Alaska Haunting (2015) s01e01 Episode Script
Buried Secrets
1 Narrator: ALASKA IS A STUNNING WILDERNESS, A LAND OF LIGHT AND BEAUTY.
BUT IN THE SHADOWS OF ITS SNOWCAPPED PEAKS, SPIRITS LURK.
WHEN A FAMILY BREAKS GROUND ON THEIR DREAM HOME HEY.
HEY.
WHAT YOU MAKING? JUST SPAGHETTI.
THEY RELEASE A SECRE BURIED IN THE ICE.
HELLO? AAH! OH, MY GOD.
[ GASPS .]
AAH! I WAS SEEING WHAT THAT DEMON LOOKED LIKE, AND IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME.
Narrator: A SPIRIT AWAKENS FROM THE DEAD MY EYES -- THEY WERE BLOODY.
Narrator: AND COMMITS A WAVE OF UNGODLY ACTS.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE WALLS LITERALLY SIZZLED.
Narrator: IN A LAND AS REMOTE AS ALASKA, WHEN EVIL THAWS WILL ANYONE HEAR YOU SCREAM? [ HEARTBEAT POUNDING .]
[ WOMAN SCREAMS .]
-- Captions by VITAC -- CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS NESTLED IN THE HEAR OF ALASKA'S WILD INTERIOR IS THE REMOTE FORMER GOLD-MINING COMMUNITY OF SALCHA.
IF YOU'RE FROM SALCHA AND YOU'RE BORN AND RAISED HERE, IT'S A HARD LIFE OUT THERE.
YOU DON'T HAVE CITY WATER, CITY SEWER LINES.
YOU HAVE WELLS AND OUTHOUSES.
THE PROSPECTORS HAVE MOVED ON, BUT WITH A POPULATION A LITTLE OVER 1,000, SALCHA STILL HAS A FRONTIER FEEL.
SALCHA'S DEFINITELY NOT A PLACE TO MESS AROUND.
PEOPLE TAKE THEIR PROPERTY VERY SERIOUS.
IN ALASKA, IT IS LEGAL -- YOU COME ON SOMEBODY'S PROPERTY, AND THEY CAN SHOOT YOU.
Lita: I KNOW.
IT'S RIGHT ON THE HILL.
Narrator: IN 2003, LITA CRISTALLO AND HER 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, BONNIE, RELOCATE TO SALCHA, HOPING FOR A FRESH START.
THIS IS OUR NEW HOME.
TO OUR NEW HOME AND NEW BEGINNINGS.
Cristallo: I AM A CALIFORNIA GIRL, AND WHEN I MOVED HERE AND REALIZED THAT I HAD TO PUT ON FOUR LAYERS BECAUSE IT'S 50 BELOW OUTSIDE, BUT THEN YOU WANT ME TO TAKE THEM BACK OFF TO GO USE THE OUTHOUSE, I WAS LIKE [CHUCKLES.]
"I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.
" WE FOUND THIS LITTLE PLACE IN SALCHA, AND IT WAS REALLY SMALL.
IT WAS ONLY 700 SQUARE FOOT.
IT WAS A LOFT HOME.
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SHOVEL OFF THE PORCH.
YOU GOT IT? YEAH.
IT DID HAVE WATER AND ELECTRIC, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL.
[ CHUCKLES .]
THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
Gray: IT WAS SURROUNDED BY WOODS.
IT WAS JUST A REALLY NICE, COZY, GOOD-FEELING PLACE.
Cristallo: I KNEW RIGHT AWAY.
I FELT LIKE I WAS COMING HOME.
SERIOUSLY, IT WAS JUST SO ALASKAN.
I'M A CALIFORNIA GIRL.
THIS WAS IT.
IT'S A LITTLE SMALLER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW? WE COULD ALWAYS TAKE THIS WALL OUT HERE.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE COULD DO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PROPERTY NOW.
YEAH, LIKE A LITTLE PIANO PARLOR.
YES.
THAT WOULD BE SO AWESOME.
IT COULD BE JUST A ROOM FOR THE PIANO.
WOULDN'T THA BE WONDERFUL? OH, THAT WOULD BE PERFECT.
WELL, I'M GONNA CHECK UPSTAIRS.
OKAY.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: THE ONE DRAWBACK TO THE HOUSE IS ITS SIZE.
SO SOON AFTER MOVING IN, LITA BEGINS BUILDING AN EXTENSION.
BUT SALCHA IS ONE OF THE COLDEST PLACES IN ALASKA, WITH RECORDED TEMPERATURES OF NEGATIVE 65 DEGREES.
SO IT'S SLOW GOING.
Cristallo: IT TOOK ANOTHER SIX YEARS BEFORE WE WERE EVEN CLOSE TO BEING DONE.
Narrator: IN 2009, THE EXTENSION IS COMPLETE, AND LITA CAN FINALLY INSTALL A PRIZED POSSESSION -- HER GRAND PIANO.
[ PIANO MUSIC PLAYING .]
[ MUSIC ENDS .]
IT'S NOT THE ONLY NEW ADDITION.
DURING THE RENOVATION, BONNIE GIVES BIRTH TO A SON -- RIVER.
IT WAS GOOD.
HOW WAS YOUR DAY, GRANDMA? AH, IT WAS OKAY.
OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE FAMILY OF THREE GROWS INTO THEIR EXPANDED SPACE.
Gray: MY SON IS VERY SMART.
HE'S VERY COMPASSIONATE.
HE IS SUPER SENSITIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE'S FEELINGS AND THE SURROUNDINGS.
MAYBE WE COULD PICK A SPO TO GO SNOWBOARDING.
THAT WOULD BE FUN.
I SHOULD ASK MY MOM, AND THEN MAYBE IF SHE SAYS YES, I COULD GO OUT AND SNOWBOARD.
HEY, GUYS.
HEY.
HERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU.
HERE.
Cristallo: WHEN THE TIME CAME AND MY HOUSE WAS DONE, IT WAS THE MOST WONDERFUL FEELING.
I THOUGHT, "I'M GONNA LIVE HERE FOREVER.
IT'S MY DREAM HOUSE.
" I JUST FELT, LIKE, REALLY GROWN UP AND EXCITED TO BE THERE.
Narrator: BY THE WINTER OF 2009, LITA HAS BEEN IN THE HOUSE FOR SIX YEARS.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, SHE NOTICES SOME FAULTS CONNECTED TO THE PROPERTY.
Cristallo: WHENEVER I'D GO TO USE MY CELLPHONE IN THE HOUSE, MY PHONE WOULD DIE.
AND I'D BE ON A 100% CHARGE AND I'D GET LIKE TWO PICTURES AND MY PHONE WOULD DIE.
[ SCREEN CRACKING .]
AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT, "WELL, IT'S COLD BECAUSE IT'S 50 BELOW OUTSIDE.
" BUT, NO, IT'S NOT THAT COLD IN THE HOUSE.
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, LITA NOTICES OTHER STRANGE OCCURRENCES.
IT NEVER GOT LIGHT IN THERE.
IT WAS JUST -- AND IT STARTED KIND OF WEIGHING ON ME.
IT FELT LIKE IT WAS OMINOUS DARK.
I HAD A LOT OF LITTLE LAMPS.
AND I HAD PRETTY OVERHEAD LIGHTS.
IT WAS LIKE I COULD NEVER LIGHT UP MY LIVING ROOM.
Narrator: AT THE START OF THE NEW YEAR, TEMPERATURES IN SALCHA ARE PLUMMETING WELL BELOW FREEZING.
AND WITH ONLY FOUR HOURS OF DAYLIGHT, RIVER IS OFTEN FORCED TO PLAY INDOORS.
[ IMITATING ENGINES REVVING .]
HEY, SWEETIE.
WHAT YOU DOING? OH, I'M JUST PLAYING WITH MY TRUCKS.
OH, OKAY.
Gray: HER AND RIVER ARE JUST AS CLOSE, IF NOT CLOSER, THAN ME AND MY MOM ARE.
THOSE THE TOYS YOU GO LAST CHRISTMAS? YEAH.
THEY HAVE A VERY GOOD CONNECTION.
SHE REALLY ENJOYS HIS COMPANY, AND HE REALLY LOVES HIS GRANDMA A LOT.
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
[ HEARTBEAT POUNDING .]
HI.
WHO YOU TALKING TO, SWEETIE? WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY HI TO THAT MAN? SEE THE WINDOW? LOOK AT IT.
YEAH.
THERE'S A GUY THERE? CAN'T YOU SEE HIM? NO.
I DON'T SEE HIM, SWEETIE.
ARE YOU OKAY, HONEY? RIVER, I THINK YOU SHOULD GO DOWNSTAIRS AND PLAY.
CAN I -- CAN I TAKE MY TRUCKS? YEAH, SURE YOU CAN.
OKAY.
[ DOOR OPENS .]
Narrator: LITA WRITES OFF THE INCIDENT AS A PRODUC OF RIVER'S OVERLY ACTIVE IMAGINATION.
Cristallo: I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK, AND I JUST KIND OF DROPPED I BECAUSE IT WAS JUST CREEPY.
AND I WASN'T SURE WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
Narrator: A FEW NIGHTS LATER, WHILE BONNIE GETS RIVER READY FOR BED, LITA FINISHES DINNER.
Cristallo: IT WAS A SCHOOL NIGHT, AND BONNIE WAS GIVING HIM HIS BATH UPSTAIRS.
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY .]
HOW'S THE WATER, HMM? Gray: I WAS IN THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES.
HE GOT COMFORTABLE AND STARTED PLAYING, DOING HIS THING.
