Narrator: WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO TURN A SKEPTIC INTO A BELIEVER?
I COULDN'T CONTROL MY OWN BODY.
[ GASPING ]
Narrator: MARK AND REBECCA SPENCER
ARE ABOUT TO LEARN THE HARD WAY.
[ FOOTSTEPS, FLOORBOARDS CREAKING ]
IT WAS ABOUT 5 OR 6 SECONDS OF SHEER TERROR.
Narrator: THEIR DREAM HOUSE TURNS INTO A NIGHTMARE...
[ SCREAMS ]
...WHEN THEY DISCOVER ITS HORRIFIC PAST.
HEARING ALL THOSE VOICES JUST REALLY CHANGED MY LIFE.
Woman's voice: [ Echoing ] MARK.
Narrator: IN AMERICA, THERE IS REAL EVIL.
IT LURKS IN THE DARKEST SHADOWS IN OUR MOST ORDINARY TOWNS.
BETWEEN THE WORLDS WE SEE AND THE THINGS WE FEAR,
THERE ARE DOORS.
WHEN THEY ARE OPENED,
NIGHTMARES BECOME REALITY.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
[ GASPING ]
REBECCA!
[ COUGHING ]
WHAT'S WRONG?
[ Weakly ] I SAW SOMETHING...
A GHOST.
[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS, BELL DINGING ]
Narrator: MONTICELLO, ARKANSAS, 2005.
FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS,
MARK SPENCER HAS BEEN A DEPARTMENT CHAIRMAN
AT A UNIVERSITY IN OKLAHOMA,
BUT HE'S INTERVIEWING FOR A NEW POSITION
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS.
Mark: I ENDED UP COMING OUT HERE FOR THE INTERVIEW.
REBECCA AND THE BOYS CAME WITH ME.
AND WE FOUND THE TOWN CHARMING,
AND I WAS REALLY DRAWN TO THE SENSE OF HISTORY HERE.
LOOK AT THAT ONE.
Narrator: WHILE OUT WALKING ONE AFTERNOON,
A LARGE MANSION CATCHES REBECCA'S ATTENTION.
WE JUST LOOKED AT IT IN ALMOST DISBELIEF
THAT A HOUSE LIKE THAT EXISTED BECAUSE IT WAS SO UNIQUE.
IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE HERE, I WANT THAT HOUSE.
I WAS RATHER DRAWN TO MONTICELLO
IN A SOMEWHAT MYSTERIOUS WAY, I SUPPOSE.
I COULD HAVE STAYED WHERE I WAS, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE.
I WOULD HAVE MADE MORE MONEY.
BUT I JUST REALLY FELT DRAWN TO THE TOWN.
Narrator: THE FOLLOWING DAY, MARK ACCEPTS THE JOB.
REBECCA IS THRILLED.
SHE CAN NOW PURSUE HER DREAM HOUSE.
THAT AFTERNOON, THEY PAY A VISIT TO THE OWNER.
Rebecca: I WANTED THAT HOUSE.
SHORT OF THE DEVIL WALKING OUT THE FRONT DOOR,
I WAS GONNA BUY IT.
[ BIRD SQUAWKS ]
IT WAS ALL KIND OF GLOOMY AND EERIE.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY?
WELL, JUST TELL THEM YOU'RE THE NEW DEAN OF THE UNIVERSITY
AND YOU LOVE THE HOUSE.
IF SHE DOESN'T SLAM THE DOOR IN YOUR FACE,
TELL HER YOU WANT TO BUY IT.
Mark: AFTER GETTING A CLOSE LOOK AT THE HOUSE,
I WAS HAVING SOME SERIOUS SECOND THOUGHTS
ABOUT TRYING TO BUY IT
BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO BE IN SUCH A DILAPIDATED STATE.
Narrator: BUT WHAT MARK DOESN'T REALIZE IS THAT THIS HOUSE IS NOT DEAD.
IT'S VERY MUCH ALIVE.
[ RADIO TUNING, STATIC CRACKLING ]
Man: "...SAME SHALL DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD,
"WHICH IS POURED OUT WITHOUT MIXTURE
"INTO THE CUP OF HIS INDIGNATION,
"AND HE SHALL BE TORMENTED
WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE IN THE..."
I THINK THE IDEA THAT FRIGHTENED ME
WAS THAT WHOEVER OWNED THIS HOUSE
WOULD BE LISTENING TO SUCH A RADIO PROGRAM
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON.
I WAS A LITTLE BIT AFRAID OF
WHAT THE OWNER WAS GOING TO BE LIKE.
"...NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT, WHO WORSHIP THE BEAST
[ DOORBELL RINGS ] "AND HIS IMAGE,
AND WHOEVER RECEIVETH THE MARK OF HIS NAME."
[ RADIO TUNING, STATIC CRACKLING ]
I WAS GLAD THAT NOBODY ANSWERED THE DOOR.
[ GATE CREAKS ]
THIS PLACE LOOKS LIKE A MONEY PIT TO ME.
Narrator: ALTHOUGH THE HOUSE IS IN DISREPAIR,
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT STILL FASCINATES REBECCA.
Rebecca: I THINK HE WAS TRYING TO DISCOURAGE ME,
BUT IT DIDN'T WORK.
I STILL WANTED THE HOUSE.
IT DIDN'T MATTER.
IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT HE SAID.
Narrator: THE SPENCERS ASK EVERYONE THEY KNOW
ABOUT THE HOUSE ON NORTH MAIN STREET,
HOPING SOMEONE CAN LEAD THEM TO THE OWNER.
WE THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD GO TO A REAL-ESTATE AGENT,
AND THE REAL-ESTATE AGENT COULD APPROACH THE OWNER
AND SEE WHETHER THE OWNER MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN AN OFFER.
