Have you ever gotten a telephone call from the future, or experienced having a babysitter who was potentially a water witch? How about waking up on top of your super tall refrigerator, or getting greeted by your boyfriend in the dark despite him not having left work yet? These may sound terrifying and absurd, but these are just a few true, unsolved mysteries that have haunted their victims for years.
People love a good mystery, and life is full of them— yet, when it's our personal mysteries that remain unsolved, it’s often hard to let them go. Sometimes, even the littlest of life’s absurd experiences resonate with us, and we obsess over an explanation that may never come. While we may not all get the answers we’re looking for, there are some unsolved enigmas that are too odd, wild, and disturbing not to share. Can you think of any explanations for these Reddit users impossible tales of terror, surprise, and confusion?
Don't forget to check the comment section below the article for more interesting stories!
#1 Backpack Mishap
When I was little, I had this small backpack that I kept all my toys in. My family was about to get on a flight and I accidentally left the backpack on one of the seats at the terminal. To this day, I still remember every single toy that was in that backpack, and I always wonder which lucky kid has my toys now.
#2 No-Show Dad
I never got to meet my dad. Apparently, he never showed up at the hospital when my mom went into labor. No one knows if he didn't show up on purpose or if something happened to him. I feel sadder for my mom than for me. I know she really loved him because she still keeps his photo in her wallet.
#3 Darn, You Could've Been Soulmates
I got home one day and my daughter told me a guy had turned up on my doorstep asking for me by name with a huge bunch of flowers. She sent him on his way and didn't even ask for his name. I will never know who my lost love is.
#4 Must've Been One Generous Stranger...
A few years ago I got a citation for $350, and when I went to pay it off they told me it was already paid for. I asked everyone I knew, and no one claimed they did. I don’t think I’ll ever find out who it was.
#5 Yeah, Your Kid Is A Time Traveler
I've got three children with pretty unique names. Not unheard of, but not common. My oldest son, Rylan, was nine at the time and sitting on the couch. My cellphone rang, which was weird because it was only used for emergencies. I used my house phone more often, being a stay-at-home mom. I answered it even though I didn't recognize the number. Here is how the conversation went:
Me: Hello?
Teen: Hey Mom!
Me: Um, who is this?
Teen: Mom! It's me, Rylan!
Me: RYLAN WHO! (Now I'm frantically looking at my son who is very confused)
Teen Boy: Mom, stop playing! (The phone sounded like a hand was covering the mouthpiece. I could hear another voice say, "No, it's not time yet.") Oh, I'm sorry, wrong number...
Whether it was a prank or my kid from the future, I'll never know. I do know I had to hold onto the wall so I didn't pass out. I tried to call back about two minutes later and the call disconnected. Super freaky.
#6 You're Sure She Didn't Have A Double Life?
My mother died about twelve years ago. At the funeral home, we received a lovely bouquet of flowers with a card from the band, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, that said: "We are saddened to hear of Renate's passing."
We are a humble family from southern Indiana. There is zero chance she ever had any contact with those boys. Is this something they just randomly do? They would have loved her, though. She was the warmest person you could ever hope to know.
#7 Guess They Found A New Setup...
My childhood home in Utah was right behind a farm with regular farm things— horses, chickens, goats, etc.
One day, a peacock showed up out of nowhere and made the farm and our backyard his own home. He cried and cried for weeks. Later, a peahen showed up. They then had babies, and before we knew it, loads of peafowl were all over. They became part of my everyday life. My chores were to feed the peafowl and clean the deck every day. This went on for eight-ish years.
Then, they suddenly just all disappeared.
No one in the neighborhood had any idea where they came from or where they went.
#8 Are You Some Kind Of Magician?
I worked at the public library. I scanned a guy's library card then handed it back to him. Our hands were about a foot apart. Then suddenly the card was gone. It never made it into his hand. We were both totally confused—I looked under the computer, under the desk in the weird cracks, but never found it.
I still think about it.
#9 She's 100% A Water Witch, Dude
When I was little, my babysitter and I were outside and it started to rain. She said, "Watch this" and walked out onto the empty road. She lifted her arms to form a T-shape, and it started to rain heavier. She put them down and the rain slowed down. She put them back up and it poured again.
I'm sure there's a valid explanation, but for now, I'm still baffled.
