When you hear the phrase “royal families,” you might picture glittering crowns, opulent palaces, and centuries‑long dynasties. Yet, behind the pomp, a shadowy tradition of close‑kin marriages has haunted many thrones. In this roundup of 10 royal families, we dive into the tangled, sometimes scandalous, incestuous practices that shaped their histories.

10 Royal Families and Their Dark Secrets

10 The Monomotapa Of Zimbabwe

Various African monarchies practiced dynastic incest, and the Monomotapa kingdom of Zimbabwe was no exception. Its rulers were fervent polygamists, with one monarch reputed to have amassed more than three thousand wives. Among this vast harem, his preferred consorts were his own sisters or daughters, and any outsider daring to court a royal wife or daughter faced certain death.

The incestuous custom of the Monomotapa is vividly illustrated by the legend of the Balovedu tribe’s Rain Queen lineage. The Rain Queen, a figure endowed with the power to summon rain or drought, is said to have first received her magical abilities when Princess Dzugundini bore a child with her brother—or perhaps her father, depending on the version—and was forced to flee amid public shame. Rather than execute both mother and child, the king granted the princess rain‑making powers and arranged her escape, cementing the incest tradition in mythic memory.

9 Cleopatra

Cleopatra VII remains one of the most recognizable rulers in Western history, immortalized in Shakespeare, cinema, and opera. Yet many overlook a crucial aspect of her reign: according to Ptolemaic custom, she was married to both of her brothers. In fact, only six individuals occupied the sixteen slots of her great‑grandparent tree.

While the Ptolemaic dynasty’s obsession with blood‑pure unions contributed to a hereditary predisposition toward obesity, the most dangerous fallout was the ruthless power struggle it ignited. Sibling rivalry transformed into lethal intrigue, with family members routinely murdering one another to secure the throne. Cleopatra herself ordered the deaths of two brother‑husbands and even her sister in her relentless quest for authority.

8 Nahienaena Of Hawaii

In the Hawaiian monarchy, incest was not merely tolerated—it was a privileged right of the royal bloodline. Princess Nahienaena, born in 1815, is a striking example. By her early years she had entered into a romantic liaison with her brother, Prince Kauikeaouli, who would later ascend as Kamehameha III.

When Christian missionaries gained influence, they protested vehemently at the prospect of the siblings marrying and producing an heir. The missionaries succeeded in arranging alternative marriages for both, yet Nahienaena and Kauikeaouli continued their affair clandestinely, defying the new marital arrangements.

Their defiance resulted in scandal: Nahienaena was ostracized by both the church and the increasingly missionary‑shaped populace. A fragile daughter died shortly after birth, and the princess herself succumbed less than a year later. Historians generally agree that the sibling bond went beyond political duty, reflecting a genuine, tragic love.

7 Incan Incest

During the later phases of the Incan Empire, the aristocracy bent the usual prohibition against consanguineous marriage. While commoners were barred from such unions, nobles considered themselves above ordinary law and freely intermarried to reinforce their lineage.

Initially, half‑sisters were paired so that the shared grandfather’s blood would be amplified. However, the practice soon created succession headaches, as rulers often kept multiple wives, mistresses, and concubines. The belief emerged that offspring with two royal parents would boast a stronger claim to the throne.

Emperor Pachacuti attempted to codify the custom by favoring a younger son, Thupa Inka Yupanki, for his military skill, and labeling his sister a “full sister” rather than a half‑sister to bolster the future sons’ rights. The reform proved short‑lived; Thupa’s brother launched a coup, and the dynasty collapsed in civil war a generation later.

6 Maria Of Portugal

Maria I earned the distinction of being Portugal’s first reigning queen, yet she is equally remembered by the moniker “Maria the Mad.” In 1778 she wed her uncle Pedro, later styled Peter III, who was her father’s younger brother and 43 years old, while she was 26.

The family tree grew ever more tangled when their son and heir, Joseph, married his own aunt—Maria’s sister Benedita. Joseph was a mere 15, while Benedita was 30, making Peter III’s daughter‑in‑law, sister‑in‑law, and niece all the same person.

