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The Lineup's Creepiest Stories of 2018

Relive the terror.

the lineup creepiest stories of 2018

Brutal killers, mysterious disappearances, eerie abodes haunted by restless spirits. It's been a terrifying year, horror fiends. And as 2018 draws to a close, we're feeling nostalgic for the nightmares that were—and suspect you are as well. So we rounded up our creepiest tales of 2018 for your reading pleasure.

From haunted asylums and the best horror movies around to chilling cold cases and the incredible capture of the suspected Golden State Killer, join us as we revisit our best stories of the year. Then get ready for the creepiness to come in 2019!

9 Episodes of Unsolved Mysteries That Still Give Us Nightmares

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  • Photo Credit: Cosgrove / Meurer Productions

It was the theme song that sent us screaming into our babysitter’s arms. Decades later, it still gives us nightmares. Grab your Robert Stack trench coat and revisit the scariest episodes of Unsolved MysteriesREAD MORE 

13 Disturbing Unresolved Mysteries the Internet Can’t Get Over

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  • Photo Credit: Justice For Erik Stirling Cross / Facebook

We spent hours combing through the cases profiled on Reddit’s Unresolved Mysteries page. Care to see what we unearthed? From eerie disappearances to a murder case involving one of America’s most notorious serial killers, these unresolved mysteries will leave you searching for answers. READ MORE 

Gone in the Dark: The 40-Year Hunt for the Golden State Killer 

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On April 25, 2018, authorities in California made a shocking announcement about the 40-year hunt for the Golden State Killer: A 72-year-old suspect named Joseph James DeAngelo was under arrest, and based on DNA evidence, it was strongly believed that he was their man. Sadly, true crime author Michelle McNamara did not live to see the arrest. Yet her search for the rapist and killer who terrorized California during the 1970s and ‘80s is chronicled in her blockbuster true crime book, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.  READ MORE 

The Best True Crime Books You’ve Ever Read 

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  • Photo Credit: SHTTEFAN / Unsplash

We asked you to share your favorite true crime books—and the response was overwhelming! The resulting list of killer reads includes classics of the genre, as well as a few lesser-known gems every true crime obsessive needs to check out. Here are 14 of the best true crime books you’ve ever read. READ MORE 

9 Extremely Scary Horror Movies You Need to See, According to Reddit

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  • Photo Credit: IFC Films

Where better than the depths of the internet to discover the most twisted horror movies around? Dim the lights and stream cinema's scariest freakfests, according to the users of Reddit. READ MORE 

Without a Trace: The Chilling, Unexplained Disappearance of Maura Murray

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On February 9, 2004, Maura Murray left her dorm room at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, drove north before crashing her car along a desolate stretch of Route 112, and disappeared into the cold New Hampshire night. Years later, her case continues to baffle authorities and internet sleuths around the world. READ MORE 

7 Disturbing and Controversial Horror Books 

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Read at your own risk: These controversial horror books are so disturbing, even dedicated horror fans struggle to make it to the last page. READ MORE 

10 Eerie Paranormal Documentaries You Can Watch Tonight 

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  • Photo Credit: Freestyle Digital Media

What's scarier than a horror movie? A horror movie that happened in real life. From the notorious Amityville Haunting to a Catholic priest's encounter with the devil, these paranormal documentaries are the real deal. READ MORE 

The Chilling, Unsolved Dardeen Family Murders

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  • Photo Credit: Murderpedia and Teddy Kelley / Unsplash

It was a crime considered too brutal to be reported on daytime TV. The Dardeen family of Ina, Illinois met a truly disturbing end in 1987. Decades later, the truth of the family’s final moments remains as uncertain today as it was on the night when police first discovered their brutalized bodies. READ MORE 

Paul Bateson: The Real-Life Killer Who Appeared in The Exorcist

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A number of scary stories have surfaced in the wake of The Exorcist, from rumors of a cursed set to claims that cast members' loved ones died under mysterious circumstances. Some tales are true, others fanciful. And yet, perhaps the most terrifying thing about the horror classic is that a real-life killer appears as an extra in the movie. READ MORE 

The Woman Who Was Bludgeoned By a Claw Hammer—And Survived

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Police found 31-year-old Frankie Cochran lying in a pool of her own blood. While gravely injured, she was still alive, and soon revealed the identity of her attacker: David Gerard. Investigators quickly linked Gerard to other crimes. Turns out, he wasn't just a one-bludgeon-wonder—but a monstrous, rage-fueled serial killer. Robert Scott traces Gerard's string of killings in Blood Frenzy. READ MORE 

Above Suspicion: The Disturbing Story of the FBI Agent Who Strangled His Informant 

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  • Photo Credit: Bold Films

In the true crime book Above Suspicion, author Joe Sharkey provides a detailed account of the case of Mark Putnam, a husband, father, killer—and the first active FBI agent ever convicted of homicide. Discover the truth behind this case, soon to be a film starring Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke. READ MORE 

13 Terrifying Books for Fans of The Conjuring 

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  • Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

