Narrator: A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DREAM HOUSE
TURNS INTO A NIGHTMARE...
...AFTER THE FAMILY DISCOVERS A HIDDEN ROOM WITH A DARK SECRET.
IT'S LIKE A SECRET ROOM.
SOMEONE OR SOMETHING LURKS IN THE SHADOWS.
IT WAS LIKE A SLEDGEHAMMER -- BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
STAY HERE!
CALL THE POLICE!
I WAS TERRIFIED.
Narrator: WILL ANGER, VENGEANCE, AND FEAR
BREAK THE FAMILY APART...
SOMETHING IS IN THIS HOUSE, EROL.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
...OR WORSE?
[ SCREAMS ]
I WAS FEARFUL FOR MY LIFE.
Narrator: IN AMERICA, THERE IS REAL EVIL.
IT LURKS IN THE DARKEST SHADOWS AND 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
30 MILES OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES LIES A SUBURB
NESTLED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS.
FOUNDED IN 1887,
THE TOWN ORIGINALLY BEGAN AS A RAILROAD COMMUNITY,
UNITING LOS ANGELES TO THE CITRUS GROVES AND RANCHES
TO THE WEST.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A SMALL TOWN
WHERE YOU HAVE THE MOUNTAINS THAT YOU CAN SEE.
WE DECIDED THAT WE WANTED TO BUY A HOME,
AND WE THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD BE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY
TO START OUR NEW LIFE.
DID I DO IT RIGHT? YOU READY?
TODAY'S THE DAY, RIGHT? COME HERE.
Narrator: IN THE FALL OF 2001,
NEWLYWEDS SHARI AND EROL AND SHARI'S TWO DAUGHTERS
MOVE INTO A THREE-BEDROOM HOUSE.
WHEN SHARI AND I DECIDED TO MOVE IN TOGETHER, SHE WAS ECSTATIC.
WE'RE GONNA DO THIS? LET'S GO!
Shari: IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. I LOVED THE HOUSE.
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE HOMES THAT JUST HAD THAT SENSE OF FAMILY.
WHAT A GREAT PLACE FOR THEM TO RIDE.
HERE THEY GO.
I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS.
NATALIE'S MY 7-YEAR-OLD. DANIELLE'S MY 5-YEAR-OLD.
I HAD A SPECIAL HOUSE IN MIND THAT I WANTED FOR THE KIDS
AS I WOULD WANT FOR MY OWN CHILDREN.
IT'S GOT A VERY LARGE YARD, BUT MOST OF ALL, IT WAS SAFE.
Narrator: SHARI'S MOTHER, SHARON, LIVES A FEW HOURS AWAY.
OH, BOY. HERE WE GO.
Sharon: SHARI AND EROL GOT ALONG QUITE WELL.
THE KIDS TOOK TO HIM,
AND SEEING SHARI SO HAPPY AND EROL AND THE GIRLS, TOO,
IT MADE ME HAPPY.
YOU CAN DO THIS. YOU'RE GONNA DO IT.
ARE YOU SET?YEAH.
AND...GO!
OH, DANIELLE! OH, MY GOSH.
BE CAREFUL. [ CHUCKLES ]
Erol: IT WAS EVERYTHING SHE WANTED AND MORE.
IT WAS THE PERFECT WORLD.
Narrator: FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
SHARON HELPS HER DAUGHTER UNPACK AND ORGANIZE THE HOUSE.
Shari: IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT, AND WE DECIDED TO GO OUT IN THE GARAGE.
SEE? THIS IS WHAT I MEAN.
IF THIS WEREN'T SUCH A MESS,
I THINK I COULD AT LEAST FIT ONE CAR IN OVER HERE.
YOU KNOW, IF WE MOVE THESE BOXES OVER HERE...
SO, HOW IS EROL LIKING HIS NEW JOB?
Shari: YOU KNOW, I THINK HE LIKES IT A LOT.
HE'S BEEN GONE A LOT LATELY.
[ SHELVES CREAK ]
WHAT IN THE WORLD?
[ SHELVES CREAK ]
DID YOU KNOW THIS WAS HERE?
NO.
MY MOM AND I FOUND THIS SECRET ROOM,
AND I FOUND IT QUITE ODD THAT IT WAS CONCEALED.
GO GET EROL.
TELL HIM TO BRING ME A FLASHLIGHT.
COME SEE WHAT MY MOM FOUND.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
WELL, IT'S LIKE A SECRET ROOM.
