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40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered

You don't get to choose the family you were born into — you're stuck with the one you have. While this usually includes a fair share of blissful highs, devastating lows, and plenty of mundane in-betweens, that’s not all there is. See, every family has a skeleton or two lurking around in their closets. Often filled with murkier waters, concealed in the nooks and crannies, and kept under lock and key out of fear that they might accidentally get uncovered.

But nothing can remain hidden forever. And if you thought you and your family had some dark mysteries that can never be shared, these startling, scary, and disturbing tales compiled from this 'Ask Reddit' thread may change your mind. "What is the strangest/creepiest secret your family has?" someone asked and inspired hundreds to shine a light on their family riddles.

We at Bored Panda have gathered some of the most chilling confessions spilled in the thread to share with you all. So sit back, buckle up, and be warned: some of these are quite intense and may not be for the weakest of hearts. Be sure to upvote as you go, and let us know about your own experiences in the comments.

Psst! After you’re done reading through this list, check out our earlier post about the most shocking family secrets people ever found out right over here.

This post may include affiliate links.

Great-grandmother was apparently a prostitute in Liverpool. I was actually as proud as hell to find this out, as I have nothing but respect for anyone who will do what they have to do to survive and provide for their family. No shame.

anon Report

Final score:

372points

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Ricky Namara 2 years ago

It's the oldest profession in the world for a reason!

81points

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My Great Great Great Great Grandfather was busted in England pretending to be an Anglican priest. At the time a marriage was not official if it was not conducted by an Anglican priest, and he'd done ceremonies for quite a swathe of important people. Rather than publicly expose him, thus voiding the marriages he'd presided over, they invented a charge of forging stamps and sentenced him to transportation to the Australian colonies. Thing is, they didn't tell the ship captain or send word to the Governor in Sydney Town that his crime was actually impersonating a priest. When he arrived in Sydney the Governor saw from the ship manifest that there was a preacher on board who had committed a relatively minor crime. They had a lack of priests to minister the colony at the time, so the Governor pardoned him so that he could carry on his ministry, which he did. He started one of the first schools for children of the colony and led rather a worthwhile life from then on (aside from being a fake priest). The school he started still exists. Today it is Sydney Grammar School, one of the country's most elite schools. In their entrance hall they have a giant portrait titled 'Our Glorious Founder'. That's him, my GGGGGF, the dodgy priest.

hazysummersky Report

Final score:

337points

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Appalachian Panda 2 years ago

Laurence Hynes Halloran, if you want to look him up.

90points

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40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered My mother abused me my whole life and one day I finally couldnt take anymore and told a teacher. CPS was called and as soon as my mom realized what was going on she raced to the police station andtold them that an hour previously I had gone crazy and tried to kill my baby sister so that **I** looked like the crazy one and nothing I said would be taken seriously. I was removed from the school in handcuffs and immediately taken to the county courthouse where I had to face my mother in a trial. I chose not to testify because I knew it wouldn't help, but in the end the judge realized that She was crazy and I wasn't. I had the choice between being put in a psychiatric hospital for teens or going home, so I chose the loony bin. Five days later my aunt came from another state and adopted me. My family doesn't talk about it and to this day my mother maintains that I was a horrible child and I was "sent away" for my "own good" and that she is so happy I am better now.

anon , cottonbro Report

Final score:

280points

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Moomin from Denmark 2 years ago

How can people be like that...

142points

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This'll probably never be seen here, but I think it's funny so here goes:

My uncle Rawhide (yes, that's his name; no, we don't interact with him at all) once tried to mug some dude back in the day. The guy didn't have any cash, but he said he'd cut a check if he was given a name. Rawhide was stupid enough to fall for it, and the police apprehended him shortly thereafter.

lumberjackninja Report

Final score:

224points

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C W 2 years ago

🤣🤣

55points

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40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered I just found out that my grandparents wanted more kids but were having trouble getting pregnant for a second time. They adopted a toddler aged brother and sister when my mother was was 7. Soon after, my grandmother got pregnant, the girl died from a *very* mysterious fall down the stairs and the boy was quietly given to another family. They never, ever spoke of either child from that day forward. I thought she was pulling my leg but a quick search turned up the girls death record.

I was never close to that grandmother and can't help but think back to every weird aspect of that women and all the strange relationships she had with her family.

EggCoroner , Suzy Hazelwood Report

Final score:

191points

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GoGoPDX 2 years ago

Those poor kids. I am hoping that little boy dound a loving home!

114points

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40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered Condensed version: My parents abused me often. I told some friends about it, and child protective services were called multiple times. My mom convinced me to help her stage a dramatically emotional meeting between me, her, and my middle school guidance counselor, during which I confessed that I made it all up for attention. I made the same “confession” to all of the friends that I told, and was quickly alienated. This all happened under the pretense that it was my fault for telling them, and that I was “destroying the family” if I didn’t cooperate. Now there are at least dozens of people who remember me as a bratty, twisted attention whore.

jackfruit , Zhivko Minkov Report

Final score:

187points

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The Gingersmurf 2 years ago

You are worth goodness and love. You are NOT what your parents did to you. Take care of yourself and the hell with anyone who thinks badly.