WE ARE INTERESTED IN A PARTICULAR HOUSE.
GREAT.
IT'S THE ONE ON THE CORNER OF NORTH MAIN AND OAKLAND.
YOU MEAN THE ALLEN HOUSE?
HASN'T ANYONE TOLD YOU?
IT'S HAUNTED.
Mark: I JUST FIGURED, "YOU KNOW, IT'S A SMALL TOWN.
EVERY SMALL TOWN HAS A HAUNTED HOUSE."
Rebecca: AND SHE JUST SAID, "WELL, YOU KNOW,
"THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF HOUSE YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
"IT'S NOT FOR SALE OR ANYTHING,
AND THE WOMAN THAT OWNS IT WOULD NEVER SELL IT, ANYWAYS."
I'M SORRY, BUT I CAN'T HELP YOU WITH THAT HOUSE.
Mark: I DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY ASSUME
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WEIRD ABOUT THE HOUSE, NO.
I WAS MORE INCLINED TO THINK
THERE WAS SOMETHING WEIRD ABOUT THE REAL-ESTATE AGENT.
Narrator: IN THE MEANTIME, MARK INVESTIGATES
THE HAUNTED HISTORY OF THE ALLEN HOUSE.
HE WONDERS IF THE RUMORS ARE TRUE.
Mark: I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH ONE DAY,
JUST, YOU KNOW, TYPED IN,
"ALLEN HOUSE, MONTICELLO, ARKANSAS."
AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF WEBSITES CAME UP,
AND THEY WERE ALL ABOUT
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOUSE.
AND, APPARENTLY, THE HOUSE HAD A REPUTATION
FOR PARANORMAL ACTIVITY FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY.
Narrator: THE HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1906 FOR JOE LEE ALLEN,
ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST BUSINESSMEN IN ARKANSAS.
ALLEN HAD THREE DAUGHTERS.
LADELL, THE MIDDLE CHILD, WAS APPARENTLY HIS FAVORITE.
LADELL ALLEN GOT MARRIED WHEN SHE WAS 19.
THE MARRIAGE DIDN'T LAST.
LADELL MOVED BACK TO HER CHILDHOOD HOME,
WHERE SHE LIVED WITH HER MOTHER.
IT WAS THERE THAT SHE COMMITTED SUICIDE
ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT, 1948.
NO ONE KNEW WHY.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
WOMAN: Is this Dean Spencer?
Mark: I GOT A CALL FROM THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE,
AND SHE SAID THAT SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT I WANTED TO BUY HER HOUSE.
SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO MEET US,
AND AFTER SHE MET US,
SHE WOULD DECIDE WHETHER SHE WOULD CONSIDER
TALKING ABOUT SELLING THE HOUSE.
Narrator: MARK AND REBECCA WILL NEED TO WAIT SEVERAL WEEKS
UNTIL THE OWNER RETURNS FROM AN OUT-OF-TOWN TRIP.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME,
THEY OFTEN VISIT THE ALLEN HOUSE,
ANTICIPATING THEY DAY THEY CAN FINALLY GO INSIDE.
ARE WE REALLY GONNA LIVE HERE?
MAYBE.
DEFINITELY.
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, THAT MUST BE MS. MARILYN.
Mark: I SAW A WOMAN SITTING IN THE WINDOW,
AND SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS SITTING AT A DESK,
MAYBE READING OR WRITING A LETTER.
COME ON, GUYS, LET'S GO.
WE DON'T WANT TO ACTIVATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I DIDN'T WANT HER TO LOOK AND SEE US
AND THEN RECOGNIZE US LATER AND THINK,
"OH, WELL, THEY WERE STALKING THE HOUSE."
Narrator: BUT, FINALLY, THE DAY COMES.
MARK AND REBECCA WILL STEP INTO THE ALLEN HOUSE
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
[ DOOR CREAKS ]
WELCOME TO ALLEN HOUSE!
I'M MARK.
WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE.
Rebecca: I DEFINITELY ANTICIPATED
SOME SORT OF MAGIC WHEN I WALKED IN THE FRONT DOOR,
AND IT FELT THAT WAY.
IT FELT LIKE I WAS WALKING INTO SOMETHING
THAT WAS EVEN BETTER THAN I HAD IMAGINED.
Mark: THE LADY WHO OWNED THE HOUSE
HAD A LOT OF NICE THINGS,
SO IT LOOKED GOOD, BUT IT ALSO FELT GOOD.
I HAD A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THE HOUSE.
IT FELT WARM.
Woman: THE SECOND FLOOR ISN'T IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE.
THIS IS THE MASTER BEDROOM.
[ DOOR CREAKS ]
IS THIS THE ROOM THAT OVERLOOKS THE STREET?
YES.
I IMMEDIATELY COULD SEE THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND-STORY ROOM
IN WHICH WE HAD SEEN THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW.
AND WHAT WAS SURPRISING WAS THAT
WE COULDN'T GET INTO THE ROOM
BECAUSE THE ROOM WAS PACKED FULL OF FURNITURE AND BOXES.
YOU MUST HAVE DONE A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING
TO GET THESE BOXES IN HERE.
WE SAW YOU SITTING AT THE FRONT WINDOW
JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.
I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THIS ROOM FOR MONTHS.
I FIGURED THAT MY WIFE AND THE KIDS AND I
HAD ALL EXPERIENCED SOME SORT OF COMMON OPTICAL ILLUSION.
MAYBE IT WAS A GHOST.
I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD BY NOW THAT THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED.
[ CHUCKLES ]
WE DON'T BELIEVE IN THAT SORT OF THING.
OH, BUT IT'S TRUE.
THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED.
