The Legend of the Ketchup Man: Murder, Mystery & Magic in Lancaster County, PA is a website created by German scholar, Dr. Alexander Toby, PhD devoted to studying the obscure Pennsylvania Dutch myth of the "Ketchup Man.""Ketchup Man" is a demonic entity of Amish lore that appears in the corporeal form of a man by day but transforms into a savage butcher by night. According to legend, this particular spirit targets Amish teens on rumspringa, brutally murdering and dismembering its victims. Victims' organs and blood are used to brew enchanted "ketchup" which has an intoxicating effect on humans who ingest it.
It is believed the "Ketchup Man" or an individual inspired by the myth is behind a large number of unsolved homicide/missing persons cases in Lancaster and surrounding counties. Law enforcement and government authorities refuse to acknowledge the existence of either the "Ketchup Man" or an active serial killer in the area.
Most spirits, hexen (witches) and other supernatural entities within the Amish tradition do not often have such a devastating impact on mortals who cross their paths. This makes "Ketchup Man" a unique and fascinating figure of research.
Dr. Toby is a professor of German Studies at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.
This site is still under construction. More content and posts are forthcoming. Stay tuned.
