Mad Gasser of Mattoon

The Mad Gasser of Mattoon was an alleged maniac who may have attempted to covertly gas over 20 peoples’ homes for unknown reasons in the 1940s. Victims reported smelling a strong, sweet odor and immediately began to feel weak and nauseated. Police often found a hole made somewhere in the house where the gas was most concentrated and presumed to have been used to inject gas into the houses. One witness claimed to have seen the gasser and described “him” as a tall thin woman dressed as a man and footprints belonging to a woman were discovered at some of the scenes. The perpetrator was never caught.