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2. The Case of the Candy Man (1974):
On the night of October 31, 1974, a chilly mist enveloped the surroundings. Ronald Clark O’Bryan and his family, including his wife Daynene, their 8-year-old son Timothy, and 5-year-old daughter Elizabeth, shared a meal with their friends, Jim Bates, his wife, and their children. Following dinner, O’Bryan, along with his two kids, joined Bates and his young son on a quest for Halloween treats.
During the course of the evening, the two fathers and their children paused at a house, but received no response and moved on. O’Bryan, however, trailed behind briefly and then returned, waving five 22-inch Pixie Stix, each containing powdered candy. Tragically, it would later be revealed that these candies were tainted with cyanide.
O'Bryan distributed one of these oversized straws to each of the three children. It was a chilling revelation that these candies had been deliberately poisoned. The motive behind this horrifying act was O'Bryan's deep financial debt, leading him to concoct a plan to murder his own son and profit from life insurance. As then-Prosecutor Hinton succinctly put it, "The only inescapable conclusion is that this man killed his own flesh and blood for money."
The jurors, in agreement with this assessment, wasted little time in their deliberations. On June 3, 1975, after just 46 minutes of deliberation, they found O’Bryan guilty on one count of capital murder and four counts of attempted murder. The sentence handed down was death.
Nearly a decade later, on March 31, 1984, O’Bryan partook in his final meal, savoring steak, fries, peas, and Boston cream pie before facing execution by lethal injection. At 12:48 A.M., authorities declared him officially deceased. Outside the walls of the Texas State Penitentiary, hundreds of people had gathered, some dressed in costumes. In a macabre twist of fate, they shouted, "Trick or Treat!" as O'Bryan's life came to its grim conclusion.
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3.The Liske family massacre (2010)
On the evening of October 31, 2010, 16-year-old Devon Griffin returned to his family's Ohio home after attending church, expecting nothing more than a typical night. However, the reality he encountered upon entering was a nightmare surpassing even the darkest scenes from a horror film. His stepfather lay lifeless in their bed, covered in a shroud of blood. What initially appeared to be a Halloween prank quickly transformed into a gruesome tableau of a triple homicide, claiming the lives of not only his stepfather but also his brother and mother, known as The Liske Family Massacre.
The perpetrator of this heinous act was Devon's 24-year-old stepbrother, William Liske. Liske, known to suffer from a history of mental illness, including possible schizophrenia, was swiftly apprehended as the prime suspect in the murders. At the time of the tragic events, he resided in a group home in Sandusky, Ohio.
All the victims, including Susan, William, and Derek, were discovered in their beds, their deaths attributed to either gunshot wounds or blunt force trauma, with obvious head injuries. Disturbingly, there were no signs of a struggle, leading investigators to suspect that the victims had been killed in their sleep, utterly unaware of the impending danger.
William had been tragically shot five times in the face and head from close range, his body lying in a natural sleeping position. Susan, on the other hand, was found in a contorted position in bed, with three gunshot wounds inflicted at close range, and evidence of sexual assault.
Following the discovery of the crimes, BJ (William Liske) was arrested at a family member's cabin, located 170 miles away in Carroll County, where he had recently stayed with his father, William, during a deer hunting trip just one week before the tragedy.
In September of 2011, BJ received a sentence of three life terms in prison, each without the possibility of parole. On March 31, 2015, a tragic end came to this grim chapter as BJ was found lifeless in his cell at the Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, Ohio, having inflicted a self-inflicted wound.
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4. The Horrifying Trick-or-Treat Murder (1957)
On the evening of October 31, 1957, it was just another school night. Children had collected their Butterfinger bars and homemade caramel apples, and were tucked into their beds at a reasonable hour. Meanwhile, thirty-five-year-old Peter Fabiano, his wife Betty, and their teenage stepdaughter, Judy Solomon, had retired for the night. Peter's stepson, Richard Solomon, had earlier left for his Navy base in San Diego. It seemed like a quiet evening, with no anticipation of any unexpected visitors.
