The fact that he doesn't mention his service as a Navy SEAL very often (especially while talking about the depression and therapy thing) has always made me respect him that much more
Agreed. I know guys that spent 4 years in the marines and it’s all they talk about. I was friends with this guy Timmy for about three years before I found out he spent ten years as a marines. And I asked him why I never knew that and he said “because I don’t need to find a way to bring it up in every conversation I have.” That made me love the dude so much more.
@@MrBallen being that you are a Navy SEAL and always will be I think you have every right to mention it whenever you want. PS thank you for your service 🇺🇲💪. My bad on the wrong flag was just trying to show my support for our American heroes.
Lol I hope they mean that even if the story was little red riding hood, he would tell it in a way that would make up some of the best memories of their childhood, not lmao that he would tell THESE kinda stories 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@danielprescott2880 then I shall watch since I'm out of mr ballen and disturban videos and mr disturban uploads sometimes and mr ballen once a week soo
Being afraid of an evil curse is like throwing kindling on a fire that you wish would go out. I'm proud of Leonarda for taking back her life and finding her own peace through the good she did for others. *LATER AFTER I HEAR THE REST OF THE STORY:* Um... excuse the blazes out of me, what?
Why the hell would you leave a comment on a video before you've finished watching it ESPECIALLY when at the very beginning it was told that there would be a twist
atleast they died happy...um i mean if she took an out in a somewhat surprise attack move like a sneak shot b4 she did it so if any of them died quick & didnt see it or have time 2c it comin then I guess they woulda been happy when they died. AS LONG AS THEY DIDNT SEE OR KNO IT WAS COMIN &IT WOULDA ALSO HAD 2B SO FAST THAT THEY COULDNT HAVE REALIZED WTF JUS HAPPEN 2THEM SO IDK ID LIKE 2THINK NOBODY HAD 2SUFFER B4 THEY DIED. IT MAKES IT EASIER 2ACCEPT IN MY MIND. CUZ I CANT STAND WHEN SOMEONE HAS 2SUFFER FROM ANY KINDA TORTURE B4THEY CANT HOLD ON ANYMORE & DIET BREAKS MY HEART THINKIN HOW ITS THE VERY LAST THING THEY GOTTA EXPERIENCE B4 THEY GO SMH SO SAD
It makes sense, though. She used their most vulnerable desires against them. She must have thought about doing such acts for a long time with the strategy she displayed. Maybe when her mother "cursed" her. She knew something about her daughter that the world had not yet known.
I literally did a report on her in my junior year of high school. As soon as I heard ‘shop’ & ‘Leonarda’ I immediately remembered her story cause it’s so crazy. Not a lot of people talk about her, which is weird cause her story is so crazy.
Yeah, I heard about her from another true crime story person on UA-cam quite some time ago. It is hard to not remember a lady who made cakes out of people. I also think that whole "curse" thing was a self fulfilling prophecy but I kind of also feel a bit bad for her because I don't think she felt she deserved to be happy in her younger years and her mom didn't help. That doesn't excuse what she did, but the whole thing sounded really messed up; I can't imagine ever disowning a child just because I didn't like who they picked, not to mention the rest.
@Crystal H Yeah poor old murderering lady lol I have been deemed mentally ill by society and I am realizing I'm probably one of the few safe people on this planet to be around...near impossible to dodge psychotics the freaking doctors and nurses themselves have mental illness a lot of times I'm finding out that's why they get interested. .
@@YSIDROMAC you can have sympathy for people without condoning their actions. Things are often more complicated than someone just being a "bad guy" or "good guy."
@@crystalh450 Her mother set her up to be this monster. Had her mother treated her with genuine love, Leonarda would have been different. Mothers, love your babies and cherish them forever. In turn Leonarda's grandparents were equal in this crime.
@Witty Witty This has nothing to do with gender roles, they should have given Leonarda a death sentence because this is beyond evil, even if she didn't confess I know very damn well they would have given her son the same sentence as Leonarda trust me, the justice system will never give the dead women rest
I always love the "NOT a real photo" parts... in this one, showing a woman holding an axe high, "NOT a real photo of Leonarda" and all I picture is her setting up her camera and taking a selfie of herself holding the axe up high 😆
You’re a good man, Mr. Ballen. I wasn’t sure at first- I mean I’m always skeptical- but you’ve won me over. You clearly actually care about doing good in the world, and I appreciate you.
Yeah not many out there these days, most are just in this stuff for money, but he actually does care, plus if he was all about money he would do more than 1 a week
Should I be more proud I began following this channel before it had a million, and still diligently wait for every upload to this day. That is the power of this man's compelling and captivating story telling
I'm with you 🤣 I found his channel after about 20 uploads.. and I sat there and binged them all in 1 day! So jealous of new comers getting to listen to them all for the first time 😩
Probably not. His channel grew fast and was pushed in the algorithm because people thought it was good. The algorithm pushing it to you before other people doesn't mean you're better or worse than anyone. Besides being the biggest super stan of anyone, from UA-cam or mainstream media, is pretty cringe
Don't laugh, my family had the evil eye cast on us in 1996 when we went to visit family in Italy. They literally destroyed our family, full effect & results hit when we returned to Australia
@@danielagiorno4993 dang. There is one story i know of, where this mans mother tried to curse him and it didnt work. The person his mother went to, ran out to his mother and demanded she left her building when she went to her altar to curse him.
right, i feel like he's almost trying to communicate with children but im ignorantly forgetting that people who speak all kinds of languages watch these videos. A huge part of them is the immersion and delivery and if you can't tell what he's saying or don't understand it, you mind as well be on reddit
I was going to say the same thing! He defines or explains things without being condescending. Yeah, I might know what that word means, but others might not!
I have always admired him for doing that, not everyone knows some of the terms he refers to, and I love the way he explains it in an educational manner!
This is my first time hearing this story. Wow. Edit: It took me 3 years after my husband's death to finally admit I needed help. That I couldn't do it alone. Therapy was the best thing I ever did. Thank you for sharing your experience. It helps to share.
Give this man a Netflix special already!!! Doesn’t matter how many times I hear a story, if MrBallen is the storyteller, then I’m all in. Any story is so much better when he tells it ❤❤ PS thank you for your service ❤ and thank you to any other veterans old or young, I deeply appreciate you
I was having such a lovely time listening to this wholesome story about Leonarda that I forgot I was supposed to be looking out for a neighborhood killer and that this was in fact a strange, dark, and mysterious sort of story 🥴
MrBallen, I've commented before how much I enjoy your show. But even more impressed by you promoting therapy and divulging your own past issues. And it's so good to see these are professional therapists not these bogus "life coach " crap. You are actually a bit like my therapist because you give me a break from all the toxicity in the news. So thank you !
I remember my grandmother telling me this story when I was 12. I told her to tell me a scary story, she did after she finished telling me, my grandmother said it was a true story which made it all the more frightening. I didn't eat tea cakes for years.
i love how mr ballen sometimes first tells the story in a way that deliberately misleads you but somehow doesn't make you feel duped after the reveal. i think it's cuz he'll tell the story first the way it seemed to the world... not just total BS, but basically the "public face" everyone saw. and then he'll flip it around and tell you what ACTUALLY happened. it's absolutely riveting.
I'm glad I've never heard this story before and enjoyed so much so that without any doubt this story is by far the best I've ever heard not just from mr.ballen but from anyone.
I knew it was her once she got a "job" for the second woman with her mother's side of the family. They disowned her mom to the point her mom blamed her for everything her whole life . NO way these people would of been willing to do ANY favors what so ever for her. Everything was too good to be true. That was a crazy twist ! Wow
Yes. I always feel like he is talking just to me. I am glued to my computer and a half hour goes by in the blink of an eye. One of only a few channels that I immediately hit the like button before I even start watching the story.
Um no I didn’t fan girl it up cos I’m 34 lol. I was silent tho bc I fell asleep (twice) and restarted it (I mean, it’s Sunday). Plus I already knew all about the soap maker of Correggio, I merely listened for entertainment.
I’ve heard this story before. The way Mr.Ballen tells stories intrigues me, because somehow he told this story in such a captivating way that it felt I was hearing it for the first time.
The Florida guy that ate the persons face. I knew about that but when he told the story, it was completely new to me but I also learned that the initial national news got a lot wrong. I thought it was a homeless bum and not a college kid.
