Her death was confirmed by Borja mayor Eduardo Arilla, who praised her as a kind, resilient woman deeply devoted to her church and community.

In August 2012, a then-81-year-old Giménez attempted to touch up Ecce Homo, a 19th-century fresco by Elias Garcia Martinez housed in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church near Zaragoza. The painting had been damaged by moisture over the decades, and, with permission from the local priest, Giménez stepped in to help restore it. Her genuine, earnest attempt at restoring this painting to its former glory quickly became a social media phenomenon.

The touchup was… interesting. The previously clear, sharp image of Christ had been replaced with a soft, hazy monkey-like Jesus who kind of looked like a Funko Pop at the midpoint between solid and melted.

The internet hivemind renamed it “Monkey Jesus,” and the image of her work went about as viral as anything has ever been, before or since.

The joke of it all became all-consuming, swallowing up Giménez’s side of the story. She would later say that the restoration work was unfinished at the time it was photographed. She had left it to dry and then went on vacation, planning to complete it when she got back. Instead, when she returned, it was the subject of worldwide ridicule. She would say that the reaction to her work hurt.

The problem is that it was a fresco, meaning it was painted directly onto the wall. She couldn’t take it off an easel and tuck it away somewhere out of sight. Anyone who walked into the church could easily spot it.

It was the ease of access that turned the meme into a touristy sensation. The quiet little town that housed it got around 5,000 visitors a year before Ecce Homo became a viral sensation. By the next year, 2013, tourist numbers jumped to 40,000, raising over €50,000 for charity. Ecce Homo’s viral impact was so intense that while those initial strong tourism numbers were never going to hold, they’ve dropped and held steady at around 15,000 to 20,000 visitors annually, all of whom come by to get a first-hand glimpse of Giménez’s work, bringing in money to a local economy and a church that never would’ve had this boom otherwise.

The world will remember her for one funny “failed” attempt at a restoration. Her parish will remember her for being so much more than that.

The post Mega Viral ‘Monkey Jesus’ Fresco Restorer Cecilia Giménez Dies at 94 appeared first on VICE.

The Strangest Person I Know is a new VICE column, in which we interview strange people and then ask them who the strangest person they know is so we can interview them too, creating a never-ending daisy chain of spiraling human strangeness in an increasingly square world.

Next up is Dr. Rodney Rodderson, a 43-year-old mortician and part-time scuba-diving instructor who relocated from his native Isle of Sheppey to Izberbash some time ago. He got in touch offering to speak with VICE after seeing an iteration of this column on the internet.

VICE: So, undertaking. How do you get into a profession like that?
Dr. Rodney Rodderson: That’s a great question. I guess you could say that I [REDACTED] a few incidents at school when I [REDACTED] and things progressed naturally from there. It’s not for the faint hearted but after I had already [REDACTED] five or six times before the age of 12, I [REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED]. I guess you could say I was born to work in death!

That’s a neat turn of phrase. I guess my next question would be, how did you find yourself in Izberbash? There can’t be many people who’ve moved there from Kent.
There was a [REDACTED] with a [REDACTED] that I [REDACTED] with a [REDACTED]. Obviously, I feel bad about it. But we must all live with regrets: our mistakes shape us. Thankfully, the good people of Izberbash welcomed me with open arms. Dagestan has a very forgiving culture—even when you’re fleeing [REDACTED] from the Crown Prosecution Service just because you happened to [REDACTED] the wrong [REDACTED] wife’s snorkel on the wrong way.

What was that, sorry?
The time when I [REDACTED] the [REDACTED]?

Yes, what happened there?
I mean, there are people you meet in life who just really [REDACTED], you know? That said I would never have risked endangering my professional reputation in the scuba-diving industry on purpose. It was just [REDACTED] in the [REDACTED] at the wrong time. Shit happens.

