4 Disturbing Stories from People with Dark Secrets

Edith Olsen, a 'go-fearing woman' and beloved figure in Plain View, Minnesota, faked her daughter Ruth's severe illness from infancy. She systematically drugged, beat, starved, and psychologically tortured Ruth, making her believe she was responsible for her father's death and her own condition. This elaborate charade garnered immense community sympathy and financial support.

Ruth's condition 'got worse' over years, becoming mute and immobile. The sheriff found Ruth's room filthy, filled with dirty diapers, and Edith's medicine cabinet stocked with 'farm animal-grade tranquilizer' and strong pain medications, but no actual treatments for Ruth's supposed conditions. Ruth later recounted the abuse after being placed in foster care.

Despite being rendered almost completely catatonic by Edith's drugs, Ruth managed to communicate her distress. While at the post office, she tapped out 'SOS' in Morse code on her wheelchair arm, a pattern recognized by Herb Cooper, a former military man. This act of desperation led to the sheriff's investigation and Edith's eventual arrest.

Herb Cooper observed Ruth tapping 'three quick taps, three long taps, and then three quick taps again' (SOS) repeatedly. His report to the sheriff led to a visit to Edith's home, where the squalor and inappropriate medications were discovered.

A band on the cusp of a major record deal with Columbia Records had their dreams shattered when their drummer, Andy, was arrested for possession of indecent images of children and assault on a child under 16. The label immediately dropped them, and the 'stink' of Andy's crime made it impossible for the remaining members to continue their musical careers.

The band had secured a development deal and written an album. Andy the drummer failed to show for a crucial meeting, and his mother later confirmed his arrest. A news article circulated detailing his charges and a 'very lengthy prison sentence' due to 'aggravating circumstances.'

Vic, a seemingly 'chilled out' and reliable landlord, secretly enslaved an undocumented Vietnamese immigrant for years. He converted his basement into a living space and a cannabis farm, coercing the immigrant to grow weed by threatening him with deportation and fabricating debts. Vic, his wife, and son were eventually imprisoned for drug and modern slavery offenses.

The narrator paid rent to Vic for five years, but Vic disappeared. A council woman served an eviction notice, stating the property was seized due to Vic's debts. It was later revealed Vic used an illegal immigrant for 'slave labor' to grow weed in his basement, lying about immigration threats and owed money. The immigrant escaped, was arrested for stealing a sandwich, and then exposed Vic's operation.

A woman discovered her boyfriend, Ryan, a man she believed to be a kind, history-loving workaholic with a passion for the Philippines, was a serial killer. While cleaning his office, she found a hidden compartment containing a locked box. Inside were photographs of Ryan posing with naked, violently murdered children, primarily from the Philippines.

The narrator found a false wall in Ryan's office cabinet, behind which was a locked wooden box with Filipino designs. Inside, she found photos of Ryan 'grinning... posing with naked children' who 'showed obvious signs of being violently murdered.' She immediately took a photo to the police, but Ryan fled before they arrived.