AFTER DARK | The Devil in Jefferson Township: The Tommy Sullivan Case | Satanic Panic & Suburban Horror

This episode contains references to the violent death of a parent by a child, suicide, and themes of Satanism and mental distress. While the content is not graphic, it may be disturbing to some listeners. Discretion is strongly advised.

In Jefferson Township, New Jersey, a 14-year-old altar boy killed his mother and took his own life in what some believed was a Satanic ritual. Was it mental illness, media-fuelled hysteria or something darker that entered their home?

The BOOK

BY US A COFFEE

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Research:

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-13-mn-23377-story.html

https://patch.com/new-jersey/jefferson/80s-satanic-murder-suicide-shook-nj-now-true-crime-tv-series

https://magic983.com/2025/09/02/mgm-series-explores-1988-new-jersey-teen-murder-suicide-case

https://www.edweek.org/education/cult-watchers-worry-about-an-upsurge-in-teen-devil-worship/1989/09

https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrime/comments/9zs69k/1988_murdersuicide_in_jefferson_nj_tommy_sullivan

https://groundzeroplus.com/hellfire-blazin-bran-pdf-summary-let-the-devil-in

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1988/march-18/suicides-blamed-on-musics-satanic-spell.html

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-devil-within/id1557924062

Thanks so much for listening, and I'll catch up with you again next weekend.

Sarah xx

"Spacial Winds," Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licenced under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licence

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The Whispering Woods is a UK paranormal storytelling podcast exploring true ghost stories, unexplained mysteries, haunted history and folklore from around the world.

From firsthand paranormal encounters to historical hauntings and centuries-old legends, we bring you atmospheric stories of the strange and unexplained.

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