Erol: THE FIRST TIME I WENT INTO THE ROOM,
MY MIND WAS GOING IN 1,000 DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
"WHAT IS THIS ROOM DOING HERE? WHY IS THIS ROOM HERE?
WHO PUT THIS ROOM HERE?"
I MEAN, I WAS JUST TRYING TO BRAINSTORM
AS TO WHAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE.
Shari: WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FLUORESCENT LIGHT,
AND THERE WAS ALSO THIS CABINET.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT'S FOR?
I DON'T KNOW.
THIS IS STRANGE.
IT WAS VERY ODD.
IT WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO US WHEN WE WERE BUYING THE HOME,
LIKE SOMEBODY WAS TRYING TO KEEP A SECRET.
BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW IF MAYBE THIS WAS JUST AN HONEST MISTAKE.
HONEY, THINK OF IT AS A BONUS ROOM.
IT'S CREEPY.
COME ON.
THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT.
IT'S EXTRA ROOM. IT'S EXTRA CLOSET SPACE.
[ LAUGHS ]
LISTEN, LET'S GO GET SOME DINNER.
COME ON.
WE JUST LEFT IT AS "OKAY, SO THERE'S ANOTHER ROOM."
WE FIGURED THAT IT'S JUST STORAGE AND THAT WAS IT.
Narrator: FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WHILE SHARI IS IN BETWEEN JOBS,
SHE SPENDS MOST OF HER DAYS IN THE HOUSE BY HERSELF.
Shari: WHEN WE FIRST MOVED IN, I WOULD BE ALONE.
THE KIDS WOULD BE OFF AT SCHOOL.
AT THE TIME, EROL WAS WORKING QUITE A BIT,
SO HE WAS BASICALLY NEVER REALLY HOME.
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
WHENEVER I WOULD DO LAUNDRY IN THE GARAGE AREA
BY THE SECRET ROOM,
I WOULD FEEL THAT SOMEBODY WAS WATCHING ME.
[ LIGHT BUZZING ]
I KNEW THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT,
BUT I'D BRUSHED IT OFF.
I WOULD START THINKING
THAT MAYBE IT WAS JUST MY IMAGINATION.
[ CREAKING ]
[ CREAKING CONTINUES ]
[ THUD ]
I HEARD THIS THUD NOISE,
AS IF ONE OF THE KIDS HAD ROLLED OUT OF BED.
[ FLOORBOARDS CREAKING ]
THEY WERE BOTH WRAPPED UP VERY SECURE.
NOTHING FELL.
I CHECKED THE ROOM.
GEEZ! IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
YOU SCARED ME.
OKAY, LET'S GO TO BED. COME ON.
OKAY.
[ KEYBOARD CLACKING ]
I WAS UPSTAIRS ON THE COMPUTER.
I WAS LOOKING FOR A JOB AT THE TIME.
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
AND I HEAR THIS FAINT NOISE OF FOOTSTEPS GOING UP THE STAIRS.
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
AT FIRST, I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS EROL,
AND I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE HE WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK EARLY
AND HE WAS GONNA SURPRISE ME.
[ KEYBOARD CLACKING ]
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
I EVEN TURNED AROUND, AND I GOT UP,
AND I WENT TO LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS
TO SEE IF HE WAS THERE.
EROL?
IS THAT YOU?
AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
[ GASPS ]
Narrator: SOON AFTER MOVING INTO A SUBURBAN LOS ANGELES HOME
WITH HER NEW HUSBAND AND TWO DAUGHTERS,
SHARI MUSOWSKI DISCOVERS HER HOUSE HAS SECRETS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT'S FOR?
AFTER STUMBLING UPON A HIDDEN ROOM IN THE GARAGE,
SHARI IS LEFT WITH A GROWING PARANOIA SHE CAN'T EXPLAIN.
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
IT'S AS IF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING EVIL LURKS IN THE HOUSE.
I WOULD BE ALONE. THE KIDS WOULD BE OFF AT SCHOOL.
EROL WOULD BE AT WORK.
EROL?
AND I WOULD FEEL THAT SOMEBODY WAS WATCHING ME.
EROL, IS THAT YOU?
I COULD HEAR THESE FOOTSTEPS GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER.
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
[ GASPS ]
THE FEELING WAS SO STRONG THAT I ACTUALLY THOUGHT
IT WAS EROL STANDING BESIDE ME, TOUCHING MY NECK.
I TURNED AROUND, AND HE'S NOT THERE.
THIS REALLY FREAKED ME OUT.
I KNEW THAT IT WASN'T MY IMAGINATION.
Narrator: THE PHYSICAL CONTACT LEAVES SHARI SHAKEN,
AND SHE FINALLY CONFESSES HER FEARS TO HER HUSBAND.
