The Arkin's Hearth

The Devils Highway

In this episode of The Arkins Hearth Podcast, we travel down the infamous Devil's Highway, formerly U.S. Route 666, a lonely stretch of road cutting through the American Southwest. Blending documented history, real-world tragedies, unsolved mysteries, and decades of local legends, we explore how a dangerous highway became a breeding ground for stories of phantom vehicles, unexplained encounters, UFO sightings, and supernatural folklore. Is the fear surrounding the road rooted in something paranormal, or does isolation itself create the perfect conditions for legend? Join us as we separate fact from folklore and examine why the Devil's Highway still haunts the imagination long after its name disappeared from the map. Podcast art by The Pixie References Associated Press. (2025, May 5). Indigenous people raise awareness about their missing and murdered. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/3d4aa3a887b3dafa77e75b6ddde78b21 [https://apnews.com/article/3d4aa3a887b3dafa77e75b6ddde78b21] Nowell, C. (2025, April 8). New Mexico creates turquoise alert for missing Indigenous Americans. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/08/new-mexico-indigenous-missing-alert [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/08/new-mexico-indigenous-missing-alert] Weingroff, R. F. (2003, June 18). U.S. 666: "Beast of a Highway"? Federal Highway Administration. https://highways.dot.gov/highway-history/general-highway-history/us-666-beast-highway [https://highways.dot.gov/highway-history/general-highway-history/us-666-beast-highway] Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). U.S. Route 491. Wikipedia. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_491 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_491] Reddit contributors. (2022, October 8). Highway 666: The cursed Devil's Highway [Online forum post]. Reddit, r/Unexplained. https://www.reddit.com/r/Unexplained/comments/xydku9/ [https://www.reddit.com/r/Unexplained/comments/xydku9/]

The Strong City Cult

In this episode of The Arkin’s Hearth, we explore the disturbing story of Strong City and the Lord Our Righteousness Church, a secluded religious group led by Wayne Bent, also known as Michael Travesser. What began as an apocalyptic breakaway movement from the Seventh-day Adventist Church evolved into a high-control cult centered around Bent’s claims of divine authority and messianic identity. Art By the Pixie If you need help in the US Text 988 Support Right Now Free, Private and Confidential Support 24/7 by Phone, Text or Chat For anonymous, confidential help available 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) now. References Bowman, M. (2011). Apocalypse in the desert: The Lord Our Righteousness Church and Strong City. Nova Religio, 15(2), 5-26. https://doi.org/10.1525/nr.2011.15.2.5 [https://doi.org/10.1525/nr.2011.15.2.5] BBC. (2007). The End of the World Cult [Television documentary]. BBC Two. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008q4ff [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008q4ff] (Now avaliable in Vimeo) State of New Mexico v. Wayne Bent, No. D-818-CR-200800013 (N.M. 2008).

Part Five: Shadows in Albuquerque: Finale Part Two

In this finale episode of Shadows Over Albuquerque, host Michael Jason Chandler and the Arkins Hearth crew examine the ongoing federal case against Labar Tsethlikai, a Zuni Pueblo man accused of multiple violent crimes across New Mexico between 2022 and 2024. The episode explores the investigation, forensic evidence, witness testimony, and arrest that led to national attention on the case, while also discussing the broader impact of violence against Indigenous communities, Albuquerque’s crime trends, and the difficult question of whether the allegations fit the definition of a serial killer. Please support us on Patreon. Click this link here The Arkins Hearth Podcast | A podcast with stories from the Four Corners of murder and myth | Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArkinsHearth] Art By the Pixie References Albuquerque Police Department. (2024). Homicide statistics and annual reports. City of Albuquerque. https://www.cabq.gov/police [https://www.cabq.gov/police] Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2023). Crime in the United States (Uniform Crime Reporting Program). U.S. Department of Justice. https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/ [https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/] Federal Bureau of Investigation. (n.d.). Serial murder: Multi-disciplinary perspectives for investigators. https://www.fbi.gov [https://www.fbi.gov] United States Department of Justice. (n.d.). Press releases. https://www.justice.gov/news [https://www.justice.gov/news] Bureau of Indian Affairs. (n.d.). Indian country crime data. https://www.bia.gov [https://www.bia.gov] National Institute of Justice. (2016). Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native populations. U.S. Department of Justice. https://nij.ojp.gov [https://nij.ojp.gov] New Mexico Department of Public Safety. (2023). Uniform crime reports for New Mexico. https://www.nmsp.dps.state.nm.us [https://www.nmsp.dps.state.nm.us] Albuquerque Journal. (2022–2025). Coverage of Albuquerque homicide trends. https://www.abqjournal.com [https://www.abqjournal.com] KRQE. (2022–2025). Local crime and homicide reporting. https://www.krqe.com [https://www.krqe.com]