#10 Dang, You Were Feeling Pretty Confident
A car followed me home from work one late night. I didn't know where the police station was, so I stopped on a dark road near my suburb to make sure he was actually following me, and sure enough, he stopped behind me. I got out and grabbed the emergency ax out of my truck without even shutting off the car and started walking towards it, and the car sped off.
I was stupid for doing that, but I will never know who that was.
#11 Sorry, But Do I Know You?
I was traveling in Italy when two American girls came up to me and started talking excitedly about how they couldn't believe they'd run into me in Rome. They wanted to know how my trip had been going, but I had no idea who either of them was. It was creepy because they knew specific things about my life and my travels that only someone who knew me would have known. I still have no idea who the heck they were.
#12 I Mean, I've Heard Of Colorblindness...
When I was a kid, I started to randomly see nothing but brown. It was usually only in one eye, but it was never the same in both, and rarely in both at the same time. Went to several doctors and they did some testing, but nothing came up. As I grew older, there was more time between occurrences and now I haven't had it in close to ten years.
Sometimes it still bothers me not knowing what that was.
#13 Um, This Is Freaking Terrifying
I was working on some assignments at home at like, 9 a.m. I was sitting at the desk in the living room, just on the computer. I could see directly into my housemate's room from the desk, but since he was asleep, the door was shut. The door was slightly raised off the ground so you could see if there was anyone standing behind it.
Suddenly, the door started shaking and rattling as if someone was trying to demolish it, but there was no one behind it. A few terrifying minutes later, my roommate opened the door and said, "Dude, what are you doing?"
I told him, "It wasn't me, I'm sitting way over here." We are both flummoxed to this day. What caused that?
#14 That's An Odd Place For A Nap
The time I woke up on top of my refrigerator.
I had been sleeping there, curled up like a cat. To this day, I have no idea how I even got up there. There was nobody home at the time who could have put me up there, and there’s no way I could’ve climbed it unassisted.
I also had no prior history of sleepwalking whatsoever. To this day, I have absolutely no idea what happened, and it still bugs me.
#15 Well, That Took A Wild Turn
Someone came to my parents' door at 3 a.m., claiming they ran away from home because they were being abused by their father and we were the only people to answer. My parents checked the stranger into a shelter and funded him for weeks. Eventually, he left the shelter and returned home.
A few weeks later, he started making up lies about my parents, saying they had kept him away from his family for weeks and abused him. To this day, we have no idea if the guy was psychotic or not, but it sure was weird.
#16 ...What Do You Mean You're Not Home?
One night, I heard my boyfriend come home from work while I was sleeping. He came in and said hi, then went out to the living room. I got up not long after to convince him to come to bed, but he wasn't home. I called him and he told me he had stayed late at work and assured me he had not come home that night at all. I freaked out and made him come home right away. The whole incident creeped me out for a while.
#17 I Think A Ghost Stole Your Rolex, Buddy
One day, I woke up and my Rolex watch was missing from my bedside table. I was gutted, to say the least; it had enormous sentimental value. I searched the house high and low, but nothing.
About ten months later, I went to put some boxes on a shelf that required a ladder to reach. Bear in mind, I lived in a Victorian house with high shelves which we NEVER used. My Rolex was there. Still freaks me out.
Business Insider
#18 You Can't Possibly Have Lost This...
I moved into a new house in July. After unloading all of my things, I realized that I had forgotten some basics like toilet paper and dish detergent. I went out and stocked up on a few things, including a giant pack of my favorite toilet paper with the bears on it, only to realize that my mom had picked some up for me while I was out.
This giant pack of toilet paper became a thorn in my side. There wasn’t a shelf or cupboard big enough to store it, so I was always throwing it somewhere.
Then, on the days I needed it, I could never find it. I would search every nook and cranny of my house, but it's nowhere to be found.
To this day, I still look for that giant pack of toilet paper. I can’t forget. It haunts me. HOW DOES A HUMONGOUS PACK OF TOILET PAPER DISAPPEAR?
123RF
#19 Are You Sure He Isn't An Interdimensional Physicist?
My Calculus teacher just kind of materializes out of nowhere. I know what hallway he uses to get to class, so I stand out there and look for him often, but he would never show up. Instead, he would appear with a cup of coffee from a different hallway. It's like he lives in his own pocket dimension or something.
