We’ve all heard urban legends about criminals leaving scary notes. Stories like “Aren’t you glad you didn’t turn on the light?” have been told around campfires for years. But what happens when these tales are real? Sometimes, the most dangerous people leave behind messages that are truly unsettling. These writings give us a dark look into their minds.
These real-life messages show how twisted some people can be. They remind us that those spooky stories we heard as kids might not be so far from the truth. This list explores ten such writings, from killers and other dangerous individuals. We remember the victims of these terrible acts and hope for justice.
10 Vanessa Coleman
The Chilling Journal Entry:
“Last night was one of a kind. We stayed with a crackhead who was cool as hell. It snowed a little bit but it’s already melted. Let’s talk about adventures! I had one HELL OF AN ADVENTURE since I’ve been on the big TN. It’s a crazy world these days but I love the fun adventures and the lessons I’ve learned. It’s going to be a long, interesting year.”
The Disturbing Context:
This sounds like a young student’s diary after a wild night. But it’s not. Vanessa Coleman wrote this. She was involved in a horrific crime in 2007. Her “adventures” were with men convicted of carjacking, rape, kidnapping, and murder of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. Coleman was a witness and passive participant. Her lighthearted words are awful when you know the terrible details of the crime. Though not convicted of first-degree murder, Coleman received a 35-year sentence for other charges. She has been denied parole twice, with her next chance in 2030.
9 Unidentified Perpetrator in the Murder of Carolyn Montgomery
The Eerie Message:
Scrawled on cardboard: “The Wrong One I’m Sorry”
The Disturbing Context:
This message was found at the scene where Carolyn Montgomery was murdered in Dallas, Texas, in 1971. It has puzzled police for over 40 years. Her six-year-old son, Dequin, found his mother. She had been brutally stabbed with knives from their own kitchen. The message suggests the killer might have targeted Carolyn’s roommate, who also worked as a cocktail waitress. The case sadly remains unsolved.
8 Hasib bin Golamrabbi
The Twisted Writings:
Written on walls and floors: “Sorry my first kill was clumsy,” “your (sic) cute when you sleep,” “take care of your broter (sic) or he will be next.”
The Disturbing Context:
Hasib bin Golamrabbi, 26, was convicted of murdering his parents in California in 2016. These strange messages were found near their bodies. No clear reason for the killings was found, other than Hasib being described as withdrawn. He represented himself in court. He claimed intruders killed his parents and even suggested his brother did it. He also tried to bribe the jury and prosecution. He was sentenced to life in prison.
7 Unidentified Bank Robber and Killer of George Barron Black
The Deceptive Note:
Left at the scene:
“See you Monday at 2. Missed you today.
Joe
See you at 3 PM”
The Disturbing Context:
In 1949, a robber entered Lloyds Bank in Bristol, England. He pretended to wait for a friend. George Black, a bank employee, told him the bank was closing. The robber then wrote this note, likely to buy time. Once other customers left, he shot and killed George Black. He stole £1,444 and fled. An 18-year-old assistant saw the murder. Several witnesses saw the getaway car. Despite many clues, the killer was never caught.
6 A UVF Terrorist
The Shocking Claim:
In a letter to former Irish leader Charles Haughey:
“In 1985 we were approached by a MI5 officer…he asked us to execute you.”
The Disturbing Context:
This letter, sent in 1987, made serious claims against British intelligence. It said the Ulster Unionist terror group (UVF) was asked by MI5 to murder the Irish prime minister. The letter stated the UVF received details about Haughey’s security, homes, cars, and yacht. The taoiseach took the threat seriously. His son confirmed the family knew about it at the time. Some believe the letter was an attempt to cause trouble and mistrust.
5 The Killer(s) of Byron Carr
The Wall’s Grim Proclamation:
On the bedroom wall: “I Will Kill Again”
The Disturbing Context:
Byron Carr was stabbed and strangled in Charlottetown, Canada, in 1988. Police think a younger man killed him after a consensual sexual encounter. His friends doubt he was targeted for being gay, suggesting another motive. Was the message on the wall a trick to make police think it was a serial killer? Or was it a real threat from a killer confused about his own identity? Carr was a popular schoolteacher, and his murder shocked the community. The case was reopened in 2007, and a DNA profile of the killer was created, but no arrests have been made.
4 Dariusz Kotwica
The Sinister Inscription:
Daubed on a victim’s body: “Tantum Ergo” (Therefore so great)
The Disturbing Context:
Dariusz Kotwica was a serial murderer who killed people across Europe. This religious message found on one victim was creepy. But Kotwica also carved messages into his victims. Before his killing spree, he assaulted someone in the Netherlands, tried to kill a shopkeeper in Austria, and robbed a store in Germany. In 2015, he murdered three elderly people in Sweden and Austria. Psychiatrists said Kotwica suffered from paranoid schizophrenia for at least 10 years.
3 (Potentially) The Killer of Sean McGann
The Contradictory Graffiti:
Written in chalk near the body: “Very Sorry” and “No I’m Not”
The Disturbing Context:
Fifteen-year-old Sean McGann was found dead in an alley in Northampton, England, in 1979. He was on his way to a fair. The case is still cold. In 2019, police re-examined crime scene photos and found this chilling graffiti on a wall above his body. The conflicting messages suggest a cold, perhaps confused, killer. Police believe the murder might have been sexually motivated, though Sean wasn’t sexually assaulted. He was found in an alley, not where he was killed, and was missing some clothes.
2 Robert Durst
The Infamous “Cadaver Note”:
In a letter to police: “Cadaver,” followed by his victim’s address
The Disturbing Context:
Millionaire killer Robert Durst sent a letter to the Beverly Hills Police Department regarding Susan Berman’s murder in 2000. The note contained only the word “Cadaver” and Berman’s address. This became a key piece of evidence in his trial. In 2019, court documents showed Durst admitted to his lawyers that he wrote the note. His defense team argued that writing the note only proved he knew about the body, not that he killed her. In October 2021, Durst was sentenced to life in prison.
1 Clifford Burns
The Ominous Text Message:
To his daughter:
“I have a special gift coming soon, something for everyone to talk about, and it will be hand-delivered on foot, not by car. A very special gift for all your friends to see.”
The Disturbing Context:
This awful message was sent by Clifford Burns to his daughter Autumn. Later, he broke into his estranged wife Patricia’s home and fatally stabbed her. Patricia had left Clifford due to his constant abuse. After their young daughter Christalin died, Patricia wanted a fresh start. Clifford had a restraining order and had to pay child support. He snapped on Christmas Eve, murdering his wife and injuring his stepdaughter Megan, who bravely tried to save her mother. After the attack, knowing his children identified him, Clifford turned himself in. He received 23 years to life. Just before this, 14-year-old Autumn had texted him: “I just wanted to tell you I love you and Merry Christmas.”
These writings offer a chilling window into the minds of those who commit terrible acts. They are stark reminders of the darkness that can exist and the pain inflicted on victims and their families.
What do you think about these chilling messages? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
