Chloe Babb

7/28/16
Folklore
Research Project
Urban legends are a strong part of the verbal narrative of folklore. Many urban legends
start from the verbal story of this happened to a friend of a friend or FOAF. Throughout time
however, urban legends change and evolve just like any other lore. They change to meet the
circumstances or needs of the particular group who participates in the urban legend. Urban
legends offer many ideas of sexuality, spirituality, foolish love, betrayal and much more. It is
clear to see why these stories quickly spread from culture to culture to eventually create our
modern definition of an urban legend. My research consists of two common urban legends. The
urban legends I am choosing to focus on are La Llorona and The Vanishing Hitchhiker. I will
also include a discussion of how these stories evolved into some of Salt Lake Citys urban
legends.
Although the legends I am choosing to focus on are very different, there are many key
similarities. I argue that these key similarities are an explanation for the popularity of these
legends. Most groups can connect to these similarities one way or another. Therefore, the legends
can fit within the context of many different groups. The similarities also show the evolving
nature of folklore and the verbal narrative. These legends adapt to a particular groups needs
which is why we can see these legends in other places. My hometown is Salt Lake City which is
why I am choosing to use common legends in Salt Lake City to demonstrate that evolution and
constant change to meet the groups needs.

La Llorona
La Llorona is a common urban legend that is typically seen in Mexico. There are two
common variations to this legend. The first is that La Lloronas second husband no longer
wanted her children from her first marriage. He demanded that she do something about her
children. La Llorona complied to his wishes and drowned her children in a nearby lake (or river).
When La Llorona returned to her husband, he was horrified by what she had done. He left her
and left her for another woman. In defeat, La Llorona prayed to God for help and forgiveness.
God spoke to La Llorona and punished her for her unforgivable sin of killing her own children.
Her punishment is to walk the Earth for eternity in search of the lost souls of her children.
The second common variation is that La Llorona had a child out of wedlock. In order to
hide this, the lover drowned the child. The betrayal and horrific act drives La Llorona into a type
of crazed hysteria and she kills herself. It is believed she killed herself by jumping off a cliff. In
both variations, La Llorona haunts bodies of waters and roadsides. She typically seduces and
kills men. She also takes the souls of lost or wandering children. Although this sounds like a
pretty specific story, as I was conducting my research I realized I had heard this story before. Not
only had I heard this story before, but it was a story in my hometown, Salt Lake City.
In Salt Lake City, 1978, a mother took her seven children to the eleventh floor balcony of
a hotel. This hotel at the time was named Dunn Hotel and it was located downtown in Salt Lake
City. The mother, Rebecca David, pushed her children off the balcony to kill them. Some of the
older children willingly jumped. However, most of the children were forced by their mother.
Rebecca jumped off the balcony after all her children did. Only one of her children survived, but
she is severely disabled. Through further investigation, the police came to their conclusions of
why Rebecca committed such a horrible act. Rebeccas husband, Charles Bruce Longo aka

Immanuel David, had committed suicide two days prior to Rebeccas murder-suicide. Today, the
Dunn Hotel is now the Shilo Inn. However, the Shilo Inn sold out to Holiday Inn Express. It
seems as though things were never the same after the murder-suicide. Soon, after the murdersuicide stories of sightings of Rebeccas ghost started appearing.
Although these stories sound very different, there are actually a lot of similarities. I
believe these similarities are a great example of how urban legends change and evolve over time
to fit a groups needs. There was a horrific murder-suicide in both La Llorona and Rebecca
David stories. The murder victims were the children. The motive was the husband. Now,
sightings and ghostly apparitions of these mothers are being reported. La Llorona has Mexican
and Aztec roots which plays into the functions of the urban legend. Rebecca David is an
evolution of those stories. The Mexican and Aztec context did not work for this story. But key
themes and elements from La Llorona did.
Some of these elements are betrayal/foolish love, spirituality, and a way for a group to
cope. In both stories the mother was betrayed by her husband in some way or another. It is easy
to become vulnerable in a romantic partnership. I believe that both of these stories are warnings
of becoming too vulnerable in a foolish love. Both stories suggest that listening to the husband is
not the right decision. This hints to themes of independency and not being too vulnerable in a
romantic relationship. Both of these stories also hints at spirituality. It is believed that the mother
got punished by God in both stories. This shows themes of everything being right in the end, in
the eyes of God. It also shows the idea that God will fix everything in the afterlife.
However, all these elements are important I think the most is the way these stories allow
groups to cope in their current situations. La Llorona has Mexican and Aztec roots and it is said
often, that she is mourning the loss of her culture. It is also suggested that she seeks revenge on

those who stripped her of her culture, which is why she kills men. I think this allows the larger
group in Mexico to cope with the loss of their own culture. La Llorona gives them an outlet to
talk about that loss without outwardly expressing it. This coping mechanism is also seen in the
Rebecca David story. Although, there is no denying that the murder-suicide actually happened,
the idea that the hotel is now haunted bring its own speculation with it. I believe that the reason
people now view the hotel is haunted, is because it is a way for them to cope just like with La
Llorona. The murder-suicide happened in the middle of downtown Salt Lake, during lunch hour.
There were many witnesses, from people drinking coffee at the restaurant the children fell on, to
the first responders. I think the idea of the hotel being haunted is a way for people to cope with
the horrific event. Just like in La Llorona, I believe it is a way for people to talk about what
happened without fully talking about.
The evolution and adaptation to this urban legend shows how fluid the legend really is.
Although, the Rebecca David story is not connected to La Llorona, the ghost story and lore
behind it is. I think this is a perfect example to show how different groups adapt legends to fit
their current needs. The fluidity of the legend also shows. It is fluid because the stories are not
exactly the same. The names, location, dates, etc. are all different. However, the legend is still
able to mold and adapt to new stories and new groups.
The Vanishing Hitchhiker
The Vanishing Hitchhiker is a much more broad and fluid urban legend than La Llorona.
The Vanishing Hitchhiker is found all over the world. However, it is speculated that the legend
began in Africa. There are many variations of this urban legend. The oldest known variant is in
the Book of Acts chapter 8, verses 26-40. However, for my purpose I will be discussing two of
the most popular variations.