Mr. Ballen, I was so engrossed with this story that I believed this woman was genuinely helping people by giving good to protect against evil; the story's ending was spectacular and unbelievably true. 🤪
I've actually heard a lot of Mr ballens stories before, but never ever hear them in such an elaborate way. The way he tells the stories, he humanizes the characters, and you become personally involved in their outcome. I have followed him for about a year now and enjoy every video!
Yes your so right he gives us such a glimpse of the people in the stories he shares with us he has a talent he makes it look so easy and there is no telling how much research, time and work goes into just one video ❤️❤️him
I have heard this story multiple times. I have narrated this story to my friends at some point. But it took me 25 minutes to realize that this is the same story. Mr Ballen is truly a phenomenal storyteller!
I knew this case from a true crime tv show, but I love the breath of life you gave to it. Leonarda was abused, unwell and desperate. She lost so much in her life and couldn't stand to lose any more. I love how you take a story this awful and gave it a new focus.
I have heard this story before also and its driving me crazy trying to remember where. I could have sworn Mr.Ballen had told it already but I guess not. Where did you hear it?
@Norbert no, but thank you for the assumption that my empathy is limited to sharing genitals with someone. I'd like to think that I would never be desperate enough to do horrible things, but when you humanize both victim and perpetrator you realize that any of us can be put in a desperate situation.
@Norbert this is the first comment I have ever made on the subject, to be perfectly honest. She deserved her fate. She lost everything she was desperate to save, undoing everything she tried to protect. She is a monster for what she did. You have no idea who I fight my battles for. I appreciate Mr ballen always giving both the victim and perpetrator the same voice, regardless of gender. If you persist in your assumptions about me, I will conclude that there is no changing your closed mind. You have your issues, they're none of my concern. I hope you find the peace you're seeking.
Oh and charges 20 dollar to see him go live on his phone and 10 dollars to ask a question. Ppl have ordered his merch and haven't received their orders or a refund. This guy really sucks bro don't support him
I remember when Mr Ballen used to start telling the story before the intro music finished and he had less than 10k followers. It's been so awesome to watch this channel grow into such a great community.
I didn't have a clue what Leonarda was doing. It's sad her mother abused her and destroyed her. This was one of the best ones! It was thrilling, dark, strange, and mysterious!!! You are The best storyteller MrBallen. I love to open YT and see a story waiting to be heard, and it makes my day. This story was so captivating and entertaining. Thanks much for your unique talent.
@1EY3King lol right! I mean don't get me wrong I'm a mama bear thru-and-thru and I love my son more than anything in this world I would do pretty much anything for him but when it comes to this kind of s*** I just can't keep riding on that bandwagon. I have a very strict rule with my children and it's one of my only no-nos. If you harm another person do not call me. If you end up in jail do not call me. I expect you to have control over your actions. If there ever comes a point where you feel like you're about to lose that control you come to me first before anything happens. I can save you from many things but I cannot save you from yourself. I'm the parent that shows up to talk with the teacher and the first thing out of my mouth is what did he do? And believe me the problem gets solved within about 5 minutes. But this this I could never do. My boys are going to grow up and go off and do whatever the hell they're going to do I just expect them to be good people and I pray for them and their well-being and safety. But as a parent you have to understand that many things are out of your control at a certain point
It's not really scary to me that a parent would go to extreme lengths to protect their child. It's that there are parents who would believe such superstitious nonsense and act on it as though it were reality that is frightening. These were completely unnecessary and cruel acts done not because a mother cared about her son, but because a mother was foolish enough to believe in supernatural/religious/superstitious/occult nonsense.
@1EY3King I'm not entirely sure that murdering innocent people is the way to go about it. Yes we would do anything to protect our child from real dangers but we're talking about somebody who has delusions and the leaves for a fact that some stupid made-up curse is real and that she has to kill somebody to keep her son safe. In the end what did it really do? He ended up without a mother and possibly dying in the long run. So by doing what she did she was no longer there to actually protect him from anything at all if anyting she calls her children more grief and pain than she could possibly imagine in the first place.
I figured it out the second you said the name Leonarda Cianciulli. I did a presentation on her for my criminal justice class last year. I chose her specifically to shock my whole class.
I like how you gave us her background which had lead to such an outcome and yet in some way not justifying her actions... You're an amazing storyteller 🤞🤞
@@mamapoch1915 yes it doesn't.. I'm saying this in a sense that other storytellers would have opted to just go straight and talk about her crimes but Mr Ballen obviously kinda humanizes her, not to justify or excuse her but for context i guess and i think to just help us understand that even seemingly normal people can do such things..
I admire your ability to humanize characters involved, even the ones responsible for heinous acts. Yet, you don’t inappropriately justify their actions or invalidate the trauma they caused. That clearly shows the strength of your character and your integrity as a person. Though I desperately miss your frequent uploads each week, and the wildly diverse nature of your different series, I’m grateful to have new content every Sunday!
I really prefer your UA-cam videos over the podcasts, it’s so interesting getting to see the pictures of the people and places while listening. You rock!❤️
I do prefer the videos, but when you're at work, doing your thing (Opening and inspecting furniture in my case), those podcasts are time-/stress-savers!
Same! I was like, the soap maker story. Stephanie Harlowe did it a while back and remembered it very well from her lol. But his version did it justice as well.
Can you imagine being told a story in-person , by Mr. Ballen? If I were rich I’d hire him for a monthly storytelling session in my house for the kids and myself. We are HOOKED!
I started a thing at my house where whenever Mr. Ballen drops a new video or podcast, there were 7 of us that gather in the living room and it became an event. That was over a year ago and now there is 12 of us that gather for the strange dark and mysterious! Thank you for all the content you put out and all the hard work and research throughout the years!
What a great idea! Brings to mind the stories of people in the " old days" gathering around the radio to listen to stories. I luv the idea of making an event of listening to John's stories. Brilliant!!!😊
Listening the beliefs and experience of Leonarda about sorcery and then the letters of gratitude coming from Faustina I thought "if he continues telling stories about other people helped by Leonarda no way she is not just killing them to 'save' his son". Thank you for your storytelling Ballen :)
I mean, this is true crime. Hasn’t everyone stumbled across the soap maker of Correggio? I watched Georgia Marie’s video years ago. The soap part always makes me think of Fight Club lol.
Yet again John you have mastered this horrific tale! You. make my Sunday mornings incredible to listen to with your stories!!! Thank you for your Service🇺🇸
When you said the mother had neglected then abused her I thought she’s going to be crazy. Then when you mentioned soap, I thought she made it from body parts. I thought it would be from her children and not her best friends. What a sinister woman. Such a tragic story.
I though it may be from her kids too 🤣 who knows maybe that’s true too but since they were smaller and it would be easier to hide the evidence or play along until she could retrieve their bodies and because of that she just didn’t get caught.
I watch all the crime channels I can find.. I have great respect for the way forensics and the dedicated detectives work their cases.. I only recently stumbled across this channel and I want to say it’s very different but mr ballen is a great storyteller and I am hooked
You have a gift for story telling. Truly. There's so many people telling the same stories you do, but you tell it so wonderfully. I don't ever skip ahead. I even sit for the sponsorships you speak about even though I could never get the Hello Fresh meals sitting all the way here in Pakistan, because the way you speak is just that wonderful. Thank you.
As soon as you mentioned that she made soap earlier in the story I knew where this story was going (I have heard it before) but I LOVE the way you told it! I don't think any one who hasn't heard this story would know how it ends. Great Job Mr. B!
I came looking for a comment like this - because unfortunately I also associate soap making with something grisly. I haven't heard this story, so I don't know if it's that, but...
I lost my beautiful brother to suicide 6yrs ago and I still can't believe it, but I'm so happy to hear you being honest about your depression and how you got help because we need to make our sons, brothers, fathers and friends see that its not a sign of weakness to admit that they are not doing good and it's a sign of strength to get help from either a doctor or counselor or just to talk about how they feel to someone because when you talk about it it makes a difference. We are losing so many to suicide and it needs to stop seeming like it's the only way to stop the pain. So thank you for trying to make a difference
@Witty Witty not always, sexism goes both ways, no one is ever believed. And everything is dependant on situation. Don't pin everything on one gender or feminism. This goes to women AND men AND anyone in between.
I'm worried for you that you think that suicide "seems like the only way to stop the pain." What's so bad about your life that not existing would be better?
As soon at you said "soap" and "tea cakes" I knew exactly what this story was. That's just because I'm a true crime junkie, that's saying nothing against your story telling. Excellent narration and suspense building as always
Even before that, when he mentioned about her going through the occult and fortune telling books looking for a solution was a dead giveaway for me. No sane person would expect something worthy out of those books lol.
