Haunted Dolls

I recently purchased this doll from an estate sale.   When I brought it home, strange things began to happen.   My dog would bark frantically at the weird doll, and I always felt the doll was staring at me. My daughter wanted nothing to do with this doll, saying a strange figure sat on her bed at night.   We heard someone screaming "Mama!" in the other room.   We did some research, and it turns out the doll was owned by a little girl that was hit by a bus several years ago while playing with the doll. The bud spun out of control and hit little Maggie on her front lawn.   Now I just want this thing out of my house.   However, I want to put a reserve of $50 on the doll.

Does this sound familiar? Go on any on-line auction website, and you'll see 3-5 auctions for haunted dolls. Haunted dolls seem to be all the rage nowadays for both ghost hunters and curious people who want a ghost in their home, but there's a good chance all you'll get is an old doll you paid too much for.   Sadly many times when people realize they've been had, they simply put the doll back on-line with the reserve the amount they paid and the whole cycle goes over again.  

However, the big question I have is if someone paid $150 for a haunted doll, get it, find out that it's haunted like they wanted it to be, then why resell it? There are two reasons for the resell: Either they truly are terrified and want to get rid of the item, or they were suckered and want their money back by selling the non-haunted object to someone else.  

Don't get me wrong here; I was fortunate enough to get a doll that I believe to be authentically haunted from an online auction.   The story sounded similar to the others and I put a relatively low bid out and won the doll.   Although the woman who sold me the doll indicated that she moved all over the house by herself, Lucy doesn't do that.   She does, however, move by herself at times and I keep a close eye on her to see if and when she does move and the circumstances behind it.   Therefore, I would not want to discourage anyone from buying a haunted doll from anywhere is they're sure they want one in their home.   A haunted doll can be quite a conversation piece and a "ghost-friendly" people make great guardians for these poor souls anchored to the doll.

I simply want people to be aware that while there are authentically haunted dolls out there, there are also sellers who have worthless dolls and simply want to make a quick profit.   After all, they can't really prove a doll is haunted, or can they?

I want to give some pointers when it comes to haunted dolls and their purchase.   Like with any words of advice, take what you want and leave the rest.   I'm not saying every seller is a scammer.   There are people out there who purchase dolls or other haunted objects, but unless we're in a perfect world there will be some out there just looking for a profit.

Try to get specifics from the seller. If someone associated with the doll did die, what was the year? Also what was the approximate year the doll was manufactured? In other words, if the year of death came before the year the doll was made, the seller has some explaining to do.

Don't hesitate to ask the seller questions. A good seller will happily answer them.  

I recommend not paying more for the doll then what one would normal pay if it wasn't haunted.   If the doll is valued at $25, I wouldn't bid $100 on it. If it's not haunted then you're stuck with a $75 loss.  

Watch the reserve.   If it's very high, ask why.   Especially if there's little or no value to the item if it's not haunted.

Ask yourself if you're truly ready for a haunted doll.   Hauntings aren't to be taken lightly.   We often are invited to homes where haunted objects are the culprits, and they may act completely different in your home, for better or for worse.

Haunted dolls or other objects aren't always sold on on-line auctions.   Anywhere antiques or vintage items are sold will have dolls. Are they haunted? You have just as much of a chance of getting a haunted object here as you would online with or without an explanation.  

A good seller will keep in touch with you.   They won't claim responsibility for what happens when the doll is off their hands, but sometimes they will offer their experiences and solutions if the doll is acting "strange".

I don't recommend insinuating a doll is haunted simply because a six-year-old if afraid of it.   Children are very open and have very active imaginations, and dolls can very easily scare them.   Do not go by this.  

If the description of the activity associated with the doll is so extreme it's hard to believe, chances are it is a hoax.   The doll is not going to walk around the house, fix you an egg salad sandwich, clean the litter box (unfortunately) or attack your mother-in-law.   You will see some very strange descriptions of these dolls, so look at them objectively.   Also, Satan will not be hanging out in the alleged Betsy Wetsy you are considering owning (though I don't understand why you'd want it!).

So you purchased an allegedly haunted doll, now what? If you want to know if it's allegedly haunted then there are ways to find out.   Put the doll in an area where it will not be disturbed, best up in a top shelf.   Then simply observe.   See if it moves, listen to strange noises, and try some EVP with the doll.   Try some pictures as well.   The main thing is to observe and not manipulate the doll.   Don't threaten it, try to force it, or make fun of it (believe be people will do this). Show the doll some respect.   It's not like the horror movies.

eople like me and my friend Renee from Renee's Ghosts (who owns Vincent the haunted clown doll) learned how to authenticate a haunted doll through analysis, observation and respect.   Some are haunted, some are not. Remember, if the doll is authentically haunted it should be treated like a human being.   Remember, any of us has the potential to be a ghost because we have no idea what out circumstances will be when we die, and be passed from curious thrill-seeker to thrill-seeker is a horrible way to spend the afterlife.   Think about that when you purchase a haunted doll.

-Al Tyas

Visit Washington D.C. Metro Area Ghost Watchers

Conact Al Tyas here DC@the-atlantic-paranormal-society.com