Judy Garland's Death And Ted Bundy's Last-Meal
Welcome to That Got Dark! I'm Crystal, and I have a habit of going down deep and dark rabbit holes, which maybe isn't recommended for a good night's sleep, but hey, I just can't help myself!
Here's the thing: I love to share all the terrible, weird, and scary things I discover. So, every week, I'll gather the darkest and creepiest things I find on the internet (and beyond) to share just with you, my spooky-loving friend. So, tuck yourself in tight and get out that flashlight…it's about to get dark.
So, here's something I wish I had never learned — a teenage TikToker in Florida, known for his "high-speed" driving videos, recklessly killed six innocent people while driving 151 mph. What's even worse is the fact that he was sentenced to only 12.5 years in prison, just two years for each death.
Noah Galle, who was 17 years old at the time of the crash, was driving a BMW M5 when he violently crashed into the back of an SUV carrying six farm workers. The impact forced the back of their vehicle forward several feet into the passenger compartment, killing everyone in the SUV. Galle was known on TikTok for regularly speeding and asking his followers to guess how fast he was driving. In January 2025, Galle entered a plea deal to avoid his case going to trial and received a reduced sentence of 12 years and 180 days in prison.
Occasionally, I like to ask the BuzzFeed Community to tell me about the most mysterious, cult-like, bad-vibes towns in the United States they've ever been to. And you'd be shocked at how many responses I get each time (or maybe not). This week's spotlight: Island Pond, Vermont.
'My family and I visited friends there a few years ago. The town was very quiet and empty, which always creeps me out, but it wasn't that bad until we decided to go into a cafe that, I guess, was run by the same people as the Yellow Deli (which is run by the Twelve Tribes cult). The interior did not look like a cafe. It was an empty tarp-covered room, and they just had bread for sale, which the people I was with actually bought. I was so freaked out and thought they were going to get poisoned. Only one guy was working there, and he was creepy as hell and kept telling us to go to the Yellow Deli in Plymouth."—cwthree
Wikipedia is like the Wild West. It's vast, lawless, and sometimes you can find some extremely weird (and horrifying) things out there. This week's spotlight: a medieval 'punishment' device called a scold's bridle.
Used almost exclusively on women, this terrible mechanism was essentially an iron muzzle that went into your mouth and pressed down on your tongue, sometimes with a SPIKE, to prevent the wearer from talking. It was used to punish women whose speech or behavior was considered 'too offensive' or 'unruly' and was designed to inflict extreme pain and humiliation. You know, I would say it's hard to believe this thing was real, but then, humans (*cough cough* men) have been making diabolical devices for thousands of years, so…
Judy Garland — Died: June 22, 1969, Cause of Death: Barbiturate overdose
How she died: The iconic singer and movie star, who was just 47 years old at the time of her death, was found dead in her London townhouse by her fifth husband, Mickey Deans. Garland had a long history of substance abuse and struggled with addiction for much of her life, which was compounded by the pressures of fame, financial and career issues, as well as mental health challenges. Her death was ultimately ruled accidental.
Companion (2025)
What it's about: A weekend getaway at a remote cabin turns chaotic when one of the guests goes haywire.Why you should watch it: If you're in the mood for a less traditionally 'scary' horror film, Companion errs more on the side of sci-fi thriller bordering dark comedy. A good date night movie for those with a dark side.Where you can watch it: Streaming for free on Max or for rent for $5.99 on Fandango at Home.
Ted Bundy
Often remembered for the widespread media coverage of his trial and the self-proclaimed admiration of many women, Ted Bundy was a serial killer who kidnapped, raped, and murdered at least 30 young women and girls in the '70s. However, many believe there may have been over 100 victims. After several years in prison, Bundy was executed by electric chair in January 1989.
His last meal: Bundy declined to choose, so he was given the standard last meal provided at Florida State Prison: Steak cooked medium-rare, eggs over easy, hash browns, toast with butter and jelly, milk, and juice.
Well, it's another dark AF week in the books. In the next issue, I'll talk about a man who died from eating a hot fishcake (seriously!), a missing person Wikipedia page that will haunt you, and an impressive body horror film from Norway. Until then, stay safe, keep the lights on, and I'll see you for another horrifying trip down the rabbit hole…
Thirsty for more? Subscribe to the That Got Dark newsletter to get a weekly post just like this delivered directly to your inbox. It's a scary good time you won't want to miss.
