A surprise message left in the walls of a home leads to a widespread search for the previous homeowners.
Twitter holds a treasure trove of unusual tales from around the world, and while some days spent knocking about in the Twitterverse are seemingly ordinary, with users sharing photos of their cats watching video games or dogs eating cash, other days come with exciting stories of mystery, and today was one of those days.
The mysterious story that’s got everyone talking online at the moment comes from @alexmonney, a resident of California’s San Jose, who tweeted a photo, saying it was sent to him by the contractor helping them remodel their bathroom.
The original tweet has since been deleted, but the image that was tweeted can still be found online:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk1GXlHgf3C/?tagged=shinseki
As the image shows, the owners have stumbled upon a message written by the previous occupants of the house, which reads: “Hi! We’re the Shinseki’s! (sic) We remodelled this bathroom summer 1995. If you’re reading this, that means you’re remodelling the bathroom again. What’s wrong with the way we did it?!?!” The attached photo shows a young Asian couple, and given that Shinseki is a Japanese surname, it’s likely the couple has Japanese ancestry.
Even more intriguing is the photo beneath it, which shows a black rabbit, alongside a message that reads, “Hi! I’m Cassie the bunny rabbit. I lived here too! (I’m potty trained!)” Next to that is a speech bubble that says, “I’m going to be the next Cadbury Bunny.”
The sweet discovery initially left the owners, and their Twitter followers, with a lot of unanswered questions. The first mystery that needed solving was the question of “Who are the Shinsekis and where are they now?”
Twitter was quick to act, with hundreds of suggestions coming in from people who thought they might have found the mystery couple. One of the most popular suggestions was that it might be Eric Shinseki, a retired U.S. Army general who was the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 2009–2014, and his wife, Patricia.
https://twitter.com/offcolor/status/1014240311072247809After some heated debate and intense discussion about the difference in facial features though, other suggestions followed, until finally this tweet appeared.
This is my youngest brother
— Rev. Jay Shinseki (@jayshinseki) July 4, 2018
The current owner of the house replied with this message.
https://twitter.com/alexmonney/status/1014397324154376192As it turns out, the Twitter gods were smiling on the Monneys, as it looks like they may have solved the mystery of the couple in the walls. As we wait to hear more information about the Californian reverend’s younger brother and his reaction to the bathroom remodelling, another important question remains: “What happened to the bunny?” Twitter followers are attempting to tie up the loose threads on that mystery with some creative suggestions of their own.
https://twitter.com/ZoopSoul/status/1014350366127874052I’ve heard the bunny is living out his golden years in the U.K., where he is currently working on his memoirs. He’s quite cozy in a little smoking jacket, with a tiny glass of brandy and a wee little fireplace to snuggle near. #bunnyretirement
— Nikki ⁷ ⟭⟬ (@Nikki71) July 4, 2018
If you think you’ve spotted Cassie the bunny rabbit enjoying life somewhere like a potty-trained boss, let us know in the comments section below! And if you’re looking for another tale of a mystery solved with the power of Twitter, look no further than the story of Bleach creator Tite Kubo, who was able to track down the family of a fan who’d sent him a letter without a return address. But you’ll need to get out the tissues for that one!
Source, featured image: Twitter/@alexmonney

Japanese Twitter user sticks googly eyes on pet bunny’s butt, accidentally creates monster【Video】
Golf course outhouse is definitely “out” there with a little help from nature
Japanese police officer comes up with cute reminder to help people not get scammed over the phone
Adorably derpy bunny melts even the most frigid hearts on Japanese Twitter 【Pics】
Nintendo’s Kirby is trying to eat pet rabbits in Japan【Photos】
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Japanese convenience store sandwiches get extra protection from new business backpack
Giant pipe mysteriously rises up through street in downtown Osaka
Is this Japan’s most extreme cherry blossom viewing? Leap, cycle and climb through 2,500 sakura
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
This is the Rei Ayanami doll we’ve been anticipating since last year—and it was worth the wait!
Does this video about an abandoned dog leave you wiping your eyes or shaking your fist?
Japanese town’s Cat Street View lets you virtually tour its backstreets, meet feline residents
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Pikachu and Eevee become handmade Lladró porcelain sculptures to celebrate Pokémon’s 30th birthday
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Twitter user posts video of swarming bunnies on Rabbit Island, we all wish we were there
Osaka shrine’s sacred horse provides no bathroom privacy, lots of laughs after “remodeling”【Vid】
Japan falls in love with plant that grows cute rabbits pulling peace-sign poses
Japanese netizens fall in love with super long cat, flood Twitter with long cat memes
Barely-legal bathroom signs confuse and amuse Japanese Twitter
Social media users in Japan gripped by the mysterious case of the frog-shaped hole in concrete
What is this weird train spotted at a Japanese railway station?
Cat has Internet in stitches after getting itself stuck in awkward position
Pikachu carved out of pure butter melts hearts and eyeballs on Twitter
Poo emoji hand signals go viral on Japanese Twitter
Unique RSVP causes Twitter to explode with hilarious ways to say “no”
Japanese Twitter artist gives hilarious suggestion for when you can’t draw a character’s body
Japanese Twitter community shocked to learn that train timetables are made with Microsoft Excel
“My dog ate my salary” – Japanese Twitter user captures the aftermath on camera 【Pics】