Predictably, the union could not produce children; Benedita suffered two miscarriages, and Joseph died of smallpox two years after his father, accelerating Maria’s mental decline. Her second son assumed the throne, and the royal house was eventually forced to flee to Brazil when Napoleon’s forces invaded. Decades later, Maria II would again marry her father’s brother to resolve a succession crisis.

5 Elisabeth Of Austria

Empress Elisabeth of Austria, often called “Sisi,” was convinced that her lineage bore a curse of madness, though pinpointing the source proved impossible given the tangled web of her ancestry.

Her mother, Ludovika of Bavaria, was one of thirteen children of Prince Maximilian of Bavaria. Ludovika’s sister Sophie married Archduke Franz Karl, giving birth to Emperor Franz Joseph. While Ludovika hoped her daughter Helene would wed the Emperor, Franz Joseph fell instantly for Elisabeth, proposing marriage on the spot.

The marriage proved disastrous. Elisabeth detested court life and clashed constantly with her mother‑in‑law, Archduchess Sophie. Though her health suffered, the cause was not genetic but rather the Emperor’s infidelities and Elisabeth’s own anxieties, obsession with dieting, and eventual nervous breakdown.

The family’s intermarriage continued: Elisabeth’s daughter married her second cousin Leopold, while another of Ludovika’s sisters, Karolina, wed Francis II, making Karolina both aunt and step‑grandmother to the Emperor, as well as sister and step‑mother‑in‑law to Sophie.

4 King Rama V

King Rama V, also known as Chulalongkorn, is celebrated as a reform‑oriented monarch who shielded Siam from colonial domination, abolished slavery, and modernized the nation with public hospitals and railways. Yet his personal life featured a different kind of prolific output.

Adhering to tradition that prized a fertile reign, Chulalongkorn fathered an astonishing 77 children with an estimated 153 consorts, concubines, and wives. The queen’s position was reserved for royal blood, prompting him to select four of his half‑sisters as official spouses.

Despite the sheer number of offspring, the king ensured a Western education for each, sending many sons to study in Europe. He was aware that the world might judge his marital arrangements, but his concern lay with the perception of polygamy rather than incest. Consequently, he only publicly portrayed himself with Queen Saovabha, while the other women were described as “due to custom.”

3 Princess Victoria Melita

Princess Victoria Melita offers a fascinating case study: she married not one but two first cousins. She was also a granddaughter of Queen Victoria through her father, Alfred, Duke of Saxe‑Coburg and Gotha.

Queen Victoria arranged for Victoria Melita to wed her grandson Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse. The couple produced a daughter and a stillborn son, but the marriage quickly deteriorated when Victoria reportedly caught Ernest in bed with a male servant, leading to volatile confrontations. After Queen Victoria’s death, the pair legally divorced, causing a scandal within aristocratic circles.

Victoria later married her true love, Kirill Vladimirovich, a Russian grand duke and also her first cousin on her mother’s side. Their union, performed without Tsar Nicholas II’s consent, resulted in Kirill’s removal from the navy and a five‑year exile from Russia. Only after a chain of royal deaths elevated Kirill to third in line for succession were they allowed back, yet their relationship remained strained, never fully warming.

2 Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria is renowned as a prolific matriarch who championed the belief that intermarriage among European royalty could secure lasting peace. Her matchmaking, first of her nine children and later of her grandchildren, intertwined nearly every royal house on the continent, but this web of blood also sowed the seeds of imperial decline.

Kaiser Wilhelm II’s deep‑seated insecurities and antagonism toward Britain can be traced to his English mother’s relentless insistence that English culture superseded German, a sentiment that fueled personal vendettas against his cousins King Edward VII and Tsar Nicholas II.

The genetic fallout of Victoria’s close‑kin unions manifested dramatically in the spread of hemophilia. Both Victoria and her husband Albert were first cousins, and their descendants continued to marry within the family, allowing the recessive hemophilia gene to proliferate. Five of Victoria’s grandchildren and one of her children died from complications related to the disease.

Perhaps the most catastrophic outcome was the tragic fate of her granddaughter, Tsarina Alexandra, whose son Alexei suffered from hemophilia. Desperate to heal him, Alexandra placed her trust in the mystic Rasputin, whose influence exacerbated public distrust and contributed to the Russian Revolution. The imperial family was ultimately murdered after Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication.