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Newsweek
12 hours ago
- Newsweek
Mom Captures Moment Between Two Sons—No Idea It Will Be Their Last Together
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. There are some moments you never forget, and for Alli Skrbek, that will always be the moment she read a message informing her that her eldest son had taken his life. While she was unable to save him, she's on a mission to break the stigma around depression and to urge others to seek help when they need it. As a mom-of-four, Skrbek of Prescott Valley, Arizona, knows when her children are unwell or unhappy. Over the last year, she saw many of those signs in her eldest son, Alex Fornerod, but there was no way of knowing just how much he was struggling. He was facing many internal battles, but Skrbek told Newsweek that she "thought he was doing really well." Four years ago, Fornerod moved to Florida with his grandparents and he "started getting into trouble." As a result, he moved back in with his mom for six months and she was very concerned by what she saw. "He would get angry, accuse us of doing things (like talking about him, taking his wallet or keys), and he became very paranoid," Skrbek said. Alex Fornerod, 22, with one of his younger brothers during the Christmas holidays in 2024. Alex Fornerod, 22, with one of his younger brothers during the Christmas holidays in 2024. @alli_mom / TikTok Skrbek and her husband assumed his behavior was caused by alcohol and tried to address that. Nonetheless, Fornerod convinced them he was fine and that he'd ease up on the drinking. "Something shifted in Alex, and he wasn't the same. He was always angry, agitated, or drunk. We thought it was alcohol—we didn't know he was struggling with depression," she said. Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting over 22.5 million adults in the U.S. This accounts for more than 8 percent of the adult population, according to statistics from Mental Health America. People with depression experience persistent sadness, lose pleasure and interest in activities they once enjoyed, become irritable, feelings of guilt or hopelessness, and in some instances, thoughts of suicide. Mental Health American suggests that 5.2 percent of U.S. adults experience suicidal thoughts. While it may not always seem like it, depression is treatable. Most commonly with antidepressants, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. Early treatment is more effective, and the majority of those who received treatment showed vast improvements. But despite help being available, over 28 million adults with mental illness have not received any treatment. Seeing her son go through that was so hard for Skrbek, who said it was "hard to watch." She wanted to help, but he was convinced he didn't have a problem. The Final Holiday Together Shortly after, he moved out without telling anyone and got a new job. He'd finally got back on track, or so Skrbek thought. He told her that he wasn't drinking much and when she went to visit, he seemed well. But after moving in with his aunt and three cousins in November 2024, Fornerod's behavior spiraled. He started taking cocaine and nitrous oxide, though his mom had no idea. When Christmas 2024 swung around, he returned home for the holidays. It's always been the family's favorite time, and it was wonderful to have everyone back together. "During that visit, he hardly drank and we laughed like old times. He was very loving—that was my son. He always had such a beautiful heart and deep love for his brothers and his momma. It was so nice to have happy Alex again," Skrbek continued. She captured a wonderful moment of her eldest son joking around with his younger brothers. They were just playing around, but it meant the world for Skrbek to see her son happy. She never could have imagined that would be one of the last times her boys would be together. "The Thursday before he took his life, he said he was going to move back to his friend's house. He was having problems with his cousins. They partied too much, and he needed to get away from it," she said. On March 30, Skrbek received a text from her eldest son that read: "I'm so thankful I have you. I love you mom." That was the last time she'd ever hear from him, because on March 31, he shot himself at the age of 22. His body was discovered the following day. Looking at her phone on April 1, Skrbek was in "complete shock" when she read a message that said her son had killed himself. How could this be real? She thought he was doing so well. The Aftermath of Her Son's Death When Skrbek was given access to her late son's phone, she realized he'd been living in a completely different world to what he portrayed. He was doing drugs, drinking heavily, and behaving recklessly with his gun. Skrbek told Newsweek: "Alex was clearly crying out for help. He wrote notes on his phone talking about his life and how angry he was. He kept that side very hidden, so we had no idea the last four months of his life was so dark." While grieving her son's life, Skrbek is determined to raise awareness by creating a platform on TikTok (@alli_mom). She posts about his experience, what people can do if they need help, and how her family is coping. On May 18, she shared the video of her sons playing together last year, showing how he appeared perfectly fine while battling depression. The video has gone viral with over 12.3 million views and 943,800 likes on TikTok at the time of writing. Not only does that video warm Skrbek's heart, but it also breaks it. Skrbek struggles with anxiety and feels like part of her is missing. Knowing she can never hug or speak to her son is a loss unlike any other. Her younger sons are aged 13, 8, and 20 months, and they're all processing the grief differently. From anger, breaking down, to closing themselves off, she's having to help them through it all. "We don't have enough awareness surrounding depression and suicide," she said. "My son was not happy when he took his life—he was angry. Many think suicide is a choice, but it's not. My son just wanted the pain to stop. "Had I known that would be the last time I'd hug my son, or known he was struggling with depression, there are so many things I would go back and change. I'd like to portray that life is fragile. If someone is struggling, please reach for help." If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Social media influencer sentenced for child porn