150points

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40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered A great Uncle of mine passed away when I was a little boy. The family met at his house after the funeral to start packing things up and all as he had no children and his wife died many years before him.

My great uncle was a highly respected member of his small town. He was a banker of some sorts, deacon in the church, all of those things that made him a good person.

Well tucked away in the attic, not covered by any dust mind you, was a large wooden trunk. Inside this trunk were the purple robes of a KKK Grand Dragon, various member listings, meeting notes and all other sorts of things related to the KKK. Turns out that my great uncle was a very active although very much secretive member of the regional chapter of the KKK.

betamaxv2 , Wikimedia Commons Report

Final score:

184points

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Ray McArdle 2 years ago

Church and KKK. A match made in heaven.

128points

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40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered An uncle i've never met (mom's brother) killed my mom's parents when he was sixteen in a fit of rage, and burnt down their home in an attempt to cover it up. I've never met him, as he has been in jail on a life sentence since before I was born. I was only informed of his existence, because my dad was black mailing my mom with this.

Dogma3721 , Chris Karidis Report

Final score:

180points

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Fluffy mommy panda 2 years ago

Wow

70points

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40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered Half my family lives in VA while the other relatives live in Iowa because back before the civil war a relative we all refer to as 'Uncle Raz' was late for supper and was afraid that his mom would kick his a*s so he took a shortcut through a field.

He got half way through the field when a bull started to chase him so he climbed a tree, and still afraid to be late for dinner he shot the bull dead. He made it home in time for dinner but the next day he ran away to Iowa for fear of the neighbor whos bull he had killed. He started a family there and thats why our family has relatives in Iowa.

Brancher , Muhammed Zafer Yahsi Report

Final score:

175points

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Persephone hates Pomegranate 2 years ago (edited)

All because he didn't wan't an ašs kicking.

82points

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#10

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered My great-grandfather had a 17 year old mistress he put up in an apartment, great-grandmother found out, confronted them at said apartment, shoots and kills 17 year old mistress.

Great-grandfather serves the time in prison for the murder.
weeeee

lotionsandcreams , Taya Kucherova Report

Final score:

169points

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Inga Paškevičiūtė 2 years ago

Sad the girl had to die after being roped into a relationship with an old man.

122points

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#11

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered My great grandfather hit his wife with a fire poker, and slit her throat. He then proceeded to blow his head apart with a shotgun. He sat in a rocking chair and used his cane to push the trigger. All over an argument wither it was to cold for me to walk to a grocery store to get some milk.

clineboy1987 , Juan Goyache Report

Final score:

167points

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The Gingersmurf 2 years ago

I hope that you know that none of this was your fault. That's a heavy load to carry in life but this is all on your great grandfather and NOT you.

117points

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#12

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered My grandmother jumped off a cliff and killed herself after receiving shock therapy to cure her depression. She was staying with us during winter when she went missing. They found her footprints in the snow that led up to the cliff. I found this out when I was 20 years old, from my cousin who was 18 at the time.

KD8 , Jeremy Wong Report

Final score:

156points

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Janine B. 2 years ago

Poor soul. :(

94points

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#13

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered My distant ancestor (great (x8) uncle) was a sociopath and a serial killer. His name was Tom Quick and he was an "Indian Slayer" who stalked the Delaware tribe.

He claimed to have killed ninety-nine members of the tribe by the time he died, including an entire unarmed family with two young boys and an infant, which he beat to death with a rock.

It's weird. These days his monument in Pennsylvania had to be removed due to vandals, but when it was erected in 1889, he was considered a hero and a defender of the civilized settlers.

Delfishie Report

Final score:

153points

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Tamra 2 years ago

"Civilized".

136points

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#14

I only know the story from being told when I was really little so the details are sketchy but apparently a cousin accidentally spilled my great-grandmother's ashes into shag carpeting and they had to vacuum her up and emptied the vacuum bag back into the urn with whatever else had already been sucked into the vacuum from previous usage.

rockinbeth Report

Final score:

151points

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Ricky Namara 2 years ago

Okay this is pretty funny!

82points

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#15

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered My older sister is actually my mother, my father was my mother's (actually grandmother) husband.

They don't think I know.

DogsofGwar , RODNAE Productions Report

Final score:

142points

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Sky 2 years ago

I had trouble reading this lol

117points

RainWingRoyal 2 years ago

Their sister is their mother, so the man that they thought was their father is still their father, but also their grandfather. So ewww

77points

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Jack Holt 2 years ago

Not funny. No lol. Incest

14points

Nor 2 years ago

So it's either her grandpa or step-grandpa

13points

Deidre Cornelius 2 years ago

So did I :-)

4points

Mayrene Chester 1 year ago

She's a child of incest.

