La Llorona (Maria, The Weeping Woman)

Dressed in white robes and weeping for her children up and down the river. Children are told to never go out at night, that Maria might snatch them and never return them. Also, those who resemble her children will be kidnapped or children who disobey their parents.

Her kidnapping, and in some stories she eats children, also resembles the Bogeyman.

The tale warns young women to not be enticed by status, wealth, material goods, or by men who make declarations of love or lavish promises.

Some believe that those who hear the wails of La Llorona are marked for death, similar to the Banshee. The Banshee and La Llorona both endlessly weep for the loss of life. Also similar to the Banshee, La Llorona has ben said to take human form.

WeirdU.S.:

Legend also has it that if you see her, you or someone close to you will die within a week.

WiseGeek:

She is forced to wander the earth as punishment for the murder of her children, or because she refuses to admit her guilt to God.