10 Creepy Discoveries Made During Home Renovations

Buying an old home comes with hidden charms—original woodwork, antique tiles, historic fireplaces. But sometimes, what’s hiding isn’t charming at all. Renovation crews and homeowners have stumbled upon chilling discoveries sealed away for decades or even centuries.

From skeletons stuffed behind walls to dolls wrapped in ritual string, here are 10 creepy finds that turned simple renovations into horror stories.

Related: 10 Creepy Secrets about the Town That Never Existed

10 Skeleton Behind the Fireplace

In 2010, a French family renovating their country home in Nantes made a discovery straight out of a crime novel. While chipping away at their large stone fireplace to modernize the hearth, contractors noticed an unusual cavity behind the masonry. Peering inside, they were stunned to find skeletal remains wedged tightly in the narrow space. Initial thoughts leaned toward medieval burials, as the house dated back centuries. However, police quickly ruled that out when forensic examination revealed modern clothing fibers and dental fillings from the late 20th century.

The remains were soon identified as belonging to Brigitte Jalbert, the wife of a previous homeowner who had reported her missing in 1987. At the time, her disappearance was dismissed as abandonment, as her husband told neighbors she left him and moved to Belgium. The investigation was closed without further pursuit. But with the skeletal discovery decades later, police launched a new inquiry, tracking down the husband, now living under a different name in Lyon. Under questioning, he eventually confessed to murdering Brigitte after an argument, concealing her body behind the fireplace before selling the house and disappearing.

Neighbors recalled the husband as quiet and reserved, a man who largely kept to himself. What haunts people most about this case is the realization that for over twenty years, families gathered around that fireplace, sharing meals and celebrations, completely unaware of the decaying body hidden just inches away.^[1]

9 The Mummified Infant in a Shoebox

In 2003, a Texas family renovating their attic stumbled upon a heart-wrenching discovery hidden among insulation and storage debris. While sorting through a dusty crawl space, they found a sealed cardboard shoebox wrapped in brittle newspaper. Expecting old keepsakes, they instead discovered the mummified remains of a newborn, delicately wrapped in a burial cloth embroidered with the words “Our Darling.”

This was not the only shoebox. Authorities ultimately found three separate mummified infants concealed in similar packaging throughout the attic—each apparently hidden years apart. One of the children, believed to have been born in the early 1930s, was wrapped in lace and silk, suggesting the burial may have been intended as a private memorial. No birth or death certificates were ever located.

The case baffled investigators. With no evidence of foul play, and the original homeowner deceased, authorities concluded that the remains likely stemmed from secret or stillbirth pregnancies—tragically hidden during a time when unwed motherhood or infant death carried overwhelming stigma.

Disturbingly, this is not an isolated incident. Similar discoveries have surfaced in attics across North America, each pointing to a forgotten era of shame and silence.^[2]

8 Hidden Ritual Room with Mysterious Artifacts

In the early 2020s, a couple renovating their 1920s-era home discovered a shallow hidden attic room behind drywall. Inside, they found a dusty suitcase packed with curious ritual-like items: a leather-bound Bible inscribed with cryptic writing, a small wooden cross, mirrors, odd family photographs (one with pins stuck into the eyes), and a teddy bear scorched at the edges.

Although TikTok and media outlets quickly labeled this a “satanic room,” no evidence of devil worship or human sacrifice emerged. The couple eventually destroyed the space in a cleanup they described as “cleansing” rather than criminal burial or ritual. The story reveals how easily normal objects—mirrors, religious texts, aged photographs—can be misconstrued as occult baubles.

Much like the 1980s moral panic over ritual abuse, this find stirred discomfort not because of proof of wrongdoing, but because the unknown feels sinister. Today, the couple has moved on—but remnants of that secret room still haunt their memories.^[3]

7 Hidden Camera Built into Staircase

In early 2025, an Irish homeowner renovating an old farmhouse made a chilling discovery—an inconspicuous hidden camera embedded in the staircase, precisely aimed at the master bedroom above. While replacing floorboards, they stumbled upon a small, wired lens camouflaged beneath a step, with cables snaking into the wall.

The camera appeared purposefully installed, not part of any typical home security system. Although there was no evidence of additional cameras, the realization that someone had been secretly recording the bedroom was deeply unsettling. The homeowner immediately removed the device and notified local authorities—but with no clear indication of who installed it or when, the trail went cold.

It wasn’t an isolated incident. In one Texas Airbnb, guests later found hidden lens cameras inside smoke detectors—prompting nationwide warnings about covert surveillance in rental properties. Another case in Michigan revealed a secret room with a glass-block window into a bathroom, prompting similar privacy fears.
 
This find serves as a stark reminder: even ordinary homes can harbor sinister secrets, and what seems like a routine renovation can abruptly turn into a confrontation with privacy invasion.^[4]

6 The “Witch Bottle” Full of Teeth and Hair

In 2019, builders renovating a 16th-century cottage in Watford, England, were tasked with reinforcing a sagging fireplace. As they removed crumbling bricks from the chimney’s base, they stumbled upon a ceramic Bellarmine jar sealed with wax [LINK 5]. Inside, they found an unsettling collection: human hair, fingernail clippings, iron nails, shards of glass, and even several human teeth mixed with a thick yellowish liquid. Archaeologists identified the find as a “witch bottle,” a common counter-curse object from the 1500s to 1700s designed to ward off evil spirits or protect inhabitants from witchcraft.

