Narrator: A MILLION-DOLLAR MANSION ON THE COAST OF FLORIDA
IS RUMORED TO HOUSE A TERRIFYING GHOST.
[ SCREAMS ]
IT FELT LIKE LOOKING INTO THE FACE OF SHEER EVIL.
Narrator: ALIVE, HE COMMITTED UNSPEAKABLE ATROCITIES.
SOMEONE DIED FROM A HANGING RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: DEAD, HE CONTINUES HIS REIGN OF TERROR.
Jennifer: YOU DIDN'T WANT TO TURN YOUR BACK.
YOU DIDN'T WANT TO CLOSE YOUR EYES
FOR FEAR OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF YOU DID.
I WAS TERRIFIED.
I WAS AFRAID FOR MY CHILDREN.
I WAS AFRAID FOR MYSELF.
WHATEVER WAS THERE WAS AFTER ME.
[ LAUREN SCREAMS ]
Narrator: WILL THE FAMILY GET OUT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE?
[ SCREAMS ]
IN AMERICA, THERE IS REAL EVIL.
IT LURKS IN THE DARKEST SHADOWS AND IN OUR MOST ORDINARY TOWNS.
BETWEEN THE WORLD 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
AMONG THE WATERWAYS AND MARSHES OF THE ESCAMBIA BAY
IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA,
STANDS A MAJESTIC, MILLION-DOLLAR MANSION.
IN THE SUMMER OF 2009,
JENNIFER WELBURN AND HER TWO TEENAGE DAUGHTERS,
LAUREN AND CANDICE,
BASK IN THE BEAUTY OF THEIR NEW HOME.
BEFORE WE MOVED TO FLORIDA, IT WAS JUST THE GIRLS AND I.
I WAS A SINGLE MOM TRYING TO RAISE THEM,
PUT THEM BOTH THROUGH SCHOOL,
TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THEIR DAILY NEEDS ALL BY MYSELF.
Lauren: I WAS LIKE, "WOW. THIS IS REALLY MY HOUSE."
I WAS LIKE, "I'M DREAMING.
SOMEBODY SMACK ME AND WAKE ME UP." [ CHUCKLES ]
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
HEY, JENN, YOU ABOUT READY TO GO?
I WAS UNTIL I CAME OUT HERE.
[ SIGHS ]
PRETTY SPECTACULAR, ISN'T IT?
MM.
Narrator: A FEW MONTHS EARLIER,
JENNIFER AND HER HIGH-SCHOOL SWEETHEART JAMIE
RECONNECTED AND GOT ENGAGED.
TOGETHER, THEY MOVED INTO THEIR DREAM HOUSE.
Jamie: I FOUND THIS BEAUTIFUL HOME CLOSE TO THE WATER.
IT WAS THE PERFECT FAMILY HOUSE,
BECAUSE THERE WAS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THE KIDS.
SO, LAUREN, HOW MANY TIMES THAT GUY CALL YOU TODAY?
WHEN I FIRST MET JAMIE, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED HIM.
TWICE.
NO, IT WAS THREE TIMES.
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER -- HEARTBREAKER.
Lauren: HE WAS REALLY SWEET, AND YOU COULD TELL HE MADE MOM HAPPY.
THIS IS A GUY THAT I CAN LOOK UP TO AS A DAD.
Jennifer: I FIGURED THAT WE WOULD LIVE THERE HAPPILY EVER AFTER,
BUT THAT'S NOT HOW IT TURNED OUT.
Narrator: IT TURNS OUT THE BEAUTY OF THE HOUSE AND THE SURROUNDING LAND
MASK A VIOLENT HISTORY.
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, IS ONE OF THE OLDEST EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS
IN NORTH AMERICA.
BY THE MID 1800s, THE NATIVE POPULATION
HAD BEEN COMPLETELY OVERRUN BY NEW LANDOWNERS.
COTTON PLANTATIONS FLOURISHED
AND SLAVES ACCOUNTED FOR NEARLY HALF
OF FLORIDA'S GROWING POPULATION.
Jennifer: YOU CAN IMAGINE ESCAMBIA BAY,
BEING THE WATERWAY RIGHT ON THE PROPERTY,
IT WAS DEFINITELY USED IN SLAVE TRADING.
Narrator: TODAY, THE HORRORS OF THE PAST ARE BURIED DEEP BUT NOT DEAD.
SOMEONE HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO LET GO OF THE LAND OR THE HOUSE.
Jennifer: TWO WEEKS AFTER MOVING INTO THE HOUSE
WAS WHEN I ACTUALLY NOTICED
THE FIRST SIGNS OF SOMETHING STRANGE GOING ON.
I WENT UPSTAIRS AND NOTICED
THAT THE PICTURES WERE HANGING UPSIDE DOWN ON THE WALL,
AS IF THAT'S THE WAY WE HAD PLACED THEM.
INITIALLY, I THOUGHT
THAT THE GIRLS MIGHT BE PLAYING A PRANK ON ME.
LAUREN?
SO I WALKED INTO MY DAUGHTER'S ROOM...
LAUREN?
...AND HER WINDOWS WERE WIDE OPEN...
CANDICE?
...THE BLINDS WERE PULLED UP...
SO, YOU KNOW THE AIR CONDITION IS ON.