#20 Sure Wonder How I Ended Up Here...
One day, when I was in eighth grade, I remember being woken up from my bathroom floor by my stepmother. It was around 7 p.m. and I had no recollection of that day. I still wonder what happened... I don’t know how I ended up passed out on the bathroom floor.
#21 It Sounds Like Fate Wants You Two Together
While traveling in the U.S., I arrived in Austin and met an African girl named Wendy. I spent a little time with her—she was nice, but there was nothing special between us. She left a couple of days later, then I left too.
I took the train to Denver and ended up getting stuck. Because of the delay, I missed my transfer and ended up in Chicago. When I got off the train, there was Wendy, standing on the platform. There were a lot of serendipitous moments during that trip, so I’m perplexed but not surprised.
#22 No Big Deal, Just Warped Through Time
I was working as a projectionist at a movie theater. One of the kids' movies ended, but the last movie of the night still had about 50 minutes of runtime left. While I waited, one of the things I typically did was check the theater for loose change or unopened candy.
I ran to the theatre where the kids' movie was playing and looked around for maybe ten minutes. I mad my way back upstairs thinking I still had about 40 minutes, and next thing you know my boss was calling me on the walkie-talkie asking me if I had finished and was ready to go home. I thought he was just messing around, which he sometimes would do, and didn't think much of it until I realized none of the movies were running.
Did I just somehow just time travel about 45 minutes into the future? Even my watch was wrong. I've never been able to explain it to myself and at this point I'm just assuming my mind made the whole thing up.
#23 Something's Not Right About This Picture...
My cousin and I were having a girls' night at home and went to go grab some wine. I lived in a basement suite that had French doors, which I always locked when I left. When we came back, my cat’s food dishes were sitting on the placemat right in front of the door, with no kibble or water spilled. I usually kept them in the kitchen. It was like someone had displayed them there for when we came back. I saw it through the French doors and we both froze. It freaked me the heck out for a long time.
#24 How Did It End Up There?
I decided to trial a baby gymnastics class with my one-year-old. She was having fun, so I decided to get my phone out to take a few photos. I noticed it wasn't in my bag, so I figured I’d probably left it in the car. I’d been listening to the Hamilton soundtrack, so it was likely to be there.
I finished the class and walked to my car that was parked parallel to the gym. I put the baby in her seat and called out Siri to locate my phone. Siri didn’t answer. I get slightly more concerned than before, but I still got in the car, expecting to see my phone connect to the Bluetooth. I start driving and nothing happens. Now I know my phone is absolutely not in the car.
I pulled into my mom's house (who lived two minutes from the gym). I called my number and to my relief, the woman who answered said I had left my phone at the gym. I thanked her profusely and told her I’d come right back and collect it.
I drove back down to the gym and walked in looking slightly embarrassed. The coach smiled and said, ‘Forget something?’ I laughed and said, ‘My phone.’ Then, she told me to walk around and look for it. I paused. The lady on the phone said she found it. The coach was as confused as I was. She said no phone was handed in and no one had entered the gym since I left. She called out to the two other moms who were there, asking if they had any information. They didn’t.
At that point, I was really confused. I borrowed the gym's phone to call my phone again. It rang, but no one answered.
I must have stood at the gym desk for five minutes just trying to process what was happening before I asked the coach if I could borrow her phone to use the "Find My Phone" feature. She handed over her phone, and I punched in my details.
The compass spun around a few times, then stopped. I saw my phone on the map, close by. In fact, it was only three streets away... AT ANOTHER GYM. I thanked the coach, drove to the other gym (one I had never entered in my life) and saw my phone sitting on the counter. I asked the receptionist who handed it in but she says she didn't know. How did it get to the other gym? Where was it found? Who found it and why didn’t they drop it at the first gym?
#25 Come On, Doc, We Need The Full Story
I was a teenager and got a serious neck injury in an accident. I was lying alone on a stretcher in a hallway, waiting for an x-ray. As I laid there, I heard two men coming around the bend in the hallway, talking. I only got a glimpse of them to see that they were both police officers and detectives with their badges and ID hanging around their neck.
"... And then I told him I couldn't believe it."
"Well, if you think that is interesting, you should see emergency room six."
"Why? "
"Well, you know those large, round wicker-rattan chairs?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, it seems that...."