I SWEAR, HON, SOMETHING WAS HERE IN THE HOUSE.
I HEARD FOOTSTEPS ON THE STAIRS.
I'M SURE THERE'S A NATURAL EXPLANATION.
YOU SAID YOURSELF, RIGHT ON THE FAULT LINE.
WHEN SHARI STARTED FIRST EXPRESSING HER CONCERNS TO ME
ABOUT THE NOISES IN THE HOUSE,
I REALLY DID NOT THINK THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING UNUSUAL.
YOU'RE NOT LISTENING.
SOMETHING TOUCHED ME.
Shari: EROL BRUSHED OFF A LOT OF THE NOISES
AND THE FEELINGS THAT I WOULD GET
BECAUSE THE HOUSE WAS LOCATED ON THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT.
HEY, LET'S JUST GET SOME REST.
IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
I JUST -- I BELIEVE WHAT I SEE.
I KNEW THAT I WAS NOT ALONE, I KNEW THAT I WASN'T CRAZY,
AND I KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING HAPPENING
INSIDE OF THAT HOUSE.
Narrator: A FEW DAYS LATER,
SHARI'S MOTHER, SHARON, SPENDS THE NIGHT.
Sharon: I VISITED, YOU KNOW, OFTEN TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THE GIRLS.
THE GIRLS,
THEY LIKED ME TO STAY IN THEIR ROOM WHEN THEY WENT TO SLEEP,
AND I'D EITHER READ OR WATCH TELEVISION.
[ DOOR CREAKING ]
THE DOOR SLOWLY OPENED,
AND I FELT LIKE SOMEBODY WAS WATCHING ME.
SHARI?
EROL?
IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME,
THEY COULDN'T HAVE MADE IT BACK TO THAT ROOM
AND CLOSED THEIR DOORS WITHOUT MAKING A SOUND.
I DON'T SCARE EASILY, BUT I WAS FRIGHTENED.
Narrator: ALSO FEARING FOR HER GRANDCHILDREN,
SHARON IS COMPELLED TO SHARE HER EXPERIENCE WITH SHARI.
Shari: SO, YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO TALK TO ME ABOUT SOMETHING.
THE OTHER NIGHT, WHEN I STAYED IN THE GIRLS' ROOM...
YEAH?
...THE DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN,
BUT I FELT THAT SOMEONE WAS THERE.
SHARI AND I STARTED NOTICING AND BECOMING AWARE
OF THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING.
I'VE BEEN HAVING SIMILAR EXPERIENCES.
[ GASPS ]
I KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.
SOMEBODY ELSE WAS EXPERIENCING IT, AS WELL.
IT WASN'T JUST ME.
I THINK THE HOUSE IS HAUNTED.
NO.
EVERYTHING THAT I WAS SAYING
FINALLY STARTED TO MAKE SOME SENSE.
I'VE TRIED TO TALK TO EROL ABOUT IT.
HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND,
OR MAYBE HE JUST THINKS I'M CRAZY.
I BELIEVE YOU.
WE REALIZED THAT IT STARTED WHEN WE FIRST FOUND THE SECRET ROOM.
Narrator: SHARI DECIDES TO RESEARCH THE HISTORY OF THE HOME.
Shari: I PULLED UP THE TITLE OF THE HOUSE
TO SEE THE PREVIOUS OWNERS,
AND I WANTED TO SEE IF ANYTHING HAPPENED AT THE HOUSE
PRIOR TO US OWNING IT.
I EVEN WENT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I GAVE THEM THE ADDRESS, AND I ASKED THEM
IF THEY HAD ANY TYPE OF CALLS THAT WERE AT THE HOUSE.
AND THEY WENT BACK ON THEIR RECORDS,
AND THEY SAID NO, AND THEY SAID THAT, BASICALLY,
THE HOUSE WAS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY QUIET.
Narrator: WITH NO EVIDENCE
THAT A TRAUMATIC EVENT TOOK PLACE IN THE HOUSE,
SHARI AVOIDS DISCUSSING THE HAUNTING WITH EROL.
BUT KEEPING HER FEELINGS BOTTLED UP
BEGINS TO EAT AWAY AT THEIR RELATIONSHIP.
WHEN EROL BASICALLY IGNORED
WHAT I WAS TRYING TO TELL HIM ABOUT THE HOUSE,
IT REALLY BOTHERED ME.
NOT ONLY DID IT MAKE ME FEEL INSECURE,
BUT IT ALSO MADE ME FEEL THAT HE WASN'T LISTENING TO ME.
