Episode 65: The Toy (ROBERT THE DOLL)
Mystery Category: Haunted Objects / Paranormal The Story: Before he was a museum curiosity in Key West, Robert was a companion to a young boy who claimed the doll was alive. With a reputation for moving furniture and causing misfortune for those who don't show him proper respect, we look at the archives behind the world’s most famous haunted toy.
A mannequin with human hair became a doll, and lifelong companion and/or scapegoat, for an eccentric Floridian artist. The rest is (haunted? possessed?) history, and it’s exactly as unsettling as you might guess. And then some.
Pre-order Laurah’s book, LAY THEM TO REST: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laurah-norton/lay-them-to-rest/9780306828805/
Hosted by Laurah Norton
Researched by Bryan Worters and Maura Currie
Written and Produced by Maura Currie
Engineered by Brandon Schexnayder
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Scott Eyman, “The Legend of…” The Palm Beach Post, 1989.
NA, “Doll with a spell,” The Miami Herald, 1996.
NA, “The doll who lived,” Fort Lauderdale News, 1985.
NA, “Artist Robert Eugene Otto,” The Miami Herald, 1974.
NA, “Ghost No. 3,” The Palm Beach Post, 2000.
Ellen Creager, “Doll is part of…” The Tampa Tribune, 2007.
Jill Schensul, “In Key West, beware…” The Naples Daily News, 2014.
Brad Bertelli, “A Halloween Story: Robert…” The Reporter, 2016.
Shirrel Rhoades, “‘M3gan’ is familiar…” The Key West Citizen, 2023.
NA, “Doll taking chills…” The Miami Herald, 2008.
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