In researching for my case this week, which took a paranormal turn since I'm in the midst of

completing interviews and writing for my next four episodes, I learned why dolls scare us so much,

and possibly why Hollywood took a lot of liberties with the look of the Annabelle doll in film. The real Annabelle of paranormal

and now of movie fame was a Raggedy Ann doll that looks very unassuming on the surface. For the

film, she's much more lifelike, though, with exaggerated but quasi-realistic features.

You see, there's something that happens to us psychologically called the Uncanny Valley

that refers to how our brain processes and responds to things that are human-like.

Up to a certain point, we enjoy things that are human-like. Up to a certain point, we enjoy things that look human or have human traits,

like a cartoon avocado with a cute little face,

or when Sylvester the cat walks on two legs and talks like a human.

Those instances don't bother us because the thing is clearly still not human. But when something is too human-like, when the resemblance is uncanny, yet not actually

human, our warm and fuzzies take a complete nose dive into distrust and fear. It's why the

recent movie about the robotic doll Megan is a horror movie. It's why the Hollywood version of

Annabel is much more human-like, thus making her much more sinister because she dips into the uncanny valley.

But before there was Megan, before Chucky, and even before Annabel, there was another doll

that to this day, visitors are fearful of crossing.

This is the story of Robert the doll. Welcome to coffee and cases where we like our coffee hot and our cases cold. My name is Allison Williams.

And my name is Maggie Damron. We will be telling stories each week in the hopes that someone out there with any information concerning the cases will take those tips to law enforcement, so justice and closure can be brought to these families.

With each case, we encourage you to continue in the conversation on our Facebook page, Coffee in Cases Podcast, because, as we all know, conversation helps to keep the missing person in the public consciousness,

helping keep their memories alive. So sit back, sip your coffee, and listen to what's brewing this

week. I feel like this unlocked a part of your psyche that, like, I feel like this is one of your

biggest fears. Oh my gosh.

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