Reports of a "Daddy Long Legs" cryptid in Muskoka, Ontario, typically describe a tall, spindly-legged creature that resembles a giant harvestman spider but with a body roughly the size of a human torso. While not a widely catalogued creature in traditional folklore like the Sasquatch or Wendigo, specific eyewitness accounts from the region highlight several... Continue Reading →
The Toronto Tunnel Monster
The Toronto Tunnel Monster (also known as the Cabbagetown Tunnel Monster) is a cryptid that is an urban legend originating from a single reported sighting in 1978. A Parliament Street resident named Ernest claimed to have encountered a strange, humanoid creature while searching for a lost kitten in a narrow cave-like opening near his apartment. According to the report... Continue Reading →
The Tragic History of the Donnelly Family Massacre
Johannah & James Donnelly The "Black" Donnelly's were an Irish family who emigrated to Ontario. Five of the family were murdered by an armed mob in the township of Lucan Biddulph in February 1880 and their farm was burned down, the culmination of long-standing conflict between the family and other residents. No one was convicted... Continue Reading →
The Murderous Maids of Le Mans
The Gruesome Story of the Papin Sisters Léa (left) and Christine (right) Papin Christine Papin (March 8, 1905 – May 18, 1937)Léa Papin (September 15, 1911 – July 24, 2001 or 1982 - see below) Christine & Léa Papin were two French sisters, live-in maids, who were convicted of murdering their employer's wife and daughter... Continue Reading →
Aqua Tofana – A Little Tale of Poisoning
Aqua Tofana (also known as Acqua Toffana, Acquetta Perugina, and Aqua Tufania and Manna di San Nicola) was a strong poison. It was reputedly widely used in Naples. The poison was also used in Perugia and Rome, Italy. During the early 17th century, Giulia Tofana, or Tofania, a woman from Palermo, ran a successful business.... Continue Reading →
The Aswang
An Aswang is a feared, shape-shifting monster in Philippine folklore. It combines the traits of a vampire, ghoul, witch, and were-beast. It is an "umbrella term." It describes a variety of malevolent beings living as ordinary humans by day. They transform into predatory creatures at night. The Aswang are known for an unholy preference for... Continue Reading →
The Mysterious Tale of the Candle Man
In the mist-shrouded village of Gloomwick, the fog clung to the earth like a heavy blanket. The nights seemed to stretch on forever. There was a story that everyone knew but no one dared to speak of aloud. It was the tale of the Candle Man. He was a mysterious figure who appeared only on... Continue Reading →
Cryptid Sighting: The Enfield Monster
Enfield, Illinois In April of 1973 there were reports of an unidentified creature sighted around Enfield, Illinois. At the time, the news media suggested they may have been a wild ape. Alternatively, they considered the possibility of an escaped kangaroo. These sightings were used as a case study for a paper on social contagion in... Continue Reading →
Exploring Tranquille Sanatorium: History and Hauntings
Location: Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada Credit: Wikipedia Tranquille Sanatorium is located in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, and was built in 1907 to treat tuberculosis, otherwise known as ‘The White Plague.’ The grounds that the hospital was built upon were previously used for ranching before the British Columbian government purchased the land for the construction of... Continue Reading →
The True Story Of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
The Death of Catrine da Costa The remains of Swedish sex worker Catrine da Costa (born Catrine Beatrice Bäckström) were found in Solna, north of Stockholm, in the late summer of 1984. Catrine had been dismembered and parts of her body, in plastic bags, were found one kilometer apart on July 18 and August 8,... Continue Reading →