The first, is a motorist picks up a hitchhiker off of a deserted road. The hitchhiker gives
the motorists an address for where they would like to be taken too. During the ride there, the
hitchhiker mysteriously disappears without the motorists knowledge. The vehicle is typically in
motion, adding to the mystery. The hitchhiker generally leaves something behind such as a scarf,
duffle bag, or blood spots. When the motorist arrives to the address the hitchhiker gave, they
discover the hitchhiker has been deceased for some time. The motorist is generally able to
recognize the hitchhiker from a picture.
The second, the motorist and hitchhiker meet and leave together from an entertainment
venue. The motorist takes the hitchhiker home. Generally, the motorists will let the hitchhiker
borrow an article of clothing, typically a jacket. The motorist forgets to get the jacket back from
the hitchhiker after they took them home. The next day the motorist goes back to the hitchhikers
house to retrieve their jacket, only to find the hitchhiker is deceased. The motorist goes to the
grave, where they discover their jacket on the headstone. In each variation the story is altered in
some way. Both variations I have just described are the most broad and general variation of the
vanishing hitchhiker. The story can be more specific depending on the group or the FOAF story.
An example of how this legend can become more specific is a classic story here in Salt
Lake City. The story is centered around the Salt Lake Citys kissing tree. In this story Henry
Tanner meets Marilyn Watson at a community dance. Marilyn was in a lavender dress and Henry
was immediately drawn to her. He invited her to meet him at what is now called the kissing tree.
This is where they would embrace and kiss. Henry walked Marilyn home, and gave her his jacket
to wear because it was cold outside. Henry forgot to get his jacket back and returned to her house
the next day. The house he had dropped her off at was now abandoned. Henry sought out a
neighbor for information. The neighbor informed him that he could find Marilyn on the East side

of the cemetery. When Henry arrived, he found his jacket draped across Marilyns headstone. It
is said that you can still see Marilyn in a lavender dress at the kissing tree today.
It is obvious that the story of the kissing tree fits the second variation I had previously
described. In these variations it is clear to see the hidden message. It hints at the dangers of
sexuality. Henry Tanner was often described as a flirtatious young man. He is often meeting
women at the kissing tree. Marilyn was also depicted as being flirtatious as well. When Henry
tried his moves on Marilyn, it came back to haunt him. This hints at the dangers of sexuality. It
also has a hidden message about being careful who you choose to get involved with romantically.
Meeting at the kissing tree was not much of a date. The kissing tree itself holds ideas of sex and
sexuality. Because of this, the story also suggests to be careful of who you get sexually involved
with. I believe it also suggests punishment for having sex out of wedlock. This story took place
about a decade after the pioneers settled here. A major belief in the Mormon church was
abstinence. This story has a function of talking about the punishment of having sex out of
wedlock, specifically in the Mormon church.
Although this is a common urban legend with many variations, taking a deeper look into
the specific variations allows us to understand the function and belief the urban legend has to a
specific group. Taking a deeper look into the Salt Lake City kissing tree variation, there are
obvious themes of sexuality. By relating that to the common belief in the Mormon church, it is
clear to see the specific function this story has. It has a clear function of warning young adults
about their sexuality. It also teaches young adults to make wise decisions when becoming
involved with another person. This also shows how legends and folklore changes and adapts to a
groups needs, in this case a particular belief. The Vanishing Hitchhiker is a broad urban legend,
but in specific groups and context it has a specific function and meaning.

Conclusion
The urban legend is a fascinating subject. I think it is easy to find urban legends that
surround us. However, we typically leave it at face value. But through taking a deeper look it is
clear to see how these urban legends are intertwined. This also shows how fluid urban legends
can be. The urban legend is constantly evolving and adapting to changes in groups. The urban
legend also spreads like wild fire. Many small hometown ghost stories actually fit into a larger
urban legend. Through looking at the broad urban legend, then looking at the specific story, we
can understand its functions within a group. By understanding the function, we can then
understand the belief system underneath it.

Works Cited
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(1969): 270-72. Web.
Cruz, MaryCarmen, and Duff Ogle Burks. "Witches, Ghosts, and Other Apparitions." The
English Journal 85.6 (1996): 100-02. Web.
Johnson, John William. "The Vanishing Hitchhiker in Africa." Research in African Literatures
38.3 (2007): 24-33. Web.
P, Michelle. Urban Legend: The Kissing Tree. Enjoy Utah, 2013. Web. 28 July 2016.
Perez, Domino Renee. "Words, Worlds in Our Heads: Reclaiming La Llorona's Aztecan
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Literatures 15.3/4 (2003): 51-63. Web.
Rebecca David. Murderpedia. Muderpedia online, n.d. Web. 28 July 2016.
Tucker, Elizabeth. "Ghosts in Mirrors: Reflections of the Self." The Journal of American
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Women in White (Urban Legend). World History and Culture. BYU online, 2012. 18 July
2016. Web.