Rebecca: SHE TOLD MARK THAT HE WOULD HEAR LOTS OF STORIES ABOUT IT
BUT NOT TO WORRY BECAUSE SHE HAD HAD THE HOUSE EXORCISED.
WHEN I FIRST MOVED IN HERE,
I COULD HEAR THE GHOSTS TALKING CONSTANTLY.
THEY DON'T TALK AS MUCH NOW.
Mark: MY RESPONSE TO THAT WAS THAT, WELL,
SHE WAS JUST PROBABLY A LITTLE CRAZY.
AND, YOU KNOW,
I WANTED TO BE POLITE,
AND, AFTER ALL, I WAS TRYING TO BUY HER HOUSE,
SO I JUST KIND OF WENT ALONG AND SAID,
"OH, THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING."
[ LAUGHS ]
WELL, WE'VE GOT TO BE GOING.
WE'VE GOT TO PICK OUR SON UP FROM SCHOOL.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR SHOWING US YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOME.
GLAD YOU LIKE IT.
I THINK THE HOUSE LIKES YOU, TOO.
Rebecca: THAT'S WHEN SHE FIRST CAME OUT AND SAID
THAT SHE WAS THINKING OF SELLING HER PALACE
AND THAT GOD MUST HAVE BROUGHT US TO HER
BECAUSE WE WERE THE TYPES OF PEOPLE
THAT SHE WOULD WANT TO SELL HER PALACE TO.
BUT, YES, I THINK I'M SUPPOSED TO DO THIS.
Mark: SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS SURPRISED TO FIND HERSELF SAYING THAT
BECAUSE SHE NEVER THOUGHT SHE WOULD SELL THE HOUSE.
BUT SHE HAD A FEELING ABOUT ME AND REBECCA.
SHE SAID THAT, FOR SOME REASON,
SHE FELT THAT WE WERE MEANT TO OWN IT.
DONE.
[ Laughing ] OH, MY GOODNESS.
I HAVE TO HUG YOU. THAT'S GREAT.
Narrator: BUT LITTLE DO THEY KNOW
THEY'RE MOVING INTO A HOUSE WITH A VERY DARK PAST.
WE FELT THAT THE HOUSE NEEDED TO BE SAVED
AND THAT WE WERE THE ONES TO SAVE IT.
Narrator: PERHAPS MARK AND REBECCA WERE CHOSEN TO OWN THE HOUSE,
BUT JUST WHAT WERE THEY CHOSEN FOR?
YOU READY TO BUY A HOUSE?
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
Narrator: SOON AFTER THE SPENCER FAMILY MOVES IN,
MONTICELLO RESIDENTS START SHOWING UP,
HOPING TO GET A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THE INFAMOUS HAUNTED HOUSE.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
[ DOOR CREAKS ]
WE HEARD THAT YOU WERE LETTING PEOPLE COME IN
TO SEE THE HAUNTED HOUSE.
THEY WOULD SHOW UP AT THE DOOR AND THEY WOULD SAY,
"HEY, WE WANT TO COME AND SEE INSIDE."
AND I'M LIKE, "WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHO TOLD YOU
YOU COULD COME INSIDE MY HOUSE, BUT YOU CAN'T."
WOULD YOU HAVE A STRANGER
COME INTO YOUR HOUSE AND LOOK AROUND?
NO.
SORRY.
I JUST KNEW RIGHT FROM THE START,
WHEN THE KIDS STARTED SHOWING UP AT THE DOOR
AND THEN, LATER, ADULTS SHOWING UP AT THE DOOR,
THAT THE HOUSE WAS OF INTEREST TO EVERYBODY,
AND THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO JUST SAY,
"GO AWAY AND DON'T COME BACK."
[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]
Narrator: IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS,
THE SPENCERS CONCENTRATE ON RENOVATING THE HISTORIC HOUSE.
HAVE YOU BEEN AT THIS LONG?
JUST STARTED, ACTUALLY.
I CONVINCED LAUREN TO TAKE THE KIDS.
WE DID MOST OF THE WORK OURSELVES
BECAUSE WE ENJOY HANDS-ON PROJECTS,
BUT ALSO FOR THE FINANCIAL REASONS.
TAKING ON THE PROJECT
AND HIRING SOMEONE TO DO EVERY LITTLE PART OF IT
WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN TOO COSTLY.
CAN YOU RUN UP TO THE ATTIC REAL QUICK
AND GRAB ME A SCREWDRIVER?
NO PROBLEM.
Mark: I WAS WORKING
50 TO 60 HOURS A WEEK AT THE UNIVERSITY,
AND THEN EVERY SPARE MOMENT I HAD,
I WAS AT HOME WORKING ON THE HOUSE.
I DON'T THINK THAT I COULD HAVE
WORKED AS HARD AS I DID ON THE HOUSE
IF I WASN'T SO MUCH IN LOVE WITH THE HOUSE.
Narrator: WHILE MARK LOVES THE HOUSE,
HE'S ALSO MYSTIFIED BY IT.
THE ATTIC, IN PARTICULAR, HOLDS GREAT MYSTERY.
Mark: I WAS FASCINATED WITH THE ATTIC.
IN A WAY, I LOVED THE ATTIC, BUT I ALSO WAS AFRAID OF IT,
AND I CAN'T GIVE YOU A RATIONAL EXPLANATION
AS TO WHY I WAS AFRAID OF IT.
BUT RIGHT FROM THE START,
RIGHT AFTER WE MOVED INTO THE HOUSE,
I WAS SOMEWHAT AFRAID OF IT.
[ FLOORBOARDS CREAKING ]
[ CREAKING CONTINUES ]
Narrator: MARK'S UNEASINESS GROWS.
SOMEONE -- OR SOMETHING -- IS WATCHING HIM.
Mark: ONE OF THE LITTLE THINGS THAT I FOUND IN THE ATTIC
WAS HALF OF A PHOTOGRAPH OF AN INFANT,
AND ON THE BACK OF IT WAS A ENOUGH OF AN INSCRIPTION
TO DETERMINE THAT IT SAID, "MISS LADELL."
AND I WONDERED, "WHY WOULD ANYBODY
TEAR A PHOTOGRAPH OF A BABY IN HALF?"
Narrator: BUT THEN
SOMETHING UNUSUAL CATCHES HIS EYE.
Mark: I STOOD THERE KIND OF MESMERIZED
BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH AN INTERESTING
PLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW, I THOUGHT.
AND I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE LIGHT WAS COMING FROM
AND HOW MY SHADOW WAS GETTING CAST
ALL THE WAY AROUND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ATTIC.
AND THEN WHAT WAS REALLY STRANGE
WAS THAT WHEN I MOVED, MY SHADOW DIDN'T MOVE.
AND I THOUGHT, "WELL, OKAY, I'VE BEEN WORKING TOO MUCH."
AT THE TIME, I WAS JUST
DETERMINED REALLY NOT TO THINK MUCH ABOUT IT.
I FIGURED, "WELL, THERE MUST BE SOME EXPLANATION.
I JUST DON'T HAVE IT AT THE MOMENT."
Narrator: BUT WHO WAS THIS MYSTERIOUS LADELL?
THE NEXT DAY, REBECCA FOLLOWS UP
AND DISCOVERS THAT THIS WOMAN GREW UP IN THE HOUSE
AND LATER DIED OF AN OVERDOSE AT THE AGE OF 54.
Rebecca: THE ONLY THING I REALLY UNDERSTOOD
ABOUT LADELL FROM THE NEWSPAPER
WAS HER OBITUARY.
THAT SAID THE MOST ABOUT HER.
IT REALLY SAID THAT SHE WAS A VERY WELL-LOVED WOMAN
WHO CARED FOR EVERYONE BUT HERSELF.
[ FOOTSTEPS, FLOORBOARDS CREAKING ]
I HEARD FOUR VERY HEAVY FOOTSTEPS
ABOVE ME IN THE ATTIC.
[ FOOTSTEPS CONTINUE ]
[ FLOORBOARDS CREAKING ]
I WAS ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT
SOMEONE HAD SNUCK IN THE HOUSE AND WAS HIDING OUT UP THERE.
[ FOOTSTEPS CONTINUE ]
[ FLOORBOARDS CREAKING ]
[ FOOTSTEPS, FLOORBOARDS CREAKING ]
Narrator: AFTER HEARING FOOTSTEPS IN THE ATTIC,
REBECCA BELIEVES AN INTRUDER HAS BROKEN IN.
[ FOOTSTEPS, CREAKING CONTINUE ]
BUT SHORTLY AFTER,
THE SOUNDS OF FOOTSTEPS DISAPPEAR.
Rebecca: IT MADE ME PAUSE.
IT MADE ME GO BACK AND THINK ABOUT
SOME OF THE STORIES PEOPLE HAD SAID ABOUT THE HOUSE.
THINGS I HAD DISREGARDED, THINGS I THOUGHT WERE SILLY
NOW BECAME A REALITY TO ME.
THOSE BECAME REAL STORIES
BECAUSE NOW THEY WERE MY STORIES.
Narrator: IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS, THE SPENCERS
DISCUSS A MORE CONCRETE PROBLEM WITH THEIR NEW HOUSE.
WE HAVE GOT TO HIRE SOMEONE
TO COME IN AND INSULATE THE WALLS.
THE ELECTRIC BILL'S GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER EVERY MONTH.
WE WERE QUICKLY GOING BROKE DOING THESE RENOVATIONS.
PAINT AND WALLPAPER AND LUMBER --
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE.
OH, WE GOT A LETTER FROM THOSE, UH, GHOST-HUNTER PEOPLE.
I'LL TAKE A LETTER ANY DAY
OVER PEOPLE JUST SHOWING UP ON THE FRONT PORCH.
I HAD TO TURN ANOTHER ONE AWAY TODAY.
SHE MUST HAVE BEEN 90
AND SHE WAS PUSHIER THAN THE KIDS,
AS IF SHE EXPECTS US TO GIVE GUIDED TOURS.
WELL, WHY DON'T WE?
I MEAN, HALLOWEEN IS COMING UP.
WE COULD CHARGE 5 BUCKS A HEAD.
IT WOULD HELP PAY FOR THE RENOVATIONS.
WHEN REBECCA CAME UP WITH THE IDEA
OF GIVING SOME AT HALLOWEEN,
I THOUGHT, "WELL, IT CAN'T HURT."
[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]
Narrator: ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT,
THE ALLEN HOUSE OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS.
THE LINE STRETCHES ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BLOCK.
Mark: I THOUGHT IT'D BE GREAT IF 50 PEOPLE SHOWED UP
AND PAID TO TOUR THE HOUSE.
AND WE HAD 600.
WELCOME TO ALLEN HOUSE.
Rebecca: SOME OF THE PEOPLE, WHEN THEY CAME UP ON THE PORCH
TO WAIT FOR THEIR TURN TO GO IN THE HOUSE,
WERE SO SCARED THAT THEY WERE SHAKING.
THEY THOUGHT SOMETHING
WAS GOING TO JUST JUMP OUT AND GET THEM
AND THEY WERE GONNA HAVE A REAL, TRUE HAUNTED EXPERIENCE.
Narrator: THE SPENCERS HAVE HIRED A GROUP OF LOCAL STUDENTS
TO LEAD THE TOURS.
ALL RIGHT, FIRST GROUP, FOLLOW ME, PLEASE.
ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS IS SHANE CURRY.
