Top 30 Creepiest Mysteries You've Never Heard Of

#30: The Faces of Bélmez

It all began in 1971, when a woman claimed that a person’s face appeared on her floor. Her family destroyed the image, thinking it would help. It returned shortly after, earning the attention of the authorities. Since then, the owners have claimed that more faces continue to pop up, and their home in Bélmez has become a tourist site. Those who visit are treated to a plethora of disfigured faces, subjecting them to the uncanny valley. Is this the work of ghosts, or merely a mass case of pareidolia? Several investigations have taken place, attempting to prove that they were created by hand. Others are convinced that they’re proof of a decades-long paranormal event. You can travel there and see for yourself… if you dare.

#29: Disappearance of Frederick Valentich

What started as routine training ended in pure horror. Frederick Valentich was both an aspiring pilot and a believer in life beyond the stars. During a late flight to King Island in 1978, he alerted air control that there was another craft flying above him. He described it as large with several bright lights on it, and that it was following him. The last thing he said before contact was lost was that it wasn’t a regular plane. A search was conducted afterward, but he was never found. There are plenty of believers who are adamant that Valentich was abducted that night, while those who work in the field assert that he simply became confused or staged the scene himself.

#28: The Lead Masks Case

There are some deaths that, while seemingly far-fetched, are still explainable. This was definitely not one of those cases. In 1966, the corpses of two men were found side-by-side. Manoel Pereira da Cruz and Miguel José Viana matched in every aspect, from their fancy outfits and lead eye masks to the lack of any physical trauma. Near them was a set of cryptic instructions, but even that didn’t help shed light on their predicament. To make things more confusing, an autopsy wasn’t held for weeks, making it impossible to tell how they’d passed. This has resulted in a series of unprovable assertions, ranging from foul play to an accidental overdose while searching for non-human life.

#27: Disappearance of the Sodder Children

When a fire broke out on Christmas Eve, the victims had no idea just how much their lives would change. George and Jennie Sodder were able to escape with four of their nine children living with them, but the other five vanished. The parents asserted that foul play was at hand. They spent years searching, putting up billboards, and offering thousands of dollars for information. In 1967, an apparent photo of their son, Louis, was sent to them— but even that led to dead ends. George and Jennie passed decades ago, but their remaining relatives continue to look. Those most invested believe they were taken by the Sicilian mob, while others believe they sadly passed that fateful night in 1945.

#26: Flannan Isles Lighthouse

When a ship sailed past the Flannan Isles in 1900 without a single light despite the poor weather, they knew something was wrong. A rescue team reached the island days later, shocked by their discovery. There was no sign of the three— James Ducat, Thomas Marshall, and Donald McArthur— but there was evidence indicating they’d been there, most notably, their unmade beds. None of the three men was able to be found. While many believed they’d accidentally tumbled over the side of the cliff, others had alternate ideas. Everything from a sea monster to a band of vengeful ghosts was suggested. With no sign of them— dead or alive— since that fateful night, it may be a mystery that’s never fully solved.

#25: The Fate of Jimmy Hoffa

As the leader of the Teamsters labor union, he made powerful friends and even more powerful enemies. After a brief stint in prison that led to Jimmy Hoffa losing his role, he attempted to regain it. On July 30th, 1975, he left for a meeting– and never returned. A missing person report was filed and a six-figure reward was offered, but no one came forward. In 2004, it was alleged that Hoffa’s former friend Frank Sheeran was behind it. Those claims– along with those stating his remains were buried beneath the Giants stadium– have been widely deemed false. We may never know the truth behind Hoffa’s fate, but to this day, it remains one of the most unsettling mysteries in American history.

#24: Tamam Shud

In 1948, reports of a strange man washed up near Somerton spread like wildfire. Since then, he’s remained the center of an ongoing mystery. An autopsy was held, and while there was some damage done to the internal organs, there was no unnatural substance found inside him. His bag was discovered later, but the contents didn’t help identify him. Amongst the findings they’d come across, the most unsettling was an undecipherable code and a small sheet of paper, simply reading Tamam Shud, or “ended” in Persian. In 2022, his identity was tentatively confirmed as Carl Webb. Though we may know who he is, it’s still unknown how he came to pass, and whether it was by his own hand or someone else's.

