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The Untold Story Of Robert The Doll - Florida · Mystery Archives Episodes

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Can a soul or the essence of an entity become trapped inside of
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an object? Could one channeling enough
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energy, dedication and Care into.
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Something allow an otherworldly presence to possess it,
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attracting Spirits, like moths to a flame.
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We have covered haunted objects here before such as Akiko the
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doll among others. But this story is to emphasis to
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not be given the time of day, and although it has been told
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many times, perhaps, you will learn a detail or two that
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you've never heard before. This is the untold story of
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Robert, the doll and the malevolent monstrosity that
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stares at the world from behind its beady, little eyes.
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At first glance, most people tend to agree that although
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dolls of All Sorts can be creepy to say the least there's
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something particularly unnerving about the doll.
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Just become known to the world as Robert but behind the initial
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feelings of unease. At first glance lies, many tales
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of accidents tragedy and Misfortune all.
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Supposedly, at Roberts hands far too many within his presence to
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just be a string of Awful coincidences.
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But if an evil force supposedly lives within the confines of
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this century-old child's toy to come to recognize and understand
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just what it could be. We must first tell its story and
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to tell Robert story properly we must first start at the very
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beginning. As with many Legends, there are
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multiple versions of the origin story and how Robert the Doll
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came to be having read through. Most, if not, all of them, I'll
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be sharing with you the most Most agreed upon origin for
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accuracy's sake and the beginning and we will explore
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other theories in origin stories later in this video, The Years
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1904 and a man named Thomas Auto is on a trip in Germany, whether
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it was for business or Leisure, we can't say, but during his
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trip, he decided to pick up a gift for his young.
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Grandson's birthday to take back home with him to the states as
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he perused, various shops. Out his time there.
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He stumbled across a toy that he believed would be the perfect
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fit for the young boy. Perched on display behind a pale
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glass window. Sad a doll.
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The doll was about the size of a young child and was accompanied
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by a small dog doll as well. Knowing that his grandson was
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lonely on the large family estate and was very fond of dogs
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as well. Thomas believed he had found
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what he had been searching for and quickly purchased the toy
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and ooh time he would find his way back to the United States.
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Once his trip was over, bringing his Precious, Cargo with him,
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making his way back to the Family Estate located in Key
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West Florida, to greet his family.
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After months abroad, Thomas an act of innocence and excitement,
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gifted the toy to his grandson Eugene for his eighth birthday.
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As soon as Eugene laid eyes on the gift, he had received, he
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became ecstatic with no other children, his own age.
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Age in the home or nearby. He now for wants had his very
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own friend, his own best friend and one that could accompany him
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wherever he went sitting at around 3 feet tall with his
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little dog, Eugene named his new friend Robert but Robert of
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course, needed clothes to fit for years of Adventures to come.
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So Eugene's Mother Maria quickly found, just what he was, missing
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a small Sailors outfit that had once belonged to her son.
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But had long since been outgrown after placing, Robert and his
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new clothes, the two were off to play and soon became Inseparable
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wherever Eugene win, Robert accompanied him from hours of
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play inside and outside of the house to the dinner table and
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bedtime. His new best friend was
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everything. The young man wanted and much
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more besides constant companionship Eugene began to
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confide in the doll often. Speaking to him as if he was a
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person and his own right, his parents who were first just as
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elated as their young son, was his excitement over his new toy,
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began to grow concerned over how close their son was to the doll.
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But they would initially right off the behavior.
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As most would, since lonely children with their imaginations
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still, very much active will typically invent imaginary
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friends or adventurous stories to fill the void.
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Void or lack of friends and real adventures with in their daily
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lives. But over the months, since
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Robert had arrived, they noticed a bizarre shift in Eugene's
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personality. He began to grow extremely
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possessive and obsessive over Robert would lash out at his
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parents. Sometimes violently if the doll
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was not in his sight at all times, it would soon appear that
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Eugene's obsession with his cloth companion and shift in
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Behavior. Easier wasn't the only strange
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activity that was taking place. One night as she tucked her son
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into bed Maria overheard Eugene whispering to Robert.
