Welcome to back to the Nightmare Cott-... hmm... something is different here, but I can't quite put my finger on it... Eh, I'm sure it's nothing. Anywho, Nym and Nylene offload some stress after a couple busy weeks, then get right into the ghastly!

First, Nylene continues the trend of Nippon-centric topics by covering water yokai - specifically, the HORRIBLY frightening ones who haunt your toilet!

Then, Nym tells us the bizarre tale of Elmer McCurdy - Soldier, criminal, and… fun house decoration? It's a story that must be heard to be believed, and even then you'll still probably need to Google it, because… wow.

And lastly, an unexpected update on a previous topic covered in the cottage. Yes, a recent interview with the National Forest Killer brings some uncomfortable closure in the death of Cheryl Dunlap, and Ace is here to tell us all abou- Wait, Ace? Who the %$#@ is this guy?

I knew something felt off! Suppose we'll just have to tune in to see what strangeness is going on now.

Sweet dreams, Cottage time!

Japanese Water Spirits by Nylene

Illustrations of the 12 different types of Kappa, a water spirit who is sometimes known to haunt outhouses, from the 19th century.

Elmer McCurdy & The Six Million Dollar Man by Nym

Laff In The Dark funhouse where McCurdy was discovered.

The Guthrie Daily Leader October 09, 1911 reporting Elmer's train robbery.

Missouri Pacific Locomotive that would have belonged to a train similar to the one McCurdy attempted to rob.

Outside View of Citizen's Bank where Elmer and his group attempted a bank robbery.

Inside of Citizen's Bank where Elmer and his group attempted a bank robbery.

Great Patterson Carnival Show that purchased Elmer's body as part of their travelling sideshow.

McCurdy at the funeral home after death and as he was found in 1976.

Newspaper Reporting Elmer finally getting his burial.

Listen to Episode

16 Interesting Facts about the Real Corpse Found on Set of 70s Hit The Six Million Dollar Man - History Collection. (n.d.). History Collection.
Alexander, R. (2025, January 22). Elmer McCurdy – the Wild West outlaw who became a mummy. Biographics.
Apr 15, 1911, page 10 - St. Joseph News-Press at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Newspapers.com.
Donahue, M. (2023, November 7). Elmer McCurdy: The Funhouse dummy that was actually a corpse. All That’s Interesting.
Elmer McCurdy (1880-1911) - Find a grave memorial. (1880, January 1).
Grundhauser, E. (2017, October 4). Get to know your Japanese bathroom ghosts. Atlas Obscura.
Husheduphistory. (2017, March 18). The Many Metamorphoses of Elmer McCurdy. Tumblr.
Japanese Urban Legends - Kashima Reiko - Wattpad. (n.d.).
Matt, & Matt. (2024, July 15). Toire no Hanako-san | Yokai.com.
Npr. (2015, January 9). The long, strange, 60-Year trip of Elmer McCurdy. NPR.
Oct 08, 1911, page 7 - The Tulsa Tribune at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Newspapers.com.
Oct 12, 1911, page 8 - The Blackwell Weekly Sun at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Newspapers.com.
Staff, C. T. (2025, April 12). Serial killer confesses in front of court TV cameras. Court TV.
“The Six Million Dollar Man” Carnival of Spies (TV Episode 1977) | Action, crime, drama. (1977, February 13). IMDb.
Thomas, H. (2018, July 24). Elmer McCurdy: Traveling Corpse | Headlines & heroes. The Library of Congress.

Ep. 20- Gary Hilton Update, Japanese Water Yokai, & Elmer McCurdy

Japanese Water Spirits by Nylene

Elmer McCurdy & The Six Million Dollar Man by Nym

Sources