Overview

• San Bernardino County deputies responded on July 13 to a 911 call at an AMPM store in Victorville and discovered a teddy bear wrapped in leathery, skin-like material.
• A coroner investigator collected the bear and officials say forensic testing is underway to determine the substance’s true composition.
• South Carolina artist Robert Kelly of DarkSeedCreations confirmed he crafted and shipped the latex prop but denied any knowledge of the buyer’s prank intentions.
• No arrests have been made as authorities treat the incident as an elaborate hoax pending test results.
• The episode highlights how realistic horror props sold online can trigger serious public safety responses when mistaken for genuine threats.