IS DINNER ALMOST DONE?
IT WILL BE A WHILE.
I WAS JUST GONNA CHILL A BOTTLE OF WINE.
OKAY. IF YOU WANT TO.
Erol: I THOUGHT SHE WAS OVERREACTING.
WE WERE BOTH ON EDGE A LOT.
[ THUD ]
WHAT WAS THAT?
IT WAS LIKE A SLEDGEHAMMER AGAINST THE WALL.
IT ROCKED THE WHOLE HOUSE.
Narrator: AND THE SOUND IS COMING FROM THE GARAGE.
[ BANGING ]
CALL THE POLICE!
Narrator: SOON AFTER NEWLYWEDS EROL AND SHARI
AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS MOVE IN,
SHARI IS CONVINCED THEIR HOUSE IS HAUNTED
AND THAT THE SOURCE LIES IN THE SECRET ROOM OFF THE GARAGE.
THIS IS STRANGE.
BUT EROL DOESN'T BELIEVE IN GHOSTS.
WITH EACH PASSING DAY, SHARI FINDS HERSELF
GROWING MORE RESENTFUL OF HER HUSBAND.
I HEARD FOOTSTEPS ON THE STAIRS.
I'M SURE THERE'S A NATURAL EXPLANATION.
I JUST THOUGHT WE LIVED IN AN OLDER HOUSE
AND IT COULD BE EXPLAINED BY NORMAL CAUSES.
Shari: I WAS VERY UPSET. HE JUST DIDN'T EVEN BELIEVE ME.
HE DIDN'T EVEN REALLY LISTEN TO ME.
I KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING HAPPENING INSIDE OF THAT HOUSE.
IS DINNER ALMOST DONE?
IT WILL BE A WHILE.
[ THUD ]
IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEBODY WAS IN THE GARAGE,
TAKING THEIR FIST AND BANGING AGAINST THE WALL.
[ BANGING ]
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
Shari: I WAS TERRIFIED.
CALL THE POLICE!
DON'T GO OUT THERE!
Erol: THE BANGING WAS SO LOUD THAT IT WOULD HAVE BROKEN THE STUCCO.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WAS ACHIEVED
WITHOUT DAMAGING THE WALL.
I JUST COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT.
[ LIGHT BUZZING ]
Narrator: EROL CANNOT LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE MYSTERIOUS BANGING.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
POLICE OFFICERS ARRIVE
TO INSPECT THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE.
MA'AM, SIR, WE WALKED AROUND THE HOUSE.
WE DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGNS OF FORCED ENTRY.
WE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL OR ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU.
DID YOU CHECK ON THAT ONE SIDE?
SIR, WE CHECKED AROUND THE DOORS, AROUND THE WINDOWS.
WE CHECKED EVERYWHERE. WE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL.
I'M SORRY.
Shari: THE OFFICERS MADE SURE
THAT THEY WALKED THE WHOLE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE,
THE WHOLE OUTSIDE PERIMETER.
THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING.
THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY FOOTPRINTS.
I MEAN, DON'T HESITATE TO CALL US ANYMORE
IF YOU HEAR SOMETHING, OKAY?OKAY.
I'M SORRY.ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.YOU TOO.
THANK YOU. YOU TOO.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT WAS?
I DON'T KNOW.
SOMETHING IS IN THIS HOUSE, EROL.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY!
THAT'S WHAT I KEEP TALKING ABOUT!
Narrator: FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THE COUPLE REMAINS ON EDGE.
WHILE SHARI IS CONVINCED
THAT OPENING THE SECRET ROOM HAS UNLOCKED SOMETHING EVIL,
EROL STRUGGLES TO MAKE SENSE OF THE UNEXPLAINED NOISES.
AFTER THAT HAPPENED, I WAS GIVING EVERYTHING A SECOND LOOK.
[ GIRLS LAUGHING ]
I HEARD TWO GIRLS WHISPERING AND THEN LAUGHING.
[ LAUGHING CONTINUES ]
SHARI LET THE KIDS GO TO SLEEP BY TELEVISION,
SO I FIGURED IT'S ONE OF THOSE SHOWS
THAT THEY'RE WATCHING ON TV.
WHEN I WENT IN THERE, THEY WERE DEFINITELY ASLEEP.
THESE KIDS WERE OUT.
[ STATIC ]
I REALLY WAS PERPLEXED. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.
IT SENT CHILLS RIGHT UP MY BACK.
