In the first half, guest host Richard Syrett welcomed Bill Homann and Catherine Lanigan to discuss the mysterious power of the Mitchell-Hedges Crystal Skull. Homann, the guardian of the skull, also recounted its captivating history, originating from a Mayan site in Belize.
"Mr. Mitchell-Hedges... believed that there was a connection between the Mayans and Atlantis," said Homann, who recalled how the skull was discovered in 1924 by Hedges' adopted daughter, Anna, while exploring the overgrown ruins of Lubaantun.
Homann elaborated on the special significance of the skull among the Mayans, who regarded it as a "gift from the gods." "It is a gift to humanity to help the world at a time that we need help," he asserted, suggesting that the skull embodies universal knowledge and aids in personal transformation. The crystal skull is reported to facilitate emotional and spiritual healing, helping individuals unlock and release blockages that prevent them from living in alignment with their true selves. "[It] helps people to come in contact with their heart and mind," Homann emphasized.
Normally weighing in at 11 pounds, 7 ounces, the skull reportedly changes in weight and color depending on the energy present. "When I have to carry him around... all of a sudden, I'm thinking, this thing is weighing 30 pounds," Lanigan stated. She further stressed its ethereal beauty, describing how it can emit colors such as pink and blue, each carrying different meanings related to healing and love.
Homann recounted various paranormal encounters associated with the skull, sharing how many experience spiritual apparitions or heightened sensitivity during their interactions with it. He also described the skull's ability to attract angels and higher beings. Lanigan then revealed her personal experiences, claiming the skull has facilitated connections to past lives and unlocked profound personal insights.
Homann explained how he acquired the artifact from Anna Mitchell-Hedges. "It can only be gifted," Homann stated. He asserted that the skull cannot be bought or sold, and will remain with him, surrounded by love and intention.
Below are some photos of the artifact, courtesy of Homann's website.
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In the second half, Gilbert King, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and creator of the podcast Bone Valley, shared the heartbreaking story of Leo Schofield's wrongful conviction for murder.
The case originated on February 28, 1987, when Schofield's wife Michelle, an 18-year-old waitress, went missing shortly after a phone call. "Leo was at band practice waiting for Michelle... hours started passing... and it just becomes a very chaotic search," King explained. Tragically, Michelle's body was discovered days later in an abandoned phosphate pit, leading to Schofield being implicated on mostly circumstantial evidence.
King highlighted critical flaws in both the investigation and the prosecution's case. "The flaw was the prosecutor building a case not based on solid evidence, but rather on the accusation of Leo having a temper," he noted. Alarmingly, the lack of physical evidence and witness accounts that changed over time were overlooked.
Schofield's life in prison spanned over three decades, during which he continuously refused to admit guilt. King quoted Leo, saying, "It's easier for me to do the time than it is to admit to a lie." After patiently waiting for justice, the truth came to light: Jeremy Scott, the actual murderer, confessed years later, providing more details about Michelle's death. "I just lost it. I stabbed her... I wrapped her up in plastic and just dragged her into the water," King recounted in Scott's own words.
King described the eventual contact between Schofield and Scott as an extraordinary moment of redemption. "There was this powerful interaction between the two men," he said, noting how Schofield forgave Scott in a personal way, marking a step toward healing.