1 Ancient Rome

The infamous Emperor Nero is remembered for his cruel whims, including rumors of wandering the streets and murdering innocent citizens at random. His mother Agrippina, together with his former tutor Seneca, attempted to curb his excesses, only to provoke even more violent behavior, culminating in Nero’s murder of his own mother.

Agrippina’s ambition was far more intricate than a simple mother‑son power struggle. She married Emperor Claudius—her own uncle—to strengthen Nero’s claim to the throne, a union that Roman law deemed incestuous. She then plotted against Claudius’s natural heir and even arranged the suicide of Claudius’s daughter Octavia’s fiancé.

When Nero married his step‑sister Octavia, the only remaining obstacle was Claudius himself. Agrippina acted again, and a year after the marriage, Claudius died under suspicious circumstances, likely mushroom poisoning. At sixteen, Nero ascended as emperor.

Historical accounts, especially those of Tacitus, reveal that Agrippina’s relationship with Nero went beyond political maneuvering; she was openly affectionate, even sharing kisses, which alarmed contemporaries. Nero’s lover Acte warned him that such incestuous behavior would offend the gods and alienate the army.

Ultimately, Agrippina’s jealousy over Nero’s affairs with women like Acte and Poppaea Sabina—whom she viewed as rivals—led to her downfall. In AD 59, Nero orchestrated his mother’s murder, sealing a grim chapter in Roman imperial history.

Kindree Cushing is a jack‑of‑all‑trades and lover of informative lists.

The world of true crime is full of baffling puzzles, and today we dive into 10 mysteries involving families that have left investigators scratching their heads for decades. From vanished beauty queens to chilling double murders, each case is a haunting reminder that tragedy can strike any household.

10 Mysteries Involving Families: The Unsolved Cases

10. Allison And Marie-Josee Benitez

On July 14, 2013, 19‑year‑old beauty queen Allison Benitez and her mother vanished from Perpignan, France, after an argument with Allison’s father, Francisco Benitez. Francisco, a former French Foreign Legion member, told friends that the women had headed to Toulouse and would stay off their phones, yet he never informed the estranged wife’s family. Their friends, alarmed, reported them missing before Francisco did, waiting over a week to file a report.

Contrary to Francisco’s story, the women never used their car, and CCTV at the train station showed no train travel. Suspicion shifted to Francisco, whose former mistress, Simone de Oliveira Alves, disappeared in 2004 after a breakup. No phone or card activity was detected after the disappearance, and four weeks later Francisco hanged himself, leaving a suicide note and video claiming he couldn’t bear the accusations. Blood traces belonging to Allison were later found in Francisco’s freezer and washing machine, both cleaned after the incident. No further trace of the two women has ever emerged.

9. Cowden Family

On September 1, 1974, Richard and Belinda Cowden were camping with their two young sons in California’s Siskiyou Mountains. They were expected to meet Belinda’s mother for dinner, but when they didn’t appear, the mother discovered cash, an expensive wallet, and a baby’s diaper bag at the campsite. With no sign of the family, police were alerted, yet an exhaustive search yielded nothing.

Eight months later, two hunters uncovered the entire family’s remains hidden deep in the woods. All but Richard had clear gunshot wounds, but no firearm was recovered at the scene. Richard’s cause of death remained undetermined, and police do not view him as the killer.

Progress has stalled, though detectives have a suspect: Dwain Lee Little, incarcerated for another crime, was in the area during the disappearance. Little was on parole for a 16‑year‑old’s rape and murder and owned a gun matching the one used on the Cowdens. Detective Dee Davis says justice won’t be served until Little is proven guilty, yet investigative mishaps may prevent resolution.

8. Jividen-Adams Murders

In May 2014, Brandon Jividen vanished alongside his girlfriend Rebecca Adams and her daughters Michelle (3) and Jaracca (5). Their Alaska home, located merely 0.8 km from where the bodies were later found, showed no sign of disturbance. The family dog’s remains were also discovered at the site.

Evidence was scarce, limited to two handguns and five shell casings. Police reported both firearms were purchased by Brandon, whose body was found wearing two holsters, though only one serial number matched. With no clear motive, authorities classified the incident as a murder‑suicide, closing the case in June 2015.

7. Godard Family

On September 1, 1999, Dr. Yves Godard set sail from Caen, France, on a rented yacht with his wife Marie‑France, six‑year‑old daughter Camille, and four‑year‑old son Marius. The family car was left at Saint‑Malo’s port, and investigators later found traces of Marie‑France’s blood. Prior to departure, Yves and Marie‑France reportedly argued, with Yves suspecting an affair, prompting police to consider foul play.

In the days following their disappearance, the yacht was sighted multiple times, and fragments such as a life jacket, dinghy, and lifeboat washed ashore around the English Channel. Anonymous letters claimed Yves had been seen with the children on the Isle of Man and later the Scottish Isle of Lewis, though these tips were never verified and may have been self‑authored to mislead investigators.

January 2000 saw a family bag caught in a fishing net, and later that year fishermen retrieved a skull identified as Camille’s. Another skull was found and inexplicably tossed back into the water. Police suspect Yves staged a shipwreck, murdering his family before fleeing. In 2006, Yves’s femur and tibia were recovered from the Channel’s depths, deepening the mystery.

6. Barbara And Patricia Grimes

On December 28, 1956, 15‑year‑old Barbara and 13‑year‑old Patricia Grimes of Cook County, Illinois, went to see Elvis Presley’s film Love Me Tender. They were supposed to meet their brother and sister at a bus stop after the movie, but never returned. A massive search ensued, even featuring Elvis himself urging the girls to come home, as authorities initially thought they might have run away.

On January 22, 1957, their naked bodies were found in the snow near an isolated road close to Bridewell Prison. The coroner determined they died the day of the film. A homeless man briefly confessed to the murders, but later withdrew, claiming coercion. Police dismissed him as a suspect.

Shortly after, the girls’ mother, Loretta, received an anonymous call from a man claiming responsibility and revealing private details. The following year, another teen, 15‑year‑old Bonnie Leigh Scott, was murdered under similar circumstances, and Loretta received another call from the same voice. Bonnie’s case was solved, but no link was established to the Grimes murders. Despite a 99‑year sentence, Bonnie’s killer was released after 11 years, died in 2010, and the Grimes case remains cold.

5. Dupont De Ligonnes Murders

On April 21, 2011, French police uncovered the bodies of Agnes Dupont de Ligonnes and her four children (ages 13‑18) buried beneath their home’s terrace. The family’s two dogs were also shot, likely while asleep. Their father, Xavier, a descendant of French nobility, was missing, having been last seen leaving a hotel with a rifle on April 15.

In December 2010, Xavier began frequenting a firing range and wrote to his children’s schools announcing an imminent departure from the country. He also claimed to be a spy entering witness protection. Financial strain forced him to borrow money from his mistress, adding motive speculation.

Despite extensive investigation, Xavier’s whereabouts remain unknown. In July 2015, police received a handwritten note from him stating, “I am still alive.” No further developments have surfaced since.

4. Ade Family

On the night of March 23, 1897, Justice Simpson of Paradise Ridge, Tennessee, noticed his neighbors’ house engulfed in flames. Unable to assist because the structure was already collapsing, Simpson rallied other neighbors as the blaze spread. Rain eventually doused the fire, revealing the interior.

Inside lay the bodies of Jacob Ade (60), Pauline Ade (50), Lizzie Ade (20), Henry Ade (13), and ten‑year‑old Rosa Moirer, a neighbor and family friend. An accidental fire theory was quickly dismissed, and robbery was considered, yet a missing portion of Rosa’s head and hand, plus cash found, shifted suspicion toward a calculated murder with arson to conceal evidence. No motives or suspects have ever been identified, and the case went cold.

3. Sarah And Jacob Hoggle

On September 7, 2014, Catherine Hoggle took her two‑year‑old son Jacob and three‑year‑old daughter Sarah to visit her mother in Montgomery County, Maryland. Later that day, she told their father, Troy, that she had dropped Jacob off at a friend’s house. The next morning, Troy awoke to discover Sarah missing, and Catherine claimed she was at daycare.

As Troy grew increasingly worried, Catherine, who has a history of serious mental health issues, could not recall which daycare her daughter attended. When authorities were involved, Catherine fled but was found wandering in a nearby town four days later and taken into custody. She claimed the children were left with a friend but refused further details.