0points

Elizabeth Joy 2 years ago

Not funny! Step dad essentially raped step daughter

0points

GoGoPDX 2 years ago

So, lets get this straight. OP's stepfather (guessing and hoping it was their step father from the wording) raped her mom, got her pregnant and the whole family pretended that OP's mom is her "sister", and her grandmother is her"mother? This whole situationis f****d up. The greandmother, didn't turn her husband in, or even divorce him, and then proceeded to cover up the rape of her daughter by pretending OP was her (grandmother) and the abusers child. Then there is OP's mom ("sister"), who has not completely cut off their lationship with her abusers to protect herself and OP. I truly hope OP can get the help they need to not only deaL with the knowledge of this, but also get out of and far, far away from a very toxic and abusive family environment.

37points

Celtic Knotter 2 years ago

The very sad reality is that coverup is the norm, not the exception, in these cases.

10points

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Fluffy mommy panda 2 years ago

Wow some messed up stuff going on there. Sad.

10points

Whodathunkit 2 years ago

I hope that guy's out of the picture now!

8points

Gluten_free 2 years ago

I went to the original Reddit thread. OP's cousin told them after they had already had suspicions. Everything surfaced after OP's grandmother died

6points

S Mi 2 years ago

OP'S father is also either her grandfather or step grandfather. Hopefully they did not encounter the same abuse.

5points

alias D. 2 years ago

So from a family tree perspective what does that look like a circle?!

5points

Winter 2 years ago

Look up the Hapsburgs once. They don't really have a "family tree" so much as a "family braid".

11points

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Nitka Tsar 2 years ago

Hmm they did not say that their real father is also their grandfather. They called him their Grandmas husband, not their real mothers father. But either way, this is messed up.

3points

Paddling Panda 2 years ago

My Mum's dad and second wife raped my mum repeatedly for almost ten years before she got away from them. Even though he was mu biological grandfather, I've never referred to him as such. I've always referred to him as my Mum's dad. He was a f*****g monster - as was his second wife - and he never deserved to be recognized as a grandfather to my siblings and me.

8points

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Andy Williams 2 years ago

I think Ted Bundy had a similar family issue (sorry no offence meant, I hope it hasnt damaged you in the same way)

2points

Michael Largey 2 years ago

This was true for the actor Jack Nicholson. He didn't find out until later in life and not from a family member.

2points

Yayheterogeneity 2 years ago

I am so sorry! I hope you still can live a happy, healthy life.

2points

Enigma wrapped in a paradox 2 years ago

This exact situation happened in my family. I hope both you and she haven't been too traumatized by this. In my family it was for "religious" reasons.

1point

Random Person 2 years ago

This sounds like the plot of Andi Mack.

1point

Joann Boyd 2 years ago

Dude, that's messed up. No judgment on you, though. You're the only one who is innocent!

1point

Mark Berry 2 years ago

Larry Mondello vibes.

1point

Tammy Wait 1 year ago

I found out my oldest sister was my mom from a girl on the school bus.

0points

Amanda Hunter 1 year ago

Incest. So sorry, I don't think I'd let the child know either, but daddy darling belongs in prison.

0points

Martin König 2 years ago

So the father is a nasty pig?

0points

JP Purves 2 years ago

This is not as uncommon as people might think.

0points

AliJanx 2 years ago

I don't understand any of this, no matter the explanation. Regardless, I'm so sorry.

0points

SparkleFarts 2 years ago

Poor child

0points

Harry Hwt 2 years ago

Ah the Bundy maneuver

0points

wifeofweasley 2 years ago

I'm having a little trouble understanding what's going on... so your older sister is actually your mother and your father is your bio father but also your (not bio) mothers husband? So is he your sisters father too? Like incenst or is he the "sister" step father?

0points

Cezicezi 2 years ago

Jack Nicholson ? Is that you ?!!!

0points

SillyPandaBunny 2 years ago

The lost me at my father was my mothers husband. Isn’t that the way it typically works? Did they mean their bio dad was their bio mom’s step father?

0points

Carole G. 2 years ago

That's a bit to sort out!

0points

Kerless Wispa 2 years ago

Headache from trying to understand what I've just read. Soon as headache pills kick in, will continue trying.

0points

Svenne O'Lotta 2 years ago

Incest baby :(

0points

IDGAFabtyourfeelings 2 years ago

The issue is whether the older sister is the biological child is the husband.... Because that is clearly child abuse

0points

Benita Valdez 2 years ago

Op confirms the comment: "Grandfather was a traveling salesman. He brought them back from a sales trip and surprised her with them. (this was 1940) She was at home at the time of the accident and he was out of town. My mother came home from school and Bunny was lying on the bed, motionless and the house was full of strangers talking in hushed tones. At a bare minimum my mother considers the death negligent. The family never spoke of these kids after that and no pictures exist. I am doing an extensive family tree and only found out about the them in that context." And then says "Edited: to add mom (grandmother) stays with husband until he is killed in a bar fight two years later"

0points

Benita Valdez 2 years ago

Oh they also expand: "OK, my real mother is from my grandmother's 2nd marriage, she was not related to my father, who was my grandmother's 5th husband. No incest. My father was consensually f*****g my mother (his step daughter) who was 19 at the time. My father married my grandmother after her 4th husband, his brother, died. So just to confuse things further, my real mother was also her step-father's (my dad's) niece. But still no incest."

0points

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OnlyMe 2 years ago

My eldest Sister is my Mother but I was adopted by my grandparents, turns out it's a family tradition as my Dad's youngest brother was actually his nephew and my older brother took on two of his eldest daughters boys as she was too young to be a parent (14 iirc)

0points

Mam cymraeg 2 years ago

Older sister could have been over 18 and had affair with step dad still wrong but it's not really explained which way it was

0points

Keara Ritson 2 years ago

i am confused T-T

0points

The Panda That Laughs All Day 2 years ago

What the..

0points

Red Hair Blue Soul 2 years ago

Yikes

0points

Bored Raven 2 years ago

Very similar family situation. My sister is my mother. That makes all my All my aunts and uncles, my brothers and sisters. My grandmother is my mother. Who am I?

-1point

Falcon on Dizzy 2 years ago

SWEET HOME ALABAMA

-1point

Wenwood Jenkins 2 years ago

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#16

When my dad was in high-school about 2 years after getting his licence, he was driving home from school, It was a sunny day and the sun was in his eyes, all of a sudden 'thump' he realizes that he has hit a jaywalker, he gets out of the car and realizes that the person he hit was his high-school principle's son, who in the few seconds has passed away.

He wasn't arrested and the principle told him that 'he understood, and not to blame himself because it wasn't his fault'.

My grand-father who was an alcoholic did the one good thing in his life for my dad and that was make him drive that car home, if it wasn't for that I don't think my dad would have driven again.

6 years of therapy later my dad was all right.

We don't talk about it, and no one in my immediate family told me about it, I heard it from my friends mother who went to high-school with him, and confirmed it with my mom.

Driving with my dad now if he's driving by smaller children you can see his hands tremble.

anon Report

Final score:

142points

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OneHappyPuppy 2 years ago

Poor soul...

84points

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#17

Two of my great uncles 'attempted' to rob a convenience store with water pistols. *le sigh*

anon Report

Final score:

140points

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Keara Ritson 2 years ago

I tried not to laugh but failed completely🤣

10points

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#18

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered My grandparents met in a mental hospital. My grandmother worked there and grandfather was a patient. He was also married at the time, and since he never got a divorce my grandparents weren't legally married.

vardiman , Sven Mieke Report

Final score:

122points

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Dillon Brown 2 years ago

Like Black Pearl said, they need to get divorced before moving on.

17points

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#19

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered My uncle molested my sister when she was younger. He was sort of exiled for a few years, but now we talk to him again. Due to eavesdropping and discussions with my parents one-on-one, it seems they never bothered coming to terms emotionally with it, but rather prefer to pretend it never happened. I find it odd to watch them interact with that knowledge in mind.

dis_connected , Priscilla Du Preez Report

Final score:

119points

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Deborah B 2 years ago

I would be so F*ing pissed at the parents for letting the uncle back in their lives.

170points

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#20

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered I have no idea how my family gets its money. While growing up, I would ask my parents (usually my dad) how it worked, since my parents did not work, to which they would respond that we get money from my grandmother. Whenever we would get low on cash (my mom would always be reluctant to ask for more money from my grandma) and we kids complained about being low on money (thus not having much good food at home), my dad would tell us stuff like "we're never actually short on money. we actually have a lot, just not right now" or something in that direction. He had also mentioned stuff about how when we kids are older, we'll all get money that my mom was supposed to inherit.

Last year, when my mom, my sister and I were overseas staying with my grandparents over summer, I was able to find out that my mom had some stocks. I asked her how much they were worth, and simply said she did not know and that my grandmother handles those things. Grandparents are currently paying for my brother's college tuition (I think around $4000 per semester, but I don't know), and will soon be paying for my sister's ($12,000). I asked my brother about it, and he said it was through stocks and that he didn't understand it himself either and to just leave.

So yeah, that's probably the biggest secret and sadly I don't even know it.

Tsunderella , Alexander Mils Report

Final score:

111points

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April Caron 2 years ago (edited)

This just sounds like they’re living off of some trust fund and are not very good about using it to live within their means.

75points

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#21

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered My uncle is currently serving a lifetime prison sentence for murdering a prostitute with an axe.

abouttobreak , Donald Tong Report

Final score:

109points

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miniyoongles 2 years ago

goddamn.

38points

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#22

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered My uncle was kidnapped for two years when he was 15. He's never spoken of it to this day.

Also my super uptight, neo-con, evangelical Christian uncle who lives in Nebraska was actually a hippie stoner in the 60's. Oh and his wife is a mail-order bride.

Oh and my aunt's college fiance was murdered by a hitch-hiker.

ragnarockette , Val Apollonio Report

Final score:

104points

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Nicholas Zaal 2 years ago

Wife is a what?

