Urban Legends by State Part 21: Louisiana De

1. Devil Man of Algiers. In the early 20th century, the Devil Man of Algiers terrorized the neighborhood across the river from New Orleans. Described as a tall figure with pointed ears, glowing red eyes, and a long cape, the Devil Man reportedly attacked women walking alone at night, leaving claw-like scratches as his calling card. Despite multiple sightings, the Devil Man was never caught, leading to wild speculation about whether he was human or something far more sinister. While many believed the Devil Man was a local criminal using the guise to instill fear, others insisted that the creature was supernatural, perhaps even the devil himself, roaming the streets of Algiers to claim souls. Have you've heard of this story?

2. The Grunch. Not to be confused with the Grinch is an alleged Chupacabra sighting in New Orleans. The Grunch is described as being an elaborate cross between the canid and reptilian Chupacabras. New Orleans residents have named the creature the Grunch. But unlike its cousins sightings and tales seem to go back further in Louisiana history than in other areas of the world. The Grunch story supposedly goes back to the Crescent City's early roots. This Southern cryptid has been called the Vampire of Farbourgh Marigny and the Bywater area dating back to the early 1800s. The Legend of Marie Laveau tells of how some believe this form of "Chupacabra" came into existence. An old Voodoo Hoodoo story says Marie Laveau castrated the Devil Baby when he was born to stop him producing more of his evil kind. The bloody testicles allegedly turned into a male and a female Grunch upon falling to the floor, whereupon they attacked the great Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. The Grunches are said to have almost killed her with their fierce bites and punching; the terror the old Voodoo Queen felt must have been unbearable as she struggled under their great strength before she fainted. When she awoke, the Grunches and the Devil Baby were gone. Laveau was near death after this and many have said this is when Marie Laveau gave up her Voodoo Hoodoo ways and went back to being a good Catholic woman. New Orleans' Grunches have many strange reported powers. I believe the stories about them come from the fact that the New Orleans Chupacabra is more visible than in other areas and has adapted itself more to its surroundings unlike its Texas, Mississippi and Floridian relatives. The most common description of the New Orleans Grunch or el Chupacabra is a goat-like being, appearing to have leathery or scaly black-grey skin and sharp spines with long horns or quills running down its back. This creature stands approximately 3 to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 m) high. They are also said to seem more intelligent and have human like skills like being able to open doors and use tools similarly to how a monkey or primate would. It is said to howl like a wolf, scream like a banshee or bellow and screech like an ape when alarmed, as well as leave a strong stench. Many reports note that the Chupacabra's eyes glow an unusual red-orange or blue-green. Some witnesses have reported seeing bat-like wings and a tail, or long fur and goat like markings in grey on a silky black coat. Unlike conventional Louisiana swamp predators, this breed of Chupacabra is said to drain all of the animal's blood (and sometimes organs) through a single hole. Have you've heard of this creature?

3. The vampire of Bayou Goula. Bayou Goula, a small community along the Mississippi River, is home to a vampire legend that has flown somewhat under the radar compared to other Louisiana tales. The story goes that a mysterious stranger arrived in the town in the early 1800s, charming the locals but raising suspicions when a string of deaths followed his appearance. The bodies of the victims were said to have been drained of blood, and rumors began to circulate that the stranger was a vampire. One day, the stranger vanished as mysteriously as he had arrived, leaving the town on edge and forever suspicious of outsiders with particularly sharp teeth. Unlike the more famous tales of European vampires, this Louisiana vampire didn't brood in castles but prowled the humid, murky bayous. Have you've heard of this tale?

4. Marie Laveau: the Voodoo Queen. Marie Laveau is a name that's become almost as legendary as the city of New Orleans itself. Born in the early 1800s, she rose to fame (and perhaps a little infamy) as the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. Laveau was a skilled practitioner of Voodoo, but she was also a healer, a community leader and a powerful woman in a time when those things were hard to come by. Her legacy is a bit complicated. To some, she was a benevolent figure, using her influence to help the sick and oppressed. To others, she was a mysterious and potentially dangerous woman who dabbled in dark arts. Either way, she knew how to command respect and maintained a loyal following until her death - though some people claim she's still hanging around in spirit form. According to some tales, the Grunch was actually created by none other than Marie Laveau, the infamous Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. Have you've heard of this lady?

5. The Casket Girls of New Orleans. In the 1700s, a group of young French women arrived in New Orleans with oddly-shaped chests - or "caskets," as they were called - earning them the nickname "The Casket Girls." They were sent by the French government as prospective brides for the settlers, part of an effort to "civilize" the colony. But people noticed something strange about these girls and their luggage. Rumors spread that the caskets didn't hold clothes or trinkets, but rather vampires. The story goes that these girls brought more than their innocence to New Orleans; they brought something dark and dangerous. The caskets were supposedly kept under lock and key at a convent, where legend has it the nuns discovered them open one night - with nothing inside. Vampires, it seems, had made their way into the heart of the city. Have you've heard of this story?