There is perhaps no other account of paranormal activity to rival that of the Bell family haunting that lasted from 1817-1821 in the Tennessee River Valley. A malevolent spirit nicknamed Kate tortured the Bells through ever-escalating events. It began with gnawing noises in the night, followed by bedcovers continually ripped from the sleeping family. Soon, hair pulling began, slapping by unseen hands, the sound of smacking lips, gurgling, and even spitting. It was an invisible enemy that the Bells could not detect or defend against. They finally resorted to asking friends to spend the night to see if they could help discern just what was happening in their home. The new visitors were greeted with the same torment. After candles were snuffed out and the inhabitants settled down for the night, the terror would begin. Suddenly, in the wee morning hours, Kate came calling. Faces were forcefully slapped, covers removed, banging sounded on the walls, accompanied by gnawing and hissing sounds. The community was baffled. More neighbors arrived. Reverends read Bible passages, prayed, and continually asked the spirit what it wanted. Finally, one evening, when the usual crowd of curious visitors was assembled in the parlor, the entity began to speak. First, in a garbled hissing sound, and finally in fully formed sentences. It taunted them with its identity, sending them off on wild goose chases for its own amusement. Through it all, the tormenting of John Bell Sr. and his youngest daughter, Betsy, escalated. Betsy's hair was tied in knots to her bed frame, and she was repeatedly slapped and pinched. She awoke screaming in the night. John Bell's torments were more severe. His tongue began to swell and grow so stiff that he could barely talk or eat. It felt as if a wooden stick had been pressed inside his mouth and was poking painfully into his cheeks. His face would contort in spasms so severe that his family feared he might die at any moment. The entity confirmed his plight, stating over and over again that, "I will kill you, Old Jack [John] Bell." The unbelievable amount of documentation and eyewitnesses for the haunting at the Bell farm would fill volumes. Colonel Andrew Jackson and a few of his troops witnessed the witch's antics and heard her speak. They reported it to others, as did the plethora of visitors to the Bell farm. Original letters written by witnesses and sent home, detailing what they saw, are on file in the Bell Museum. Newspaper reports spotlighted the horror going on at the Bell farm. Today, visitors to the Bell Cave on the old Bell property claim to hear a female voice echoing amongst the rocky interior. Paranormal TV shows have filmed there, capturing impressive EVPs and film footage. Strange lights are seen flitting about the area where the Bell homestead sat. Voices whisper on the wind, and people report sudden temperature fluctuations. Animals refuse to enter the cave and act strangely when they are on the property. This is the only account in history where a spirit is accused of bringing about a man's death. It is a story you will never forget. Rebecca F. Pittman is a bestselling author of 19 titles. Her History and Haunting series are regularly featured on international TV, radio, and podcast forums. Her Countdown to Murder series takes a deep dive into current, headline-making murder cases such as Alex Murdaugh and Pam Hupp. She is currently working on the Suzanne Morphew murder case out of Colorado. She is a former TV talk show host, model, muralist, and motivational speaker. Her debut murder mystery novel, When Shadow Walk! is being touted as "Agatha Christie with a supernatural twist." You can sign up for her newsletter, Ghost Writings, at her website, www.rebeccafpittmanbooks.com.