ALL RIGHT, HONEY, I GOT TO RUN DOWNSTAIRS AND GET SOME SOAP, OKAY? OKAY.
HEY.
HEY.
WHAT YOU MAKING? JUST SPAGHETTI.
GOOD.
I GOT RIVER UP IN THE BATH, SO HE'LL BE DONE BEFORE DINNER'S READY.
PERFECT.
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY .]
[ TOY THUNKS .]
OH, NO! [ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
HELLO? WHO'S OUT THERE? MOM? [ GROWLING .]
[ GASPING .]
AAH! OH, MY GOD.
[ GASPS .]
Cristallo: THIS WAS AN ALL-OUT SCREAM, LIKE, YOU KNOW, TERROR KIND OF SCREAM.
AAH! AAH! AAH! Gray: I'D NEVER HEARD MY SON SCREAM LIKE THAT BEFORE, AND I COULDN'T SEEM TO GE UP THE STAIRS FAST ENOUGH.
HE WAS SO SCARED, HE WAS IN SHOCK.
I WRAPPED HIM UP, AND I JUS ROCKED HIM BACK AND FORTH.
I ASKED HIM -- I SAID, "WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT HAPPENED?" AND HE WAS JUST CRYING AND JUST STARING AT ME IN, LIKE, DISBELIEF.
Cristallo: EVEN AFTER WE GOT HIM OUT OF THE TUB, HE WOULDN'T TELL US WHAT IT WAS.
WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHA WOULD MAKE HIM CRY LIKE THAT, AND WE COULD NO SETTLE HIM DOWN.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
AND SO WE DIDN'T REALLY PRESSURE HIM.
AND I JUST TRIED TO NOT THINK ABOUT IT.
[ WIND WHISTLING .]
Narrator: EARLY THE NEXT DAY, BONNIE IS GETTING READY FOR WORK.
I WAS FACING THE MIRROR WITH MY BACK TOWARDS THE TUB, AND I COULD FEEL SOMEBODY STARING AT ME, AT THE BACK OF MY HEAD.
[ GROWLING .]
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
AND I WAS, LIKE, IN DENIAL.
[ HEARTBEAT POUNDING .]
[ WOMAN SCREAMS .]
Narrator: FOR LITA CRISTALLO AND HER DAUGHTER, BONNIE, MOVING TO ALASKA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A FRESH START.
BUT THINGS AREN'T TURNING OU AS THEY PLANNED.
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
[ GASPS .]
Gray: IT WAS CLEAR AS DAY.
I SEEN A FIGURE STANDING AT THE BACK OF THE TUB, STARING RIGHT AT ME, WITH LONG HAIR.
IT WAS LIKE SOMEBODY WAS ACTUALLY STANDING THERE BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.
IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST SCARIES MOMENTS I'VE HAD IN THE HOUSE.
Narrator: AFTER SEEING THE VISION IN THE BATHROOM, BONNIE'S FIRST REACTION IS TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.
OF COURSE THE FIRST INSTINC IS TO PROTECT MY SON FROM WHAT'S STARTING TO HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE.
BEING A SINGLE MOTHER AND LIVING IN ALASKA IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, I DIDN'T HAVE MANY OPTIONS ON HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
Narrator: TO BONNIE'S RELIEF, THE REMAINDER OF THE WINTER PASSES WITHOUT INCIDENT.
BUT BY SPRING, AS SALCHA SLOWLY BEGINS TO THAW OUT, SHE STILL CAN'T SHAKE WHAT SHE SAW.
EVERY EXPERIENCE THAT SEEMED MORE LIKE IT WAS CAUSING PHYSICAL HARM THAN ME JUS LIVING PEACEFULLY WITH I WAS GETTING ME A STEP CLOSER TO REALIZING I NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
Narrator: BONNIE CONFIDES IN A FRIEND, WHO SUGGESTS THEY HOLD A SEANCE.
Gray: I DID USE THE SPIRIT BOARD IN MY MOM'S HOUSE ON ONE OCCASION.
SHE WASN'T THERE, AND I WAS TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH WHATEVER WE WERE FEELING WAS IN THE HOUSE AT THE TIME.
YOU WANT TO TRY IT? YEAH, OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DO IT.
IS ANYBODY HERE? AND I WAS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO WAS IN THE HOUSE.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE? IS ANYBODY HERE? [ Singsong voice .]
HELLO? DO YOU FEEL ANYTHING? [ Normal voice .]
NO.
AH.
[ SIGHS .]
I DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING IN THIS GAME.
I DIDN'T.
I DIDN'T GET ANYTHING.
NOTHING? NO.
WEIRD.
JUST A GAME, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
[ CHUCKLES .]
Narrator: THE SEANCE APPEARS TO BE A FAILURE, BUT EVEN SO, OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BONNIE'S MOOD IMPROVES.
Gray: SOMETIME AFTER I TRIED TO GET IN CONTAC WITH THE SPIRIT BOARD, I WAS IN THE BATHROOM IN THE MORNING, GETTING READY FOR WORK.
[ WATER RUNNING .]
MY EYES WELLED UP.
[ COUGHS .]
I HAD STARTED COUGHING.
[ COUGHING .]
[ GASPS .]
MY EYES BEGAN TO BLEED.
[ GASPING .]
AND THEY WERE BLOODY.
I STARTED TO PANIC.
AND MY EYES WERE JUST LEAKING MORE, AND I KEPT TRYING TO WIPE THIS BLOOD OFF, WIPE THIS BLOOD OFF.
IT WAS JUST SPREADING AND SPREADING.
Cristallo: SHE CALLED ME.
I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOUR EYES ARE BLEEDING?" I'M THINKING BRAIN TUMORS AND ANEURYSMS.
"OH, MY GOD.
GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
YOUR EYES SHOULDN'T BLEED.
" Narrator: BONNIE EVENTUALLY CONFESSES TO LITA THAT SHE HELD A SEANCE IN THE HOUSE.
IT STARTED WEIGHING ON ME AND BONNIE.
AND I THINK PART OF I WAS BECAUSE SHE KNEW THAT SHE'D DONE THE SPIRIT BOARD THERE AND I DIDN'T KNOW.
AND SO SHE WAS FEELING A LITTLE GUILTY OR CONCERNED THAT SHE HAD BROUGHT THIS ON.
Narrator: A DARK MOOD HAS SETTLED OVER LITA CRISTALLO'S HOME, AND BY THE FALL, SHE IS PERMANENTLY ON EDGE.
[ OWL HOOTS .]
HER ONE SOLACE IS HER PIANO.
[ SLOW PIANO MUSIC PLAYING .]
THAT WAS MY COMFORT.
I'D COME HOME FROM WHATEVER, SIT DOWN, AND PLAY, AND I'D LOSE MYSELF IN THE PIANO.
AND I LOVED THAT.
Narrator: BUT IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE EVEN THAT PLEASURE BECOMES TAINTED.
Cristallo: I USED TO JUST LOVE TO PLAY THE PIANO, AND IT GOT TO THE POIN WHERE IT WAS ALMOST LIKE SOMEONE WAS ANGRY WITH ME WHEN I PLAYED THE PIANO.
IF I DID SIT DOWN AND TRY TO PLAY, I WOULDN'T EVEN GET THROUGH A WHOLE SONG.
I COULD JUST FEEL, LIKE, SOMEONE JUST AROUND ME AND REALLY HATING MY MUSIC.
THAT'S HOW I FELT, LIKE, "JUST STOP.
JUST STOP PLAYING.
" [ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
[ WIND WHISTLING .]
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, LITA TRIES TO SHAKE THE EERIE FEELING SHE EXPERIENCED BY THE PIANO.
Cristallo: I CAME BACK HOME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE HOUSE, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
[ INDISTINCT WHISPERS .]
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
FIRST THING I NOTICE IS MY WALL.
AND I'M LOOKING AT IT, AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH MY WALL?" AND I GET CLOSER.
[ GASPS .]
AND THERE'S OVER 30 GOUGE MARKS ON MY WALL.
IT WENT DOWN TO THE SHEETROCK.
[ GROWLING .]
I'M GETTING READY TO LEAVE, AND I HEAR THIS GROWLING [ GROWLING .]
IN MY EAR.
IT WASN'T LIKE ANYTHING I'VE EVER HEARD BEFORE.
IT WAS REAL GUTTURAL.
AND I KNEW FOR A FACT THAT'S WHAT MADE THOSE CLAW MARKS.
[ GROWLING CONTINUES .]
Narrator: ALASKA'S INTERIOR IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT WILDERNESSES.
AND RIGHT IN ITS HEART, IT APPEARS THAT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING HAS BROKEN INTO AND VANDALIZED LITA CRISTALLO'S HOME.
[ GASPS .]
Narrator: LITA SLOWLY TAKES IN THE DEVASTATION WREAKED ACROSS HER BEDROOM WALLS.
SOME WERE, LIKE, THREE, LIKE, SCRATCH MARKS.
AND THEN REST WERE LIKE A TALON -- 'CAUSE THAT'S WHA IT LOOKS LIKE, LIKE SOMETHING HAD JUST POKED IT.
BUT IT WENT DOWN TO THE SHEETROCK.
SO, WHEN I WAS STARING AT THE WALLS [ GROWLING .]
ALL OF A SUDDEN I JUST HEAR THIS GROWLING RIGHT AT MY EAR, RIGHT AT MY EAR, IN THE AIR.
SO, LIKE, WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S HANGING IN THE AIR.
AND IT WAS LOW AND DEEP AND NOT LIKE A DOG, NOT -- UNLIKE ANYTHING I'VE EVER HEARD BEFORE, AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OF SOUNDS, BEING IN ALASKA.
