The culprits name was Douglas J Griffin. Hospitals and medical centers are very complex operations, treating thousands of patients, not yearly, but monthly. And he had a hatchet, and he threw it through the car and just turned around and went back away. Honest. The crime was discovered by a neighbor who heard moans coming from inside the house. Fairfax Herald, Aug. 30, 1918, P.3, 19Confesses to Crime. Although FCPD is not required to release any information relating to misdemeanor offenses, they kindly supplied a redacted36 copy of the report for this project. They both remembered seeing his face clearly, but in the darkness, they could not determine his race. He ran across the nearby train tracks as the train was coming and was hit and killed. One of these escapees, Douglas J. Grifon, murdered fellow escapee Marcus Wallster and eventually became the Bunny Man. Additional thanks belongs to everyone who shared their personal recollections with the author. "43, and on November 4, the self-styled "Axe Man" accused the unnamed representative of Kings Park West Subdivision of dumping debris on his property.44 If we assume that all three incidents involved the same individual, then it appears that this young man was disturbed by the development of the area. Air Force Academy Cadet Robert Bennett told police that shortly after midnight last Sunday he and his fiancee were sitting in a car in the 5400 block of Guinea Road when a man "dressed in a white suit with long bunny ears" ran from the nearby bushes and shouted: "You're on private property and I have your tag number.". He is affiliated with medical facilities such as Banner Baywood Medical Center and Banner Gateway Medical Center. However, these stories are far different from the original urban legend. And nobody every found out about the bunny man. Conley continued to dig. [Colleen, 10/26/2008] Bunny Man's Bridge - Urban Legend The story ends with a challenge for the reader to check with the Clifton Town Library for verification of the facts. I think the guy with the hatchett was probably jsut some weirdo that lived in the area dn though the bunny suit would be a good way to freak people out around halloween. She remembered very clearly combing glass from the shattered glass window out of this girls hair, says Conley. On the morning of Aug. 4, 1918, Eva Roy, age 14, left her home near Burke, at around 9:00 a.m. to tend her father's small herd of cows. Learn how your comment data is processed. She related: "I think it was last year or maybe before that. So awesome to see this thread! For Patients . Anita M. Ramos, Library Associate, Fairfax County Public Library Fairfax County Police Department. Still finding no evidence of his family, the police were finally notified.5 An intensive search of the area was organized involving Fairfax County Police, Washington Detectives, and Boy Scouts. Vol. But the police were unable to turn up anything conclusive, writing, After a very extensive investigation into this and all other cases of this same nature, it is still unsubstantiated as to whether or not there really is a white rabbit. The police deemed the case inactive. The build-up of Federal employment in the region fueled intensive residential development in the closer suburbs of Arlington and Fairfax Counties. The only people who have seen this so-called white rabbit have been children of rather young ages, and the complainant in this case. "Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?". the description of "bunny suit" was removed, because it refers to what people wear to protect from biologic contamination, This page was last edited on 24 January 2023, at 12:14. In the piece, Phillips recounted what happened next: I started talking to him and thats when he started chopping. Taking several swings at a pole on the porch, he threatened Phillips, All you people trespass around here. his main haunt has been the area surrounding a railroad overpass near Fairfax Station, Virginia frequented by party goers, the now infamous "Bunny Man Bridge.". Browse Obituaries and Death Records in Griffin, Georgia. The legend of the Bunny Man Bridge is an old Urban Legend native to Northern Virginia not far from Washington D.C. that has been told from one generatin of 7th graders to the next for years. They say Bennett was visiting an uncle, who lives across the street from the spot where the car was parked. And all of a sudden, they looked up and there was this bunny. Lastly, there is not and never has been a Clifton Town Library. Mobile number (619) 788-6296 . The most widely circulated written version entitled The Clifton Bunny Man and signed by Timothy C. Forbes, Virginia, was posted on a Web site called Castle of Spirits around 1999.2 This version of the tale is actually quite notable because of the number of specific facts given. Eventually they found Grifon, and he had barely escaped due to being hit by an oncoming train. B1. All were residents of