A social media influencer who gained a following sharing his picturesque Gulf Coast lifestyle with his wife online has been sentenced to five years behind bars for child pornography. Georgia native Joshua David Stapleton, 39, received a 20-year sentence, with five years served in jail and another 15 years on probation after pleading guilty to 20 counts of sexual exploitation of children, according to court documents obtained by Fox 5 Atlanta. Stapleton and his wife run the 'Gulf Coast Stapletons' social media account, which has racked up more than 86,000 followers and over a million likes on TikTok and Instagram. Investigators learned that between 2018 and 2020, Stapleton downloaded images of prepubescent children in sexually abusive situations. 3 Joshua David Stapleton, 39, received a 20-year sentence, with 5 years to be served in custody and the remaining 15 on probation. Bartow County Sheriff's Office 3 Josh and Brittani Stapleton ran 'The Gulf Coast Stapletons' TikTok account together. Instagram/brittanimorris_stapleton He was initially charged with 15 counts of child porn possession, but was later indicted on 40 counts of sexual exploitation of children. He entered a non-negotiable plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to just 20 counts. The 'Gulf Coast Stapletons' lifestyle content features the couple working out, eating food and going on vacations. Just last week they posted several videos from their trip to Orange Beach, Alabama. Stapleton's wife, Brittani Morris Stapleton, has been attempting to correct what she's called 'misinformation' online about her husband after news of his case spread. The pair were married in 2023 after he'd been charged. 'Josh was absolutely up front with me about everything in the charges, there were no secrets,' she said in a recent TikTok post. 3 'The Gulf Coast Stapletons' have more than 86,000 followers on TikTok. Instagram/brittanimorris_stapleton She also pushed back on accusations that the pair were projecting 'fake lives' on their social media accounts. 'There's nothing fake about it. It was our lives, we are still happy, he and I have no issues,' Brittani posted. Stapleton is currently being held in the Bartow County Sheriff's Office Jail.
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
TikTokker, 22, allegedly shot and killed Marine veteran in front of his fiancée and 10-month-old infant: cops
A TikTokker allegedly shot and killed a Marine veteran in front of his infant son and fiancée in a Texas parking lot — and later posted about it on his popular account, according to reports.. Justin Guzman, 22, a wannabe influencer who posted cringey lip-sync videos on TikTok, surrendered to the Houston Police Department on Monday in connection to the senseless killing of Marine veteran Anthony Sanders, 30, earlier last month, according to KPRC. 5 Justin Guzman, 22, turned himself in to police on Monday in connection to the killing of Marine veteran Anthony Sanders. guzmanhimself1/TikTok In a hearing Monday, Sander's parents, both of whom are Army veterans, submitted evidence that included a TikTok posted by Guzman in which he emotes and dances in front of a television news segment about the shooting, KHOU reported. 'We're here for justice. Justice for Anthony and also to stand for what he stood for as a person,' father Frank Sanders told the outlet. 'This was uncalled for.' On June 3, Sanders confronted Guzman and his alleged accomplice Marko Cinan, 23, in the parking garage of the Galleria Mall after the pair had allegedly insulted the Marine vet's fiancée in an elevator of the shopping complex where she worked, according to reports. 5 Anthony Sanders, 30, was shot and killed in front of his infant son and fiancee on June 3, according to Houston police, Click 2 Huston 5 Army veteran parents Royal (left) and Frank (right) Sanders submitted a TikTok as part of evidence in which they allege Guzman danced in front of a news story covering the shooting. Click 2 Huston After the exchange of words, Sanders went to drive away from the dispute with his partner and their 10-month-old son in the car — but Guzman allegedly 'brake-checked' the vet and blocked him in with his own vehicle. When the Marine got out of his car to address the aggressive driving maneuver — he was shot a total of ten times as his infant and wife cowered in their car. Royal Sanders was grateful that her son stepped out of the car before the bullets started flying, 'because had he not stepped out, the baby was in the car, the fiancée was in the car,' she told KHOU at the courthouse Monday. 5 The Orange Garage at Houston's Galleria Mall where the altercation and shooting took place. Click 2 Huston Houston police stopped and detained Guzman, Cinan, and a third male shortly after the shooting but they were then released. Cinan turned himself into HPD on June 25 and was booked into Harris County Jail. Lawyers for Guzman said the 22-year-old was acting in self defense, claiming that Sanders had presented a knife when he confronted Guzman and Cinan about insulting his fiancée, Financial Express reported. 5 Cinan (left) and Guzman (right) appeared in several TikTok videos on the latter's popular profile. guzmanhimself1/TikTok Cops found no evidence at the scene that indicated Sanders was armed, according to reports. Guzman is being held on $750,000 bond and Cinan, who has a criminal record, is being held on $1million bond, according to Law and Crime. The pair are featured in several TikTok videos on Guzman's well account which boasts over 50,000 followers. In several tasteless videos, the pair hold their hands like guns and pretend to fire at the camera.
