The TERRIFYING TRUE story that inspired Candyman

When you read today's story, you'll see why it served as the basis for a well-known horror film, literally a source of nightmares.

Early in the month of January 1987, a very strange 52-year-old woman by the name of Ruthie Mae McCoy left her 11th-floor Chicago, Illinois, apartment. This was the day she was going to perform one of her self-declared public duties. Ruthie was quite tall, and on this particular day, she was wearing two pairs of pants with a dress over them. Ruthie marched down the hall jiggling each of the long sticks she was carrying, which was her favorite. Between each doorknob check to see if they were locked, she would abruptly stop. After Ruthie had, and wave her stick around like it was a sword as she fought off some phantom attacker.

Ruthie checked four doors in a row that were all locked before arriving at the fifth door. When she tried the doorknob, it was unlocked, so she pushed the door open without thinking and yelled, "Hey look at me." The lady who resided in this fifth apartment was cooking dinner while I was inside yours. Ruthie had been outside her apartment for some time when she looked up, and she wasn't afraid—she was just completely alarmed. Ruthie didn't listen as usual, so the woman rolled her eyes and started yelling at her to leave. Ruthie quickly made her way into the kitchen, where she was waving her stick, from the apartment door frame. The young lady scolded Ruthie for leaving her front door unlocked in this extremely risky situation while yelling and spinning around furiously.

In an attempt to convince Ruthie to leave immediately, the young woman yelled at her a few more times in the apartment building. Ruthie refused to move, so eventually the young woman picked up the phone and dialed 9-1-1, as it turned out. It was a very large (15-story) apartment building where Ruthie, this young lady, and all of their neighbors resided. In fact, at the time in the late 1980s, this particular apartment was a risky place to leave your front door unlocked. Given that a murder almost took place there, the building was regarded as one of Chicago's most dangerous locations. The building, which was completely in disrepair and had these long walls, was essentially under gang rule every week.

Ruthie wasn't mistaken in asking her neighbors to stay because the dark hallways could serve as hiding places for burglars and murderers. The people who lived on her floor were never appreciative of her very hands-on method of conveying this message, however, as their doors had already locked. In the eyes of her neighbors, Ruthie posed a greater threat than anything she was attempting to defend them from. Ruthie was completely mentally unstable, but she wasn't a threat to her neighbors in reality.

Ruthie, for instance, would automatically assume that any mail she received contained bad news. Most likely, she was worried about someone coming to steal all of her money, and Ruthie was so terrified of strangers that she rarely went out in public. When she passed them and Ruthie was present, she would yell obscenities at them to scare them away. She refused to eat because she was concerned that passersby would literally rush up and steal her food.

When the police did at last arrive and drag Ruthie out of the fifth apartment she had barged into, she was busy yelling at the young woman about her unlocked door. By this time, the police were already familiar with the apartment. They knew Ruthie.

By this time, the police were already familiar with the apartment. They knew Ruthie McCoy all too well. Ruthie had a long history of mental illness and had been a frequent caller to the police, often reporting imagined threats and intruders. Despite her erratic behavior, the police had always treated her with a certain level of sympathy and tried their best to help her.

However, on that fateful day in January 1987, Ruthie's encounter with the young woman in the fifth apartment took a tragic turn. As the police officers attempted to calm Ruthie down and convince her to leave, her paranoia escalated. She became increasingly agitated and fearful, convinced that everyone was out to get her. In a moment of sheer panic, Ruthie grabbed a kitchen knife from the young woman's countertop and lunged at one of the police officers.

The situation quickly spiraled out of control. The police officer, fearing for his life, drew his weapon and fired a single shot, striking Ruthie in the chest. She collapsed to the ground, her life slipping away in an instant. The apartment was filled with a deafening silence as the gravity of the situation sank in.

The news of Ruthie McCoy's tragic death spread quickly throughout the apartment building and the surrounding community. People were shocked and saddened by the events that had unfolded. Ruthie, despite her quirks and eccentricities, was a familiar figure in the neighborhood. She was known for her peculiar habits and attempts to protect her neighbors, even though her methods were often misguided.

In the aftermath of Ruthie's death, an investigation was launched to determine whether the police officer's use of force was justified. It was a difficult and contentious case, as opinions were divided. Some argued that the officer had acted in self-defense, fearing for his life in the face of Ruthie's sudden aggression. Others believed that alternative methods could have been employed to de-escalate the situation without resorting to lethal force.

Ultimately, the investigation concluded that the police officer's actions were justified under the circumstances. The tragic incident served as a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement when dealing with individuals suffering from mental illness. It also highlighted the need for better training and resources to handle such situations with sensitivity and care.

Ruthie McCoy's story, with all its twists and turns, captivated the public's imagination and inspired a popular horror film that loosely based its plot on her tragic tale. However, behind the fictionalized accounts and cinematic thrills, Ruthie's life was one marked by fear, isolation, and ultimately, a heartbreaking end.

As we reflect on this haunting story, let it serve as a reminder to treat those with mental illness with compassion and understanding. May we strive to create a society where individuals like Ruthie McCoy receive the support they need and deserve, ensuring that their stories do not end in tragedy.

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