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Stranger In Family Picture Goes Viral

Stranger In Family Picture Goes Viral December 21, 2022Leave a comment

Something There

All he wanted to do was capture a heartfelt moment with his family. But when he saw that everyone in the entire group was blissfully unaware of what loomed behind them in the background, he paused.

He thought about how he could tell them what he was seeing, but he knew he couldn't do it without freaking everyone out. With sweaty, shaking hands, he pulled his phone out of his pocket. There was only one thing to do. 

Weekend Getaway

Pexels

The family had been planned this trip away for a while. Now, they had finally packed up their car for an exciting weekend getaway. They were all ready for an adventure, and excited; the world was their oyster.

But little did they know, their trip was going to come to an unexpected halt after discovering something surprising and utterly terrifying in their car.

Big Plans

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For Erik Richter, the plan was to add plenty of miles to the speedometer while listening to a crazy rotation of favorite songs the family had collected. 

There would be drive thru meals, rest stops with breathtaking views, and plenty of priceless memories. But there was one part of their coming trip that would leave everyone in tears.

Family Vacation

Pexels

For some kids, Spring Break is a time to escape the family and have a much-needed break from life. 

But Erik was proud of the fact that their little clan would rather spend time with each other. So, this year, they would pile in their mini van and make the long haul to some national treasures – the first being the Grand Canyon.

Bit Of Chaos

Pexels

A last-minute rush was expected, but his three daughters had started arguing over who the “blue sweater” belonged to. 

They were going to be late, and Erik had planned everything down to a T. They had to get going. But, when he saw his wife going for the trunk, he panicked and raced out to stop her.

Help Me

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“Please get the girls going,” he begged his wife, pulling the suitcases from her hands and nudging her in the direction of the intense bickering. 

Even in a close-knit family, arguments were to be expect, but at least they could do it in the van while they were making progress on the coming trek. Erik knew the first part of the plan was going to be the most important.

Finally Going

Pexels

Finally, the family piled in the van, and they raced toward the highway. 

The first round of songs was already blasting, and his wife Amber was studying the map and all the notations while checking the GPS. He glanced in the back mirror. It wasn’t the steady flow of traffic that quickly caught his attention and made his heart race.

What’s That?

Pexels

It was something dark – and such a slight shift in movement that it didn’t catch anyone else’s attention. 

But it was definitely there. Erik changed to the next lane. The dark thing moved again. His girls were giggling and talking about whatever show that were recently binging – obvious to what was looming there.

Sudden Change

Pexels

There was only one thing to do. 

He took a deep breathe, put on his best calm face, flicked the turn signal and then took the next off ramp. When the GPS beeped that they were off course, his wife looked up from her phone in shock. “What are you doing?” she asked.

Unscheduled Stop

Erik Richter Youtube

“I have to check something,” he said, trying to control his reactions. 

Amber flashed him an annoyed look. “You were desperate for us to leave on time. We’ve check everything three times!” Erik pulled into the first free parking spot and rushed around to the back of the van. He lifted the door. Everything was where it should be. But he had to do one more thing.

Picture Time

Erik Richter Youtube

He jumped back into the driver’s seat and pulled out his phone. 

“Hey guys, quick family selfie!” The girls rolled their eyes and grinned, but still squished together for the impromptu family photo. The dark shadow in the back shifted again and rose from the luggage. Erik took a deep breath. It was time.

Screaming

Pexels

“Hey, Rowan, can you move to the side a little?”  

The girls’ faces twisted in confusion. There was no “Rowan” in the vehicle. But when a new voice said, “Sure, no problem.” The girls spun around and screamed. His wife grabbed her chest and started to cry. The dark figure had finally made himself known.

Surprise Addition 

Amber Richter Facebook

Rowan was their son. 

He was also in the Marines.  Since joining, it had been harder and harder for him to join any family gatherings. As far as the girls and his mom was concerned, he was going to miss the Grand Canyon as well. But Erik and Rowan had hatched a wonderfully sneaky plan.

Last-Minute Change

Amber Richter Facebook

Under the guise of filling up the gas tank and picking up some last-minute things for the trip, Erik had rushed to the airport where Rowan had managed to catch a last-minute flight. 

From the moment they had neared the house, and all they way to the sudden stop, he had been quietly and patiently hiding with the impressive discipline of his military training.

Everyone Happy

Pexels

Erik’s wife was already crying as she raced around to the back flung open the door and wrapped her arms around her son. 

“You gave me a heart attack!” she said. His daughters joined in, also shedding happy tears. Erik kept the camera rolling the entire time. There was just one more surprise.

Finally Together

Facebook - Amber Richter

Aside from being with them for the entire Spring Break, Erik and also snuck in a detour to visit the kid’s grandmother – who hadn’t seen Rowan in years.  As the family took to the road again, the happy chatter now brought a tear to his eyes. It was, hands down, the best family vacation ever. 

