Chucky Was Inspired By A Real Haunted Doll, And It's Terrifying

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Chucky Was Inspired By A Real Haunted Doll, And It's Terrifying

MGM/UA / Cayobo - Flickr

If you are afraid of dolls, I would recommend that you turn back before reading any further. "Robert", the doll that inspired the horror cult-classic, Child's Play, is one of the most terrifying things you will ever lay eyes on.

Robert isn't your average doll. For one thing, he is over 100 years old. For another, he is considered one of the most haunted objects in the world.

Apart from being visually creepy, Robert is dangerous. In his over 100 plus years, he has had car accidents, broken bones, lost jobs, failed marriages and many other horrifying situations attributed to his "curse."

His original owner, Robert Eugene Otto (yes he and his doll both shared the same name), received the doll from his grandfather as a gift when he was just a boy. Otto kept the doll well into adulthood as he became an accomplished painter.

Robert the Doll
Robert Eugene Otto, the doll's original owner.Robert the Doll

Otto's relationship with the doll concerned the people around him. He brought it with him everywhere and even spoke of the doll in the first person as if he was a real person. According to family stories, Otto used to blame things that happened to him on the doll.  

As an adult, Otto kept Robert in the upstairs window of his home "The Artist House." Children would say that Robert would be there one day, and be gone the next. Kids actively avoided the house because of Robert's presence.

When Robert Eugene Otto died in 1974, Myrtle Reuter bought "Artist House," and then found herself as Robert's new caretaker. Robert's creepy story didn't end there, if anything it got more terrifying.

When people would come and visit Myrtle, they would often report hearing footsteps moving throughout the house when there was no possible human source for the noise. Myrtle even said that Robert's facial expressions would change whenever someone would speak ill of his original owner, Otto, and that Robert would often move around the house on his own.

After 20 years of dealing with the situation, she donated Robert to the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida.

Robert's infamy has only grown since he made his move to the museum. In fact his pool of "victims" grew. Visitors have gravitated to the museum in order to get a good look at this potentially possessed doll.

Child's Play Chucky doll
Chucky, the evil doll, was inspired by Robert's creepy true story.MGM/UA

His presence has inspired the popular series of horror movies starring the possessed doll, Chucky. Robert also has his own  Wikipedia page,and social media accounts. You can even purchase replicas and other merchandise based on him.

Robert's caretakers say he gets roughly one to three letters per day from people who had previously visited him at the museum.

Most, if not all of these letters are people asking for forgiveness. Rumor states that if you take a picture of Robert, or openly disrespect him, you will be followed by bad luck and misfortune.

Robert the Doll
Robert, seen in front of some of his letters from fans - and victims.Cayobo - Flickr

Though some of the letters ask Robert for advice, or request that he hex/curse other people on behalf of the letter writers. To date, the museum has received over 1,000 letters to Robert that they keep in a catalog.

What do you think of Robert's story?