The Greenbrier Ghost is a true story from 19th‑century West Virginia that mixes mystery, tragedy, and even a ghost’s testimony.
Zona Heaster Shue was a young bride, admired for her gentle nature and beauty, with a promising future ahead of her.
Her life took a sudden twist when she married Erasmus Stribbling Trout Shue—a handsome blacksmith with a troubled past.
From the start, Zona’s mother, Mary Heaster, opposed the match between her daughter and the man who would later be known as Trout Shue.
Mary Heaster did not trust him, especially since he already had a criminal record and had served two years in the state penitentiary for stealing a horse.
Before marrying Zona, Shue had been unhappily married twice; his first wife divorced him after he abandoned her and their child.
His second wife died under strange circumstances when he claimed a brick fell from the roof, injuring her fatally during repairs in Pocahontas County.
When Mary Heaster met Trout Shue—who was even calling himself Edward at the time—she felt deep unease and warned others about his dangerous reputation.
Despite her fears, Zona eloped with Shue, dressed in a high‑collared burgundy dress, the same style he would later have her wear in death.
Their wedding was as sudden as a summer storm, leaving little time for reflection on the ominous warnings from those who knew his past.
On the morning of her death in 1897, Shue left his blacksmith shop and visited a nearby house, asking a young boy to check on his wife.
The boy discovered Zona lying motionless on the floor, her body cold, and the news spread like wildfire through the small community.
Local newspapers, like The Monroe Watchman, reported the shocking discovery, igniting whispers of doubt about the cause of her death.
Initially, doctors claimed Zona died of heart failure or complications from a miscarriage, explanations that many found unsatisfying and puzzling.
Zona’s death was officially attributed to natural causes, yet the circumstances left a lingering sense of unease among the townspeople.
Her mother, heartbroken and desperate for the truth, insisted that her daughter had not died naturally but had been murdered by her husband.
Mary Heaster claimed that Zona’s ghost visited her, revealing that Shue had been responsible for her untimely death.
This ghostly visitation was described as clear and unambiguous—like a message delivered on a cold, dark night.
Mary Heaster’s account reached the county prosecuting attorney, who did not dismiss her words outright despite their uncanny nature.
Encouraged by her detailed testimony, the prosecutor sought names of people who might provide more information about Zona’s death.
One key witness was Dr. Knapp, whose actions during the initial examination of Zona’s body would later become a focal point.
After failing to resuscitate Zona, Dr. Knapp was asked by Shue to cease further examination of the body, an order that raised suspicions.
Witnesses later noted that while helping to dress Zona’s body, Shue placed a high collar and a large folded veil around her neck.
Several onlookers observed that Zona’s head hung loosely on her neck, almost as if it were about to fall to the side without support.
This disturbing detail only deepened the mystery surrounding her death and fueled further public outrage.
Despite these unsettling reports, Zona was initially buried with no charges filed against Shue.
The community’s doubts grew stronger when Mary Heaster repeated her claim that her daughter’s ghost had come back to her with the truth.
She explained that the spirit told her Shue was angry over a trivial matter—something as simple as not having enough meat cooked for supper.
On a later visit, the ghost revealed that Zona’s neck had been squeezed off at the first joint, a chilling detail that could not be ignored.
Mary Heaster’s vivid description of these events was so compelling that the local prosecutor reopened the case.
The reopening of the case was like lifting a heavy curtain to reveal secrets that many had hoped would remain hidden.
Prompted by public sentiment and mounting suspicions, an autopsy was ordered to uncover the real cause of Zona’s death.
On February 22, 1897, her body was exhumed from the cemetery in a small, one‑room schoolhouse converted into a makeshift morgue.
The autopsy took three grueling hours as experts meticulously searched for signs of foul play in Zona’s remains.
Their findings were shocking: Zona’s neck was broken, and her windpipe was crushed by immense force.
Medical examiners concluded that the injuries were consistent with strangulation, not the natural complications originally claimed.
The discovery that her neck was dislocated between the first and second vertebrae served as clear evidence of violence.