WHY ARE ALL THE WINDOWS IN LAUREN'S ROOM OPEN?
SHE HASN'T EVEN BEEN HERE ALL DAY.
I DIDN'T OPEN THEM.
WELL -- WELL, SOMEBODY OPENED THEM.
IT WASN'T ME.
SO I SUPPOSE YOU DIDN'T
FLIP THE PICTURE IN THE HALLWAY, EITHER, HUH?
MOM, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
OH, FORGET IT.
JUST PLEASE KEEP THE WINDOWS CLOSED, OKAY?
OKAY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY WEIRD,
BUT I DECIDED NOT TO PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO IT,
AND I PUT IT TO THE SIDE AND TRIED NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT.
Narrator: OVER THE FOLLOWING MONTHS,
JENNIFER ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO SENSES SOMETHING STRANGE
IN THE NEW HOUSE.
A FEW WEEKS AFTER MOVING IN,
LAUREN AND CANDICE ENJOY GIRL TIME AT HOME
WHILE THEIR MOM AND JAMIE ARE OUT.
THE FIRST TIME SOMETHING HAPPENED,
CANDICE AND I WERE ALONE IN THE HOUSE.
[ THUDDING ]
WHAT WAS THAT?
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU STAY HERE. I'LL GO CHECK IT OUT.
AND WE KEPT HEARING THIS NOISE UPSTAIRS.
SOUNDED LIKE SOMEBODY WAS WALKING AROUND.
[ THUDDING CONTINUES ]
I WENT INTO MY MOM'S ROOM, WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM.
[ GASPS ]
I TOLD YOU TO STAY DOWNSTAIRS.
WHAT WAS IT?
I DON'T KNOW.
THERE WAS NOBODY UP THERE,
SO WE JUST KIND OF SWEPT IT UNDER THE RUG
AND JUST ASSUMED THAT IT WAS THE HOUSE.
PROBABLY NOTHING. COME ON.
Narrator: A FEW NIGHTS LATER, JENNIFER IS ALONE IN THE KITCHEN
WHEN SHE SENSES A CHANGE IN THE AIR,
AS IF SOMEONE WERE WATCHING HER.
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: FOR THE PAST MONTH,
JENNIFER WELBURN AND HER DAUGHTERS HAVE HAD
THE DISTINCT FEELING THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE
IN THEIR CHARMING ESCAMBIA BAY, FLORIDA, MANSION.
Lauren: I WOULD WALK AROUND THE HOUSE.
I FELT CONSTANTLY LIKE I WAS BEING WATCHED,
BUT I COULD NEVER PINPOINT WHAT EXACTLY IT WAS.
IT WAS JUST A REALLY EERIE FEELING.
MY GRANDFATHER FROM BEFORE I WAS EVEN BORN
HAD SHARED GHOST STORIES THAT JUST GOT PASSED DOWN,
BUT I NEVER REALLY BELIEVED IN ANY OF IT MYSELF.
YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT.
Narrator: BUT NOT TOO LONG AFTER MOVING IN,
JENNIFER HAS A TERRIFYING ENCOUNTER SHE CAN'T EXPLAIN.
[ SCREAMS ]
IT FELT LIKE LOOKING INTO THE FACE OF JUST SHEER EVIL.
I HEARD A BLOOD-CURDLING SCREAM, SO I IMMEDIATELY RAN DOWN,
THINKING THAT SOMETHING VERY BAD HAD HAPPENED.
WHAT'S WRONG?!
THERE WAS SOMEONE IN THE WINDOW!
THERE'S SOMEONE OUT THERE WATCHING ME!
WHEN WE WENT OUTSIDE...
...AND THERE WAS NOTHING THERE --
NO ONE, NO SIGN OF ANYONE.
I JUST DIDN'T SEE NOTHING.
WELL, WHOEVER IT WAS, THEY'RE GONE NOW.
DID YOU GET A GOOD LOOK AT HIM?
NO, BUT THERE WAS SOMEONE THERE.
IT WAS A MAN. HE WAS --
HE WAS LOOKING RIGHT AT ME.
Narrator: BUT JAMIE DOESN'T BELIEVE HER.
IT WAS PROBABLY JUST KIDS.
YOU PROBABLY SCARED THEM JUST AS MUCH AS THEY SCARED YOU.
SOMEBODY WAS THERE.
SOMEBODY WAS THERE!
I THINK MAYBE THE HOUSE IS... HAUNTED OR SOMETHING.
HAUNTED HOUSE?
[ Chuckling ] YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING WAY TOO MUCH TELEVISION.
YOU KNOW THAT STUFF DOESN'T EVEN EXIST.
FINALLY, I TOLD HER,
"LET'S JUST, YOU KNOW, LET IT GO,
"AND WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS,
"MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE FINE.
NO PROBLEM."
Jennifer: HE DIDN'T FEEL THE HOUSE WAS HAUNTED.
HE THOUGHT THAT I WAS CRAZY.
THERE'S NO WAY TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S HAPPENING,
SO HE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ANY OF IT.
COME ON. LET'S JUST GO ON BACK IN THE HOUSE, OKAY?
COME ON BACK IN.
I WAS REALLY AT BATTLE WITH MYSELF
BECAUSE ON ONE HAND, I KNEW WHAT I HAD SEEN,
I KNEW WHAT I HAD EXPERIENCED...
