Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe NEWARK, Del., Oct. 30 (UPI) -- A University of Delaware researcher said he could find no evidence of tainted Halloween candy being given to trick-or-treaters in the past 25 years. Joel Best, a University of Delaware sociology and criminal-justice professor, said he studied newspaper articles from around the country in the search for the origin of an urban legend about a child collapsing after eating poisoned Skittles he was given for Halloween, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Wednesday. Advertisement "I couldn't find anything," he said. "There was one kid that was poisoned by his father for insurance money, and he just assumed that was happening all the time, and no one would ever suspect him." Best said four reported incidents of children harmed by tainted candy were later retracted by the newspapers when further evidence emerged. "Halloween is supposed to be a scary holiday," Best said. "We stopped believing in ghosts and goblins, but we still believe in criminals. It sort of updates our fears." Read More Police: Woman dressed as abusive wife arrested for domestic battery Mother posts message to thief who took son's pumpkin Couple runs race together before wedding, but groom never saw bride Pug dressed as Miley Cyrus' 'Wrecking Ball' goes viral Norwegian store axes severed Halloween hands