18points

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#23

Wow. No incest or molestation in my story, but here goes.

My mom's brother was depressed after his divorce and tried to commit suicide, so he called my mom and asked her to watch over his kids once he was gone. She instantly figured out what he was going to do, so she called the cops and rushed over to his place. They kicked the door in and saved his life. Once he was conscious and in the hospital, he told my mom that because she interfered, she was never allowed to see his kids again or he'd burn our house down, with all of her kids in it.

Funny thing is we still run into him all over town. He pretends he doesn't know us.

Mowgli3 Report

Final score:

102points

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Fluffy mommy panda 2 years ago

Wow

17points

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#24

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered My family thinks my dad is a priest of the Melchizedekan order and will change the way the world does church.

My dad is 600lbs., in chronic pain, is lucky to leave the couch more then once a month, diabetic, and isn't even 50 and has already had a major pulmonary embolism.

They don't tell anyone outside the family because "they won't understand."

anon , AllGo - An App For Plus Size People Report

Final score:

98points

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Nicole Weymann 2 years ago

They're right. At any rate I don't understand how someone who essentially doesn't make any public appearance (preach etc?) is supposed to affect any major changes in an organization. Is that some kind of closed bubble effect within the group or is it just me?

57points

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#25

My brother had his hand bitten off by a seal to avoid going back to army

MegaT Report

Final score:

93points

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Mirt 2 years ago

Where did he find a seal to do that? It is the weirdest story ever and most people wouldn't even believe it actually happened

65points

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#26

Not really a strange or creepy secret but my grandpa lent my uncle 180,000 USD in the 90s from my dad's business without my dad's knowing for a start-up that failed miserably.

I recently found this out when my grandpa died and we were forced to actually see my uncle and his family after decades.

I hate that guy. It's not even about the money. He's just a good for nothing piece of s**t alcoholic, leeching off our grandma and what little she still has. F**k him.

I hate family.

pikamen Report

Final score:

92points

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Seabeast 2 years ago

How could the grandfather loan his son money from a business owned by the other son? Was he a partner?

6points

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#27

My Great Great Great Grandpa was in the Ku Klux Klan and killed three black men in a lynching. We found out through a scrap-booked newspaper clipping which named him as a suspect.
I think that's the worst

googlemekyle Report

Final score:

92points

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alias D. 2 years ago

Wow ok that is dark

35points

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#28

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered Some family from my dad's side was asking if he would take in one of my distant cousins because the cousin was turning out to be a problem child. Apparently it's pretty common for that side of the family to send problem kids to other members of the family in an attempt to get them to shape up. My dad said no because he didn't have that much money and was dealing with some serious health issues like epilepsy and his heart. A few months later, the kid ended up robbing a store and murdering the owner of that store with a butcher knife. My dad felt guilty about it and I don't think anyone in the family knows that the kids mom had asked for my dad to watch him. I personally don't think sending the kid a state away would have changed him but my dad always used to wonder out loud to me in private if he could have done something to help.

minor_discrepancy , Izzy Park Report

Final score:

91points

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Dillon Brown 2 years ago

In a month??? It was too late and he should be glad he didn't take the kid in before he murdered you all in your sleep! Maybe if it had been years between when he could have taken him in and the literal murder but come on!

91points

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#29

My great-grandfather and great-grandmother separated (but never divorced- they were Catholic) in the 1970s. My grandmother stayed in Minnesota; my grandfather and his "aide" moved to Nebraska. The aide was a man of the same age as my great-grandfather (mid-60s) but in better health. His daughters believed him; this was an aide who lived with my great-grandfather to help him out. However, once my mom's cousin (my great-grandfather's oldest granddaughter) came out as being a lesbian, he told her that he was, in fact, gay, and his aide was actually his lover.

I'm pretty sure that my mom's cousin and her wife, my mom, my mom's sister, and me and two of my cousins are the only ones who know this. Apparently it would "just *kill*" my grandmother and her sisters to hear this.

anon Report

Final score:

88points

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Dennis Rowe 2 years ago

They knew.

61points

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#30

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered I am pretty sure my mother was in some sort of cult or something as a child (parents forced her and r*ped her I think). She would tell me these pretty creepy stories of bodies being chopped up and thrown down a well. It's incredibly disturbing and I really don't want to know what really happened.

anon , Alex Green Report

Final score:

86points

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Susan S 2 years ago

Ever feel like these stories are made up?

71points

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#31

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered I had an aunt who committed suicide when I was 3 and my older sister was 4. Her daughter had ran off and no one had any idea what happened to her mom. It was my older sister who told my mom that "Aunt Pam is playing in the garage" Sure enough they found her dead in her car. No one knew why my older sister knew this and when asked about it she said that her dream friend told her. My sister and I found about this recently. My sister also used to talk to this "dream friend" who came to her first in a dream about a graveyard.

anon , Vitolda Klein Report

Final score:

83points

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Ricky Namara 2 years ago

ANTONIO! GRAB THE CRUCIFIX AND HOLY WATER!!