#23: The Beast of Gévaudan

What would you do if you were suddenly faced with a monster you’d never seen before? The citizens of Gévaudan learned first-hand when they became victims of animals they’d never seen before. Described as being dark brown and striped with long tails, they were unlike anything observed there before. Though sources vary, it's believed that dozens of people met their grisly ends from 1764 to 1767. What species terrorized them is still debated. Though a wolf seems to be the most logical answer, its description causes that theory to fall flat. This has led others to speculate it was a hyena or even a lion. Its reported lack of fear around most humans, aggressive daytime attack, and sheer agility have also added to the debate.

#22: Disappearance of Flight 19

In 1945, a crew of five American planes left Fort Lauderdale for training and were never seen again. The night they disappeared, their planes were fueled and their lead pilot was in contact with air traffic control. He grew more confused the longer they remained airborne, before ceasing communication with one last message about how they would go down together. They eventually did– but neither the crafts nor the men inside were found. Many believe the pilot was merely confused after his compass stopped working. Others are convinced that he and his crew fell victim to the Bermuda Triangle and that it had a hand in their eventual demise. The truth may be somewhere in the middle– but we may never know for sure.

#21: The Dyatlov Pass Tragedy

In January of 1959, a group of nine hikers left and never came back. It wasn’t until February that they were found, and the horror truly began. Their tent was cut from the inside, and their winter clothes were left behind in a hurry. At first, it was believed they’d passed from hypothermia. It wasn’t until a further investigation was conducted and three of them were found with skull or chest damage that the narrative began to shift. Things went from bad to worse when others were found without their tongue or eyes. The theories range from sudden natural events to stumbling into a military testing area. It remains one of the largest global mysteries of all time, with the answer remaining out of reach.

#20: Bimini Road

Just off the coast of North Bimini island in the Bahamas lies a half-a-mile underwater path made up of large rectangular limestone blocks. Due to the unusual precision and regularity of the blocks, many have questioned its natural formation. One popular theory suggests that it could be a long lost road to Atlantis. Further lending credence to this theory is the fact that about 30 years before it was discovered, American clairvoyant Edgar Cayce talked about a road to Atlantis being discovered near Bimini. Geologists argue that it is a naturally occurring formation, but there are still some in the scientific community who dispute that. As such, the true origin of the Bimini Road remains a captivating enigma.

#19: The Jamison Family Deaths

In October 2009, Bobby Jamison, his wife Sherilynn and their daughter Madyson disappeared from their hometown of Eufaula, Oklahoma under mysterious circumstances. Few days later, authorities found their abandoned truck in a remote location, but no signs of the family. Discovered in the truck were the Jamison’s malnourished dog, their phones and IDs, and a large amount of cash. Police also retrieved security footage from their home, showing the couple loading up their truck in an eerily silent and strange manner. Multiple theories have been put forward including a faked death situation and a drug deal gone awry, but none has been substantiated. The family’s remains were discovered four years later, but the true circumstances around their disappearance and death remain a mystery.

#18: The Strange Disappearance of Paula Jean Welden

Paula Jean Welden, a sophomore at Bennington College in Vermont disappeared on December 1st 1946 while hiking on Vermont’s Long Trail. She was reported missing by her roommate after failing to return to her room. Multiple people spotted her along the trail, including other hikers. Yet, she seemingly vanished without a trace. An extensive search was launched afterwards, with her school even shutting down for days to allow staff and students participate. The investigation into Welden’s disappearance was, however, hampered by the fact that there was no statewide police in Vermont, at the time. Till today, no one knows what happened to Welden, but the case led to the creation of the Vermont State Police the following year.

#17: The Curious Case of Mary Reeser

Throughout history, there have been multiple reported cases of spontaneous human combustion, but perhaps none has gained more attention than that of Mary Reeser. On July 2nd 1951, Reeser was discovered almost completely incinerated in her St. Petersburg, Florida apartment. All that was left of her were a couple of bone fragments and her left foot. Mysteriously, the rest of her apartment was largely undisturbed, with only a few nearby items affected by the heat. This inexplicable level of destruction puzzled investigators, leading to the rise of the theory of spontaneous human combustion. However, the FBI argued that the fire was ignited by a cigarette Reeser was smoking, with her body fat and nightgown acting as fuel for the fire.

#16: The Mysterious Fate of the USS Cyclops

It’s quite a strange occurrence for the largest ship in the U.S. Navy to just disappear without a trace. But that was indeed what happened during World War I when the USS Cyclops departed Brazil for Baltimore. The 542-foot long collier, which was transporting tons of manganese ore, vanished alongside the 306 persons onboard. It was initially believed that the vessel was sunk in an attack by the Germans, but they have maintained no knowledge or involvement in its fate. Since then, one lingering theory is that the USS Cyclops must have fallen prey to the infamous Bermuda Triangle. More than a century later, the disappearance remains unsolved, eluding the mind of anyone who contemplates the fate of the USS Cyclops.

