10 Disturbing Myths That Turned Out to Be TRUE
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VOICE OVER: Peter DeGiglio
WRITTEN BY: Arianna Wechter
From government experiments to mysterious phenomena, some urban legends have more truth to them than we'd like to believe. Join us as we explore spine-chilling tales that went from campfire stories to confirmed events, revealing how reality can be stranger and more disturbing than fiction. Our countdown includes the horrifying truth behind Project MKUltra, the mysterious Dancing Plague of 1518, the tragic story of Charlie No-Face, and the science behind the Bloody Mary phenomenon. Which of these confirmed myths sends the biggest chill down your spine?
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were looking at the most unsettling legends that ended up being more real than anyone could have imagined.
The Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Rock art has served as a perfect window into the past. Through drawings by Paleolithic humans, weve been able to get a glimpse into what their lives may have been like. One of the most telling is Chauvet Cave. Among the detailed depictions of animals that once roamed the Earth is a series of unique, unidentifiable markings. One shows what appears to be a random smattering of bright red pigment rising toward the ceiling. While some think its merely an ancient abstract style, theres a solid theory that its actually the oldest known recording of a volcanic eruption. If true, it would prove that humans lived alongside and survived these extreme natural events.
Murderers Coming Through the Medicine Cabinet
Thanks to the 1992 film, the story of Candyman has been terrifying people for decades. The villain may just seem like a dark, yet creative ideabut shockingly, it may have been inspired by a real-life death. In 1987, a woman named Ruthie McCoy was slain in her apartment by perpetrators who entered through her bathroom cabinet. Though she had called to report the strange occurrence, officers didnt respond for hoursand by then, it was too late. Two men were arrested and charged, but a lack of evidence led to them being dropped. Knowing about the sordid event, its hard to watch the movie without noticing its eerie similarities to Ruthies tragic end.
Charlie No-Face
Sometimes, the scariest myths are born from tragic situations. In Pennsylvania, there were whispers of the Green Man, who was disfigured in his youth and spent his adulthood wandering the streets. The story was passed around for so long that the actual person behind itRaymond Robinsonwas forgotten. Robinson actually had been severely injured when he was youngand took nighttime walks so as not to scare anyone. People would drive for hours attempting to see him, only adding to his legendary status when they failed to do so. The mystery around him grew so much that his real life ended up becoming obfuscated. Hes proof of what happens when tragedy meets imaginationand how it can have a permanent effect.
Spontaneous Human Combustion
The name alone makes it seem like nothing more than a plot device in a science-fiction movie. For years, spontaneous human combustion seemed to only occur within fictional novels. However, there have been several supposed cases of it throughout history, creating a scientific conundrum. Many experts have argued that theyre caused by a combination of excessive alcohol consumption and exposure to flame, while others have theorized that those affected were in ketosis and producing more acetone, making them more flammable. Those who died from it were found in similar states, with charred remains and melted furniture serving as the only hints. Though the cause is unknown, the number of victims has made it seem likely that the phenomenon is more real than anyone initially suspected.
Cropsey the Boogey-Man
Who couldve guessed that a childhood monster would be based in truth? For years, tales of a grieving man named Cropsey who kidnapped children to replace his own were passed around New York City. While parts were true, the truth was much darker. A man named Andre Rand actually was capturing children and supposedly even adultsbut his intentions were out of malice rather than grief. His confirmed exploits occurred primarily from the late 1960s through the 80s, including an instance where he kidnapped a bus full of students. His crimes only escalated from thereand he was eventually imprisoned after being found guilty of slaying Jennifer Schweiger. The truth is so vile that it makes one wish it were nothing more than a dark tale.
The Well to Hell
Speculation on whether the underworld is real or not has been ongoing for millennia. It has appeared throughout various religions, with many adamantly believing in it. In the late 1980s, a modern legend surrounding the Well to Hell cropped up, cementing those beliefs. As the tale goes, a borehole in Siberia was dug so deep that it reached Helland that the screams of the damned could be heard. The truth is far less intense. The Kola Superdeep Borehole was dug by the Soviet Union and reportedly reaches over 40,000 beneath the Earths surface. While there are anomalies at that depth, none were caused by supernatural forcesand the sounds that had gone viral were eventually revealed to have been from a movie soundtrack.
