3SchemeQueens

Alpine Divorce: When a Hike Becomes a Homicide

**Discussion begins at 5:25** Alpine Divorce: Ending a relationship by murdering one’s significant other during a mountain trip and passing it off as an accident, or more specifically, abandoning a partner in a remote outdoor setting.   The phrase originates from an 1893 short story by Scottish-Canadian author Robert Barr, titled An Alpine Divorce.  In the grim tale, an unhappy husband plots to kill his wife during a trip to the Swiss Alps, only for her to turn the tables on him, having already framed him for her murder before leaping herself.  Several high profile cases over the last few years have led to a viral trend of social media users telling their own stories of “Alpine Divorce”.  These tales of domestic abuse involve one partner endangering the other in the wilderness – with the victim either being left in a perilous situation, or merely abandoned without consideration for their safety and well-being.  Today we’re going to discuss some of the most high profile cases. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265385/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/3schemequeens] Theme song by INDA

The Pollock Twins: Back from the Dead

**Discussion begins at 4:30** In the late 1950s, a quiet family in the English town of Hexham experienced a tragedy that would forever change their lives, and eventually become one of the most famous alleged cases of reincarnation in modern history.  In 1957, two young sisters, Joanna and Jacqueline Pollock, were killed in a car accident while walking to church with a friend.  Their parents, devastated by the loss, tried to rebuild their lives while carrying unimaginable grief.  But about a year later, something extraordinary happened.  Their mother gave birth to twin girls: Jennifer and Gillian. Almost immediately, their father became convinced that the twins were somehow the rebirth of the daughters he had lost.  As the girls grew older, they began displaying strange similarities to their deceased sisters, including shared personality traits, specific fears, and even what appeared to be memories of places and events they had never experienced.  One twin was even born with birthmarks that closely resembled scars that Jacqueline had before her death.  The story would go on to attract the attention of researchers studying reincarnation, including psychiatrist Ian Stevenson, who documented cases of children claiming memories of past lives around the world.  But the Pollock Sisters case raises a difficult question: were these eerie similarities evidence of something beyond our understanding… or could they be explained by grief, suggestion, and coincidence?  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265385/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/3schemequeens] Theme song by INDA

Havana Syndrome: Covert Attack or a Misunderstood Medical Mystery?

**Discussion begins at 4:40** In late 2016, American diplomats stationed in Havana began reporting something strange.  It often started with a sound, followed by the symptoms: dizziness, nausea, migraines, memory problems, and in some cases, lasting brain injuries.  What began as a handful of mysterious health complaints soon spiraled into an international mystery.   Reports spread from Cuba to embassies and government posts around the world, affecting diplomats, intelligence officers, and their families.  Some experts believe the victims may have been targeted by a secret energy weapon.  Others argue the symptoms could be the result of environmental factors, stress, or even a phenomenon known as mass psychogenic illness.  As investigations unfolded, agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation launched inquiries, while Congress demanded answers. Meanwhile, scientists, intelligence officials, and journalists all began debating the same question: Was this a covert attack or a misunderstood medical mystery?  Whether it’s a new form of warfare, an environmental anomaly, or something else entirely, the story of Havana Syndrome sits at the uneasy intersection of espionage, science, and conspiracy. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265385/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/3schemequeens] Theme song by INDA

Clone Wars: The Celebrities They Say Were Replaced

**Discussion begins at 6:40** This week, we’re diving into one of the stranger corners of celebrity conspiracy theories: cloning.  From Selena Gomez to Jim Carrey, some claim that these stars have been replaced by replicas engineered in secret labs to take over their lives, their fame, and even their art.  Could Hollywood really be hiding a shadowy cloning program?  Is it science run amok?  A Hollywood PR nightmare?  Or is this just another viral rumor blown out of proportion?  Over the next hour, we’ll trace the origins of these theories, examine the so-called “evidence,” and separate fact from fiction in the wild world of celebrity clones. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265385/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/3schemequeens] Theme song by INDA

Sovereign Citizens: The Strawman Conspiracy

What if you could simply declare yourself immune to the law? No driver’s license. No taxes. No court jurisdiction. No government authority over you. That’s the promise of the Sovereign Citizen movement that claims modern governments are illegitimate corporations, that courts secretly operate under admiralty law, and that there’s a hidden version of you  (a corporate “strawman”) being traded on financial markets without your consent.  It sounds like satire.  But it isn’t.  Across the United States and beyond, people have attempted to use Sovereign Citizen arguments in courtrooms, traffic stops, foreclosure cases, and even criminal trials.  Today, we’re unpacking the origins, the mythology, the courtroom chaos, and the very real-world impact of the Sovereign Citizen conspiracy theory.   Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of claims and viewpoints that are not endorsed by the hosts. Our goal is to analyze and contextualize them, not to promote them. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265385/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/3schemequeens] Theme song by INDA