Wisconsin Death Trip

Between 1890 and 1900, a series of strange occurrences start happening among immigrant communities in northern Wisconsin following mine closures and economic decline. Infants are abandoned, and a diphtheria epidemic sweeps through the region causing many children's deaths. Local residents experience rising instability and fear as these events unfold.

A schoolteacher named Mary Sweeny is institutionalized after going on a violent rampage, breaking windows of homes and buildings while under the influence of cocaine. Her behavior highlights the growing chaos and mental health struggles within the community. Her actions cause concern among local residents and authorities.

A German immigrant's wife is found frozen to death six miles outside of Black River Falls. She had been mourning the death of her own child, and her death underscores the harsh conditions and emotional toll faced by the community during this tumultuous period.

In Brandon, two young boys ambush and murder a farmer using a shotgun before taking over his home. The elder brother flees, leading to a manhunt, and is eventually sentenced to life imprisonment. This event reflects the violence and lawlessness spreading in the region.

Several young individuals, including a Norwegian girl and other jilted lovers, commit suicides through drowning and hanging. These tragic acts are driven by personal despair, abuse, and social pressures prevalent in the community.

Anna, a Polish girl, is discovered to be a serial arsonist responsible for setting multiple properties on fire. Her destructive behavior adds to the climate of fear and chaos gripping the region during this time.

A father kills his infant son and tries to murder his wife, while another young man shoots a woman over a rejected marriage proposal before taking his own life. These acts of violence illustrate the rising personal and social turmoil faced by residents.

John Isaacson holds a knife to community members during a Christian meeting, believing he is vanquishing Satan. Additionally, a German immigrant blames witches for starving his livestock, while others believe they are haunted by evil spirits, reflecting widespread religious delusions.

Mrs. Dutton, believing she is Jesus reincarnated, and Mrs. Lawson, convinced she is haunted by Satan, drown their three children in lakes, highlighting the extreme mental instability and religious hysteria among some community members.

A woman claiming to be a French opera singer, Pauline L'Allemand, arrives in Brockway, building a home and performing music. Her mental health deteriorates, leading to her trial for insanity and institutionalization, revealing themes of mental instability among outsiders.

Economic collapse causes several businesses to fail, and adulterous affairs among middle-aged residents lead to further violence and murders. These events depict the social decay exacerbated by economic hardship.

After being released, Mary Sweeny continues her destructive behavior, breaking windows at a train station in Eau Claire and wandering across the region, signaling ongoing chaos and mental instability.

Pauline escapes from Mendota Hospital and later appears in Chicago, falsely claiming to have been tormented by spirits. Her story underscores the persistent influence of mental health issues and paranoia.

The narrative contrasts the historical chaos with modern crimes committed by Wisconsin natives Ed Gein and Jeffrey Dahmer, connecting past and present themes of violence and psychological disturbance.