Home Alone: The True Story They Buried

In this chilling episode, we uncover a little-known story from Chicago in 1989 that may have inspired the classic film Home Alone. According to a declassified police document and survivor testimony, a boy named Michael was accidentally left home alone over Christmas while his family rushed to catch a holiday flight.

What happened next was no slapstick comedy. Two intruders broke into the house, but unlike the film, their intentions were deadly. Michael hid in the attic and eventually defended himself with a firearm, injuring one of the men. Police arrived too late to witness the confrontation, but their records match Michael's version of events.

This story gained local infamy and was allegedly discussed in hush tones across media circles. When Home Alone was released just one year later in 1990, some began to wonder: how much of it was inspired by real trauma? And what happened to the real Michael?