It’s every babysitter’s worst nightmare: the phone keeps ringing, the caller won’t stop, and when the police finally trace the number, they say the line every horror fan knows by heart:

“The call is coming from inside the house.”

In this episode of Kat Has Questions, we’re diving into the famous babysitter urban legend — and the real-life crime that may have helped shape it.

We’ll explore:

• ​ The original “babysitter and the man upstairs” urban legend and why it spread so fast
• ​ The 1950 murder of 13-year-old Janett Christman, the case most often linked to the legend
• ​ Other crimes, safety panics, and suburban fears that fueled babysitter horror stories
• ​ How When a Stranger Calls (1979) cemented the “caller inside the house” trope in pop culture
• ​ Why this story still terrifies us, and what it reveals about fear, vulnerability, and being home alone

If you’re into true crime, urban legends, creepy psychology, or the origins of iconic horror lines, this one’s for you.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of violence against a child.

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About the show

Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound made up — from strange history and true crime to the quietly weird corners of human behavior.

New episodes every week.

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Sources & Further Reading

Urban legend history:

– Encyclopedia of Urban Legends — “Babysitter and the Man Upstairs”

https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/anthropology-and-archaeology/folklore/babysitter-and-man-upstairs

– Snopes — Origin of the “Call Coming From Inside the House” story

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/call-coming-from-inside-the-house/

Real case (Janett Christman):

– Columbia Missourian — “Who Killed Janett Christman?”

https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/history/who-killed-janett-christman/article_46b90766-a561-11e4-a0a8-ef3907d7a40b.html

– Missouri Mysteries — Janett Christman Case

https://www.missourimysteries.com/janett-christman

Cultural context:

– LA Times archive — Babysitter safety scares in the late ’70s

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1979-11-01-me-2416-story.html

Pop culture:

– IMDb — When a Stranger Calls (1979)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079116/

– Bloody Disgusting — History of the “caller inside the house” horror trope

https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3453406/stranger-calls-urban-legend-horror-trope-history/

🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift

Licensed by Uppbeat

License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY

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Contact

📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com

Instagram: @KatHasQuestions

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