30points

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#32

I'm half Japanese, but my family would never talk about relatives in japan. Then I saw an old photo my "whole" family, half were in traditional Japanese garbs and the other were in military uniforms. Turns out half my relatives were war criminals.

dogbra Report

Final score:

79points

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UKGrandad 2 years ago

Just being in the Japanese military during WWII (I assume this is what is being referenced) doesn't make them war criminals. Either the major part of the story is missing or the author is leaping to one Hell of a conclusion based on nothing more than a photograph.

43points

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#33

In 1995, my uncle died in a car accident. Not speeding, not drunk, just lost control, overcorrected, and rolled the car. To this day, there's still speculation as to whether it was an accident, or if my aunt grabbed the wheel and pulled the car into the ditch.

anon Report

Final score:

74points

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over it already 2 years ago (edited)

This is sad. My sister died in a similar 1 car accident in 1993. Likely was not your aunt's fault. Long story as to why, but I strongly believe my sister was swerving to avoid an animal in the road.

23points

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#34

This was Mexico back in the day, and I'm not quite sure how different it was over there a few generations ago, but my great great "grandmother" was unable to have children. Apparently my grandfather was told that because of this, his "aunts" gave his "mom" their children occasionally.

What really happened: Wife unable to get pregnant so great great grandfather had sex with wife's sisters and took the children when they were born. Apparently this was completely normal and no one cared.

PraiseBuddha Report

Final score:

70points

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UKGrandad 2 years ago

Is this not just pre-IVF surrogacy?

41points

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#35

My grandmother on my mom's side just kind of disappeared and no one heard from her again. The story was that she fled back to her home country (Japan) leaving behind two daughters. Of course, alternate speculation exists.

The only person with answers would have been my Grandpa but he didn't ever want to talk about it and took whatever he knew to the grave.

Anyone have a grandma who told stories of America before returning home in the late 50s?

waltzingaround Report

Final score:

68points

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Minath 2 years ago

I can't help thinking that grandma might be in a shallow grave not far from where grandpa lived.

91points

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#36

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered My great grandmother would always tell the story of how she just knew she was going to end up marrying her soon to be husband the first time she saw him. She left out the part about how he was married with a kid at the time. She also had an affair with a married man after her husband died. Not super strange, but sort of weird to think that our whole family exists thanks to her home-wrecking.

FogWalkerWithaBag , Manny Becerra Report

Final score:

68points

POST

Emie N. 2 years ago (edited)

I hate people like that. If you know someone is married, leave them alone and find someone who is actually single. And the people who cheat are just as bad if not worse. Break up with someone first before you start an affair if you REALLY need to have that affair. 🙄

40points

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#37

Not creepy, but my great-grandfather was a bootlegger, and my grandmother spent her entire life trying to hide that fact from the family. Everyone knew, and everyone thought it was kind of awesome, but if it came up in conversation, it would bring her to the brink of tears and she'd start screaming her denials. She was ashamed until the day she died.

We also had only one picture of the guy. He was full-on Jewish mafia, and we're convinced that in the background of the picture they're either killing someone or puling out his teeth.

sethescope Report

Final score:

68points

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over it already 2 years ago

Grandma knew the truth of what that meant, and that it was not, in fact, 'kind of awesome,' especially if it involved torture/murder.

71points

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#38

step mom is 96; im 18 dad's under 50

tatertosh Report

Final score:

61points

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OneHappyPuppy 2 years ago

Is she loaded?

42points

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#39

40 Strange And Juicy Family Secrets These People Uncovered My schizophrenic aunt has burned down her house and crucified her cats.

bootssouffle , Simon Berger Report

Final score:

60points

POST

Tamra 2 years ago

Jesus christ.

19points

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#40

My grandparents are first cousins.

anon Report

Final score:

56points

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The lesbian knitting panda 2 years ago

this thread is just full of incest.

50points

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Note: this post originally had 71 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

Ieva is a writer at Bored Panda who graduated in Scandinavian studies from Vilnius University. After learning the Swedish language and getting completely lost in the world of Scandinavian mythology, she figured out that translating and writing is what she's passionate about. When not writing, Ieva enjoys making jewelry, going on hikes, reading and drinking coffee.

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Austėja is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Photography.

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Austėja is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Photography.

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What do you think ?

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Sky Render 2 years ago

I discovered that I AM my family's deep, dark secret. My parents moved out to Kennewick, WA so that I could be born at Kadlec Regional Medical Center nearby specifically because they knew from ultrasounds that I was intersex and it was considered shameful back in 1981 to have an intersex child. They had me altered shortly after my birth, moved back to Oregon not long after, and made up some story about dad having gotten a regional position out there that didn't pan out as a cover story.

19points

Lily Mae Kitty 2 years ago

can I ask are you happy about the alteration? I have read about this happening and it seems they just used to pick the sex the genitalia looked more like when people were infants and tended to overcorrect towards female. Without knowing anything of the child's personality and the lack of knowledge of the repercussions, I can't imagine most people are happy with the surgeries they got.

