The Skeleton Key Chronicles

2 hours ago

For decades, parents have talked to their kids about checking Halloween candy, but the case that spawned so many of those conversations had nothing to do with a stranger handing out candy at the door. It happened in Deer Park, Texas, on Halloween night in 1974, and the person responsible was an eight-year-old boy’s own father.

Eight-year-old Timothy O’Bryan had spent the evening trick-or-treating with his father, Ronald, his younger sister, and several neighborhood children. When they returned home, Ronald gave Timothy a Pixy Stix allegedly from their Halloween haul. Shortly after tasting the candy, Timothy became sick and was rushed to the hospital, where he passed away later that night.

As investigators retraced what happened that night, they discovered that Ronald had also handed out five of these Pixy Stix to other children that night, including more of his own. Fortunately, none of the other children ate theirs. One little boy had actually tried to open his, but couldn't get past the staple holding the top closed.

The investigation eventually led straight back to Ronald, who was struggling financially and had taken out substantial life insurance policies on his children. Authorities determined that he had prepared the candy himself and tried to make it appear as though someone in the neighborhood was responsible. He was convicted in 1975, and his sentence was carried out in 1984.

In the years that followed Ronald O’Bryan became known as "The Candy Man," and his case changed the way parents approached Halloween for years afterward. Ironically, the very person those children should have been able to trust was the one they needed protection from.

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The Skeleton Key Chronicles

8 hours ago

It's been more than two years since 13-year-old Ja’Niyah McMichael disappeared from Gary, Indiana, and her family is still trying to find out what happened to her. She was last seen in August 2024, and despite the involvement of both local police and the FBI, there are still very few answers about where she might be.

According to NCMEC, Ja’Niyah has been missing since August 11th, 2024. Her mother reported her missing the following day from their home in the 1900 block of Malcolm X Boulevard in Gary. As investigators began looking into her disappearance, they raised concerns that someone else might have been involved.

On October 5th, 2024, Gary police and the FBI searched the home where Ja’Niyah had been staying. Authorities haven't shared much about what they found, if anything, and although investigators have continued working on the case, Ja’Niyah still hasn't been located.

Meanwhile, her family has continued working to keep her name and face out there, from distributing flyers to holding gatherings and celebrating birthdays without her. This past April, they came together for Ja’Niyah's 15th birthday. Her maternal grandmother has described her as a sweet, outgoing girl who could light up a room, and she continues to hold on to the belief that her granddaughter will come home.

Ja’Niyah has connections to both Gary and nearby East Chicago, Indiana. More than two years later, her family is still waiting for answers and hoping someone knows something that could help bring her home.

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The Skeleton Key Chronicles

1 day ago

It's been more than two weeks since 17-year-old Landon Ball went missing from the Chapmanville, West Virginia, area, and his family is still hoping someone can help bring him home. Landon has been missing since October 6th, but there hasn't been much information released about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

On October 21st, West Virginia State Police issued another appeal for information, saying they believe Landon may be somewhere in Boone or Logan County. They haven't explained what led them to those two counties or whether anyone has seen him since October 6th.

Landon's grandmother has been sharing posts about her grandson on social media, hoping to get his photograph in front of as many people as possible. And with so little information available about what happened, even someone who remembers seeing him in the days since October 6th could have information that helps his family find him.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the West Virginia State Police Logan Detachment.

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