The Strange Story of Robert Eugene Otto, the artist, and Robert the Haunted Doll
Robert Eugene Otto was born into an affluent Key West family in October 1900. The family ran their home , later called 'The Artist House,' with the assistance of servants from the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Robert "Gene" Otto was an only child who was cared for by a nanny, believed to have been of Bahamian descent.
The Artist House
In 1904, when Robert was 4 years old, he was given a doll, claimed to have been made for him by his nanny. It was also claimed that the hair on the doll's head was Robert's. Young Robert was enthralled by this toy and was rarely seen without it. He was even heard to speak to the doll, and some say that the doll could be heard to answer back. The boy and his doll could be seen in town dressed in an identical sailor suit, and the doll had his own chair at the family's dinner table. At some point in time Robert demanded that he only be called "Gene" because his doll was named "Robert." Whenever "Gene" was accused of committing some sort of mischief he would declare, "Robert did it!" By all accounts the attachment to this toy was a strange one. It has been rumoured that the doll was imbued with powers through the use of voodoo by four servants, including the creator of the doll.
Robert "Gene" Otto kept the doll throughout his life and the attic was decorated as a room for Robert the Doll, including his own furniture. Eventually Gene married a woman named Anne, and even as an adult the doll was still used as a scapegoat. On many occasions after arguing with his wife "Gene" would later claim that "Robert did it!" Anne despised the doll and insisted that it remain in the attic. Upon Gene's death Anne placed the doll in a trunk, left it in the attic and sold the house.
Robert "Gene" Otto
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Robert the Doll