Hunt A Killer: My Review

My Review of a Killer Product!

     Have an unhealthy obsession with true crime and murder mysteries? Welcome to HUNT A KILLER...the monthly subscription service that offers you the chance to commune with a mysterious pen pal. Episode One introduces you to the game and starts you on your way to immersing yourself in murder and cryptic clues! Season One consists of 8 boxes or episodes that take you on a roller coaster ride through the demented mind of a killer. It is 100% safe but at times definitely Not Safe For Work! It may seem frustrating at first glance, but once you start figuring out the clues on your own or with the help of the ever-growing HAK community, you will understand why this is, in my humble opinion, one of the greatest subscription experiences you could be a part of! There may be other subscription boxes, but this one is better than the rest!
     Where other subscription boxes give you trinkets that just take up space...Hunt A Killer gives you tangible items. Things you can hold and use to help you in your Hunt. Maybe you use the items to make a "murder board" and tack up clues. Or you take over the dining room table with your boxes! However you choose to investigate the evolving experience of Hunt A Killer, you can't go wrong. I'm receiving my Season 2 Episode 2 box this month and I couldn't be more thrilled. I used to dread checking the mail. Now when I receive my "Shipped" text from the postal service, I sprint to the mailbox! It's unlike anything I've done and worth every penny.
     And unlike other subscription services, every month a loyal member of the HAK community, Will Rogers is doing live streams, unboxings of episodes, theorizing live clue-by-clue, and creating content for members and interested hunters to take part in. All for 30$ a month! What are you waiting for! Get your first box today and join me on the Hunt for a Killer!


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Pricing: Pricing Options


Hunt A Killer: Unboxings by Will Rogers aka "The Haunted Sponge"

Awakening Box 6: Thoughts and Theories

Hunt A Killer: Box 6
***SPOILERS THROUGHOUT***

LFoA Letter: There is a Confucius quote mentioned. At the bottom, there is letters and numbers matched up. Not sure at this point what they go with. 

JWJ Letter: JWJ says "the fields have gone barren." Is this in reference to dwindling staff or patients? He mentions his mother and her death. Mentions the day his mother died on their family farm. "Crops had not done well." Could this be linked to the "fields being barren" comment? Why so much farm terminology??? He talks about his father using a timpani drum. Timpani(Wikipedia) The drumhead can be made from calf or goat skin. Could his father have built his own drum set from their own livestock??? Then he finishes the letter with talk about a brazen bull and Perillos. Brazen Bull (Wikipedia) 

"Heather" Letter #3:

"Heather" talks about waiting for JWJ at an oblisk(sp?) at noon every day. Is she really or is this just some more wordplay? She talks about going to an internet cafe near her hotel. Says "they" stopped looking for her. Who are "they"? She burned all of her old IDs. Is her name not really Heather? Is she living under an alias? Finishes her letter making mention of a verbal altercation with a guy at the internet cafe about the paper. Is this one of the "corkboard" victims? 


Valerie Madson Email:

George Madson's wife, Valerie, emailed Jacob Nilson. There is nothing that I see that points to any other clues at the moment. She does say that she found a few things related to the Darlington facility for LFoA. But she hasn't seen or heard from George in some time. 


Noah(Son) Drawing: Drawing by George Madson's son. On one side is "Miss you Dad" and the other "Pleas come home soon Noah". Is this a clue or just to get us more involved in the story?

Small Combination Lock:

A 3-digit combination lock. If you look through the clues you find Bible scriptures on the mothers memorial card. A systematic check of all 3 digits combinations gives you: 4-1-3. From 1 Thessolonians(sp?) 4:13. The chapter is misspelled but is that significant or a HAK rabbit hole? And does the scripture itself "unlock" another clue? 

Tiny Blue Pig:

A very small plastic pig bead with hole through its center. Does this represent the "Brazen Bull" or is this just another allusion to JWJ's time on his childhood farm? I really can't say. Because I have no idea. Your guess is as good as mine.