#15: The Oakville Blobs

In the summer of 1994, residents of the small town of Oakville, Washington woke up to find tiny blobs that seemed to have rained down from the sky. These translucent, gelatinous substances were described as being half the size of a grain of rice. As strange as they were, what made them particularly creepy were the bizarre effects they seemed to have on the town. Residents experienced flu-like symptoms and respiratory infections, and some animals were said to have died. Upon testing, the blobs were found to contain two species of bacteria, although both are usually known to be harmless. Multiple theories have since been suggested, but no definitive conclusion has been reached as to the origins of the Oakville blobs.

#14: The Pollock Sisters

The idea of reincarnation has long been heavily debated, and some proponents tout this case as evidence for it. In May 1957, two sisters Joanna and Jacqueline Pollock lost their lives in a car accident. The following year, their parents welcomed twin girls, Gillian and Jennifer, despite only one heartbeat being detected during the pregnancy. These twins shared many similarities with their deceased sisters, including birthmarks, preferences and behaviors. They also seemed to recollect specific memories only their sisters knew and developed a strange fear of cars. The girls were profiled by a professor of psychiatry as an example of reincarnation, but many have dismissed the case as a hoax, arguing that the family simply fed the past memories to the twins.

#13: Overtoun Bridge

Located near Dumbarton in Scotland, the Overtoun Bridge was constructed in 1895. What makes this seemingly ordinary bridge so creepy is the inexplicable phenomenon of dogs leaping to their deaths from it. It has been reported that since the 1950s, about 600 dogs have jumped off this bridge, seemingly for no reason, with some of them suffering fatal injuries. Some local residents believe that the structure, and the Overtoun House which it leads to, are haunted by spirits who call out to the dogs. Another possible explanation suggests that the canines are attracted to the smell of certain animals underneath the bridge. With no definitive cause found yet, we’ll advise just keeping your dogs off this bridge.

#12: The Toynbee Tiles

Located in several cities across North and South America, the Toynbee tiles are a series of linoleum blocks embedded in the asphalt of seemingly random streets. These enigmatic tiles contain cryptic messages that often refer to death, and have confounded people since they began popping up in the 1980s. They take their name from the usual inscription found on them, which is believed to be a reference to the British historian Arnold J. Toynbee. Who installed these tiles, how they were able to achieve that without detection, and what they actually mean still remain a mystery to this day. The peculiar nature of the tiles and their random placements have sparked numerous theories, some of which were addressed in a 2011 documentary film.

#11: The Circleville Letters

Beginning in the late 1970s, an unknown individual reigned terror on the residents of Circleville, Ohio. This still-unidentified figure began sending out threatening letters that exposed alleged secrets of the town’s residents. The first target of the letters was the bus driver, a woman named Mary Gillispie, who was alleged to have an affair with the local school superintendent. Gillispie’s husband Ron was also targeted, and the following year, he died in a mysterious accident after receiving a call from someone believed to be the letter writer. Ron’s brother-in-law was eventually named as the writer and sent to prison for attempting to murder Gillispie, but the letters continued. To date, no one knows for sure who was behind the Circleville letters.

#10: The Severed Feet Mystery

It’ll probably not make headlines if one human foot washes up ashore. But when 21 feet, usually still wearing sneakers, are found on the shores of the same sea, it is sure to raise a few eyebrows. The first discovery was made in August 2007 in British Columbia, Canada, with some others being found in multiple towns in the U.S. state of Washington. Some of the feet have since been linked to people who were either declared missing or had mental health issues. It has been posited that the occurrence of the severed limbs is due to a combination of body decomposition and the buoyancy of new-age sneakers. Regardless, questions still linger about why this seems to only occur in this particular sea.

#9: The Unexplained Phoenix Lights

On March 13th 1997, thousands of people in Arizona and Nevada reported seeing a series of lights appear in the sky. These lights were arranged in a V-formation and spanned a vast area, silently moving across the cities. The phenomenon was observed for about three hours that night, with some people taking pictures and videos. The official explanation given by the authorities was that the lights belonged to military aircraft that were engaged in training exercises. But this was met with a lot of skepticism. Even the then-Governor of Arizona, Fife Symington, who was a pilot himself, described the event as “otherworldly”. It remains one of the most notable and perplexing UFO events in modern history.

