Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook
Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

The Strange Story of the Blue People of Kentucky

How scientists figured out the story of the Fugates

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 26, 2012 1:11 PM CST

(Newser) – America is home to people of all colors: White, black, and… blue? Strange but true: ABC News this week unearthed a story from 1982 about a family of blue-skinned people that once lived deep in Kentucky. The blue people first came to the fore when a baby named Benjamin Stacy was rushed to the hospital in 1975 with skin described as "as blue as Lake Louise." But the boy's grandmother was unconcerned about the disease, saying the boy looked like the "blue Fugates of Troublesome Creek."

That fascinated hematologist Madison Cawein III, who, in his words, went "tromping around the hills looking for blue people." Sure enough, he found some who were "bluer'n hell," and concluded that they had a rare, hereditary disease called methemoglobinemia, which makes it difficult for hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the skin. It's a recessive trait and rare, so it's unlikely to occur often—unless there's inbreeding involved, as was the case with the Fugates. Benjamin Stacy's father once showed a reporter his family tree, remarking: "If you'll notice, I'm kin to myself."

The Fugates did not look like this.
The Fugates did not look like this.   (AP Photo/20th Century Fox, File)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
20%
68%
1%
4%
5%
2%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 29 comments
mlondeaux
Mar 2, 2012 4:33 AM CST
The hematologist actually found blue people in the hills of Kentucky and all we get is a picture of Avatar to go with this story? I'd be interested in seeing the REAL blue people so where are THOSE pictures?
Rebekah
Feb 27, 2012 4:37 PM CST
Nice choice of photo and really classy caption. I grew up on Ball Creek. That's my family.
Redhorn
Feb 27, 2012 8:57 AM CST
So you unearthed a story yourself by bringing to our attention that you watch ABC news to bring us *yawn* boring ass stories like this.  Tell us, is your fascination with Avatar AKA Pocohontas in Space, the real reason you wrote about this crap?

More Newser Stories

Cops Shoot Naked Guy Eating Man's Face on Highway

New Rule for Beijing Public Toilets: Only 2 Flies

Unabomber Updates Status in Harvard Magazine

Cop Accused of Breaking Into House, Doing Laundry

Wedding Uggs: Worst Idea Ever?


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   Geek Sugar   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment