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Cropsey (Staten Island)
Children on Staten Island were warned about Cropsey—a boogeyman who snatched kids. Then real children started disappearing. The urban legend became true when investigators found a serial kidnapper living in the abandoned asylum.
1970s - Present
Staten Island, New York, USA
1000+ witnesses
Cropsey is the urban legend that became horrifyingly real.
The Legend
What kids were told:
- Cropsey lived in woods
- In abandoned asylum
- Kidnapped children
- Never seen again
- Don’t go out alone
The Reality
Children disappeared:
- Jennifer Schweiger (1987)
- Holly Ann Hughes (1981)
- Others vanished
- Pattern emerged
- Fear was justified
Andre Rand
The real Cropsey:
- Former asylum worker
- Lived in tunnels
- Near Willowbrook
- Convicted kidnapper
- Suspected of more
Willowbrook State School
The location:
- Abandoned asylum
- Notorious institution
- Abuse documented
- Rand worked there
- Perfect hiding place
The Investigation
What happened:
- Schweiger’s body found
- Near Rand’s camp
- Convicted twice
- Other cases unsolved
- Truth worse than legend
The Documentary
2009 film:
- “Cropsey” documentary
- Explored connection
- Legend and reality
- Community trauma
- Still haunts