Then, their voices faded away.
To this day, I wonder about what sort of injury caused by a large, round wicker-rattan chair was worthy of the ER.
#26 I Think You May Have Bought Gatsby's House...
I live in a historic house once owned by the family of a (former) Prime Minister of the UK. Besides hearing doors closing and other unusual things, on weekends I can hear loud jazz, 20's type music and champagne corks popping coming from our living room (just below our bedroom). It actually keeps me up at night.
This isn't a one time experience. It has happened at least 30 times in the few years we have lived here. I'm an atheist but the whole thing is really weird.
#27 Maybe They're Your Soulmate, Maybe They're Your Mom
Every Valentine’s Day for the last ten to twelve years, I’ve been sent a “secret admirer” card. Same handwriting, always all caps, always bearing a postmark from a London sorting office. To this day, I have been unable to determine who’s sending it.
My biggest suspicion is that it’s either my mother or my sister, my evidence being that the cards began when I was in my teenage years when I was a weird looking, very socially awkward teen. There’s no way that someone who wasn’t family would keep it up that long, but I’ve asked them about it numerous times, and they maintain that it’s not them.
I’ve asked other members of my family and they insist it’s not them either. I’ve tried getting angry and imploring the whole family that it’s getting annoying. Yet still, the cards arrive.
Either my family has way more willpower and persistence than I give them credit for, or my mystery admirer will never reveal themselves. Regardless, it bugs me like crazy.
#28 Maybe You're Invisible?
I once went to a movie by myself when I was living in Georgia for a few months. I was seeing a movie that was several weeks old so the place was almost completely empty except for a few people in the way front. I sat in the middle seat, in the middle row.
A few minutes before the movie started, a group of friends walked in and decided to sit in my row. They split so that half is on each side of me. They put me in the middle of their group and proceeded to talk over me like I wasn't there until the movie started. I didn't say anything because I was so confused and it wasn't like I could ask them not to use the open seats around me.
But, if they had picked any other row they could have sat together. Why my row? Why split the group around me?
#29 Okay, This Isn't Remotely Possible
I was working an overnight desk job at the time. I drove my car home from work one morning and had a normal day. That night, I could not find my car keys and searched for them to the point of being late. I pulled out the spare key and drove to work. My main set of keys was sitting on my desk when I walked in.
#30 I Sure Hope You Don't Step On It
I dropped a screwdriver in my bedroom, heard it hit the floor, then it just disappeared. I never saw it again. I wasn’t even standing, I was kneeling, so it only fell a few inches.
It wasn’t a huge screwdriver, but there aren’t any gaps in my bedroom anywhere that a screwdriver would fit into.
#31 Let's Not Get Kidnapped Today
My mom and I were doing something at my grandpa's house while he was out. I was just messing around in the yard when a Mustang came down the street. It was moving slow enough to be a bit suspicious. Then, it slowed down, even more, when it started to pass me. So I was just standing there thinking, “What are they doing? This feels weird.”
I became overwhelmed with the urge to run inside the garage as fast as I could and a split second after that, the car suddenly reversed very quickly. I darted so fast into the garage and hit the button to close the door. I thought maybe I was just overreacting but as soon as the door closed, someone tried to kick it in and they left a huge dent.
I was freaking out trying to tell my mom what happened, but I think she thought I was high strung or something.
It was the eeriest feeling I've ever had though.
YouTube
#32 Is THIS Your Card?
About a year ago, I found a playing card in my wallet with a scantily clad woman on it. No matter how much prodding I did, my husband and all our friends SWEAR they never snuck it in. I still have it in my wallet and occasionally ask friends about it, but to this day no one has fessed up.
#33 Nope, That's Not Horrifying At All
I was taking the family dog out for a walk at like, 11 p.m. My mother and brother had left earlier so he could practice driving. Later that night, I saw their car pulling in the driveway.
I sat for a little while, just playing on my phone. After about ten minutes of I'm thinking, "Hey, where are they," I went to check on them and they were gone again. Poof.
When they finally came inside, I asked if they had come home earlier and went back out again. They said: "No, we only just came home now." Creepy stuff, man!
#34 Were You Unknowingly Possessed?
I went to take a nap after staying up late the night before. My mom came home from work, banged on my door, and I walked out of my room. Immediately, I was hit with a massive wave of heat, and my mom asked me what was going on. I was confused and asked her the same.