[ GIRLS LAUGH ]
Narrator: A FEW DAYS LATER, EROL IS WORKING IN THE GARAGE.
[ SHELVES CREAKING ]
I FELT LIKE SOMEONE WAS LOOKING AT ME.
[ LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS ]
[ LIGHT BUZZING ]
[ LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS ]
[ SHELVES CREAK ]
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: FOR MORE "A HAUNTING," VISIT...
Narrator: ON THE OUTSIDE, THIS SUBURBAN LOS ANGELES HOUSE
AND FAMILY LOOKED LIKE ANY OTHER --
MOM, STEPDAD, TWO GIRLS LIVING A NORMAL LIFE.
BUT THE DISCOVERY OF A DARK, HIDDEN ROOM
MAY HAVE AWAKENED AN EVIL PRESENCE.
EROL IS RELUCTANT TO BELIEVE THEIR DREAM HOUSE IS HAUNTED
UNTIL HIS CURIOSITY GETS THE BETTER OF HIM
AND HE GOES EXPLORING.
[ LIGHT BUZZING ]
PRETTY MUCH FED UP WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON.
I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS UP WITH THAT HOUSE.
[ BUZZING CONTINUES ]
[ LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS ]
[ SHELVES CREAK ]
[ SCREAMS ]
THERE WAS NO MISTAKING
THAT SOMETHING HAD PUT THEIR HAND ON MY SHOULDER.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON
IN THE HOUSE THAT WASN'T NORMAL.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I HAD FELT AFRAID.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]Shari: I'M HOME.
HEY, COME HERE.
SIT -- SIT DOWN.
WHAT'S GOING ON? JUST SIT.
OKAY.
I FELT THIS HAND.
I MEAN, SHARI, I FELT THIS -- THIS MAN'S HAND ON MY SHOULDER.
AND A FEW WEEKS AGO, I-I SWEAR I HEARD LITTLE GIRLS GIGGLING.
Narrator: NOW THE FAMILY HAS DETECTED THREE GHOSTS --
A MENACING MALE AND TWO LITTLE GIRLS.
BUT THE REASON FOR THE HAUNTING REMAINS A MYSTERY.
I KNEW THAT HE FINALLY
WAS WITNESSING WHAT I HAD WITNESSED...
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
...THE NOISES
AND THE FEELINGS OF BEING TOUCHED ON MY NECK.
ALL THE THINGS THAT I WAS TRYING TO TELL HIM,
HE NOW GOT TO SEE THAT I WASN'T MAKING ANY OF THIS STUFF UP.
IT MADE ME FEEL A LOT BETTER THAT I WASN'T ALONE.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU THIS WHOLE TIME.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?
I-I DON'T KNOW.
I KNEW THAT WHATEVER THIS THING WAS,
THIS SPIRIT OR ENTITY,
I KNEW THAT IT WAS GONNA GET WORSE IN TIME.
WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING.
EROL, CAN YOU COME HERE, PLEASE?
Narrator: DEVOUT CATHOLICS, SHARI AND HER MOTHER
CONDUCT RESEARCH ON HOW TO RID THE HOUSE OF GHOSTS.
Shari: I HAD READ UP ON A COUPLE OF WEBSITES
WHERE THEY HAD SAID TAKE HOLY WATER,
SAY A PRAYER, ALSO HOLD A CRUCIFIX,
AND BLESS THE HOUSE.
I WAS SCARED FOR ALL FOUR OF THEM,
BUT I ALSO FELT HELPLESS,
'CAUSE I FELT LIKE THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO.
I'M GONNA TAKE THIS.
OKAY. I'LL TAKE THIS.
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THAT? YOUR MOM SENT IT FOR US.
Shari: EROL IS OF TURKISH DESCENT.
THEY HAVE THIS CULTURAL ITEM.
IT'S CALLED AN EVIL EYE.
YOU PUT IT IN AN AREA OF YOUR HOME
WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO WARD OFF EVIL.
ARE YOU SURE THIS IS GONNA WORK?
IT COULDN'T HURT.
ALL RIGHT, SO, EACH DOORWAY...
Narrator: SHARI USES HOLY WATER HER MOTHER BROUGHT BACK
FROM A SHRINE IN LOURDES, FRANCE,
CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE ONE OF THE HOLIEST PLACES ON EARTH.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY GHOST.
BLESS THIS HOUSE.
WHY DON'T YOU HANG THAT ON THE GARAGE DOOR?
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY GHOST.
BLESS THIS HOUSE.
I JUST THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, IF THAT MADE HER FEEL BETTER,
THAT WAS OKAY WITH ME,
BUT I DIDN'T PUT ANY CREDENCE IN IT AT ALL.
