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Illinois Haunted Mystery: Buried Voodoo Dolls, Kankakee Haunting Spark New Podcast
KANKAKEE, Ill. — A mysterious man wearing a hat, unexplained noises beneath an aging home and the discovery of what appeared to be buried voodoo dolls are among the chilling claims surrounding a Kanka
By Marcus Hale · 2026-10-31T19:37:10.887Z
KANKAKEE, Ill. — A mysterious man wearing a hat, unexplained noises beneath an aging home and the discovery of what appeared to be buried voodoo dolls are among the chilling claims surrounding a Kankakee property featured in a new paranormal podcast just in time for Halloween.
The story unfolds inside a former rental home on William Street, where a family reported years of unusual experiences before moving away in 2025.
Their account is featured in the premiere episode of A Haunted Kankakee County , a new series produced by the Kankakee County Historical Society and Kankakee Paranormal Investigations Team that explores local folklore, history and unexplained events.
According to an anonymous account submitted to the program, the disturbances began when a child reported seeing a dark figure wearing a hat, accompanied by unexplained footsteps and sounds coming from an unfinished basement.
The basement itself raised questions.
Behind an unusual wooden door positioned several feet above the floor were large mounds of dirt, a feature that prompted discussion about the home’s age and construction.
Over time, the family described increasingly unsettling incidents involving their children, unexplained household disturbances and objects appearing in unexpected places.
One account involved a helium balloon that reportedly moved from an unreachable location to somewhere considerably closer to a sleeping child.
Another involved a young child hearing a familiar voice calling from elsewhere in the house when the person supposedly speaking wasn’t home.
Perhaps the most unusual discovery came during repeated repairs to the property’s sewer system.
Workers reportedly unearthed a jar containing two dolls tied together, raising questions about who placed them there and why.
During the podcast, investigators examine whether the family’s experiences could be explained by aging infrastructure, environmental conditions or ordinary household phenomena. They also discuss paranormal interpretations and the possible significance of objects discovered around the property.
The family’s claims have not been independently verified, and no paranormal cause has been established.
The episode, “Domestic Disturbance: The Ghost of Williams Street,” offers a deeper examination of the family’s experiences, the property’s unusual features and the investigators’ competing explanations.
The full episode of A Haunted Kankakee County is available through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and other major podcast platforms.