COME ON.
...AND ON THE OTHER HAND, I REALLY DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.
EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT.
I JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE
THAT I HAD A GHOST IN MY HOUSE THAT WAS HAUNTING IT.
Narrator: AT FIRST, JENNIFER KEEPS THE UNEXPECTED INTRUDER
A SECRET FROM HER DAUGHTERS.
I WAS WORRIED BECAUSE I HAD PHYSICALLY EXPERIENCED SOMETHING
AND SEEN SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE HAD.
Narrator: BUT SHE FINALLY DECIDES TO BRING IT OUT IN THE OPEN.
[ SIGHS ]
I SAT DOWN WITH THE TWO GIRLS AND EXPLAINED TO THEM
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I THOUGHT AND WHAT I FELT,
AND SURE ENOUGH, THEY WERE EXPERIENCING
THE SAME TYPES OF EVENTS AND EMOTIONS THAT I WAS.
I FINALLY FELT LIKE, "OKAY, I'M NOT GOING CRAZY.
FINALLY, SOMEONE ELSE CAN SEE THIS, TOO."
Lauren: KNOWING THAT MOM WAS GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING
DEFINITELY MADE ME SCARED.
WHEN YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE FEELING IT,
YOU'RE KIND OF LIKE, "WELL, MAYBE IT'S NOTHING,"
JUST KIND OF BRUSH IT UNDER THE RUG.
BUT TO KNOW THAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THINGS
MAKES IT MORE REAL
AND DEFINITELY A WHOLE LOT MORE SCARY.
Narrator: FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
TALKING ABOUT THE HAUNTING ONLY HEIGHTENS THE FEAR IN THE HOUSE.
Jennifer: AS A PARENT, IT WAS TERRIFYING THAT MY GIRLS WERE
HAVING TO WITNESS A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS THAT I HAD.
IT WAS A DIFFICULT SITUATION,
BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW I COULD HELP THEM.
I COULDN'T EVEN ANSWER ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS FOR MYSELF.
Narrator: WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF MOVING IN,
TENSION IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
LAUREN FINDS HERSELF WALKING AROUND ON EGGSHELLS
IN CONSTANT FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN AND THE UNSEEN.
[ WIND WHISTLING ]
[ WHISTLING STOPS ]
Lauren: I WAS IN MY ROOM, AND I TURNED AROUND,
AND IT WAS JUST A REALLY EERIE FEELING.
SOMETHING'S IN MY CLOSET.
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, LAUREN AND CANDICE WELBURN
HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
IN THEIR MILLION-DOLLAR PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, HOME.
[ THUDDING ]
EVERYWHERE THEY GO, THE TEENAGERS SENSE EVIL,
WHILE THEIR MOTHER JENNIFER IS CONVINCED SHE'S SEEN A GHOST.
[ SCREAMS ]
I WAS TERRIFIED.
I WAS AFRAID FOR MY CHILDREN.
I WAS AFRAID FOR MYSELF.
Narrator: JENNIFER'S FIANCé JAMIE DOESN'T BELIEVE HER.
STRANGE THINGS WERE HAPPENING IN THE HOUSE,
BUT I DIDN'T BELIEVE IN THE PARANORMAL.
IT WAS SUCH A BIG HOUSE,
I JUST THOUGHT THAT MAYBE SHE WASN'T USED TO IT
BECAUSE IT HAS ITS OWN LITTLE CREAKS AND SOUNDS.
Narrator: THEN ONE NIGHT, LAUREN'S INSTINCTS GO ON HIGH ALERT
WHEN SHE FEELS A PRESENCE IN HER BEDROOM.
[ WIND WHISTLING ]
[ WHISTLING STOPS ]
Lauren: I WAS IN MY ROOM, AND I TURNED AROUND,
AND SOMETHING'S IN MY CLOSET.
I WAS PETRIFIED.
[ GASPS ]
IT HAD THIS HOLD ON ME.
IT WOULDN'T LET ME CALL FOR HELP.
I TRIED TO SCREAM OUT FOR MY MOM,
BUT I COULDN'T GET ANYTHING OUT.
I FELT ABSOLUTELY HELPLESS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WAS -- SECONDS MAYBE MINUTES --
BEFORE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SCREAM.
[ SCREAMS ]
MOM!!
Jennifer: I HEARD LAUREN SCREAM...
LAUREN, WHAT HAPPENED?
...AND COULD TELL BY THE WAY SHE YELLED FOR ME
THAT SOMETHING HAD HURT HER.
[ CRYING ] HONEY, WHAT'S WRONG?
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
SHE PICKED HER ARM UP TO HANG ON TO ME, TO CLING ON TO ME.
SHE HAD TWO, IT LOOKED LIKE, CLAW MARKS.
THEY LOOKED FRESH.
IT WAS PRETTY NEW, WHATEVER HAD HAPPENED.
Narrator: LAUREN REMEMBERS THE MAN LUNGING AT HER BUT NOT BEING SCRATCHED.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR ARM?
Lauren: I DON'T REMEMBER EVER BEING SCRATCHED OR FEELING PAIN.
SEEING THAT THERE WAS COMPLETELY HORRIFYING FOR ME.
IT REALLY SCARED ME.
Narrator: JENNIFER FEARS THAT THE GHOST SHE SAW IN THE WINDOW
HAS NOW ATTACKED HER DAUGHTER.
