Jon Musgrave

A native of Southern Illinois, Musgrave has long found its violent history quite dramatic and has written, co-authored, or edited eight books about the region. He's appeared on-camera as a historical expert on the area's killers for both The History Channel and the Investigation Discovery Channel. His first major book focused on the Reverse Underground Railroad at an antebellum plantation home commonly known as the Old Slave House outside Equality, Illinois. Despite it's notoriety as one of the county's most haunted houses, it came as a surprise eight months into the research when he discovered the home's original builder had married one of his great-great-great-great aunts, and allegedly one of the souls that haunt there. His research into slavery in the Land of Lincoln led to his appointment to the Illinois Amistad Commission. Established by state lawmakers in part to focus on ways schools can better include the history and achievements of African-Americans in the school curriculum