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Something that at this point had become a daily occurrence but as
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she closed the door to his room and began to walk away, she
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heard a deep guttural voice respond to her son, shocked and
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terrified. She rushed back into her son's
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room only to find him. Playing with the doll as per
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usual, when she asked him, just who was speaking.
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He simply answered Robert, this scary happening wouldn't be the
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last about a year into Robert, the Doll inhabiting, their Key
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West, to Stave the Autos noticed yet another shift and their
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son's Behavior. But this time, it was almost the
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exact opposite of what the initial shifted been Eugene, had
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gone from a quiet And shy, but Charming young man, to a
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belligerent angry and possessive boy.
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But now he had become one that was Meek full of anxiety.
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And constantly seemed like he was walking on eggshells.
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He had now also taken to Violent fits on occasion, as if
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something was trying to overtake his body and soul, the guttural
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voice. That Maria had heard a year ago,
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could be heard much more. Frequently now and just as
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frequently almost nightly it became commonplace to hear what
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sounded like glass breaking and constant commotion, coming from
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Eugene's room upon hearing the turmoil.
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His parents would rush to discover the source upon opening
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their sons door. They would find his furniture
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dumped upside down. Other toys of his would be
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smashed her in pieces and Eugene would Must always be in the
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corner of the room in his bed petrified.
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While Robert, the Doll would be in his usual space nearby upon
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asking just what had happened. They would be met with an
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all-too-familiar answer this point they would ask just who
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did this Eugene and his answer would always be Robert, noticing
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the activity becoming more and more intense and being a
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God-fearing woman herself. Maria was deeply disturbed by
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what was taking place in her home and what was taking place
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to her family? Particularly her son, besides
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the nightly Terror? That now, plugged them, she was
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very much disturbed by this guttural voice that she kept
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hearing knowing that her son had not yet matured.
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She knew that there was no way, his voice could reach that deep
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level of tonality and Malice. And she often heard At times the
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voice would even shout and speak over Eugene.
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And unless he was exceptionally good of ventriloquism, something
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was horrific lie. Wrong it was if the Devil
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Himself now occupied the walls of their home like a stain or
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liquid. The presence had slowly seeped
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in and permeated throughout their lives.
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One night as per usual, the family settles down to sleep.
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As the clouds spiral and the moon.
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No haunts. The sky above them.
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Gleaming down overhead. The family's peace is Shattered
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by the horrific screams of their son and The Echoes of the sounds
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of things. Being broken, wide-eyed and
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terrified. Eugene's parents rushed to their
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sons Aid Lantern and hand. The closer they get to his room,
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the louder, the low and horrible voice becomes Yes.
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And the louder, the screams of Eugene become as well.
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The deep voice that have been growing louder suddenly was
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silent like the winter snow as hands.
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Touch the doorknob quickly overcoming Their Fear for the
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sake of their bully. The couple throw the door open
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to find their son huddled underneath.
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His sheets, his room was almost completely destroyed.
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Most of his belongings were in pieces or Tad.
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There's from what was left of his toys to his furniture to
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even his clothes, poor Eugene was shaking in the corner of his
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room, opposite is bed and Robber, along with his Beady,
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eyed companion or in his bed staring at the mall silently.
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By this point, Maria knew that whatever Robert was or whatever
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inhabited him was truly evil, but unsure of how to handle the
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Action or what? Exactly, they were dealing with
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and a fit of rage. She grabbed the doll and rushed
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to the attic casting robber, and his Canine Companion, into the
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darkness Above. This would remain his home until
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a better idea presented itself. As to what to do with him.
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The low groans and screams and breaking ceased and Eugene's
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room. But would frequently be heard in
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the Attic with Such a large estate to care for the family.
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Did have a team of servants to care for the property, but
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they're loyal crew, having experienced the strangeness
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themselves up and quit the servants soon.
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Became a revolving door with new faces.
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Almost always come in and going just as quickly as they started,
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despite his banishment to the attic.
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Alongside the occasional crashing sounds and yelling, the
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family said, That they would also hear Robert walking around
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the pitter-patter of his small feat.
