Short Stuff: The Sad, Strange Tale of Margaret Schilling
In an episode of the Stuff You Should Know podcast, Josh Clark details the sad, strange tale of Margaret Schilling's death at the Athens Lunatic Asylum. He recounts the extensive search efforts when Schilling went missing in December 1978, and the grim discovery of her decomposing body in an abandoned asylum section over a month later.
Clark then delves into one of the incident's most bizarre details—the inexplicable, permanent stain that Schilling's body left etched into the floor. This strange occurrence, combined with the unsettling circumstances surrounding her death, fueled a campus legend and morbid fascination among Ohio University students.
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1-Page Summary
Margaret Schilling's Mysterious Death at the Athens Lunatic Asylum
The Search
When Margaret Schilling failed to attend dinner on December 1st, 1978, Josh Clark describes extensive search efforts, including a campus-wide search and involving police.
The Grim Discovery
On January 12, 1979, Schilling's body was found in an abandoned asylum section. She likely died from heart failure due to exposure, according to Clark. Her clothes were folded neatly beside her decomposing body.
The Inexplicable Stain
Bizarrely, Schilling's decomposing body left a stain etched into the floor in her outline, which could not be removed despite cleaning attempts. In 2007, biochemists at Ohio University determined acidic cleaners inadvertently sealed the adipocere "grave wax" stain from the body's fatty acid breakdown.
A Campus Legend
The strange circumstances surrounding Schilling's death, coupled with the persistent body outline stain, fueled legends and lore among students at the asylum-turned-campus. Clark describes the tale taking on an aura of intrigue and macabre fascination.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Adipocere, also known as "grave wax," is a waxy, soap-like substance that forms during the decomposition of human remains under specific conditions. It is created through the hydrolysis of fats in the body, resulting in a white, greasy material that can preserve the body's features. Adipocere formation is more common in environments with high moisture and low oxygen levels, such as in certain burial conditions. In the case of Margaret Schilling, the adipocere left a persistent stain on the floor where her body decomposed, despite cleaning efforts.
- Macabre fascination often describes a dark or morbid interest in unsettling or gruesome subjects. It signifies a mix of horror and intrigue that draws people to stories or events that are eerie or macabre in nature. In the context of the text, it suggests that the mysterious circumstances of Margaret Schilling's death and the enduring stain left by her body sparked a chilling yet captivating curiosity among those who heard about it.
Counterarguments
- The assertion that Schilling died from heart failure due to exposure is a likely explanation, but without a full autopsy report mentioned, alternative causes of death could be considered.
- While the clothes being folded neatly beside her body is a detail that suggests a certain level of deliberateness, it could also be interpreted differently, such as a sign of mental distress or confusion.
- The inability to remove the stain might not be solely due to the use of acidic cleaners; other factors such as the porosity of the floor material and environmental conditions could have contributed to the permanence of the stain.
- The conclusion by biochemists that acidic cleaners sealed the adipocere stain is one explanation, but it may not be the only chemical reaction that could have caused the stain to become permanent.
- The legends and lore that have arisen around Margaret Schilling's death, while fueled by the strange circumstances, could overshadow the real human tragedy and potentially lead to sensationalism rather than respectful remembrance.
- The narrative that the asylum-turned-campus is haunted or has an aura of intrigue might detract from the historical significance and the need for a more nuanced understanding of mental health care history.
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Margaret Schilling's Mysterious Death at the Athens Lunatic Asylum
The death of Margaret Schilling at the Athens Lunatic Asylum has puzzled many and transformed into a legend shrouded in mystery and eerie lore.
The extensive search efforts when Schilling first went missing
It was not until the evening of December 1st, 1978, that concern sprouted when Margaret Schilling failed to attend dinner, leading to a code round—a signal for a missing patient. A thorough search was conducted, and the entire campus of the Athens Lunatic Asylum was combed without any success. Despite the extensive search, Schilling remained missing, and the police were eventually summoned to contribute to the growing search efforts.
Schilling was found dead weeks later
The search for Margaret Schilling came to a morose end when, on January 12, 1979, roughly six weeks after her disappearance, her body was discovered in an abandoned section of the Asylum. The discovery was possibly prompted by an odor, and she was found lifeless, with her clothes folded neatly beside her. The winter between December and January had been exceptionally cold, and her death was attributed to heart failure, but the particular causes were blurred by factors such as exposure to the cold, and the absence of food and water.
A stain was left on the floor in the outline of Schilling's body
Josh Clark describes the death of Margaret Schilling as mysterious, a description that extends to an unusual phenomena accompanying her death. Where Schilling's body was found, a stain in the outline of her body was left etched into the floor. Despite numerous attempts by the maintenance crew, the enigmatic outline could not be removed, adding to the strangeness of her demise.
The stain could not be removed, despite cleaning attempts
In 2007, biochemists at Ohio University investigated the stain and discovered that acidic cleaners used in an attempt to remove it had the inadvertent consequence of sealing the stain into the concrete. The stain was believed to be caused by the decomposition of Schilling's body over the six-week period she lay undiscovered. The warm sunlight streaming through many windows could have aided decomposition, even amid freezing temperatures.
Theories emerged about why it could not be cleaned
The residue for ...
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Margaret Schilling's Mysterious Death at the Athens Lunatic Asylum
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Adipocere, also known as grave wax, is a waxy substance that forms during the decomposition of fatty tissues in a body. It is a natural process that occurs under specific conditions, such as in moist environments with limited oxygen. Adipocere can act as a preservative, slowing down further decay of the body. The formation of adipocere can sometimes lead to unique chemical interactions with surrounding materials, like in the case of Margaret Schilling's body and the concrete floor.
- The theory about a curse laid by Margaret Schilling on the hospital suggests a supernatural explanation for the mysterious stain that couldn't be removed. It implies that Schilling's spirit or a supernatural force prevented the stain from being cleaned. The misdirected ...
Counterarguments
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