I totally agree. He has never tooted his own horn. When he speaks of his own mental health, he makes it relatable to everyone. He seems to be very genuine and kind... Not to mention, funny and easy on the eyes, as a bonus☺️
This sent literal shivers down my spine. The fact that this is a real story terrifies me. I never expected the ending, let alone her bathing her own son in the manner which she did! These are genuinely my favourite videos, sinister and eerie. Once again, a very engrossing and scary video! Thank you for uploading such amazing content :)
As someone with MDD for my entire life I really appreciate your candour. My go to became alcohol, but at 30 I was newly divorced, chronic anxiety attacks drinking myself to death. Two years of therapy with a Psychiatrist and medication saved me. 32 years dry.
I got the like button as a hostage right now. Thanks for considering the request of the fans and doing a paranormal story. I look forward to being creeped out by this one! Thanks also for being a positive influence, I started my own true crime channel and still working on my storytelling technique but thanks for the motivation. From one combat vet to another, thanks for your service!
Mr.Ballen is getting bigger and bigger adding his master story telling on more and more platforms while the trade-off is no 3 or 4 stories a week is completely understandable with how much work it takes to put the stories together, write a script,film, "we all know Mr.Ballen is a one take champion"then upload on all the different platforms All we ask is please don't forget about those of us who have been watching since the beginning. Please keep up the good work Mr.Ballen because most of us are addicted to the wonderful content you make.
I wasn’t too sure who was going to be the villain in this story at first, the son crossed my mind at first. The first extravagant “gesture” towards the universe flipped the suspicion towards her. Then the gestures and good deeds got more and more “too good to be true” but the body’s being put into soap and tea cakes was more than I could imagine. I just thought she was trying to poison her son and “save” him before something out of her control could take him You did it again! Great video
I do not miss one of your episodes thank you for sharing and being the person that you become and God bless you and your family and many more blessings to come your way and thank you
As soon as you mentioned the caustic soda and what it was used for, I realized what this woman had done. Getting her friends and neighbors hopes up like that was super sinister.
@@jonb2756 really though, I was about to write my guess, and I was right apparently, but it really takes the fun out of it. And it would be very easy to edit that comment to remove the spoilers but this guy's just a dick.
Generational trauma.... How pain can transfer through decades through maladaptive reactions or measures of self-protection. Many thanks to Mr. Ballen, the Foundation, and others who remind us that the trauma of survivors doesn't end after public attention moves on to the next tragedy. So much can become internalized and continue to torture and twist the thoughts and emotions of people who are still suffering.
I've heard this tale before. This would be a mash up with Motel Hell that I'd love to watch. No one tells a tale like you do, though. As the bereaved mother of an Army veteran, I can say I heartily endorse therapy *outside* the VA. Much respect for you.
😢😢😢😢 I hope that your son is doing well!!? ❤️🍀 I have some kind of problems. I don't know situation and i will not I won't get involved, I don't want to bring back memories. I just wish you all the best in this world.
i’m gonna guess all these friends she’s sending away, aren’t really being sent away and she’s just murdering them as sacrifices and then forging letters to make it seem like they’re okay
I get a little upset from time to time when he narrates incidents only to tell us later that those incidents never happened. I feel lied to. This is at least the second time I'm noticing this.
Much respect for the mental health awareness. As someone that has struggled with Agoraphobia, GAD and Depression therapy really has been a God send, and I can't thank my therapist enough! I'm glad that it's helped you as much as it's helped myself. 🙏
This is definitely my favorite Mr. Ballen format. I know that some people love podcasts but they just aren't my "thing". I'm more of a visual person and I enjoy seeing the photos, etc. as a story is being told. I also "talk" with my hands so I enjoy that aspect of storytelling too. Have a fantastic day everyone!
Mr. Ballen has been telling a lot of international stories lately and it's great! Lots of strange, dark and mysterious tales coming at you from every corner of the world!
Well I’m thunder struck at that story! Hell fire!! I didn’t expect that!! I found your Chanel three days ago and have binged it ever since!! This out of the lot of them was the creepiest 😮
The funny thing is i immediately suspected it was her, and even the soap part. I think i just watch way too many of these videos, and as i heard she was soap maker i had that scene in fight club in my mind where they used fat from plastic surgeries bin to make soap out of. I just didnt understand the motive cos it was something beautiful she needed to offer, but i guess she just had twisted mind well thats pretty obvious though
I already knew this story even before the video. I’m Italian and i’m always been into serial killers, I have read a lot of books about them and psychological breakdowns of them, and the story of Leonarda Cianciulli is one of the most dark in Italian serial killer’s history. Her nickname is “La saponificatrice di Corregio” which basically means The Corregio’s soap maker (saponificatrice is soap maker, I believe there isn’t a word in English to translate it)
(SPOILERS FOR THE STORY!!) The thing that scares me the most about this story is the fact that Leonarda felt only disgust after killing the two women. The way you delivered the story sent shivers up my spine. Excellent work, yet again. Edit: sorry to all the people that I spoiled the story for. Not my intention. I hope you were still able to enjoy the story
One of the best crime / suspense story teller. It’s almost as if I am there. As a book lover, this channel has such immersive stories. Like the next chapter of a book you are reading and you can’t stop reading once you start.
17:34 into the video right now. It's definitely Loenarda. She was abused throughout her life and still holds all that, all the people she is helping are disappearing, and "a beautiful gift" to the universe definitely sounds like a Euphemism for a human sacrifice. What gave it away was how the second person she helped left town and was also sending postcards. Maybe I'm wrong, we'll see. Love your videos man, looking forward to whatever it is
Wow. Just wow. That's LITERALLY all I can say in response to this horrific story. It seems that the only word able to come out of my mouth is "Wow". And that's wicked strange for me as I am usually commenting with plenty of insight and opinions and intelligent and logical thoughts on every subject but, again, just WOW.
If she "knew everything" then she probably should have warned her not to make cakes out of people and stuff, though, right? I mean it almost sounds like the fortune teller was an accomplice if they "knew everything" and let it happen anyway.
@Witty Witty probably because as much as you would like to believe that is true, it doesn't ONLY magically happen to men. I am sure there are many instances where the wrong person pays for someone else. I never said the justice system wasn't flawed, but the right answer isn't "sending more women to prison". It should be a higher standard to require actual evidence that you have the right person who committed the crime. We shouldn't "believe all men" anymore than we should "believe all women." Both of those suggestions are ludicrous and immature. If you accuse someone of a crime, then the burden of proof is on you. "Innocent until guilty" isn't a standard for no reason. You can't let anyone's life be ruined by false accusations and their gender should not be a factor at all.
Fortune tellers are just incredibly good empaths and people readers . She clearly saw that our killer was mentally unstable and made a few quick general deductions based on that , Sherlock Holmes style .
@@pandahsykes602 sometimes they are just frauds that make things up. Perhaps she wasn't mentally unstable until a fortune teller told her all her kids would die and it pushed her over the edge. We may never know.
The way Mr Ballen set up the story was genius. I’m the beginning, it’s hard to tell where the story will go, but the way he leads up to the big reveal by mentioning things like the special bath and tea cakes was just brilliant. (Took out my guess to save spoilers)
Part of what is so tragic is it seems like she really did try to help people up to a point, but her first two victims were people who seemed beyond help, so she thought if she sacrificed them she might be able to save her son while ending their suffering, but when their soap turned black she thought her sacrifice was rejected, that she had to sacrifice someone who was not miserable, and that the sacrifice had to be a personal loss to her, so she murdered her best friend, the opera singer. It was eventually discovered that breathing in the acid she used to make her soap for so many years had also caused holes in her brain that may have contributed to her state of mind as well. It's all very horribly sad, as she had been known to be a kind person even to those who were outcasts of society. Stephanie Harlow did a great deep dive on her case and I couldn't hate Leonarda for what she did despite how awful it was, because the circumstances leading to her frame of mind were so extreme that it's just sad at every level.
Wow what a twisted ending. Had me by surprise. I actually thought it was the son the whole time. Shocking. You need your own series on Netflix or even HBO. The way you tell your stories has me captivated the whole time.
He probably makes more on UA-cam than he would on HBO and netflix. This also gives him creative control of his videos and his brand. He would also have no fall back. If either bought this style of show, he wouldn't be allowed to create more on UA-cam if the show failed with who ever picked it up.
@Witty Witty Yea but he was only arrested because the evidence was pretty damning at the time. He was SEEN posting the letters, they had enough evidence to warrant an arrest.