THAT FIRST GROUP WAS REALLY
MORE INTERESTED IN, LIKE, THE GHOST STORIES.
THAT'S WHAT THEY REALLY CAME FOR.
YOU'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT LADELL ALLEN,
WHO SUPPOSEDLY HAUNTS THIS HOUSE.
THIS IS THE ROOM WHERE SHE KILLED HERSELF --
RIGHT OVER THERE.
IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE, 1948.
* MEMORIES SWEET AND LOVELY *
Mark: CADDYE ALLEN, LADELL'S MOTHER,
WAS HOSTING HER ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY.
LADELL WAS, OF COURSE, IN ATTENDANCE.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
Curry: WE HAD HEARD SOME ACCOUNTS OF THE CHRISTMAS PARTY
OF LADELL SEEMING A LOT MORE SOMBER THAN SHE USUALLY WAS.
Narrator: BY THE END OF THE PARTY,
LADELL APPEARED DISHEARTENED,
BUT NO ONE COULD UNDERSTAND WHY AN OTHERWISE CHEERFUL WOMAN
SEEMED SO DEPRESSED.
Mark: AT ONE POINT LATE IN THE EVENING,
SHE PREPARED HERSELF
A PLATE OF HORS D'OEUVRES AND A GLASS OF PUNCH,
AND SHE WENT UPSTAIRS.
Narrator: LATE THAT VERY SAME NIGHT,
LADELL DECIDED TO END HER OWN LIFE.
[ PILLS RATTLING ]
SHE SUFFERED FOR ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE SHE FINALLY PASSED AWAY.
HER MOTHER CAME HOME AND SEALED UP THIS ROOM.
NO ONE CAME IN HERE FOR THE NEXT 37 YEARS,
UNTIL THE ALLEN FAMILY SOLD THE HOUSE.
THAT'S WHEN THE GHOST STORIES BEGAN.
[ SCOFFS ]
YOU DON'T ACTUALLY BELIEVE THOSE STORIES, DO YOU?
[ LAUGHS ]
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
[ SCREAMS ]
[ GASPING ]
Curry: IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORY,
THE LIGHTS FLICKERED AND A SHIRT FLEW OUT OF THE CLOSET.
[ GASPING CONTINUES ]
NICE TRICK.
YOU RIGGED IT UP WITH SOME WIRES OR SOMETHING?
I DIDN'T DO THAT.
EVERYONE LOOKED AT ME LIKE, YOU KNOW, "HOW DID YOU DO THAT?
THAT WAS COOL."
I'M LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT JUST HAPPENED."
YEAH, RIGHT.
SEE FOR YOURSELF.
Curry: AND I'M FREAKING OUT
'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT JUST HAPPENED.
HE GOES AND HE LOOKS, AND THERE'S
NOTHING IN THERE BUT A PILE OF CLOTHES.
I DON'T WANT TO BE IN HERE ANYMORE.
PEOPLE WERE DEFINITELY FREAKED OUT
ONCE THEY REALIZED THAT
THAT WAS NOT, YOU KNOW, A GIMMICK,
THAT WE HADN'T PLANNED FOR A SHIRT TO FLY OUT THE CLOSET.
SOME OF THEM WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND LEAVE.
SOME OF THEM WANTED TO HURRY UP AND FINISH THE TOUR.
Narrator: IT IS OBVIOUS THAT LADELL DOES NOT CARE FOR
THE IDEA OF STRANGERS TOURING HER HOME.
AND SHE'LL MAKE SURE THEY'LL NEVER COME BACK.
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
Narrator: A SIMPLE TOUR OF THE HAUNTED ALLEN HOUSE
HAS TURNED INTO MUCH MORE THAN ANYONE PLANNED.
[ SCREAMS ]
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
I SAW HER. SHE'S STILL HERE.
WHO?
LADELL.
Mark: WE HAD AN OLDER LADY ON THE TOUR
WHO CAME UP TO ME AS SHE WAS LEAVING THE HOUSE
AND TOLD ME THAT WHEN SHE WAS ON THE SECOND FLOOR,
SHE SAW A LADY IN A VICTORIAN DRESS.
SHE WAS SAYING SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD SEEN LADELL.
WHY IS SHE SO SAD?
I-I DON'T KNOW.
PEOPLE WHO CAME ON THE TOUR --
THEY ALL WANTED TO KNOW WHAT OUR IDEAS WERE
OR WHAT WE KNEW ABOUT LADELL'S SUICIDE.
AND THE FACT IS NOBODY KNEW WHY SHE HAD COMMITTED SUICIDE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OPENING YOUR HOUSE TO US.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS.
I SAW HER. I SAW HER.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: AFTER THE EXCITEMENT OF HALLOWEEN,
THE SPENCERS RETURN TO THEIR ROUTINES,
STILL WORKING HARD TO MAKE THE HOUSE THEIR OWN.
BUT SOMEONE IS INTENT ON DISTRACTING THEM.
[ INDISTINCT MUSIC PLAYING ]
* ...LOVE I'LL GIVE TO HIM, AND WE WILL START ANEW *
* WHEN THE STARS ABOVE MAKE MY WISH COME TRUE *
* THEN MY MEMORIES WILL NEVER BE LONELY *
* WHEN MY ONE AND ONLY RETURNS TO ME *
[ MUSIC STOPS ]
I PUT THE NEEDLE DOWN, AND IT STOPPED INSTANTLY.
AND WHAT'S ODD ABOUT THAT
IS THAT IT'S WOUND UP WITH A SPRING,
SO IF SOMEONE HAD ACTUALLY WOUND IT UP
AND YOU WERE TO PUT THE NEEDLE DOWN,
IT WOULD EITHER PLAY OR IT WOULD JUST SLOWLY WIND ITSELF OUT.