YOU'RE TRYING TO MOVE A MOUNTAIN WITH YOUR FINGERTIP,
IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN.
IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
Narrator: FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THE HOME IS PEACEFUL.
Shari: AFTER I DID MY OWN BLESSING OF THE HOME,
IT SEEMED LIKE THE GENERAL ENERGY IN THE HOUSE
WAS VERY CALM,
AND I FELT VERY HOPEFUL
THAT IT CLEARED WHATEVER IT WAS IN THE HOUSE,
IT GOT RID OF IT.
Danielle: [ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: BOTH SHARI AND HER HUSBAND, EROL,
HAVE HAD FRIGHTENING ENCOUNTERS WITH A STRONG, EVIL, MALE GHOST
IN THEIR HOME.[ SCREAMS ]
[ GIRLS LAUGHING ]
EROL HAS ALSO HEARD THE GHOSTLY SOUND OF LITTLE GIRLS LAUGHING.
ONE NIGHT WHILE EROL IS OUT OF TOWN,
SHARI AND HER DAUGHTERS, NATALIE AND DANIELLE,
SPEND THE NIGHT ALONE.
[ SCREAMS ]
SWEETIE?
WHAT'S WRONG, HON?
[ Gasping ] I-I DON'T WANT TO SLEEP IN HERE.
MY YOUNGER DAUGHTER, SHE WAS HYSTERICAL.
OH, THERE'S NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
YES, THERE IS.
Natalie: SHE'S RIGHT, MOM.
THERE ARE THESE TWO LITTLE GIRLS.
Shari: MY OLDEST DAUGHTER SAID
THERE WERE THESE KIDS THAT WERE TALKING,
AND THEY WERE GIGGLING,
AND SHE COULDN'T GET THEM TO STOP.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
COME.
WE'LL JUST SLEEP IN MY BED TONIGHT.
HERE, HON.
Narrator: BUT ARE THE GHOST CHILDREN MORE SINISTER THAN THEY APPEAR?
Shari: I FELT THAT I HAD NO CONTROL.
I REALLY FELT AT THAT POINT THAT WHATEVER THIS THING WAS,
IT WAS TAKING OVER MY HOME.
Narrator: AFTER A FAILED ATTEMPT
TO RID THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS HERSELF,
SHARI INVITES AN EXPERT TO INVESTIGATE THE SECRET ROOM.
Claudia: I COME ORIGINALLY FROM GERMANY.
I'M A PSYCHIC MEDIUM, A HEALER, AND A SOUL EMPATH,
BECAUSE I CAN TUNE INTO SOULS.
WHEN I TUNED INTO THE ENERGY OF THE HOUSE,
THE FIRST THING I WANTED TO CHECK --
WHETHER THE SPIRIT CAME FROM OUTSIDE,
OR WAS IT SOMETHING
WHICH IS ACTUALLY ATTACHED TO THE LOCATION ITSELF?
Shari: SHE WAS MY LAST RESORT.
SHE WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT I FELT COULD PUT AN END TO THIS.
Claudia: THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE WHERE THE GARAGE WAS,
THAT SEEMED, TO ME, THEIR FOCAL POINT.
THE SECRET ROOM FELT SAD.
IT FELT FULL OF SORROW.
IT DIDN'T SEEM AS DARK AS A DEMON,
BUT IT WAS PRETTY INTENSE.
DEFINITELY A LOT OF AGGRESSIVE ENERGY,
FRUSTRATED ENERGY.
Narrator: SUDDENLY, CLAUDIA HAS A VISION OF AN EVENT
THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE SECRET ROOM.
Claudia: I SAW THIS MAN LAYING IN A CORNER, ALONE.
HE SEEMED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE DRUG BUSINESS.
IT SEEMED THIS MAN HAD DIED A VIOLENT DEATH,
POSSIBLY A DRUG OVERDOSE.
[ BREATHES HEAVILY ]
THERE IS SOMEONE HERE IN THE HOUSE WITH YOU.
IT'S A MAN.
Narrator: AND CLAUDIA WARNS HE'S DANGEROUS.
Claudia: THIS DARK SPIRIT, HIS LIFE WAS CUT SHORT.
HE ENVIED ANYBODY WHO HAD A FAMILY, CHILDREN, A WIFE.
HIS FAMILY LEFT HIM, AND HE BECAME CRUEL
BECAUSE HE WAS USING DRUGS OR DEALING WITH DRUGS.
Narrator: SHARI IS STUNNED.