It was as if someone had applied a vice-like grip to her throat, leaving unmistakable marks of a brutal struggle.
Faced with this new evidence, authorities arrested Erasmus Shue and charged him with the murder of his wife.
While in jail in Lewisburg, further details about Shue’s checkered past emerged, adding weight to the suspicions against him.
Neighbors recalled how his temper had often flared, and some even whispered that he had once abused a previous wife.
These dark rumors contributed to the growing theory that Zona’s death was an act of unplanned, violent rage.
At his trial, held in the brick courthouse that had stood since 1837, the community gathered to seek justice.
The courthouse, steeped in history and witness to many local dramas, set a somber stage for the trial.
During the proceedings, Mary Heaster took the stand with unwavering resolve, recounting her ghostly encounter in clear detail.
Her testimony was delivered in a calm, matter-of‑fact tone, as if she were describing an everyday occurrence rather than a supernatural event.
Shue’s defense lawyer tried to discredit her account by suggesting her story was nothing more than a nightmare.
But Mary Heaster’s consistent and determined recollection left little room for doubt among the jurors.
The trial itself was brief; the jury took only an hour to deliberate before returning their verdict.
They found Shue guilty of first‑degree murder, condemning him to life in prison—a verdict that many found just.
Newspaper reports of the time remarked that although the evidence was circumstantial, the verdict still met with general approval.
Some community members, however, still clung to the belief that Shue might have been innocent of the crime.
A few relatives even argued that he had no motive to kill Zona, insisting that family bonds would have prevented such an act.
Nonetheless, the overwhelming evidence, including the autopsy findings and Mary Heaster’s testimony, pointed to murder.
During the trial, vivid descriptions of the ghostly visitation were recounted, adding an eerie layer to the proceedings.
One report quoted Mary Heaster as saying, “It was no dream,” insisting that her daughter’s spirit had clearly spoken to her.
Her words echoed through the courtroom, mingling with the somber atmosphere of the historic brick building.
After the verdict, a lynch mob even formed, fueled by anger and grief over the tragic events.
The mob, however, was quickly dispersed by the deputy sheriff, restoring order to the troubled town.
Tragically, Shue’s fate was sealed; he spent the remainder of his life confined in the state penitentiary.
He died during the flu epidemic of 1900, his body left unclaimed by any family member in a lonely cell.
The case of the Greenbrier Ghost left an indelible mark on local history and the collective memory of the community.
A state highway marker now stands near Zona’s grave, summarizing the story in a few simple words.
The marker proudly declares that this is the only known case where ghostly testimony helped convict a murderer.
Over the years, the tale has inspired several stage plays, musicals, and even an opera that retell Zona’s haunting story.
One stage adaptation, titled “Zona,” was produced in 1998 by local theater enthusiasts who captured the tragedy with heartfelt emotion.
Another musical, “The Greenbrier Ghost,” premiered in 2003 and was performed several times, keeping the legend alive for new generations.
Novels and historical books have also delved into the mystery, blending fact with folklore in engaging narratives.
Writers like Belinda Anderson and Katie Letcher Lyle have researched and recounted the case, adding their own insights to the legend.
Their works emphasize not only the tragedy of Zona’s early death but also the remarkable role her ghost played in seeking justice.
In one account, the story is told with a blend of sorrow and dark humor, as if the truth were hidden behind layers of local superstition.
The community’s fascination with the Greenbrier Ghost endures, much like an old folk tale passed down through generations.
Locals still speak of Zona’s spirit in hushed tones, as if sharing a secret that only the mountains can keep.
Even today, visitors to Greenbrier County are drawn to the cemetery and courthouse to learn more about this unique case.
The narrative of Zona’s ghost and her tragic death serves as a reminder that sometimes truth finds a way, even through the supernatural.
It also highlights how grief and determination can lead to justice, even when faced with mysterious and inexplicable events.
The story of the Greenbrier Ghost continues to captivate residents and visitors alike, offering a glimpse into a time when legends were as real as the people who lived them.
