Episode 113 – The Murdering Minister of Rattle Run is out now!
In January 1909, a small Methodist church near Rattle Run, Michigan, became the center of a murder mystery that quickly made headlines across the country.
And with good reason.
Inside the little country church, investigators discovered evidence of a violent struggle. Blood stained the walls and pews. Meanwhile, a gruesome discovery in the church’s heating stoves raised even more questions.
At first, authorities believed the victim was Reverend John H. Carmichael, a Methodist minister who had recently visited the church to arrange revival meetings.
However, another man was also missing. His name was Gideon Browning, a carpenter from nearby Adair.
As investigators attempted to identify the victim, newspapers followed every development. Reporters described the crime in shocking detail, while speculation about the missing men and the possible motive continued to grow.
Then, the investigation took an unexpected turn.
What initially appeared to be a straightforward murder case became something far more complicated. Before long, the story stretched well beyond the little church at Rattle Run, revealing a strange series of events that left readers across the country following the latest headlines.
Even the church itself couldn’t escape the notoriety. Years later, the building was still associated with the terrible events of 1909.
So, what actually happened inside that little country church? And how did two missing men become part of one of Michigan’s more unusual murder investigations?
In Episode 113 of Curator 135, we take a closer look at the Rattle Run murder, the people involved, and the surprising developments that made this case a national sensation.
As it turns out, this was no ordinary murder mystery.
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