A massive manhunt ensued without results. The investigation shifted to homicide, and Catherine faced two counts of neglect and abduction. Due to her mental health, she has repeatedly been deemed unfit for trial. Police suspect the children were murdered, yet family members hope they may still be alive, possibly given away by Catherine. No clues have emerged.

2. Edward Wheeler Hall And Eleanor Reinhardt Mills

On September 16, 1922, a couple strolling in New Jersey stumbled upon the bodies of Edward Wheeler Hall and Eleanor Reinhardt Mills, arranged to appear as a loving tableau under an apple tree—her hand on his knee, his arm around her shoulder. Closer inspection revealed murder: Edward suffered a single gunshot, a hat placed over his face to mimic a nap; Eleanor endured three gunshots and a brutal slash across her neck, with her larynx and tongue removed, concealed by a blood‑stained scarf.

Scattered torn love letters indicated an affair between the pastor and choir singer. Suspects included the couple who discovered them, Edward’s wife and brothers‑in‑law, and even the Ku Klux Klan. Police mishandled the scene, allowing a crowd to mishandle Edward’s business card, destroying potential fingerprint evidence.

Despite extensive witness testimony—157 witnesses were called—the grand jury declined to charge anyone, leaving the case unsolved.

1. Donna And Richard Muller

On January 19, 2014, police responded to a Philadelphia home where Donna Muller, 49, and her 22‑year‑old son Richard were found dead, each shot once in the head with a semi‑automatic pistol—Donna in the hallway, Richard in a bedroom. No signs of forced entry or robbery were evident, and the family dog showed no reaction to the intruder.

Investigators determined a lone shooter was responsible and recovered DNA at the scene. Two primary theories emerged: a tragic case of mistaken identity, or a connection to a series of nearby killings. Days later, a 32‑year‑old man was shot to death in his car; in early February, three men were shot dead at a nearby home, two of whom were tied up, suggesting a different modus operandi involving drug‑related violence.

Police have offered a $40,000 reward for information, yet no leads have surfaced.

When it comes to spine‑tingling true stories, 10 families who survived real‑life hauntings rival any fictional nightmare. From cursed mansions to murderous poltergeists, these households faced terror that would make even the bravest shudder.

10 families who faced genuine paranormal terror

10 The Smurl Family

When Janet and Jack Smurl first set foot on Chase Street in West Pittson, Pennsylvania, they were only looking at a fixer‑upper that needed a fresh coat of paint and some structural repairs. Little did they suspect that the real renovation would begin in the night‑time, when unseen forces started to make their presence known.

Over the next thirteen years the couple and their children endured relentless torments: Janet reported a demonic presence that seemed to assault her in her sleep, while Jack described an inexplicable attack that occurred while he was watching a baseball game on television. Even the family dog was reportedly hurled violently against a wall, adding a chilling animal dimension to the assaults.

Renowned demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated the home and identified four distinct entities—a benign elderly lady, a violent young girl, a deceased male resident, and a controlling demon that dominated the other three spirits. By 1987 the Smurl family had had enough, packed their belongings, and fled, never to return to the haunted residence.

9 The Perron Family

In 1970, Carolyn and Roger Perron, together with their five young children, moved into the historic Old Arnold Estate in Rhode Island—an imposing farmhouse built in 1736. Before they settled in, a previous occupant left a chilling warning: “For the sake of your family, leave the lights on at night!”

The moment they crossed the threshold, strange phenomena erupted. Carolyn awoke to the sight of a gaunt, gray‑haired woman named Bathsheba, whose head hung loosely as she warned the family to depart. The children also formed a bond with a mischievous little boy they named “Manny,” who watched them play from the windows. Meanwhile, malevolent entities tossed the family from their beds, tugged at their limbs, and filled the air each morning at 5:15 a.m. with the nauseating stench of rotting flesh.

Even decades later the Perrons find it difficult to discuss the ordeal. Their eldest daughter, Andrea, now an adult, summed it up succinctly: “Let’s just say there was a very bad male spirit in the home—with five little girls.”

8 The Enfield Poltergeist

Between 1977 and 1979, a suburban house at 284 Green Street in Enfield, England, became the epicenter of a worldwide paranormal sensation known as the Enfield Poltergeist. Single mother Peggy Hodgson and her two daughters, Margaret (13) and Janet (11), were subjected to a relentless barrage of unearthly activity.

