Jayne Mansfield's Death, Missing People, And More Horror

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Hello, and welcome to That Got Dark! I'm Crystal, and I'm guilty of spending way too much time going down dark rabbit holes. Yes, I know it's not the ~smartest~ thing to do late at night, but sometimes (OK, every time) I just can't help myself. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The thing is, much like walking into a haunted house, I don't like doing it alone. So, every week, I'll gather the darkest and creepiest things I find on the internet (and beyond) to share just with you, my spooky-loving friend. So, tuck yourself in tight and get out that flashlight…it's about to get dark.
Recently, I found out that in 2019, a man in the UK died after eating a sample of a fish cake that was so hot it burned his throat. And it turns out the burn was so bad it actually caused his throat to swell up to the point where he choked to death less than 12 hours later.
Just to really hammer home how nasty the burn was, a pathologist who performed a post-mortem examination on the victim said that this case was so incredibly rare that he'd only seen that kind of damage in people who had breathed in smoke in house fires. And now I'm avoiding fishcakes for the rest of my life.
Occasionally, I like to ask the BuzzFeed Community to tell me about the most mysterious, cult-like, bad-vibes towns in the United States they've ever been to. And you'd be shocked at how many responses I get each time (or maybe not). This week's spotlight: Harrison, Arkansas.
'There used to be several billboards on the main highway. Lots of white pride radio saying things like, 'Is it wrong to love your kind?' There is only one billboard now. It says, 'Let's Go Brandon' by the Christian radio network. I think it is a KKK stronghold. There are YouTube videos of people protesting the old signs. Local people warning the protesters to watch their backs, etc."—Anonymous
Wikipedia is like the Wild West. It's vast, seemingly endless, and sometimes you can find some extremely weird (and horrifying) things out there. This week's spotlight: the Disappearance of Tara Calico.
Tara Calico, a 19-year-old from Belen, New Mexico, disappeared on Sept. 20, 1988, while riding her bike along the highway. Despite extensive searches and media coverage, including episodes of Unsolved Mysteries and America's Most Wanted, Tara was never found. But what makes the case extra creepy is the fact that in July 1989, a horrifying Polaroid photo of a young woman (who looked like Tara) and a child, both with their mouths duct-taped and seemingly tied up in the back of a van, showed up in a parking lot in Florida. The photo was analyzed several times, including by the FBI, but the results were inconclusive as to whether it was actually Tara in the photo. In 1998, Tara was declared legally dead, and her presumed death was ruled a homicide. Recent investigations have identified potential suspects, but the case still remains unsolved.
Jayne Mansfield — Died: June 29, 1967. Cause of Death: Traffic collision
How she died: Mansfield was traveling in a 1966 Buick Electra with her driver, her lawyer/boyfriend Sam Brody, and three of her children (including actress Mariska Hargitay) when their car crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer. The Buick went under the trailer, destroying the top of the car and killing Mansfield, Brody, and the driver instantly. The children in the backseat miraculously survived with only minor injuries. There's a popular urban legend that Mansfield was decapitated in the crash, and while she certainly sustained severe head trauma, she was not decapitated. The accident famously led to the creation of "Mansfield bars,' which are guards now required on the rear of semi-trailers to prevent similar accidents.
The Ugly Stepsister (2025)
What it's about: A clever and extremely twisted body horror retelling of the classic fairytale Cinderella.Why you should watch it: This satirical, dark, and gory retelling from the perspective of one of the 'ugly' stepsisters will make you scream and cringe in pain alongside the characters. Seriously…it's A. LOT.Where you can watch it: Streaming for free on AMC+ or for rent for $3.99 on Prime Video
Aileen Wuornos
Known as "The Damsel of Death," Wuornos was a serial killer who murdered and robbed six men (and possibly a seventh) while doing sex work in Florida from 1989 to 1990. Although Wuornos initially claimed she acted in self-defense, she later recanted and said she wasn't a victim and that she simply robbed and killed her victims for money. Wuornos was executed on Oct. 9, 2002.
Her last meal: Wuornos declined the last meal option and instead opted for a cup of coffee.
Well, I hope I didn't make your Sunday scaries more…scary?! In the next issue, I'll talk about the truly messed-up thing that happened to Mariska Hargitay after the car crash with her mom (Jayne Mansfield, like we talked about above), a plane crash that was completely preventable, and a Disney Channel star who died too young. Until then, stay safe, keep the lights on, and I'll see you for another horrifying trip down the rabbit hole…
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