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[The Cape Cod Vampire: The Horrifying Crimes of Tony Costa]-[Episode 194: Tony Costa, The Cape Cod Vampire Part 1]

Morbid · B2 · 2020-12-18

True crime
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📋 Summary

The Twisted Tale of Tony Costa: The Cape Cod Vampire

In this episode of Morbid, hosts Ash and Elena delve into the chilling true crime case of Antony "Tony" Costa, a man whose nickname, "The Cape Cod Vampire" (or "Tony Chop Chop"), reflects the horrific nature of his crimes in Massachusetts during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The Early Signs of a Predator

Born in 1944, Costa was described as an intelligent but arrogant child who grew up spoiled as an only child. While his early life lacked obvious trauma, his behavior began to deviate in adolescence. At 16, he broke into the apartment of a 14-year-old girl, Donna Welch, at 4 a.m., watching her sleep before attempting to drag her down the stairs. Despite this, he received only a suspended sentence. As an adult, Costa’s behavior escalated; he was known for his taxidermy hobby—often involving roadkill—and his predatory interest in teenage girls. He eventually married a 14-year-old girl named Avis, with whom he had children, though he was described as a distant, abusive father and husband who preferred to have sex with his partners while they were unconscious.

The "Garden" and the Disappearances

Costa maintained a secret "garden" behind the Pine Grove Cemetery in Truro, where he grew marijuana and lured young women. This location became the epicenter of a series of disappearances. Several young women, including Christine Gallant, Sydney Monzen, and Susan Perry, vanished after being associated with him. Costa’s modus operandi involved spinning convoluted, ever-changing lies to police, claiming victims had moved to Canada or California, or that he had simply "sold" them his van. His stories were so inconsistent that investigators struggled to pin him down until the physical evidence began to emerge.

The Discovery of the Bodies

The investigation took a dark turn when a local man discovered a VW Bug—belonging to two missing college students, Patricia Walsh and Marianne Wysocki—abandoned in the woods near the cemetery. Police eventually excavated the area, discovering a horrific scene. They found a severed head, dismembered limbs, and torsos, many of which had been "flayed of skin" and had their chests "torn open."

As the search expanded, investigators uncovered multiple shallow graves. In addition to the remains of Walsh and Wysocki, they discovered an unidentified body and later, a fourth body buried underneath, which was badly decomposed. The brutality of the crimes, characterized by the systematic dismemberment and ritualistic placement of remains, left the investigators deeply traumatized.

A Pattern of Deceit

Throughout the investigation, Costa’s arrogance remained intact. He attempted to implicate others, including friends he dubbed "Timmy Weed" and "Steve," and offered shifting narratives that made no logical sense. Despite his attempts to manipulate the police, the discovery of personal items belonging to the victims—such as ID cards, receipts, and clothing—within his "garden" provided the tangible evidence needed to link him to the carnage.

Ultimately, the case of Tony Costa remains one of the most disturbing chapters in Massachusetts history. The hosts emphasize that while Costa projected an image of a "groovy" hippie, he was a calculated predator who preyed upon the vulnerable. This episode serves as a haunting introduction to a man who treated human lives with complete disregard, hiding his monstrous acts behind a veil of counter-culture charm.

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📖 Transcript

Hey weirdos, it's Ash. Before we dive into today's twisted tale, let me tell you about the spooky perks of Wondery+.
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