Mutilated 'Human Skin Teddy Bear' Sparks Panic Outside California Gas Station

A horror-inspired teddy bear that looks like it’s stitched from actual human skin sent a California town into a full-blown panic, but turns out, it was likely nothing more than a prank gone viral.

On Sunday, July 13, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department responded to reports of possible human remains outside an AMPM gas station in Victorville, California.

The disturbing object? What looked like a mutilated teddy bear, eerily placed just outside the store’s entrance.

Footage from the scene shows the parking lot roped off as a coroner investigator inspected the grotesque plush, raising alarm that something sinister had gone down. But according to KABC, the item wasn't made of skin at all… just latex.

So, what exactly is this creepy creature?

Meet the "Human Skin Teddy Bear," a $165 nightmare-fuel creation sold by South Carolina artist Robert Kelly, who runs the horror prop company Dark Seed Creations.

Kelly, who specializes in haunted house props and horror SFX, confirmed in a Facebook post that the bear was one of his pieces, recently shipped to a buyer in Victorville. And while the viral moment may have sparked a police investigation, the artist insists he had no idea it would be used in such a twisted way.

“No, I did not have any knowledge of the buyer’s intentions nor was I involved in a prank on the other side of the nation from me,” Kelly wrote online, clarifying that he wasn’t part of the stunt.

Speaking with ABC7 Eyewitness News, Kelly added, “I guess I’d probably be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying it a little bit… I’m an independent artist, so a little attention is sometimes good, regardless of not being able to condone whatever.”

Kelly said his work is pretty well-known in the horror community and that he’s used to people getting riled up by his spine-chilling props.

“Our stuff is pretty recognizable in the industry. So, once this happened a few hours ago, my phone started blowing up, Facebook started blowing up,” he told KTLA.

For those curious (or brave enough) to explore more of Dark Seed Creations’ work, the Etsy shop is packed with equally disturbing horror props.

One of the most talked-about collections? DarkSeed’s Bubby Bears, a twisted line of custom bloody horror teddy bears inspired by the artist’s original character, Bubby the Baby Eater. Each bear is a one-of-a-kind oddity, featuring gruesome facial alterations ranging from bloodied skulls to gaping mouths full of razor-sharp teeth.

“These bears are a fun and horrifyingly cute addition to any oddity shelf or haunt character,” the shop description reads. And while buyers can make special requests, if not, they’ll receive a randomly selected terror from the inventory.

The Etsy shop proudly notes that the images shown are just examples and every bear shipped out is a totally unique creation, designed to unsettle even the most seasoned horror collectors.

In other words, it’s build-a-bear... for your nightmares.

But the twisted teddy bears aren’t the only nightmare fuel Dark Seed Creations has to offer.

For horror fans looking to take things a step further, the shop also features listings for Teddy Slayer Masks, wearable pieces that look like something straight out of a slasher flick. These gruesome masks are crafted from plush animal faces that have been torn open and reimagined with exposed teeth, bloodied gashes, and terrifying textures.

Each mask is designed to fit over the face and is perfect for haunted attractions, costume parties, or just scaring the living daylights out of your group chat.

Dark Seed Creations proudly brands itself as “the purveyor of the perverse, manipulator of the macabre, developer of the diabolical.”

Specializing in shock value and handcrafted horror, the shop offers everything from grotesque teddy bears to bloodied masks designed to disturb, amaze, and offend, exactly as intended.

Regarding the recent chaos in California, there’s no indication that any laws were broken, and yes, you can still buy the bear online. Just maybe don’t leave it lying around outside a gas station.