That word tripped my memory to. It was a huge flag or Easter egg. It came to me because of fight club. They used human fat from liposuction surgery. Makes the best soap. All the sin is in the body and the fat is pure perhaps, haha
The fact Mr Ballen gets like 100K views an hour makes me real happy. Dude deserves it. My selfish side wishes he put out 3-4 a week. My grateful side is thankful he's still around! Keep it up stud!
I’ve been trying to push myself to get back to therapy for about 6 months and I dunno who today or now but hearing your ad did it. I just wanted to say thanks (and thanks for the promo). You rock my dude. Huge fan
@@registeredjopper if you saw someone’s granny you knew on a dating site and was basically hitting you up for sex what would be your first thought? Unless your into that whole BJ without “mu teef” kind of thing 😆 who knows maybe we’re the ones missing out hahaha
Go get your tickets to my first-ever LIVE SHOW at: www.Moment.co/MrBallen
I’m first to this comment
💯 percent supporting this so you can go on tour sharing scary stories in person!
🖤🖤🖤
@MrBallen is the message about a win and contacting you over telegram legit?
Plz tell me you've seen the ouija Mac song about you!!!!!
This takes the quote “A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.” to a whole new level
My thoughts exactly!
I knew her superstition would be her downfall from the start. I see it too often 💀 yet no one ever listens lol
I have never heard that one but. I love it! I was thinking manifest destiny gone awry or be careful what you wish for...
Appointment in Samarra.
Definition of dramatic irony!
The fact that he doesn't mention his service as a Navy SEAL very often (especially while talking about the depression and therapy thing) has always made me respect him that much more
🙏
He used to, but only because his stories involved diving. I remember binge watching him, and he'd vaguely mention it a lot.
Agreed. I know guys that spent 4 years in the marines and it’s all they talk about. I was friends with this guy Timmy for about three years before I found out he spent ten years as a marines. And I asked him why I never knew that and he said “because I don’t need to find a way to bring it up in every conversation I have.” That made me love the dude so much more.
@@MrBallen being that you are a Navy SEAL and always will be I think you have every right to mention it whenever you want. PS thank you for your service 🇺🇲💪. My bad on the wrong flag was just trying to show my support for our American heroes.
I second that
Can you imagine being one of Mr. Ballen’s kids? Bedtime stories must be incredible!
Yeah but you would never sleep.
@@jaimestewart8295 ikr lol
Lol I hope they mean that even if the story was little red riding hood, he would tell it in a way that would make up some of the best memories of their childhood, not lmao that he would tell THESE kinda stories 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@danielprescott2880 then I shall watch since I'm out of mr ballen and disturban videos and mr disturban uploads sometimes and mr ballen once a week soo
I agree he’s the best story teller !
Being afraid of an evil curse is like throwing kindling on a fire that you wish would go out. I'm proud of Leonarda for taking back her life and finding her own peace through the good she did for others.
*LATER AFTER I HEAR THE REST OF THE STORY:* Um... excuse the blazes out of me, what?
😂
Yeah, ditto everything you said.
Why the hell would you leave a comment on a video before you've finished watching it ESPECIALLY when at the very beginning it was told that there would be a twist
@@xXTwigManXx Because the change of my outlook was funny to me so I thought I'd share it after the fact.
You had me in the first half I’m ngl lol but yea same
The fact that she got her friend's hopes up by, in essence, making their dreams come true is an extra layer of evil.
atleast they died happy...um i mean if she took an out in a somewhat surprise attack move like a sneak shot b4 she did it so if any of them died quick & didnt see it or have time 2c it comin then I guess they woulda been happy when they died. AS LONG AS THEY DIDNT SEE OR KNO IT WAS COMIN &IT WOULDA ALSO HAD 2B SO FAST THAT THEY COULDNT HAVE REALIZED WTF JUS HAPPEN 2THEM SO IDK ID LIKE 2THINK NOBODY HAD 2SUFFER B4 THEY DIED. IT MAKES IT EASIER 2ACCEPT IN MY MIND. CUZ I CANT STAND WHEN SOMEONE HAS 2SUFFER FROM ANY KINDA TORTURE B4THEY CANT HOLD ON ANYMORE & DIET BREAKS MY HEART THINKIN HOW ITS THE VERY LAST THING THEY GOTTA EXPERIENCE B4 THEY GO SMH SO SAD
@@angielee3365 They didn't die happy, dunce.
It makes sense, though. She used their most vulnerable desires against them. She must have thought about doing such acts for a long time with the strategy she displayed. Maybe when her mother "cursed" her. She knew something about her daughter that the world had not yet known.
Prediction at 8,14:
Im guessing the 'curse' does something terrible to her 4 children
Totally agree
I literally did a report on her in my junior year of high school. As soon as I heard ‘shop’ & ‘Leonarda’ I immediately remembered her story cause it’s so crazy. Not a lot of people talk about her, which is weird cause her story is so crazy.
Yeah, I heard about her from another true crime story person on UA-cam quite some time ago. It is hard to not remember a lady who made cakes out of people. I also think that whole "curse" thing was a self fulfilling prophecy but I kind of also feel a bit bad for her because I don't think she felt she deserved to be happy in her younger years and her mom didn't help. That doesn't excuse what she did, but the whole thing sounded really messed up; I can't imagine ever disowning a child just because I didn't like who they picked, not to mention the rest.
@Crystal H Yeah poor old murderering lady lol I have been deemed mentally ill by society and I am realizing I'm probably one of the few safe people on this planet to be around...near impossible to dodge psychotics the freaking doctors and nurses themselves have mental illness a lot of times I'm finding out that's why they get interested. .
@@YSIDROMAC you can have sympathy for people without condoning their actions. Things are often more complicated than someone just being a "bad guy" or "good guy."
@@crystalh450 Her mother set her up to be this monster. Had her mother treated her with genuine love, Leonarda would have been different. Mothers, love your babies and cherish them forever.
In turn Leonarda's grandparents were equal in this crime.
@Witty Witty This has nothing to do with gender roles, they should have given Leonarda a death sentence because this is beyond evil, even if she didn't confess I know very damn well they would have given her son the same sentence as Leonarda trust me, the justice system will never give the dead women rest
I always love the "NOT a real photo" parts... in this one, showing a woman holding an axe high, "NOT a real photo of Leonarda" and all I picture is her setting up her camera and taking a selfie of herself holding the axe up high 😆
😂😂😂
I give Mr Ballen full credit for recognising how dumb most of his viewers are! 🤣🤣🤣
😂😂
🤣
She would have had to have taken the selfie with something like a Brownie, one of them box-looking things. LOL.
You’re a good man, Mr. Ballen. I wasn’t sure at first- I mean I’m always skeptical- but you’ve won me over. You clearly actually care about doing good in the world, and I appreciate you.
Yeah not many out there these days, most are just in this stuff for money, but he actually does care, plus if he was all about money he would do more than 1 a week
What are you guys on about?
You know Mr ballen is a killer???
@@josephlilley9249wym
@@josephlilley9249 Mrballen is a soldier not a murderer there's a huge difference
Should I be more proud I began following this channel before it had a million, and still diligently wait for every upload to this day. That is the power of this man's compelling and captivating story telling
I'm with you 🤣 I found his channel after about 20 uploads.. and I sat there and binged them all in 1 day! So jealous of new comers getting to listen to them all for the first time 😩
Probably not. His channel grew fast and was pushed in the algorithm because people thought it was good. The algorithm pushing it to you before other people doesn't mean you're better or worse than anyone. Besides being the biggest super stan of anyone, from UA-cam or mainstream media, is pretty cringe
@@Abbieejenkins often times I go to his podcasts, and a few minutes I discover it's a familiar story and I have to cut them half way
Same here! When they were uploading 3 or 4 times a week. He is an awesome story teller!
@@heatherlynn4652 he's praising him saying he still loves the channel after so long
Hearing about Leonarda gives me chills every time. Telling people about her is like telling a Grimm tale someone made up its unreal.
Should find beyond belief fact or fiction videos. There are a lot of stories they cover that one wouldnt believe to being true.
Don't laugh, my family had the evil eye cast on us in 1996 when we went to visit family in Italy. They literally destroyed our family, full effect & results hit when we returned to Australia
@@danielagiorno4993 dang. There is one story i know of, where this mans mother tried to curse him and it didnt work. The person his mother went to, ran out to his mother and demanded she left her building when she went to her altar to curse him.
its like El Pozolero but more twisted that people rubbed the body parts on themselves in the form of the human soap
How many times have you heard this story ?