THAT WAS THE BREAKING POIN FOR ME.
AFTER THAT, I DID NOT GO BACK TO THE HOUSE FOR ANYTHING FOR FOUR WEEKS -- EVEN THOUGH I STILL NEEDED TO CLEAN, FOUR WEEKS BEFORE I WENT BACK.
AND AFTER THAT, I NEVER WENT ALONE AGAIN -- NEVER.
Narrator: BY THE BEGINNING OF 2012, THE ALASKAN WINTER IS IN FULL FORCE, WITH TEMPERATURES DIPPING TO MINUS 11 DEGREES.
THE DAYS ARE SHORT, AND THE NIGHTS ARE LONG.
BUT FOR LITA, THEY FEEL NEVER-ENDING.
[ SHARP EXHALE .]
Cristallo: I JUST WOKE UP A LOT -- 3:00 ON THE DOT.
IT'S VERY DARK AND ISOLATED.
AND YOU JUST FEEL SO ALONE.
I WAS NOT A PLEASANT PERSON TO BE AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE.
MY MOM'S REALLY BRIGHT, BUBBLY -- LIKES TO LAUGH.
AND IT WAS JUS KIND OF ENGULFING HER.
SHE WAS DARK AND HAZY AND NEGATIVE, NO ENERGY TO GO DO ANYTHING.
I'D COMPLETELY LOST CONNECTION WITH MY MOM.
Narrator: WITH TENSIONS MOUNTING, ONE EVENING, BONNIE CONFRONTS HER MOTHER.
MOM, IT'S NOT JUS ABOUT ME ANYMORE.
RIVER IS FRIGHTENED.
I'M FRIGHTENED.
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.
IT'S THIS WHOLE HOUSE.
IT'S JUST -- IT'S NOT WORKING FOR US.
WE ARE LEAVING THIS HOUSE.
WE ARE NOT GONNA STAY HERE ANYMORE.
WE'RE GONE.
WE'RE DONE.
I PACKED UP VERY QUICKLY, AND I LEFT.
I WAS HOPING WE WERE ALL GONNA LIVE TOGETHER.
IT CAUSED A LITTLE -- NOT ANGER BETWEEN US, BUT DEFINITELY I WAS A LITTLE SAD.
MY DREAM HOME WAS JUST A NIGHTMARE.
[ WIND WHISTLING .]
Narrator: BUT UNLIKE HER DAUGHTER, LITA FEELS COMPELLED TO STAY.
Cristallo: I WASN'T WORKING AT THE TIME.
IT'S NOT LIKE I COULD GO OU AND JUST RENT SOMEPLACE.
THAT WASN'T AN OPTION.
I HAD TO LIVE THERE.
AND THAT WAS 100% OF THE REASON I WAS PUTTING UP WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE.
AND I JUST FELT TRAPPED IN THERE, LIKE I WAS IN MY OWN LITTLE PRISON, AND I COULDN'T GET OUT.
Narrator: AFTER A FEW WEEKS, THE SITUATION IN LITA'S HOME HASN'T IMPROVED.
Cristallo: THERE WAS DEFINITELY A FEELING WHEN YOU GOT TO THE HOUSE.
I DON'T KNOW.
IF YOU COULD PUT A FEELING TO WHAT IT WAS, IT WOULD BE A MAN, AN ANGRY MAN, WITH JUST -- I DON'T KNOW -- ISSUES WITH EVERYBODY AND ANYTHING THAT CAME NEAR HIS HOUSE.
THAT'S HOW YOU FELT.
[ WOOD CREAKING .]
Narrator: CONCERNED THAT SHE'S LOSING HER MIND, LITA INVITES A FRIEND OVER TO THE HOUSE FOR A SECOND OPINION.
THERE'S THIS REALLY CREEPY FEELING THAT SOMETHING IS GOING ON IN MY BEDROOM.
I SAID, "GO ON UPSTAIRS BY YOURSELF.
GO IN MY BEDROOM.
YOU'LL SEE SOMETHING.
I GUARANTEE IT.
" THERE IS SOMETHING UP THERE THAT'S JUST -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
SOMETHING'S GOING ON UP THERE, MAN.
I'VE GOT MY CAMERA.
I COULD TAKE A COUPLE PICTURES FOR YOU.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT? YEAH.
I'LL DO IT RIGHT NOW.
OKAY.
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS .]
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS .]
HEY, LITA.
YEAH? YOU SHOULD SEE THIS.
WHAT IS IT? HE TOOK A PICTURE, COMES RUNNING DOWNSTAIRS, GOES, "OH, MY GOD.
LOOK AT THIS.
" IS THAT A FACE? AND YOU SEE THIS ACTUAL FACE.
IT LOOKS LIKE A DEMON FACE.
I LOST MY MIND.
I WAS JUST ANGRY, AND I WAS SICK OF IT.
I WAS SCARED, AND I WAS MAD.
AND I DIVE UNDER THE BED, AND I START YELLING AT IT.
GET OUT! YOU GET OUT OF HERE! [ DISTORTED SHOUTING .]
[ DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING .]
Narrator: DEEP IN ALASKA'S REMOTE INTERIOR, LITA CRISTALLO FEARS SOMETHING HAS TAKEN POSSESSION OF HER RENOVATED HOME.
IS THAT A FACE? AND NOW HAS LITA CAPTURED THE UNEXPLAINED ENTITY HIDING UNDER HER BED? Cristallo: THE PICTURE UNDER MY BED -- YOU CAN SEE ALMOST LIKE A GARGOYLE FACE.
THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE.
I WAS JUST ANGRY, AND I WAS SICK OF IT.
I WAS SCARED, AND I WAS MAD.
AND NOW I HAD IT IN PICTURES.
GET OUT! [ DISTORTED SHOUTING .]
WHEN I DOVE UNDER THERE, I COULD FEEL IT.
I COULD FEEL IT BACK AWAY FROM ME, LIKE IT WAS SHOCKED.
NOW I WAS SEEING WHAT THAT DEMON LOOKED LIKE, AND IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME.
IT WAS GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY, AND I HAD TO DO SOMETHING.
I WAS FREAKING OUT, AND MY FRIENDS ARE LIKE, "YOU KNOW, LITA, YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING OR GET RID OF THE HOUSE.
" Narrator: IN OCTOBER 2013, LITA INVITES MELANIE HODGMAN AND HER TEAM FROM SOPAH -- SEEKERS OF PARANORMAL AND HISTORY -- TO INSPECT THE HOUSE.
Hodgman: I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE PROPERTY WHERE LITA LIVED.
WHEN WE TURNED THE CORNER TO PULL IN TO HER DRIVEWAY, I ALMOST DIDN'T WANT TO GET OUT OF THE TRUCK.
IT FELT LIKE A MALE WITH A SHOTGUN LOOKING DOWN THE RIFLE [CHUCKLES.]
BARREL AT US BECAUSE WE WERE TRESPASSING.
THANK YOU, LITA.
WHEN I FIRST SPOKE WITH LITA, I WAS TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT WE WERE IN FOR.
SO, LITA HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD THIS PIANO? IT'S BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOREVER, AND I LOVE TO PLAY IT, BUT WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON LATELY, I'M JUST -- I'M TOO AFRAID TO.
Narrator: LITA EXPLAINS TO MELANIE THAT IN 2003, SHORTLY AFTER THEY MOVED IN, THEY BEGAN TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE HOME.
I TOLD THEM THAT WE HAD DONE A LOT OF REMODELING, AND AN ADDITION, AND A LOT OF DIRT WORK.
Narrator: AND AFTER THAT, UNEXPLAINABLE EVENTS STARTED HAPPENING.
Cristallo: I TOLD THEM MY GRANDSON SAW A MAN SEE THE WINDOW? LOOK AT IT.
YEAH.
THERE'S A GUY THERE? AND THEN THINGS THAT HAPPENED WITH ME [ GROWLING .]
THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO BONNIE IN THE BATHROOM [ WATER RUNNING .]
[ GASPS .]
AND THE PICTURES WE WERE GETTING.
THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.
Narrator: LITA ALSO ADMITS THAT BONNIE HELD A SéCE TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SPIRIT.
Hodgman: AS SOON AS SHE MENTIONED THE SPIRIT BOARD, I WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, AND I TOLD HER, "YOU NEED TO GET RID OF THAT.
" I CAN'T STRESS TO PEOPLE ENOUGH HOW MUCH YOU REALLY DON'T WAN TO USE ONE OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE YOU OPEN A DOOR THAT ANYTHING CAN GET THROUGH.
I KNEW THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH SOMETHING THAT WAS EXTREMELY DARK.
BUT WHATEVER THIS WAS JUS WANTED TO CREATE HAVOC.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND STAR TAKING SOME READINGS.
OUR GENERAL PROCEDURE WHEN WE GO IN IS, WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GET SOMETHING ON OUR EQUIPMENT SO WE CAN SEE TANGIBLE EVIDENCE THAT MAYBE THERE MAY BE SOMETHING THERE.
Narrator: TO HELP, THEY USE THE K-II METER.
A K-II IS USED TO MEASURE THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD.
[ K-II METER PINGING .]
Narrator: QUICKLY, THE DEVICE DETECTS EVIDENCE OF PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.
[ PINGING CONTINUES .]
WOW, WE'RE GETTING SOME READINGS OFF OF YOU NOW.
MAN, IT'S REALLY HOT.
YEAH.
Hodgman: THE K-IIs WERE LIGHTING UP AROUND HER PERSONALLY, WHICH IS REALLY RARE.
