Calbreath Witch
Lebanon, Illinois
The Calbreath Witch of Lebanon, Illinois, is one of the darker legends associated with the small historic community just east of St. Louis. The story centers on Rhoda Calbreath, whose grave is said to be located near Lebanon. According to local legend, Rhoda was a deeply religious woman whose teenage daughter had supposedly begun practicing witchcraft.
The legend takes a disturbing turn when Rhoda allegedly became convinced that her daughter had made a pact with the Devil. Believing she needed to save her daughter's soul, Rhoda supposedly forced the girl to confess her sins before God. Afterward, according to the story, Rhoda strangled her own daughter to ensure that the girl's soul was in a state of grace. She then allegedly buried the teenager in an unmarked grave at the Old Methodist Church Cemetery, hiding the evidence of what she had done.
The daughter's supposed grave has never been identified, adding another layer of mystery to the story. Paranormal lore claims that people visiting the area after dark have heard the faint voice of a young girl pleading with her mother, sometimes described as crying out for her mother not to kill her. Other versions of the legend identify the daughter as Hester, and claim that her spirit continues to haunt the area around Lebanon and McKendree.
What makes the Calbreath Witch legend particularly unsettling isn't simply the claim of witchcraft—it is the story of a mother convinced that murder was an act of salvation. Like many old Illinois ghost stories, the line between documented history and folklore has become blurred over time. The result is a haunting tale of witchcraft, murder, guilt, and a restless spirit that continues to circulate around Lebanon, Illinois.