The Greenbrier Ghost
In my own experience, it's sometimes easier to get the truth of a ghost. In my own experience, it's sometimes easier to get the truth of a ghost. Origin
In January 1897, Elva Zona Heaster Shue was found dead in her home in Greenbrier County. Her husband, Erasmus "Trout" Shue, insisted she had fainted and died suddenly. The local doctor, intimidated by Trout’s behavior, listed the cause as "everlasting faint."
Weeks later, Zona’s mother, Mary Jane Heaster, claimed the ghost of her daughter visited her four nights in a row - appearing at the foot of her bed, describing how Trout had snapped her neck, and rotating her head completely around to prove it.
Mary Jane demanded authorities exhume the body. When they did, they found Zona’s neck broken just as the ghost described. Trout Shue was arrested and put on trial for murder.
Notes
- Mary Jane testified that Zona’s ghost told her the truth.
- The defense tried to paint her as superstitious.
- But Mary Jane stayed calm, steady, and consistent.
- The jury - despite being told to ignore ghost testimony - believed something unnatural had happened.
Though the official verdict rested on physical evidence, the mother’s ghostly testimony became the heart of the legend - and was widely accepted by locals as the reason justice was served.
Legacy
The Greenbrier Ghost remains one of Appalachia’s most iconic supernatural tales. A historical roadside marker now stands at the site, stating plainly that Zona’s ghost revealed the truth about her death.
Today, the story blends folklore and fact in a way few legends do - a mountain tale where a mother trusted her daughter’s spirit, and a jury believed enough of her story to send a killer away.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
- Menfolk
- Folklore: The Ghosts of Rotherwood Mansion - Southern Haunt and Appalachian Folklore
- Folklore: The Haunted Chester Inn - Southern Ghost Story and Appalachian Folklore
- Folklore: The Witch of the Nolichuckey
- Folklore: The Woman in Black - Appalachian Ghost Story and Southern Haint
- Don’t Get Your Feathers Ruffled
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 8). The Greenbrier Ghost. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/greenbrier-ghost-west-virginia-murder-case
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "The Greenbrier Ghost." HillbillySlang.com, 8 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/greenbrier-ghost-west-virginia-murder-case.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "The Greenbrier Ghost." HillbillySlang.com. December 8, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/greenbrier-ghost-west-virginia-murder-case.
Dislaimer
What you're reading here is old Southern folklore and storytelling - not medical advice, and not meant to guide health, or pregnancy decisions (especially pregnancy decisions!). These tales are part of how folks once made sense of the world, passed down from grandparents and midwives.
If you have any medical questions or concerns, talk with a qualified healthcare professional.
Learn more on the Folklore hub page.
