Weirdness Around the World...

It's time again to explore some of the strange news stories plucked from the headlines across the globe.

They Were Dirt Cheap...

Judith and Mitchell Fletcher of Tampa love to find a good bargain at a yard sale. While in Brandon they spent $8 on a Halloween decoration skeleton in a box but upon returning home they realized it wasn't made of plastic or ceramic. They alerted the police in Hillsborough County and a detective had the bones examined, determining they were from a real for-medical-use anatomical skeleton valued at $3000. It is illegal in Florida to own real human bones so the couple has lost out on their bargain purchase. The local sheriff's department is contacting area universities with the serial number found on a femur in an attempt to find the rightful owner. The box of bones remains unclaimed.

Dial P for Paranormal...

A recent examination of West Midlands Police records in Coventry, England found that burglaries and altercations aren't the only reason local residents call for help. Over the past five years they have received calls concerning UFOs, ghosts, aliens, and other anomalies. Three calls were even received by people experiencing "paranormal thoughts". A total of 18 calls involving the supernatural are documented, most involving ghost sightings. So when you see a spirit, who you gonna call?

Yeren Hot Pursuit...

The search is back in China as scientists gather once more to search for the regional Bigfoot-like creature known as the Yeren, or "wild man". The Hubei Wild Man Research Association is seeking volunteers and benefactors to help raise $1.5 million for their new expedition. With over 400 sightings of the hairy creature and previous expeditions in 1977, 1980, and 1981 yielding hair and stool samples along with large bipedal footprints they are eager to find conclusive proof.

Bewitching Times...

Two 15-year-old boys were arrested in India for the murder of Nanika Hesa, 40, on Friday. The pair, who believed the tribal woman was a witch and had killed their family members through the use of black magic, hacked Nanika to death with a bhujali, decapitated her, and threw her head into a river in Kalinga Nagar. Both boys confessed to the crime and are being held at a juvenile facility in Berhampur.

Death by Fear...

A man in Milwaukee was sentenced to 9 years in jail and 5 years probation for the murder of Marzella Woodson by scaring her to death. Following an argument where Justin Owen, 21, accused his friend of stealing a handgun, the man fired several shots into the house where he lived back in May. Marzella, 58, heard the gunshots and hid on the floor with her grandchildren and suffered heart failure from the frightful experience.

Alas, Poor Yorick and His Cousins...

Being a baggage examiner must have some interesting moments. People travel with all sorts of belongings and mementos and with such heightened security there's a long list of items not permitted to board an airplane. Why fingernail clippers pose such a great risk and are confiscated is beyond me. Do they think someone could be manicured to death? Or do airlines have stock in a manufacturing company and profit from selling new ones when someone lands? It's beyond me. However, some things that show up in x-rays are likely to turn a few heads.

Last week at Athens International Airport in Greece two US tourists on their way home to California were stopped after security discovered six skulls stashed in their luggage. While visiting Mykonos the Californians told authorities they purchased the skulls, which they believed were decorative replicas, from a souvenir shop for US$33 each to use as Halloween decorations. Each was charged with desecrating the dead after a coroner confirmed that they were, in fact, real human skulls. The pair were released pending trial.

After arguing their case before a court, the two tourists were acquitted this week of any wrong-doing on their part. Police are launching an investigation to find the sellers and return the bones to their rightful place. When the guilty parties are apprehended, heads certainly will roll.

What a Strange World, Indeed...

It's been a while since I've taken a break to glance over some of the unusual (and often less-depressing) news from around the world. To be honest, it's been more difficult these days to find enough amusing news with a creepy twist. I blame the economy. It's making people far too serious. But never fear; I've scrounged the internet for

The Sweet Thrill of Blood-Sucking...

