Midwest Massacre: The Midwest Axeman & The Rise of the Shelton Gang

Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violent crimes, including mass murder and postmortem sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.In this episode of Tales From the Underworld, we dig into two chilling tales from America’s past—one driven by raw brutality, the other by organized chaos.First, we trace the path of the Midwest Axeman, an unidentified killer who roamed the country in the early 1900s, leaving entire families butchered in their beds. From Oregon to Kansas, and finally to the infamous Villisca Axe Murders, this killer struck with terrifying precision and a disturbingly consistent method: covered bodies, shrouded windows, and an escape along nearby rail lines. Some believe this was the work of Paul Mueller, a German immigrant who may have killed more than 100 people—and possibly even committed the Hinterkaifeck murders in Germany.Then, we shift to southern Illinois, where the Shelton Gang rose from rural obscurity to control bootlegging, gambling, and organized crime during Prohibition. These brothers weren’t just racketeers—they went to war with the KKK, created homemade armored cars, and even forced Chicago’s syndicates to tread carefully. But their reign wouldn’t last forever. After a bloody feud with fellow gangster Charlie Birger, and a fall from political grace, the Sheltons became yet another cautionary tale in America’s criminal underworld.Together, these stories explore two very different kinds of terror—one fueled by silence and isolation, the other by ambition and power.In This Episode* The multi-state timeline of the Midwest Axeman’s brutal murders* Patterns connecting Villisca, Paola, Monmouth, and more* The theory behind Paul Mueller as America’s most prolific killer* The rise and fall of the Shelton Gang, southern Illinois’ underworld empire* The gang’s war with the Ku Klux Klan and the violent betrayal by Charlie Birger This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.talesfromtheunderworld.com/subscribe