Halloween Tales

  

Urban Legend or Truth?

Hanged Accidentally

Charlotte, NC – In 1990, William Anthony Odem (15) and his friends got permission to stage a haunted house in the basement of his aunt’s home.  The Halloween party attraction was decorated with faux spider webs, plastic bats, gallows and more.  The latter article of décor proved to be deadly.  While staging the gallows, the noose tightened around Odem and he was strangled. 

     The teen was pronounced dead the following day after being discovered laying in the webs and bats meant frighten his intended guests.

Chicago, IL – Also in 1990, 17 year old Brian Jewell was working for a haunted hayride.  Each night that the ride was open, Jewel would give a frightening speech to riders as they passed by.  One night in particular, the driver of the tractor noticed that Jewel had not given his nightly speech intended to send chills down the passenger’s spines. 

     Earlier that Saturday, passengers were thrilled and Jewell was NOT harmed.  The equipment is said to have been checked REGULARLY and there was NO sign of foul play (after an autopsy was completed).  The noose used by Jewell was not one that was to tighten.  It remains a mystery as to how Jewell was hanged, especially since his feet were touching the ground. 

Sparta, MI – In 2001, Caleb Rebh (14) was permitted to volunteer as part of the entertainment for a haunted hayride.  According to his mother, Rebh REALLY wanted to work at the hayride.  She had taken her son to Alpine Ridge Farms in order to speak with the Bradly’s (the owners of the farms) regarding a job for Rebh.  When told that they had all of the workers that they needed for the evening, the young Caleb stated that he wanted to stay and did NOT need to be paid, that he simply wanted to be a part of the festivities.  Later that evening, his mother received a call from him.  Caleb told her that he would indeed be used for the night and that he wanted “to be scarier to the passersby”.

     Caleb began the night working a post that hosted a coffin.  He really didn’t know what to do and simply yelled out “BOO” to the people as they passed.  At some point, he was able to switch posts with another worker.  This is how he came to the post with a skeleton hanging from a noose.  Rebh decided that to up the fright factor he would swing from the noose in place of the skeleton.  Unfortunately, he underestimated his weight and ability to prevent his own suffocation.

    As he struggled for air, guests and fellow workers stood by and watched believing that he was acting while executing a Halloween prank.

Double Murder

Napa Valley, CA – Halloween Night 2004 began with three [female] roommates passing out candy to trick-or-treaters and enjoying a fairly laid back evening.  Around 10:30pm, the trio retreated to bed, only for one to be awakened later that night to screams and the sound of glass breaking.  The startled woman ran from the house only to return later to her roommates stabbed to death. 

    It was later discovered that the murderer was the fiancé of one of the roommates who had become insanely jealous of the trio’s friendship.

Ultimate Halloween Prank

Neighborhood kids came together and thought that it would be great to get a dummy any behead it.  Well, Susan and John Buckley thought it would be even better to behead THEIR MOTHER.  The two did just that.  When a group of trick-or-treaters figured out that the beheaded “decoration” was a REAL PERSON, they notified police.  The duo fled the home and the body was said to be discovered…..half eaten.