“Dagestan has a very forgiving culture—even when you’re fleeing [REDACTED] from the Crown Prosecution Service just because you happened to [REDACTED] the wrong [REDACTED] wife’s snorkel on the wrong way”

But surely you could just have [REDACTED] the [REDACTED] and none of this would have happened?
Coulda, woulda, shoulda. You can’t let your life be defined by your mistakes.

Earlier you said more or less the exact opposite.
Did I? Classic me!

Just before going to print, VICE was contacted and informed that we should not, under any circumstances, publish the information divulged to us by Dr. Rodderson, by lawyers representing his estate and former employers.

This story is taken from the fall 2025 issue of VICE magazine, THE BE QUIET AND DRIVE ISSUE, a Deftones special. We’ve sold out our copies, the only ones left are in stores—perhaps there’s one near you? Secure yourself the next 4 issues by subscribing.

The post The Strangest Person I Know: The Busiest Mortician in Dagestan appeared first on VICE.

A growing body of research suggests nobody dies from aging itself. People die from very specific things. Hearts fail. Lungs give out. You have a stroke. Even centenarians who seemed fine days earlier don’t pass away because time ran out. They die because an organ did.

That point sits at the center of a new review by scientists Maryam Keshavarz and Dan Ehninger at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, published in Genomic Psychiatry. The researchers sifted through decades of autopsy data across humans and animals, and the pattern was blunt. Aging raises risk but it doesn’t pull the trigger.

In humans, cardiovascular disease dominates. When researchers examined thousands of autopsies, heart attacks, strokes, and cardiopulmonary failure accounted for the vast majority of deaths. In one analysis of people over 85 who died suddenly outside hospitals, heart-related events caused about three-quarters of deaths. Even among people over 100 once described as “healthy,” none died of aging. Their bodies failed in traceable ways.

Zoom out across species, and the story stays consistent, just with different weak spots. Mice mostly die of cancer. Rats and dogs, too. Fruit flies tend to die when their gut lining collapses. Worms lose the ability to swallow. Each species has its own biological Achilles’ heel. Aging doesn’t kill them. Something specific does.

That distinction matters because it pokes holes in how aging research is often framed. Drugs like rapamycin and interventions like intermittent fasting extend lifespan in mice, but mainly by delaying cancer deaths. The mice still die of cancer, just later. That’s useful, but it’s not the same thing as slowing aging itself.

The review also takes aim at popular “biological age” tests that claim to measure how fast you’re aging. These tools predict health outcomes well, but they don’t explain why aging happens. As the authors note, it’s closer to guessing someone’s age from wrinkles than understanding what caused the wrinkles in the first place.

Autopsies are important here because they correct assumptions. Doctors and families usually misidentify causes of death without them. “Natural causes” sounds neutral, but it hides the real mechanics.

Aging, according to this research, isn’t a cause of death. It’s a condition that makes specific failures more likely. That’s a subtler, less cute story. It’s also harder to sell. But if scientists want to extend human life in meaningful ways, they may need to stop chasing immortality and start getting better at preventing the exact things that actually end it.

The post No One Dies From Old Age: Autopsy Studies Reveal the Real Causes appeared first on VICE.

As reported by Newsweek, 19-year-old Gerson de Melo Machado scaled a nearly 20-foot wall at a Brazilian zoo, dropped into a lion enclosure, and came face-to-face with a pack of lions who treated the spontaneous drop in the exact way you would imagine lions would. Onlookers could do nothing but watch as Machado was attacked by the lions and dragged out of sight.

The attack happened Sunday at the Arruda Câmara Zoo Botanical Park in the eastern city of João Pessoa. Officials confirmed Machado entered the pen by climbing the wall and shimmying down a tree, ignoring repeated warnings from bystanders who likely did not want to witness someone being mauled to death by lions that particular day. He ignored the pleas.

The zoo immediately shut down, and Brazil’s Environment Secretariat launched an investigation.

Local reporters added some much-needed context to Machado’s life, some of which paints a heartbreaking picture of a troubled young man who just wanted to be a little bit closer to the creatures he so admired.

