Terrifying & True | Donner Party Cannibalism: Gruesome Story Survival

The true story of the Donner Party—cannibalism and survival in the Sierra Nevada. In winter 1846–1847 , nearly 90 pioneers were snowbound at Truckee/Donner Lake after betting on the Hastings Cutoff and losing critical weeks in the Wasatch Mountains and Great Salt Lake Desert . What followed— starvation, the Forlorn Hope snowshoe escape, and cannibalism —became America’s most infamous saga of westward migration. This documentary-style episode of Terrifying & True traces the route from Springfield, Illinois to the blizzards that sealed the pass by Nov 4, 1846 , the collapse of order on the Humboldt , and the desperate rescue missions that fought 30-foot drifts , Starved Camp , and the scandal that haunted Lewis Keseberg for life. Inside this episode The “shortcut” that killed. Lansford Hastings pushes an untested route; weeks are lost in the Wasatch and on the salt flats . Pass closed, hope fading. Wagons reach Truckee Lake (Oct 31, 1846) ; an eight-day storm buries the Sierra Nevada by Nov 4 . “Hungry times.” Cabins sink under snow; families boil rawhide and tallow as game vanishes and deaths mount. The Forlorn Hope. On Dec 16 , fifteen leave on crude snowshoes; starvation, whiteout, and an unthinkable choice decide who lives. Rescues through hell. Relief parties attack the pass; John Stark drags children from Starved Camp two at a time. Aftermath & stigma. Keseberg , rumors, lawsuits—and the lasting warning from Virginia Reed : “Never take no cut-offs and hurry along as fast as you can.” A clear, date-driven reconstruction of choices, storms, and survival. We’re telling that story tonight. 🎧 LISTEN NOW and subscribe for spine-tingling horror stories every week! 🎉 Unlock exclusive bonus episodes and support the show on Patreon! 👉 WeeklySpooky.com/Join 📬 Contact Us / Submit Your Horror Story! Twitter: @WeeklySpooky Facebook: facebook.com/WeeklySpooky Email: WeeklySpooky@gmail.com 🎵 Music by Ray Mattis 👉 Check out Ray’s incredible work here ! 👨‍💼 Executive Producers: Rob Fields, Bobbletopia.com 🎥 Produced by: Daniel Wilder 🌐 Explore more terrifying tales at: WeeklySpooky.com