Funeral Card: Marybeth Anna James(JWJ's mother) December 10, 1938-November 25,1976(37 years old). She was fairly young when she died. There is nothing about how she died. But my guess is the father was involved somehow, from JWJ's tone in his letter. The card gives us a location: Cecil, Ohio. And there are several scriptures listed on the back and the name of the church where the service was held: Grace in Faith Center for Fellowship and Worship. This may be an in-game building, because a quick search didn't yield any results. Maybe more will be revealed in a later box. 

Final Thoughts: It feels like this box/episode is ramping up to a conclusion of sorts for the season finale. There are many unanswered questions. What happened to the Madson family? What is Jacob Nilson;s role in all this? What is JWJ doing at this point in the season? Is Heather a victim of JWJ or another killer? And is she still alive? Wait and see what box/episode 7 has in store as we get close to the season finale of HUNT A KILLER!

Awakening Box 5: Thoughts and Theories

Hunt A Killer: Box 5
***SPOILERS THROUGHOUT***

*At this point, Box/Episode 5 was my favorite box!*

LFoA Letter:  This letter was seemingly a minefield of bad grammar. But a closer inspection reveals a code of sorts. Uppercase letters become very apparent. What does this all mean? Well, I could never do the working theory justice. But here is a link to Will Rogers' aka "The Haunted Sponge" who has a really great video explanation of what it could possibly be, that I totally agree with. Mainly, because I have no solid answer for myself. Letter/Constellation Theory

JWJ Letter: He mentions a two-way correspondence with a woman. And he says that he "admired her all the way to the end of our arrangement." Is this in reference to the mysterious "Heather" who wrote him the letters on silly, bordered paper and mentioned in the case file from box/episode 2? How did their arrangement end? Is she still alive? 

Heather Letter #2: Heather says she will be sending a mixtape. And she discusses an "Allan" who seems to have broken her heart. And while his parents are out of town she "will set him straight." This may tie in to the Highland Village article of a young man found while his parents are away in Dallas. Then to close out the letter she discusses loving the sound of water. *Are we getting a cassette tape at some point? And what does Heather have to do with any of this?*

McGowan Death Article: McGowan is found dead in his home at the age of 76. The writer of the article may have rounded up, because his DOB July 17, 1941-July 17, 2017 would put him at age 76. So, he would be age 75. But depending on when the in-game universe started the time frame; i.e, depending on when each individual hunter starts do certain dates hold significance? Or are some clues from a future date even if in the real world we aren't there yet? Hopefully that made sense. 

Concord Point Lighthouse Photo:

 A photo of Concord Point Lighthouse *"DUH!"* Concord Point Lighthouse(Wikipedia)

"Corkboard" Murders:

There are 4 tacked up news clippings about bodies found, stretching from Texas to Maryland. Map of "Corkboard" body locations   The Susquehanna River ends on the sound end at the Concord Point Lighthouse. So the body found in the Sus. River may be very important. The title of the article is the only thing shown, so maybe whatever was in the corresponding article might have given us too much insight. But my theory is that the woman found, at the Sus. River/Lighthouse is our mysterious Heather. Her death would end the arrangement between her and JWJ. But who was Heather? Was the trail of bodies her work? Why are the bodies punctured in the liver? Allan, in my working theory, is the Highland Village, TX body. His tongue was torn out and his liver punctured. Was his tongue ripped out because he "lied" to Heather about his feelings for her? Or does it hold another significance?

My Extra Thoughts: By this box/episode, I was totally wrapped up in the story. This is my favorite box, solely because of the "Corkboard" murders and Concord Lighthouse giving us physical locations. Until we receive an answer about what all this means for the overall story, everything is just a theory. Our theories are basically a Schrodinger Cat-type situation. Until we receive the answers, all our theories are valid and invalid at the same time. Box/Episode 6 may help shape your and my theories even more!

Awakening Box 4: Thoughts and Theories

Hunt A Killer: Box 4
***SPOILERS THROUGHOUT***


LFoA Letter: The letter speaks about George Madson seemingly, missing or being held captive, with the statement "we pray for George's return in one piece." There is some sort of rewards system going into effect for the Darlington patients. And we see the newly placed Vice President, Jacob Nilson's signature. So what has happened to Mr. Madson? And how did a package inspector become the Vice President in just a few months? And what is JWJ's role in all of this? Nothing is very clear but these questions help us understand that there is something happening at the Darlington facility we should keep an eye on in coming episodes. 

