In Honor of National Paranormal Day, We’re Breaking Down the Scariest ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ Ghost Stories

Season 2, Episode 1 — "Gettysburg Ghosts"

The 1863 Battle of Gettysburg in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Claiming 50,000 soldiers, sources say the surrounding creeks literally ran red with blood.

Considering how many men died on the battle field, it's no surprise that several Civil War re-enactors have reported ghost sightings. One such re-enactor, Ray Hock, who was featured in this episode described his experience after encountering a soldier dressed in garb that was just too traditional.

Hock explained, "I think I seen a ghost. I think this guy had original equipment on. Original coat. Everything, to me, points out that it was original. He appeared to be a man laying there, but he wasn’t solid like you and I are. I mean, he was more of a hazy mist. He was shivering ’cause it looked like he was in a lot of pain."

Watch the episode here

Season 3, Episode 2 — "Resurrection Mary"

Resurrection Mary has been haunting the streets of Chicago since 1939… Or so the story goes. All three of the most notable Mary encounters involve a car. So, if you find yourself driving alone in Chi-town, beware!

One man, a Chicago cab driver, came across in Mary in 1979 outside of the Resurrection Cemetery — a resting ground for over 150,000 deceased. Before the cab driver was able to let Mary in his vehicle, she disappeared.

Richard Crowe, a historian native to the area, explained why Resurrection Mary is hardly an urban myth, "I think that of all the ghost stories worth believing in, Resurrection Mary is the one with the best documentation. The witnesses that I’ve found are remarkably level-headed. And they’re primarily blue collar, middle-class types who have steady jobs and who have no other major claims to psychic encounters in their lives."

Watch the episode here

Season 3, Episode 15 — "Lizzie Borden's House"

Despite taking place in 1982, the murder of Andrew and Abby Borden remains at the forefront of the true crime community. Why? Because it also includes a heavy element of the paranormal. Lizzie Borden, the 32-year-old single daughter of Andrew and Abby, was arrested for the double-murder of her parents, but her story didn't end there.

Over 100 years later, The Borden home became a bed and breakfast. Unsurprisingly, a countless number of visitors complained of feeling uneasy. Bed and breakfast owner Martha McGinn, whose grandparents bought the house in 1968, described her first experience with Lizzie.

McGinn eerily detailed, "When I was about 16 years old, I was in my bedroom reading a book, and above my room I could distinctly hear footsteps and the sound of, like marbles being played and it almost sounded like little children’s laughter."

Watch the episode here

Season 7, Episode 14 — "Mary Celeste"

During the wee-hours of Nov. 5, 1872, The Mary Celeste set sail on a voyage from New York to Europe. The ship captain, Benjamin Briggs, along with several other crew members were transporting thousands of barrels worth of luxury Italian wines. Over a week later, on Dec. 4, the ship was discovered abandoned in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

A fellow captain, David Morehouse, who had shared a meal with Benjamin Briggs the day prior to discovering the ship, gathered a crew to investigate. Upon boarding the abandoned vessel, they discovered a shattered compass and a rope hanging off the side of the ship. That said, there was no evidence of foul play.

Over a century later, the case has yet to be solved and sources suggest that a paranormal happening could be the reason behind the sudden and inexplicable disappearance of over a dozen men.

Watch the episode here

Season 6, Episode 17 — "The Devil's Backbone"

There's a large rural area northeast of San Antonio referred to as "The Devil's Backbone." Sources say that this area has more ghosts and other strange spirits than any other place in the United States. The owners of the land, specifically, have reported hundreds of encounters with the paranormal.

One of the residents, Bert Wall, noticed his dark barking as he was writing one evening. Upon looking out the window, he saw a Spanish Monk. The Monk was wearing clothing from the 1700s. After only a moment, the Monk vanished into thin air. Bert is certain the man he saw was a Franciscan Monk by the name of Espinoza. Espinoza lived in the area nearly 300 years prior.

Watch the episode here

Season 4, Episode 21 — "Comedy Store Ghosts"

The Comedy Store is a famous Los Angeles hotspot that has featured legendary acts like Garry Shandling, Jim Carrey, John Belushi, and Louie Anderson — among countless others. Consequently, The Comedy Store is also known for being haunted, a sentiment that is shared by many current and former employees.

Many believe that because The Comedy Store was originally a hangout spot for several mobsters in the 30s and 40s that the place is haunted by the souls of the bad men who once inhabited the space.

According to Laurie Jacobson, who waitressed at the club, she would return to find unset tables after having set them only moments before. Joey Gaynor, a former doorman, noticed that candles would continue to flick after being blown out — especially around 3 a.m.

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Season 7, Episode 18 — "Tatum's Ghost"

After building their dream home right outside of Atlanta, Georgia, Jim and Kay Tatum began to notice some unsettling activity. One evening, Kay was unable to sleep, claiming that she felt a strange presence coming from the doorway outside her bedroom. Upon getting up, she noticed a man walking past her door.

Kay described the experience, "It was definitely a man, and he was swinging his arms lightly, and his head was slightly bent, and he walked briskly past me. At first I thought it was my husband. And I went into the bedroom and there my husband was in the bed, so I thought we had a burglar."

Kay soon realized that there was no signs of any trespassing. Over the course of the next few months, both Kay and Jim continued to experience a number of paranormal encounters. So much so, that they eventually had to put their home up for sale.

Watch the episode here