Jayne Mansfield, Serial Killer Gary Ray Bowles, And Other Dark Stories

Buzz Feed

07-07-2025

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Hello, and welcome to That Got Dark! I'm Crystal, and I love a good ol' trip down a deep and dark rabbit hole, especially late at night! *laughs uncomfortably*
But, much like playing with a Ouija board, 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.
In 'holy shit!' news, actress Mariska Hargitay recently revealed (in her new HBO documentary My Mom Jayne), that she was accidentally left behind at the scene of the 1967 car crash that famously killed her mother, Jayne Mansfield, when she was just 3 years old. And I bet you didn't think that horrific incident could get worse (I certainly did not!).
After her siblings were pulled to safety, the rescuers did not realize Mariska was trapped inside the car until her brother, Zoltan, asked after her. The rescuers returned to the crash and found little Mariska trapped under the passenger seat, having suffered a head injury. Although Mariska says she has no memory of the crash, she still has a scar on her head from the tragic event.
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: Toney, Alabama.
'Toney, Alabama, is a creepy abandoned railroad town that most certainly has ghosts. The nearby town of Dan was destroyed by a tornado in 1913, and legends of old train wrecks, eerie sightings, and unexplained sounds — especially along Old Railroad Bed Road — fuel the haunted reputation. I wouldn't be caught there late at night!' —Anonymous
Wikipedia is like the Wild West. It's vast, lawless, and sometimes you can find some extremely weird (and horrifying) things out there. This week's spotlight: the tragic crash of Aeroflot Flight 593.
On March 23, 1994, one of the pilots of a commercial airliner, Aeroflot Flight 593 from Moscow, brought his teenage children into the cockpit during the flight. Against regulations, the pilot allowed them to sit at the controls and even handle them. One of the kids accidentally disengaged the autopilot's roll function, causing a fatal descent. Minutes later, the plane crashed into a mountain range. All 63 passengers and 12 crew members on board died on impact.
Cameron Boyce — Died: July 6, 2019. Cause of Death: Epileptic seizure.
How he died: Known for his roles in Disney's Jessie, Descendants, and films like Grown Ups, Boyce died in his sleep from a seizure linked to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), which was a condition he had been managing for several years. He had been found unresponsive in his home in the early afternoon.
In a Violent Nature (2024)
What it's about: A disturbing slasher film seen from the perspective of the killer.Why you should watch it: The story itself isn't groundbreaking, however, the choice to depict the events of the story from the killer's perspective is realllllllly fun (and extra horrifying). Where you can watch it: Streaming for free on AMC+ or for rent for $3.99 on Fandango at Home
Gary Ray Bowles
Known as the "I-95 Killer,' Bowles was a vicious serial killer who murdered six men along the East Coast in 1994, targeting older gay men. Motivated by hatred and personal trauma, he was captured later that year, sentenced to death in Florida, and executed by lethal injection in 2019.
His last meal: Three cheeseburgers, bacon, and French fries
Well, it's late, so it's probably time we get some sleep, right? (RIGHT?!) In the next issue, we'll tackle the scary story of transplant donors accidentally getting rabies, the truly messed-up case of Mary Toft, and a serial killer who had a fancy AF palate. 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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