24 Creepy Facts That Are As Bizarre As They Are Disturbing

1.

In the scene where Diane Freeling (played by JoBeth Williams) is in the pool with all the bodies of those that were buried under their home, those bodies were, in fact, human skeletons bought from a medical and science supply store, and not plastic replicas like the cast believed.

Williams went on to talk about this in the TV Land Show Myths & Legends: "You have to understand that this sequence took probably four or five days to shoot. So I was in mud and goop all day every day for like four or five days with skeletons all around me [as I was] screaming. In my innocence and naiveté, I assumed that these were not real skeletons. I assumed that they were prop skeletons made out of plastic or rubber. I found out — as did the whole crew — that they were using real skeletons, because it’s far too expensive to make fake skeletons out of rubber. And I think everybody got real creeped out by the idea of that."

2.

Charles J. Guiteau felt that God told him to assassinate President James A. Garfield and in 1881, had to choose between a wood handled and ivory handled .442 Webley caliber British Bulldog Revolver. While he couldn't afford the extra dollar for the ivory-handled gun, he wanted it because he felt like it would look better in a museum after the assassination. Citation

3.

Smile mask syndrome, or SMS, is a psychological disorder proposed by professor Makoto Natsume. He noticed that in some of his subjects that they would have a nearly permanent smile, even while describing some of the most horrible things that have happened to them. It's believed that this is especially prevalent with Japanese women working in the service industry because of the demand for women to smile.

4.

A statistical analysis in 2006 discovered that out of 100 serial killers studied, 17 of them were born in November, compared to an average of 9 for the other months.

5.

This bizarre story is absolutely true. Pete Maravich died January 5, 1988.

6.

Sultan Ibrahim I, also known as Ibrahim The Mad, had all 280 women in his harem executed by drowning. The reason behind this is debated, including one belief that he had the women killed "simply so he could have the pleasure of selecting their successors."

7.

The disorder is named after Leopoldo Fregoli, an entertainer from the late 19th century who mastered the art of "protean" or "quick change" where he switched costumes and characters so quickly that it was thought that there must be other Fregolis for his act to even be possible.

8.

Former British intelligence officer, John Bayliss, told Express.co.uk "I think it's sort of accepted that there are more spies in London now than there were at the height of the Cold War."

9.

The robot known as hitchBOT, was found two weeks into a journey across the United States with it's arms and head torn off. It had previously survived a 26 day trip across Canada.

10.

According to Jacob F. Field in 'One Bloody Thing After Another': "The World's Gruesome History, the intended victim was stripped naked and then firmly fastened within the interior space of two narrow rowing boats (or hollowed-out tree trunks) joined together one on top of the other with the head, hands and feet protruding. The condemned was forced to ingest milk and honey, and more honey would be poured on the victim to attract insects, with special attention devoted to the eyes, ears, mouth, face, genitals, and anus. In some cases, the executioner would mix milk and honey and pour that mixture all over the victim. The victim would then be left to float on a stagnant pond or be exposed to the sun. The defenseless individual's feces accumulated within the container, attracting more insects which would eat and breed within the victim's exposed flesh, which—pursuant to interruption of the blood supply by burrowing insects—became increasingly gangrenous. The individual would lie naked, covered from head to toe in milk, honey, and his own feces. The feeding would be repeated each day in some cases to prolong the torture, so that fatal dehydration or starvation did not occur. Death, when it eventually occurred, was probably due to a combination of dehydration, starvation, and septic shock. Delirium would typically set in after a few days."

11.

The Strategic Missile Troops were formed in 1959, as the main force for attacking an enemy's nuclear weapons, military facilities and infrastructure.

12.

This bizarre condition was first described (and named after) Dr. Jules Cotard, in 1882. The delusions include a belief that one has lost their soul, is dead, has lost their organs, blood, or body parts.

13.

The Asian giant hornet injects a venom that has been connected to fatalities from anaphylactic shock or cardiac arrest, and even cases of multiple organ failure.

14.

In 1912, during an epidemic of homeless children had hit France. According to Popular Mechanics, the Loterie de Bebes had been a success.

15.

It's true that Tutankhamun was full staff when he was mummified. It's believed that this was done to make him look more like the god of the underworld, Osiris.

16.

Built in 1546, Kindlifresserbrunnen is one of the oldest fountains in the city of Bern, Switzerland. While there are a couple of theories as to why it's there, no one knows for certain.

17.

Posthumous marriage (or necrogamy) is legal in France, Sudan, and China.

18.

While this fact is absolutely true, the image appears to be incorrect. J.G. Tierney died on December 20th 1921, not 1922. He and his son died on the same day, 14 years apart.

19.

In 2017 there were 97 reported deaths selfie-related deaths, while there only 5 shark-related deaths.

20.

A study conducted by forensic psychologist Nathan Brooks from Bond University found 21% of 261 CEOs professionals had clinically significant psychopathic traits.

21.

This is true. We also have enough carbon in our bodies to make 900 pencils.

22.

In large part this is because it's incredibly expensive and risky to remove the bodies of hikers who die on the mountain. The price tag is usually between $30,000 and $70,000 to retrieve the remains, because most of the deaths occur in the "death zone" above 26,000 ft.

23.

Marc Quinn removed the blood from his body over a 5 month period for Self. The sculpture has to remain in a refrigeration unit, to remind the viewer of the fragility of existence. Quinn makes a new version of Self every five years. The original piece was purchased in 1991 by Charles Saatchi for $16,800.

24.

Hematidrosis, or blood sweat, typically comes from the forehead, nails, umbilicus and other skin surfaces. It's a condition where the capillary blood vessel that feeds the sweat glands rupture.