Part Four: Shadows in Albuquerque: Finale Part One

In this first part of the Finale of the Arkin's Hearth series, Shadows Over Albuquerque, Michael, Pixie, Thorin, and Ginger dive into Albuquerque’s homicide rates and the city's changing, uneasy battle with high levels of violence. Join the team as we conclude our dark journey through the stories of some of Albuquerque's most dangerous killers by looking at the open case of a current alleged murderer and the questions raised about missing and murdered indigenous people. Art By the Pixie Links to help missing and murdered indigenous people: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People | Indian Affairs [https://www.bia.gov/service/mmu] Not Our Native Daughters [https://notournativedaughters.org/] StrongHearts Native Helpline | Home [https://strongheartshelpline.org/] Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside | AI/AN Victim Services Resources [https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/tribal/tribal-victim-services-set-aside] Home | NamUs [https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/] What is the Not Invisible Act Commission? | Indian Affairs [https://www.bia.gov/service/not-invisible-act-commission/what-not-invisible-act-commission] AMBER Alert in Indian Country – AMBER Advocate [https://amberadvocate.org/aiic/] National Center for Missing & Exploited Children [https://www.missingkids.org/home] Home | National Human Trafficking Hotline [https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en] Welcome | NIWRC [https://www.niwrc.org/] References https://www.cabq.gov/police [https://www.cabq.gov/police] https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/ [https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/] .https://www.fbi.gov [https://www.fbi.gov] https://www.justice.gov/news [https://www.justice.gov/news] Bureau of Indian Affairs. (n.d.). Indian Country Crime Data. https://www.bia.gov [https://www.bia.gov] National Institute of Justice. (2016). Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native populations. U.S. Department of Justice. https://nij.ojp.gov [https://nij.ojp.gov] New Mexico Department of Public Safety. (2023). Uniform crime reports for New Mexico. https://www.nmsp.dps.state.nm.us [https://www.nmsp.dps.state.nm.us] Albuquerque Journal. (2022–2025). Coverage of Albuquerque homicide trends. https://www.abqjournal.com [https://www.abqjournal.com] KRQE. (2022–2025). Local crime and homicide reporting.https://www.krqe.com [https://www.krqe.com]

Part Three: Shadows in Albuquerque: The Sunport Murders

This episode of The Arkins Hearth explores the chilling case of Sean Lannon, whose crimes came to light after four bodies were discovered in a vehicle at Albuquerque’s Sunport in 2021. The hosts trace Lannon’s unraveling life, the brutal murders of people close to him, and the multi-state investigation that followed. After his arrest, Lannon confessed to multiple killings, though many details remain unclear. The episode reflects on the victims, the unanswered questions, and how an ordinary place became the center of something horrific. Art by: The Pixie REFERENCES Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Sean M. Lannon. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Associated Press. (2022). Man pleads guilty in New Jersey killing tied to multi-state case. Associated Press. (2024). Man sentenced in New Mexico killings connected to Sunport case. Reisen, M. (2024). Grants man pleads guilty to 4 killings in 2021 case. Albuquerque Journal.