Wolf of England” by Gemma Hollman for Just History Posts: https://tinyurl.com/y5qwpug2 =====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: September 25, 2020 EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/GhostOfMaules AB