The Greenbrier Ghost

Mersha · ‎03-10-2010

Spine-Tingling History

It was first believed that Elva Zona Heaster Shue (woman pictured) died from natural causes in early 1897.

That was until her mother claimed that her ghost appeared in her bedroom to tell her that she had been murdered by her husband.

Apparently the appearance was so convincing that Elva’s mother was able to persuade the local prosecutor to have her daughter’s body exhumed and examined.

The autopsy revealed that she was strangled and that her neck was broken.

A trial took place and Elva’s husband, who had been married two other times, was found guilty.

He died in prison three years later.

The appearance of The Greenbrier Ghost of West Virginia is believed to be the only time when an appearance of a ghost led to a murder conviction.

(Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain)

If you search Elva Zona Heaster Shue you can read more details in the case.

May be an image of 1 person

"My desire to be well informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane."

Mz iMac · ‎07-26-2014

@Mersha I found the following interesting.......

Per WiKi

"The cause of death was listed as "childbirth"

1 - Childbirth was considered a "natural death?"

2 - Autopsy - no mention of giving birth or of ever being pregnant.

3 - Married in October....killed the following January which means she was at least 5 months pregnant when married.

Very interesting story. Thanks for the heads up.

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

Mersha · ‎03-10-2010

Exhumation and autopsy

Armed with the story allegedly told to her by the ghost, Mary Jane Heaster visited the local prosecutor, John Alfred Preston, and spent several hours in his office convincing him to reopen the matter of her daughter's death. Whether he believed her story of the ghost is unknown, but he did have enough doubt to dispatch deputies to reinterview several people of interest in the case, including Dr. Knapp. He was likely responding to public sentiment, as numerous locals had begun suggesting that Zona had been murdered.

Preston himself went to speak to Dr. Knapp, who stated that he had not made a complete examination of the body. This was viewed as sufficient justification for an autopsy, and an exhumation was ordered and an inquest jury formed.

Zona's body was examined on February 22, 1897, in the local one-room schoolhouse. The autopsy lasted three hours, and found that Zona's neck had been broken.

According to the report, published on March 9, 1897, "the discovery was made that the neck was broken and the windpipe mashed. On the throat were the marks of fingers indicating that she had been choked. The neck was dislocated between the first and second vertebrae. The ligaments were torn and ruptured. The windpipe had been crushed at a point in front of the neck."

Shue was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife.

(wiki)

"My desire to be well informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane."