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A Story of Inanimate Possession

Bonds between young children and their toys have spanned the ages.  In various materials, colors and sizes, dolls in particular, are naturally a favorite of most little girls all over the world.

Often times parents will go to great lengths to ensure their little one  get the exact one they want, think back to the Cabbage Patch craze that swept the ’80′s or the beloved G.I. Joe.

From books to cartoons, museums to private collectors, you can find them pretty much everywhere.  Ask a child why, chances are they will tell you simply, “Dolls are fun to play with.”  If way back when, you’d have said the same, chances are that is because you were playing with your doll, instead of your doll playing with you.

As far as spooky tales go,  perhaps you’ll  agree, few things are more creepy than haunted dolls.  The runner up for some might be  Demonic clowns, but even for a Horror Junkie like myself, the idea of  possessed dolls, I must admit, just ain’t cool.

The creepy factor is dramatically intensified when these tales go far deeper than a trip through the demented mind of your favorite dark writer or director.  Let’s face it, sometimes the truth is just plain scarier.  Claimed to be  the real life inspiration behind the Chucky films, the story of Robert the doll begins.

In the late 1800 to early 1900′s, Robert Eugene Otto, his wife and son of the same name, exchanged city life for the comforts of a luxurious Key West, FL home.  Mr. Otto along with his wife are said to have been ruthless and intolerant, not only toward their staff, but their young boy as well.

Preferring to pursue their own interests, the couple left the help to look after their son.  Young Gene as he came to be called, was cared for mainly by his Jamaican Nanny.  It is alleged the boys Mother witnessed the Nanny, along with other servants, partaking in what appeared to be a Black Magic ritual and ordered her out at once.  Prior to her departure, she fashioned a gift for the young boy.

Of wire construction, three feet tall, and designed to resemble the child himself, Robert’s creation began.  Straw insides covered with cloth, dressed in the boys  clothes, stood a doll with button eyes, made complete by the youngster’s own locks of hair.

Between 4 and 5 years of age, the child was instantly taken with the doll.  Playing day and night, he found himself completely enamored.  Gene carted his Robert doll everywhere he went.  From errands with his parents, to a seat at the dining table, at bath time and bed, there was Robert.

All of the members of the house often heard the boy playing with his friend, carrying on full conversations as if another child were over.  The Otto’s had no reason to think this odd and so at first, they didn’t.  Shortly after, they began to hear the conversations more clearly and the sound of the responses to Gene were demanding in nature and of a tone not his own.  They then believed what their servants believed, that the other voice belong to the doll.

Running into their son’s bedroom, in the middle of the night, a room where all others refused to go,  the parents would often find their terrified child screaming and cowering,  insisting that Robert had attacked him.  In these instances, the doll always appeared to be glaring down or staring up at Gene.

Furniture began being moved and damaged, toys turned up mutilated.  After scolding the boy for his blatant indiscretions, his parents became disgusted with the response they were met with every time, a very adamant, “Robert did it!”

Rumors began to swirl throughout town that a doll could be seen, sometimes mocking passers by from an upstairs bedroom window when the family was not at home.  In addition to the daytime conversations, the Otto’s began to hear footsteps, fits of psychotic laughter and the silhouette of the doll running through the house when their child was sound asleep.

Frightened and at a loss as to what to do, they posed their situation to a Great Aunt who had come to stay.  Upon her orders, Robert was placed in a shoe box and banished to the attic.  At some point during the night, she passed away of an undetermined cause, but her death is believed to be caused by a stroke.

The servants believed that during his creation, a Soul stone or crystal was placed in Robert’s body and because of this, the doll was actually inhabited by a Soul.

As time went on Gene grew up, leaving his childhood home and Robert behind him.  He moved back into the house upon his Father’s death and resumed his relationship.  He eventually married, but it was short lived as Gene was back up to his antics with Robert.

His wife began to question his sanity as the doll accompanied them to the table and their bedside.  Having had enough, she sent him to the attic when her husband left the house.  Upon finding out about this, Gene insisted Robert be given his own room where there were windows for him to look out.  While a great deal of the subtleties of this story differ, the claims regarding his wife seem to have two stories, one where she sells the house, another where she goes mad.

After Gene passed, the home was sold to a Family with a ten year old daughter.  While cleaning out and restoring the Art House, the new owners put Robert in the Attic.  The girl found him and brought him down only to be tormented by him during the night.  Her parents would find the doll turning up in various spots throughout their home.  Their final straw involved the allegation of finding Robert standing at their bedside holding a knife.  Their daughter, some thirty years after the fact, still maintains that the doll was alive, attacked and tried to kill her.

Activity still appears to exist in the old Otto home, as well as Robert’s new residence.  Robert lives in a tightly guarded glass case at the  Fort East Martello Museum where you are cordially invited to visit him.  He is said to change faces and positions in his enclosure as well as interfere with anything electrical.

A word of warning though, should you visit Robert, there is a certain amount of etiquette that is required.  Because there are so many reports of retaliation, the following is advised.  You must properly introduce yourself.  If you would like to take a picture, ask permission first.  If he grants your request, he will tilt his head to one side.  Take the picture without his consent and he will interfere with your camera making it impossible for you to do so.  Make fun of him in any manner and he will curse you and your family.

If you can’t make it to Key West, you can visit Robert on his website

http://www.robertthedoll.org/

there you will find further information as well as links to his twitter and youtube.

I think it is interesting how the reports range from plausible to Hollywood.

What are your thoughts?

Have you visited Robert personally?

If so, I would love to hear your first hand account.

By: Brianna Williams