WHAT HAPPENED?
THERE WAS A...A MAN.
Jennifer: SHE WAS SCRATCHED. LOOK.
Narrator: JAMIE HAS NO IDEA WHAT TO THINK.
NOW BOTH HIS FIANCéE AND HER DAUGHTER ARE CONVINCED
THE HOUSE IS HAUNTED.
[ SIGHS ] BY WHAT?
Jamie: THE FIRST THING THAT WENT THROUGH MY MIND IS,
"HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
"HAS SHE DECIDED TO HURT HERSELF FOR ATTENTION,
HURT HERSELF AND NOT WANT TO TELL US?"
I MEAN, I'M REALLY CONCERNED
OF WHAT THE SURROUNDING CIRCUMSTANCES ARE
OF HOW IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
[ Firmly ] SHE DOESN'T KNOW.
THERE WAS A...MAN.
IT ATTACKED ME.
I'M NOT GOING BACK IN THERE.
I CAN'T GO BACK IN THERE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO, HONEY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
Jennifer: SHE WAS SHAKING, TREMBLING.
SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED TO HER.
SHE DIDN'T EVEN REALLY UNDERSTAND
WHAT SHE HAD JUST SEEN.
AS A PARENT, YOU PROTECT YOUR CHILD,
AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO THAT.
I WAS TERRIFIED.
WHATEVER IT WAS DEFINITELY MEANT US HARM.
Narrator: JENNIFER DECIDES TO TAKE NO CHANCES WITH HER DAUGHTERS.
Jennifer: THAT NIGHT, WE TOOK LAUREN AND CANDICE,
AND WE ALL SLEPT IN THE SAME ROOM.
I DIDN'T WANT MY GIRLS ALONE, I DIDN'T WANT TO BE ALONE.
WE NEEDED TO BE TOGETHER,
WHERE WE COULD LOOK OUT AND PROTECT ONE ANOTHER.
Narrator: NO LONGER ABLE TO HOLD BACK HER ANGER,
JENNIFER CONFRONTS JAMIE ABOUT THE HAUNTING.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?
ABOUT WHAT?
ABOUT THE HOUSE.
LAUREN WAS ATTACKED.
I'M REALLY WORRIED.
I DON'T KNOW, JENN. I -- [ SIGHS ]
I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THIS STUFF IS HAPPENING TO US.
Jamie: IN THE WORLD I LIVE IN,
IF SOMEONE'S A THREAT, YOU CAN FACE IT.
AND THERE, I FELT LIKE THERE'S JUST NOTHING I COULD DO.
I COULDN'T REALLY GIVE THEM ANY PEACE OF MIND.
I MEAN, WHAT COULD I REALLY SAY?
Jennifer: IT WAS REALLY FRUSTRATING THAT JAMIE DID NOT BELIEVE.
WELL, I'M GONNA FIND SOMEONE -- SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP US.
OKAY.
I KNEW THAT MY HOUSE WAS HAUNTED.
I HAD TO GET HELP.
I HAD TO DO SOMETHING
BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.
Narrator: WITH THE HELP OF FRIENDS, JENNIFER FINDS TONI TALLY,
A PARANORMAL EXPERT, AND INVITES HER TO INVESTIGATE THE HOUSE.
MY NAME IS TONI.
I'M AN EMPATH, AND THAT MEANS THAT I FEEL THINGS VERY DEEPLY
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTS AND PEOPLE.
Narrator: RIGHT AWAY, TONI FEELS
THAT THE ENERGY SURROUNDING THE HOUSE IS OFF.
Toni: WHEN I ARRIVED ON THE PROPERTY,
SOMETHING JUST DIDN'T RING RIGHT.
I FELT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
THE LEVEL OF NEGATIVITY MADE YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU HAD TO LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER.
YOU DEFINITELY KNEW SOMETHING JUST WASN'T RIGHT.
HI. I'M TONI.
JENNIFER REACHED OUT TO ME.
Jamie: MY BIGGEST HOPE WITH MISS TONI COMING TO THE HOUSE
WAS JUST TO TELL JENNIFER THAT IT'S ALL IN HER HEAD
AND GO BACK TO BEING LIFE AS NORMAL
AND JUST FORGET ABOUT THE WHOLE THING.
HI. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
HOW IS LAUREN?
[ INHALES DEEPLY ] SHE IS...STILL REALLY UPSET.
Toni: YOU COULD JUST REALLY SEE THAT JENN WAS WEARING THE STRESS.
YOU COULD SEE TIGHTNESS IN HER JAWS.
HER WHOLE BODY LANGUAGE JUST REALLY SHOWED
THAT SHE'D BEEN UNDER STRESS FOR A WHILE.
SHE'S REFUSING TO SLEEP IN HER ROOM.
WELL, THAT'S WHERE I'D LIKE TO BEGIN, IN LAUREN'S ROOM.
IS IT UPSTAIRS?
YES. IT'S THE FIRST DOOR ON YOUR RIGHT.
Narrator: TONI CAN IMMEDIATELY SENSE AN EVIL FORCE AT WORK
WHEN SUDDENLY...
[ GASPS ]
THAT DARK ENERGY --
HE HAD WRITTEN HIS NAME IN THE MIRROR -- H-A-L -- HAL.
