When I was a child I remember reading a book on unexplained mysteries. There was a chapter on spontaneous human combustion and for some reason it etched in my mind. I was fascinated but it creeped me out.
The phenomenon of spontaneous human combustion (SHC) has remained a mystery for centuries, captivating the minds of people who have been left astounded and bewildered by its occurrence.
SHC refers to cases where a human body suddenly bursts into flames, without any apparent external ignition source. Though the validity of this phenomenon is a topic of debate, there have been numerous reported cases of SHC over the years, leaving many questioning its mysterious nature.
In this post, we will explore some of the most famous cases of SHC that have left experts scratching their heads.
Mary Reeser
Mary Reeser’s case is perhaps the most famous instance of SHC. A 67-year-old widow from Florida, Mary was discovered by her landlady on July 1, 1951, in her apartment. Her body was almost completely destroyed by fire. Shockingly, all that remained of Mary were her left foot and part of her spine.
Her body had seemingly been incinerated, and the cause of the fire could not be determined. Dr. Wilton Krogman, a forensic anthropologist, investigated the case and concluded that Mary’s body had been destroyed by “a source of heat not in her apartment.” The mystery of what had caused the heat source remained unsolved.
George Mott
George Mott, a 61-year-old man from New York, was found burned to death in his home on February 6, 1986.
The fire had melted his aluminium walker and caused his plastic bedspread to fuse to his body, indicating that the fire was intense. The fire had started in George’s chest area, and the only explanation offered was that he had been a heavy smoker. However, the cause of the fire remained an unsolved mystery.
Dr. John Irving Bentley
Dr. John Irving Bentley, a 92-year-old retired physician from Pennsylvania, was found burned to death in his home on December 5, 1966.
The intensity of the fire had charred the concrete floor beneath his body. Strangely, the only items in the room that had been damaged by the fire were Bentley’s chair and the floor beneath it. The rest of the room remained untouched. Despite thorough investigation, the cause of the fire was never determined, adding to the mystery surrounding the case.
Henry Thomas
Henry Thomas was a 73-year-old man from Wales who was found burned to death in his home on September 9, 1980.
The intensity of the fire had burned a hole through the floor beneath his body. Like Bentley’s case, the only items in the room that had been damaged by the fire were the chair that Henry had been sitting in and the floor beneath it. The cause of the fire remained an unsolved mystery.
Jeannie Saffin
Jeannie Saffin was a 61-year-old woman from London who met a gruesome end on July 15, 1982.
Saffin had been sitting in her armchair when she suddenly burst into flames. Her son, who was in the room at the time, tried to put out the fire but was unable to do so. Saffin’s body was so badly burned that it was unrecognizable. The cause of the fire remained an unsolved mystery.
These cases of spontaneous human combustion continue to baffle scientists and researchers, who are still unable to fully explain the mysterious phenomenon.
The cause of SHC remains one of the most intriguing mysteries of the human body, with many people wondering if they will ever find an answer to this enigmatic puzzle.