Deaths continue to stack up--accidents caused by Grim Reaper
News Five Toledo
August 6, 2025
Toledo, Ohio
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tragic Halloween Decoration Accident Leaves Many Skeptical
On Saturday night, at approximately midnight, a Lowes employee was accidentally killed when a large Halloween display fell upon him. Toledo West Fire Services said that the employee was killed instantly. Hank Travelta, a Lowes employee, is identified as the victim. Next of kin has been notified. The store will remain closed while investigations continue.
News Five Toledo located several employees of the Lowes who cooperated but wished to remain anonymous.
Claudia Ramirez, News Five Toledo’s evening anchor, relates what our news agency has learned.
“I interviewed three employees who were on site immediately following the horrendous accident. Oscar, not his real name, relayed the following story.
‘It was about midnight. We were stocking shelves toward the back of the store when we heard Hank scream. We all ran up to the front of the store and found the Grim Reaper display, which is probably 15 feet tall, lying on the floor next to Hank‘s body. He was decapitated by the sickle! There was blood everywhere.’
‘It wasn’t an accident!’ Stated a female employee who had been with Oscar. ‘That Reaper came to life. We saw the pictures on his phone! Hank was taking selfies with the display. On his phone, which was still on, was a photo of him smiling while flipping off the Reaper. We went through the phone and each photo had Hank horsing around but in each one, the Reaper seems to be leaning closer and closer to Hank.’ The female employee stated.
A third employee, who performed the sign of the cross at least five times during our interviews, could barely make a complete sentence. He was visibly shaken.
That thing, that Reaper thing. It killed him. It needs to be burned. I won’t work in that store if they don’t burn it. It’s possessed by a demon.’
Oscar showed us pictures of the scene.” News Five Toledo’s Claudia Ramirez states. “They are horrific and cannot be published due to their graphic nature. But, let me be frank. I find it hard to believe that a Halloween decoration fell over and perfectly severed Hank’s head from his body.”
Claudia Ramirez can be contacted @ CRamirez@newsfivetoledo.com
*****
News Five Toledo
August 29, 2025
Toledo, Ohio
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Halloween Decoration Accidents Continue to Haunt Lowes Stores
Two more tragic Halloween accidents have occurred at Lowes stores in Topeka, Kansas and Greeley, Colorado since we first reported on the fatality that occurred at our local Lowes in Toledo, Ohio.
Two weeks ago, the Lowes Store in Topeka, Kansas, was the location for a tragic accident in which one of their overnight crew accidentally disemboweled himself while working near the Halloween display. The victim, a seven-year veteran of Lowes and the overnight supervisor, was discovered lying amid the Halloween display. He was fatally injured and passed before reaching the Topeka Memorial Hospital. Topeka Police are investigating the circumstances.
Two nights ago, August 27, 2023, a Greeley, Colorado Lowes employee died after being impaled by the sickle held by the Grim Reaper Halloween Display. The police synopsis, obtained by News Five Toledo, states that the female employee was impaled through the chest by the sickle causing massive blood loss. Thirty-three year old Heather Teague had been with the Lowes company for approximately three years. She leaves behind two children. The Lowes store is currently closed as the investigation continues.
I, Claudia Ramirez, evening anchor for News Five Toledo, along with my News Five Toledo team, traveled to Greeley immediately upon hearing of the third suspicious death. Although Lowes is closed and their management refuses to comment, we were able to find several people, from their Social Media accounts, that are employed there.
Jack Jackson, a temporary nightshift employee, was located and interviewed. Here’s the result of that interview.
Claudia Ramirez, News Five Toledo: “Mr. Jackson, were you working the night of the tragic death of your peer, Ms. Teague?”
Employee Jackson: “Yes, I was. I won’t go back. No way that plastic sickle coulda went right through her like a hot knife through butter. No f------ way!”
Claudia Ramirez, News Five Toledo: “Do you believe her death was accidental?”
Employee Jackson: “No! It could not have been! Nothing accidental about having a blade pushed through a person’s body! Ain’t possible!”
Claudia Ramirez, News Five Toledo: “What do you think happened, if you don’t believe this to be an accident?”
Employee Jackson: “I don’t wanna say. Coulda been her ex-husband. She always complains about him. Coulda been a lot of things. I don’t wanna say what I really think.”
Claudia Ramirez, News Five Toledo: “We’ve reported two other accidental deaths at Lowes. The first was in my hometown of Toledo, Ohio. The second was in Topeka, Kansas. Both are seemingly unexplainable accidents involving the Grim Reaper Display. Do you-“
Employee Jackson: “Stop! Lowes needs to get rid of it! Needs to already. Three deaths? Ain’t no doubt in my mind. I was taught never to play with a Ouija board. You invite evil when you do. This Grim Reaper—hell all these Halloween displays need to be burned. Evil done possessed them!”