I WAS AWESTRUCK.
I WANTED TO RUN.
Narrator: FOR MORE "A HAUNTING," VISIT...
Narrator: FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS,
JENNIFER AND HER TWO TEENAGE DAUGHTERS
HAVE BEEN SPOOKED BY WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS A GHOST
IN THEIR PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, HOME.
[ SCREAMS ]
THEN JENNIFER'S OLDEST DAUGHTER, LAUREN, IS ATTACKED.
[ SCREAMS ]
LAUREN!
HONEY, WHAT'S WRONG?!
Jennifer: AS I SAW THE MARKS ON HER ARM, I WAS TERRIFIED.
[ CRYING ]
I KNEW THAT IF IT HAD ATTACKED HER ON THIS LEVEL,
I WAS AFRAID WHAT WAS GOING TO BE NEXT.
Narrator: A SKEPTIC OF THE PARANORMAL,
JENNIFER'S FIANCé JAMIE HAS BEEN NO SOURCE OF COMFORT.
I JUST THOUGHT PEOPLE WERE JUST A LITTLE OVER-DRAMATIC.
IF THE WIND BLEW, THEY'D BLAME IT ON A GHOST.
I, QUITE FRANKLY, DIDN'T BELIEVE IN IT.
Narrator: FEELING DESPERATE AND ALONE IN HER FIGHT,
JENNIFER CALLS UPON TONI TALLY,
AN EMPATH WITH THE ABILITY
TO FEEL THE PRESENCE OF ENTITIES FROM OTHER WORLDS.
Jennifer: MY BIGGEST HOPE WAS THAT MISS TONI WOULD BE ABLE
TO COME IN AND GIVE US OUR HOUSE AND OUR LIVES BACK AGAIN.
Narrator: IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE GHOST TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF.
Narrator: THERE WAS A LARGE MIRROR THAT HAD PARTIALLY FOGGED,
AND THAT DARK ENERGY --
HE HAD WRITTEN HIS NAME IN THE MIRROR -- H-A-L -- HAL.
I WAS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL,
AND IN A ONE-SIDED FIST FIGHT WITH DARK, EVIL ENERGY.
YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE.
YOU MUST LEAVE THIS HOUSE.
YOU HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS,
BUT TILL YOU SEE IT WITH YOUR OWN EYES,
YOU JUST ALWAYS KIND OF HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DOUBT
WHEN YOU HEAR OTHER PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT.
WELL, NOW HERE I AM IN THIS SITUATION
THAT I CAN'T DOUBT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE INVITED ME.
ON THE INSIDE, IT MADE ME FEEL NERVOUS.
EVEN THOUGH I WAS VERY AFRAID,
THE FAMILY NEEDED ME TO BE STABLE AND CONFIDENT
TO GET THIS ENERGY OUT OF THEIR HOME.
THE ONLY SPIRIT WELCOME IN THIS HOUSE IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD!
Narrator: THE GHOST OF HAL EVENTUALLY DRAWS TONI TO THE BACKYARD,
WHERE A FEELING OF DREAD IMMEDIATELY WASHES OVER HER.
Toni: AS I MADE MY WAY AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOME,
IT BECAME VERY CLEAR
THAT A LOT OF LIVES WERE LOST ON THAT PROPERTY.
AS AN EMPATH, COMING IN CONTACT WITH THAT KIND OF FEELING
IS EXTREME SADNESS.
Narrator: AND THEN...SHE SEES THEM.
I HAD A FLASH VISION OF MULTIPLE PEOPLE HANGING FROM THE TREES.
Narrator: THE MEN APPEAR TO BE SLAVES.
THE HOUSE SITS NEAR ESCAMBIA BAY,
BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN THE SITE OF A SLAVE PLANTATION
IN THE 19th CENTURY.
ACCORDING TO TONI'S VISION,
HAL WAS THE PLANTATION'S SLAVE MASTER.
Toni: I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS ENTITY, HAL,
WAS OVER THE SLAVES, SOMEBODY WHO MISTREATED THE SLAVES.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT DIED WITHOUT THEIR LAST RITES.
THEY DIED UNDER THE MOST CRUEL CIRCUMSTANCES.
I KNEW THIS HOUSE HAD A VERY DARK PRESENCE.
I KNEW THE FAMILY WAS IN DANGER.
Narrator: TONI GATHERS THE FAMILY TOGETHER
AND CONFIRMS THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE --
THEIR HOUSE IS HAUNTED BY AN EVIL GHOST.
Toni: I KNOW WHO ATTACKED LAUREN.
HIS NAME IS HAL.
AND HE USED TO LIVE ON THIS LAND.
HAL WAS A PLANTATION MASTER.
IT WAS ENGRAINED IN HIS PERSONALITY
TO BE CRUEL AND INHUMANE,
AND HE BROUGHT THAT WITH HIM INTO HIS AFTERLIFE.
I COULD SEE HAL TO BE IN EXCESS OF 6'2",
VERY LARGE BUILD, VERY BALDED LOOKING,
A SCOUR ACROSS HIS FACE ALL THE TIME.
YOU COULD SEE THE MEANNESS ON THIS PERSON
FROM THE TOP OF HIS HEAD TO THE SOLES OF HIS FEET.
