Welcome to Creepalachia, where we explore the strange, the brave, and the beautifully bizarre stories rooted in Appalachia. Today, we’re flipping the script. The Real West Virginia reached out to do a collaborative interview—what resulted was part confessional, part origin story, and completely captivating. Meet Anna Knapp, aka Taser Girl—a haunt actor, horror makeup artist, and fierce spirit who turned pain into power.
“So, what is Spina Bifida?”
Anna doesn’t shy away from talking about her reality. She was born with Spina Bifida, a condition where the spine doesn’t fully close during development, leaving nerve endings exposed.
“There are different types of Spina Bifida. Some people don’t even know they have it until they go to the doctor and get a surprise diagnosis. But with mine, there’s nerve damage. I’ve had several surgeries.”
Despite the physical challenges, she’s never let it define her limits. Instead, Anna channeled her journey into creating Taser Girl—her haunt alter ego and unexpected therapy.
Becoming Taser Girl
Haunt acting started as a fun family affair. Her dad—known at Miller’s Nightmare Haunted Farm as Bone Creature—brought her along after her surgery, casted legs and all. That first year, she sat in an old wheelchair out in the woods. But it didn’t take long for something magical (and terrifying) to happen.
“I was just this zombie girl in the woods with a real taser in my hand. I asked, ‘Can I use this?’ They said, ‘Just don’t tase anybody.’ And from there, people just started calling me Taser Girl.”
With electric commitment, the persona evolved. Ten years later, Taser Girl is still out there—blood-soaked, bold, and unforgettable.
The Art of the Scare
Taser Girl is an explosion of color and chaos—Harley Quinn-inspired makeup, gallons of fake blood (purchased by the jug from Spirit Halloween), and a love for chasing unsuspecting guests through haunted school buses.
“My favorite people to scare are men—especially big, tough guys. I’m tiny, and they don’t expect me to come at them like that.”
She’s earned her title as “the blood girl” at the farm, the one everyone goes to when they need their look soaked and splattered just right.
Haunting as Healing
The world of haunted attractions gave Anna more than just a creative outlet. It gave her confidence, a sense of community, and a stage to transform pain into presence. Her story is one of adaptability, resilience, and owning every ounce of her identity.
“Developing Taser Girl has helped me a lot. People don’t know what I go through, but I carry it with me in everything I do.”
What’s Next for Taser Girl?
Whether she’s writing articles for Real WV, researching haunt icons, or smearing another layer of theatrical gore across her face, Anna is all in. Her ADHD keeps her shifting interests—but when she’s in, she’s all the way in.
Her story reminds us that embracing the weird, the wounded, and the wonderful can lead to something unforgettable. And if you see a tiny woman with orange-and-red diamond eyes wielding a (fake) taser this fall—you’d better run.
Got a Story? Tell It.
Have a strange, powerful, or untold story rooted in Appalachia? Whether you’ve survived something unbelievable, started something unique, or just lived a life worth sharing—we want to hear it. Submit your story to Creepalachia and join a community that celebrates the dark, the brave, and the beautifully bizarre.
