Tickle Me Elmo became a really popular toy amongst children when it was released in 1996 by Tyco Preschool. When Elmo was squeezed, he’d giggle and when he was squeezed three times he would shake and laugh hysterically. The doll was so successful that the $30 toy went for up to $1,500 online. Parents were in a frenzy to buy it. Since it was so successful, they came out with another Elmo doll. The new doll could be hooked up to the computer and programmed to say the child’s name in phrases it knew, like “I love Jimmy.”
In Tampa, Florida a mom got a creepy Elmo doll. She changed its batteries and Elmo began making a threat to the child, James. The mom bought the toy, because James was so obsessed with Elmo. The doll began saying “Kill James.” His mom took the toy away, because James began repeating the phrase.