While most of Port St. Lucie exploded after its founding, something made this area fail. From the outside it looks like any other park, but the location is shrouded in horror. There are supposed to be cold spots in certain areas of the park. On December 3, 1995, Schaefer was found knifed to death in his cell. The trees reputation began in January 1977 when two girls skeletons were found with nooses tied around their necks under the tree. by Mark Muncy (Author), Kari Schultz (Author) 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 55 ratings. Keep in mind, this is a 100-degree, sunny morning in Florida, but where the tree is located, it is almost fully covered in its own shadow via its branches and surrounding trees. The Legend of the Devil's Tree in Port St. Lucie text-decoration: none; This was the ideal place to take them, because no matter how loud you screamed nobodys coming for you, said Rommel. They were Gerards first victim and he had gotten away with the deed and no-one even looked at him funny he wasnt even a suspect. Stretching down 120 feet into the earth, the sinkholeknown as the Devil's Millhopperis like a little rainforest right in the middle of Florida. Everything came to a head on that faithful year, 1966. The tale begins in a most bloody and shocking manner when a serial killer sexually attacks and mutilates two teenage girls. Arguably the most important information one can learn about the Devils Tree is actually about a man. All rights reserved. Gruesome murders at Oak Hammock Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida Saws used to try and cut it down have broken. The Wild West was an era, Halloween Party WordPress Theme By VWThemes, This Florida Tree Has A Terrifying History Of Murders, Serial Killers, And The Paranormal. His habit of physically and psychologically torturing his victims, often visiting them afterwards to be with them after death and keeping souvenirs, makes him one of the more sinister serial killers in American history, even for a murderer working out of Florida. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO WE FOUND! The Devil Tree in Oak Hammock Park, Port Saint Lucie, FL. UrbanLegendsOnline.com, 15 Feb. 2019, urbanlegendsonline.com/the-devil-tree-in-oak-hammock-park-port-saint-lucie-fl/. One is known as the Devil Tree. Please let me know what you think about the video and subscribe if you enjoy the content.The Devil Tree address (Oak Hammock Park): 1982 SW Villanova Rd, Port St. Lucie, FL 34953discord: https://discord.gg/RmUMCmwEbDDonations are not required, but sure are appreciated, as I am not yet partnered and all of my content is self funded: https://streamelements.com/miss_laylay-30bd3/tipWant to see something in a video? Being honest, though, I marked this down as goofy teens carving into a tree. And the ground is soaked, in blood by its victims. , would prowl the streets and byways of the state using his badge to attract his victims. Unexplained lights over your town's lake. Most people will tell you Gerard Schaefer is the root of the evil that lurks in Oak Hammock Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida. At times, people say, if you touch the tree the world seems to stop, that all the wildlife and noise around drops away, like youre in a bubble. There was even a knocked down structure about 20 yards off-trail (probably just an old bathroom) and trash showing signs of potential people that might be staying there. The location known as "the devil's tree" is located in a park that is frequently used by local fisherman. The city is working to find out what it will take to make repairs. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. If you were house hunting and had the chance to BUY a haunted house, would you? Its been described that the screams of young women can sometimes be heard emanating from the nearby bathrooms. These figures, sometimes referred to as shadow people or shadowmen, are somewhat common in areas where there is heightened paranormal activity. A sadistic sex-beast by nature, Schaefer would lure young women off the roads with the help of his badge to rape, torture, mutilate and murder. The tree is also said to be indestructible. The school lost the battle and set up camp only a few miles away, and since has been the target of multiple accusations of sexual and physical abuse. As Halloween night approaches, many are curious about the haunted spots in South Florida. We visit the famed and rumored to be haunted "Devil Tree" of Port St. Lucie Florida, then explore the surrounding area for wildlife. According to one news article: At some point, Schaefer tired of killing victims singly. Two months later, on September 27, 1972. What is really strange is that I found no first hand accounts to any of these claims. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts The story begins on January 8, 1971, long before Hammock Park was built, when a serial killer sexually molested and mutilated two teenage girls and then hung them from the oak tree. The two teens he picked up hitchhiking had been bound, threatened physically and sexually, and left hanging from a tree on Hutchinson Island. Schaefer is believed to be linked to the deaths of at least 26 girls and women. Supposedly, years ago, two girls were raped and hung at this tree. The girls, who were aged 17 and 18, escaped their ropes and ran to the nearest police station; ironically their kidnappers own station. Florida's First Serial Killer The story of the Devil Tree begins on January 8, 1971, way before Hammock Park - where the mighty oak now stands - was created. The tale begins in a most bloody and shocking manner when a serial killer sexually attacks and mutilates two teenage girls. He had left two ropes hanging from this branch to remember this incident.While he is in Jail, this tree becomes famous, or infamous. Later, with time to contemplate what has happened and the benefit of hindsight, we see the stage might have had a bigger part in the play than the plot itself. It's a sprawling tree with branches that seem intent on trying to get away from the massive trunk they are connected