JWJ Letter: He talks again about being in isolation without our correspondence. If he is basically running the LFoA, Darlington facility, why does he feel isolated? He talks about his childhood home, and references to sinkholes along the property. This began his fascination with sinkholes, obviously. And we see the statement "I miss my mother dearly". So, his mother has passed or is not in his life. We don't have much to go on about JWJ's past up to this point. We get an excerpt to The Canterbury Tales that starts "Whan that April with his showres..." Canterbury Excerpt And then there is a 3-digit number "125". ***I haven't found what that connects to in my own research, if it does at this point in the episodes.*** JWJ finishes with references to McGowan giving us a toy plane as a "gift of gratitude." And to a priest and demon(the Faustus Card). 

Toy Plane:

Our token of thanks from Lloyd McGowan for "helping" him gain his freedom. 

Faustus Card: Faustus(Wikipedia):

 
 Who is the "priest" and who is the "demon" in JWJ's opinion?  On the back is the latin phrase: "non sequi sus sequitor canes ostendere veritas" which in Google translate says: "not to follow the swine, let him follow the dogs to show the truth of the" What do "swine" and "dogs" have to do with JWJ's cryptic clues and story?

Richter/Hawkins Letter: Correspondence from 1967 between William Richter and Samuel J. Hawkins. What significance does Hawkins play in this? There was redacted signatures in the case file from box 2. Is the redaction because Hawkins had something to do with Lillian's death? The dialogue in the letter seems to be Richter giving Hawkins the false story behind McGowans involvement in her murder. Kind of giving him the sequence of events, false events, but keeping the story straight. Will Hawkins name show up again later? 

Ohio Farmer: A periodical, newspaper-type article from something called "The Ohio Farmer" from April 23, 1892. It has a lot of references to livestock and sales and ads for livestock. What this has to do with the overall story or how this clue ties in, I HAVE NO IDEA. It may tie in to the "swine" reference with the Faustus card. Or something else with JWJ we don't know yet. We will have to wait and see. 

***My Thoughts on Box/Episode 4: JWJ is closing one story arc and opening a new story arc. Or continuing the overall story and going back to box/episode 1. Is the McGowan story over? What do we do now...Box/Episode 4 holds the answer to at least one question!

Awakening Box 3: Thoughts And Theories

Hunt A Killer: Box 3
***SPOILERS THROUGHOUT***

LFoA Welcome Letter: A third letter from George Madson. He has a new title, "Transition Facilitator". Not sure what this transition is or how it is affecting JWJ or the other characters in the hunt. But the letter references the newsletter from the LFoA website.

JWJ "Friend" Letter: Toward the end of the letter, JWJ makes reference to a "binary system." If you go back over the letter, a pattern of ones and zeros becomes clear. Putting that into a binary code cracker, the message "I gotM" appears. "M" could refer to George Madson. So, JWJ got George Madson. He either captured him or killed him.

Prisoner/Patient ID Bracelet:

Says "James, J.W.", "29-JUN-1956", and "0000 1618" on it. If you put this date into an age calculator or just do the math, it puts JWJ around 60 years of age, at least. There are two schools of thought on the date, either his DOB or a date of his incarceration. I'm going with his DOB for my theory. This would give us a helpful point of reference for any dates associated with him later in the game.

Bloody Pen:

Going with the binary coded message, "I gotM", I believe the pen is showing that JWJ killed Madson and took over the facility. This goes with my box/episode 2 theory that JWJ thinks of himself as Cadmus who slew the Dragon and buried the teeth to raise an army. In other words, he kills Madson and takes control of the staff and facility.

Barn Photo: This photo is most likely a nod to where JWJ may have lived as a child. Or it holds significance we don't understand at this point yet.

