'Human-Skin Teddy Bear' Found Outside IE ARCO: Artist Shares Diabolical Details

VICTORVILLE, CA — One day after a 911 caller found a teddy bear believed to be wrapped in human skin at a Victorville gas station, the horror artist and designer behind the creation finds himself sold out of the doll on Etsy.

"I'm just trying to keep up with all this," South Carolina Horror artist Robert Kelly told Patch. He and his life partner, Tara Stiffler, were stunned by the news and the recognition they've received in just 24 hours since the police cordoned off the ARCO with caution tape, and the coroner's office was called to the scene to inspect the gruesome-looking bear.

He wanted to clarify that they were not involved in having the bear staged at the bus stop. "We had nothing to do with the prank," Kelly said. "We made the bear, and shipped out the Etsy order, and that was it."

Read: Bear 'Wrapped In Human Skin' Found At IE Gas Station: What To Know

On Facebook, Kelly calls himself "a purveyor of the perverse, manipulator of the macabre, a developer of the diabolical, and maker of masks."

In reality, Kelly is a horror artist who has designed and sold realistic-looking skin designs on his website and on Etsy under the store name Dark Seed Creations for almost 20 years, he said.

"We have skinned everything from teddy bears to couches," he told us. Their designs are reminiscent of horror film sculptures, and even nod to "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" stylings. Some are upwards of $300 or more for original pieces.

The Human Skin Teddy Bear doll retails for about $165.

Since opening his store in 2017, he has sold over 3,100 items. Overnight, he made an estimated $3,300 off the bear doll sales alone, not to mention the numerous other oddities that have been selling in his website and Etsy store.

Far more people are still shopping in his store, with multiple items in shopping carts.

No bear doll looks alike, he said. Each is unique and hand-sewn. They are made of latex, and are named the "human skin teddy bear," according ot the listing.

"They are all made to order, so I'm going to have to make a waiting list," he said. "Each bear is hand assembled and hand sewn before being carefully dyed and painted. No two of them are the same."

His customers, fans of the macabre, say the craftsmanship is "amazing."

"This is absolutely a work of horror art," one buyer said. "The teddy bear not only looks super freaking creepy, it also feels super freaking creepy. I also highly recommend the seller, because sadly, the first skin teddy bear they made for me got lost in the mail, and they quickly and promptly replaced it for me."

That theory has struck a chord with a few Facebook commenters, several of whom mentioned that Victorville is rife with porch pirates.

"At $165, it's a little expensive to just leave on a curb!" one commener said.

"Someone must have stolen it off a porch and left it (at ARCO)! Imagine opening that box and not expecting it!" another commenter suggested.

Far more old and new fans of Dark Seed Creations have contemplated the free advertising the horror artist is receiving.

"When you have the coroner called on your horror art, you know you do good work!" one commenter said on Facebook.

The authorities have not contacted him, as of Monday afternoon, he said. They did deliver the doll to a Victorville address, he said, but he doesn't know how it ended up at a Victorville ARCO Am/PM station. The authorities have not contacted him, as of yet, he said.

Not since the famed "Karen" mask of 2020 has Patch seen a news-driven Etsy item sell out this fast.

When asked how his newfound fame felt, Kelly laughed.

"I have been doing this for almost 20 years. I'll believe I'm famous when it hits my bank account."

Learn more about their horror works of art at darkseedcreations.com.

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Bear 'Wrapped In Human Skin' Found At IE Gas Station: What To Know

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