HUMAN BEINGS DON'T GENERALLY EMIT ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS, BUT SHE WAS COMPLETELY SURROUNDED.
SHE'S REALLY LIGHTING UP, ISN'T SHE? YEAH.
SHE IS.
THAT'S WEIRD.
Cristallo: IT JUST LIT UP.
AND I'M THINKING, "OH, IT'S REALLY HAPPENING.
SO, I WAS REALLY SCARED.
Narrator: IT ALSO DETECTS A FIELD AROUND THE PIANO.
IT'S MY BELIEF THAT SPIRITS REALLY ENJOY MUSIC AS MUCH AS LIVING PEOPLE DO, AND ESPECIALLY PIANO MUSIC IS VERY -- WHEN SHE PLAYS, IT'S ALMOST HEAVENLY.
Narrator: NEXT, MELANIE AND BRIAN BEGIN COMMUNICATING WITH THE SPIRIT.
Hodgman: THE PURPOSE OF A FLASHLIGHT SESSION IS TO TRY TO HAVE INTELLIGEN CONVERSATION WITH AN ENTITY.
IF IT'S A "YES" RESPONSE, IT WILL ACTUALLY MAKE THE FLASHLIGHT LIGHT UP.
AND IT CAN TURN THE FLASHLIGH BACK OFF BY ITSELF, AS WELL.
Tackett: WE'D USE THE DIGITAL VOICE RECORDERS, THE DVRs.
WE'LL ASK QUESTIONS WITH IT RECORDING, WHICH HOPEFULLY TRIGGERS A RESPONSE.
AND WHEN WE PLAY IT BACK, WE'LL GET ELECTRONIC VOICE PHENOMENA, AN EVP, WHICH IS A RESPONSE FROM A SPIRIT.
Narrator: ONCE ALL THE EQUIPMENT IS SET, THEY ASK IF THERE IS A SPIRIT PRESENT.
[ DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS .]
[ DVR SQUEALING .]
Cristallo: AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE RECORDING DEVICE STARTED MAKING ALL THIS NOISE [ SQUEALING CONTINUES .]
LIKE A REAL HIGH-PITCHED WHITE-NOISE SOUND THIS HORRIBLE SCREAMING NOISE.
AND WE'RE LIKE, "WHAT THE HECK?" Hodgman: THE ATMOSPHERE FELT HEAVIER.
AND YOU JUST HAVE A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF ANXIETY.
IT'S TERRIFYING.
Narrator: WITH THE FEELINGS IN THE HOUSE INTENSIFYING, THE TEAM ASKS THE SPIRI ANOTHER QUESTION.
Cristallo: SO, WE WERE ASKING IT QUESTIONS, AND HE SAID AT ONE POINT, "LITA DOESN'T PLAY THE PIANO ANYMORE.
SHE DOESN'T FEEL LIKE SHE WANTS TO PLAY.
SHOULD SHE PLAY?" [ DISTORTED WHOOSH .]
IT SAID, "PLAY.
" WE GOT IT EXACT, EVP, AND IT JUST -- IT FELT SO AMAZING.
IT'S LIKE -- AND HE SAID, "SO, YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO HER PLAY?" AND IT SAID, "PLAY.
" [ DISTORTED WHOOSH .]
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS IN SALCHA, ALASKA, HAVE DETECTED PARANORMAL ACTIVITY IN THE HOME OF LITA CRISTALLO.
WOW, WE'RE GETTING SOME READINGS OFF OF YOU NOW.
AND AS THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SPIRIT [ DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS .]
THEY HEAR A MALEVOLEN MALE VOICE.
[ DVR SQUEALING, DISTORTED WHOOSH .]
Cristallo: IT SAID, "PLAY.
" WE GOT IT EXACT, EVP, AND I JUST -- IT FELT SO AMAZING.
IT'S LIKE -- AND HE SAID, "SO, YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO HER PLAY?" AND IT SAID, "PLAY.
" [ DISTORTED WHOOSH .]
I WAS SCARED TO DEATH.
Hodgman: IT SOUNDED LIKE A MALE VOICE.
IT WASN'T DEMANDING.
IT WAS JUST A DARK, LOWER VOICE THAT COMES ACROSS.
Narrator: SHORTLY AFTER, THE TEAM PUTS THE INVESTIGATION ON HOLD, PROMISING TO RETURN IN A FEW DAYS TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH SAGING OF THE HOUSE.
Cristallo: I WAS SPEAKING WITH MELANIE, AND SHE WAS EXPLAINING TO ME THAT WHATEVER WAS THERE, SHE WAS CONFIDEN THEY COULD GET IT OUT FOR ME.
I NEEDED TO JUST, LIKE, STAY POSITIVE.
AND SHE WAS GONNA COME BACK AND SAGE THE HOUSE FOR ME.
WE WOULD CHASE IT OUT.
AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
Narrator: SOON AFTER, A SOPAH TEAM MEMBER RESPONSIBLE FOR RESEARCHING LITA'S PROPERTY CONTACTS HER WITH A NEW DEVELOPMENT.
RUNNING CLOSE TO LITA'S HOUSE IS A LEY LINE.
Nunez: LEY LINES ARE SUPPOSEDLY LINES THAT ENCOMPASS THE GLOBE THA HAVE HIGHER PARANORMAL ACTIVITY AND PARANORMAL ENERGY.
THE STATE OF ALASKA HAS A LEY LINE THAT RUNS THROUGH FAIRBANKS AND DOWN TOWARDS ANCHORAGE.
SALCHA IS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF FAIRBANKS, SO IT FALLS IN THAT KIND OF BANDWIDTH OF THAT LEY LINE.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THA WHEN LITA BUILT THE EXTENSION, IT OPENED UP A DOOR IN THE LEY LINE, ALLOWING PARANORMAL SPIRITS ACCESS TO HER HOME.
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS .]
Nunez: IN THE PROCESS OF THIS EXPANSION, SHE MAY HAVE UNEARTHED SOMETHING OR SHIFTED SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T WANT TO BE SHIFTED.
WHEN YOU ADD A SPIRIT BOARD INTO THE MIX AND OPEN UP A DOORWAY, ANYTHING CAN COME THROUGH.
IS ANYBODY HERE? DO YOU FEEL ANYTHING? PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHAT THEY'RE DOING WHEN THEY OPEN UP A DOORWAY.
Narrator: THE PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS ARE CERTAIN LITA'S HOME IS HAUNTED, BUT THEY STILL DON'T KNOW BY WHAT.
Cristallo: THE TEAM DID SAY THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT HAPPENED AT MY HOUSE THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO THEM ANYWHERE BEFORE.
EVEN NOW, MY HOUSE IS STILL ONE OF THE BIGGEST MYSTERIES TO THEM THAT THEY'VE HAD.
Narrator: SO, LITA STARTS LOOKING ELSEWHERE FOR ANSWERS.
AND ON THE ADVICE OF A FRIEND, SHE INVITES A PSYCHIC OVER TO INSPECT HER HOUSE.
[ INDISTINCT WHISPERS .]
I DID HAVE A PSYCHIC COME OU TO THE HOUSE AT ONE POINT, AND SHE DID TELL ME THAT SHE'D SEEN A GHOST ON THE PROPERTY.
Narrator: BUT THE PSYCHIC HAS ANOTHER CHILLING DETAIL TO REVEAL.
A YOUNG GIRL'S BODY IS BURIED UNDERNEATH THE HOUSE.
Cristallo: SHE'D BEEN MURDERED IN THE LATE '50s, EARLY '60s BY A SERIAL KILLER.
Narrator: THE PSYCHIC UNFOLDS A SHOCKING TALE OF A DEVIANT KILLER WHO MURDERED FIVE LOCAL WOMEN BEFORE COMMITTING SUICIDE ON THE EVE OF HIS ARREST.
MOST ALARMINGLY, ONE OF THE WOMEN'S BODIES HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND.
Cristallo: I WAS DEVASTATED.
I WAS THINKING I HAD A YOUNG WOMAN THAT WAS KILLED ON MY PROPERTY.
HER FAMILY'S BEEN LOOKING FOR HER FOR 50 YEARS.
I NEED TO GO TO THE POLICE.
I HAVE TO FIX THIS.
I WAS FREAKING OUT.
THERE WAS ANGER.
THERE WAS A DARKNESS.
A SERIAL KILLER SOUNDS ABOUT RIGH FOR THE FEELING THAT YOU GOT AROUND THE HOUSE.
IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE BEEN.
IT WAS THAT TYPE OF ENERGY.
SOMETHING NEGATIVE, SOMETHING BAD HAD HAPPENED FOR SURE.
Narrator: A SHORT TIME LATER, AS PROMISED, MELANIE RETURNS TO LITA'S HOUSE TO CONDUCT A SAGING.
Lita: IT'S IN HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, LITA.
[ SIGHS .]
SO, RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS A CLEANSING RITUAL TO GET RID OF THE EVIL SPIRIT.
OKAY.
Hodgman: I HAD CEDAR, FRANKINCENSE, WHITE SAGE.
THE THEORY IS, THROUGH THE BURNING OF SAGE, THAT WHEN THE SAGE IS SMOKING, THAT THE SMOKE ITSELF WILL CLEAR DARK ENERGY OUT OF THE HOUSE.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY ENERGIES THAT ARE IN THE HOME THAT ARE LOST, THEY CAN FOLLOW THE SMOKE.
AND IT HELPS THEM GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
THIS IS A HOUSE OF LOVE AND LIGHT.
IF YOU ARE NO OF THE LIGHT, YOU MUST LEAVE NOW.