WHEN SHE SEARCHED THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE,
SHE NEVER CAME ACROSS A RECORD OF A MAN OVERDOSING.
Shari: BECAUSE HIS LIFE GOT CUT SHORT, HE WANTED TO MAKE US MISERABLE.
HE DIDN'T WANT US TO HAVE A HAPPY FAMILY
AND LIVE A HAPPY LIFE.
Narrator: BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LITTLE GIRL GHOSTS?
CLAUDIA EXPLAINS THAT THEY ARE REALLY THE GHOST MAN
IN A DIFFERENT FORM.
Claudia: BY USING CHILDREN,
THIS MALE SPIRIT WAS A GREAT MANIPULATOR.
THIS SPIRIT WAS TRICKY ENOUGH
TO USE CHILDREN'S VOICES TO GET THEIR ATTENTION.
AND THEN ONCE THE CHILDREN VOICES WERE HEARD,
THEN HE COULD GAIN MORE POWER.
I WAS TERRIFIED.
I KNEW THAT IT WAS GONNA GET WORSE.
Narrator: CLAUDIA GATHERS THE NECESSARY INGREDIENTS
TO CLEANSE THE HOUSE.
INSTEAD OF USING HOLY WATER,
CLAUDIA USES HIGHLY FLAMMABLE ALCOHOL.
IF IT IGNITES, THEY WILL KNOW THEY ARE NOT ALONE.
HEY, THIS IS GONNA LET YOU KNOW WHEN THE SPIRIT IS PRESENT,
AND THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED TO BE THE MOST FOCUSED.
YOU HAVE TO RECLAIM YOUR HOME. CAN YOU DO THAT?
I THINK SO.
OKAY.
ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL...
SHE STARTED PRAYING, AND SHE PRAYED HER HEART OUT.
...DEFEND US IN BATTLE.
STAND BESIDE US, BEHIND US,
IN FRONT OF US, ABOVE US, BELOW US,
AND PROTECT US FROM THE EVIL SNARES OF THE DEVIL.
ST. MICHAEL, TAKE THIS EVIL ENTITY
BACK TO WHEREVER IT IS HE BELONGS.
THIS CLEANSING WAS REALLY, REALLY INTENSE.
THE HEAT WAS TREMENDOUS.
YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS HERE!
SHE BECAME THE FLAME. SHE BECAME THE LIGHT.
THIS IS NOT YOUR HOME!
LEAVE THIS FAMILY IN PEACE.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,
AMEN.
Claudia: AMEN.
THE PRESENCE IS GONE.
Shari: THE ENERGY IN THE HOUSE WAS VERY CALM,
AND IT DIDN'T SEEM AS HEAVY.
Narrator: FOR WEEKS,
THE FAMILY EXPERIENCES NO PARANORMAL DISTURBANCES.
YEAH, LOOK.
NO, I DON'T THINK SO.[ LAUGHS ]
I WAS VERY HOPEFUL THAT I WAS GONNA GET MY HOUSE BACK.
DON'T GIVE ME ANY IDEAS.
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE TERRIBLE. YOU CREATED A MONSTER ALREADY.
[ BANGING ] HMM?
[ BANGING CONTINUES ]
WHAT THE HELL?
GIRLS, STAY HERE.
[ BANGING CONTINUES ]
Erol: THE DOOR WAS JUST GOING BACK AND FORTH, SHAKING.
WE KNEW THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
[ BANGING CONTINUES ]
THIS WAS CLEARLY A SPIRIT.
WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS IT?
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS,
A FAMILY OF FOUR HAS BEEN HAUNTED
BY A FORCEFUL AND IMPOSING ENTITY.
AND PROTECT US FROM THE EVIL SNARES OF THE DEVIL.
A MEDIUM WARNS IT'S THE GHOST OF AN ANGRY DRUG ADDICT
WHO LOST HIS FAMILY TO HIS ADDICTION
BEFORE DYING OF AN OVERDOSE.
THIS MALE FIGURE WHICH WAS SO HATEFUL
AND ENVIOUS TOWARDS WHAT EROL AND SHARI HAD AS A COUPLE,
HE WAS THIS VERY DARK AND NEGATIVE SPIRIT.
Danielle: [ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: AFTER THE HOUSE IS CLEANSED,
THE FAMILY BELIEVES THE GHOST IS GONE.
[ LAUGHTER ]I'M GONNA LAUGH NOW.
IT SEEMED LIKE THE GENERAL ENERGY IN THE HOUSE
WAS VERY CALM.
THEY'RE GOOD.