***LFoA Newsletter***: Putting the "Winter Puzzle" into a cipher cracker you get the message, "THE PILOT WAS BORN THIS YEAR...TWENTY FIVE YEARS LATER HE NEVER MAKE IT TO BRAZIL."   The year was "1902." Using the blacklight, the number "1618" shows up on the back of the Friend letter in box 2. Putting the Listening Friends of America website into your browser and add your newly discovered code... https://www.listeningfriendsofamerica.org/1902-1618 and an mp3 file is revealed. *There isn't much to gain at the moment from the recording, except that McGowan is drugged and being asked to admit to murdering Grayson.* Also: We are given the name of Jacob Nilson, our mystery signature on the inspection stickers. And the name "Felix" is also mentioned.


Thoughts on Boxes/Episodes 1-3:***SPOILERS for BOX/EPISODE 4*** So far, we have discovered we are corresponding with John William James, a 60-year-old man in an institution for the mentally ill. He has some control over the facility by episode 3 and may have murdered George Madson or be holding him captive. During the course of our interactions, JWJ gave us a case file about the murder of Lillian Grayson, a patient with a form of amnesia. She was "a bright star" and well liked around the hospital. So, was she a former staff member? Was she being drugged to keep her quiet about something she may have become aware of. LFoA is not beyond keeping a patient drugged, like McGowan, until they want to know information or control the flow of information. Was Grayson killed by a staff member, either the custodian or a doctor to cover up a relationship? McGowan was supposed to be in quarantine and restrained during the time of her murder, so how would he have killed her in his locked room? And all that we know about McGowan tells us he has anger toward father-figures and men. He loved his mother and nothing shows he had violence toward women. His mother said he was showing "periods of violent behavior", but not that it was directed at her. The father could be the target of that increased violent tendency. Is the custodian too obvious? A blunt object could be obtained by any staff member with appropriate access. This box gave us many questions. But we are seeing a power struggle occuring between JWJ and Madson. JWJ appears to be in control and we are unsure of the fate of Madson at this point. What does box 4 have in store for us?! Find out when we Hack The Hunt in Episode 4 later this week!

Case File in Box 2(Admissions/Incidents;Right Side)

An In-Depth Breakdown of the Box 2 Case File(The Right Side)

When you open and look at the right side and start with the Admissions papers: 

     Page 1, The Breakdown: You see that Lloyd McGowan was put an institution, by Involuntary means on July 7, 1967. His patient number is 11076711_952 
 DOB: July, 17, 1941(Age 75 if alive as of 5/15/2017) Mother put him in the institution, but his father was not there.
The name of the institute is L.F. O'Brien Asylum in New York.
The mother signs at the bottom. (Her name revealed on the left side section of the papers) Some information on the paper is blacked out.

     Page 1, The Thoughts: McGowan is admitted having no past hospitalizations or substance abuse. So if this is to be believed, McGowan went almost 26 years without being institutionalized or being hooked on medications or alcohol. But the mother commented that since infancy there was "ongoing intermittent periods of violent behavior and suspected neurological disease." What caused the mother to put him in a facility after going so long without help from mental health professionals?

    Page 2, The Breakdown: An incident report from July 18, 1967. A custodian, Robert Zykewski, Says that McGowan was watching him, then became scared and nervous. When the custodian turned his back to McGowan, McGowan attacked him and tore his uniform. The custodian was under the impression Mcgowan was locked in his room after that incident. A signature is blacked out.

     Page 2, The Thoughts: Something about the custodian set off McGowan. And McGowan is now locked away in his room. Also, the incident occurs a day after McGowans 26th birthday. Does his birthday also factor into why he attacked the custodian? Why is there another page with blacked out information? Is there a name of a staff member that someone doesn't want to be revealed?

     Page 3, The Breakdown: September 13, 167 a confrontation in the exercise yard is filled out for McGowan. The report shows a 1 inch cut on his chest and contusions and scratch marks on both arms. He was bandaged and given Aspirin. The signature at the bottom is blacked out.

     Page 3, The Thoughts: Not really sure what to make of this. The person or persons McGowan were involved in the incident with is not listed. And again, the doctor or nurse who treated him is blacked out. What are they trying to hide?

