Darkness may make us more wary of visiting a cemetery, especially if it tells tales of the paranormal, but there are some spots that are so haunted that we’d probably not want to visit, especially alone, during the daylight hours either. This notorious Missouri Cemetery, in fact, hasn’t had any new burials for years, but that hasn’t stopped one long-term resident from causing a ruckus with visitors.
The haunted tale of Peace Church Cemetery in Joplin, which dates back to the mid-1800s, starts with one permanent resident, Billy Cook. The infamous serial killer went on a three-week murdering spree in 1950.
Find A Grave/Big John
Cook embarked on his six-state crime spree posing as a hitchhiker. He kidnapped his first victim in Texas, shoving him into the trunk of the victim’s car. The victim, however, escaped.
Flickr/Mitchell Haindfield
The occupants of the next car that would stop for Cook wouldn’t be so lucky. Cook’s first murdered victims were a family of five and their dog. By now, Cook was near his hometown of Joplin, where he dumped his victims.
Find A Grave/Bonnie Fortney – Wichita, Kansas
During the-three week murdering spree, Cook killed six people before he was apprehended by authorities in California. The native Missourian received the death penalty and was sent to San Quentin.
Find A Grave/Kristy Ward
California executed Cook in the gas chamber just two years later. His body was then shipped back to Joplin and buried in an unmarked grave just outside of Peace Church Cemetery.
Find A Grave/Kristy Ward
Cook’s final resting place, however, didn’t provide him with much rest or peace. He took it upon himself to stir things up with visitors to the cemetery.
Find A Grave/Randy Corbin
Today, visitors tell of seeing the apparition of a man, just outside of the cemetery, staring at them.
Find A Grave/Terry Ann Arceo
Still others tell of hearing voices coming from the cemetery, when it’s clearly deserted, and of seeing lights emanating from the darkness.
Flickr/Broo_Am (Andy B)
Some speculate that Billy stares at visitors in the hopes that his remains will one day be moved into the cemetery itself.
Flickr/Blondinrikard Fröberg
He also appears to express his unhappiness with being on the outskirts of the property by throwing things at visitors. Some have even claimed to have been mysteriously scratched while at Peace Church Cemetery.
Flickr/Ivy Dawned
Do you know of another notorious Missouri cemetery that you really wouldn’t want to visit alone or after dark? Tell us about it in the comments! Click here for more tales of the paranormal at Missouri’s cemeteries.
Find A Grave/Big John
Flickr/Mitchell Haindfield
Find A Grave/Bonnie Fortney – Wichita, Kansas
Find A Grave/Kristy Ward
Find A Grave/Randy Corbin
Find A Grave/Terry Ann Arceo
Flickr/Broo_Am (Andy B)
Flickr/Blondinrikard Fröberg
Flickr/Ivy Dawned
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Address: Peace Church Cemetery, N Peace Church Ave, Joplin, MO 64801, USA