The Dancing Plague of 1518
There are some events that are so bizarre, they seem unfathomablebut sometimes, reality is stranger than fiction. In 1518, a city was suddenly inflicted with the irresistible urge to dance. Though the exact numbers are unknown, its believed that hundreds of people were afflicted with this mysterious disease. Those impacted would dance non-stop until they supposedly dropped dead. There are countless theories as to how it came to be, from the accidental consumption of psychedelic drugs to mass hysteria. It sounds like nothing more than a dramatic tale, but historical documents confirming it and similar instances occurring have proven that its more than an old wives tale.
Bermuda Triangle Disappearances
Even something as seemingly banal as a section of the Atlantic Ocean has been the source of countless urban legends. Tales of airplanes and boats alike sinking into the depths of the Bermuda Triangle have kept sailors and landlubbers wary. Tons of theories have been spread about the cause of these disasters, many of which are rooted in supernatural beliefs. While some crafts have been lost, the explanations behind them are rooted firmly in reality. Many of these instancessuch as the crashing of Flight 19 and the sinking of the USS Cyclopswere found to have most likely been the result of human error. So while tragedies have occurred, they have been dramatized by the media into myths that still circulate today.
The Bloody Mary Effect
Even the strangest childhood games can have some basis in reality. According to the rules of the ritual, repeating the name Bloody Mary in front of a mirror will cause her ghost to appear in the reflection. Some people may see the deformed visage of a faceand while it isnt an actual spirit, there is an explanation behind it. Troxlers fading is an optical illusion wherein staring at a fixed point will cause other areas around it to seem distorted. Bloody Mary is believed to be one of the most well-documented examples of this, especially as its commonly played in a dark room. So while the ghost itself isnt real, your mind may still try to fill in the gaps and convince you otherwise.
Mind Control Experiments
No one wants to believe that their government would test its own citizens. Prior to Project MKUltra being revealed, believing that those in power were using everyday civilians for mind control experiments would have you written off as a nut. In the 1970s, however, those fringe conspiracies were confirmed. Beginning in 1953, the CIA developed several tests with the hopes of using them in future interrogations. Those being tested on were subjected to extreme stimuli, such as high amounts of psychedelic drugs, hypnosis, and even sensory deprivation. The subjects were often from vulnerable communitiesand many of the procedures were performed without informed consent. The discovery of the programs existence completely shattered peoples views of the government, making them rethink everything they had once known.
What myth are you convinced is based in truth? Let us know in the comments below.
The Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Rock art has served as a perfect window into the past. Through drawings by Paleolithic humans, weve been able to get a glimpse into what their lives may have been like. One of the most telling is Chauvet Cave. Among the detailed depictions of animals that once roamed the Earth is a series of unique, unidentifiable markings. One shows what appears to be a random smattering of bright red pigment rising toward the ceiling. While some think its merely an ancient abstract style, theres a solid theory that its actually the oldest known recording of a volcanic eruption. If true, it would prove that humans lived alongside and survived these extreme natural events.
Murderers Coming Through the Medicine Cabinet
Thanks to the 1992 film, the story of Candyman has been terrifying people for decades. The villain may just seem like a dark, yet creative ideabut shockingly, it may have been inspired by a real-life death. In 1987, a woman named Ruthie McCoy was slain in her apartment by perpetrators who entered through her bathroom cabinet. Though she had called to report the strange occurrence, officers didnt respond for hoursand by then, it was too late. Two men were arrested and charged, but a lack of evidence led to them being dropped. Knowing about the sordid event, its hard to watch the movie without noticing its eerie similarities to Ruthies tragic end.
Charlie No-Face
Sometimes, the scariest myths are born from tragic situations. In Pennsylvania, there were whispers of the Green Man, who was disfigured in his youth and spent his adulthood wandering the streets. The story was passed around for so long that the actual person behind itRaymond Robinsonwas forgotten. Robinson actually had been severely injured when he was youngand took nighttime walks so as not to scare anyone. People would drive for hours attempting to see him, only adding to his legendary status when they failed to do so. The mystery around him grew so much that his real life ended up becoming obfuscated. Hes proof of what happens when tragedy meets imaginationand how it can have a permanent effect.