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Often being heard echoing all throughout the house, especially
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at night, when he seemed to truly come alive.
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So to speak as the years passed and despite all of the childhood
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trauma and fear inflicted on him by the Demonic doll, unbeknownst
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to any rational mind after his parents.
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Passing Eugene would choose to take Robert Back into his
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possession as an adult, perhaps he did this to ensure that.
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Robert wouldn't inflict Terror upon anyone else.
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Maybe he felt like he had the most experience dealing with him
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and therefore he was the most equipped to handle anything that
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could possibly happen as a result of his presence Eugene.
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And his adult years became an artist and would later, marry
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and have a family of his own. He kept Robert propped up in the
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window of his Art Studio. Known as the turret room, which
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overlooked his front yard. And then Eugene's wife was said
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to disapprove of Roberts presence in the house and
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demanded, that he be gotten rid of her banished into the attic
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or basement, for a short time, this took place but naturally,
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Robert didn't take kindly to this and apparently began to
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make threats towards her by visiting her and her dreams and
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verbally telling you Gene that if Is not moved back, horrible
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things would happen to his family.
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So eventually robber was placed back in the torture room.
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Aside from this, I couldn't find any additional information on
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the happenings that took place. During those years inside the
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home, I would hope. And imagine that perhaps Robert
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had gone dormant during this time, especially since Eugene
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did eventually have children of his own and hopefully didn't
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allow them to be compromised by having such a thing in the The
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house there were however, reports of passerbys school
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children and neighbors, feeling a strange presence when passing
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by the house on a daily basis. Others would say that they could
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see Robert move but in the blink of an eye, he would be back to
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where he was sitting Eugene, Otto will continue to spend the
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rest of his life painting in the torture room with Robert, the
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Doll until his death in 1974, however, this bizarre Legend
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does not Stop with his death upon Eugene's passing his
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family. Sold the house to a woman named
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Myrtle, reuter. Upon moving into the home.
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She noticed, sitting in the window of the term.
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Room was a small doll with a sailor's uniform.
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She thought this to be strange since the auto family had not
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left any other belongings behind when they had moved.
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But regardless she decided to keep it.
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Myrtle soon began to realize that there was something
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different about this tall upon housecleaning.
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She would typically notice that he moved around the room
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seemingly by himself at night. She would hear what she
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described as small footsteps all throughout the house.
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Guess who would visit her claim to that?
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Robert would move of his own volition, that his blank
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expression would change to one of Rage.
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If Anyone discussed him in a negative way.
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Myrtle would eventually reach out and speak with the Widow to
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net Auto, who would confirm her worst fears that something
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otherworldly inhabited? Robert, the Doll after dealing
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with his Antics for years. She finally decided to reach out
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to a local Museum and would donate Robert in 1994 to the for
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East martello Museum in Key West, Florida, where he remains
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today, But as with each previous relocation, his story does not
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end here. Either placed inside his own
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glass display for the public to see him each and every day.
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One would think that, perhaps Roberts Antics would cease.
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He was, of course, a natural source of curiosity would be
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seen and admired by many people daily, but you would be very
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wrong. Staff at the Museum of claim to
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find Robert in various positions within his case, as if he was
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attempting to break out of it or had been out of it prior and had
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just re-entered in the Phantom. Footsteps, has previously
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claimed by all three families has also been reported as well
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as the dolls expression. Changing from neutral to nasty
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in an instant. The afflictions first started
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with the staff themselves. From horrible, bouts of rare
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diseases to relationship, breakdowns, and marriage
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failures, as well as unique instances of psychosis.
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Over the years, the curse of Robert, the Doll began to take
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shape and become a well-known phenomenon, but it would soon
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spread to many others. Besides the staff themselves
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many people upon visiting Roberts exhibit finding him
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strange to say the least Just would often mock him.
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Berate him, or just laugh at his appearance.
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Little did they know that they would be inviting the wrath of
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something otherworldly shortly after their visit droves of
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people began to experience shockingly, similar happenings
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to that of the staff. Varying intensity almost as if
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their punishment was being tapered to fit their crimes from
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less serious experiences. Like Paranormal Activity
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beginning in their home, horrible luck and job loss to
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name a few too much more serious experiences like exotic disease.