[ INDISTINCT WHISPERS .]
LITA, THERE'S A VERY EVIL SPIRI IN THIS HOUSE.
IT DOES NOT WANT US HERE.
THIS IS A HOUSE OF LOVE AND LIGHT.
IF YOU ARE NOT OF THE LIGHT, YOU CANNOT BE HERE.
THERE'S A HEAVY DARKNESS HERE, LITA.
WE HAD HOLY WATER, WHICH HAD BEEN BLESSED.
AND I WANTED HER TO SPRAY ALL THE WALLS, JUST COVER THE WALLS.
YOU COULD FEEL IT FOLLOWING US.
BY NOW, IT'S LIKE RIGHT ON TOP OF US.
WE CAN BOTH FEEL IT.
Hodgman: YOU COULD TELL THE ENERGY WAS AMPING UP AND IT WAS GETTING READY TO DO BATTLE.
OH, MY GOD, THE WALLS.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE WALLS LITERALLY SIZZLED.
[ SIZZLING .]
Narrator: LITA CRISTALLO BELIEVES HER ALASKA DREAM HOME IS HAUNTED BY THE EVIL SPIRI OF A SERIAL KILLER WHO ONCE STALKED THE AREA.
THIS IS A HOUSE OF LOVE AND LIGHT.
Both: IF YOU'RE NOT OF THE LIGHT, YOU MUST GO NOW.
[ SIZZLING .]
Cristallo: AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE WALLS LITERALLY SIZZLED.
I REMEMBER HEARING IT, THINKING, "THERE'S NO WAY.
" AND THEN I SEE THE STEAM.
Hodgman: YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE STEAM COMING OFF THE WALLS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT SINCE.
Cristallo: YOU COULD JUST FEEL I COMING AT YOU FROM EVERYWHERE.
[ GROWLING .]
YOU COULD TELL WE WERE GETTING IT MADDER AND MADDER.
Hodgman: AND I TOLD HER, "DON'T BE AFRAID.
" LITA, DON'T SHOW ANY FEAR.
"WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING.
IT'S TRYING TO SCARE US.
IT WANTS US TO STOP, AND WE CANNOT STOP.
" [ GROWLING .]
AND THEN YOU HEARD A GROWLING.
[ GROWLING CONTINUES .]
IT WAS MAD.
THE AIR WAS JUST ELECTRIC.
YOU COULD FEEL IT.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE BOTH STARTED CRYING.
I MEAN, WE BOTH HAD GOOSE BUMPS ALL OVER.
AND I THINK IT WAS VERY ANGRY, AND IT KNEW IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS.
WE KNEW WE JUS HAD TO FINISH THIS.
IF YOU'RE NOT OF THE LIGHT, YOU MUST GO NOW.
AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS THIS GIANT, OILY STAIN.
IT LOOKED LIKE A SHADOW COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE BED.
IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.
WHAT IS THAT? Hodgman: IT WAS A HEAD, SHOULDERS, AND ARMS THAT LOOKED JUST LIKE A MAN.
IT WAS FRIGHTENING.
IT'S LIKE WE FEL THE RUSH GO THROUGH US.
IT WAS LIKE YOU COULD FEEL THE RELEASE.
WE KNEW THE SECOND IT WAS OUT THE DOOR.
WE KNEW IT.
AND THEN THE HOUSE JUST LIT UP LIKE THE SUN WAS OUT.
IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
YOU FELT LIKE SPRING HAD JUS HAPPENED IN THE HOUSE.
Hodgman: IT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE SAGING THAT I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.
Narrator: WITH THE CLEANSE COMPLETE, LITA BREATHES A SIGH OF RELIEF, BUT HER COMFORT IS SHORT-LIVED.
Cristallo: WE KNEW IMMEDIATELY.
WE GOT IT OUT OF THE HOUSE, BUT IT HADN'T LEFT.
IT WAS DEVASTATING.
IT WAS DEVASTATING.
IT WAS IN THE YARD.
AND I SAID, "WHERE DO YOU THINK IT IS?" AND WHERE SHE POINTED WAS EXACTLY WHERE I THOUGHT IT WAS.
YOU COULD FEEL IT.
IT WAS IN THE TREES AND I WAS STARING AND IT WAS MAD.
IT WAS MAD.
WHAT CONCERNED ME WAS THAT IT WAS OUTSIDE NOW AND THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T IN THE HOUSE, IT WAS STILL IN MY YARD.
AND MELANIE ASSURED ME.
SHE GOES, "I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT, BUT IT'S GOING TO LEAVE.
" SHE GOES, "THEY NEED SOMETHING TO FEED OFF OF.
IT'S NOT GONNA JUS HANG AROUND YOUR YARD.
" SHE GOES, "GIVE IT A LITTLE WHILE, AND I BET YOU ANYTHING IT JUST KIND OF FADES OUT.
" AND THEN I'M CONCERNED.
I'M LIKE, "WHERE'S IT GONNA GO? YOU KNOW? MY NEIGHBORS?" AND SHE GOES, "I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE IT GOES, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU IT WILL GO LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
" Narrator: DESPITE MELANIE'S ASSURANCES, THE EXPERIENCE IS TOO MUCH FOR LITA.
AND IN NOVEMBER 2013, SHE DECIDES TO LEAVE THE HOUSE FOR GOOD.
WITHIN TWO WEEKS, I HAD MY HOUSE RENTED.
THEY'VE BEEN THERE EIGHT MONTHS.
THEY'RE HAPPY.
THEY FEEL NOTHING.
I'M A SUCCESS STORY.
WE GOT IT.
IT'S BEEN A TOTAL TURNAROUND.
SINCE I MOVED OUT OF THERE, I'M JUST SO HAPPY.
I HAVE A CUTE LITTLE A-FRAME THAT I RENT OU THAT I'M JUST IN LOVE WITH.
I LOVE PLAYING PIANO TODAY.
EVERY TIME I SIT DOWN AND PLAY, I'M JUST GRATEFUL THAT I STILL LOVE TO PLAY IT.
THINGS ARE BACK TO NORMAL.
WE FEEL REALLY GOOD.
MY MOM IS BRIGH AND HAPPY AGAIN.
WE'VE ALL BEEN ABLE TO JUS MOVE ON FROM IT AND CARRY ON.
BUT IN THE SHADOWS OF ITS SNOWCAPPED PEAKS, SPIRITS LURK.
WHEN A FAMILY BREAKS GROUND ON THEIR DREAM HOME HEY.
HEY.
WHAT YOU MAKING? JUST SPAGHETTI.
THEY RELEASE A SECRE BURIED IN THE ICE.
HELLO? AAH! OH, MY GOD.
[ GASPS .]
AAH! I WAS SEEING WHAT THAT DEMON LOOKED LIKE, AND IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME.
Narrator: A SPIRIT AWAKENS FROM THE DEAD MY EYES -- THEY WERE BLOODY.
Narrator: AND COMMITS A WAVE OF UNGODLY ACTS.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE WALLS LITERALLY SIZZLED.
Narrator: IN A LAND AS REMOTE AS ALASKA, WHEN EVIL THAWS WILL ANYONE HEAR YOU SCREAM? [ HEARTBEAT POUNDING .]
[ WOMAN SCREAMS .]
-- Captions by VITAC -- CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS NESTLED IN THE HEAR OF ALASKA'S WILD INTERIOR IS THE REMOTE FORMER GOLD-MINING COMMUNITY OF SALCHA.
IF YOU'RE FROM SALCHA AND YOU'RE BORN AND RAISED HERE, IT'S A HARD LIFE OUT THERE.
YOU DON'T HAVE CITY WATER, CITY SEWER LINES.
YOU HAVE WELLS AND OUTHOUSES.
THE PROSPECTORS HAVE MOVED ON, BUT WITH A POPULATION A LITTLE OVER 1,000, SALCHA STILL HAS A FRONTIER FEEL.
SALCHA'S DEFINITELY NOT A PLACE TO MESS AROUND.
PEOPLE TAKE THEIR PROPERTY VERY SERIOUS.
IN ALASKA, IT IS LEGAL -- YOU COME ON SOMEBODY'S PROPERTY, AND THEY CAN SHOOT YOU.
Lita: I KNOW.
IT'S RIGHT ON THE HILL.
Narrator: IN 2003, LITA CRISTALLO AND HER 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, BONNIE, RELOCATE TO SALCHA, HOPING FOR A FRESH START.
THIS IS OUR NEW HOME.
TO OUR NEW HOME AND NEW BEGINNINGS.
Cristallo: I AM A CALIFORNIA GIRL, AND WHEN I MOVED HERE AND REALIZED THAT I HAD TO PUT ON FOUR LAYERS BECAUSE IT'S 50 BELOW OUTSIDE, BUT THEN YOU WANT ME TO TAKE THEM BACK OFF TO GO USE THE OUTHOUSE, I WAS LIKE [CHUCKLES.]
"I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.
" WE FOUND THIS LITTLE PLACE IN SALCHA, AND IT WAS REALLY SMALL.
IT WAS ONLY 700 SQUARE FOOT.
IT WAS A LOFT HOME.
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SHOVEL OFF THE PORCH.
YOU GOT IT? YEAH.
IT DID HAVE WATER AND ELECTRIC, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL.
[ CHUCKLES .]
THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
Gray: IT WAS SURROUNDED BY WOODS.
IT WAS JUST A REALLY NICE, COZY, GOOD-FEELING PLACE.
Cristallo: I KNEW RIGHT AWAY.
I FELT LIKE I WAS COMING HOME.