The sisters reported hearing menacing voices, sudden bangs that rattled the walls, and chairs being hurled across rooms. Janet even experienced possession, speaking in the deep, guttural voice of a 72‑year‑old man named Bill Wilkins, who had died in the house years earlier. The phenomenon escalated to the point where the girls were thrown out of their beds and the house seemed to vibrate with unseen energy.

Press photographer Graham Morris, dispatched to document the case, recalled, “I thought it was an ordinary job until I walked into the house.” He captured a now‑famous photograph of Janet apparently levitating above her bed, her face twisted in terror—a snapshot that cemented the Enfield case in paranormal lore.

7 The Lemp Family Curse

The Lemp Mansion, erected in 1868 in the Benton Park neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, was originally a grand brewery residence. Tragedy struck the Lemp dynasty early in the 20th century: in 1901, William J. Lemp’s fourth son, Frederick, died of ill health, prompting a wave of despair throughout the family.

In 1904, William J. Lemp took his own life with a gunshot, and his son William “Billy” Jr. assumed control of the business. The family’s misfortunes continued: Elsa Lemp Wright, the youngest sibling, committed suicide in 1920 after a divorce; Billy Jr. followed suit in 1922, also ending his life with a gun. Later, in 1949, Charles Lemp shot himself after killing the family dog. The sole surviving brother, Edwin Lemp, eventually died of natural causes, requesting that every family heirloom be destroyed.

Today, the Lemp Mansion operates as a restaurant and inn, yet guests and staff report eerie encounters. A persistent legend tells of a deformed Lemp son hidden away in the attic, whose restless spirit is said to haunt the corridors, adding a spectral layer to the mansion’s already grim history.

6 The Snedeker Family

The Snedeker House, located on Meriden Avenue in Southington, Connecticut, inspired the horror novel and film The Haunting in Connecticut because of its unsettling past. In 1986, Allen and Carmen Snedeker, along with their three sons, a daughter, and two nieces, moved into the sprawling property.

While exploring the basement, Carmen uncovered a set of mortician’s tools, leading her to discover that the house had previously served as a funeral home. Soon after, their eldest son began experiencing vivid visions of malevolent spirits, and both parents reported terrifying sexual assaults by unseen demonic forces. Renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren examined the house and confirmed a demonic infestation.

Since the Snedeker family vacated the premises, no further paranormal activity has been reported. Experts suggest that the evil entities were drawn to the family’s presence rather than the building itself, implying a personal rather than structural haunting.

5 The McPike Mansion

Alton, a small town in Madison County, Illinois, boasts a reputation as one of America’s most haunted locales, and the centerpiece of its spooky fame is the McPike Mansion. Constructed in 1869 by businessman Henry McPike, the sixteen‑room mansion originally housed his family and staff.

In the early 1900s the property changed hands, being purchased by Paul Laichinger who rented rooms to boarders. Those who stayed soon reported hearing inexplicable noises—children’s laughter and chatter despite no children being present, as well as other unsettling sounds echoing through the halls.

After Laichinger’s death in 1945, the mansion lay vacant until 1994 when Sharyn and George Luedke acquired it for restoration. Sharyn observed a ghost‑like figure staring at her from a garden window, while other phenomena included captured orbs on camera and heavy metal doors swinging open unaided. Ghost hunters have identified the wine cellar as the most active paranormal hotspot within the house.

4 The Sprague Mansion

In the mid‑1800s, Lucy Chase Sprague lost her fortune and died impoverished within the walls of the Sprague Mansion on Cranston Street in Cranston, Rhode Island. The sprawling estate later became the residence of Robert and Viola Lynch in 1967, who moved into the 28‑room mansion featuring a famously eerie Doll Room.

During the late 1960s, night watchman Bob Lynch Jr. and his friends experienced blankets being ripped from their beds. Using a makeshift Ouija board, they contacted a spirit that spelled out, “Tell my story!” Another unsettling presence is the ghost of Amasa Sprague, whose body was discovered bludgeoned near the house in 1843, adding a murderous historical layer to the hauntings.

Since the Lynches departed, paranormal investigators have recorded the dolls’ eyes moving on camera within the Doll Room, and the wine cellar remains a hotspot for orbs and unexplained lights, cementing the mansion’s reputation as a genuinely haunted location.