However, shortly after 11 p.m., a sudden and deadly interruption shattered the tranquility. The doorbell rang, and upon answering it, Peter was met with a grim sight—a person dressed in jeans, concealed behind a cheap mask, holding a nondescript brown paper bag. The situation turned fatal when the contents of the bag were revealed—a .38 caliber pistol. Without warning, the intruder fired a point-blank shot at Peter Fabiano before making a swift escape. Peter succumbed to his injuries shortly after the attack.
As investigators delved into the case, their first priority was to ascertain the motive behind this seemingly random act of violence. The perplexing nature of the shooting left them puzzled, as Peter was described as a well-rounded and well-liked individual by all accounts. Homicide Detective Sergeant Charles Stewart, speaking to the media, mentioned their extensive legwork in investigating potential motives.
This case soon became infamous as the 'Trick-or-Treat Slaying' in the media, captivating the nation's attention. The intrigue deepened when, on November 12th, an arrest was made. The suspect was Joan Rabel, a 40-year-old Hollywood divorcee originally from Lithuania. Joan had worked as a freelance photographer and had even held a part-time position at Peter's beauty salon. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1917, she had enjoyed a successful career as a writer and photographer, traveling throughout the Americas.
In 1957, Joan arrived at Peter Fabiano's salon seeking employment following her divorce. She formed a close friendship with Betty, which eventually led her into the Fabiano family circle. However, as Peter and Betty's marriage began to unravel, Betty moved in with Joan. This closeness between the two women soon caused friction, with the Los Angeles Times describing their relationship as 'abnormal,' a veiled reference to homosexuality, which was illegal in California in the 1950s.
Betty eventually decided to salvage her marriage to Peter, and she confessed the affair with Joan to him. The couple reconciled, with Betty agreeing to sever ties with Joan. In the same year, Joan met Goldyne, who later described their relationship as casual friends who chatted over coffee to the Valley Times newspaper.
Over the course of three months, Joan convinced Goldyne to become an unpaid hitwoman. She provided funds for the acquisition of a firearm and borrowed a getaway car from another acquaintance. On Halloween, she sent a disguised Goldyne to the Fabiano residence, with the weapon concealed in a deceptive paper trick-or-treat bag. Tragically, it took just one gunshot to end Peter's life. Joan then transported her accomplice home, leaving her with one stern instruction: "Forget you ever knew me."
Rather than face a trial, on March 11, 1958, both Goldyne and Joan entered guilty pleas to second-degree murder charges and were subsequently sentenced to 5 years to life in prison. The motive behind the crime was quite clear—Peter Fabiano stood in the way of Joan's desire to become closer to Betty. Prior to his death, Peter had implored Betty to sever her friendship with Joan, a request she eventually honored. The newspapers of the time hinted at this motive, describing Joan as envious of the Fabiano's relationship, understanding the subtext of the era when homosexuality was illegal in California. This may explain why Joan accepted a plea deal in the case.
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5. The Tony Bagley Murder (1994)
On Halloween night in 1994, seven-year-old Tony Bagley went trick-or-treating with his family, dressed in a skeleton costume, sharing the joy of the occasion. As he walked ahead of his sister, aunt, and mother, approaching the street corner near the next house, a tragic and horrifying event unfolded. Suddenly, a hooded man in a sweat suit rushed into the street and opened fire on the Bagley family. The gunman then swiftly retreated to a waiting car, and they fled the scene. Tragically, Tony's sister, aunt, and mother were all struck by the hail of bullets but survived. However, young Tony was not as fortunate, as he sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head and later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
This senseless act of violence left investigators with more questions than answers. Despite extensive efforts, they couldn't identify or apprehend the man responsible for this heinous murder. A prevailing theory explored by the police was that a family member not present that night might have been the target, but no conclusive evidence ever supported this notion. The case remained unsolved, shrouded in mystery.