8points

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TheElderNom 2 years ago

My great grandfather got excommunicated from the Catholic Church. He became a member so he could marry my great grandmother in the Catholic Church, it was very important to her since she was a devout Catholic. But at sone point during the process either of joining the church or at the wedding he was expected to kiss the priest's ring which he refused, some insults followed, he hit the priest and left the church. They married in the normal Danish Church instead.

14points

Lsai Aeon 2 years ago

I was adopted, but the unwanted child. My parents adopted me in 1979 when I was first born. I was mentally and emotionally abused by the entire family, I always got the feeling they didn't want me. They shamed me for everything, always told me I didn't know what I was talking about, anything I wanted to do they "weren't waisting money on that for you", I got weekly reminders "If you were a boy you'd have been named William Gregory, we'd call you Billy Greg" and oh so much more. I have no happy memories of my childhood with my family. My Uncle confirmed it during his speech at my parents' memorial just this past July. He named my son my parents' pride and joy, "the son they never had but so desperately wanted." Why they didn't tell the adoption agency they wanted a boy, or send me back I'll never know...

9points

Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

There's a few sour apples on any family tree. Some more nasty than others. Mine are gone from my life, thankfully. It got nasty, very nasty, at times, including murder. OK. And that's humanity. We can create art and horror in the same day. We are a weird animal, we humans.

5points

Wysteria_Rose 2 years ago

It wasn't that long ago discovered my parent's sibling had a child out of wedlock in college (back in the days when it was NOT OK at all). They were sent to a religious home for unwed mothers where she stayed until she had the baby, gave it for adoption, and then resumed life as normally as possible. I was recently contacted by them through a DNA service...I couldn't respond. My cousin has no idea they have a sibling and already are incredibly mentally fragile with a codependency, their parent will never reveal it. I've written my unknown cousin a letter which I've instructed my husband to send to them explaining the entire story should something happen to me, so at least someone tells them. I hate this secret but hate the idea of the pain and fallout it would cause if it was revealed to everyone.

4points

Wysteria_Rose 2 years ago

For what it's worth, I was able to find my unknown cousin via social media. They look like they have a great life, which I'm happy but it makes me sad to know that my aunt has grandchildren she'll never know and this person can only guess as to WHY they were put up for adoption. Honestly, I've never seen my grandparents on that side in the same way again (they've passed on since). My mom is still very angry about it.

2points

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Amy Taylor 2 years ago

My good friend has a large family and 1 of his 8 siblings kind of disassociated from the family and moved away. He found out that she was in a cult when he watched the Netflix documentary "Holy Hell" and she was in it. She's since left the cult and is back in touch with the family.

4points

Amy Taylor 2 years ago

My dad's side of the family is a huge treasure trove of family secrets. 1. My dad's brother has 5 kids.. the youngest one isn't his bio daughter. While he was away in Vietnam, his wife got pregnant by his uncle (who is only 5 years older than him) Everyone in the family acts like it's completely normal and all get along just fine at family gatherings. I only found this out when I was in my 20's. 2. My dad just found out at 77 years old that the man he knew as his dad actually wasn't his bio dad. A 'close family friend" that he knew really well was. He found this out doing a DNA test. 3. My grandparents were both married to other people and both had kids when they ran off together. My grandma took her oldest son with her, and left my dad with his father. We have no idea if my dad's father even knew my dad wasn't really his son, as he passed when my dad was in his 20's. 4. Several of my dad's uncles were part of an infamous Mafia crime family in the 1960's.

4points

Patti Vance 2 years ago

my mom and my aunt have different dads. apparently gma eloped when she was 14 w/someone who was not portuguese so when they returned my ggdad forced an annulment, not realizing that she had become pregnant during their honeymoon. so he always considered my aunt illegitimate and treated her differently. i have the name of the guy but have never found much about him. would still like to find out more.

3points

Benita Valdez 2 years ago

So before moving to the US, my great grandfather lived in England; we're going back to late 1800's since my grandmother was born 1912 in the US. So great grandpa had a twin brother who was said to be gay and we have zero information other than that. He was just blotted out of the family tree as if he never existed. Only know of his existence because of my grandmother; it was mentioned to or around her when discussing institutionalizing her sister. My great aunt was schizophrenic and very violent and tried to murder my grandmother which was the deciding factor to lock her up. "Illness" ran in the family per them; referring to my great grandfather's gay brother as well as murderous great aunt Kitty. Honestly, this is my mom's side and there are many more instances of actual mental illness, massive drug use and police records

3points

Shannon Mallory 2 years ago

We discovered an entire family we didn't know existed after my great-grandmother died. At the turn of the 20th century the Ukrainian village of Bridok decamped for Canada, which was selling land cheaply to foster Westward expansion. After serving in WWI Grandpa (from what we've pieced together) was a border guard during America's Prohibition, but apparently he was a "dirty cop," who took bribes and confiscated and resold liquor. There may have been more, but hearsay is that he was "encouraged " to leave the community. They moved to Michigan, USA, and we never knew a thing about any of it or the family, which is still in Canada. We are literally the only branch that left, and grew up completely ignorant of our family names or history. Facebook has put us in touch with our family tree, finally.