Child protection worker Veronica Oliveira worked with Machado for eight years. She said that he had been battling mental health issues throughout that time and had developed an almost mythic fixation on lions. The obsession had grown so severe that at one point, Machado stowed away in the landing gear of airplanes in the hopes of traveling to Africa to see lions in person.

The zoo stressed that euthanizing the lion was never on the table. Staff say she is healthy, has no history of aggression, and is receiving specialized care after undergoing intense stress during the incident.

On Twitter/X, Brazilian politician and animal rights activist Matheus Laiola defended the lion, saying, “The blame is never on the animal. We need to reinforce respect and awareness when dealing with wildlife.”

The post Man Mauled to Death After Climbing Into Zoo’s Lion Enclosure appeared first on VICE.

A new study published in Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice found that the people who’ve crossed the threshold and returned often pay a strange price. Researchers at the University of Virginia surveyed 167 survivors of near-death experiences—people who reported leaving their bodies, moving toward light, or meeting loved ones—and discovered that many lost far more than their fear of dying.

Nearly half said the experience fractured parts of their lives. One in five reported strained relationships, fading friendships, or full-blown divorces. The peace they felt while near death made ordinary life seem trivial. “My NDE was considerable; I know I’ll never be the same person ever,” one participant wrote. “Ongoing reflection and inner work are needed daily.”

Near-Death Experiences Leave People With Bleak Side Effects

Lead researcher Dr. Bruce Greyson described these “reentry problems” as a kind of culture shock. People spoke of awakening into unconditional love, only to return to bills, traffic, and conversations that suddenly felt hollow. About 70 percent reported major shifts in spiritual or religious beliefs. More than a third changed careers or lifestyles completely.

Eighty-five percent said they wanted to talk about what happened, yet more than half were afraid to. Some feared being dismissed or treated as unstable. Nearly one in five who told medical professionals said the response made them feel worse. “All the responses were textbook and uninspired,” a participant said. “Very disappointing.”

Validation made all the difference. Those who felt believed by the first person they told recovered faster and adjusted better. Peer support groups and near-death experience communities offered the strongest sense of relief, often more than therapy. Greyson noted that most clinicians still lack training for these experiences, even though the American Psychiatric Association lists them under “spiritual or religious problems,” not mental disorders.

Many survivors said integration takes years. They move between two realities—the love they remember and the life they returned to—without ever fully reconciling the two.

Death gave them clarity, but clarity can be a burden. Once you’ve seen forever, ordinary life feels temporary.

The post Seeing the Light: How Near-Death Experiences Can Ruin Lives appeared first on VICE.

Anaheim Fire and Rescue responded Monday evening to the call at the iconic Southern California park, where they found the woman unresponsive. Disneyland security had already started CPR by the time first responders arrived. No technical problems were reported with the ride, which was cleared and reopened after the woman was transported to the hospital.

Haunted Mansion is a slow-moving dark ride filled with silly, cartoony spookiness. Its LA iteration has been scaring children for decades and is beloved by adults, having developed a cult following of devoted fans, some of whom have ridden Haunted Mansion hundreds of times.

The exact cause of death is still pending, per the Orange County Coroner’s Office.

If this story feels eerily familiar, it’s because it comes just days after another high-profile death at a different theme park, this time at Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe. A man died after riding a Stardust Racers rollercoaster, a speedy ride with plenty of jolts and jerky movements. While details of both incidents are scarce, as far as I can tell from details that have been released, the rides themselves were functioning properly in both instances.

Theme park rides can be high-intensity environments that put stress on the body, which could be potentially dangerous for older adults or anyone with an underlying medical condition. For as much as these rides simulate danger, they are remarkably safe, especially considering how many people ride them on a given day. But just because they’re safe doesn’t mean they are risk-free, especially if the rider has a condition that could be triggered by the ride.

The post Woman Dies After Riding Disney’s Haunted Mansion appeared first on VICE.

He recently went viral for confirming one of the resort’s most persistent rumors: that no one dies on Disney property. Not officially, anyway.