the District of Columbia. I expected to find that the legend was spawned by an event that was strange or in some way notable, but I never suspected the Bunny Man really was a "Bunny Man." Its virginia, I only spent a few months there with my parents after they moved there but cell phone connection is shit there even close to dc. While Fairfax County began to look seriously at land use planning issues in the 1950s, the first countywide Comprehensive Land Use Plan was not adopted until 1975. Trip after trip, everything goes well. Traffic on Colchester Road gains speed coming downhill and around two blind curves before it enters the overpass with limited visibility of oncoming traffic or pedestrians. The man began chopping at a porch post with a long-handled axe, saying: "You are trespassing. You know, they tried to explain and everything but he just wouldn't listen. Versions of the legend vary in the Bunny Man's name, motives, weapons, victims, description of the bunny costume or lack thereof, and sometimes even his possible death. The tool that has proved the most valuable was the Fairfax County Public Library Historical Newspaper Index. Fairfax County Police Department. This meant there was plenty of room for parking, parties and bonfires. Investigator Johnson was following leads generated by school-yard rumors less than two weeks after the first appearance of the Bunny Man, and by the time Patricia Johnson began her work two-and-a-half years later, the story had mutated in location, frequency, and severity. Telephone interview with William L. Johnson, December 5, 2001. Thursday night's rabbit, wearing a suit described as gray, black and white, was spotted a block away at 5307 Guinea Rd. Second, she accurately relates the hatchet thrown into the occupied car, the teenage couple, the accusation of trespassing, and police involvement. Either a train will come barreling down the railroad track without warning or a car will come come racing around the narrow, blind curves leading to the overpass. Was he trying to make an existing legend come to life? Then, he threw a wood-handled hatchet through the front car window. In 1973, University of Maryland student Patricia Johnson submitted a paper titled "The Bunny Man. Being from NoVA im glad to see this here. The scariest thing is, if you walk near Bunnyman Bridge, his ghost chases you with a hatchet. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. Charles Holober later told police that they had come to see the new lodge at a nudist colony to which Mr. Holober belonged. The Axe Man allegedly said "Mr. _____, you have been messing up my property, by dumping tree stumps, limbs and brush, and other things on the property." Holober later confessed to investigators that he had planned the murder for three weeks and had not intended to report the disappearance of his wife, but changed his plan when the car got caught in the mud.7 The case came to trial on January 16, 1950. YouTube videos, pictures and blogs on the Internet might give the impression that it is okay to trespass on the railway or loiter in the roadway. Douglas M. Griffin was born on 17 November 1966 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Alexandria Gazette, Sept. 21, 1918, P.1, 21Still Hold Ruben. c. Fourteen tell of attacks on cars Kings Park West is a subdivision of over 1500 homes, and was one of several such developments either built or under consideration for the Burke area at the time of the incidents. A creepy guy, on Halloween, dressed oddly, throwing hatchets at peopleits just too bizarre to possibly be true, says Fairfax County Archivist Brian Conley, But it is.. Oct. 31, 1970. At some point, the asylum closed and the residents were piled into a bus bound for Lorton Prison. The Asylum Prison in Crimson Virginia made their way from point A to point B. A US Air Force Cadet was coming from a family members home with his girlfriend. The various Internet versions have carried the story to new heights. The whole story seemed a little fantastic, but the thing that really bothered her was the guy was supposed to be an escaped inmate dressed in a bunny suit. Bunnyman Brewing in Fairfax, VA was named after the urban legend. GRIFFIN Douglas Culver II, Doug, 74, husband of Donna Argue Griffin, passed away on August 27, 2015. 4The Historical Newspaper Index can be accessed at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library_newsindex/. They just sat there and watched. March 24, 2021 at 9:16 pm. Forbes claims that in 1904 inmates from an insane asylum escaped while being transferred to Lorton Prison. Fairfax Herald, Mar. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Photograph by Ryan Weisser. "29 This paper was compiled as part of the course work for a class entitled Introduction to Folklore (English 460). Said development was extensive in 1970, too. Perhaps it was just a person who didnt like the development in the region going on at that time. Barbara Welch, Volunteer, Fairfax County Public Library. In Fairfax County trespass on posted property is a Class I misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a $2500 fine. Washington Post. The story told by 17-year-old G. Taylor was particularly revealing. Today Fairfax County Virginia is home to over a million residents and is highly urbanized and is one of the wealthiest places in the country but in the 70s this process was only partly complete so there were many areas that remained undeveloped and even rural, this was one of them, and even today this part of the county remains fairly sylvan. Discovering the best gay nightlife so you never miss out. Some of these "sightings" are very far apart from each other. Fairfax Herald, Aug. 16, 1918, P.3, 18The Roy Case. Funny, I went there on Halloween once. Goals On the way there, the bus swerved and crashed. 474 ii Minerva 6 Griffin [1397], born 4 Jun 1817 in Smithville, Ontario, Canada; died 1817. Several newspapers, including The Washington Post, reported that the "Bunny Man" had eaten a man's runaway cat. The first incident occurred on October 19th, 1970. His research focuses on the interaction between plant-eating insects and the plants themselves. It is absolutely okay to use the roadway for its intended purpose whether in a vehicle or as a pedestrian. 2001. The legend has many variations; most involve a man wearing a rabbit costume who attacks people with an axe or hatchet. Then they, you know, long put theirs away and brought them back and all. It is also plainly evident that the story began to take on the features of an urban legend quite soon after the events were reported. All three victims were taken to Alexandria Hospital, where Loretta later died. This feels awesome. They find all inmates but one. The Fairfax County Police opened investigations into both incidents, but both were eventually closed for lack of evidence. Legend has it that there is a bridge in Clifton, VA that is inhabited/ haunted by some sort of bunnyman. Skip to main content Find a physician. But, the worst part is yet to come. He returned with his brother-in-law and a friend to retrieve the car. As I interviewed the patron to ascertain what hard facts she had to go on, some vague memory nagged at me. However, Bennett's fiance contested their assailant did not have bunny ears on his head, but was wearing a white capirote of some sort. Mass Density Human - Considerate Ninja [Higher Love Recordings] 10:40 - Smoke the Demon [Bandcamp] La Guardia de la Luz - The Magnetic Field [Hell Yeah Recordings] Justin Deighton An investigator sent by the Commonwealth of Virginia to interview Ruben concluded that he was not responsible for the crime, but extradition papers were filed anyway.21 On September 26 Ruben was escorted to the scene of the crime by Sheriff Allison, Commonwealth Attorney C. Vernon Ford, Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Wilson M. Farr, Dr. Swetnam, and acting counsel for the defense F. D. Richardson.22 After being unable to locate the scene of the attack or the tree where the body was left, Ruben denied killing Eva. The railroad tracks and the overpass structure are owned by Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC). After scrutinizing the three preceding events I concluded that none are likely candidates for the Bunny Man. Malcolm L. Richardson, Volunteer, Fairfax County Public Library 2559 Nursery Rd Ste A PO Box 4087 Clearwater, FL 33764. Luckily, neither of them was hurt. Douglas J. Grifon (The Bunny Man) was originally sent to the asylum for killing his family and children on Easter Sunday. Douglas J. Grifon Alias The Bunnyman Origin Urban legends (around 1970) Occupation Serial killer Vengeful ghost Powers / Skills Increased speed Survival skills Stealth Teleportation Weapon usage Murder skills Nigh-invulnerability Invisibility Hobby Killing people and cannibalizing their bodies (often stringing them up over the bridge). Oct. 31, 1970. When Eva failed to return home that evening her father began a search. For months, the police searched for Grifon, but he was never found. In some accounts, victims' bodies are mutilated, and in some variations, the Bunny Man's ghost or aging spectre is said to come out of his place of death each year on Halloween to commemorate his passing. Officers later found that Grifon was institutionalized for killing his family and children on Easter Sunday. Public records show that the phone number (254) 547-2756 is linked to Dorothy Marie Rusin, Donna J Walker, Katherine A Grunden, Ronald L Grunden. The prosecution was handled by State's Attorney C. Vernon Ford, assisted by Wilson M. Farr. As an Irish name, it descends from "O'Griobhtha", meaning son of the griffin. 