BUT IT STOPPED INSTANTLY, SO IT WASN'T WOUND AT ALL.
Narrator: REBECCA GOES UPSTAIRS
TO TELL HER HUSBAND WHAT SHE SAW.
BUT SOMETHING STOPS HER DEAD IN HER TRACKS.
IT WAS CONTROLLING ME.
I HAD TO FEEL WHAT IT WANTED ME TO FEEL.
[ GASPING ]
REBECCA!
IT WAS ABOUT 5 OR 6 SECONDS OF ALMOST SHEER TERROR.
WHAT'S WRONG?
I SAW SOMETHING...
A GHOST.
Narrator: IT'S AS IF LADELL IS TRYING TO TELL HER SOMETHING.
BUT WHAT?
I STILL WASN'T REALLY CONVINCED, I GUESS, FOR MYSELF.
IT WASN'T THAT I THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS CRAZY,
BUT I SUPPOSE I JUST WANTED TO SEE IT FOR MYSELF.
COME ON, HONEY.
I THINK MAYBE IT'S TIME
WE LET ONE OF THOSE PARANORMAL GROUPS
COME AND INVESTIGATE.
I WANTED CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
BEFORE I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY,
"YEAH, THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED."
Narrator: THE SPENCERS INVITE
A TEAM OF PARANORMAL EXPERTS FROM LOUISIANA SPIRITS
TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ALLEN HOUSE.
AMONG THE INVESTIGATORS IS BESS MAXWELL.
Maxwell: YOU COULD FEEL THE HISTORY OF THAT HOUSE
AND YOU COULD FEEL THE HOUSE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER BEEN ANY OTHER PLACE
THAT YOU COULD JUST FEEL THE SPIRIT OF THE HOUSE
LIKE THE ALLEN HOUSE.
WE REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROTOCOL WAS
FOR HAVING PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS IN ONE'S HOME.
SO WE SENT THE KIDS OFF TO FRIENDS' HOUSES FOR THE NIGHT,
AND REBECCA AND I DECIDED THAT WE WOULD GO OUT
AND LEAVE THE HOUSE TO THE INVESTIGATORS.
WE'VE NEVER LEFT ANYONE ALONE IN THE HOUSE BEFORE.
Maxwell: OH, DON'T WORRY.
WE DO THIS KIND OF THING ALL THE TIME.
WE'LL BE FINE.
REBECCA SPENCER'S CONCERNS WERE
SHE ALWAYS FELT THAT THE ALLEN HOUSE
HAD ITS OWN DISTINCT PERSONALITY.
SHE LOOKED AT THE HOUSE
AS BEING ALMOST A PERSON IN AND OF ITSELF.
AND SHE WAS JUST KIND OF WORRIED THAT, AS STRANGE AS IT SOUNDS,
THE HOUSE WOULD NOT LIKE US BEING THERE.
YOU READY?
I GUESS SO.
Rebecca: THAT NIGHT, I FELT THAT SOMETHING WAS A LITTLE OFF.
MARK FELT SOMETHING WAS A LITTLE OFF.
WE JUST WEREN'T SURE WHAT TO DO, SO WE CHOSE TO LEAVE,
BUT I THINK WE BOTH KNEW RIGHT FROM THE START
THAT WE SHOULDN'T DO THAT.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
I FELT A LITTLE DIZZY COMING DOWN THE STAIRS.
I DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH OF IT AT THE TIME.
I THOUGHT, "WELL, MAYBE I NEED TO EAT OR SOMETHING."
BUT I DID --
I FELT LIKE THE AIR WAS SUDDENLY CHARGED IN SOME WAY.
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
I'M OKAY. COME ON.
Narrator: BUT MARK IS FAR FROM OKAY.
PERHAPS IT'S A WARNING OF EVENTS YET TO COME.
Woman's voice: [ Echoing ] LADELL.
Narrator: AFTER MARK AND REBECCA LEAVE FOR THE EVENING,
THE INVESTIGATORS CONTINUE THEIR ATTEMPT
TO SOLVE THE ALLEN HOUSE MYSTERY.
THE ATTIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE FOCAL POINT
OF A LOT OF THE ACTIVITY IN THE HOUSE.
Narrator: BESS USES AN EMF METER
TO PICK UP ON ELECTRONIC FREQUENCIES.
WHEN IT LIGHTS UP,
IT SUGGESTS THE PRESENCE OF SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY.
[ FLOORBOARDS CREAKING ]
[ BEEPING ]
Woman's voice: [ Echoing ] LADELL.
LADELL.
I THOUGHT THAT ONE OF THE OTHER INVESTIGATORS
WAS COMING UP BEHIND ME AND HAD JUST SAID HER NAME.
SHE HAD NOT BEEN BEHIND ME,
SO WHERE THE VOICE CAME FROM, I DON'T KNOW.
Narrator: MEANWHILE,
RACHEL ELLIS SETS UP A CAMERA IN THE MASTER BEDROOM.
[ INDISTINCT MUSIC PLAYING ]
* ...LOVE I'LL GIVE TO HIM, AND WE WILL START ANEW *
I COULD HEAR A LADY SINGING REALLY SOFTLY,
BUT THERE WAS NOBODY IN THERE WITH ME.
* ...COME TRUE *
* THEN MY MEMORIES... *
Narrator: MAYBE NOBODY INSIDE.
* WHEN MY ONE AND ONLY... *
[ THUNDER CRASHES ]
IT WAS LIKE LIGHTNING ALL AROUND THE HOUSE.
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
WHAT HAPPENED?
I DON'T KNOW.
EVERYTHING IS DEAD EXCEPT THE AUDIO RECORDERS.
ALL ELECTRICITY WENT OUT.
THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY WHATSOEVER.