Spontaneous Human Combustion
The name alone makes it seem like nothing more than a plot device in a science-fiction movie. For years, spontaneous human combustion seemed to only occur within fictional novels. However, there have been several supposed cases of it throughout history, creating a scientific conundrum. Many experts have argued that theyre caused by a combination of excessive alcohol consumption and exposure to flame, while others have theorized that those affected were in ketosis and producing more acetone, making them more flammable. Those who died from it were found in similar states, with charred remains and melted furniture serving as the only hints. Though the cause is unknown, the number of victims has made it seem likely that the phenomenon is more real than anyone initially suspected.
Cropsey the Boogey-Man
Who couldve guessed that a childhood monster would be based in truth? For years, tales of a grieving man named Cropsey who kidnapped children to replace his own were passed around New York City. While parts were true, the truth was much darker. A man named Andre Rand actually was capturing children and supposedly even adultsbut his intentions were out of malice rather than grief. His confirmed exploits occurred primarily from the late 1960s through the 80s, including an instance where he kidnapped a bus full of students. His crimes only escalated from thereand he was eventually imprisoned after being found guilty of slaying Jennifer Schweiger. The truth is so vile that it makes one wish it were nothing more than a dark tale.
The Well to Hell
Speculation on whether the underworld is real or not has been ongoing for millennia. It has appeared throughout various religions, with many adamantly believing in it. In the late 1980s, a modern legend surrounding the Well to Hell cropped up, cementing those beliefs. As the tale goes, a borehole in Siberia was dug so deep that it reached Helland that the screams of the damned could be heard. The truth is far less intense. The Kola Superdeep Borehole was dug by the Soviet Union and reportedly reaches over 40,000 beneath the Earths surface. While there are anomalies at that depth, none were caused by supernatural forcesand the sounds that had gone viral were eventually revealed to have been from a movie soundtrack.
The Dancing Plague of 1518
There are some events that are so bizarre, they seem unfathomablebut sometimes, reality is stranger than fiction. In 1518, a city was suddenly inflicted with the irresistible urge to dance. Though the exact numbers are unknown, its believed that hundreds of people were afflicted with this mysterious disease. Those impacted would dance non-stop until they supposedly dropped dead. There are countless theories as to how it came to be, from the accidental consumption of psychedelic drugs to mass hysteria. It sounds like nothing more than a dramatic tale, but historical documents confirming it and similar instances occurring have proven that its more than an old wives tale.
Bermuda Triangle Disappearances
Even something as seemingly banal as a section of the Atlantic Ocean has been the source of countless urban legends. Tales of airplanes and boats alike sinking into the depths of the Bermuda Triangle have kept sailors and landlubbers wary. Tons of theories have been spread about the cause of these disasters, many of which are rooted in supernatural beliefs. While some crafts have been lost, the explanations behind them are rooted firmly in reality. Many of these instancessuch as the crashing of Flight 19 and the sinking of the USS Cyclopswere found to have most likely been the result of human error. So while tragedies have occurred, they have been dramatized by the media into myths that still circulate today.
The Bloody Mary Effect
Even the strangest childhood games can have some basis in reality. According to the rules of the ritual, repeating the name Bloody Mary in front of a mirror will cause her ghost to appear in the reflection. Some people may see the deformed visage of a faceand while it isnt an actual spirit, there is an explanation behind it. Troxlers fading is an optical illusion wherein staring at a fixed point will cause other areas around it to seem distorted. Bloody Mary is believed to be one of the most well-documented examples of this, especially as its commonly played in a dark room. So while the ghost itself isnt real, your mind may still try to fill in the gaps and convince you otherwise.
Mind Control Experiments
No one wants to believe that their government would test its own citizens. Prior to Project MKUltra being revealed, believing that those in power were using everyday civilians for mind control experiments would have you written off as a nut. In the 1970s, however, those fringe conspiracies were confirmed. Beginning in 1953, the CIA developed several tests with the hopes of using them in future interrogations. Those being tested on were subjected to extreme stimuli, such as high amounts of psychedelic drugs, hypnosis, and even sensory deprivation. The subjects were often from vulnerable communitiesand many of the procedures were performed without informed consent. The discovery of the programs existence completely shattered peoples views of the government, making them rethink everything they had once known.
What myth are you convinced is based in truth? Let us know in the comments below.
