In an independent oral tradition recorded in the vicinity of Panola County, Mississippi, the witch was the ghost of an unpleasant overseer John Bell murdered in North Carolina. In this tradition, the spirit falls in love with the central character 'Mary', leading to her death.

The torment of the Bell house continued for years, culminating in the ghost's ultimate act of vengeance upon the man she claimed had cheated her: she took responsibility for his death. In October 1820, Bell was struck with an illness while walking to the pigsty of his farm.

The Bell Witch is believed to have poisoned Bell and reportedly laughed and sang at his deathbed and during his funeral, Fitzhugh said. The haunting died down after John Bell’s death, until the entity turned its attention to Betsy, who was newly engaged to a man named Joshua Gardener.

As the years passed and the hauntings continued, John Bell began experiencing strange muscle twitches in his face. These soon progressed to migraines, tingling sensations, fatigue, and seizures. Then, in December 1820, John suddenly slipped into a coma. The following day, Dec. 20, he died quietly at home.