A chilling real-life version of the film Stree, where a spirit abducts men in the dark, is unfolding in Rotherham, England. The story centers around a doll believed to be haunted by the spirit of a jilted bride named Elizabeth. Dubbed the “world’s most haunted doll,” this eerie figure is reportedly responsible for attacking 17 men, leaving some with physical injuries.
Lee Steer, a 37-year-old paranormal investigator, acquired the doll for £866 (approximately Rs 95,100) on eBay after learning of its supposed animosity towards men. Steer, who now keeps the doll in the Haunted Objects Museum in South Yorkshire, experienced a burning sensation on his neck during an investigation in the museum’s bridal doll room. He later found pentagram-shaped scratches on his back. “It seems like the doll has a hatred towards men,” Steer told the New York Post. Over 15 men have reported similar scratches, while no female visitors have been targeted. Steer’s partner, Sarah Carter, 32, avoids the room due to her discomfort with the doll.
The doll’s unsettling behavior extends beyond physical attacks. It has reportedly triggered fire alarms, moved objects, and even thrown perfume bottles across the room. During a paranormal investigation, the doll caused electronic interference, with the words “bride” and “haunting” mysteriously appearing in video footage.
Jon-Paul Kenny, another paranormal investigator, shared a similar encounter while filming a TikTok session. “I felt someone grab my shirt, and my skin was touched. It was 100% the bridal doll that did this to me. I wasn’t scared, but it put me on edge,” Kenny said.
A report by The Daily Star speculated that the doll’s aggression might be related to jealousy. The museum recently acquired a famous artifact from the Conjuring horror film series, featuring the possessed doll Annabelle. Steer suggested that Elizabeth’s aggressive behavior could be rooted in a past trauma. “Why she (Elizabeth) is doing it is a mystery. Some people think she was treated badly by a man, while others believe her wedding went wrong, which is why she haunts a bridal doll,” he explained.