Authorities considered various possibilities, including the idea that the shooting could have been linked to a drug deal gone awry, or that someone in the Bagley family who wasn't out trick-or-treating that night might have been the intended victim of the attack. Nevertheless, they were unable to definitively establish a motive or identify the assailant.
In a tragic twist of fate, Tony's father found himself entangled in another homicide case, being arrested in 1998 for the murder of Curtis Henry in North Las Vegas. This crime was allegedly driven by a debt that went unpaid. Henry's mother described Tony's father as "an angry, evil person" who had reportedly boasted to others about his intention to kill her son over the outstanding debt. Despite these developments, the murder of young Tony Bagley on that fateful Halloween night in 1994 remains a cold case, its true motives and culprits shrouded in darkness.
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6. The Toolbox Killers (1979)
Ice picks, pliers, and screwdrivers - seemingly ordinary tools, but for convicted serial killers Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris, they took on a much more sinister role. These common instruments were twisted into tools of torment and death by the infamous duo known as the Toolbox Killers. In the harrowing year of 1979, Bittaker and Norris turned the roads of California into their hunting grounds, preying on victims in the remote reaches of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris formed a sadistically brutal partnership, targeting teenage girls across the Los Angeles area over a dark period spanning five months. Their heinous crimes, including the infamous Halloween torture and murder of Shirley Ledford, prompted FBI profiler John E. Douglas to label Bittaker as "the most disturbing individual for whom he has ever created a criminal profile."
Between February and June of 1979, Bittaker and Norris picked up over twenty female hitchhikers. These encounters did not result in immediate harm to the girls; instead, they served as opportunities to perfect their strategies for luring victims willingly into their van and to scout remote locations.
In late April, the duo discovered an isolated fire road in the San Gabriel Mountains. In June, they abducted their first victim, 16-year-old Cindy Schaeffer, who was coerced into her own truck, her mouth duct-taped, and her wrists and ankles bound. Following brutal acts of rape, torture, and murder on a fire trail in the nearby mountains, her lifeless body was discarded in a canyon.
The following month, 18-year-old Andrea Hall was abducted and subjected to a similar horrifying fate, including rape, taunting, and ultimately death.
On September 3, they kidnapped two girls, 15-year-old Jackie Gilliam and 13-year-old Leah Lamp, keeping them captive for two days, subjecting them to sexual assault, and recording their ordeal. Tragically, both girls were later murdered.
They abducted Shirley Sanders on September 30, raping her before she managed to escape. Although she reported the assault, she couldn't identify her attackers or recall the car's license plate number, and the investigation stalled.
On October 30, their final victim, Shirley Lynette Bedford, was abducted and murdered. Unlike their previous victims, she was subjected to rape and torture while the car was in motion, rather than parked at their usual killing site. This gruesome series of crimes earned them the infamous moniker "The Toolbox Killers," as they were initially believed to be a single perpetrator.
In October, Roy Norris confessed to a friend, Jimmy Dalton, about his and Bittaker's murders, a revelation initially met with disbelief. However, when the body of Shirley Ledford was discovered, Dalton reported Norris to his lawyer, who, in turn, informed the Los Angeles Police Department. This led to the surveillance and eventual arrests of Norris, who was taken into custody for marijuana possession and parole violation, and Bittaker, who was arrested for abducting and raping Shirley Sanders.
During lengthy interrogations, Norris confessed to involvement in the murders but claimed he was primarily an accomplice who had been heavily under the influence of drugs during the crimes, attempting to shift the blame onto Bittaker. In a plea bargain, Norris cooperated with investigators, laying the majority of the blame on Bittaker, and helping to locate the bodies of Jackie Gilliam and Leah Lamp.