There's a sanguineous creature lurking in Puerto Rico. But this isn't your ordinary Chupacabra tale. Locals near Guánica fear a nocturnal winged phantom believed to be a gargoyle. As he/she/it has been so named, "the Gargoyle" is believed to be responsible for a series of attacks on living creatures and one human being. Livestock victims look oddly similar to the Chupacabra corpses with slashed throats. Mr. Valdo was attacked near Guánica Lagoon nearly 15 years ago by a large, winged creature leaving severe claw marks on his back and abdomen. The "Gargoyle" is described as a very large bird-like creature which smells strongly of sulfur (doesn't EVERY vicious cryptid?) and attacks healthy animals, draining them of blood.

Like any night-flying monster, it is believed to have a lair. Only a few months ago, Officer Miguel Negrón heard loud, powerful wings beating and the scratching of tin roof at the old abandoned Guánica Sugar Mill. Oh, sweet sanctuary! Let's see: we have an unexplained creature terrorizing locals, an abandoned building, a creepy tropical location... it almost sounds like an episode of Scooby Doo come to life!

Don't Speak in Tongues and Drive...

Everywhere, people seem to love spending copious amounts of money for personalizing the plates on their cars. Yet one woman in Sweden was denied her choice in vehicular statements. Law requires any request to be examined, ruling out anything deemed "offensive" or inappropriate. "Luzifer" didn't make the cut. Annsofie Tedfors hadn't intended to cause a major heated debate. It was both the name of her business and beloved feline and she "just wanted to pick a memorable name". But as they say, the Devil is in the details...

Répondez S'il Vous Plaît...

Josiane Vermeersch was unable to contact her son regarding the death of his uncle. Believing he was merely ignoring her after an argument over the summer, she attended the funeral near Lilles with the rest of her family. While leaving the cemetery one one of them noticed a new, wooden grave marker nearby in the poor section bearing the son's name and date of birth. Josiane collapsed from shock. The son, Olivier, passed away from natural causes over a month prior. Just a little reminder not to go to dead angry...

When Psychic Vision Isn't 20/20...

Australians have been eager to solve the disappearance of six-year-old Sydney-sider Kiesha Abrahams since she vanished around the beginning of August. Weeks later, an Aboriginal elder named Cheryl Carroll-Lagerwey had a dream about Kieska's murder and believed she knew the location of her body. Police began their search at the specified location at Nurragingy Reserve and discovered the dismembered body of an adult female. The victim is believed to be another Sydney woman who went missing in June. In all fairness, Carroll-Lagerwey does not believe herself to be psychic but does feel she has "a third sense". She told a Reuters reporter, "I have certain strong feelings about people who claim they are psychic. I don't think it will help if we enter a discussion on that."

When a Stranger Calls...

After an uneventful day, I received a phone call tonight. Expecting it to either be a telemarketer or friend, I answered nonchalantly. A masculine monotone voice was on the other end.

"Hello, this is Deputy _____ _______ of the Summit County Sheriff's Department. How are you tonight, sir?"

I think my heart skipped twelve beats. Oh crap, what did I do?! What happened?! I swear I was just sitting here checking email!!

"I'm good...?" I tentatively replied.

Then he launched into a pitch looking for donations for the Fraternal Order of Police. In moments I was off the phone... half relieved, half laughing at myself.

What is it about law enforcement officials that makes us immediately question any possible wrong move we've made in the past decade of life? Now, I haven't committed any crime I should be losing sleep over or panicking about. Yet I automatically assumed the defensive without the blink of an eye.

Yes, it's funny. It's downright hilarious in retrospect. No one is dead. I haven't committed armed robbery. I haven't even trespassed in years! Still, a policeman asking for a donation is enough to drain all color from my face.

Who needs to live in a haunted house? I can scare the pants off myself with a little unsolicited help from the living...

It Was a Monster Mash...

First bigfoot, now El Chupacabra turns up again in Cuero, Texas?

And the police officers even have dashcam video this time. How fitting for all this during a summer when the new X Files movie hits theaters.

As reported by CNN:

Ghost Busted...

Though much of the hoopla from Blair Witch Project and the Dudleytown legends have died down, people still want to catch a glimpse of the infamous abandoned village.

Last week, 18-year-old Brandon Pike of Uniontown was pulled over by police while driving in Cornwall, Connecticut in pursuit of the haunted place.

