Dryden NY: Why Tragedy Kept Finding This Town | Yore Town

Dryden Mystery: Inside the Village of the Damned explores one of the most disturbing chapters in New York true crime history. For nearly a decade, the small town of Dryden, New York became the center of a string of murders, disappearances, suspicious deaths, and tragedies that left residents wondering if their community had somehow become cursed. Nestled in the Finger Lakes region, Dryden looked like the perfect small town. Quiet streets. Friday night football. Families who had known each other for generations. But beginning in 1989, a series of shocking crimes and heartbreaking losses transformed the town forever and eventually earned it a nickname that residents still struggle with today: The Village of the Damned. In this episode of Yore Town, Matt and Megh dive deep into the real stories behind the headlines, exploring the victims, the investigations, the community impact, and the lingering mystery surrounding one of America's most tragic small towns. Inside This Mystery • The shocking Harris family murders that stunned Dryden • The heartbreaking disappearance and murder of Aliza May Bush • The death of beloved football coach Stephen Starr • The murders of Sarah Hajney and Jennifer Bolduc • How a small New York town earned the nickname "Village of the Damned" • The dark history, local legends, and unanswered questions that remain today Every town has a past. Yore Town uncovers the real stories, forgotten crimes, and local mysteries that time tried to bury. Whether you're fascinated by true crime history, small-town mysteries, unsolved cases, forgotten history, dark local legends, or strange events from America's past, this episode takes you inside a community forever changed by tragedy. Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome to Dryden: A town defined by tragedy and resilience 00:30 - The history and geography of Dryden, New York 01:10 - The beginning of the series of tragedies in 1989 02:00 - The Harris family murders: shocking Christmas crime 03:00 - The impact of the Harris murders on Dryden’s community 04:00 - The disappearance of Eliza Bush and the search efforts 05:00 - The revelation of the culprit among neighbors 06:00 - The pattern of tragedies: murders and disappearances 07:30 - The death of local figure Scott Hume and rising community fear 09:00 - The 1994 murder of Coach Steven Starr and its aftermath 10:30 - The death of Sherry Fitz and the symbolism of Merchant's suicide 12:00 - The accumulation of grief shaping the town’s identity 13:00 - The teenage girl disappearances and the town’s collective fear 14:30 - The community’s response: support and coping mechanisms 16:00 - The media's nickname: ‘The Village of the Damned’ and its impact 17:00 - Is Dryden cursed? Debunking supernatural myths 18:00 - The resilience and unity of Dryden’s residents 19:30 - Reflection on the human capacity to endure tragedy 21:00 - The importance of community and human connection in healing 22:30 - Final thoughts: Tragedy as a part of life, not a curse 23:45 - Wrap-up and concluding remarks Part of the Beard Laws Studio network. New Yore Town mysteries every Monday — subscribe to help us uncover the past. Follow and connect: @YoreTownPod #TrueCrimeHistory #SmallTownMysteries #YoreTown #DarkHistory #VillageOfTheDamned Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.