SERIOUSLY, IT WAS JUST SO ALASKAN.
I'M A CALIFORNIA GIRL.
THIS WAS IT.
IT'S A LITTLE SMALLER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW? WE COULD ALWAYS TAKE THIS WALL OUT HERE.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE COULD DO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PROPERTY NOW.
YEAH, LIKE A LITTLE PIANO PARLOR.
YES.
THAT WOULD BE SO AWESOME.
IT COULD BE JUST A ROOM FOR THE PIANO.
WOULDN'T THA BE WONDERFUL? OH, THAT WOULD BE PERFECT.
WELL, I'M GONNA CHECK UPSTAIRS.
OKAY.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: THE ONE DRAWBACK TO THE HOUSE IS ITS SIZE.
SO SOON AFTER MOVING IN, LITA BEGINS BUILDING AN EXTENSION.
BUT SALCHA IS ONE OF THE COLDEST PLACES IN ALASKA, WITH RECORDED TEMPERATURES OF NEGATIVE 65 DEGREES.
SO IT'S SLOW GOING.
Cristallo: IT TOOK ANOTHER SIX YEARS BEFORE WE WERE EVEN CLOSE TO BEING DONE.
Narrator: IN 2009, THE EXTENSION IS COMPLETE, AND LITA CAN FINALLY INSTALL A PRIZED POSSESSION -- HER GRAND PIANO.
[ PIANO MUSIC PLAYING .]
[ MUSIC ENDS .]
IT'S NOT THE ONLY NEW ADDITION.
DURING THE RENOVATION, BONNIE GIVES BIRTH TO A SON -- RIVER.
IT WAS GOOD.
HOW WAS YOUR DAY, GRANDMA? AH, IT WAS OKAY.
OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE FAMILY OF THREE GROWS INTO THEIR EXPANDED SPACE.
Gray: MY SON IS VERY SMART.
HE'S VERY COMPASSIONATE.
HE IS SUPER SENSITIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE'S FEELINGS AND THE SURROUNDINGS.
MAYBE WE COULD PICK A SPO TO GO SNOWBOARDING.
THAT WOULD BE FUN.
I SHOULD ASK MY MOM, AND THEN MAYBE IF SHE SAYS YES, I COULD GO OUT AND SNOWBOARD.
HEY, GUYS.
HEY.
HERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU.
HERE.
Cristallo: WHEN THE TIME CAME AND MY HOUSE WAS DONE, IT WAS THE MOST WONDERFUL FEELING.
I THOUGHT, "I'M GONNA LIVE HERE FOREVER.
IT'S MY DREAM HOUSE.
" I JUST FELT, LIKE, REALLY GROWN UP AND EXCITED TO BE THERE.
Narrator: BY THE WINTER OF 2009, LITA HAS BEEN IN THE HOUSE FOR SIX YEARS.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, SHE NOTICES SOME FAULTS CONNECTED TO THE PROPERTY.
Cristallo: WHENEVER I'D GO TO USE MY CELLPHONE IN THE HOUSE, MY PHONE WOULD DIE.
AND I'D BE ON A 100% CHARGE AND I'D GET LIKE TWO PICTURES AND MY PHONE WOULD DIE.
[ SCREEN CRACKING .]
AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT, "WELL, IT'S COLD BECAUSE IT'S 50 BELOW OUTSIDE.
" BUT, NO, IT'S NOT THAT COLD IN THE HOUSE.
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, LITA NOTICES OTHER STRANGE OCCURRENCES.
IT NEVER GOT LIGHT IN THERE.
IT WAS JUST -- AND IT STARTED KIND OF WEIGHING ON ME.
IT FELT LIKE IT WAS OMINOUS DARK.
I HAD A LOT OF LITTLE LAMPS.
AND I HAD PRETTY OVERHEAD LIGHTS.
IT WAS LIKE I COULD NEVER LIGHT UP MY LIVING ROOM.
Narrator: AT THE START OF THE NEW YEAR, TEMPERATURES IN SALCHA ARE PLUMMETING WELL BELOW FREEZING.
AND WITH ONLY FOUR HOURS OF DAYLIGHT, RIVER IS OFTEN FORCED TO PLAY INDOORS.
[ IMITATING ENGINES REVVING .]
HEY, SWEETIE.
WHAT YOU DOING? OH, I'M JUST PLAYING WITH MY TRUCKS.
OH, OKAY.
Gray: HER AND RIVER ARE JUST AS CLOSE, IF NOT CLOSER, THAN ME AND MY MOM ARE.
THOSE THE TOYS YOU GO LAST CHRISTMAS? YEAH.
THEY HAVE A VERY GOOD CONNECTION.
SHE REALLY ENJOYS HIS COMPANY, AND HE REALLY LOVES HIS GRANDMA A LOT.
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
[ HEARTBEAT POUNDING .]
HI.
WHO YOU TALKING TO, SWEETIE? WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY HI TO THAT MAN? SEE THE WINDOW? LOOK AT IT.
YEAH.
THERE'S A GUY THERE? CAN'T YOU SEE HIM? NO.
I DON'T SEE HIM, SWEETIE.
ARE YOU OKAY, HONEY? RIVER, I THINK YOU SHOULD GO DOWNSTAIRS AND PLAY.
CAN I -- CAN I TAKE MY TRUCKS? YEAH, SURE YOU CAN.
OKAY.
[ DOOR OPENS .]
Narrator: LITA WRITES OFF THE INCIDENT AS A PRODUC OF RIVER'S OVERLY ACTIVE IMAGINATION.
Cristallo: I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK, AND I JUST KIND OF DROPPED I BECAUSE IT WAS JUST CREEPY.
AND I WASN'T SURE WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
Narrator: A FEW NIGHTS LATER, WHILE BONNIE GETS RIVER READY FOR BED, LITA FINISHES DINNER.
Cristallo: IT WAS A SCHOOL NIGHT, AND BONNIE WAS GIVING HIM HIS BATH UPSTAIRS.
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY .]
HOW'S THE WATER, HMM? Gray: I WAS IN THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES.
HE GOT COMFORTABLE AND STARTED PLAYING, DOING HIS THING.
ALL RIGHT, HONEY, I GOT TO RUN DOWNSTAIRS AND GET SOME SOAP, OKAY? OKAY.
HEY.
HEY.
WHAT YOU MAKING? JUST SPAGHETTI.
GOOD.
I GOT RIVER UP IN THE BATH, SO HE'LL BE DONE BEFORE DINNER'S READY.
PERFECT.
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY .]
[ TOY THUNKS .]
OH, NO! [ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
HELLO? WHO'S OUT THERE? MOM? [ GROWLING .]
[ GASPING .]
AAH! OH, MY GOD.
[ GASPS .]
Cristallo: THIS WAS AN ALL-OUT SCREAM, LIKE, YOU KNOW, TERROR KIND OF SCREAM.
AAH! AAH! AAH! Gray: I'D NEVER HEARD MY SON SCREAM LIKE THAT BEFORE, AND I COULDN'T SEEM TO GE UP THE STAIRS FAST ENOUGH.
HE WAS SO SCARED, HE WAS IN SHOCK.
I WRAPPED HIM UP, AND I JUS ROCKED HIM BACK AND FORTH.
I ASKED HIM -- I SAID, "WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT HAPPENED?" AND HE WAS JUST CRYING AND JUST STARING AT ME IN, LIKE, DISBELIEF.
Cristallo: EVEN AFTER WE GOT HIM OUT OF THE TUB, HE WOULDN'T TELL US WHAT IT WAS.
WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHA WOULD MAKE HIM CRY LIKE THAT, AND WE COULD NO SETTLE HIM DOWN.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
AND SO WE DIDN'T REALLY PRESSURE HIM.
AND I JUST TRIED TO NOT THINK ABOUT IT.
[ WIND WHISTLING .]
Narrator: EARLY THE NEXT DAY, BONNIE IS GETTING READY FOR WORK.
I WAS FACING THE MIRROR WITH MY BACK TOWARDS THE TUB, AND I COULD FEEL SOMEBODY STARING AT ME, AT THE BACK OF MY HEAD.
[ GROWLING .]
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
AND I WAS, LIKE, IN DENIAL.
[ HEARTBEAT POUNDING .]
[ WOMAN SCREAMS .]
Narrator: FOR LITA CRISTALLO AND HER DAUGHTER, BONNIE, MOVING TO ALASKA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A FRESH START.
BUT THINGS AREN'T TURNING OU AS THEY PLANNED.
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
[ GASPS .]
Gray: IT WAS CLEAR AS DAY.
I SEEN A FIGURE STANDING AT THE BACK OF THE TUB, STARING RIGHT AT ME, WITH LONG HAIR.
IT WAS LIKE SOMEBODY WAS ACTUALLY STANDING THERE BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.
IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST SCARIES MOMENTS I'VE HAD IN THE HOUSE.
Narrator: AFTER SEEING THE VISION IN THE BATHROOM, BONNIE'S FIRST REACTION IS TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.
OF COURSE THE FIRST INSTINC IS TO PROTECT MY SON FROM WHAT'S STARTING TO HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE.
BEING A SINGLE MOTHER AND LIVING IN ALASKA IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, I DIDN'T HAVE MANY OPTIONS ON HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
Narrator: TO BONNIE'S RELIEF, THE REMAINDER OF THE WINTER PASSES WITHOUT INCIDENT.
BUT BY SPRING, AS SALCHA SLOWLY BEGINS TO THAW OUT, SHE STILL CAN'T SHAKE WHAT SHE SAW.