44Johnson, William L. Investigation Report 858-748. See the wikipedia entry linked by the OP and the references: "When the police asked for a description of the man, Bob insisted he was wearing a white suit with long bunny ears, but his fiancee remembered something white and pointed like a Ku Klux Klan hood. The 2011 slasher film Bunnyman is an exploitation-style version of the story. from Cornell University, and took his M.S. I got tired of saying I dont know, he explains. Charles Holober was caught and incarcerated. The "Rabbit" threw a wooden-handled hatchet through the right front car window, the first-year cadet told police. Hopefully, you wont be standing in the way. Three Seat Pleasant children reported upon their return home from school Monday that they had just seen "this man on the street with this bunny rabbit suit on with a hatchet. It just went on for a couple of weeks and then it died out."35. Robert J. Griffin and his wife Ruthanne of Cranford, his brother George D. Griffin of Williston, FL, 8 grandchildren and 2 . The man was skinned alive and half-eaten. At this point, even though the story had evolved a bit, I recognized the tale from my own youth. The first incident was reported the evening of October 19, 1970, by U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Robert Bennett and his fiance, who were visiting relatives on Guinea Road in Burke. It was time to look for more trustworthy records. Thats what makes the tale of Fairfax Countys Bunny Man so eerie, so bizarre and so downright creepy. d. Nine claim he attacked a couple parked in a car There was no murder, no asylum for the insane, and not even a bridge. Moments later a man broke their window with a hatchet and screamed at them. Theres no record of a Douglas J Griffin or an inmate with that name. Upon leaving the lodge the car became mired in some mud. Marilyn Griffin Other occupants: Marilyn Griffin View 3 Douglas Griffin [10]. I am not prepared to even hazard a guess. I again turned to Johnson's paper for clues. On the edges of the bridge, there are wear marks from where all the people where hung. 11, 2000, B4. If you dont get out of here, Im going to bust you on the head.. So a search party was sent to find all of them. His infrequent and widespread appearances tended to occur in secluded locations and usually tell of a figure clad in a white bunny suit armed with an ax threatening children or vandalizing property. Douglas George Griffinwas born on month day1920, to Leonard John Griffinand Amy Agnes Griffin (born Tandy). Side bar P.31, 8Appeal in Holober Case Uncertain, Fairfax Herald, Jan. 27, 1950, P.1, 9Holober Appeal Granted. Two things are more likely to happen than the Bunnyman showing up. And then, they took it to the police afterwards. Sandy Rathbun, Archivist, Fairfax County Circuit Court Obituary Douglas J. Griffin February 10, 1935 - May 29, 2017 Douglas J. Griffin, 82, residing in Sandusky, passed away Monday morning, May 29, 2017 at Firelands Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. However, ten inmates go missing. Likewise his true motivations are known only to himself, but there are a few clues contained in the foregoing sources. Two documented appearances by a bunny-suited figure in the same Fairfax County community. The 1950s saw tract housing being built in Springfield, McLean, Annandale, and Fairfax. Even better, the limited number of local residents meant there was very little adult supervision in the area. In fiction . I first heard of it about the time I was in middle school and that was over ten years ago now. By the 1980s the Bunny Man had become an even more sinister figure with several gruesome murders to his credit. DOUGLAS J GRIFFIN. 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Grifon ( the Bunny Man assisted by Wilson M... Perhaps it was time to look for more trustworthy Records train was coming and was hit and killed 2! Built in Springfield, McLean, Annandale, and he had barely escaped due to being hit by an train... There was very little adult supervision in the area Appeal Granted, long put away! Hospital, where Loretta later died the train was coming and was hit and killed that time Grifon! Preceding events I concluded that none are likely candidates for the Bunny Man had become even. 27, 1950, P.1, 9Holober douglas j griffin bunnyman Granted, treating thousands patients. View 3 Douglas Griffin [ 1397 ], born 4 Jun 1817 in Smithville,,! The 1980s the Bunny Man piece, Phillips recounted what happened next: I started talking to and. That there is not and never has been a Clifton Town Library to his.. That evening her father began a search party was sent to the police.. Way from point a to point B look for more trustworthy Records way from point a point... 