     Page 4, The Breakdown: September 14, 1967 a report is filled out after McGowan self-harms in his room. He is found with contusions on his face and forehead, scratch marks on both arms, and contusions on his chest and wrists. He was found having a nervous fit and they say he hit his head repeatedly on the wall.

     Page 4, The Thoughts: The incident occurs the day after the altercation on the exercise yard. So many of the injuries reported are probably from that. But his injuries to the face and wrists are probably self-inflicted. What is causing McGowan to slowly spiral out of control?

     Page 5, The Breakdown: An autopsy report for Lillian Grayson. She died on September 26, 1967, at 11:00 pm. But the autopsy was started at 8:00 am the next day and lasted for 11 hours. There are 3 doctors mentioned and one signature unidentified: D.S. Lillian had blunt force trauma from a wrench or tool. Skull fracture to the back of the head. The left orbit(the eye) collapsed. Multiple stab wounds in the neck, palm, and abdomen. A lot of issues with her anatomy and seminal matter present. Heightened levels of Progeatin and Estradiol in blood. The COD was determined to be the blunt force trauma.

     Page 5, The Thoughts: Lillian Grayson was murdered by someone with access to a wrench or tools. The obvious suspect is the custodian. But further inspection of the white pages will help with this theory. She had drugs in her system to help with menopause, birth control, hormone imbalance, or the removal of her ovaries. I strongly believe she was pregnant. And whoever the father was, attacked her, and the hospital staff, covered it up. If it was a doctor, it would be very easy to cover up.

Case File in Box 2(White Pages;Left side)

An In-Depth Breakdown of the Box 2 Case File(The Left Side)

When you open and look at the right side and start with the Psychiatric Evaluation papers: 

     Page 1, The Breakdown: Basic patient information listed; DOB, parents names, etc. Chief complaints: Patient is nervous, confused and doesn't speak. Mother complains of violent outbursts and the father is abusive. McGowan has self-harmed in the past. There is alcohol/substance abuse and violence in the family history. Deemed a danger to himself. Basic hospital jargon fills the rest of the page.

     Page 1, The Thoughts: McGowan's father seems to be a central focus of the issues. McGowan is angry and hurts himself.

     Page 2, The Breakdown: A patient incident report: August 8, 1967. McGowan would not return to his bed for curfew. He was aggressive and called out for his mother and shouted "bed" several times. A second orderly came to help and McGowan struck him on the side of the head. Its noted McGowan may be lashing out at male staff members who remind him of his father. And Dr. William Richter is in brackets.

     Page 2, The Thoughts: McGowan is attacking staff members who remind him of his father. That is important to remember. Especially with the incident involving the custodian.

     Page 3, The Breakdown: Exercise yard incident report: September 13, 1967. McGowan mutters words and phrases: Pilot, never be good, blew him up, said I can't do it, dad now, blue, and special. A patient asked McGowan to be quiet and McGowan attacked him. Dr. Richter wants to be more involved with McGowan's care. He is restrained and put in his room.

     Page 3, The Thoughts: The words McGowan mutters become VERY IMPORTANT in upcoming boxes. That is really the only takeaway from this page.

     Page 4, The Breakdown: Treatment plan: September 20. 1967. Dr. Richter quarantines and treats McGowan with a medication, Mellaril. He is restrained and the door is locked, with an orderly checking on him hourly. And a follow-up evaluation is scheduled for 3 months later.

     Page 4, The Thoughts: Mellaril is for the treatment of schizophrenia. He would be very tired and weak from this point on. 

     Page 5, The Breakdown: September 20, 1997. Correspondence between William Richter and George Madson(LFoA). There is discussion of the upcoming transfer of McGowan to their Darlington, MD facility. Richter wants him "far away" from him.

    Page 5, The Thoughts: Because of the death of Lillian, Richter and the asylum want McGowan gone. Possibly to cover up the truth. McGowan has been drugged and locked in his room for three months at the time of the murder in '67, so how did a drugged McGowan get a tool and with enough force, collapse the orbital socket of Lillian. Something doesn't add up.