These witch bottles were typically buried under hearths or thresholds—places where supernatural forces were believed to enter a home. The teeth and hair were usually the homeowner’s, combined with bodily fluids like urine to create a personal magical shield. The addition of sharp objects, such as nails and glass, was intended to pierce or trap malevolent spirits trying to harm the household. This particular bottle was especially creepy because the teeth inside were children’s, suggesting parents used their kids’ body parts to create a charm strong enough to protect the entire family.

Though historians were fascinated, the builders felt uneasy working near such an object, fearing it might carry lingering negative energy or curses. After documentation, the witch bottle was removed for preservation at a local museum. Its eerie mix of protective magic and bodily remains is a chilling reminder of how deeply fear of witchcraft permeated daily life, leading people to hide unsettling talismans within the very walls they called home.^[5]

5 Doll with a Disturbing Note Hidden in the Walls

In 2021, a man renovating his newly purchased home in Walton, England, peeled away plaster beneath a staircase and came face to face with a nightmare straight out of a horror film. Nestled deep within the wall cavity was a vintage rag doll, sitting upright—and clutching a folded note.

The note’s message was short and disturbing: “Thank you for freeing me! My original owners lived in this house in 1961… Stabbing was my choice of death for them so I hope you have knives. Hope you sleep well.” Though clearly intended as a prank by previous occupants, the find left the homeowner and much of the internet rattled. “Creepiest thing I’ve ever seen,” he said, adding that he initially feared it might be tied to a real crime.

While no foul play was involved, this isn’t the only time an old doll has turned up where it shouldn’t. Other renovators have reported similar finds—dolls with gouged-out eyes, scorched limbs, or nailed to walls—likely as part of pranks, art projects, or folklore rituals. Even when harmless, their presence has a haunting effect, a reminder of how easily innocence can curdle into dread.^[6]

4 Skeletons Unearthed Beneath a French Cellar

In late 2023, a homeowner in Corbeil‑Essonnes, just south of Paris, discovered something far more haunting than a faulty pipe. While renovating their basement, they knocked through a wall and found a human skeleton embedded in the old stonework. Authorities were soon called—archaeologists unearthed a total of 38 skeletons and 10 plaster sarcophagi in the adjoining rooms, only yards below the modern house.

The site turned out to be an early-medieval cemetery dating back over 1,500 years. Although the discovery was archaeological rather than criminal, the homeowner was stunned: everyday renovations had pierced the veil of centuries, exposing a long-forgotten burial ground directly beneath kitchen and storage areas. Such incidents underscore how easily homes built atop ancient sites can carry the weight of past lives—literally underfoot.

The homeowner and local authorities coordinated with museum experts to properly document and rebury the remains. To this day, the cave-like rooms beneath the cellar are sealed off, but the eerie reminder persists: renovations can unearth more than just plumbing issues—they can dig into the distant past.^[7]

3 Secret Nazi Cache Behind a German Wall

In 2021, a history teacher in Hagen, Germany—cleaning out his aunt’s house after flooding—tore away a rotting plasterboard and uncovered a hidden cavity behind the wall. Inside lay a trove of World War II–era Nazi artifacts: a portrait of Adolf Hitler, gas masks, Nazi Party badges, brass knuckles, letters, documents, and even a revolver.

Archivists later confirmed the home had once been used by the National Socialist People’s Welfare (NSV), a Nazi organization, and that these items were hastily concealed in April 1945 as Allied forces closed in. Though the cache was authentic to the period, later expert analysis noted that many pieces were either original Nazi-era items or everyday items later stamped with Nazi symbols—making them historically valuable even if modified

The schoolteacher donated the artifacts to a local museum, leaving behind a secret chamber that once held physical remnants of a hateful regime. It’s a stark reminder that history can lurk within walls—sometimes hidden in plain sight.^[8]

2 Eerie Warning Note from Previous Owners

In April 2025, a couple near Seattle, Washington, discovered an unsettling message tucked deep inside a kitchen cabinet while planning renovations. The note said simply, “Don’t look under the floor.” When flipped over, it revealed a string of numbers: 29065300489382.

Rather than dismiss it, the couple treated it like a puzzle—searching online, testing zip codes, dividing by their house number, even examining whether it was a library card or safe combination. But the mystery remains unsolved, and they’ve decided not to pry further—at least for now.

They later shared their find on Reddit, sparking theories that ranged wildly from scavenger hunts to prankster antics—but no clear conclusion emerged. While some dismiss it as a practical joke, others believe it may have been a sinister warning. Either way, it ranks among the creepiest renovation revelations—leaving behind a real-life mystery buried just beneath everyday life.^[9]

1 Wall-Sealed Doll and Ritual Remains

In 2022, a family in the UK began renovating their 19th-century home when they noticed a bricked-over alcove in an upstairs bedroom. Curious, they carefully removed the plaster—and uncovered a small, eerie chamber. Inside sat a dusty porcelain doll, wrapped in red string and surrounded by animal bones, burned incense, and scorched paper inscribed with strange symbols.

Though there was no sign of human remains, the combination of ritualistic items strongly suggested a folk-style banishment or binding spell—possibly intended to trap a spirit or ward off evil. Paranormal investigators who examined photos online said the scene matched classic examples of early 20th-century folk magic, where objects were “sealed in” to prevent hauntings or misfortune. Some even speculated the doll was used as a spiritual vessel.

While no crime had occurred, the discovery left the family deeply unsettled. They chose to reseal the alcove entirely rather than risk disturbing whatever had been “contained.” It remains hidden to this day—its purpose and origin still a mystery. For many, it’s a chilling reminder that the past doesn’t just haunt us—it might still be hiding inside the walls.^[10]