I appreciate the way Mr. Ballen describes things by adding gestures and footnotes for clarity, but without creating a feeling of condescension.
right, i feel like he's almost trying to communicate with children but im ignorantly forgetting that people who speak all kinds of languages watch these videos. A huge part of them is the immersion and delivery and if you can't tell what he's saying or don't understand it, you mind as well be on reddit
I was going to say the same thing! He defines or explains things without being condescending. Yeah, I might know what that word means, but others might not!
@@danaperry3900 Explained perfectly!
I have always admired him for doing that, not everyone knows some of the terms he refers to, and I love the way he explains it in an educational manner!
Far too many air quotes!
I’ve heard this story before and just the way you set it up and delve into the exposition and every part of the story is so great.
This is my first time hearing this story. Wow.
Edit: It took me 3 years after my husband's death to finally admit I needed help. That I couldn't do it alone. Therapy was the best thing I ever did. Thank you for sharing your experience. It helps to share.
Give this man a Netflix special already!!! Doesn’t matter how many times I hear a story, if MrBallen is the storyteller, then I’m all in. Any story is so much better when he tells it ❤❤
PS thank you for your service ❤ and thank you to any other veterans old or young, I deeply appreciate you
He’s on Amazon music podcast
He should have a series on Netflix or Disney +
hell no you have to pay for Netflix, UA-cam is free why would you want to pay for his story telling
Well he is part of the Amazon family now so I doubt we ever get that Netflix special.
I'm sure as a veteran he wouldn't want his stories to be supported by Netflix or Disney! Lmao🤣🤣🤣
I was having such a lovely time listening to this wholesome story about Leonarda that I forgot I was supposed to be looking out for a neighborhood killer and that this was in fact a strange, dark, and mysterious sort of story 🥴
Lol me too !!
Love the name mama firefly
Same 😹
ikr im lol
Omg I am shocked.what a weird woman. Love your way of telling stories. Awesome !
MrBallen, I've commented before how much I enjoy your show. But even more impressed by you promoting therapy and divulging your own past issues. And it's so good to see these are professional therapists not these bogus "life coach " crap. You are actually a bit like my therapist because you give me a break from all the toxicity in the news. So thank you !
I remember my grandmother telling me this story when I was 12. I told her to tell me a scary story, she did after she finished telling me, my grandmother said it was a true story which made it all the more frightening. I didn't eat tea cakes for years.
Not to be...that person but what the fuck. Why did your grandmother tell you this at 12..
lol good ole grandma..
memories to hav nightmares by..!
Makes you think twice about hand made soaps too😂
Right on.
were you also didnt bathe with soap? 😂
i love how mr ballen sometimes first tells the story in a way that deliberately misleads you but somehow doesn't make you feel duped after the reveal. i think it's cuz he'll tell the story first the way it seemed to the world... not just total BS, but basically the "public face" everyone saw. and then he'll flip it around and tell you what ACTUALLY happened. it's absolutely riveting.
I’m Italian so I already knew Leonarda Cianciulli’s case, but since you tell stories so well, I enjoyed it like it was the first time
Im not Italian but i have heard of this case, same i enjoyed the way he tells the story..
I'm glad I've never heard this story before and enjoyed so much so that without any doubt this story is by far the best I've ever heard not just from mr.ballen but from anyone.
Idem
When I heard Leonarda Cianciulli, I knew it right away. But Mr. Ballen is really good setting up this plot twist : )
Same😊
I knew it was her once she got a "job" for the second woman with her mother's side of the family. They disowned her mom to the point her mom blamed her for everything her whole life . NO way these people would of been willing to do ANY favors what so ever for her. Everything was too good to be true. That was a crazy twist ! Wow
‼️ same
You love the twist?
@@Unpopularity sorry didn't mean to say love because that was horrible .
Yup, exact same spot for me too...I knew the soap was going to be something to do with their bodies too. I was actually hoping for more of a twist.
Same here. It became very obvious to me
When Mr. Ballen starts the story, everyone is silent and mesmerized. It's like he was talking to you directly. This is my fave youtube channel.
Same! Love Thoughty 2 and that Chapter also 💙
Not me. When I heard Leonarda and Raphael, all I could think was: When does the evil Shredder attack? 😃
Same 😂
Yes. I always feel like he is talking just to me. I am glued to my computer and a half hour goes by in the blink of an eye. One of only a few channels that I immediately hit the like button before I even start watching the story.
Um no I didn’t fan girl it up cos I’m 34 lol. I was silent tho bc I fell asleep (twice) and restarted it (I mean, it’s Sunday). Plus I already knew all about the soap maker of Correggio, I merely listened for entertainment.
I’ve heard this story before. The way Mr.Ballen tells stories intrigues me, because somehow he told this story in such a captivating way that it felt I was hearing it for the first time.
Same here. Heard it before. Not as good as this
Same
The Florida guy that ate the persons face. I knew about that but when he told the story, it was completely new to me but I also learned that the initial national news got a lot wrong. I thought it was a homeless bum and not a college kid.
He always does.
Exactly like he always details the little things out so u get a feel for everything that’s happening better
Mr. Ballen, I was so engrossed with this story that I believed this woman was genuinely helping people by giving good to protect against evil; the story's ending was spectacular and unbelievably true. 🤪
The mark of a Master Storyteller is when he can take a story I've heard and make it just as enchanting as the first time. Bravo Mr.Ballen 💜💜
SAME
I've heard him recount stories I've heard multiple times before, and didn't even know it was the same story until the end. He's so good.
@@clintonleonard5187 me too
I've actually heard a lot of Mr ballens stories before, but never ever hear them in such an elaborate way. The way he tells the stories, he humanizes the characters, and you become personally involved in their outcome. I have followed him for about a year now and enjoy every video!
Agreed. Not many channels can do good narration videos but mrballen nails it every time.
@@brettshrekington mrbeast could do this for 1 million.
No one cares
Yes your so right he gives us such a glimpse of the people in the stories he shares with us he has a talent he makes it look so easy and there is no telling how much research, time and work goes into just one video ❤️❤️him
Confession:
Sometimes I take a break from watching you just to save up episodes so I can binge watch later cuz I get so sad when it's over
Lol, me too
similarly i draw while i listen to mr ballen and ill literally save videos for when im drawing and i wont watch them until then
I would when he was uploading 3 times a week but can't wait now it's only once.
If I need a binge I'll listen to his podcast to fall asleep!
Same! 😅
So do I!!@
I have heard this story multiple times. I have narrated this story to my friends at some point. But it took me 25 minutes to realize that this is the same story.
Mr Ballen is truly a phenomenal storyteller!
This story gives the term, "body soap" a whole new meaning.
🤣
body Body soap??
@@K9Lee_TheBombDog LMAO 🏆
..and a whole new definition to the term "friend".
I noticed that!!! I wonder if that’s where they got the name from? 🫣🧐🤓
I knew this case from a true crime tv show, but I love the breath of life you gave to it. Leonarda was abused, unwell and desperate. She lost so much in her life and couldn't stand to lose any more. I love how you take a story this awful and gave it a new focus.
I have heard this story before also and its driving me crazy trying to remember where. I could have sworn Mr.Ballen had told it already but I guess not. Where did you hear it?
@@bernadettegardunio4865 I'm not certain but I think it was the show Deadly Women. It's the only show that I watch that makes sense to have seen it.
Yes when you understand the back story it is that much more sad
@Norbert no, but thank you for the assumption that my empathy is limited to sharing genitals with someone. I'd like to think that I would never be desperate enough to do horrible things, but when you humanize both victim and perpetrator you realize that any of us can be put in a desperate situation.
@Norbert this is the first comment I have ever made on the subject, to be perfectly honest. She deserved her fate. She lost everything she was desperate to save, undoing everything she tried to protect. She is a monster for what she did. You have no idea who I fight my battles for. I appreciate Mr ballen always giving both the victim and perpetrator the same voice, regardless of gender.
If you persist in your assumptions about me, I will conclude that there is no changing your closed mind. You have your issues, they're none of my concern. I hope you find the peace you're seeking.
You’ve outdone yourself with this one MrB. This is a HECK of a story with a serious heck of a twist.
His mom writes his scripts and he makes things up when he doesn't know something. He's openly admitted to these things
Oh and charges 20 dollar to see him go live on his phone and 10 dollars to ask a question. Ppl have ordered his merch and haven't received their orders or a refund. This guy really sucks bro don't support him
@@Unethical_Ethical_HackTips so?