BUT OUR RECORDERS WERE STILL ON.
I SAW SPARKS OUTSIDE JUST BEFORE THE LIGHTS WENT OUT.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN A TRANSFORMER.
THE NEIGHBORS STILL HAVE POWER.
THEN WE REALIZED THAT,
WELL, IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE TRANSFORMER BECAUSE
WE WERE THE ONLY HOUSE WITH NO ELECTRICITY.
THE HOUSES NEXT DOOR ON EITHER SIDE,
THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET --
THEIR LIGHTS WERE ON.
SO IT WAS JUST US.
I BETTER CALL REBECCA.
[ Cellphone beeps ]
Rebecca: WE WERE JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE HOUSE
WHEN MY PHONE RANG,
AND IT WAS ONE OF THE INVESTIGATORS.
MY IMMEDIATE FEELING WAS, "I KNEW IT.
I KNEW WE SHOULDN'T HAVE LEFT THE HOUSE."
WHAT HAPPENED?
COME ON, FOLLOW ME. I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
HERE. BE CAREFUL AND WATCH THE WIRE.
Narrator: WITHOUT ANY PROBABLE EXPLANATION,
A BRANCH HAS FALLEN ON THE POWER LINES.
Maxwell: I'M NOT A BIG BELIEVER IN COINCIDENCES,
SO IT JUST SEEMED TOO ODD TO JUST SAY,
"WELL, A LIMB JUST HAPPENED TO FALL OFF THE TREE
JUST AS WE WERE ABOUT TO BEGIN OUR INVESTIGATION."
IT WAS JUST TOO STRANGE.
Mark: IT'S PERFECTLY STILL. THERE'S NO BREEZE.
IT'S NOT RAINING.
THE TREE LIMB IS A BIG, LEAFY LIMB
ON WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PERFECTLY HEALTHY TREE.
Narrator: SINCE MOST OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT THE INVESTIGATORS USE
IS ELECTRICAL,
THE BLACKOUT EFFECTIVELY ENDS THE INVESTIGATION.
A FEW DAYS LATER,
BESS MAXWELL RETURNS WITH SURPRISING NEWS.
WE TAPED THIS A FEW SECONDS AFTER THE POWER WENT OUT.
DURING THEIR INVESTIGATION,
THEY RECORD SEVERAL DISEMBODIES VOICES,
KNOWN AS ELECTRONIC VOICE PHENOMENA.
WHAT HAPPENED?
I DON'T KNOW.
EVERYTHING IS DEAD EXCEPT THE AUDIO RECORDERS.
I SAW SPARKS OUTSIDE
JUST BEFORE THE LIGHTS WENT OUT.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN A TRANSFORMER.
Woman's voice: [ Echoing ] NOT A TRANSFORMER.
HEARING ALL THOSE VOICES JUST REALLY FREAKED ME OUT.
THE NEIGHBORS STILL HAVE POWER.
I BETTER CALL REBECCA.
I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
AND THERE ARE MORE.
Mark: HEARING ALL THE EVPs THAT L.A. SPIRITS HAD RECORDED
DURING THEIR INVESTIGATION
REALLY CHANGED MY LIFE, I THINK.
FOR ME, THE TRULY AMAZING THING ABOUT THIS
IS THAT THE VOICE SEEMS TO BE
RESPONDING TO US IN THE MOMENT,
AS IF IT HEARS WHAT WE'RE SAYING
AND IT'S TRYING TO TALK TO US.
A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO DEAL WITH RESIDUAL HAUNTINGS,
WHICH ARE NOT INTELLIGENT HAUNTINGS.
IT'S JUST LIKE SOMETHING
PLAYING OVER AND OVER AND OVER ON A TAPE RECORDER.
YOU CAN GET EVPs FROM THAT, TOO, BUT THIS WAS NOT THAT.
THIS WAS AN INTELLIGENT HAUNTING.
THIS WAS A SPIRIT IN THE HOUSE THAT HAD AN AGENDA.
THIS SPIRIT WANTS SOMETHING FROM US.
WHAT DOES IT WANT?
WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO FIND OUT.
Maxwell: WE THOUGHT MAYBE IF WE COULD
REVEAL WHY LADELL KILLED HERSELF AND WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH HER,
MAYBE THEN SHE WOULD BE DONE WITH HER EARTHLY BUSINESS.
Narrator: THE SPENCERS CONTINUE TO BE HAUNTED
BY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE SUICIDE OF LADELL ALLEN BONNER.
IT'S A MYSTERY THEY CANNOT IGNORE.
MARK HAS TRIED TO UNDERSTAND THINGS RATIONALLY,
BUT NOW HIS INSTINCTS TAKE OVER.
Mark: ONE SATURDAY MORNING, I WOKE UP
AND I IMMEDIATELY FELT
THE COMPULSION TO GO TO THE ATTIC.
I WAS ARGUING WITH MYSELF
THAT THERE WASN'T ANY REASON TO GO TO THE ATTIC
BECAUSE I HAD SCOURED THE ATTIC MANY TIMES
AND I WAS CONVINCED THAT I HAD FOUND EVERYTHING
THAT THERE WAS TO BE FOUND.
BUT THIS VOICE IN MY HEAD JUST WAS NAGGING ME --
"YOU'VE GOT TO GO TO THE ATTIC."
I LOOKED DOWN AT THAT OPENING,
AND AT FIRST, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
STILL, THERE'S, YOU KNOW,
LIKE, THIS VOICE IN MY HEAD TELLING ME, "LOOK CLOSER."
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A HAND WAS ON MY SHOULDER PUSHING ME DOWN.
I OPENED UP THE LARGE BROWN ENVELOPE,
AND IT WAS FULL OF SMALLER WHITE ENVELOPES.