Unfortunately, police don't take too kindly to trespassers. Especially when they're driving aimlessly at 11:37 PM without a license and possessing drug paraphernalia. The standard trespassing ticket alone amounts to $110, yet I doubt Bantam Superior Court would be so lenient.

The well-known movie helped promote Dudleytown with its mention of the allegedly haunted forest in Maryland, leading to renewed interest in the tales. It was first settled in the 1700s and abandoned in the early 1900s. While most of the area is private property, an official hiking trail does trek through part of the old town.

Whether hiking or ghost hunting, it does help if you're not stoned...

Red Barn Films supposedly is releasing a movie based on the tales called Dudleytown Curse - the 49th key, but this project too seems to have vanished into thin air...

Scooby Doo, Where Are You?

Zoinks!

I kid you not. Police in Queensland, Australia are hunting down Scooby-Doo.

An unidentified man dressed in a Scooby costume gallivanted onto the track during the final race at the Ipswich Cup on June 14th. The costume was rented from the aptly-named Hidden Identity Costumes at Cleveland in Redland City using a stolen driver's license and hasn't been returned. The owner stated, "he has definitely lost his $40 [deposit]".

Police have yet to track down the man, making this Scooby-Doo one of Australia's most wanted. Anyone knowing the identity or whereabouts of the prankster is asked to contact Ipswich police.

Not even Shaggy can get him out of this mess...

Plots for Potheads...

Three teenagers in Texas were in desperate need of a marijuana fix. Since they didn't happen to have a bong handy, they decided to improvise.

Allegedly, the druggie trio sneaked into an abandoned cemetery in the woods near Humble over a two-day period, dug up the grave of an 11-year-old boy who passed away in 1921, removed the skull from the interred body, and carried the head home to smoke marijuana out of the cranium.

Police were questioning Kevin Wade Jones Jr., 17, on a charge of vehicular burglary when he recounted the tale. The police thought it was merely an attempt to throw them off course.

When they went to the home of Matthew Gonzalez, 17, and asked him about the story, he spit his food out at the dining table.

Police have charged them all with abuse of a corpse. Gonzalez was also charged with misdemeanor theft for the vehicle break-in while Jones and the unnamed third juvenile each face charges of credit card abuse.

And the skull? It's still missing. Authorities are still attempting to locate it in an effort to place it back in the grave.

The cemetery is believed to have been the final resting place for black war veterans and their families.

Sleepless Near Seattle...

Police in Federal Way, Washington, have a bit of a quandary on their hands. Exactly how do you investigate an alleged rape when the culprit can't be caught... literally?

Two women living in an apartment on 25th Place South repeatedly called the maintenance man to complain that a ghost has been raping them on weekend nights for the past two years. Not feeling equipped at handling the situation, he told them to contact the police. Perplexed police officials will not comment on the crime, though they said they have no leads.

One of the victims has stated that the first incident occurred while she was living in Kent. The activity seemed to follow her... and is now affecting her roommate.

News reporters have been unable to track down the women for comment.

Ghost hunter Ross Allison says that with all the paranormal shows on television, paranormal reports are way up... and he doesn't think it's a coincidence. According to Ross, many people "...start to label every little interesting thing happening in their home as paranormal when it might just be a house creaking."

Sounds like the only thing creaking in this apartment is the bed...

Phantom Law Enforcement...

No one likes being in a police station. But in the town of Homestead, Pennsylvania, even the officers sometimes have that feeling of dread. Why? Because the station is believed to be haunted.

Everything from footsteps to doors slamming has been experienced inside the building by workers. The door leading to the attic mysteriously opens no matter how many times it is bolted shut. A typewriter has a habit of operating under its own volition. Icy breezes blow through the old cell blocks. Even outside the building, a snow blower recently started up... even though it had no key or battery.

Employees finally want proof that they aren't going insane. They've called in the Greater Pittsburgh Paranormal Society to find evidence of a haunting. They claim to have made a discovery in the boiler room (which happens to be a 'hot spot' for activity), though they are waiting to release their findings at a later date.