In “The Girl in the Ghost Costume,” eleven-year-old Sally ventures out alone on a cold Halloween night in 1995, dressed in a makeshift ghost costume, eager to trick-or-treat. Wandering far from home in a quiet, sprawling neighborhood, she becomes lost, her cries for help unanswered. The mystery of her tragic fate unfolds in the woods near her home, where her story takes a haunting turn.
Sally’s story is one of those Halloween horror stories that sound scary but often feel unbelievable.
So, what happened to Sally? Well, she was just eleven years old when she tragically passed away. It was a quiet Halloween night in 1995, and her parents were tired after a long day at work.
Sally, excited and ready to go, put on her ghost costume. It was a simple outfit made from a heavier white blanket with black sunglasses glued over the eye holes, making it look like she was wearing a ghost mask. Underneath, she wore sneakers, jeans, and a loose shirt—thinking the blanket would be warm enough to keep her cozy.
After waiting for twenty minutes while her parents got ready for trick-or-treating, Sally decided to head out on her own to start collecting candy.
She walked around for hours, knocking on doors, but most people didn’t answer. Her neighborhood wasn’t very lively with Halloween spirit, and only about a third of the houses had adults dressed up and handing out treats.
As the wind picked up and darkness fell, Sally suddenly realized she had wandered too far and was lost. Following other kids, she had been taken more than three miles away from home in a large neighborhood where you usually need a car or bike to get around.
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With only the flickering streetlights to guide her, she called out for her parents. But no cars were passing by, no lights shining from houses, and no one peeking out from their curtains.
Her calls for help went unanswered.
It’s uncertain exactly what happened, but her body was found about three-quarters of a mile from her home, in the woods. Perhaps the night had grown too cold, or maybe she’d fallen into the water. Hypothermia claimed her life overnight, her body succumbing to the wet chill and dropping temperature.
Now, every Halloween, Sally appears, searching for her way home. As she wanders, she visits every house giving out candy. You can recognize her by her white blanket costume, black-lensed eye holes, and pale arms peeking out.
She remains silent, holding out a grimy pumpkin bucket for candy. There are three possible outcomes when you encounter her.
First, give her candy, and she’ll leave quietly. Second, ignore her or dismiss her for her simple costume, and you’ll later find razor blades in your candy. Third, lose sight of your child that night… and you’ll never see them again.
