– Savannah’s First Murderess or Misunderstood Soul? 👻⚖️
Welcome back, sleuths and soul seekers! Today, we’re diving headfirst into the fog-draped streets of Savannah, Georgia—home to one of the South’s oldest, and eeriest, legends.
🎙️☕ Tea & Mystery Presents: The Haunting Tale of Alice Riley – Savannah’s First Murderess or Misunderstood Soul? 👻⚖️ Welcome back, sleuths and soul seekers! Today, we’re diving headfirst into the fog-draped streets of Savannah, Georgia—home to one of the South’s oldest, and eeriest, legends. 📍 Wright Square, also known chillingly as The Hanging Square, holds secrets whispered on the wind and echoed in the footsteps of ghost tours. But perhaps none more tragic—or misunderstood—than the story of Alice Riley. 🕯️ Who Was Alice Riley? An Irish indentured servant with dreams of a better life, Alice arrived in Georgia in 1733 alongside her partner, Richard White. The couple endured a brutal transatlantic voyage with 38 others—starved, weak, and desperate for hope. Assigned to the cruel and controversial cattle farmer William Wise, Alice and Richard found themselves in what could only be described as a waking nightmare. Between caring for his decaying health and enduring constant mistreatment, the pair reached their breaking point. On March 1, 1734, Wise was found dead—his head submerged in a bucket of water, strangled with his own neckerchief. It was the first recorded murder in the new colony. 🔗 Tried. Convicted. Remembered. Richard was hanged immediately. Alice, however, was pregnant—temporarily sparing her from the noose. But just weeks after giving birth, she too was executed in Wright Square, becoming Georgia’s first woman to face the gallows. But was she truly guilty? Letters from settlers at the time recount a chilling confession—but also inconsistencies in her role. Some claimed she plunged Wise’s head into the pail herself; others say she merely confessed to save Richard. One thing’s for sure: her child died soon after her execution, and the trauma of it all seems to have bound Alice’s soul to Wright Square ever since. 👻 The Ghost That Won’t Rest Alice’s spirit is said to linger, particularly around pregnant women and mothers with infants. Some say she roams the square, searching for her lost child… Others say she’s trying to take one. Legends even accuse her of witchcraft, claiming a curse she left behind keeps Spanish moss from growing on certain trees in Wright Square. But as any true investigator knows—the truth is always more fascinating than fiction. And the truth is: Alice Riley was real. Her pain was real. And her story—layered in suffering, injustice, and myth—continues to haunt Savannah and its people almost 300 years later. 📝 So we ask you, curious minds… Do you think Alice was a murderer? A mother seeking justice? A scapegoat of a system stacked against her? Share your thoughts in the comments, or tell us what ghost story you’d like to see us cover next! If you have a spooky tale, local tip, or case you want us to feature, message us here at The B-Side: Tea & Mystery or visit us at 🌐 http://www.luna-owl.com! ✨ AND be sure to check back later today—we’ll be dropping more chilling ghost stories that are sure to give you goosebumps. 👀 — 🕯️ Today we are also honoring the life and tragic unsolved homicide of Lisa McDuffie—a case that deserves more light, more justice, and never to be forgotten. 🌹 If you know something, say something. Her story matters. Until next time… stay curious, stay bold, and don’t forget: Every tale has a shadow. Every mystery has a voice. Check the blog for her post at http://www.luna-owl.com
📍 Wright Square, also known chillingly as The Hanging Square, holds secrets whispered on the wind and echoed in the footsteps of ghost tours. But perhaps none more tragic—or misunderstood—than the story of Alice Riley.
🕯️ Who Was Alice Riley? An Irish indentured servant with dreams of a better life, Alice arrived in Georgia in 1733 alongside her partner, Richard White. The couple endured a brutal transatlantic voyage with 38 others—starved, weak, and desperate for hope.
Assigned to the cruel and controversial cattle farmer William Wise, Alice and Richard found themselves in what could only be described as a waking nightmare. Between caring for his decaying health and enduring constant mistreatment, the pair reached their breaking point. On March 1, 1734, Wise was found dead—his head submerged in a bucket of water, strangled with his own neckerchief. It was the first recorded murder in the new colony.
🔗 Tried. Convicted. Remembered. Richard was hanged immediately. Alice, however, was pregnant—temporarily sparing her from the noose. But just weeks after giving birth, she too was executed in Wright Square, becoming Georgia’s first woman to face the gallows.
But was she truly guilty? Letters from settlers at the time recount a chilling confession—but also inconsistencies in her role. Some claimed she plunged Wise’s head into the pail herself; others say she merely confessed to save Richard. One thing’s for sure: her child died soon after her execution, and the trauma of it all seems to have bound Alice’s soul to Wright Square ever since.
👻 The Ghost That Won’t Rest Alice’s spirit is said to linger, particularly around pregnant women and mothers with infants. Some say she roams the square, searching for her lost child… Others say she’s trying to take one. Legends even accuse her of witchcraft, claiming a curse she left behind keeps Spanish moss from growing on certain trees in Wright Square.
But as any true investigator knows—the truth is always more fascinating than fiction. And the truth is: Alice Riley was real. Her pain was real. And her story—layered in suffering, injustice, and myth—continues to haunt Savannah and its people almost 300 years later.
📝 So we ask you, curious minds… Do you think Alice was a murderer? A mother seeking justice? A scapegoat of a system stacked against her?
Share your thoughts in the comments, or tell us what ghost story you’d like to see us cover next! If you have a spooky tale, local tip, or case you want us to feature, message us here at or visit our social media pages:
