It’s spooky season here on Gigi’s Ramblings, and this year, we’re diving into stories that send a chill down your spine for more than one reason. While some folks decorate with ghosts and goblins, others face real-life hauntings — the kind that come from unanswered questions and unsolved crimes. These famous Halloween cold cases still haunt the families who live with the echoes every October.
The Disappearance of Hyun Jong “Cindy” Song (2001)
In 2001, Penn State student Cindy Song vanished after a Halloween party. She was last seen dressed as a Playboy bunny, dropped off at her apartment in the early hours of November 1. Inside, police found her false eyelashes, fake nails, and purse — signs she made it home. But Cindy was never seen again. Over the years, leads have pointed to possible abduction and even serial killer connections, yet her case remains unsolved, leaving her family desperate for closure.
The Trick-or-Treat Murder of 12-Year-Old Nima Louise Carter (1977)
In Oklahoma City, Halloween of 1977 turned from fun to terror. Little Nima Carter disappeared from her bed after trick-or-treating. Weeks later, she was found in an abandoned house, locked inside a refrigerator. The case shook the community, especially since a babysitter had been murdered in a nearly identical way the year before. Despite several suspects, no one was ever charged. Her parents have carried that grief for decades, haunted by the timing and brutality of it all.
The Candyman Case — Ronald O’Bryan (1974)
This Texas case is one of the most infamous Halloween crimes in history. Ronald O’Bryan, later dubbed “The Candyman,” poisoned his own son’s Pixy Stix with cyanide to collect life insurance money — then tried to make it look like random Halloween candy tampering. His crime sent a shockwave through communities everywhere, changing the way parents viewed trick-or-treat safety forever. Though O’Bryan was caught and executed, the fear he ignited still lingers each Halloween night.
The Disappearance of Arianna Fitts (2016)
San Francisco’s Arianna Fitts was just two years old when she disappeared after her mother, Nicole, was found murdered in a shallow grave in a park — dressed in Halloween-themed clothing. Police believe Arianna’s disappearance and her mother’s death are connected, but after years of searching, the little girl has never been found. Each October, her family pleads for answers, hoping someone will finally come forward with the truth.
The Mystery of the Las Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre (1990)
While not exactly on Halloween night, the eerie timing — just days before — gives this case an unsettling tie to the season. Two gunmen entered a New Mexico bowling alley, killed four people, and injured three more in a robbery gone wrong. The suspects vanished into thin air. Despite composite sketches, leads, and decades of investigation, no one has ever been brought to justice. For the families, every fall brings back the same cold chill of that October day.
Haunting Reminders Every October
Each of these tragedies carries a common thread — families left with questions and communities changed forever. Halloween might bring out costumes and candy, but for some, it’s a painful reminder of the night their loved one never came home. These stories aren’t campfire tales; they’re real, unresolved heartbreaks that linger like ghosts in the crisp October air.
If you’re like me and love a good chill during spooky season, stick around — there’s more haunting content coming your way all month long on Gigi’s Ramblings.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.