EVERY EXPERIENCE THAT SEEMED MORE LIKE IT WAS CAUSING PHYSICAL HARM THAN ME JUS LIVING PEACEFULLY WITH I WAS GETTING ME A STEP CLOSER TO REALIZING I NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
Narrator: BONNIE CONFIDES IN A FRIEND, WHO SUGGESTS THEY HOLD A SEANCE.
Gray: I DID USE THE SPIRIT BOARD IN MY MOM'S HOUSE ON ONE OCCASION.
SHE WASN'T THERE, AND I WAS TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH WHATEVER WE WERE FEELING WAS IN THE HOUSE AT THE TIME.
YOU WANT TO TRY IT? YEAH, OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DO IT.
IS ANYBODY HERE? AND I WAS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO WAS IN THE HOUSE.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE? IS ANYBODY HERE? [ Singsong voice .]
HELLO? DO YOU FEEL ANYTHING? [ Normal voice .]
NO.
AH.
[ SIGHS .]
I DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING IN THIS GAME.
I DIDN'T.
I DIDN'T GET ANYTHING.
NOTHING? NO.
WEIRD.
JUST A GAME, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
[ CHUCKLES .]
Narrator: THE SEANCE APPEARS TO BE A FAILURE, BUT EVEN SO, OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BONNIE'S MOOD IMPROVES.
Gray: SOMETIME AFTER I TRIED TO GET IN CONTAC WITH THE SPIRIT BOARD, I WAS IN THE BATHROOM IN THE MORNING, GETTING READY FOR WORK.
[ WATER RUNNING .]
MY EYES WELLED UP.
[ COUGHS .]
I HAD STARTED COUGHING.
[ COUGHING .]
[ GASPS .]
MY EYES BEGAN TO BLEED.
[ GASPING .]
AND THEY WERE BLOODY.
I STARTED TO PANIC.
AND MY EYES WERE JUST LEAKING MORE, AND I KEPT TRYING TO WIPE THIS BLOOD OFF, WIPE THIS BLOOD OFF.
IT WAS JUST SPREADING AND SPREADING.
Cristallo: SHE CALLED ME.
I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOUR EYES ARE BLEEDING?" I'M THINKING BRAIN TUMORS AND ANEURYSMS.
"OH, MY GOD.
GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
YOUR EYES SHOULDN'T BLEED.
" Narrator: BONNIE EVENTUALLY CONFESSES TO LITA THAT SHE HELD A SEANCE IN THE HOUSE.
IT STARTED WEIGHING ON ME AND BONNIE.
AND I THINK PART OF I WAS BECAUSE SHE KNEW THAT SHE'D DONE THE SPIRIT BOARD THERE AND I DIDN'T KNOW.
AND SO SHE WAS FEELING A LITTLE GUILTY OR CONCERNED THAT SHE HAD BROUGHT THIS ON.
Narrator: A DARK MOOD HAS SETTLED OVER LITA CRISTALLO'S HOME, AND BY THE FALL, SHE IS PERMANENTLY ON EDGE.
[ OWL HOOTS .]
HER ONE SOLACE IS HER PIANO.
[ SLOW PIANO MUSIC PLAYING .]
THAT WAS MY COMFORT.
I'D COME HOME FROM WHATEVER, SIT DOWN, AND PLAY, AND I'D LOSE MYSELF IN THE PIANO.
AND I LOVED THAT.
Narrator: BUT IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE EVEN THAT PLEASURE BECOMES TAINTED.
Cristallo: I USED TO JUST LOVE TO PLAY THE PIANO, AND IT GOT TO THE POIN WHERE IT WAS ALMOST LIKE SOMEONE WAS ANGRY WITH ME WHEN I PLAYED THE PIANO.
IF I DID SIT DOWN AND TRY TO PLAY, I WOULDN'T EVEN GET THROUGH A WHOLE SONG.
I COULD JUST FEEL, LIKE, SOMEONE JUST AROUND ME AND REALLY HATING MY MUSIC.
THAT'S HOW I FELT, LIKE, "JUST STOP.
JUST STOP PLAYING.
" [ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
[ WIND WHISTLING .]
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, LITA TRIES TO SHAKE THE EERIE FEELING SHE EXPERIENCED BY THE PIANO.
Cristallo: I CAME BACK HOME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE HOUSE, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
[ INDISTINCT WHISPERS .]
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
FIRST THING I NOTICE IS MY WALL.
AND I'M LOOKING AT IT, AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH MY WALL?" AND I GET CLOSER.
[ GASPS .]
AND THERE'S OVER 30 GOUGE MARKS ON MY WALL.
IT WENT DOWN TO THE SHEETROCK.
[ GROWLING .]
I'M GETTING READY TO LEAVE, AND I HEAR THIS GROWLING [ GROWLING .]
IN MY EAR.
IT WASN'T LIKE ANYTHING I'VE EVER HEARD BEFORE.
IT WAS REAL GUTTURAL.
AND I KNEW FOR A FACT THAT'S WHAT MADE THOSE CLAW MARKS.
[ GROWLING CONTINUES .]
Narrator: ALASKA'S INTERIOR IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT WILDERNESSES.
AND RIGHT IN ITS HEART, IT APPEARS THAT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING HAS BROKEN INTO AND VANDALIZED LITA CRISTALLO'S HOME.
[ GASPS .]
Narrator: LITA SLOWLY TAKES IN THE DEVASTATION WREAKED ACROSS HER BEDROOM WALLS.
SOME WERE, LIKE, THREE, LIKE, SCRATCH MARKS.
AND THEN REST WERE LIKE A TALON -- 'CAUSE THAT'S WHA IT LOOKS LIKE, LIKE SOMETHING HAD JUST POKED IT.
BUT IT WENT DOWN TO THE SHEETROCK.
SO, WHEN I WAS STARING AT THE WALLS [ GROWLING .]
ALL OF A SUDDEN I JUST HEAR THIS GROWLING RIGHT AT MY EAR, RIGHT AT MY EAR, IN THE AIR.
SO, LIKE, WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S HANGING IN THE AIR.
AND IT WAS LOW AND DEEP AND NOT LIKE A DOG, NOT -- UNLIKE ANYTHING I'VE EVER HEARD BEFORE, AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OF SOUNDS, BEING IN ALASKA.
THAT WAS THE BREAKING POIN FOR ME.
AFTER THAT, I DID NOT GO BACK TO THE HOUSE FOR ANYTHING FOR FOUR WEEKS -- EVEN THOUGH I STILL NEEDED TO CLEAN, FOUR WEEKS BEFORE I WENT BACK.
AND AFTER THAT, I NEVER WENT ALONE AGAIN -- NEVER.
Narrator: BY THE BEGINNING OF 2012, THE ALASKAN WINTER IS IN FULL FORCE, WITH TEMPERATURES DIPPING TO MINUS 11 DEGREES.
THE DAYS ARE SHORT, AND THE NIGHTS ARE LONG.
BUT FOR LITA, THEY FEEL NEVER-ENDING.
[ SHARP EXHALE .]
Cristallo: I JUST WOKE UP A LOT -- 3:00 ON THE DOT.
IT'S VERY DARK AND ISOLATED.
AND YOU JUST FEEL SO ALONE.
I WAS NOT A PLEASANT PERSON TO BE AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE.
MY MOM'S REALLY BRIGHT, BUBBLY -- LIKES TO LAUGH.
AND IT WAS JUS KIND OF ENGULFING HER.
SHE WAS DARK AND HAZY AND NEGATIVE, NO ENERGY TO GO DO ANYTHING.
I'D COMPLETELY LOST CONNECTION WITH MY MOM.
Narrator: WITH TENSIONS MOUNTING, ONE EVENING, BONNIE CONFRONTS HER MOTHER.
MOM, IT'S NOT JUS ABOUT ME ANYMORE.
RIVER IS FRIGHTENED.
I'M FRIGHTENED.
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.
IT'S THIS WHOLE HOUSE.
IT'S JUST -- IT'S NOT WORKING FOR US.
WE ARE LEAVING THIS HOUSE.
WE ARE NOT GONNA STAY HERE ANYMORE.
WE'RE GONE.
WE'RE DONE.
I PACKED UP VERY QUICKLY, AND I LEFT.
I WAS HOPING WE WERE ALL GONNA LIVE TOGETHER.
IT CAUSED A LITTLE -- NOT ANGER BETWEEN US, BUT DEFINITELY I WAS A LITTLE SAD.
MY DREAM HOME WAS JUST A NIGHTMARE.
[ WIND WHISTLING .]
Narrator: BUT UNLIKE HER DAUGHTER, LITA FEELS COMPELLED TO STAY.
Cristallo: I WASN'T WORKING AT THE TIME.
IT'S NOT LIKE I COULD GO OU AND JUST RENT SOMEPLACE.
THAT WASN'T AN OPTION.
I HAD TO LIVE THERE.
AND THAT WAS 100% OF THE REASON I WAS PUTTING UP WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE.
AND I JUST FELT TRAPPED IN THERE, LIKE I WAS IN MY OWN LITTLE PRISON, AND I COULDN'T GET OUT.
Narrator: AFTER A FEW WEEKS, THE SITUATION IN LITA'S HOME HASN'T IMPROVED.
Cristallo: THERE WAS DEFINITELY A FEELING WHEN YOU GOT TO THE HOUSE.
I DON'T KNOW.
IF YOU COULD PUT A FEELING TO WHAT IT WAS, IT WOULD BE A MAN, AN ANGRY MAN, WITH JUST -- I DON'T KNOW -- ISSUES WITH EVERYBODY AND ANYTHING THAT CAME NEAR HIS HOUSE.
THAT'S HOW YOU FELT.