Both men faced multiple charges, including kidnapping, rape, robbery, deviant sexual assault, criminal conspiracy, and murder, each blaming the other for their gruesome acts. Audio recordings of their murders implicated Norris as an active participant. Ultimately, due to his cooperation with the investigation, Norris received a sentence of 45 years to life in prison. In 2010, he applied for parole but was denied, rendering him ineligible for another decade.
Bittaker, on the other hand, was sentenced to death and passed away while awaiting execution in 2019. Norris became eligible for parole in 2009, only to be denied. He faced another denial in 2019 and tragically passed away on February 24, 2020.
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7. The Murder of Sister Tadea Benz (1981)
On Halloween in 1981, a tragic event unfolded at the St. Francis Convent in Amarillo, Texas when Sister Tadea Benz was discovered lifeless in her room. Initially, the convent's residents refrained from contacting the authorities, attributing her demise to a mere accident. They tenderly enshrouded her in a sheet, commencing preparations for her funeral. It was only later, upon noticing a shattered window in Sister Tadea's room, that suspicions deepened, prompting them to consider a more sinister explanation for her death.
Intrigued by the broken window, the sisters contacted the police, though they did not directly mention Sister Tadea's passing. Subsequently, while eavesdropping on the sisters' conversation, officers became aware of the dire circumstances. Their investigation revealed that Sister Tadea had not met her end due to a fall, but had suffered multiple stab wounds and endured sexual violations. The community of Amarillo clamored for justice, putting immense pressure on the police to solve this horrifying crime and restore a sense of security.
Faced with a lack of substantial leads, the authorities embarked on an unconventional path based on information provided by a psychic known as Bubbles. This clairvoyant reached out to the local newspaper, claiming to have seen the perpetrator in a dream, identifying him as a local teenage resident in close proximity to the convent. This revelation ultimately led to the arrest of Johnny Frank Garrett for the rape and murder of Sister Tadea Benz. Garrett vehemently professed his innocence, alleging that he was being framed by the police. Accusations also arose regarding the possibility of a coerced confession obtained from Garrett during the investigation.
There was, however, a substantial amount of evidence linking Garrett to the crimes. His pubic hair and fingerprints were discovered at the crime scene, and witnesses reported seeing him fleeing from the convent on the evening of the murder. Subsequently, Garrett received a death sentence for the murder and steadfastly maintained his innocence until the very end. His final words, spoken prior to his execution, were, "I'd like to thank my family for loving me and taking care of me. The rest of the world can kiss my ass."
As per a documentary that delved into Garrett's life and demise, it was claimed that he placed a curse upon those he deemed responsible for his suffering just before his own death. In an eerie sequence of events that unfolded in the years subsequent to the trial, several individuals connected to Garrett's conviction experienced a string of unfortunate incidents.
Novella Sumner, one of the jurors, met a tragic end mere days after the trial when she fell down a flight of stairs. Nathan Shackelford, another juror, faced the heart-wrenching loss of his daughter in an accidental shooting, and his sister later perished in a drunk driving incident. Garrett's defense attorney during the trial succumbed to pancreatic cancer, while the medical examiner, Ralph Erdemann, was convicted of falsifying autopsy reports. This led to the revocation of his medical license and a prison sentence. Tragically, his wife also succumbed to pancreatic cancer.
Two more of Garrett's legal representatives eventually succumbed to the same form of leukemia. In an uncanny twist of fate, two police officers connected to the case developed leukemia and passed away as well. An NBC reporter who covered the story, Cathy Jones, lost her life in an airplane crash in Oklahoma. A witness named Eugene Patterson was found dead in his car, with the cause of death remaining undetermined. A prisoner named Watley, who had testified against Garrett in exchange for a reduced sentence, tragically took his own life shortly after the trial.
Garrett's school teacher, Carol Moore, who had testified against him during the trial, also tragically ended her own life not long afterward. Danny Hill, the District Attorney involved in the case, similarly succumbed to suicide, and his daughter followed suit a few years later. Another of Garrett's attorneys, Jeff Blackburn, lost his wife to suicide, and his son suffered permanent brain damage after accidentally being locked inside a hot car.