to. How many women were tied and killed on the Devil Tree is still up for debate, nonetheless many believe that the Devils Tree is permeated with the darkness that Gerard John Schaefer freed into the world. Especially when somebody dressed as a sheriffs deputy was near. PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) Halloween is here. In 1994 the cross was knocked over. Gerard was stripped of his badge and slapped with a battery of charges. Sometimes, the truth behind urban legends is a lot scarier than ghosts and goblins. Author Keith Rommel wrote a book about the Devil Tree. Its set off from the main area of the park, on a path between the swing sets and a canal Schaefer is rumored to have carried the two young women he killed in on. Hey PLEASE SUBSCRIBE The story of the Devil Tree begins on January 8, 1971, way before Hammock Park where the mighty oak now stands was created. The Devil Tree has a knot in its trunk, about 10 feet off of the ground, in the shape of a goats head with horns. When people search for the source of the sounds, they cant find anything at all. If you have other concerns about the content of this article, please submit a news tip. Take a step back though. Unlike most urban legends, this tree has a very real story behind it. Some places are only evil in retrospect. The area is filled with ghost sightings. Even more damningly, the experts found personal possessions such as jewelry, diaries, and in one case, teeth from at least eight young women and girls who had gone missing in recent years. The Devil's Tree is a solitary oak tree, with some dead limbs, growing in an undeveloped field on Mountain Road in the Martinsville section of Bernards Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States, across from a private housing development. The tree is said to be tied to one of Florida's first serial killers, according to. Miraculously they managed to wiggle out of their bonds. History usually tells us that what we thought was the cause of tragedies taking place is often just the effect of something that happened before, and with enough perspective, enough moving back of the camera, you can tell some places have been drawing this kind of thing in for longer than we know. When they brought in the manual 2-man saw, the teeth chipped off of the saw. Join me and gadomighty! Something horrible happens and people see the act for only the events that took place. (This is supposedly a true account recorded in the Police Log of Sarasota, Florida) An A True Story. On January 8, 1971, before Hammock Park was built, a serial killer (sometimes known as the Killer Deputy) Gerard John Schaefer captured two young girls while they were hitchhiking. 2023 deaths in the United States - Wikipedia There can be some lively discussions about which of the victims will get to be killed first. The autopsy revealed that both girls had been tied to a tree at some point, and further investigation turned up documented eye-witness account that the girls were known, hitchhikers. The man in question was named Gerard John Schaefer: a police officer (and later serial killer). : https://throne.com/miss_laylay He would tie them up, sexually abuse them, and then psychologically abuse them before finally killing them. Schaefer suffered from gender dysphoria from a young age that some argue was caused by his alcoholic father's policy of never beating Schaefers sister. There are conflicting reports behind the motivation, but one thing is confirmed: He was stabbed to death multiple times in the face. I get creeped out when I go there, and I refuse to set foot in the woods. This Florida Cemetery Is Home To The Haunted Grave Of Bessie The Witch, This Ohio Cemetery Is Said To Be Home To An Infamous Witch, You May Run Into The Woman In Black At This Colorado Cemetery. The tale begins in a most bloody and shocking manner when a serial killer sexually attacks and mutilates two teenage girls. The girls, who were aged 17 and 18, escaped their ropes and ran to the nearest police station; ironically their kidnappers own station. Schaefer accused the DA of setting him so he could marry his wife. I would pull the rope up occasionally to hear her beg.This deputy sheriff, killed about 34 people before getting caught, and the headless skeletons of these two girls, Collette Goodenough and Barbara Ann Wilcox were discovered right underneath here. But thats what keeps legends alive. Press J to jump to the feed. The story begins on January 8, 1971, long before the park was ever created. This seemingly fabled tree adopted a name that fit its dark past: "The Devil's Tree. It is the Devils Tree, an old oak tree located in Oak Hammock Park, a place frequented mostly by local fishermen who use the boat launching facilities. In January 1977, almost on the fourth anniversary of the heinous crime, two men found the girls skeletons along with two deteriorating ropes tied with a hangmans noose. Black figures have been spotted near the tree at night, and the rumors and folklore say they are not all human. (LogOut/ Obsessed with travel? There were so many reports about devil worshipping going on around the Devils Tree that in 1992, a priest performed an exorcism and placed a cross at the base of the oak. Especially urban legends! Like, the bark truly appears burned and covered in marks that make it look not only crispy, but like something out of. function MM_openBrWindow(theURL,winName,features) { //v2.0 The Manchineel was hailed as the most dangerous tree in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2011. Their bodies were eventually discovered in 1977 a few hundred yards from the Devils Tree. Why was construction stopped there? The psycho-killer then buried his two victims in a shallow grave beneath the oak. There are countless reports of hikers hearing odd sounds and singing through the pines and oaks. It was disturbingly rumored that after their deaths he had gone back to the girls corpses and had sex with them several times. Theres an old oak tree that sits in a county park in Port St. Lucie, Florida known for having a creepy reputation. Check out this 1.1-mile