Something deeply unsettling was waiting for one woman the moment she stepped back into her New Jersey home. At first, she couldn’t understand what had changed. Only that something in the air felt wrong.
That sharp, stomach-turning odor didn’t just drift in. It clung to the walls, creeping through her apartment like a silent warning. She had no way of knowing that the source of this disturbing smell would lead her straight into a waking nightmare, one that would rattle the entire neighborhood.
The woman, known on TikTok as marybabybaby0, had dealt with strange situations involving her next-door neighbor before. The man rarely left his apartment and lived alone, and over time, it developed a reputation for unbearable odors.
She eventually involved the police because the conditions in his unit had become so unsanitary. No running water, clutter piled up, and an overwhelming stench seeping into her home. After officers intervened, the issue faded away, and life in the attached homes of New Jersey seemed to settle.
But now, while nine weeks pregnant and already battling heightened senses, Mary found herself facing a smell so invasive it made her question her surroundings all over again. Her first instinct was simple. Something must have rotted. Maybe old flowers? Maybe something spoiled in the trash? She tossed out anything suspicious, yet the odor thickened rather than disappeared.
Gas Leak—or Something Worse?
The smell appeared strongest beneath her sink, raising terrifying possibilities. A dead animal lodged in the pipes? A leaking gas line? She called the gas company immediately, desperate for answers and worried about her family’s safety. But when the workers arrived, the situation only grew more chilling. After one deep inhale, a technician delivered a blunt, terrifying verdict. This was not gas.
Something had died. When her husband returned home, he began checking vents and crawlspaces for animals. But when he approached the neighbor’s door, he noticed something far more disturbing. Clouds of flies gathering. That was enough. Mary contacted the police for a welfare check.
Officers attempted to reach the man but received no response. They then contacted the man’s sister. Soon after, the truth arrived in a knock on Mary’s door. Her neighbor had been dead inside his apartment for weeks. The smell that had overtaken the New Jersey home was the grim evidence.
Mary shared her experience online, and the horrifying story spread fast. More than 1.5 million viewers watched in disbelief. Many commented on how unforgettable and traumatizing such a discovery would be. While others swore they would never again live in an attached home after seeing what she went through.
“I live in a duplex next to a somewhat elderly woman, and now I’m terrified,” one follower writes.
“A smell you can never unsmell,” another adds.
What began as an odd odor became an experience that the New Jersey woman and thousands who heard her story won’t soon forget. A simple smell led to the discovery of a lonely death only feet away, reminding everyone how truly unsettling the quiet, unseen corners of everyday life can sometimes be.
Nina Franklin 
Kendra Quinn 
Kenna Raye 
