Ray Thurston

Ray Thurston is an antagonist in the first Goosebumps book, Welcome to Dead House, as well as its television adaptation.

History
Ray is one of the many residents of Dark Falls. He and his family moved to Dark Falls and lived in what is referred to by the town as the Dead House, a house the town uses to lure unsuspecting families so they can kill them and feast on their blood to survive. Ray and his family were killed, but much like the other residents, became the living dead, continuing the cycle of luring new victims. He was then given the role of The Watcher, tasked with stalking the Benson family from within their new home, making sure that they weren't aware of the town's plans beforehand. He and the other children of Dark Falls befriend Amanda and Josh, at one point playing baseball with them.

Knowing that dogs can detect the dead, Ray kills Petey, the Benson family dog. But when Amanda and Josh go looking for Petey, they wind up in the town cemetery, where they find the gravestones for many of the kids in Dark Falls, including Ray's. He panics and starts to float above Amanda, seemingly choking her, until Josh shines his halogen flashlight over him, causing Ray's flesh and other body parts to melt off, leaving nothing but a skeletal heap on the ground.

Physical appearance
The book describes Ray as having wavy blond hair, a turned up nose and a serious looking face. He wears a maroon long-sleeved sweatshirt and black jeans and occasionally a blue baseball cap.

Personality
Ray tries his best to be friendly to Amanda and Josh, to the point that it does feel genuine. He also comes off as remorseful when he reveals the truth about the town and having to kill Petey, as well as when he tries to kill Amanda.

Goosebumps

 * Welcome to Dead House

Goosebumps (television series)

 * "Welcome to Dead House"

Trivia

 * It is possible that Ray, as well as the other Dark Falls residents, were set to return in the Goosebumps Gold book Happy Holidays From Dead House, but the book, along with Goosebumps Gold, were cancelled not long after R.L. Stine parted ways with Scholastic.Falls Zombie HorrorTown depiction.png.]]
 * While Ray did not appear during Goosebumps HorrorTown's Welcome to Dead House event, the design of the Dark Falls citizens is based off his appearance in the television episode.
 * According to Ray's tombstone, he died four years before the Benson family arrived in Dark Falls.