In 18th century France, a series of brutal killings terrorized the rural region of Gévaudan, leaving dozens dead and an entire population gripped by fear. Witnesses described a massive, wolf-like creature with strange features, and as the attacks continued, panic spread from isolated villages to the royal court of King Louis XV. In this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes, Vanessa Richardson examines the mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan, the widespread manhunt that followed, and the competing theories about what was really behind the killings. From rogue predators to coordinated attacks and folklore shaped by fear, the case quickly blurred the line between reality and legend. Was the Beast a single animal, multiple attackers, or something more deliberate hiding in plain sight? More than two centuries later, the story of Gévaudan remains one of history’s most chilling and debated mysteries.
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