out-and-back trail near Gainesville, Florida. On January 8, 1971, before Hammock Park was built, a serial killer (sometimes known as the Killer Deputy) Gerard John Schaefer captured two young girls while they were hitchhiking. A search warrant was executed for the house he and his wife shared with his mother. The next day, he kidnaped them, took them to a remote woodland, and tied them to trees where he threatened to kill them or sell them into prostitution. People Have Tried To Burn, Cut and More Attempting to Destroy Florida All rights reserved. The Devil's Tree : Paranormal - Reddit Copyright 2023 Fort Myers Broadcasting. It, however, hides a sinister past as there has been the site of multiple gruesome murders since the 1970s, cult activity, and even attempted exorcisms by catholic priests. a:active { This episode is the folklore episode that goes along with Florida's First Serial Killer. Rommel wants some of the other cases to get attention so that the family of Schaefers possible victims can have a chance at closure. Devil's Millhopper Trail. At the park of Whispering Pines, there is a commonly known tale of The Devil Tree. It is said that strange screams come out of the rest room and doors slam shut. The autopsy revealed that both girls had been tied to a tree at some point. I mean, who doesn't enjoy reading up on a scary story? } Hooded figures are known to prowl the area. Allegedly, the crazed killer returned on several occasions to have his way with the decomposing bodies. The Devil's Tree - Location 27.2801, -80.4086. In India the trees can be found planted in many cities along streets and in parks. When Schaefer returned to the groves and discovered that his would-be victims had vanished, he called his station and insisted that he had done something foolish. In October 1973, he was pronounced guilty and given two life sentences. Anyone have an experience at the Devil's Tree in Port St Lucie, FL? It is that element of the story, that grasping at what might be truth, what might be lies, and what might be myth, that allows his acts to be so deeply associated with the Devils Tree. Villanova Rd., Port St. Lucie. Somehow, in spite of everything, Schaefer managed to post his bail and was released from prison. A diary of all his victims. It is no wonder then, all these years later, that the spot of one of one of his crimes should take on a life of its own and unfold as one of the most notoriously haunted locations in Florida. Schaefer was fond of killing two girls at the same time and did this on numerous occasions. They had escaped when he was called on his police radio, and after they had made their way to the police station, the very station he worked at, he claimed he had done all of it to scare them into never hitchhike again. In 1993, two boys were chased through the woods by these hooded figures, who disappeared by the time the boys reached the main road. Schaefer used his position as a police officer to lure young women back to his tree (during a time period where hitchhiking was the norm). The murder was your average man, or so many thought. After all this, I found it interesting that growing up with this urban legend, especially as a kid without internet access at will to research, this story of a killer cop was perceived by many as the works of "cult" or "gang" members. Published: Aug. 20, 2023 at 10:06 AM PDT. There's this place in Port Saint Lucie,Florida that's called The Devil's tree; You can google it but essentially its local lore that girls/nuns (there's different versions after it telephoned its way around) were raped and hung at this tree in a small forest, as well as satanic rituals being preformed at the base of this tree and in the woods as. If all of this seems confusing, you can understand why so much lore might develop around the murders and why people might confuse the details and fuse the events together. Eventually in 1977 stories started to pop up, one was about 2 men who had stumbled upon the gruesome scene. This obsession of resentment and worship with the female sex along with his fixation on this tree would lead him to center the majority of his killings around it. If you want to learn about this horrible man this site has basically all the information one would need and may contain virtually all the information available on the web about this topic. He was accused of informing on serial killer Ottis Toole for the famous murder of Adam Walsh. Does this anger you as much as it does me?? City Council voted to approve the extension of the Edisons contract. In 1992, a priest placed a cross at the base of the oak and performed an exorcism. I am no doubt the mostskillfulkiller.I killed women in all ways from shooting, strangling, stabbing, and beheading to odd ways such as drowning, smothering and crucifixion.. Most never learn about the strange and unusual locations just off the beaten path. This hitchhiker, Collette Goodenough and her friend Barbara Wilcox, both 19, had made their way from the Midwest in late 1972, last being seen in Mississippi in early 1973 on their way to Florida. Why was construction stopped there? News, Politics, Culture, Life, Entertainment, and more. 1982 S.W. Later that same year, an exorcism was conducted, and a cross was erected by the local diocese. Some rumors about the tree are true. Authorities have made various arrests in the area, particularly of Klu Klux Klan members, and other white supremacist groups. More importantly, why was there a battle for the land between the town and a religious school which tried to use the area for their, Travel LogThe Devils Tree in Oak Hammock Park, Port St.Lucie, The Legend of the Devils Tree in Port St.Lucie, View trippingonlegendss profile on Facebook, View spookytrippings profile on Instagram, View UCoIYDkaFmnpHovYhYdfTNaws profile on YouTube, Massachusetts Paranormal Crossroads stories, Oak Hammock Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida. They all had signs of traumatic abuse before they were finally murdered. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window).
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