What did Mercy Brown look like?

Mercy Brown was a young woman who lived in the late 19th century and is often depicted in historical accounts and folklore as having a pale complexion, dark hair, and a somewhat ghostly appearance. After her death from tuberculosis, her body was exhumed in 1892, and reports described her as having a well-preserved appearance, with blood at her mouth and a striking contrast to the decay typically expected in buried bodies. This led to her being labeled as a “vampire” in local legends. Her image has since become emblematic of the vampire folklore that arose during that period.