ROBERT THE DOLL II

The strange occurrences with the creepy doll were noticed by the neighbors, and anyone visiting the home had eerie experiences with it. Once, a plumber heard children laughing while working in the house, but there was no one there when he turned around. The doll seemed to move on its own, and it caused disturbing incidents in the house. The doll, named Robert, was believed to be cursed, and rumors spread about its origins.

The story goes back to when the Otto family had a servant named Minnie, who was strict about no religious or ritual practices in the house. In retaliation, the Bahamian nurse maid, angry at Minnie, created a doll dressed as a sailor using Gene's clothes and placed an evil spirit inside it. This cursed doll, Robert, fed off the fear and terror it caused, manifesting itself in various ways, moving objects, and seemingly changing expressions.

As the years passed, Gene's obsession with Robert grew, and even though his family urged him to get rid of the doll, he couldn't bring himself to do so. Gene's wife, Anne, despised Robert, and their marriage suffered as a result. The doll seemed to have a mind of its own, escaping confinement and causing fear in visitors. Anne's fear intensified, and she became miserable in her own home. The presence of Robert led to tragic events in the Otto family, including Minnie's death, Gene's sudden outbursts of rage, and his brothers' untimely deaths.

Despite the negative influence, Gene refused to part with the doll and continued to live with Robert in the family home until his death in 1974. The eerie presence of Robert persisted even after Gene's passing, and the neighborhood kids avoided the house due to their fear of the doll.

Throughout the years, the haunted doll Robert has remained a terrifying legend, linked to strange and disturbing events in the Otto family's history.

Today, after Gene's passing, Anne sought to regain her sanity, recognizing that it began with removing Robert from her life. However, she felt guilty about the sentimental value the doll held for her late husband, as he had left Robert to her in his will, along with the Otto family mansion. Besides, Anne was genuinely afraid of Robert and dreaded the consequences of crossing or disposing of him. She worried that a part of Gene might linger with Robert after his death, intensifying the doll's possession.

Instead of getting rid of Robert, Anne decided to lock him away in a cedar chest, placing it in the turret room. Eventually, she sold the house and moved away. Unfortunately, Anne passed away a few years later in January 1979 at the age of 76. The house was later purchased by a woman named Myrtle Rooter, who found many belongings of the Otto family, including the infamous Robert the doll. Myrtle's young daughter felt an immediate connection to the doll, much like Gene did when he was a child. However, shortly after finding Robert, the little girl began having terrifying nightmares, which led to strange and frightening incidents in the house.

Family members experienced bizarre accidents, and guests reported eerie sensations when in Robert's presence, describing it as a feeling of pure evil. Some even heard footsteps and laughter coming from the turret room, only to find Robert alone with a knife in his lap. The situation escalated when the doll violently attacked the family dog. In an attempt to distance themselves from Robert, Myrtle locked him away with some old junk, but she couldn't escape the strange connection she felt to the doll.

Eventually, in 1994, Myrtle decided to donate Robert to the Key West Art Historical Society, convinced that he belonged in a museum due to his unique history. Initially met with skepticism by the staff, Robert's mysterious and unsettling presence soon became evident as electronic devices malfunctioned around him. Eventually, Robert found his place on display at the Four East Martella Museum in Key West, kept in a glass box with a small stuffed lion named Leo in his lap. Leo had mysteriously appeared in Robert's case one day, seemingly as if Robert wanted a friend.

To this day, visitors come to witness the enigmatic and haunted doll for themselves, and Robert continues to be a captivating exhibit at the museum.