But this wasn’t the first time something unexpected was caught in a seemingly innocent photograph. One man took a photo of his wife and saw something strange in the background.

Floating Object

Public Domain

Peering through the lens, he could see the small orange waterlogged object still floating on the surface of the water. He suddenly jumped out of his seat, he thought he saw a pair of brown eyes stare back. He feared the worst.

He now knew the seriousness of the situation, he had to aid in any way he could, but what had stared back at him? How did it get out here in the ocean?

A Birthday Outing

ABC News

Robin Knecht and her husband Bruce were from Odessa, Florida, and always celebrated a joint birthday with friends of theirs, Michael and Shawn Sahr. Like every year before, they planned on taking the boat out to the Gulf of New Mexico and enjoying a day on the waves.

But no one could have foreseen that this time they would be leaving in tears.

Unexpected

sun-gazing

The two couples were already some distance from the shore and were ready to relax for their birthdays. The sun was peering just above the treeline, their champagne was still cool in the icebox, and the water was calm and tranquil. It was going to be a day to remember.

They didn't think that anything could spoil their special day - they didn't know how wrong they were.

Time To Fish

Public Domain

After they had watched the sunrise and the morning progress, Bruce decided to was time to fish. The fisherman took out his rod and wanted to try and catch something before lunch so the four of them could eat.

What Bruce didn't know was that he would catch more than a fish on this trip and that he would certainly have a story to tell once he got home.

Something In The Photo

Public Domain

Bruce was an experienced fisherman, soon he had reeled in a fish and was happy that it looked big enough to feed to four. He took out his camera and handed to fish to Robin, his wife. He was going to take a photo of his catch.

Robin posed for the picture and Bruce got ready with the camera, but something that he noticed in the shot behind Robin made him jump back.

Upon Closer Inspection

Public Domain

Bruce now focused on what he had seen and zoomed in with the camera. He still couldn't be sure, they needed to have a closer look. They moved the boat in closer to see what it could be. When they got to the desired distance they turned off the engine and slowly drifted a little closer at a time.

The object on the water was getting clearer now as they slowly got closer. Everyone was quiet in suspense and the only thing that broke the silence was the occasional wave that tapped the underside of the boat. Bruce thought that it was probably just flotsam or jetsam, but he couldn't be sure.

Arms? Legs?

novofotoo

Now that they were closer Bruce could now see something that he didn't notice before, strands of long brown hair being moved by the current. With another meter now closed, they could see… limbs? There were arms and legs.

The object wasn't moving, it was just giving in to the waves and the current. They all felt a twist in their stomachs. Was it too late?

Not A Buoy

Public Domain

They needed to get closer to investigate further. Bruce told reporters at ABC News, "We were going about 20 miles an hour… so it was hard to see." The boat was now closer than ever to the mysterious object lying in the water.

No one was speaking, they all felt anxiety shoot through their bodies. Bruce whispered under his breath, "Please, let that not be a body." The husband from the other couple they brought alone, Shawn, leaned over the edge of their boat to get a closer look, it seemed like the object was some kind of wet mass, and the limbs were clearer than ever now.

Relief For Now

Facebook - Sean Hannam

The silence was broken by Bruce's voice, he let out a sigh and said, "It’s just a stuffed toy." They all laughed from relief and were ready to head back to their spot. But Bruce had no idea how wrong he was about the object.

Bruce fired up the engine and the mass started moving - limbs frantically splashing as if woken up by the sounds of their boat. 

It Was Alive

Rick Seidel

Bruce felt dread shoot up his spine while Shawn went back to the edge of the boat to see what it could be. Then they saw something emerge and move in closer to them. This wasn't any kind of marine animal any of them had ever seen. They had sailed these waters numerous times and never seen anything like this. They could now make out a pair of brown eyes.

What could this animal be? The four were as curious as ever. Their curiosity would soon be met with confusion as they figured out what the creature was.

Stop!

Facebook - Sean Hannam

“Wait,” Shawn screamed, “Stop!” Bruce turned to see Shawn’s face frozen in terror, and he immediately killed the engine again with a shudder. He scrambled over to his friend, and they both leaned over and peered intently. The object was motionless again, and they had no idea what they were in for when it started to writhe.

“I saw its arms move,” Shawn stammered. “There, see!” he pointed with a trembling finger. And he was right. Then, they realized what it was.

A Struggling Creature

New York Daily News

It wasn’t a buoy or a child. It was a little dog, battling the currents and staying afloat solely because it was wearing a life jacket. If he hadn’t been wearing the bright life preserver, they may never have spotted him.

But what was a dog doing so far away from the shore in the first place?

Paddling Furiously

New York Daily News

Bruce and his party couldn’t understand how or why the little dog had come to be miles out in the open ocean. But one thing they were sure of was that it was very happy to see them!