Facts
@@Unethical_Ethical_HackTips ur a meanie! Stop clowning clown. Mr. Ballen brings interesting stories to us.
I felt so sorry for Raphael and Leonarda and their kids Donatella and Michelangialini
Don’t mean to be glib but when the names are said together all i can think of are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
😂 me too
I remember when Mr Ballen used to start telling the story before the intro music finished and he had less than 10k followers. It's been so awesome to watch this channel grow into such a great community.
He is such a talented story teller for sure!
I didn't have a clue what Leonarda was doing. It's sad her mother abused her and destroyed her. This was one of the best ones! It was thrilling, dark, strange, and mysterious!!! You are The best storyteller MrBallen. I love to open YT and see a story waiting to be heard, and it makes my day. This story was so captivating and entertaining. Thanks much for your unique talent.
Honestly it’s kind of scary knowing the extreme lengths a parent would go to in order to protect their children.
I can understand that sentiment. Ya...we have an animal instinct that cannot be explained.
@1EY3King lol right! I mean don't get me wrong I'm a mama bear thru-and-thru and I love my son more than anything in this world I would do pretty much anything for him but when it comes to this kind of s*** I just can't keep riding on that bandwagon. I have a very strict rule with my children and it's one of my only no-nos. If you harm another person do not call me. If you end up in jail do not call me. I expect you to have control over your actions. If there ever comes a point where you feel like you're about to lose that control you come to me first before anything happens. I can save you from many things but I cannot save you from yourself. I'm the parent that shows up to talk with the teacher and the first thing out of my mouth is what did he do? And believe me the problem gets solved within about 5 minutes. But this this I could never do. My boys are going to grow up and go off and do whatever the hell they're going to do I just expect them to be good people and I pray for them and their well-being and safety. But as a parent you have to understand that many things are out of your control at a certain point
It's not really scary to me that a parent would go to extreme lengths to protect their child. It's that there are parents who would believe such superstitious nonsense and act on it as though it were reality that is frightening.
These were completely unnecessary and cruel acts done not because a mother cared about her son, but because a mother was foolish enough to believe in supernatural/religious/superstitious/occult nonsense.
@@p5eudo883 100% agree.
@1EY3King I'm not entirely sure that murdering innocent people is the way to go about it. Yes we would do anything to protect our child from real dangers but we're talking about somebody who has delusions and the leaves for a fact that some stupid made-up curse is real and that she has to kill somebody to keep her son safe. In the end what did it really do? He ended up without a mother and possibly dying in the long run. So by doing what she did she was no longer there to actually protect him from anything at all if anyting she calls her children more grief and pain than she could possibly imagine in the first place.
I figured it out the second you said the name Leonarda Cianciulli. I did a presentation on her for my criminal justice class last year. I chose her specifically to shock my whole class.
I like how you gave us her background which had lead to such an outcome and yet in some way not justifying her actions...
You're an amazing storyteller 🤞🤞
Her background doesn't at all justify what she did. Not in any way, shape, or form.
@@mamapoch1915 yes it doesn't.. I'm saying this in a sense that other storytellers would have opted to just go straight and talk about her crimes but Mr Ballen obviously kinda humanizes her, not to justify or excuse her but for context i guess and i think to just help us understand that even seemingly normal people can do such things..
I admire your ability to humanize characters involved, even the ones responsible for heinous acts. Yet, you don’t inappropriately justify their actions or invalidate the trauma they caused. That clearly shows the strength of your character and your integrity as a person. Though I desperately miss your frequent uploads each week, and the wildly diverse nature of your different series, I’m grateful to have new content every Sunday!
Lol
Yeah I'd rather one dope episode a week then several boring stories a week
I would listen to this man read a newspaper! I just LOVE how amazing his voice and storytelling are❤
I like watching him as well, very emotive!
Rewatching these episodes and it's amazing that now you have done TWO live tours! I hope I'm able to attend one in the third round!
Nothing makes a bad day better like a new Strange Dark and Mysterious MrBallen
For sure!
100%
@@russelljr4026 8i
Hope your day gets better.
I agree
I really prefer your UA-cam videos over the podcasts, it’s so interesting getting to see the pictures of the people and places while listening. You rock!❤️
He’s also extremely talented at hand gesturing. Unlike 99% of people who do them.
I do prefer the videos, but when you're at work, doing your thing (Opening and inspecting furniture in my case), those podcasts are time-/stress-savers!
I especially enjoy how he talks with his hands
Same here! For me it is better being able to watch his animated storytelling.
Half way through I literally yelled, "It's the soap lady!!" Love your storytelling of this crazy case.
6 minutes in and I already knew.
Her face looked familiar but as soon as I heard teacakes and soap, I knew it was her.
Ahhh i just started and my first thought was “isn’t this the soap lady!?!” I’m so glad I’m not the only one who said “soap lady” 😂😂
Same! I was like, the soap maker story. Stephanie Harlowe did it a while back and remembered it very well from her lol. But his version did it justice as well.
It took me 12 mins
Yes! Me too!
Can you imagine being told a story in-person , by Mr. Ballen? If I were rich I’d hire him for a monthly storytelling session in my house for the kids and myself. We are HOOKED!
I started a thing at my house where whenever Mr. Ballen drops a new video or podcast, there were 7 of us that gather in the living room and it became an event. That was over a year ago and now there is 12 of us that gather for the strange dark and mysterious! Thank you for all the content you put out and all the hard work and research throughout the years!
What a great idea! Brings to mind the stories of people in the " old days" gathering around the radio to listen to stories. I luv the idea of making an event of listening to John's stories. Brilliant!!!😊
That's awesome. I love how he brings your household together!
I want an invite! Please. ❤
I wish i did this with my family🤣🤣❤️🙏
Listening the beliefs and experience of Leonarda about sorcery and then the letters of gratitude coming from Faustina I thought "if he continues telling stories about other people helped by Leonarda no way she is not just killing them to 'save' his son".
Thank you for your storytelling Ballen :)
Yes! That’s my assumption. Leonarda was killing women for her son’s safety.
..THAT’S the solution.
Right, this is our guess. She’s “giving the universe something beautiful” somehow and it involves killing the women?
I mean, this is true crime. Hasn’t everyone stumbled across the soap maker of Correggio? I watched Georgia Marie’s video years ago. The soap part always makes me think of Fight Club lol.
This is, without a doubt, the craziest murder mystery story that I have ever heard. Flabbergasting. Thank you for posting.
Your welcome like and subscribe for more and turn on all notifications
@@arturolopez450 bruh. How much they paying you😂
@@arturolopez450 My first encounter with a hispanic BOT
@@lovejesus7775 he wasn't, i can confirm. I'm the money.
Have you heard of the Alexander murders?
This has been a really great rendition of this story!!! BRAVO!!!
I don't even wanna guess, johns storytelling is so good that it warms my heart when there's a big twist to a story.
Exactly, I just want to listen, not guess.
I knew when I saw her eyes, altho I'm not of the 144,000....but I a green eyed man can see evil a mile away. (Gets murdered)
Yet again John you have mastered this horrific tale! You. make my Sunday mornings incredible to listen to with your stories!!! Thank you for your Service🇺🇸
When you said the mother had neglected then abused her I thought she’s going to be crazy. Then when you mentioned soap, I thought she made it from body parts. I thought it would be from her children and not her best friends. What a sinister woman. Such a tragic story.
@@SouthAfricanGirl03if they are in a John B Allen's story you can bet someone is gonna be crazy. Gtfoh with that super sensitive crap
@@SouthAfricanGirl03 not really 'super sensitive' as the other person said, but if the person is on a true crime channel then theyre obvs crazy LOL
I though it may be from her kids too 🤣 who knows maybe that’s true too but since they were smaller and it would be easier to hide the evidence or play along until she could retrieve their bodies and because of that she just didn’t get caught.
@@Jay_Mc_Baby bruh shut up
@@SouthAfricanGirl03 I think it's more sad that you don't see it that way. Abuse and neglect will always impact you in some way.
I watch all the crime channels I can find.. I have great respect for the way forensics and the dedicated detectives work their cases.. I only recently stumbled across this channel and I want to say it’s very different but mr ballen is a great storyteller and I am hooked
You have a gift for story telling. Truly. There's so many people telling the same stories you do, but you tell it so wonderfully. I don't ever skip ahead. I even sit for the sponsorships you speak about even though I could never get the Hello Fresh meals sitting all the way here in Pakistan, because the way you speak is just that wonderful. Thank you.
Maybe the Hello Fresh meals are made from someone's blood😱
It's easy to have a gift for story telling when you are presenting creepy pasta as if they are true stories.
As soon as you mentioned that she made soap earlier in the story I knew where this story was going (I have heard it before) but I LOVE the way you told it! I don't think any one who hasn't heard this story would know how it ends. Great Job Mr. B!
I came looking for a comment like this - because unfortunately I also associate soap making with something grisly. I haven't heard this story, so I don't know if it's that, but...
@@saafiiiraa yes, it's probably what you thought it was
@@bd3966 It was...
I lost my beautiful brother to suicide 6yrs ago and I still can't believe it, but I'm so happy to hear you being honest about your depression and how you got help because we need to make our sons, brothers, fathers and friends see that its not a sign of weakness to admit that they are not doing good and it's a sign of strength to get help from either a doctor or counselor or just to talk about how they feel to someone because when you talk about it it makes a difference. We are losing so many to suicide and it needs to stop seeming like it's the only way to stop the pain. So thank you for trying to make a difference
I'm nobody but I appreciate your sharing this. It matters.
@Witty Witty not always, sexism goes both ways, no one is ever believed. And everything is dependant on situation. Don't pin everything on one gender or feminism. This goes to women AND men AND anyone in between.
@@briancollins2466 you are a kind somebody
I'm worried for you that you think that suicide "seems like the only way to stop the pain." What's so bad about your life that not existing would be better?
YES Charlie. SORRY.💔 My Husband Ron, same 01-06-16. I love your comment xooo
these stories are so interesting to hear, because he tells you bit by bit, in a way we're able to follow the case just as bystanders would have.
As soon at you said "soap" and "tea cakes" I knew exactly what this story was. That's just because I'm a true crime junkie, that's saying nothing against your story telling. Excellent narration and suspense building as always
Even before that, when he mentioned about her going through the occult and fortune telling books looking for a solution was a dead giveaway for me. No sane person would expect something worthy out of those books lol.
So, this is the one I was thinking of. I remembered hearing about this.
Me too
Same
Me as well... heard it quite a few times
I totally agree. He has never tooted his own horn. When he speaks of his own mental health, he makes it relatable to everyone. He seems to be very genuine and kind... Not to mention, funny and easy on the eyes, as a bonus☺️
Hey be careful… the woman in the story was also “genuine and kind”…😮… just playing
Placing content behind a paywall is tooting your own horn but whatever.
This sent literal shivers down my spine. The fact that this is a real story terrifies me. I never expected the ending, let alone her bathing her own son in the manner which she did! These are genuinely my favourite videos, sinister and eerie. Once again, a very engrossing and scary video! Thank you for uploading such amazing content :)
@Silk Sonic oh check out the brains on you. Why waste your genius on UA-cam. You should be out changing the world.
it's too common... especially in cultures were black magic is practised
@Silk Sonic Wow Im so proud of you, do you want a cookie?
As someone with MDD for my entire life I really appreciate your candour. My go to became alcohol, but at 30 I was newly divorced, chronic anxiety attacks drinking myself to death. Two years of therapy with a Psychiatrist and medication saved me. 32 years dry.
I got the like button as a hostage right now. Thanks for considering the request of the fans and doing a paranormal story. I look forward to being creeped out by this one! Thanks also for being a positive influence, I started my own true crime channel and still working on my storytelling technique but thanks for the motivation. From one combat vet to another, thanks for your service!
RELEASE IT IMMEDIATELY, OR WE WILL SEND TEAM 6 ON YOUR 6!!!
Thank you for your service Mystery Sauce ❤️🎗️
Thank you so so much for your service! Active Duty here. 💜
the interactivity from him/his team makes it feel like you're friends or aquaintances =D
😷
Mr.Ballen is getting bigger and bigger adding his master story telling on more and more platforms while the trade-off is no 3 or 4 stories a week is completely understandable with how much work it takes to put the stories together, write a script,film, "we all know Mr.Ballen is a one take champion"then upload on all the different platforms All we ask is please don't forget about those of us who have been watching since the beginning. Please keep up the good work Mr.Ballen because most of us are addicted to the wonderful content you make.
He doesn't do it in one take. There are lots of edits.
@@markbaker5599 yeah, especially when he makes himself laugh 🤣
I totally agree...since I first started watching him years baq I instantly became addicted...👍
I wish he would upload vid like he used too. I don’t like the podcast for some reason.
@@maryjane4432 it's the exact same thing as the UA-cam stories, except he's not on screen and there are no ads.
I wasn’t too sure who was going to be the villain in this story at first, the son crossed my mind at first. The first extravagant “gesture” towards the universe flipped the suspicion towards her. Then the gestures and good deeds got more and more “too good to be true” but the body’s being put into soap and tea cakes was more than I could imagine. I just thought she was trying to poison her son and “save” him before something out of her control could take him
You did it again! Great video
Really? No spoiler alert? Smh
@@valleytothebay4891why are you reading the comments before watching the video?? Come on man..
I thought that Leonarda was killing them in each place.
BUT PUTTING TH BODIES IN SOAP IS CRAZY
I got a little suspicious when she was going to reach out to her mom to help her friend get a job. The mom that cursed her....?
I do not miss one of your episodes thank you for sharing and being the person that you become and God bless you and your family and many more blessings to come your way and thank you
As soon as you mentioned the caustic soda and what it was used for, I realized what this woman had done. Getting her friends and neighbors hopes up like that was super sinister.
Thanks for ruining the guessing game.
@@MajesticViking should watch the video before reading the comments... unwritten rule on the internet bro
@Omega he said try to guess what happens, not say what happens after hearing the full video.
@@jonb2756 really though, I was about to write my guess, and I was right apparently, but it really takes the fun out of it. And it would be very easy to edit that comment to remove the spoilers but this guy's just a dick.
@@MajesticViking never read the comments before finishing the video if you dont want spoilers
Generational trauma.... How pain can transfer through decades through maladaptive reactions or measures of self-protection. Many thanks to Mr. Ballen, the Foundation, and others who remind us that the trauma of survivors doesn't end after public attention moves on to the next tragedy. So much can become internalized and continue to torture and twist the thoughts and emotions of people who are still suffering.
I've heard this tale before. This would be a mash up with Motel Hell that I'd love to watch. No one tells a tale like you do, though. As the bereaved mother of an Army veteran, I can say I heartily endorse therapy *outside* the VA. Much respect for you.
😢😢😢😢 I hope that your son is doing well!!? ❤️🍀
I have some kind of problems. I don't know situation and i will not I won't get involved, I don't want to bring back memories. I just wish you all the best in this world.
May his soul rest for the service he gave. His memory lives in your heart.
Thank you for your sacrifice, your sons sacrifice, and the sacrifice of your family.
"And now, when Guiseppe was 17, he began to act a bit differently...." 9:52
Seems Guiseppe discovered a new pleasure...
@@mirba6933 daughter. Bereaved mother means she's dead.
i’m gonna guess all these friends she’s sending away, aren’t really being sent away and she’s just murdering them as sacrifices and then forging letters to make it seem like they’re okay
I can’t believe how wonderfully Mr Ballen tells the story to us. Thank you so much Mr Ballen
I get a little upset from time to time when he narrates incidents only to tell us later that those incidents never happened. I feel lied to.
This is at least the second time I'm noticing this.
Never get tired of the strange, dark, mysterious stories.
Delivered in story format
Much respect for the mental health awareness. As someone that has struggled with Agoraphobia, GAD and Depression therapy really has been a God send, and I can't thank my therapist enough! I'm glad that it's helped you as much as it's helped myself. 🙏
not only is it terrible to curse your daughter, but blaming their poverty on her daughter, when its her own fault she got pregnant is so infuriating
Some people can just be so insufferable...
Are we not gonna talk about her daughter being a serial killer?
This is definitely my favorite Mr. Ballen format.
I know that some people love podcasts but they just aren't my "thing".
I'm more of a visual person and I enjoy seeing the photos, etc. as a story is being told.
I also "talk" with my hands so I enjoy that aspect of storytelling too.
Have a fantastic day everyone!
Mr. Ballen has been telling a lot of international stories lately and it's great! Lots of strange, dark and mysterious tales coming at you from every corner of the world!
I love waking up on Sundays to only the finest of the strange, dark and mysterious. Thanks Mr Ballen 👍
Well I’m thunder struck at that story! Hell fire!! I didn’t expect that!! I found your Chanel three days ago and have binged it ever since!! This out of the lot of them was the creepiest 😮
I could've never predicted that ending, I love the way he tells these stories no matter how many times I've heard them before
I wonder how old she looked at 70 ffs
I mean when I heard about the soap I was like hmm but I wouldn't have guessed all of that especially due to the beautiful things to the universe thing
The point where i got suspicion and almost guessed was when mr ballen said about them letters describing them happy and etc .
