Buzz
The world can often feel overwhelming. The threats of disease, political instability, violence, terrorism, and global conflicts create a sense of unease in everyone. Some people respond to this fear by diving into doomsday preparation. After all, if the world is going to collapse, it's wise to have a safe place, like a bunker, to protect yourself and your loved ones.
While this concept may sound appealing in theory, the reality is that constructing and utilizing a doomsday bunker isn’t always straightforward. As some of the individuals on our list discovered, it's not always as safe as it seems. Not all of these stories end in tragic death (though many of them do), but none of these preppers experienced what they expected.
Being a prepper can go awry in many ways. Whether due to poor planning, over-preparation, unreliable companions, or complete disregard for legal boundaries, these are the ten most outrageous times when prepping took a disastrous turn.
10. Norman Feller
Much of the prepper community is steeped in paranoia, and the first person on our list is a perfect example. Despite his name, Norman Feller is anything but a 'normal fella' (sorry, had to make that joke).
Like many others at the time, Feller was deeply concerned about the turn of the millennium and the potential chaos of the Y2K bug. But he took his concerns a step further than most. He built an underground bunker before 2000 and then chose to live in it. Not for just a few days, but for an astonishing 14 years, only emerging in September 2014.
It’s safe to assume that fear and paranoia played a major role in his decision to live underground for more than a decade! However, Feller emerged in surprisingly good health and high spirits, unlike many others on this list.
9. Daniel Beckwitt
Another instance where prepping went tragically wrong ended in a fatality. Daniel Beckwitt, a stock trader with a passion for doomsday prepping, hired Askia Khafra to help him construct a complex network of underground tunnels and a bunker right beneath his home.
Sadly, Beckwitt had grand plans but didn’t give enough thought to his friend’s safety. Initially, Beckwitt tried to keep things under wraps, convincing Khafra that their work was taking place in Virginia rather than at Beckwitt’s Maryland home. Khafra worked tirelessly for days on end, even eating, sleeping, and using the bathroom in the underground tunnels.
Tragically, a faulty electrical outlet in Beckwitt’s basement sparked a fire. Beckwitt attempted to scream and call for help for Khafra, but it was too late. By the time emergency services arrived, Khafra had already perished. Beckwitt was later charged with second-degree murder and sentenced to nine years in prison.
8. Bruce Beach
Bruce Beach was an intriguing figure. He built the largest known private fallout shelter, Ark Two, in Ontario. His project, which began in the early 1980s, continues today. Beach started by burying 42 school buses and linking them together underground. He dedicated his life to preparing for the apocalypse that he firmly believed was inevitable.
Unlike many other preppers, Beach was focused not only on his own survival but also on ensuring the survival of others. Because of this, he became known as the 'Noah' of Ark Two.
Sadly (or perhaps ironically), he passed away from a heart attack in 2021, long before his shelter ever became necessary. Given how much he invested in his life and the shelter, it’s a bitter irony that his life ended from a heart attack. The Ark Two still stands, but without its 'Noah,' who can say what the future holds for it? We may have to wait for the apocalypse to find out.
7. Penza Bunker Cult
In 2008, over 30 people in the Penza region of Russia spent more than five months living in an underground bunker. These individuals were cult members, convinced that the apocalypse would strike in May 2008, and thus chose to live underground as a precaution.
Seven people left the bunker in March, while more than 25 remained, including four children. The roof of the bunker collapsed, leaving those inside in grave danger. The collapse also triggered other problems, including a sinkhole.
Fortunately, despite the bizarre circumstances, no confirmed fatalities were reported, though there were strange rumors of murder. (What??) And, as for the apocalypse? It never happened.
6. The Garage Mahal
The next individual on our list is a perfect example of someone with wild ideas and more money than they know what to do with. Barrett Moore and Brad Thor were somewhat of business partners, both equally obsessed with doomsday prepping. Specifically, they focused on stockpiling weapons and military-grade supplies.
Moore was the primary financier behind most of their ventures. One such project, dubbed the 'Garage Mahal,' was massive, almost resembling a fortress. So, what went wrong for Moore? Well, he neglected to pay his bills. Moore faced lawsuits over a variety of things, including firearms, gas masks, and freeze-dried foods.
But things took a turn for the worse. Eventually, Moore and Thor had a major falling out, with Thor suing Moore for over $200,000 worth of prepper supplies. Their bitter rivalry continues to this day.
5. Tim Ralston
One of the most recognized preppers globally is Tim Ralston. In fact, he stands out as one of the few preppers who regularly engages with the media and frequently participates in interviews. You might recognize him from the National Geographic show Doomsday Preppers.
Ralston takes pride in being prepared for any possible situation. However, he wasn’t fully prepared for what happened to him. While practicing his shooting, his gun went off unexpectedly, causing his left thumb to be almost completely blown off.
Luckily, he was able to receive medical attention swiftly. Although his thumb was severely shortened after the middle section was completely shot off, he made a full recovery (though with a shorter thumb). I suppose it’s a good thing he wasn’t inside one of his bunkers at the time.
4. Bunker Home Invasion Murder
In February 2022, a shocking home invasion and murder took place in Richmond, Kentucky. But this wasn’t your average break-in. The residence was a mansion valued at over six million dollars, owned by former Kentucky legislator C. Wesley Morgan. Tragically, during the invasion, his daughter, Jordan Morgan, was fatally shot.
However, the reasons behind the murder make this tale even more bizarre.
It turns out that C. Wesley Morgan was a doomsday prepper, and his mansion housed an extensive underground bunker. This shelter spans over 2000 square feet and includes two escape tunnels. According to Fox19.com, the bunker was a central factor in Jordan Morgan's tragic murder and the invasion of the home as a whole. The site also reported that the bunker itself was valued at three million dollars.
3. River Otter Preppers
A survivalist group known as the “River Otter Preppers” located near Tampa, Florida, firmly believed that the apocalypse was imminent, based on their interpretation of the Bible. The group concentrated on amassing weapons and constructing homemade explosives.
In 2014, law enforcement became aware of their activities, and the three members were arrested on June 18, 2014.
Their leader, Martin Winters, managed to evade authorities for two days during a manhunt before he was finally apprehended. Given their involvement with explosive devices, it's fortunate that Winters and his group, the River Otter Preppers, were caught before they could harm themselves or others.
2. Talco Bunker
On October 13, 2019, an explosion occurred near Talco, Texas, injuring three individuals: Michael Bower, Misty Marple, and Perry Fetterolf. The trio had joined forces to construct a doomsday shelter, intending to live off the grid.
They had made substantial progress, with a shelter 10 feet (3 meters) deep, including several rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. However, they made a critical error: the bunker had a natural gas leak.
Though authorities are uncertain if the gas leak caused the explosion, whatever the trigger, all three preppers tragically lost their lives, along with the bunker they had worked so hard to build.
1. Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith, another prominent figure from Doomsday Preppers, was also the owner of Spartan Survival, a business dedicated to doomsday preparation. Smith openly bragged about his plans to raid other preppers, specifically to take their firearms, once the apocalypse arrived. That alone is enough to raise an eyebrow.
His neighbors, as reported by q13fox.com, found his behavior to be 'strange' and 'ridiculous.' However, Smith's downfall came well before the apocalypse. In January 2014, he was arrested for felony possession of firearms.
On Doomsday Preppers, Smith showcased a collection of weapons he was legally prohibited from owning, due to his prior felony conviction. Maybe focusing on his present situation instead of future scenarios would have been a wiser choice.