Recognizing his saviors, he paddled furiously toward the boat until he was close enough to be hauled on board.

Rescue

New York Daily News

“As soon as he saw the bow of the boat come around, he started paddling as fast as he could towards us,” recalled Michael. It was Michael who had leaned over and scooped the little dog from the water.

After removing his life jacket and giving the little Jack Russell a look-over, they were greeted with a welcome sight.

No Identification

New York Daily News

The Jack Russell seemed to be recovering well from his sea adventure. Shawn inspected him thoroughly until she was satisfied that he’d sustained no injuries. But the question remained: where had he come from?

He had no identification on him, so how would they contact his owners? That’s when Shawn had an idea.

Coastguard To The Rescue

Florida Lifestyle

She radioed the coastguard, and he had some good news. “[The coastguard] said that earlier that morning they’d had a report of a dog overboard,” Shawn explained. “They asked us to please identify the dog,” Robin added.

They gave their description to the coastguard, and it was indeed the same dog – and he’d been missing for three hours!

Rescue Mission

New York Daily News

The coastguard took note of the boat’s coordinates so that they could dispatch a rescue team. Bruce and his crew were more than happy to take care of the little pup while they waited.

The dog’s name was Jägermeister, and he was, understandably, a little nervous after having spent the last three hours at sea.

On An Adventure

New York Daily News

Joey Myrick had all the answers. Joey and Jägermeister were on a boat trip when Joey stopped to check the hull. While he was out of view, Jägermeister decided to leap overboard to go off on an adventure of his own.

When Joey had discovered that his beloved dog was missing, he was worried sick.

Happy Ending

New York Daily News

Joey was waiting on the shore when the coastguard, with Jägermeister’s new friends in tow, reunited the pair. When asked how she felt at the time of the reunion, Robin said: “Wonderful. It was heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time. We all got tears in our eyes… he ran up and the dog started licking his face,” Robin continued.

“We were all crying. It was really a very, very heart-warming moment. It was very happy!” But across the country, a woman was about to make a vital discovery after taking a selfie in the mountains.

Something There

Facebook - Dundas Peak

After the photos went viral, she looked again, baffled. There were photos of her friend, and her friend’s cousin — taken at different times. Nothing unusual. But then, she saw it.

In the background of one of the photos was something she would never be able to unsee. Her heart began to race and her blood turned to ice. She couldn’t explain what she and her friend had found up there, but now everything made sense.

The Mystery Of The Peak

Facebook -Dundas Peak

Dundas Peak in Canada is a popular spot among hikers. It boasts a scenic viewpoint that overlooks the city of Hamilton, in Ontario, and is also home to the tallest waterfall in Hamilton, Tew’s Falls. 

Due to the Peak’s terrifying beauty, this spot has become popular among social media users looking to capture a share-worthy photo. But within the wilds surrounding the Peak, something lurked. And now, she had proof.

Perilous Landscape

Reddit - SliceUpBeef

Indeed, authorities reported that there had been a sharp rise in people going missing on the Peak. Most were never found.

Despite the dangers, Dundas Peak has had more than 140,000 visitors since 2016. And one of these visitors was about to spark one of the most bizarre chapters in the area’s history. But he wouldn’t know it until much later.

The Photo

Facebook -Dundas Peak

The man’s photograph of himself in the popular pose on the edge of the Peak didn’t look like anything out of the ordinary, at first. In fact, his souvenir snap resembled the thousands of other photos taken in the very same spot.

The man is wearing a dark jacket and jeans. He is sitting on the edge of a rocky outcrop, with one leg dangling into the abyss below. Nobody had noticed what was in the background… yet.

Recreation

Facebook -Dundas Peak

The man’s cousin, Kim, subsequently saw the daring photo. Just a few days later, she’d booked a babysitter for the weekend and made her way to the Peak with one of her closest friends, hoping to recreate the picture in the same spot.

After hiking the 2.4-mile circular trail, the women found the spot easily and took turns posing for their own photos, unaware that they were about to uncover something sinister.

A Glint From Below

Facebook -Dundas Peak

Taking in the panoramic views from the Peak, the women perched precariously close to the edge. Suddenly, the light caught a glimmer of something below. But it wasn’t the water rushing through the gorge beneath them, it was something much closer.

Dangling on a branch 3 feet below them hung a set of keys.

Who Did They Belong To?

Flickr

Kim leaned over the edge as far as she dared — whoever had lost the keys surely needed them. She lay down flat on the rock and reached to retrieve them, unaware that she had just made a crucial discovery.

She inspected the bunch of keys and noted that one of the keys was for a car — a Hyundai Elantra.

Alone

Flickr

As dusk began to creep along the Peak, the friends decided that it was time to start making their way back. The park would close soon, and they didn’t want to be in these mountains after dark. They were all too aware of the reports.