Mr. Jackson is not rare in his beliefs about evil. Mr. Jackson has tenured his resignation and states that he will not work at Lowes again after enduring the trauma of his peer’s death.
News Five Toledo went to a neighboring town to examine the Halloween display. Personally, I was happy we visited the store during the middle of the day. The whole display gave myself and everyone on my crew an uneasy feeling. I hope that the tragic accidents do not continue but we have a full month before Halloween, and so far, Lowes continues to allow the Halloween Display.
Claudia Ramirez can be contacted @ CRamirez@newsfivetoledo.com
News Five Toledo
October 25, 2025
Midland, Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Good morning. I’m Claudia Ramirez with News-Five Toledo. My crew and I flew into Midland, Texas, first thing this morning after a horrendous night at the Lowes Home Improvement Store here.
Midland is known for its oil wells and the area produces a significant amount of oil for the United States. The small city may now be known for the ghastly death and carnage strewn across their Lowes Store. The Midland Police Department is reporting three Lowes Employees are dead, and one employee was slightly injured but treated and released after what seems like an impossible event last night.
The injured employee, identified as Jacob J. Getty, a long-time Lowes employee, just completed my interview, and I will warn you, his assertations are almost unbelievable. My crew and I have covered mysterious deaths in three previous Lowes Stores in three separate cities, so I, for one, believe Jacob.
Claudia Ramirez, News Five Toledo: “Good morning, Mr. Getty. Can you tell us what you believe happened last night?”
Employee Getty: “Evil. I don’t know how else to describe it, but I believe that evil possessed that Grim Reaper display. I was working an overnight when I heard a commotion coming from the front. I thought it was two of our employees fighting but it turned out to be much worse. Jaime and Danny were on the floor lying in pools of blood. Danny looked to have been disemboweled while Jaime was sliced across the center of his face. I stopped in shock. It was then that I saw Lupe body impaled by that Grim Reaper display. Lupe’s body was off the ground with the blade of the sickle sticking out his back. I swear to you, I saw that Grim Reaper move!”
Claudia Ramirez, News Five Toledo: “Were the employees dead? Tell our viewers what happened next?”
Employee Getty: “I stood there in shock! I’ve never seen anything so horrific in my life. Lupe was a good friend of mine. I just stood there staring at Lupe’s limp body hanging from the Grim Reaper’s blade. Then, in a flurry, Lupe fell to the floor and the Grim Reaper came to life. I could see the evil in its eyes. It freaked me out.”
Claudia Ramirez, News Five Toledo: “That is awful! What happened next?”
Employee Getty: “That thing started walking toward me. I was standing a good fifteen or twenty feet away and it raised that sickle blade and I knew I would be the next victim. Well, I used to be a smoker. Ever since my military days, I’ve carried a lighter in my pocket. I guess for good luck. It’s an old zip lighter but always works. I was standing in the garden area next to a display of pre-mixed gasoline cans that people buy for their lawnmowers. I didn’t even think but grabbed one of those, opened the top and threw it right into the Reaper. The gas splashed him good but he didn’t stop, his blade raised above his head ready to cut me to shreds. I then pulled out my lighter, popped the top and lit it. That movement paused The Reaper. I think it realized what I’d do next and it was right cause I threw my lighter right into it’s stomach and the splashed gas immediately ignited. Next thing I knew The Reaper and the whole Halloween Display was on fire. Burned pretty good.”
Claudia Ramirez, News Five Toledo: ”As you can see, the Lowes building received fire damage to the front part of the building. Midland Police and Midland Fire have interviewed Mr. Getty and the other employees that were present but from what I can gather, no charges are expected to be filed against Mr. Getty for igniting the store. No one in management nor any of the other officials present will comment on the incident and I have only received canned replies that it is being investigated. But, from Mr. Getty’s first hand account, I’m sure we all know what really happened!
News Five Toledo
October 31, 2025
Toledo, Ohio
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Good morning. I’m Claudia Ramirez with News-Five Toledo. My crew and I are back in Toledo, Ohio. It’s been a gruesome last few days as we investigated the mysterious deaths at Lowes Stores in several states. Here’s what I can officially report. All Grim Reaper and other such displays have been removed from every Lowes Store across the United States. Lowes representatives refuse to comment on the horrible events of the last few weeks. Law enforcement is following a similar path and claim these are still active investigations and are unable to comment beyond telling us of the basic facts.
Folks, I’ve seen a lot in my time, but nothing like this. Were the Grim Reaper displays possessed by some sort of evil? I can’t say for sure, but I have my beliefs. I’m sure that those who are investigating these incidents are having a hard time sleeping.”