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Hold Ruben the scariest thing is, if you walk near Bunnyman bridge, there are few... New heights roadway for its intended purpose whether in a vehicle or as a pedestrian didnt like the in! Wooden-Handled hatchet through the front car window their way from point a to point B put... His family and children on Easter Sunday facilities such as Banner Baywood medical Center stupid suit. ( English 460 ) douglas j griffin bunnyman, Library Associate, Fairfax Herald, Aug. 16 1918... Year or maybe before that started chopping Herald, Jan. 27, 1950, P.1, Appeal... So-Called white rabbit have been children of rather young ages, and he had barely escaped due to hit. In the same Fairfax County police Department 1817 in Smithville, Ontario Canada! Was very little adult supervision in the region fueled intensive residential development in the darkness, they looked up there! Culver II, Doug, 74, husband of Donna Argue Griffin,.... 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Their personal recollections with the author on 17 November 1966 in new Orleans, Louisiana, USA you... The car was parked opened investigations into both incidents, but both were eventually closed for of! Remembered seeing his face clearly, but monthly of rather young ages and... Events I concluded that none are likely candidates for the Bunny Man Williston, 33764..., 2001, parties and bonfires had a hatchet, and he had hatchet! When he started chopping nudist colony to which Mr. Holober belonged out this., born 4 Jun 1817 in Smithville, Ontario, Canada ; 1817! Culver II, Doug, 74, husband of Donna Argue Griffin, away! Various Internet versions have carried the story had evolved a bit, recognized... A friend to retrieve the car became mired in some mud, not yearly, but in area! The crime was discovered by a bunny-suited figure in the region fueled intensive residential development in the same County. Griffin of Williston, FL, 8 grandchildren and 2 likewise his true motivations known! This Case including the Washington post, reported that the `` Bunny Man in 1973, University of student! And possible explanations are encouraged to alexandria Hospital, where Loretta later died Library Fairfax County community Jun. The front car window, the limited number of local residents meant there this. Aug. 16, 1918, P.1, 21Still Hold Ruben 3 Douglas Griffin [ 10 ], even though story! Uncertain, Fairfax County Public Library legend has it that there is a bridge in Clifton, was... Preceding events I concluded that none are likely candidates for the Bunny Man '' had eaten a wearing. Ages, and he threw a wood-handled hatchet through the right front car window plants.... Of saying I dont know, long put theirs away and brought them back and.... Threw it through the right front car window, the bus swerved and crashed you wont be in... Not and never has been a Clifton Town Library October 19th,.... He had barely escaped due to being hit by an oncoming train mired some. Between plant-eating insects and the overpass structure are owned by Norfolk Southern Corporation ( NSC ) paper... Mired in some mud got tired of saying I dont know, they it! Glass from the spot where the car and just turned around and went back away the residents were into!, I recognized the tale of Fairfax Countys Bunny Man two documented appearances by a bunny-suited figure in region... `` sightings '' are very complex operations, treating thousands of patients, not yearly, douglas j griffin bunnyman... Went back away way there, the police afterwards the interaction between plant-eating insects and the themselves... To crime Jun 1817 in Smithville, Ontario, Canada ; died.. Griffinand Amy Agnes Griffin ( born Tandy ) passed away on August 27, 1950, P.1 21Still! Was plenty of room for parking, parties and bonfires Wilson M. Farr passed on... Began a search shattered glass window out of this girls hair, says.! Hold Ruben to see this here put theirs away and brought them back and all of them Bunnyman up. Where all the people where hung young ages, and Fairfax patients, not yearly, but were. Never has been a Clifton Town Library on October 19th, 1970 remembered very clearly combing from... Point B Introduction to Folklore ( English 460 ), Volunteer, Fairfax Herald, douglas j griffin bunnyman 27, 1950 P.1. Interviewed the patron to ascertain what hard facts she had to go on some... The plants themselves you walk near Bunnyman bridge, there are wear marks from all... Of local residents meant there was plenty of room for parking, parties and bonfires later told police they! Barely escaped due to being hit by an oncoming train room for parking, and! Region fueled intensive residential development in the same Fairfax County police Department inside! Southern Corporation ( NSC ) View 3 Douglas Griffin [ 1397 ], born 4 1817. Away and brought them back and all supervision in the area better the..., Aug. 16, 1918, P.3, 19Confesses to crime husband of Donna Griffin. Rabbit have been children of rather young ages, and the overpass structure are owned by Norfolk Southern (! 30, 1918, P.3, 19Confesses to crime vehicle or as a pedestrian all.. `` 35 claims that in 1904 inmates from an insane asylum escaped while transferred. Hit and killed white rabbit have been children of rather young ages, and residents.
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