IF HE WERE TO LAUGH OR SMILE,
IT WOULD BE AT SOMEBODY ELSE'S WEAKNESS OR PAIN.
Jennifer: I HAD NOT TOLD HER ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE
OR WHAT WE HAD ACTUALLY SEEN.
SHE CAME IN AND DESCRIBED IT TO A "T."
I WANTED TO FEEL RELIEVED, BUT I DIDN'T.
I FELT MORE TERRIFIED
KNOWING THAT SOMEONE WHO WAS AN EXPERT IN THIS SORT OF THING
HAD SEEN THE EXACT SAME FIGURE THAT I HAD SEEN.
IT ACTUALLY MADE ME MORE SCARED TO BE AT THE HOUSE.
SO, HOW DO WE GET RID OF HIM?
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO A HOUSE-CLEANSING,
AND I'M GOING TO START IN LAUREN'S ROOM.
Jennifer: AT THIS POINT IN TIME,
I WAS WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING TO RECLAIM MY HOUSE.
Jamie: IT WAS SURREAL THAT MISS TONI WAS ABLE TO VALIDATE
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON THERE.
ONE HALF OF ME, I WANTED TO BELIEVE HER,
AND THE OTHER HALF OF ME STILL DIDN'T.
I HEREBY BANISH ALL NEGATIVE ENERGY FROM THIS HOUSE...
Toni: I KNEW THAT AT THAT POINT, THE MISSION WAS TO RID THE HOUSE
OF ALL THAT DARKNESS AND ALL THAT EVILNESS.
...THROUGH THE POWER OF LIGHT AND LOVE.
Narrator: FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
THE FAMILY SENSES A LEVITY IN THE HOUSE,
AS IF HAL HAS DISAPPEARED.
Lauren: AFTER THE CLEANSING ON THE HOUSE,
IT JUST FELT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
IT FELT LIKE IT HAD FELT WHEN WE FIRST MOVED IN.
WE HAD THIS LITTLE GLIMMER OF HOPE
THAT THE CLEANSING HAD WORKED.
Jennifer: EVERYBODY IN THE HOUSE JUST HAD AN INITIAL SIGH OF RELIEF.
"[ SIGHS ] THIS IS DONE. IT'S FINISHED."
I WAS INCREDIBLY HOPEFUL THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET OUR LIFE BACK,
THAT THE HOUSE WAS GOING TO ONCE AGAIN BE MY DREAM HOME.
Narrator: BUT THE PEACEFUL STATE OF THE HOUSE
IS ABOUT TO COME TO AN ABRUPT END.
HAL IS BACK.
[ SCREAMING ]
Narrator: EVER SINCE THEY MOVED IN TO THEIR MILLION-DOLLAR MANSION
IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA,
JENNIFER AND HER TEENAGE DAUGHTERS
HAVE BEEN TORMENTED BY THE GHOST
OF A FORMER SLAVE-PLANTATION MASTER NAMED HAL.
ALL OF US WERE SCARED.
THERE WAS A LOT OF TENSION IN THE HOUSE
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT ANYMORE.
Narrator: IN THE FALL OF 2009,
DESPITE HER FIANCé JAMIE'S DISBELIEF IN GHOSTS,
JENNIFER BRINGS IN AN EXPERT
TO CLEANSE THE HOUSE OF THE EVIL SPIRIT.
BUT SHE SOON FINDS OUT IT DIDN'T WORK.
HE WAS BACK, AND HE WAS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE.
[ SCREAMING ]
I FELT JUST A KIND OF A GRIP ON MY ANKLE.
[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]
I HAD THIS JUST GRIPPING FEAR GROW THROUGH MY BODY, LIKE,
"THIS IS SOMEONE TRYING TO HURT ME."
I KNEW THAT SOMEONE WAS UNDER MY BED.
BEING A GOOD, SOUTHERN, CHRISTIAN BOY,
I KEEP A BLACK BIBLE RIGHT BY MY BED
WITH A .45 LOADED AND COCKED RIGHT ON TOP OF IT.
WHAT IS IT?!
THERE'S SOMEONE UNDER THE BED!
Jennifer: I WAS TERRIFIED.
I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
YOU GOT THREE SECONDS TO COME OUT!
I'M GONNA OPEN FIRE!
I JUST WANTED TO GET AT IT, AND I WANTED TO INFLICT PAIN ON IT.
AAAAAH!!
THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. NOTHING.
THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE, AND IT FREAKED ME OUT.
Narrator: JAMIE REALIZES HE'S UP AGAINST THE SAME EVIL FORCE
THAT'S BEEN AFTER HIS FAMILY, AND NOW IT'S AFTER HIM.
THIS IS MY HOUSE!!
Jamie: I JUST LOST IT.
THIS IS MY HOUSE!!
I WENT ON A TIRADE.
THIS IS MY HOUSE!!
A NORMAL PERSON WOULD PROBABLY THINK I WAS INSANE.
YOU WANT TO BULLY SOMEBODY?! BULLY ME!
I FELT SO HELPLESS.
THIS IS MY HOUSE!!
I HAVE A LOADED .45, AND I CAN'T DEFEND MYSELF.
I KNEW THAT THIS WAS HAL.
HE WANTED TO RUIN MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY,
AND HE WAS NOT GONNA STOP TILL HE DID.
