Ohio’s most chilling ghost story, a tale of murder and supernatural unrest, unexpectedly unfolded in the suburban heart of Sylvania’s downtown district. Five distinct locations in this serene setting claim connections to haunting phenomena, attributed to the spirits of a murdered wife and her assailant. The eerie narrative dates back to 1857, when Return Ward,…
Return Jonathan Meigs Ward was born in Milan, Ohio in 1815. His father, Jared, a successful farmer and one of the area’s first settlers, was a well-known and highly regarded man in the community. Tragedy struck early in Return’s life; his mother passed away when he was two-years-old. Despite his tender age, the loss likely…
In this installment of Chelten’s vlog, Sarah Chelten discusses Haunted Toledo’s two-year investigation covering Ohio’s first serial killer, Return Ward, and the haunting phenomena which surrounds the location of his last killing. In February of 1857, Ward brutally murdered his wife, Olive. In order to cover up his crime, he dismembered her body and burned…
Bring the Legend home on DVD or Blu-ray! Haunted Toledo’s first documentary, featuring Ohio’s greatest ghost story premiered October 22 on Toledo’s PBS affiliate, WGTE. Do the spirits of a serial killer and his final victim haunt the businesses along Main Street in Sylvania, Ohio? In 1857, Ohio’s first known serial killer took his last…