AND THESE WERE ALL LETTERS.
THEY WERE ALL POSTMARKED 1948
AND THEY WERE ALL ADDRESSED TO LADELL ALLEN BONNER.
THEY WERE ALL WRITTEN TO HER,
OBVIOUSLY, IN THE LAST YEAR OF HER LIFE.
I THOUGHT THAT I WAS DREAMING.
I REALLY WAS WAITING TO WAKE UP.
Narrator: MARK IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO SOLVING THE MYSTERY,
AS HE'S ABOUT TO DISCOVER
THE SHOCKING TRUTH OF MISS LADELL ALLEN.
Woman's voice: [ Echoing ] MARK.
MARK.
Narrator: AFTER TRYING TO DECIPHER
THE PARANORMAL DISTURBANCES IN THE HOUSE,
MARK IS LED TO THE ATTIC
AND DISCOVERS A STASH OF HIDDEN LETTERS.
THE TRUTH BEHIND LADELL'S SUICIDE
IS FINALLY BEFORE HIM.
Woman's voice: [ Echoing ] MARK.
MARK.
MARK?
I LITERALLY BLINKED FAST SEVERAL TIMES,
AND IT WAS REBECCA COMING TOWARD ME.
WHAT'S WRONG?
I THINK THAT THE TRANSITION
BETWEEN SEEING LADELL AND THEN SEEING REBECCA --
I THINK THAT IT WAS MEANT THAT WAY.
I THINK THAT LADELL WAS PROBABLY USING REBECCA'S ENERGY
TO SHOW HERSELF TO ME.
I KNOW WHY LADELL KILLED HERSELF.
Narrator: LATER THAT AFTERNOON,
MARK AND REBECCA READ THROUGH ALL 82 LETTERS,
HOPING TO UNVEIL THE MYSTERY BEHIND LADELL'S SECRET PAST.
Mark: OBVIOUSLY, THESE WERE LETTERS FROM A MAN
WHO IS MADLY IN LOVE WITH LADELL.
"YOU CERTAINLY ARE AS NEAR THE DELL I KNEW YEARS AGO
AS YOU COULD POSSIBLY BE."
Narrator: LADELL'S ADMIRER
WAS A GENTLEMAN NAMED PRENTISS HEMINGWAY SAVAGE.
PRENTISS WAS VICE PRESIDENT OF TEXACO OIL IN 1948.
HE LIVED IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA,
BUT HE HAD GROWN UP HERE IN MONTICELLO.
LADELL AND PRENTISS DATED AS TEENAGERS.
YEARS LATER, AS ADULTS, THEY REKINDLED THEIR LOVE.
HELLO, DELL. [ LAUGHS ]
BUT THIS TIME, SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT.
PRENTISS WAS MARRIED.
IN JULY 1948,
LADELL ARRANGED TO MEET PRENTISS IN MILWAUKEE.
IT ENDED ON A PROMISE --
TO SPEND THE REST OF THEIR LIVES TOGETHER.
LADELL RETURNED HOME,
AND THEY BEGAN MAKING PLANS THROUGH A SERIES OF LETTERS.
BUT THEN PRENTISS STOPPED WRITING.
Rebecca: REALITY JUST GOT IN THE WAY,
AND THIS MAN COULDN'T LEAVE HIS WIFE
BECAUSE HE COULDN'T ACCEPT THE SCANDAL
THAT HIS WIFE WOULD STIR UP IN THE NEWSPAPERS
BECAUSE HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT OF TEXACO OIL.
Narrator: AND ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT, 1948,
LADELL FINALLY SEALED HER FATE.
I THINK THAT SHE HOPED THAT PRENTISS WOULD ARRIVE,
WOULD SHOW UP, WOULD SURPRISE HER.
MICHAEL! COME ON IN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
Narrator: THE MAN SHE LOVED NEVER ARRIVED.
HER DREAMS WERE BROKEN,
AND SHE GAVE UP HOPE OF EVER BEING HAPPY AGAIN.
[ PILLS RATTLING ]
Mark: I'M READING THESE LETTERS
FULL OF THESE WILD PROMISES AND DECLARATIONS OF LOVE,
BUT I KNOW HOW IT ENDS.
SHE KNEW HE WASN'T COMING BACK.
Rebecca: I FELT SAD FOR HER
AND, AT THE SAME TIME, I FELT A SORT OF HAPPINESS
THAT NOW WE KNEW.
AND, OBVIOUSLY, SHE WANTED US TO KNOW.
WE WOULD NOT HAVE DISCOVERED THOSE LETTERS ANY OTHER WAY.
SHE HAD TO HAVE WANTED US TO KNOW THE STORY.
SHE HAD NOTHING LEFT
AND SHE COULDN'T PRETEND ANYMORE.
WE'LL MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.
FROM THE FIRST MOMENT WE SAW THE HOUSE TILL NOW,
ALL OF IT HAS FELT LIKE IT WAS DESTINY
OR SOME SORT OF FATE THAT BROUGHT US TO THIS TOWN.
I REALLY FEEL LIKE
WE ARE WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
Mark: WHAT I THINK I'VE EXPERIENCED
FOLLOWING MY DISCOVERY OF THE LETTERS
IS A GREATER AWARENESS OF LADELL'S PRESENCE.
I THINK THAT CONNECTION SHE MADE WITH ME
THE DAY THAT I DISCOVERED THE LETTERS
HAS, YOU KNOW, OPENED A SORT OF DOOR,
AND THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN ME AND HER.
Narrator: MARK HAS NO DOUBT
THAT LADELL HAS CHOSEN HIM TO TELL HER STORY.
HE DECIDES TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES, THE HOUSE,
AND THE TRUTH BEHIND
THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF LADELL ALLEN BONNER.