I WAS VERY HOPEFUL THAT THE BLESSING WAS GONNA WORK.
[ BANGING ]
[ BANGING CONTINUES ]
WHAT THE HELL?
GIRLS, STAY HERE.
[ BANGING CONTINUES ]
THE DOOR WAS JUST GOING BACK AND FORTH, SHAKING.
Shari: THIS WAS CLEARLY THE MALE SPIRIT,
AND HE WASN'T GONNA LEAVE.
Danielle: WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS IT?
[ SCREAMS ]
HONEY, WE NEED TO GET THE GIRLS OUT OF HERE.
LET'S GO. COME ON, COME ON.
Narrator: THEY REALIZE THE GHOST IS BACK.
AND THAT'S WHEN I MADE THE DECISION --
I CAN'T STAY HERE. I CAN'T LIVE WITH THIS ANYMORE.
I WAS DONE.
Narrator: WHILE EROL RUSHES THE GIRLS OUT OF THE HOUSE,
SHARI PACKS A FEW ESSENTIALS.
Shari: THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WAS GONNA MAKE ME STAY IN THE HOME.
THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WAS GONNA CONVINCE ME
THAT THINGS WOULD GET BETTER.
[ SCREAMS ]
[ GROANS ]
ALL OF A SUDDEN, I FELT PRESSURE OF TWO HANDS
FORCEFULLY PUSH ME, PUSH ME SO FAR THAT I FELL.
THAT WAS THE MOST TERRIFYING THING
I HAVE EVER GONE THROUGH IN MY LIFE.
THAT'S WHEN I KNEW THAT THIS ENTITY,
THIS MALE SPIRIT WAS DANGEROUS.
I KNEW THAT THIS MAN NOW WANTED TO HURT ME.
IT'S THE WORST FEELING TO KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT NO DEFENSE.
THAT WAS THE DAY THAT I ACTUALLY MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE
AND I MOVED THE GIRLS OUT OF THE HOUSE.
I DIDN'T GO BACK.
Narrator: THE FAMILY MOVES IN WITH SHARI'S MOTHER
WHILE THEY CONSIDER THEIR OPTIONS.
EROL WENT AHEAD, AND HE PUT THE HOUSE UP FOR SALE.
Narrator: EVENTUALLY, THEY ARE ABLE TO SELL
WHAT WAS ONCE THEIR DREAM HOUSE.
AS FOR THE NEWLYWEDS SHARI AND EROL,
THE STRESS OF GOING THROUGH THE HAUNTING
TAKES A TOLL ON THEIR RELATIONSHIP.
AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR OF MARRIAGE,
THEY MAKE THE DECISION TO SPLIT UP.
THIS ENTITY ABSOLUTELY LED TO MY DIVORCE, ABSOLUTELY.
THIS RUINED OUR CHANCES OF HAVING A HAPPY LIFE TOGETHER.
YOU'RE NOT LISTENING.
I'M A GUY THAT NORMALLY FIGURES THINGS OUT,
TAKES CONTROL, FIXES THE SITUATION.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM.
I FOCUS ON THE SOLUTION.
AT SOME POINT, I KNEW THERE WAS NO SOLUTION.
Narrator: SHARI AND HER DAUGHTERS
EVENTUALLY START OVER IN A NEARBY TOWN.
IT WAS VERY HARD TO SEE MY DAUGHTERS AFRAID,
TO THE POINT OF WHERE I KNEW
THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN THE HOUSE.
IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS THAT I HAD TO DO,
AND IT REALLY BOTHERED ME.
I'M HAPPY AT THE FACT
THAT AT LEAST WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE HOME
AND WE WERE ABLE TO LIVE A HAPPIER LIFE
GOING OUR SEPARATE WAYS,
BUT I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT WE WENT THROUGH.
[ THUD ]
I THINK THIS WHOLE SITUATION DID LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH,
BECAUSE I LOST MY FAMILY.
I LOST OUR DREAM HOUSE.
Narrator: WATCHING HER DAUGHTER'S LIFE TORN APART
HAS LEFT SHARI'S MOTHER HEARTBROKEN.
I THINK THAT FEELING OF JUST FEELING HELPLESS
AND YOU CAN'T HELP SOMEONE THAT YOU LOVE THAT MUCH
AND YOU'D DO ANYTHING FOR THEM,
THAT'S THE WORST FEELING.
ACTUALLY WORSE THAN ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN IMAGINE.
Shari: IT WAS ALL TAKEN AWAY BECAUSE OF THIS MALE SPIRIT.
HE WON.
MY MARRIAGE LOST. HE WON.