The Hook Story is one of the oldest urban legends in the last two centuries. But, how many versions of this story are there? Why don't we all look for them. Heres one variation:

A teenage boy drove his date to a dark and deserted Lovers' Lane for a make-out session. After turning on the radio for mood music, he leaned over and began kissing the girl.

A short while later, the music suddenly stopped and an announcer's voice came on, warning in an urgent tone that a convicted murderer had just escaped from the state insane asylum — which happened to be located not far from Lovers' Lane — and that anyone who noticed a strange man lurking about with a hook in place of his right hand should immediately report his whereabouts to the police.

The girl became frightened and asked to be taken home. The boy, feeling bold, locked all the doors instead and, assuring his date they would be safe, attempted to kiss her again. She became frantic and pushed him away, insisting that they leave. Relenting, the boy peevishly jerked the car into gear and spun its wheels as he pulled out of the parking space.

When they arrived at the girl's house she got out of the car, and, reaching to close the door, began to scream uncontrollably. The boy ran to her side to see what was wrong and there, dangling from the door handle, was a bloody hook.

So, post Variations of this. It also goes by the 'Hook Man' title.

When people are incarcerated in Homes for the Criminally Insane they're forced to surrender all weapons, knives, razors, scissors, and so on, and often even such "harmless" items as shoelaces, neckties and belts.

So who'd believe a homicidal maniac inmate would be permitted to keep a sword-sharp HOOK? For me the entire "Hook Man" story immediately fell apart at that exact point the very first time I ever heard it, many years ago.

But since Nessieman is looking for reports and versions of the tale I'll supply one:

Around May, 1970 (possibly 1971) my younger brother returned home from Kentucky's Georgetown College ("the oldest institution of higher learning west of the Alleghany Mountains") with the tale that "Hook Man" was just then roaming the campus of the University of Kentucky, Lexington, having a few days earlier escaped from the Eastern State Mental Hospitaql.

Even then I was able to set the kid straight. <g>

Kinda reminds me of candyman. That film scared the crap out of me when i was a kid.

I dont believe in this legend, by the way.

It's just an urban Legend but it's one that has happened in reality. Kind of. There have been a lot of serial killers that attacked courting couples in lovers lanes. The Zodiac Killer, Son Of Sam, The Monster of Florence and the Phantom killer of Texarkana.

Some urban Legends are based in some type of truth...

I don't know about the last two you mentioned, but the first two serial killers were active relatively long after the urban legend. Perhaps they were somehow, sickly inspired by the urban legend?

There are many, MANY variations of this story than I care to write here. Instead I will point out something wrong with the legend. Why did the man try to open the door with the hook instead of his hand? Food for thought...

I have to say that the Zodiac really creaped me out. They have a section on him on America's Most Wanted a while back. They say that still some of his puzzles are still unsolved.
http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=43096

Really? I wonder if anybody could solve them if they tried. I mean, he might've made some fake 'unsolvable' puzzle. Anyway, we're getting off topic. *However*, I find it fascinating that a man who spells Paradise 'Paradice', managed to not get caught, and make his own "language".

Indeed. But none of of them involved a crazed killer permitted to roam the corridors of a State Mental Institution with a sharp hook in place of a hand. <g>

The Texarkana, Arkansas and Texarkana, Texas "Moonlight Murders" lovers lane killings of 1946 are a genuinely if gruesomely fascinating field for criminological study. The legendary Texas Ranger "Lonewolf" Gounzallas was heavily involved in the attempts to solve this episode.

That's one of my favorite urban legends....