3 The Danny LaPlante Killings

In January 1987, teenage sisters Annie and Jessica Andrews were startled by loud knocking emanating from the walls of their bedroom. Blood‑red writing appeared on the plaster, spelling out, “I’m back. Find me if you can.” The girls, grieving the recent loss of their mother, believed a restless spirit was trying to make contact.

When their father entered the house, he discovered a young boy wearing his deceased wife’s dress and clutching a hatchet. After a frantic chase, police uncovered a hidden crawl space and identified the “ghost” as 17‑year‑old Daniel LaPlante, who had been masquerading as a specter.

Following a brief stint in a juvenile detention center, LaPlante was released, only to commit a second wave of horror on December 1, 1987. He shot 33‑year‑old Priscilla Gustafson and then drowned her two children—seven‑year‑old Abigail and five‑year‑old William—in their Townsend, Massachusetts home. He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment for his gruesome crimes.

2 The Lutz Family

On November 13, 1974, the quiet street at 112 Ocean Drive in Amityville, Long Island, became the scene of a horrific mass murder when Ronald “Butch” DeFeo Jr. gunned down his parents, two brothers, and two sisters while they slept. Butch later claimed that demonic voices compelled him to commit the killings.

Exactly a year later, George and Kathleen Lutz, along with their three children, purchased the five‑bedroom house at a bargain price. George began waking each night at precisely 3:15 a.m., the time the DeFeo murders had occurred. The family also reported seeing a pig‑like creature with glowing red eyes staring from the windows, and the children experienced levitation episodes, floating out of their beds.

Both George and Kathleen passed rigorous polygraph examinations affirming the authenticity of their experiences. Overwhelmed by the relentless paranormal activity, the Lutz family eventually fled, leaving the notorious Amityville house forever etched in American horror folklore.

1 The Winchester Mystery House

Located at 525 South Winchester Boulevard in San Jose, California, the Winchester House began construction in 1884 after the death of its patriarch, William Wirt Winchester. Sarah Winchester, his widow, inherited a staggering $1,000‑a‑day fortune—a mind‑boggling sum when the average daily wage was merely $1.50.

Grieving both her husband and an infant daughter who died at six weeks, Sarah consulted a spiritualist who warned her that she was cursed by the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. The medium advised her to “build a home for yourself and the spirits,” promising that continual construction would keep her alive, while halting the work would seal her fate.

Heeding the warning, Sarah devoted the next thirty‑eight years to an endless building spree, adding staircases that led nowhere, secret passages, 47 fireplaces, and 160 rooms. The labyrinthine mansion, now a popular tourist attraction, continues to draw paranormal investigators from around the globe, all eager to glimpse the restless spirits said to still roam its endless corridors.

Family is the most amazing thing in the world. Our family members around care about us more than anyone else in the world. We all think that our families are the most weird in the world. But every now and then we realize that we are as normal as everyone else. However, these 10 families will make your family look like the most conventional in the entire world. Some are too large to be called a family, while some do things we wouldn’t even dream of doing. Here is the list of 10 Most unbelievable families in the world.

Unbelievable Families; Here below is a list of ten weirdest families you won’t believe actually exist.

10. The Duggar family (1 Couple 19 Children)

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are parents of 9 girls and 10 boys, making them parents of 19 kids in total. They did a reality TV show named 19 kids and counting.

The reason for them having so many kids is simple, they refuse to take any sort of contraceptive due to their religious faith. They are devout Baptists and frequently discuss values of purity, modesty, and faith in God.

9. The Chana Family (1 Man 39 Wives)

If Duggar family was a grand family for you, how about a man named Ziona Chana who married 39 women, fathered 94 children, have 14 daughters-in- laws and 34 grandchildren, bringing family to 180 members in total. He holds the Guinness world record for being the head of the largest existing family in the world.

See Also; Top 10 Men You Won’t Believe Are Real.

8. The Marshall Family (Fake Boob Family)

Meet the mother and daughters all of whom have gone through knife to gain fake breasts. All of these ladies have very large boobs except for one girl named Britney Marshall. She’s the only one in her family who yet to have a surgery to look like the rest of her sisters. No doubt, one of the most unbelievable families in the world.