The question of whether Johnny Frank Garrett truly unleashed a curse upon those he perceived as having wronged him or if these events are mere coincidences is a matter of personal belief and perspective. Some may see these events as an eerie series of coincidences, while others might attribute them to the alleged curse. Regardless, it remains a perplexing and tragic chapter in the aftermath of the case.
What do you think" Curse or Coincidences?
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8. Taylor Van Diest Murder (2011)
On the evening of October 31, 2011, Taylor Van Diest, an 18-year-old from Armstrong, British Columbia, donned a zombie costume in the spirit of Halloween. She intended to meet her friends and enjoy a night of trick-or-treating. Her walk alongside the railway tracks in the quiet farming town around 6 pm took her through a secluded area. In the darkness, with no one around, she sent a text to her friend, indicating that she was feeling uneasy. That message was the last anyone heard from her before a horrifying attack unfolded.
Taylor Van Diest was brutally assaulted, struck on the head, and strangled. Her assailant left her lying on the ground as he fled into the night. Nearly three hours later, she was discovered, barely alive and lying face down. Despite efforts to rush her to the hospital, she passed away without regaining consciousness.
An autopsy following Taylor Van Diest's tragic death revealed that she had suffered six distinct head injuries, resulting in a fractured skull, along with clear signs of strangulation around her throat. She had valiantly attempted to fight off her attacker, leaving marks on her neck from her desperate efforts to remove the ligature used to strangle her. Some local residents had heard her screams on that fateful Halloween night, but given the holiday's nature, they didn't think much of them and didn't investigate further.
Pathologists were unable to definitively determine whether she had been struck on the head first or strangled first, but there was no doubt that she endured a horrifying ordeal in the minutes leading to her loss of consciousness. Taylor Van Diest had scratched her attacker during the struggle, and this act would prove crucial in identifying and eventually convicting the man responsible for her horrific death.
The perpetrator turned out to be Matthew Foerster, a 26-year-old who had entered the small town that night with the intention of seeking sexual encounters. He fled the area and went into hiding after the attack. In April 2012, he was arrested for the murder of Taylor Van Diest in a motel room in Ontario. In a twist of fate, Matthew Foerster's father, 60-year-old Stephen Foerster, was also arrested in connection to the murder. He was charged as an accessory to murder after the fact, based on evidence suggesting that he had provided false information to protect his son. He was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison following his son's conviction for aiding his escape from law enforcement.
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9. The Unsolved Death Of Chris Jenkins (2002)
At the age of twenty-one, Chris Jenkins was a bright and well-liked business student at the University of Minnesota, where he also served as the captain of the lacrosse team. He hailed from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, growing up with his parents, Steve and Jan, and his sister, Sara. Chris was best remembered for his infectious sense of humor.
On the night of October 31, 2002, Chris donned a Native American costume and joined his girlfriend and another couple for a Halloween party at the Lone Tree Bar & Grill in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sometime around midnight, he was ejected from the bar, leaving behind his phone, wallet, and jacket. According to the bouncer, Chris turned left onto Hennepin Avenue, and that was the last time anyone saw him.
It wasn't until February 27, 2003, that Chris's body was discovered in the Mississippi River, lodged between logs and still wearing his Halloween attire. An autopsy revealed that he had drowned, with his blood alcohol level significantly exceeding the legal limit. His cause of death was officially listed as "unknown." The police, however, leaned toward either an accidental fall or suicide, surmising that Chris, inebriated and possibly upset after a dispute with his girlfriend, had either tumbled or jumped from the nearby Hennepin Avenue Bridge into the river. Consequently, the case was closed in 2004.
Chris's parents, in stark contrast, remained convinced that their son had been murdered. They hired a private investigator who identified inconsistencies that suggested Chris's body hadn't been in the river for the entirety of his absence.