3points

Azolane 2 years ago

Every family has secrets. My German grandmother's brother wanted to fly. He became a pilot with the Luftwaffe and crashed during combat. His father, who hated Hitler and always refused to do the salute pretexting he couldn't do it because he had a cane in his hand, never forgave him and he was never talked about again in the family. My grandmother eventually married a French officer, moved to France, and in 40 years I heard her say her brother's name maybe twice. When questioned, she would always change the subject.

3points

Aubrie Allen 2 years ago

My uncle stole all of the families inheritance. My father is a mentally abusive d**k who is an alcoholic who has lost his mind, but that still shouldn't have happened. My mother is in her 70's, and she deserves some of that to take care of her in her older years. I don't know what to do anymore. I can't afford to take care of her, but I try to as best as I can.

2points

wifeofweasley 2 years ago

I recentley found out that my great grandfather (I think?) was a nazi and was very proud of his political believes. I figured since I'm german I had to have at least one (at least distant) family member somehow related to something nazi-ish but I didn't know how close I am related to a nazi. He wasn't a a big fish or anything but I think he served in the german army on Hitlers side. I am still hoping and praying that he wasn't stationed at a concentration camp. I have yet to find any documents about him or his past. My mom and I were just going through some old pictures and found one of him in his uniform - she knew about him but never told me.

2points

Effseven Six 2 years ago

It is said that in my family one of my great great grandmother's shot a federal in Mexico who came looking for ger husband. Buried him right on her land. She told her kids after her husband died. Why they were looking for him I don't know. Not sure anyone ever did

2points

Lily Mae Kitty 2 years ago

my grandfather made illegal wine during prohibition and sold it at our family's restaurant. I always thought it was pretty cool.

2points

Jordi Sharpe 2 years ago

I dont have all the facts because my father and grandmother never spoke about it, and the whole family is kinda estranged, but my grandfather was a union spokesman and apparently he took a bad deal in negotiations. All his fellows harassed him and made his life hell until his blew his brains out. My sister and I suspect underlying mental issues were also a factor. My grandmother was on pills for most of my life, and we never really had a relationship because my dad hated her.

2points

(Anti)Social Penguin 2 years ago

Your daily dose of wtf brought to you by BoredPanda 😳

1point

NY Redneck 2 years ago (edited)

1) When my younger sister was born, she was kidnapped from the hospital nursery. The hospital had a psychiatric ward and one of the patients escaped. He got into the nursery and took my sister as a hostage just a few hours after she was born. My father and a cousin found and chased them into an elevator in the 3rd floor. When they got to the 1st floor, my father had my sister back and the escaped patient had to spend 2 weeks in ICU before going back to his padded cell. -2) When my youngest sisters(twins) were born, my uncle's(dad's bro) wife spent weeks trying to convince my mother to sell her one of the twins. She said that since they had 4 kids now there was no way they could be good parents or afford to support us and even called CPS when my mother refused and called her crazy. We were never allowed to go visit or spend time with them growing up and they would never tell us why

1point

KzMo 2 years ago

Also my uncle was kidnapped in Peru in the 90’s by terrorists and held hostage for over a month before the US government worked out their release.

1point

KzMo 2 years ago

When my family all took Ancestry.com tests we found out my dad has two brothers he didn’t know about who were twins. It turns out that my grandfather and his brother raped their neighbour and they never told anyone but always assumed they were my great uncle’s.

1point

sturmwesen 2 years ago

My mom married my uncle...(not her brother)

1point

Onion Cutting Ninja 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

POST

Sky Render 2 years ago

19points

Lily Mae Kitty 2 years ago

8points

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TheElderNom 2 years ago

14points

Lsai Aeon 2 years ago

9points

Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

5points

Wysteria_Rose 2 years ago

4points

Wysteria_Rose 2 years ago

2points

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Amy Taylor 2 years ago

4points

Amy Taylor 2 years ago

4points

Patti Vance 2 years ago

3points

Benita Valdez 2 years ago

3points

Shannon Mallory 2 years ago

3points

Azolane 2 years ago

3points

Aubrie Allen 2 years ago

2points

wifeofweasley 2 years ago

2points

Effseven Six 2 years ago

2points

Lily Mae Kitty 2 years ago

my grandfather made illegal wine during prohibition and sold it at our family's restaurant. I always thought it was pretty cool.

2points

Jordi Sharpe 2 years ago

2points

(Anti)Social Penguin 2 years ago

Your daily dose of wtf brought to you by BoredPanda 😳

1point

NY Redneck 2 years ago (edited)

1point

KzMo 2 years ago

Also my uncle was kidnapped in Peru in the 90’s by terrorists and held hostage for over a month before the US government worked out their release.

1point

KzMo 2 years ago

1point

sturmwesen 2 years ago

My mom married my uncle...(not her brother)

1point

Onion Cutting Ninja 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

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