In a TikTok clip that now has millions of views, ex-cast member Tom Cruz (no relation) described the day an elderly guest collapsed at the Magic Kingdom. A doctor happened to be in line and started CPR. Paramedics arrived within minutes. Still, the man never regained consciousness.

Cruz said he couldn’t understand why the emergency response team kept trying long after it was clearly over. “This entire time, my man was not breathing,” he said. “I was like, ‘Why are they still trying to bring him back?’”

His manager gave him the answer: “No one dies at Disney World.”

Why No One Is Declared Dead at Disney World, According to an Insider

According to Cruz, the company’s policy is to continue resuscitation efforts until a person has been removed from the premises. That way, the official declaration of death never happens on-site. The Happiest Place on Earth stays happy. The paperwork says the guest died somewhere else.

It’s not hard to see why the rumor won’t die, either. For years, former staff and emergency personnel have backed it up, saying the unofficial protocol is to keep trying until the body crosses the property line. You can’t have a coroner show up in Fantasyland.

To be clear, Disney hasn’t officially confirmed this policy. But the company has never really denied it either. What is public, however, is how carefully it manages its image. That extends to everything from character conduct rules to how security incidents are reported, and probably how medical emergencies are handled, too.

And Disney isn’t the only one. Large resorts, theme parks, and even hotels tend to prioritize public perception over transparency, especially when something goes wrong. No one wants their vacation cut short by the sight of a stretcher rolling down Main Street.

Still, the whole thing raises some fair questions. What does it mean to “never die” at a place? Is it about legal jurisdiction? Emotional experience? Or just good PR?

Whatever the answer, if your heart gives out in Tomorrowland, don’t expect your death certificate to say “Magic Kingdom.”

You’ll be declared dead somewhere else. Like Celebration Hospital. Or the back of an ambulance parked just off Disney property.

That’s where the magic ends.

The post The Reason No One Is Declared Dead at Disney World Will Creep You Out appeared first on VICE.

Rivera, 54, died on July 13 while on the Devils on the Run tour in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania—a roadshow featuring the original Annabelle doll, which the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) describes as “demonically possessed.” He was found unresponsive in his hotel room. Emergency responders attempted CPR, but it was too late.

The Pennsylvania State Police confirmed no signs of foul play, but an autopsy is still pending. So far, the cause of death remains unknown.

“Dan was not only a vital part of our team for over a decade, but also a deeply compassionate, loyal, and dedicated friend,” NESPR said in a statement. “We are still coming to terms with this profound loss.”

Rivera was the senior lead investigator at NESPR, the group originally founded by Ed and Lorraine Warren, the couple behind the real-life cases that inspired The Conjuring franchise. According to his bio, Rivera witnessed paranormal events as a child in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and later became an expert in Santeria rites. He also served in the Army, created viral haunted TikToks, and worked as a consulting producer on Netflix’s 28 Days Haunted.

That weekend, he was in Gettysburg showing off Annabelle, a Raggedy Ann doll that NESPR claims was first possessed in 1968 after a student nurse brought it home. According to the group, things took a dark turn immediately. A medium said the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a little girl named Annabelle. The roommates tried to treat it kindly. It allegedly responded with violence. Eventually, the Warrens took it away and locked it in a glass case.

Annabelle has been called one of the most haunted objects in the world. For the Devils on the Run tour, NESPR brought the doll out of the case and on the road. Rivera helped hype the tour with TikToks that racked up millions of views. He called it a “chilling experience.” In his final days, he was showing it to a crowd in Gettysburg’s historic orphanage building.

What happened next is still unclear. Officials haven’t said what caused Rivera’s death, as the autopsy results are still pending. But a paranormal investigator dying mid-tour while exhibiting a doll allegedly linked to demonic activity?

You don’t have to believe in cursed dolls to feel weird about the timing. People die in hotels every day. But most of them weren’t traveling with a doll that’s supposedly housed a demon for nearly 60 years at the time.