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Diagnosis rare, cancers relationship, disintegration and
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others car, accidents Falls, and even untimely death Eventually a
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warning would be added to Roberts exhibit, explaining the
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alleged curse, and the proper etiquette to approach him with
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whether that's to observe or take a photo as to not offend
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whoever or whatever, inhabits the doll itself over the decades
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and entire wall has been dedicated to the letters people
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have dropped off or sent the museum.
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If they weren't able to come in person, begging for Roberts.
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Forgive This hoping to end whatever horrible situation they
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found themselves in after their visit to this day.
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There are over 1,000 letters with more continuing to be added
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each and every year. But could there be more to this
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Legend? As I mentioned in the beginning
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of the video, there is another origin story that could explain
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just what inhabits the doll and how it got there.
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I will also add several elements that I found interesting
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related. Ting to the case itself, the
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alternative origin story says that a young woman of Bahamian,
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descent gave Thomas otter the doll as a retaliation for a
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misdeed as to why this would have taken place is not known
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but speculation has led many to believe that the girl or perhaps
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a relative had been a member of staff at some point or another
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at the family's keywest estate. The retaliation was that the
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doll had been imbued with Spirit that have been conjured using
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Voodoo and by trapping The Entity within the doll, making
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it its vessel it became aware of its surroundings and knew what
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it was sent there to do. Although with many details in
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this case, lots of details can't be corroborated due to the age
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of the story itself. But there are a few details that
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I managed to dig up. That are interesting.
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The doll itself appears to have been manufactured by the Steiff
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company. A German family company that was
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headed by German designer. Richard Steiff.
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The original designer of the Beloved, teddy bear, and the
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original design of the doll in particular and others that were
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similar to it. We're not designed as toys but
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rather stage props for the time. So it's hard to say, if Robert
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was ever intended as a toy in the first place, the family tree
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of the Autos, also has conflicting information in
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regards to birth and death dates as well.
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Names. But I did my best to corroborate
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this information and I'll be linking the info in the
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description below. Today, Robert continues to be on
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display and his Antics continue to persist.
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He seems to be just as powerful as he was all those years ago.
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The museum keeps a catalog record of all ailments that have
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been reported as a result of offending him for future
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reference. His reach also continues to
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expand asses as Legend grows and becomes more and more well known
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across the world. Robert, the Doll has been the
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inspiration behind many books, movies and podcasts, as well as
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a local Legend in Florida. And this lesson truly applies to
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anyone and everyone have respect.
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When you meet someone, because you never truly know who, or
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what, you could be dealing with. And please, if you find yourself
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at the East, martello Museum in Key West, Florida, and you
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happen to come into contact with the entity known as Robert, the
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doll be respectful because if you're not, you may just pay the
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ultimate price. Thank you guys so much for
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watching. Please do me a huge favor and
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like the video. If you enjoyed watching it,
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subscribe if you haven't already and share this video wherever
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you can, all those things are huge and they helped me out so
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much more than you guys know. I would also like to thank
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DraftKings for sponsoring today's video.
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Please do me another huge favor and support the channel by
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supporting our sponsor today. Lastly, I would like to
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personally thank each and every one of you guys.
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We finally reached what seemed like the mythical Milestone.
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At one point of 100,000 subscribers and I could not be
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more thankful and humbled to have reached this point, I'm
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planning something much more formal as well as a giveaway
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here, pretty soon for that. But I did just want to say,
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thank you guys for supporting me and just know that without each
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and every one of you. Mystery archives, is nothing
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more than me making content that I would enjoy learning about and
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watching. So, again, thank you guys, so so
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much. For everything with that.
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I hope all of you are doing. Well, I hope that as we head
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towards the summer that you are healthy mentally and spiritually
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and that we all continue to have a wonderful year despite any and
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all the hardships that we faced thus far.
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And as always this has been Cody here.
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A mystery archives until next time.
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Remember to stay safe out there and take care.