Key West’s Haunted Secrets: David Sloan Talks Robert the Doll on "Dead Air" with George Lopez, Ken DeCosta & Paranormal Teej
Robert the Doll gets his close-up! It was a blast joining Paranormal Teej and the 'Dead Air' crew to share Key West's most haunted secrets.
If you tune into the paranormal scene, you know that "Dead Air" with George Lopez, Ken DeCosta, and Paranormal Teej is a must-watch. We were thrilled to have our very own David Sloan, founder of Ghost Key West and the island's premier haunted historian, join the show to talk about all things spooky.
The main event? A deep dive into the chilling, true story of Key West's most famous resident: Robert the Doll.
If you missed the live show, you can watch the full episode right here. David joined the crew to share the real history of Robert, separating fact from the folklore that often surrounds the world's most haunted doll.
Robert's Real Story: What We Discussed
On the show, David shared insights you won't find in many places, including:
Haunted, Not Possessed: David explained the important distinction that Robert the Doll is "haunted"—imbued with an intelligent, otherworldly energy—rather than "possessed" by a demon.
Debunking the Myth: That common story about an angry servant creating the doll? David cleared up the legend and shared how the doll's true origin, a one-of-a-kind creation from the Steiff company, is even more mysterious.
"Robert Did It!": We dove into the doll's bizarre relationship with his owner, Gene Otto. For his entire life, Gene would blame the doll for any misfortune, coining the infamous phrase, "Robert did it!".
Robert's "Curse": The discussion also covered the thousands of letters sent to Robert at the Fort East Martello Museum. and the truth about asking Robert for permission to take his photo.
Don't Just Hear About Robert—Meet Him.
Hearing the stories is one thing. Meeting Robert is another.
During the day, Robert the Doll lives behind glass at the Fort East Martello Museum. But when the sun goes down and the museum closes its doors to the public, the real hauntings begin.
This is where you come in.
While other tours might talk about the fort, David Sloan's VIP Paranormal Adventure is the only tour in Key West that takes you inside the haunted Fort East Martello at night.
This isn't a simple ghost tour. This is a hands-on paranormal investigation. We’ll dim the lights and fire up the ghost-hunting gear like spirit boxes, EMF meters, and dowsing rods as we explore the dark corridors of the 19th-century fortress. You will visit Robert the Doll in his lair, long after the last guest has gone home, and investigate the other spirits that haunt the fort, like the dollhouse children, yellow fever soldiers, and Elena Hoyos.
If you are visiting Key West and want to experience a real paranormal adventure, this is your chance.
Book Your Paranormal Adventure at Fort East Martello Now!
Follow the Hauntings
Want to keep up with David Sloan's latest investigations, hear more haunted tales, and get behind-the-scenes content from Key West? David is also an expert on all things Key Lime Pie.
Make sure to follow @davidLsloan on all your favorite social media platforms:
Instagram: @davidLsloan
TikTok: @davidLsloan
YouTube: @davidLsloan
X (formerly Twitter): @davidLsloan
A huge thank you to George Lopez, Ken DeCosta, and Paranormal Teej for a fantastic discussion on "Dead Air."
For everyone else... we'll see you in the shadows.