See Also; Top Ten Most Unbelievable Women.

7. The Manson Family (Family Of Psychopaths)

Charles Manson is probably the most notorious and popular serial killer in history. A musician turned criminal is infamous for his series of murders from 1969 to 1971. Charles, who strongly implied himself to be Christ and expected to bring an apocalyptic race war by killing people, is clearly an insane person. The Manson which isn’t really a family is a group of criminals who have committed many crimes.

6. Lia and Aro (Vempire Couple)

Meet Lia Benninghoff and Aro Draven, two love birds who drink blood of each other once in a week, disgusting isn’t it? They believe that blood will hold them together forever. They released a graphic video on internet in which both of them are cutting themselves while the other drinks blood. This certainly makes them one of the weirdest families in the world.

Also See; 10 Most Unique Couples In The World.

5. Theresa Knorr And Children (Psycho Mother)

Theresa Knorr a mother of 6 kids was abusive towards her children physically, verbally and psychologically. She married 4 men and got divorced them within short period of time, probably due to her unstable mind. After fourth divorce she became even more abusive, and started drinking tremendous amount of alcohol. In that time, gained a lot of weight and became short tempered.

See Also; 10 Mothers Who Killed Their Kids Brutally.

Reports suggest, she disconnected all of her children from the rest of the world. She wouldn’t allow them to go out and contact anyone even on the phone. For many years, Knorr tortured her children in various ways including forced feeding, beating with objects, burning them with cigarettes, throwing knives at them and threatening them with a gun. Her abuse was more focused on the two eldest sisters, and she used other kids to help her to torture little girls. She believed that her eldest daughter Suesan was a witch. After one severe beating Suesan ran away from home for help. But police sent her back to her mother after Knorr convinced them that Suesan was mentally unstable. Suesan was tortured again by Knorr and ultimately was shot in the chest by a 22- caliber pistol. Theresa Knorr has been sentenced to life in prison.

4. The Podkopaev Family (Family Of Serial Killers)

A Russian family consisting husband and wife and two daughters, all of whom murdered at least 30 people including women and children. She did countless number of robberies and tortured many victims before killing them. However, their daughter Victoria wasn’t so lucky as she was stabbed to death by one of their victims. Eventually the entire family met with their fate. Unfortunately though, 30 men, women and children were already dead until then.

See Also; 10 Most Evil Women in History.

3. The Fritzl Family (The Psycho Father, Foolish Mother and Unlucky Daughter)

Fritzl case received worldwide attention in 2008, when Elisabeth Fritzl told local police of Austria that she was held captive by her father Josef Fritzl for 24 years. He not only locked her in basement but also tortured and raped her for 24 years.

But wait it gets even worse. The sexual abuse by her father resulted in the birth of 7 children. Four of whom joined their mother, one died within few days due to breathing problem. Remaining 3 children were brought up by Josef Fritzl and his wife. When the eldest daughter named Kerstin, became seriously ill, Josef allowed Elizabeth to take her to a hospital, triggering a series of events that eventually led to their discovery.

2. The Gray Clan (Outlaw Family)

The Gray Clan consist more than a dozen men and women living in a small town, all of whom are gun-holding and government-hating outlaws. Led by the grandfather John Joe Gray, the Clan is on war with the local sheriffs and federal agencies for more than 15 years. They say that “we fear no man and believe in eye for eye”.

They grow their own food and don’t let any officer enter in their property. John Joe Gray has become the longest-running law enforcement standoff in American history, lasting a few days short of 15 years, before the district attorney dropped the charges.

1. Colt Clan (Incest Family)

Some people might get uncomfortable reading this case as it involves the sexual relationships within the family, so if you don’t wanna read simply skip.

The Colt Clan is an Australian family discovered in 2013 that consists nearly 40 members ranging from grandparents to mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, nephews, brothers and sisters all engaging in various forms of incest. The case was so bizarre that Australian government’s move of making it public shocked everyone.

The incest started with two emigrated brother and sister, and continued for 4 generations. Entire family was living in horrible conditions, the house was made of tin roof with no supply of water or electricity. Various members suffered deformities because engaging Incest is scientifically a terrible idea.

The family was debunked when a child overheard the girl saying that one of her sisters was pregnant and they did not know which of her brothers was the father.