      Page 6: The Breakdown: George Madson corresponds with a "Heather" to reduce McGowan's medication.

     Page 6: The Thoughts: Madson wants to know exactly what McGowan knows.
     

Awakening Box 2: Thoughts and Theories

Hunt A Killer: Box 2
***SPOILERS THROUGHOUT***

This box is full of so much, just in the case file! Let's dig into the first clue: 

LFoA Letter: George Madson warns us to about suspicious activity in our correspondence. He calls himself the "Vice-President and Lead Encouragement Officer". So his title in this episode/box is slightly changed since box 1. Do the changes hold significance? I keep track just in case.

JWJ "Friend" Letter: JWJ discusses the clues in the box and the case file he sent you of Lloyd McGowan, who he believes is innocent of the murder of a fellow patient, Lillian Grayson. He thinks of himself of as Janus, a God who controls time, has two faces, and can see in the past and future. And he can create passages through doorways and worlds. 

Devouring Dragon Etching: An etching by Hendrick Goltzius. The etching we are given is censored, removing the violent portions. A quick backstory of Cadmus and the dragon can be found here- Etching History/Mythology
         Cadmus History/Mythology

Dragon Tooth: In mythology, Cadmus sowed the dragon's tooth in the ground and made an army of men called Spartoi("sown"). What that means for the overall story, I'm not sure as of right now. 

Case File: Right side-Admission/Incidents
                  Left Side-White Pages

Extra Thoughts: Someone had a relationship with Lillian Grayson. The medication she was taken gave a false positive of pregnancy, so a physician or nurse would have found out she was "pregnant" first. And used this to set up McGowan, with tools from the custodians' equipment room. McGowan was locked away in his room and drugged during the murder, so unless one of the orderlies watching him hourly, let him out, he was innocent.    
 

Awakening Box 1: Thoughts and Theories

Hunt A Killer: Box 1
***SPOILERS THROUGHOUT***


The Swan Card: Several myths can be linked to The Swan/Cygnus constellation. JWJ aka "FRIEND" is very into astrology and mythology. The Swan/Cygnus constellation is a part of a series of star charts made in the 1800s in London called "Urania's Mirror." *Could the other constellations on the blue constellation card be a part of the story in boxes to come?*
 Cygnus Mythology(Wikipedia)

Credit: Infants Cabinet of Birds and Beasts(1820)

Blue Constellation Card w/filament taped to the back: Has several constellations including Cygnus that are significant in later boxes so I will leave this clue to be explored when I think it pertains to the correct box.

Crushed Pill Cup: The consensus among other hunters, that I support, and it basically is backed up as you progress, is that the cup shows very simply that JWJ is in a hospital/mental institution.

LFoA Letter: The only thing of note I saw to keep a record of, is the name and title of George Madson. He calls himself "Vice-President and Chief Welcoming Agent, Listening Friends of America". Later boxes, this information varies, so I think it's very helpful to note the changing of this as you progress.

Redacted News Article: Simply Google the title of the article. Click For The Unredacted Article

"Friend" Letter: The phrasing in the letter in several parts, is taken from the redacted portions of the news article.

     Okay, so my thoughts/theories for box 1: JWJ is at this point in box 1, in a mental institution. He doesn't really delve too deeply into his personal life or backstory. But towards the end, he uses a phrase "I feel the great weight of isolation upon me". So could he, in box/episode 1, be in solitary confinement of some sort.

     The second to last paragraph seems to me the general idea of the game. We are getting in the head of JWJ. Finding the answer to cases will take understanding this man and how he thinks and operates.
     The letter is typed out. Is this by choice or is his incarceration dictating how he corresponds with us? He can't have "a pen" but he is allowed a typewriter. Does this hold any significance?

     Sorry I jump around so much. But this my process. And also, sorry for the slim amount of information. But box 1 is really an introduction to the game. My research can be added to by you on your own. Go down my path or take your own. At this point, no one really knows who is or isn't correct. So have fun and enjoy the Hunt!