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Not your run of the mill doll
We’ve all seen the fictional “haunted doll” trope. Small, human-like figures who murder anyone in sight. Well, if you loved the “Child’s Play” franchise, Robert the Doll will be your living nightmare.
Rumored to be cursed by voodoo practices, Robert the Doll sits in the East Martello Museum in Key West Florida. He was donated to the museum after his owner, Eugene, had passed, and his wife abandoned the doll (for obvious reasons) in the attic before moving out.
Who is this doll and where did he come from?
Robert’s life spans back to 1906 when a young boy named Gene received him as a gift. Gene quickly grew attached to Robert, and before long the family noticed extremely odd behavior.
They could hear Gene up late talking to the doll, and allegedly Robert would respond with a scratchy uncomfortable voice. Whenever an object in the house would break or get misplaced, Gene would tell the family that “Robert did it.”
Gene’s love for Robert continued on into his adult life, and he kept his companion at his side at all times. Robert even sat by his side while he painted. However, when Gene got married, his wife (understandably) was not keen on the terrifying doll and insisted he be locked up in their attic. Anne moved out in 1974 after Gene passed away, leaving the doll locked away where it stayed dormant for years.
…under no circumstance should you mock, laugh at, or disrespect him in any way. Unless of course, you would like to have hell to pay.
When the new homeowners found him, the young daughter also grew extremely attached to the doll. However, she would wake up screaming, claiming that the doll was torturing her. Additionally, they claimed to have heard footsteps running around the house late at night. Shortly after this terrifying stint they gave him away for good. That seems like it was a good idea, and a reasonable plan.
Robert’s Reign of Terror Lives On
Should you choose to see this extremely creepy artifact up close, Robert still sits at the East Martello Museum in Key West behind a glass case. However, there are some cardinal rules you must adhere to before being granted access to see him. You must greet him hello as well as introduce yourself, ask permission if you would like to take a photo, and you cannot leave him without saying good-bye first. The bizarre circumstances surrounding Robert have earned him a reputation as the most haunted doll in the world.
And under no circumstance should you mock, laugh at, or disrespect him in any way. Unless of course, you would like to have hell to pay. People who have visited the possessed doll, and were unfortunate enough to feel his wrath, have reported to have bad luck that spawned anywhere from lost luggage to car accidents, and even divorce and job loss.
They could hear Gene up late talking to the doll, and allegedly Robert would respond with a scratchy uncomfortable voice.
If you find yourself reaping the consequences of Robert the Doll’s wrath, luckily there’s a chance for redemption. Hundreds of people have written letters to the haunted doll begging for forgiveness, and for their bad luck to just go away.
Robert receives one to three letters daily, and several of them are displayed in his glass case with him. Should you choose to press your luck, Robert can be viewed on permanent display in the East Martello Museum.
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