The story of Robert the Doll starts in the early 1900s in Key West, Florida. The Otto’s were a prominent family in Key West. They had a son named Robert Eugene Otto, who was gifted Robert the Doll from his grandfather. At the same time, others say that he was given the doll by one of their servants of Bahamian descent. It is said that she used voodoo on the doll as retaliation for the family’s wrongdoings.

Eugen became very attached to his doll-like many young children his age. However, some say it was more along the lines of an unhealthy relationship. People also saw Eugen talk to the doll-like it was a live person. Not long after Eugen got his doll, strange occurrences began to happen. One night Eugen woke to find Robert at the end of his bed staring at him. Not soon after, his mother was awoken by the Screams of Eugen; as she ran to her son, she could see her furniture being thrown about and her son screaming for help. When she finally opened the door, she saw Eugen in his bed, curled up and scared. The room was a mess, and Robert was at the foot of the bed staring at Eugen.

Of course, you can say that Eugen probably moved all his furniture, but no one can know. That was not the only weird occurrence, though. Eugen’s parents would sometimes hear Eugen talking to Robert and a different voice talking back. Others would report seeing Robert talk and his face change appearance. There would be reports of hearing and seeing Robert run up the steps and stare out of the upstairs windows. This continued, and Eugen eventually left the house for college and started his own life.

After Eugen’s parents died, he decided to move back home with his wife, Anne. At this point, Eugen felt the need to give Robert his room. He was given a room upstairs overlooking the street below. Anne did not like the doll one bit, understandably. She finally got Eugen to lock Robert in the Attic. Eugen, still loving the doll, made him his little room up there with toys and furniture.

This, of course, did not stop the weirdness surrounding Robert. People that came over to the house reported hearing someone pacing back and forth in the Attic along with evil giggles. Robert didn’t take to just terrorizing people who came to the house, though. School children would often walk by the house to and from school. They would report Robert mocking them from the second-floor window. Eugen knowing Robert was in the Attic, had a hard time believing this. He decided to go and check for himself; this is where he found Robert in the rocking chair near the window in the bedroom. Eugen, of course, took the doll back to the Attic. Over the years, Eugen would find Robert back in his spot, and Eugen would then put him back in the Attic…like some game.

Eugen passed in 1974, and Anne did not hesitate to sell the house and leave Robert behind. The new family had a little girl who was about the same age when Eugen got Robert. The little girl was, of course, excited about her find. Soon she regretted ever finding Robert, though. She told her parents that Robert was alive and wanted to hurt her. The parents did not hesitate to give the doll away to the East Martello Museum, where you can still see him.

If you are ever in Key West, Florida, you can visit the East Martello Museum and see Robert for yourself. You can also see the house this all happened in on 534 Eaton ST, Key West, FL.