The way he told this story as if she was so sweet and innocent at first was awesome. Amazing story telling again.
Spoiler alert.
@@chillwillfromthevilleliterally, they should have put a warning!
wish i didnt read this 😥
The funny thing is i immediately suspected it was her, and even the soap part. I think i just watch way too many of these videos, and as i heard she was soap maker i had that scene in fight club in my mind where they used fat from plastic surgeries bin to make soap out of. I just didnt understand the motive cos it was something beautiful she needed to offer, but i guess she just had twisted mind well thats pretty obvious though
Disturbed does not even begin to describe my state of mind after hearing this story. Excellent delivery as usual, Mr B.
I already knew this story even before the video. I’m Italian and i’m always been into serial killers, I have read a lot of books about them and psychological breakdowns of them, and the story of Leonarda Cianciulli is one of the most dark in Italian serial killer’s history. Her nickname is “La saponificatrice di Corregio” which basically means The Corregio’s soap maker (saponificatrice is soap maker, I believe there isn’t a word in English to translate it)
Soon as I heard her name I knew the story, but it was damn good hearing it from MrBallen. The level of detail is much more than most videos I’ve seen.
(SPOILERS FOR THE STORY!!)
The thing that scares me the most about this story is the fact that Leonarda felt only disgust after killing the two women. The way you delivered the
story sent shivers up my spine. Excellent work, yet again.
Edit: sorry to all the people that I spoiled the story for. Not my intention. I hope you were still able to enjoy the story
She only felt disgust at the way her soap was turning out lol, nothing to do with the killing.
Thanks for the spoiler. I was about to put my GUESS in comments, but here you are.
Seriously, maybe UA-cam needs a spoiler censor for comments
@The Patriot's Kitchen I thought everyone knew not to read the comment section until the end of the video.
@@VioletJoy no dude... That's why he said not to give it away but to "guess". You know we all read them. Lol
One of the best crime / suspense story teller. It’s almost as if I am there. As a book lover, this channel has such immersive stories. Like the next chapter of a book you are reading and you can’t stop reading once you start.
Books make me fall asleep but his stories get me on the edge on my seat.
I knew this story, but the way you told it is spot on
Man I miss the 4-5 uploads a week. I feel like an addict feening for Mr. Ballen stories all week!
Me too. But that was then and this is now. The sad part is when he's run out of stories.
Same
17:34 into the video right now. It's definitely Loenarda. She was abused throughout her life and still holds all that, all the people she is helping are disappearing, and "a beautiful gift" to the universe definitely sounds like a Euphemism for a human sacrifice. What gave it away was how the second person she helped left town and was also sending postcards. Maybe I'm wrong, we'll see. Love your videos man, looking forward to whatever it is
She was making soap out of the people she killed
Cs😊
There's nothing better than a Sunday story with MrBallen
Wow. Just wow. That's LITERALLY all I can say in response to this horrific story. It seems that the only word able to come out of my mouth is "Wow". And that's wicked strange for me as I am usually commenting with plenty of insight and opinions and intelligent and logical thoughts on every subject but, again, just WOW.
The fact that the fortune teller knew everything is the coolest part of this story.
If she "knew everything" then she probably should have warned her not to make cakes out of people and stuff, though, right? I mean it almost sounds like the fortune teller was an accomplice if they "knew everything" and let it happen anyway.
@Witty Witty probably because as much as you would like to believe that is true, it doesn't ONLY magically happen to men. I am sure there are many instances where the wrong person pays for someone else. I never said the justice system wasn't flawed, but the right answer isn't "sending more women to prison". It should be a higher standard to require actual evidence that you have the right person who committed the crime. We shouldn't "believe all men" anymore than we should "believe all women." Both of those suggestions are ludicrous and immature. If you accuse someone of a crime, then the burden of proof is on you. "Innocent until guilty" isn't a standard for no reason. You can't let anyone's life be ruined by false accusations and their gender should not be a factor at all.
The original fortune teller said all the kids would die but they didn’t. She just heard this and made it all come true.
Fortune tellers are just incredibly good empaths and people readers . She clearly saw that our killer was mentally unstable and made a few quick general deductions based on that , Sherlock Holmes style .
@@pandahsykes602 sometimes they are just frauds that make things up. Perhaps she wasn't mentally unstable until a fortune teller told her all her kids would die and it pushed her over the edge. We may never know.
The way Mr Ballen set up the story was genius. I’m the beginning, it’s hard to tell where the story will go, but the way he leads up to the big reveal by mentioning things like the special bath and tea cakes was just brilliant. (Took out my guess to save spoilers)
I knew she was going to do some human sacrifices. It was too good to be true her helping everyone. Insane story.
Part of what is so tragic is it seems like she really did try to help people up to a point, but her first two victims were people who seemed beyond help, so she thought if she sacrificed them she might be able to save her son while ending their suffering, but when their soap turned black she thought her sacrifice was rejected, that she had to sacrifice someone who was not miserable, and that the sacrifice had to be a personal loss to her, so she murdered her best friend, the opera singer. It was eventually discovered that breathing in the acid she used to make her soap for so many years had also caused holes in her brain that may have contributed to her state of mind as well. It's all very horribly sad, as she had been known to be a kind person even to those who were outcasts of society. Stephanie Harlow did a great deep dive on her case and I couldn't hate Leonarda for what she did despite how awful it was, because the circumstances leading to her frame of mind were so extreme that it's just sad at every level.
Gimme
Mr Ballen please never run out of stories.
Wow what a twisted ending. Had me by surprise. I actually thought it was the son the whole time. Shocking.
You need your own series on Netflix or even HBO. The way you tell your stories has me captivated the whole time.
It should be Cinemax....
He probably makes more on UA-cam than he would on HBO and netflix. This also gives him creative control of his videos and his brand. He would also have no fall back. If either bought this style of show, he wouldn't be allowed to create more on UA-cam if the show failed with who ever picked it up.
What a great day hearing Me Ballen talking about his experience with depression, & watching him tell the story of Leonarda & Faustina 😉
@@i-vlog1994 exactly
As soon as you said Soap, I knew which story this was. But no one has ever narrated it this way, so good job!
Yep! I heard soap and kind of figured it as well.. not knowing what the story was.
@Witty Witty Jesus dude, did you really have to copy and paste this on every single comment? Get a grip!
@Witty Witty Yea but he was only arrested because the evidence was pretty damning at the time. He was SEEN posting the letters, they had enough evidence to warrant an arrest.
That word tripped my memory to. It was a huge flag or Easter egg.
It came to me because of fight club.
They used human fat from liposuction surgery.
Makes the best soap. All the sin is in the body and the fat is pure perhaps, haha
@@leenoble4414 That's how I figured it out too!
The fact Mr Ballen gets like 100K views an hour makes me real happy. Dude deserves it. My selfish side wishes he put out 3-4 a week. My grateful side is thankful he's still around! Keep it up stud!
He used to post 3, 4 even 5 times a week ... They all do. But once the fame rises the videos lower.
I miss those days, where you'd have a new video every weekday.
"stud" that seems inappropriate!
@@mariemccann5895 don't be so sensative.
I could'nt predict the twist at the end, great job to tell the story continue your great work
I’ve been trying to push myself to get back to therapy for about 6 months and I dunno who today or now but hearing your ad did it. I just wanted to say thanks (and thanks for the promo). You rock my dude. Huge fan
Celebrate recovery.....its helps and we love goin...and its free
The story of the 70 year old lady who just wanted a husband. Hit me sooo deep.
I feel her pain……I just want a unicorn and I don’t think it’s all that much to ask for I mean Jesus
Deep like an axe to the chest
I have a bad feeling that’s gonna be me
@Brandon Finch why disturbing?
@@registeredjopper if you saw someone’s granny you knew on a dating site and was basically hitting you up for sex what would be your first thought? Unless your into that whole BJ without “mu teef” kind of thing 😆 who knows maybe we’re the ones missing out hahaha
Sitting down after a long tiring day, listening to Mr. Ballen's stories, with a beer in hand, ahh what more can I wish for😌
A bong hit😁
@@jaimestewart8295 nice
Guys it’s 7:30am here, I like the energy
It’s bliss hahah
@@RockulousRift
Lol!