They hurried back down the trail, suddenly worried that they couldn’t see any other hikers. Then, all the hairs on their arms rose.

Getting Out Of There

Facebook -Dundas Peak

The women made their way back to the parking lot with a growing feeling of unease. Then, they spotted the car. But parked beside it was the only other car in the lot —  a Hyundai Elektra. It was eerily quiet, and the driver was nowhere in sight. The car was dirty — as if it had been parked there for a long time.

Not wanting to wait around while it grew dark, they left the keys they had found on the car’s roof, on the driver’s side. It was only a week later that they saw the car on the news.

A Mystery

Facebook -Dundas Peak

According to the police report, a female tourist had gone missing in the area. Her car had been recovered from the park’s parking lot, but the woman’s whereabouts remained a mystery.

Kim and her friend were shaken by the incident. A month passed, and they had all but forgotten their souvenir snaps. Until a Reddit user made a bizarre observation. And the incident was about to put Dundas Peak firmly in the spotlight once again.

A Clue

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Kim couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Suddenly, the respective pictures of her friend, her friend’s cousin, and herself on Dundas Peak, posted side-by-side on social media, had racked up thousands of views, shares, and comments.

Everyone had noticed a crucial detail in the background. And when she saw it, it made her blood turn to ice. She turned to Reddit with her unsettling story, hoping for some answers. And they weren’t the ones she had been hoping for.

A Viral Post

Facebook -Dundas Peak

“So a little backstory. Around a month ago, my friend and I went hiking at Dundas Peak in Hamilton, Ontario…” She wrote.

“She suggested this location because her cousin went there a few days before us and posted an Instagram of him sitting on the edge of a cliff looking over Hamilton and the Niagara Escarpment. When we got there, we took turns recreating the photo.”

Something Else There

Reddit - SlicedUpBeef

“Today, she messaged me when she noticed something obscure in the background in her cousin’s photograph…” She continued.

“Way below the edge of the trail, where the slope is too steep to stand on, there appears to be a thin person standing unnaturally straight with no visible face.” That there was another person in the photo wasn’t unusual on its own, but the most unsettling detail was still to come.

The Missing Woman?

Reddit - SlicedUpBeef

“I know you’re probably thinking that is probably just a brave hiker,” she continued, “…but trust me, that spot is completely inaccessible. Maybe it isn’t a person? But I’m not sure what else it can be. I was hoping those who have also been to Dundas Peak and have taken a similar picture could share it. Hopefully, we can figure out what… we’re looking at.”

The police report on the missing woman described her as being tall — and she was wearing jeans and a light grey sweater.

An Anomaly?

Facebook -Dundas Peak

The most intriguing detail is that the figure does not appear in any of the other photographs taken at Dundas Peak. If the ghostly figure was an anomaly of some kind or a trick of the light, why didn’t it appear in the other 10,000 photographs taken in the same spot?

Soon, the comments were flooding in.

Was It Supernatural?

Bitten Escapes

Many people were quick to suggest that there were numerous people who had gone missing in and around Dundas Peak. They argued that the ghostly figure might have been a hapless hiker who had met a grisly end in the hills.

Although the minority of people found the photograph disturbing, there were many others who argued that there must be a logical explanation. But what could have caused such an anomaly?

A Trick Of The Light?

Facebook - Dundas Peak

One user insisted that the “figure” was an illusion caused by the shadows playing on the rockface. Another suggested that melting ice was to blame.

Then, someone came up with the most likely explanation: “Sorry to burst all your bubbles, but there’s a trail that leads up to that area and goes around the escarpment just under the rocks. That is, most likely, a person hiking around.”

A Simple Explanation?

Bitten Escapes

In fact, a Reddit user by the name “tharchitect42” went as far as to claim that they themselves had caused the confusion. The poster claimed that they often went hiking at Dundas Peak. And, furthermore, they had been hiking on the same day that the creepy photograph had been taken. But that wasn’t all…

They also recalled wearing dark jeans and a gray top – an outfit whose appearance would match that of the mystery figure.

A Tragedy

Eye on the Area

Of course, none of these explanations satisfied everyone. And as the story was shared thousands of times, it was soon picked up by international media outlets. But it was only when the story was published on MailOnline’s website that someone shared another theory.

The commenter pointed out that there had been a fatal train crash below Dundas Peak one Christmas Eve.

Lost Souls

Bitten Escapes

A total of 15 people lost their lives that day in 1934. Many people believe that their souls still haunt the Peak. Although the locals have taken the story with a pinch of salt, the photograph continues to circulate and send chills up people’s spines all over the world.

While SlicedUpBeef often goes back to the cliff, she can never forget the strange photo her friend’s cousin took at that same spot. It reminds us that even in the most everyday moments, there might be something strange happening. 

In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.