Hide and Eek! Actual Crimes Committed in Haunted Houses
Haunted houses are a seasonal favorite among many who seek an adrenaline rush with a spooky flair. While these attractions are generally safe, crimes and other unexpected events have happened at haunted houses. Let's examine some genuine frights that have taken place at Halloween haunts.
Accidental Stabbing
In Tennessee in 2018, at an event called The Nashville Nightmare Haunted House, someone who was believed to be a staff member handed a woman in a group of visitors a knife. Believing it was a prop knife, the woman stabbed her friend in the arm. Turns out, it was real, and the man was taken to the hospital.
According to Grunge, the "staff member" was nowhere to be found, and the Nashville Nightmare told ABC News that it would go over its safety protocols because of the incident.
Torture at McKamey Manor
The infamous horror attraction McKamey Manor, located in rural Tennessee, could fill this entire list all on its own. This haunt requires visitors to sign a 40-page waiver, undergo a physical exam, take a background check, and even a drug test. According to Grunge, the website for the attraction reads, "Understand that each tour will be different based upon your personal fears, and can last up to 10 hours. Each guest will be mentally and physically challenged until you reach your personal breaking point."
One woman, Amy Milligan, decided she was up for the challenge and attended McKamey Manor in 2015. After being tortured for hours, she decided she had reached her limit and asked to be freed. The workers laughed and continued to torture her despite her pleas. Milligan said afterward that she was dragged by her hair, trapped in a freezer while blindfolded, and at times she felt like she couldn't breathe.
Disneyland® Death
Disneyland is commonly called the happiest place on earth, but that wasn't one cast member's experience at The Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris. The man, 45, was performing maintenance work in 2016 and was electrocuted. Coworkers found his body later, and the attraction was shut down for days.
Actors Clobbered by Visitors
The O'Keefe Ranch Halloween Maze in British Columbia, Canada, became a nightmare for some actors in 2016 when a guest assaulted them with his crutch. One actor whose job was to stick out her hand between two boards and pretend to ask for help, but instead got bruises from her knuckles to wrist. According to the hospital, she was the third person to come into the ER with injuries that evening.
Down With the Clown
Mystery Manor in Omaha, Nebraska, was the site of a third-degree assault in 2016. Brenton Donaldson, 27, was arrested after pulling a woman's hair and holding her head against a table for 10-15 seconds when performing his role as a sadistic clown. He claimed he was just acting, but he was fired anyway.
Coffin Death
A man in Hong Kong died at just 21 years old when attending a theme park haunted house in 2017. The man got lost and wandered into an off-limits area, where he was hit by a coffin that was part of a ride. Medics rushed to help him, but he was declared dead at a local hospital.
As the season of haunted houses approaches, it's important to do your research before deciding to attend a spooky attraction. Be mindful of your own health, the safety of the location, and your surroundings to ensure the terror ends once you exit the attraction.
References: DISTURBING THINGS THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED AT HAUNTED HOUSES | Boo! Actual Crimes Committed In Haunted House Attractions
