The source provides an analysis of several well-known urban legends, arguing that many popular horror stories are inspired by shocking real-life events. It begins by detailing the case of Ruthie Mae McCoy, who was murdered after calling 911 about an intruder, suggesting this was the inspiration for the horror film Candyman. The text then separates fact from fiction for three major legends: "The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs," which is linked to the 1950 unsolved murder of Janett Christman; the tale of "Alligators in the Sewers," which is confirmed to have begun with genuine sightings of abandoned pets in New York City; and the boogeyman Cropsey from Staten Island, who was made real by the actual serial crimes of Andre Rand. Ultimately, the source concludes that these legends persist because they tap into real-world anxieties and forgotten tragedies, proving that truth is often more unsettling than fiction.