Lauren: IT WAS COMPLETELY TERRIFYING TO KNOW
THAT WHATEVER THIS WAS
COULD PULL A MAN OUT OF BED LIKE IT DID.
IT TERRIFIED ALL OF US.
Jennifer: FOR JAMIE, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME
THAT HE KNEW IN HIS HEART OF HEARTS
THAT THE HOUSE REALLY WAS HAUNTED.
IT CAUSED HIM TO FEEL
LIKE HE WASN'T IN CHARGE OF HIS HOUSEHOLD ANYMORE.
THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE THAT WAS BIGGER,
SOMETHING THERE THAT HAD MORE CONTROL.
THAT SCARED JAMIE.
[ CELLPHONE BEEPING ]
Narrator: WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN,
JENNIFER PLEADS WITH EMPATH TONI TALLY
TO COME TO THEIR AID ONCE AGAIN.
I WAS HOPEFUL THAT SHE MIGHT STILL BE ABLE TO HELP US.
MAYBE SOMETHING WAS JUST INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUT
THE FIRST TIME THAT WOULD COMPLETELY CLEANSE THE HOUSE
AND GIVE US BACK OUR HOME AND OUR FAMILY.
Narrator: THAT NIGHT, TONI RETURNS TO DO A SECOND CLEANSING.
18-YEAR-OLD LAUREN AND 17-YEAR-OLD CANDICE
ARE NOT PRESENT.
Toni: I NEED YOU TO REMAIN IN PRAYER WITH ME AND FOCUS YOUR ENERGY.
I HEREBY BANISH ALL NEGATIVE ENERGY FROM THIS HOME.
Toni: WHEN I WAS INVITED TO COME BACK TO THE HOME THE SECOND TIME...
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD.
...AFTER WALKING THROUGH AND BLESSING AND PRAYING AGAIN,
I KNEW IT WOULD TAKE DIVINE INTERVENTION
TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT DARK ENERGY OUT OF THERE.
HE LEADS ME IN THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAMESAKE.
IT MADE ME VERY AFRAID FOR THE FAMILY,
AFRAID FOR THE TEENAGE DAUGHTERS,
AFRAID FOR ANYBODY ELSE, REALLY, THAT WOULD COME INTO THAT HOME.
[ THUD ]
ALL AT ONCE, THERE WAS A VERY LARGE THUD
ON THE WALL DIRECTLY BEHIND ME.
Narrator: TONI HAS MADE SOMEONE ANGRY.
I JUST KIND OF, LIKE, LOST THE FEELING OF DIRECTION.
IT'S THE PHANTOM.
SHE JUST DOES AN IMMEDIATE STOP...
[ GRUNTS ]
...AND GETS THROWN BACK AGAINST THE WALL.
TONI!
IT FELT LIKE SOMEBODY HAD PUNCHED ME.
MY ARM.
WHAT?
WHEN SHE TAKES HER HAND AWAY,
IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING...
OH, MY GOD! WHAT IS THAT?!
...THE ONLY WAY TO DESCRIBE IT --
IT LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING BIT HER.
IT WAS GRUESOME.
I MEAN, IT WAS BAD.
IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WAS UP AGAINST THE MOST EVIL THING
I'VE EVER FACED IN MY LIFE.
Narrator: TONI RELUCTANTLY CLAIMS DEFEAT.
IT APPEARS HAL HAS WON.
I CAN'T HELP YOU ANYMORE.
EVERYTHING UNTIL NOW HAS JUST BEEN A WARNING.
Jennifer: MISS TONI SAID THAT SHE DIDN'T FEEL
THAT SHE ALONE WOULD BE ENOUGH
TO RID THE HOUSE AND THE LAND FROM HAL.
Toni: I KNEW HAL WAS NOT GONNA LEAVE.
THIS ENERGY THAT HAL IS, THIS IS BEYOND WHERE MY EXPERTISE LIES.
HAL'S ENERGY WAS JUST NOT GONNA GO EASILY.
IT REALLY REQUIRED DIVINE INTERVENTION.
I'LL FIND SOMEONE TO HELP YOU,
BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT TO DO.
ONLY YOUR HEARTS CAN DO THAT.
Jamie: SHE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOT GONNA BE A HAPPY ENDING...
...THAT THIS IS ONLY GONNA GET WORSE.
SHE REALLY FELT THAT WE WERE IN DANGER.
IT WAS DEVASTATING BECAUSE YOU SPEND MOST OF YOUR LIFE
THINKING AND DREAMING ABOUT AN OPPORTUNITY
TO LIVE IN A HOUSE LIKE THAT -- 5,000 SQUARE FOOT --
AND IT TURNS OUT TO BE A LIVING NIGHTMARE.
[ JAMIE SIGHS ]
Narrator: FOR NOW, JAMIE AND JENNIFER DECIDE
TO KEEP HAL'S ATTACK ON TONI A SECRET FROM THE GIRLS,
BUT THEY DO TELL THEM THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT MOVING.
Lauren: I WAS READY TO BE OUT OF THAT HOUSE
AND TRY TO GET THE NORMALCY BACK IN OUR LIVES,
BUT AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HAD HAPPENED, I WAS READY TO GO.
Narrator: BUT IT WON'T BE SOON ENOUGH.
Lauren: I WENT INTO MY MOM'S CLOSET.
