MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories Fan Favorite - "You Can't Leave That Way"
Jan 30, 2026
A 1900 missing-person mystery from a psychiatric hospital that begins as routine but builds mounting tension. Searches, canal draining, and a cold case sweep through investigators and grieving family. Medical students, grave robbers, and a notorious body seller complicate the trail. Years later, construction uncovers a tiny hidden room and a chilling discovery that reshapes everything.
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Woman Escapes Psychiatric Ward
- Carrie Selvidge, a 43-year-old patient, escaped her room at Union State Hospital after a nurse left briefly.
- She loved looking out the window and longed for the freedom of the city she once knew.
Search Focus Can Mislead Investigations
- Detectives prioritized searching the hospital thoroughly before widening their search into the city.
- That focus created a false sense that she might still be on the grounds while real danger loomed outside.
Citywide Photo Campaign Yielded No Leads
- Detectives distributed Carrie's photos around Indianapolis to generate leads and printed them in newspapers.
- Despite thousands seeing her face, no new confirmed sightings emerged.