Episode 125: The Greenbrier Ghost

Episode 125: The Greenbrier Ghost

Our favorite weird state, West Virginia, is home to one of the most fascinating (and disturbing) paranormal tales in American history: the testimony of a ghost that was discussed during a murder trial. At the turn of the 20th century, a young bride, Elva Zona Heaster Shue, died in what at first seemed to be an accident. Soon, though, someone very close to her was on trial for murder . . . after Zona herself appeared as a ghost, and pointed a spectral finger at the suspect. 

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One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.

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Works Cited:

Dave Tabler,“The Greenbrier Ghost...” Appalachian History, 2010

Shirley Donnelly,“Greenbrier County Ghost...” Beckley Post-Herald, 1975

Mike Conley,“Mike Conley's Tales...”McDowell News, 2009

Belinda Anderson,“Greenbrier Ghost, Zona...” greenbrierwv.com, N/A

N/A, “Shue Convicted of...” Greenbrier Independent, 1897

Shirley Donnelly, “Greenbrier Ghost That...” Beckley Post-Herald, 1958

Dannye Romine, “The Man Who...” Charlotte Observer, 1986

Nicky Demitry,“The Greenbrier Ghost...”Virginia Law Weekly, 2025

N/A, “Mr. E. S. Shue...” Greenbrier Independent, 1896

N/A, “Indictments” Greenbrier Independent, 1897

N/A, “The Trial of...” Greenbrier Independent, 1897

N/A, “Mrs. Mary J. Heaster...” Greenbrier Independent, 1897

N/A, “A Ghost Story...” Greenbrier Independent, 1897

Shirley Donnelly,“Yesterday And Today...”Beckley Post-Herald, 1959

Mara Bovsun,“Tale from the...”Daily News, 2019

Melanie Griffin,“Haunting Testimony...” USC Law Library Blog, 2020

N/A, “Greenbrier County History...” greenbriercounty.net, N/A

Jamie Ruff, “Blacksburg — Have You...” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 1995

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124: THE BUSBY CHAIR