The post Paranormal Investigator Dan Rivera Dies on Tour With ‘Possessed’ Annabelle Doll appeared first on VICE.

On June 2, Chiu was hiking with two others when he fell from the Mt. McKinley West Buttress climbing route on to the Peters Glacier.

Chiu, who was un-roped at the time, fell at Squirrel Point, an exposed rocky and serac covered 3,000-foot face.

After the other two members of Chiu’s expedition witnessed the fall, they lowered over the edge as fall as possible. However, they were unable to see or hear Chiu, so they climbed down the mountain to get help.

That help, however, didn’t come until June 4 due to high winds and snow. When the weather cleared, two mountaineering rangers set off on a helicopter search to locate Chiu.

The rangers wound up finding Chiu deceased. Afterwards, the rangers returned to Denali National Park and Preserve headquarters, where Chiu’s body was transferred to the state medical examiner.

It’s not the first time someone has fallen to their death at that spot. In 2010, an un-roped French mountaineer died in the same Alaska location. His body was never recovered.

Since 1980, at least fourteen climbers have died in falls along this treacherous section of the West Buttress route.

There are currently 500 climbers on the mountain. The climbing season typically begins in early May and ends in early July.

Alex Chiu’s EErie Last Instagram Post Before his fatal fall off mountain

Chiu last posted on Instagram on May 19. At the time, he penned a lengthy caption about his love of climbing.

“The arc of every alpinist is the same, they hone their craft and practice their skills relentlessly until they plateau because the easy climbs are boring and hard ones may kill you,” he wrote, “so your searching for climb thats in-between but even that carries a lot of risk.”

Chiu revealed that, in the wake of the COVID pandemic, he’d all but given up climbing due to a move and other life changes. That held true until he set off on his trip to Alaska, which wound up being fatal.

“So tomorrow I am getting on an airplane to Alaska,” he wrote, “in an attempt to climb the third highest peak in the world because I don’t want to know what happens to a dream deferred.”

The post Climber Falls 3000 Feet to His Death Off Tallest Mountain in North America appeared first on VICE.

Inspector Ross Grantham said that the teen was playing a tackle game with friends when he suffered a serious head injury. His pals took him to the hospital, but he wound up dead the day after the incident.

Per the press release, the late teen and his friends were playing a game “based on a social media-driven trend, where participants compete in full-contact collisions without protective gear.”

“While this was an impromptu game among friends, not a planned event, this tragic outcome does highlight the inherent safety concerns with such an activity,” Grantham said. “We would urge anyone thinking about taking part in a game or event like this to consider the significant safety and injury risks.”

Teen Who Died Doing Social Media Trend Identified

Multiple outlets identified the late teen as Ryan Satterthwaite.

As for the game Satterthwaite and his pals were playing, The New Zealand Herald reported that it was based on the “Run It Straight” social media trend.

The outlet described the trend as “the world’s fiercest new combat sport” where two people run full speed at each other until they collide. “Victory belongs to the one who dominates the collision,” the outlet reported.

“Unfortunately takes a death to make people take notice and to stop these high injury risk activities,” Professor Patria Hume, a sports scientist and injury prevention expert, told the outlet. “Ryan’s death was preventable. We need people to stop participating in activities where the intention is to hurt someone.”

In addition to social media users’ attempts, Run It Straight events have been held. They are offering big cash prizes for the winners. At one recent Runit Championship League event, three of the eight competitors had to forfeit due to injury, the outlet reported.

“Any contact sport like boxing, martial arts, or combat-style activities should only be held in highly-controlled environments, which include professional medical supervision and support,” a spokesperson for the league told the outlet.

“All RUNIT events follow established protocols, including screening of participants for suitability, strict guidelines around where and how to tackle (between the shoulders and hips only), with qualified medical support and medical assessments conducted both during and after competition.”

The post Teen Dies After Playing Tackle Game Made Famous by Social Media appeared first on VICE.