The Spontaneous Combustion of Mary Reeser

St. Petersburg, FL · Miscellaneous

OK, this is not really a ghost story, but is perhaps the most famous case of human spontaneous combustion. It happened to Mary Reeser at 1200 Cherry St. on July 2, 1951, at about 8 a.m. The incident was first witnessed by Reeser's landlady Pansy Carpenter, who was attempting to deliver a telegram to Reeser. When no one answered, she tried the door, finding the doorknob warm. She called the police, and inside they found ashes, the remains of Reeser and the chair on which she had been sitting. Part of her left foot (in a slipper) and her backbone were all that remained. Nearby plastic household items were softened and melted from the heat of the combustion. After investigation, some determined that Reeser, who used sleeping pills, fell asleep while smoking and set fire to her clothing. Others disagree with this theory; the truth may never be known.

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Geographic Information

Address
1200 Cherry St
St. Petersburg, FL
Get Directions »
GPS
27.7842918, -82.6290246
County
Pinellas County, Florida
Nearest Towns

Quick Answers

Is The Spontaneous Combustion of Mary Reeser really haunted?
Visitors rate The Spontaneous Combustion of Mary Reeser at 20 out of 100 on our EHP (Estimated Haunted Probability) scale.
Where is The Spontaneous Combustion of Mary Reeser located?
The address is 1200 Cherry St, St. Petersburg, FL. GPS coordinates: 27.7842918, -82.6290246.
What kind of haunted place is The Spontaneous Combustion of Mary Reeser?
The Spontaneous Combustion of Mary Reeser is listed under Miscellaneous in our Florida section.
What is the nearest town to The Spontaneous Combustion of Mary Reeser?
Saint Petersburg, FL is the closest town, about 3.2 miles away, with Lealman (4.0 mi.) and West and East Lealman (4.4 mi.) also nearby.

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