When she came in, she found the oven opened and turned up all the way, and one of the dining room chairs directly in front of the bathroom door. The chair had been moved there once before, during a night when my mom got up to go to the bathroom.
#35 Yep, This Is A Strange Series Of Events
I was driving through East London a few years ago with some friends. We were literally just driving for driving's sake with no destination in mind. We had been out for ten minutes when suddenly we saw a series of flashes from the car in front of us. I realized they were taking photos of us. After a few photos, they sped off.
We continued driving for around 40 minutes, and while driving through another part of East London, a person in a totally different car held a camera out of her car window and started taking photographs again. After a few photos, she sped off too; this time skipping through a few red lights.
Another 20 minutes later, we drove into a parking lot and I realized we were being followed by yet another car. I'd take a left and they would take a left. I'd take a right, and they would too.
I was just about ready to floor it because I didn't know what the heck was going on. Then, suddenly, blue lights turned on. The car that was following us was an undercover police car. I got pulled over, and two undercover cops came up to the car, asking me to get out. They showed their badges, checked my license and details, peered through the windows of my car, and eventually let me go on my way.
I don't know if these were three completely unrelated incidents, but it didn't sit right with me that I was being photographed in my car, miles apart, with both cars speeding off, then later get pulled over by police for my first time ever.
#36 Welcome To The Family, Stranger!
My fiancé and I come back to our apartment after being away all day. We got in, dropped our bags off, and walked into the kitchen. Sitting on my counter was a picture of an African American girl. It was like a senior portrait with the name “Brandy” on it.
My fiancé and I are Caucasian and we don’t know anyone named Brandy. I know the door was locked and nothing else seemed out of sorts. So, naturally, I framed it and now Brandy is an unofficial member of our family.
Brandy, if you are out there, we love you. Come visit.
#37 I Guess The Ring Loved You, Too
I was given a diamond and emerald ring on my birthday. I was obsessed with the ring and wore it every day.
When I was 17, I went on a date to watch a movie. During the movie, I put my hand in my purse that sat on my lap, and when I pulled it out, I felt the ring slip off and heard it clink on the floor.
I instantly panicked and started feeling around as much as possible. I even used a flashlight to look for it.
Sadly, nothing. When the movie ended, we had a whole crew searching, I called the theater many times over the following weeks and no one ever saw it.
When I was 20, I was cleaning out a drawer when something pricked my finger. When I pulled out the item, it was the emerald ring.
I never wore it again for fear of losing it.
#38 Dude, I Swear They Weren't In My Pocket
I went to a buddy's house after work to return a tool that I'd borrowed. We had a beer and chatted for a bit. I went to leave and I couldn't find my car key.
At the time, I kept my car key on a separate fob. I had my house keys, but no car key. I checked all my pockets. The key wasn't in the ignition or visible in the car. I then searched the yard.
Finally, he drove me home to get my spare key. When I got home, I reached in my pocket for my house keys and pulled out my car key.
I had literally turned my pockets out. It wasn't there before. It just wasn't.
#39 Welp, That's A Fantastic Way To Wake Up
One time when I was in university, I went out on Halloween and blacked out. I woke up with all my clothes soaking wet, and a black eye. It hadn't rained the previous night and to this day I still have no idea how I got soaked or what happened to my eye.
#40 I Think This Deserves A Conspiracy Theory
About three years ago, I found a woman’s wallet in the middle of the street. A couple of weeks later, I found another woman’s wallet in the same spot. Then, believe it or not, a few weeks later I found a third wallet... in that same spot.
#41 I Think You Found The Twilight Zone...
About five years ago, I went to visit a buddy who lives in Salt Lake City. We were going to see Pacific Rim and found this random theater in South Jordan. We pulled into the parking lot and there were no cars in the lot. There were no employees at the ticket booths either. Was it closed? We tried the doors and they were unlocked.
We went inside and there were no customers or employees at all. We walked past the little concessions area and went back to where the actual theaters were. We located where Pacific Rim was playing and went inside. It was pitch black, but then like, 10 minutes later the movie started. There was no one else in the theater. About two-thirds of the way into the movie, an employee came in and told me to take my feet off the seats in front of me. He then walked out of the emergency exit.
