Neighbors and children soon began rumors that they could see Robert moving around in the upper room through the window at night. Gene insisted that the doll was in the attic, so he went up to investigate but he was surprised when he found the doll sitting and rocking back and forth in a rocking chair at the window. He placed the doll back in its box but every few days the doll ended up in the rocker. Soon, neighbors stayed away from the house and the story spread of the "haunted doll" in the attic.