#8: The Mysterious Sleeping Sickness

Throughout history, there have been multiple pandemics that have brought the entire world to a standstill. One of the least known ones is the sleeping sickness pandemic of the early 20th century. Between 1915 and 1926, around the same time the influenza pandemic ravaged the world, a sleeping disease claimed the lives of more than 500,000 people. Known scientifically as encephalitis lethargica, this disease left sufferers in a statue-like condition, unable to speak or move their bodies. In fact, some patients who survived the pandemic reportedly never regained full control of their motor functions. Although the disease mysteriously disappeared in 1927, scientists remain puzzled over its origin and cause, as well as how it can be transmitted.

#7: The Havana Syndrome

Starting sometime in 2016, diplomatic personnel in Cuba began to experience a weird range of health problems such as memory loss, hearing loss, and nausea. Follow up studies found that there was evidence of brain injuries. However, when questioned, the victims said that they heard a strange noise like a grating sound or marbles rolling on the floor, although others nearby did not hear this. Quasi unusual... but when recordings of the sound were captured, the closest thing researchers could find were Jamaican field crickets, which are harmless. No cause has been found, and theories range from microwave weapons to pesticides.

#6: The Ghost Blimp

Picture it. 1942, off the coast of California. Two US Navy pilots command the Navy's L-8 blimp in search for Japanese submarines in waters not so far from San Francisco. They radio flight control about an oil slick on the water... and are never heard from again. A few hours later that very same L-8 blimp crashes into a cliff... with no one on board. Everything in or about the craft was working normally, the throttles were idle, and – more eerily – the parachutes and lifeboat were still on board. To this day no one knows what happened, and the personnel involved were never found.

#5: The Ourang Medan

In 1947, American vessels picked up an S.O.S call from a Dutch vessel, the SS Ourang Medan. The message was a chilling one: “S.O.S from Ourang Medan. We Float….Probably whole of crew dead. I die.” Finding the ship also meant finding corpses with gaping eyes and mouths. Soon after, while under tow, the ship caught fire and exploded. Stranger still, there are apparently no registration records for the ship, while the Coast Guard didn't report the story until the mid '50s. Theories tend to focus on government cover ups due to possible chemical weapons aboard. This story even served as the basis for the 2019 video game “The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Man of Medan.”

#4: The Tunguska Event

On the morning of June 30, 1908, a large explosion blasted the area near the Tunguska river in Russia, flattening some 80 million trees over some 800 square miles of forest. For years, scientists debated what could have caused such an explosion. It’s classified as the largest impact event ever recorded, but no impact crater was ever found; instead, researchers found 5 miles of scorched trees directly in the center that were somehow still standing. In 2013 however, a team from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine analyzed rock samples from the site and concluded that it was likely a meteor exploding in mid-air.

#3: The Bay of Jars

Brazil’s Guanabara Bay contains a lot of trash, but the trash that people can’t explain is the 200 or so Roman ceramic jars found submerged in an underwater field – an underwater field the size of three tennis courts. According to experts, these jars trace back to the third century. However, European explorers didn’t even reach Brazil until 1500, and the Romans themselves had little to no incentive to travel that far out. Thus, it’s a complete mystery why their artifacts would be found here. Meanwhile, Brazil closed off the area in 1983, so it’s unlikely an answer will ever be found.

#2: The Voynich Manuscript

If you haven’t heard of this one, strap in. The Voynich Manuscript is a mysterious 250-page book written in a completely unknown language and containing odd, other-wordly sketches. Its origin is unable to be fully traced, so no one knows who created it let alone why, but carbon dating puts it in the early 15th century. So far no one has been able to decode the script it's written in, despite being worked on by professional codebreakers from both World War I and II. What strange message lies inside this uncrackable book?

#1: The Max Headroom Hijack

In 1987, two television stations in Chicago were hijacked in perhaps the most surreal act of video piracy ever recorded. Both instances featured an unidentified man dressed as obscure TV personality Max Headroom dancing to distorted audio. The second video, significantly longer, saw the man rambling incoherently in a distorted voice and being swatted on the behind by an offscreen accomplice. The segments lasted no more than a couple of minutes, but have gone down as among the most notorious incidents in television history. No one has ever identified who pulled it off, or even why. We can only hope someone comes forward after all this time to put an end to this mystery.

Do you know of any little-known, creepy mysteries? Share them in the comments.