Once the movie ended, we left the theater area and there was still no one in the building. No other cars in the parking lot. I still don't know what was going on with that.
#42 Alien Abduction? I Think Yes
When I was about nine, I spent the night with my best friend. Her mom asked us if we wanted a treat since her dad was going to the store. We asked for ice cream bars, I think. Her dad left, and about an hour later her mom started to get worried because he didn't come home yet. She called a neighbor to go to the store and see if something had happened to him.
He had never made it to the store. We called the police, my parents came to pick me up, and the sleepover was canceled. They never found a trace of him. He was a happily married guy who owned his own business. It was presumed that he was kidnapped because his car was never found.
#43 I Mean, Hey, I'm Not Complaining...
Two years ago on Christmas Eve, someone knocked on my door in the morning while I was sleeping. I assumed my roommate would get it but they knocked again, so I got up and heard someone running away. When I opened the door, a present was left on the floor with a note saying to open only it on Christmas.
It was a PS4 with two games. I still have no idea who gave it to me.
#44 Someone Noticed Your Hard Work, Man
Someone saved my military career by insisting that some inaccurate information on my performance report be changed. I know for a fact it wasn't my direct leadership (who convinced me it wasn't worth fighting over), so it must have been someone higher up. I'll never know who, but I'm deeply thankful.
#45 No, It's Okay, I Didn't Want To Sleep Tonight
I went to lay down upstairs, took all four dogs with me, and closed the bedroom door. About an hour later, I heard the front door open and I assumed it was my husband. The dogs started going crazy. I heard keys hit the table and heavy footsteps walk up the stairs. The dogs were getting excited and whining, with their paws at the door. The footsteps came down the hallway, then toward our bedroom door. I wait a few minutes and he still didn't come in the bedroom.
I called out, “Hey! What are you doing? The door's unlocked.” No reply. I yelled again, “Hey, the door's open!” Nothing. I opened the bedroom door and the dogs took off through the house, running up and down the stairs. I went back to bed to grab my phone and call. I thought maybe he left something in the car and stepped back out to get it. I called his cell, he picked up and I immediately heard the background noise of a bar. My heart sank. I knew there was no way in two minutes he made it from home to the bar. I called the dogs, ran back in the room and told him what happened. He rushed home, checked the house, but found nothing.
I don’t know who came to visit me that night.
#46 How Did You Little Punks Get Out?
I've had pet rats for half a decade now, and there have definitely been some strange things that have happened to them. About two years ago, I got a pair of boys from a breeder. I got them all set up in their cage and life was good. The cage I have for them has bars that have a considerably small spacing between them; too small for even the tiniest, most flexible rats to squeeze through.
Imagine my surprise when I walked into my room and found my smug little rat staring down at me from the top of the cage. There was no chance that the rat was able to open one of the doors and close it by himself. I know for a fact that I did not accidentally leave him out during playtime. To this day, I have no idea how he got out of the cage. I'm half convinced he up and teleported out of the cage, and for quite a while afterward, you bet your buns I called him Houdini.
#47 Ever Had A Group Of Christian Stalkers? Yeah, Me Neither
When I was in middle school—this was a year or two after Facebook had just come out— I started getting private messages from this group who almost seemed to worship me. They would ask me questions and quote Bible verses (I’m not religious). They talked about repenting my sins, etc. I also played on my school's softball team and they would say: “Can’t wait to see you at the game on Thursday."
When Thursday came around, a group of strangers (on the other team’s side) start cheering my name. I did not recognize any of them; most were my age or a few years older. Once the game was over, the team was walking to the bus and the group was just standing there, smiling at me and saying things that I can’t hear. I was legitimately freaked out.
After that, they kind of stopping contacting me. I’m still very confused.
#48 Up And Vanished
Not necessarily the weirdest unsolved mystery, but definitely weird and unsolved. And also one that hits close to home for me. The disappearance of Lauren Spierer.
A young, white, blonde girl who disappeared one night in Bloomington, Indiana back in summer 2011. Police couldn’t figure out what happened to her because she literally just appeared to vanish. No one could find her when the state’s National Guard Reserves combed the surrounding counties (they were getting really freaked out though because they found a few other corpses that they weren’t looking for). I was the same age as her at the time and living in town, and liked to go out to places in the same area as where she vanished.