In 2005, a tip from a jailed informant breathed new life into the investigation. The informant asserted that Chris had been the target of an attempted robbery that culminated in him being thrown over a bridge railing into the Mississippi River. This inmate claimed to be an accomplice to the responsible individual.
In November of 2006, the police altered the classification of Chris's death to label it as a homicide. Yet, Chris's family remains unconvinced that he was tossed from the bridge. Their skepticism arises from the fact that Chris was discovered with his slip-on shoes still on, his shirt neatly tucked in, his costume undisturbed, and his arms crossed. According to his family, this evidence suggests a different scenario: that he may have been coerced into a van, subjected to a harrowing ordeal, and ultimately met his demise before being discarded in the river.
By 2007, a suspect had been pinpointed in Chris's case, and the Minneapolis Police Department presented the name to the county attorney, hoping for charges to be filed. However, the county attorney concluded that there was insufficient evidence for prosecution, though the individual remained a suspect.
An alternative theory that surfaced posited that Chris Jenkins might have become a victim in the enigmatic and unsolved "Smiley Face Murders." These perplexing incidents encompassed around 40 male college students across the United States, all of whom drowned. In some of these cases, unexplained "smiley face" graffiti was discovered near the bodies of water where the victims were found. Although no such graffiti was connected to Chris Jenkins's death, the circumstances shared certain similarities with these cases, adding to the mystery that still surrounds his untimely demise.
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10. The Mysterious Disappearance Of Cindy Song (2001)
Cindy Song's background traces back to South Korea, but in 1995, she made the journey to Virginia to live with her aunt and uncle while pursuing her education at a local high school. After successfully graduating, she continued her academic journey at Pennsylvania State University. By Halloween in 2001, she had reached her senior year.
On that fateful evening, Cindy, now a college senior, attended a costume party at Player's Nite Club alongside her close friends Stacy Paik and Lisa Kim. Dressed as a Playboy Bunny, the trio partied until the early hours, around 2 am, before making a stop at a friend's apartment to engage in video games. Subsequently, at 4 am, Stacy and Lisa dropped Cindy off at her apartment, bidding her farewell. Little did they know, this would be the last time they would see her.
A search of Cindy's apartment revealed no signs of a struggle or forced entry. Her false eyelashes from the party were found on the counter, and her backpack, which she had been carrying earlier in the evening, was located in her room. The only items missing were her purse, containing her driver's license and credit cards. Police strongly suspect she was still wearing her Playboy Bunny costume when she vanished, as it was not found in her apartment. Analysis of her phone records indicated no calls made or received after her drop-off, and there was no activity on her credit cards. Her email history displayed no suspicious activity either.
Despite the absence of apparent struggle in Cindy's apartment, the circumstances raised several intriguing clues. Authorities ruled out the possibility of Cindy running off on her own, and they found no indications of depression or suicidal tendencies. Two prevailing theories emerged: the first proposed that Cindy may have left her apartment to visit a 24-hour supermarket and was abducted en route or while there. The second theory postulated that she departed with someone she knew, only to meet a tragic fate at their hands.
In the days following her disappearance, a woman resembling Cindy's description was reportedly seen in Philadelphia's Chinatown district, being forced into a car by an unidentified man. The authorities sought to question this individual, who remains unidentified, described as an Asian male with an olive to light-brown complexion and medium-length hair. He is wanted solely for questioning. Despite the puzzling circumstances surrounding Cindy Song's Halloween night vanishing, questions remain: What truly transpired on that evening, and where did Cindy go?
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These real-life Halloween horrors serve as a chilling reminder that the line between fantasy and reality can blur during the spookiest time of the year. While Halloween is a time for harmless scares and good-natured fun, it is crucial to remember the real tragedies that have unfolded on this night. As we don our costumes and light jack-o'-lanterns, let us never forget the victims and their stories, and may these tales of horror continue to serve as a cautionary reminder of the darkness that can hide behind the festivities of Halloween.
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Rick