The haunting continues. From demonic possession to haunted houses and killer dolls, these books like The Conjuring films are guaranteed to spook you. It's an excellent day for an exorcism. READ MORE 

7 Creepy Robert McCammon Books That Will Keep You Awake At Night 

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One of the most successful horror writers in recent memory, Robert R. McCammon may be best known for his novel Boy’s Life. Yet throughout his career, he's written multiple New York Times bestsellers, received several Bram Stoker and World Fantasy Awards, and drawn comparisons to Stephen King. These essential Robert McCammon books are sure to haunt your dreams. READ MORE 

13 Chilling Episodes of Disappeared You Can Watch Tonight

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  • Photo Credit: Investigation Discovery

Suffering from true crime deficiency? Look no further than Investigation Discovery’s Disappeared to satisfy your needs. From the chilling disappearance of entire families to strange cases of young men and women who seemingly vanish into thin air, these chilling episodes are streaming now. READ MORE 

Cruelly Slain: The Brutal Austin Yogurt Shop Murders of 1991 Remain Unsolved Decades Later

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  • Photo Credit: Verging On / YouTube

On December 6, 1991, firefighters in Austin, Texas responded to smoke rising from the I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt! shop on West Anderson Lane. Once inside, they found a scene of unmitigated horror. Amidst the inferno, were the brutalized bodies of four teenage girls. READ MORE 

Frozen with Fear: The Horrific Murder of Denise Huber

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On June 3, 1991, Denise Huber hopped into her Honda to pick up her friend, Rob Calvert. For Calvert, it was a "date" he hoped might end in romance. For Denise, it was a platonic night out that would, in just a few hours, end in tragedy. Don Lasseter’s book Cold Storage tells the frightening story of Denise Huber’s murder, and the loved ones who fought for justice. READ MORE 

15 Brilliant and Creepy Horror Movies You May Not Know About but Need to See

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There's no shortage of horror movies out there—and true fans have likely seen many of them. So if you find yourself all alone on a Friday night and in need of a fresh scare, here are a few twisted flicks you may not have heard about, but definitely need to see. READ MORE 

Master of Horror: 8 Terrifying Graham Masterton Books 

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Graham Masterton first burst onto the horror scene with 1976's The Manitou. Since then, he's written over thirty horror novels, making him an undisputed master of the macabre. But where do you start with such a monstrous body of work? Here are the most essential, nightmare-inducing Graham Masterton books. READ MORE 

A Death in White Bear Lake: The Child Abuse Case That Led to Murder 

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In the early 1980s, Jerry Sherwood went looking for the infant son she gave up for adoption some 20 years prior. Sadly, the reunion was not meant to be; the child had died shortly before his fourth birthday. But what was the truth behind the child's mysterious demise? Barry Siegel’s true crime book, A Death in White Bear Lake, chronicles the 20-year cover cover up of a horrific crime. READ MORE 

13 Eerie Books for American Horror Story Fans

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From killer clowns to vengeful spirits, American Horror Story creates a terrifying new world with each new season. But where is a fan to turn when she's watched every episode? Never fear. Here are 13 creepy books steeped in AHS-style dread. READ MORE 

A Day That Began with Death: The Hoskins Family Murders of 1919

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  • Photo Credit: Courtesy of John Brassard Jr. / Adams County Free Press

January 15, 1919–It was just another day on the farm in Prescott, Iowa. That is, until 15-year-old Irene Hoskins came stumbling down the lane with a deep gash in her head. Soon, the child spoke of a day that began with death. Her father had murdered her stepmother and her two step-siblings. READ MORE 

Ghostly Encounters at the Villisca Axe Murder House and Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

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  • Photo Credit: PatrickRohe / Flickr (CC)

Jeff Scott Cole didn't expect his studies would lead him into the world of paranormal investigation. Now a professional ghost hunter, Cole and his partner, Johnathon Robson, trek across America in pursuit of the supernatural. Over the years, they investigated dilapidated sanitariums, abandoned manors, and two of the most notorious paranormal hotspots in the country: Iowa's Villisca Axe Murder House and West Virginia's Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. READ MORE 

House of Horror: The Brutal Murders at Georgia's Corpsewood Manor

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Its name seems ripped from the pages of a lurid horror novel. Yet Corpsewood Manor is all too real, and in December of 1982, this brick mansion in the woods of northern Georgia played host to a brutal double murder. READ MORE 

Ghostwatch: The BBC Halloween Hoax That Terrified England

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Most readers are familiar with the big hoaxes of pop culture history. Few people, however, may know of Ghostwatch, a terrifying faux-documentary horror program from England that gave children PTSD, was banned for "cultivat[ing] a sense of menace", and, according to one family, even led to a suicide. READ MORE 

10 People Share Their Most Terrifying Ghost Photos

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  • Photo Credit: doppelclaus/Reddit and skydart/Reddit

Reddit is home to all things creepy and crawly, and on subreddits like r/Paranormal, users share photos of their haunting encounters with the other side. Here are ten of the most terrifying ghost photos we discovered on Reddit. READ MORE