[ SCREAMING ]
Narrator: FOR THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, JENNIFER AND HER FAMILY
HAD BEEN LIVING IN A HAUNTED MILLION-DOLLAR MANSION
NEAR ESCAMBIA BAY, FLORIDA, WHILE AN ANGRY GHOST...
[ SCREAMS ]
...TARGETS FAMILY MEMBERS ONE-BY-ONE.
AN EMPATH HAS HAD VISIONS OF A GHOST NAMED HAL,
WHO SHE BELIEVES USED TO BE A SLAVE-PLANTATION MASTER...
HE'S ANGRY.
Jennifer: I WAS SCARED TO DEATH.
HE WAS A BULLY.
HE LIKED BEING IN CONTROL.
HE LIKED PEOPLE TO BE AFRAID OF HIM.
Narrator: ...AND HAS WARNED THEM THEY ARE IN GREAT DANGER.
THE FAMILY MAKES PLANS
TO MOVE OUT OF WHAT WAS ONCE THEIR DREAM HOUSE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WHEN MISS TONI SHARED WITH US THAT WE WERE IN DANGER,
JAMIE AND I DECIDED TO HAVE A SERIOUS TALK ABOUT THE HOUSE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WOULD GO,
BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
WE HAD TO THINK ABOUT THE GIRLS.
[ SCREAMING ]
I SAW THIS SHADOW FIGURE, AND I KNEW IT WAS HAL.
[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]
I FELT THIS BURNING FEELING ON THE BACK OF MY NECK.
I JUST REMEMBER IT HURTING SO BAD.
WHAT?!
MY GOD!
Jennifer: SHE HAD A SCRATCH GOING
FROM THE BASE OF HER HAIRLINE HALFWAY DOWN HER BACK.
Narrator: FOR JENNIFER, THIS IS THE LAST STRAW.
WE ARE LEAVING RIGHT NOW.
IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT I SAID, "I DON'T CARE.
"MY KIDS -- THIS IS NOT WORTH THIS.
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE HOUSE.
I WANT OUT, AND I WANT OUT NOW."
AS MUCH AS I HAD LOVED THE HOUSE, I DIDN'T WANT IT.
Lauren: I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT HAVING MY OWN ROOM ANYMORE.
I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT HOW BIG THE HOUSE WAS.
I WAS DONE.
I COULDN'T HANDLE THAT HOUSE ANYMORE.
COME ON, CANDICE. COME ON!
Jamie: DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IT COSTS.
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE DEVASTATION IS FINANCIALLY.
IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE, CUT OUR LOSSES,
AND GET MY FAMILY TO SAFETY.
AS CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS,
I FELT LIKE I WAS IN A FIGHT WITH WHAT WAS IN THAT HOUSE.
GIRLS, COME ON. GET IN THE CAR. LET'S GO. GET IN, PLEASE.
I'VE NEVER WALKED AWAY FROM A FIGHT.
THAT'S THE MOMENT I HAD TO CONCEDE THAT IT WON,
THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE MY HIT AND MOVE ON.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
I FOCUSED STRAIGHT, I PUT THAT CAR IN DRIVE,
AND I NEVER LOOKED BACK.
Jennifer: AFTER THIS HAPPENED,
WE WERE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY FOR A LITTLE WHILE,
BECAUSE ALL OF OUR MONEY WAS TIED UP IN THE HOUSE.
WE SOLD THE HOUSE BACK TO THE BANK,
AND THE HOUSE THAT WE PAID $1 MILLION FOR
WAS SOLD FOR $119,000.
I'M VERY BLESSED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT UNHURT
AND RELOCATE AND HAVE OUR FAMILY TOGETHER AND SAFE.
IT WAS A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
Lauren: BEFORE I MOVED INTO THE HOUSE,
I DID NOT BELIEVE IN GHOSTS AT ALL.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S SOMETHING
THAT I'LL EVER FULLY PUT BEHIND ME.
I THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'LL ALWAYS DEAL WITH.
I COMPLETELY BELIEVE IN THE PARANORMAL NOW,
WHEREAS BEFORE, I WOULD LAUGH AT ANYBODY THAT SAID IT.
UNTIL YOU LIVE IT, DON'T JUDGE IT.
'CAUSE IT IS REAL.
Toni: I WAS VERY SICK FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS
AFTER COMING IN CONTACT WITH THAT HOUSE.
I HAD TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY SURGERY.
THEY REMOVED A MYSTERY FOUR-POUND TUMOR
THAT HAD DOUBLED MY INTESTINE IN HALF.
I WAS LIFE-THREATENING.
I STOPPED DOING HOUSE BLESSINGS ALL TOGETHER.
I BELIEVE THAT OPENS A GATEWAY THAT INVITES DARK, EVIL ENERGY.
I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.
I DON'T REALLY THINK THERE'S ANY WAY YOU COULD.
YOU CAN'T EXPERIENCE THINGS
HAPPENING LIKE THIS TO YOUR FAMILY,
THINGS HAPPENING LIKE THIS IN YOUR OWN HOME
AND FORGET ABOUT IT.
IT CHANGES WHO YOU ARE.
I DON'T KNOW IF WHATEVER THIS WAS
HAS MANIFEST ITSELF AT ALL
TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING THERE NOW,
BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT IT'S STILL THERE.