[ WOOD CREAKING .]
Narrator: CONCERNED THAT SHE'S LOSING HER MIND, LITA INVITES A FRIEND OVER TO THE HOUSE FOR A SECOND OPINION.
THERE'S THIS REALLY CREEPY FEELING THAT SOMETHING IS GOING ON IN MY BEDROOM.
I SAID, "GO ON UPSTAIRS BY YOURSELF.
GO IN MY BEDROOM.
YOU'LL SEE SOMETHING.
I GUARANTEE IT.
" THERE IS SOMETHING UP THERE THAT'S JUST -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
SOMETHING'S GOING ON UP THERE, MAN.
I'VE GOT MY CAMERA.
I COULD TAKE A COUPLE PICTURES FOR YOU.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT? YEAH.
I'LL DO IT RIGHT NOW.
OKAY.
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING .]
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS .]
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS .]
HEY, LITA.
YEAH? YOU SHOULD SEE THIS.
WHAT IS IT? HE TOOK A PICTURE, COMES RUNNING DOWNSTAIRS, GOES, "OH, MY GOD.
LOOK AT THIS.
" IS THAT A FACE? AND YOU SEE THIS ACTUAL FACE.
IT LOOKS LIKE A DEMON FACE.
I LOST MY MIND.
I WAS JUST ANGRY, AND I WAS SICK OF IT.
I WAS SCARED, AND I WAS MAD.
AND I DIVE UNDER THE BED, AND I START YELLING AT IT.
GET OUT! YOU GET OUT OF HERE! [ DISTORTED SHOUTING .]
[ DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING .]
Narrator: DEEP IN ALASKA'S REMOTE INTERIOR, LITA CRISTALLO FEARS SOMETHING HAS TAKEN POSSESSION OF HER RENOVATED HOME.
IS THAT A FACE? AND NOW HAS LITA CAPTURED THE UNEXPLAINED ENTITY HIDING UNDER HER BED? Cristallo: THE PICTURE UNDER MY BED -- YOU CAN SEE ALMOST LIKE A GARGOYLE FACE.
THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE.
I WAS JUST ANGRY, AND I WAS SICK OF IT.
I WAS SCARED, AND I WAS MAD.
AND NOW I HAD IT IN PICTURES.
GET OUT! [ DISTORTED SHOUTING .]
WHEN I DOVE UNDER THERE, I COULD FEEL IT.
I COULD FEEL IT BACK AWAY FROM ME, LIKE IT WAS SHOCKED.
NOW I WAS SEEING WHAT THAT DEMON LOOKED LIKE, AND IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME.
IT WAS GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY, AND I HAD TO DO SOMETHING.
I WAS FREAKING OUT, AND MY FRIENDS ARE LIKE, "YOU KNOW, LITA, YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING OR GET RID OF THE HOUSE.
" Narrator: IN OCTOBER 2013, LITA INVITES MELANIE HODGMAN AND HER TEAM FROM SOPAH -- SEEKERS OF PARANORMAL AND HISTORY -- TO INSPECT THE HOUSE.
Hodgman: I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE PROPERTY WHERE LITA LIVED.
WHEN WE TURNED THE CORNER TO PULL IN TO HER DRIVEWAY, I ALMOST DIDN'T WANT TO GET OUT OF THE TRUCK.
IT FELT LIKE A MALE WITH A SHOTGUN LOOKING DOWN THE RIFLE [CHUCKLES.]
BARREL AT US BECAUSE WE WERE TRESPASSING.
THANK YOU, LITA.
WHEN I FIRST SPOKE WITH LITA, I WAS TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT WE WERE IN FOR.
SO, LITA HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD THIS PIANO? IT'S BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOREVER, AND I LOVE TO PLAY IT, BUT WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON LATELY, I'M JUST -- I'M TOO AFRAID TO.
Narrator: LITA EXPLAINS TO MELANIE THAT IN 2003, SHORTLY AFTER THEY MOVED IN, THEY BEGAN TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE HOME.
I TOLD THEM THAT WE HAD DONE A LOT OF REMODELING, AND AN ADDITION, AND A LOT OF DIRT WORK.
Narrator: AND AFTER THAT, UNEXPLAINABLE EVENTS STARTED HAPPENING.
Cristallo: I TOLD THEM MY GRANDSON SAW A MAN SEE THE WINDOW? LOOK AT IT.
YEAH.
THERE'S A GUY THERE? AND THEN THINGS THAT HAPPENED WITH ME [ GROWLING .]
THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO BONNIE IN THE BATHROOM [ WATER RUNNING .]
[ GASPS .]
AND THE PICTURES WE WERE GETTING.
THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.
Narrator: LITA ALSO ADMITS THAT BONNIE HELD A SéCE TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SPIRIT.
Hodgman: AS SOON AS SHE MENTIONED THE SPIRIT BOARD, I WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, AND I TOLD HER, "YOU NEED TO GET RID OF THAT.
" I CAN'T STRESS TO PEOPLE ENOUGH HOW MUCH YOU REALLY DON'T WAN TO USE ONE OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE YOU OPEN A DOOR THAT ANYTHING CAN GET THROUGH.
I KNEW THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH SOMETHING THAT WAS EXTREMELY DARK.
BUT WHATEVER THIS WAS JUS WANTED TO CREATE HAVOC.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND STAR TAKING SOME READINGS.
OUR GENERAL PROCEDURE WHEN WE GO IN IS, WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GET SOMETHING ON OUR EQUIPMENT SO WE CAN SEE TANGIBLE EVIDENCE THAT MAYBE THERE MAY BE SOMETHING THERE.
Narrator: TO HELP, THEY USE THE K-II METER.
A K-II IS USED TO MEASURE THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD.
[ K-II METER PINGING .]
Narrator: QUICKLY, THE DEVICE DETECTS EVIDENCE OF PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.
[ PINGING CONTINUES .]
WOW, WE'RE GETTING SOME READINGS OFF OF YOU NOW.
MAN, IT'S REALLY HOT.
YEAH.
Hodgman: THE K-IIs WERE LIGHTING UP AROUND HER PERSONALLY, WHICH IS REALLY RARE.
HUMAN BEINGS DON'T GENERALLY EMIT ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS, BUT SHE WAS COMPLETELY SURROUNDED.
SHE'S REALLY LIGHTING UP, ISN'T SHE? YEAH.
SHE IS.
THAT'S WEIRD.
Cristallo: IT JUST LIT UP.
AND I'M THINKING, "OH, IT'S REALLY HAPPENING.
SO, I WAS REALLY SCARED.
Narrator: IT ALSO DETECTS A FIELD AROUND THE PIANO.
IT'S MY BELIEF THAT SPIRITS REALLY ENJOY MUSIC AS MUCH AS LIVING PEOPLE DO, AND ESPECIALLY PIANO MUSIC IS VERY -- WHEN SHE PLAYS, IT'S ALMOST HEAVENLY.
Narrator: NEXT, MELANIE AND BRIAN BEGIN COMMUNICATING WITH THE SPIRIT.
Hodgman: THE PURPOSE OF A FLASHLIGHT SESSION IS TO TRY TO HAVE INTELLIGEN CONVERSATION WITH AN ENTITY.
IF IT'S A "YES" RESPONSE, IT WILL ACTUALLY MAKE THE FLASHLIGHT LIGHT UP.
AND IT CAN TURN THE FLASHLIGH BACK OFF BY ITSELF, AS WELL.
Tackett: WE'D USE THE DIGITAL VOICE RECORDERS, THE DVRs.
WE'LL ASK QUESTIONS WITH IT RECORDING, WHICH HOPEFULLY TRIGGERS A RESPONSE.
AND WHEN WE PLAY IT BACK, WE'LL GET ELECTRONIC VOICE PHENOMENA, AN EVP, WHICH IS A RESPONSE FROM A SPIRIT.
Narrator: ONCE ALL THE EQUIPMENT IS SET, THEY ASK IF THERE IS A SPIRIT PRESENT.
[ DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS .]
[ DVR SQUEALING .]
Cristallo: AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE RECORDING DEVICE STARTED MAKING ALL THIS NOISE [ SQUEALING CONTINUES .]
LIKE A REAL HIGH-PITCHED WHITE-NOISE SOUND THIS HORRIBLE SCREAMING NOISE.
AND WE'RE LIKE, "WHAT THE HECK?" Hodgman: THE ATMOSPHERE FELT HEAVIER.
AND YOU JUST HAVE A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF ANXIETY.
IT'S TERRIFYING.
Narrator: WITH THE FEELINGS IN THE HOUSE INTENSIFYING, THE TEAM ASKS THE SPIRI ANOTHER QUESTION.
Cristallo: SO, WE WERE ASKING IT QUESTIONS, AND HE SAID AT ONE POINT, "LITA DOESN'T PLAY THE PIANO ANYMORE.
SHE DOESN'T FEEL LIKE SHE WANTS TO PLAY.
SHOULD SHE PLAY?" [ DISTORTED WHOOSH .]
IT SAID, "PLAY.
" WE GOT IT EXACT, EVP, AND IT JUST -- IT FELT SO AMAZING.
IT'S LIKE -- AND HE SAID, "SO, YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO HER PLAY?" AND IT SAID, "PLAY.
" [ DISTORTED WHOOSH .]
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS IN SALCHA, ALASKA, HAVE DETECTED PARANORMAL ACTIVITY IN THE HOME OF LITA CRISTALLO.
WOW, WE'RE GETTING SOME READINGS OFF OF YOU NOW.
AND AS THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SPIRIT [ DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS .]
THEY HEAR A MALEVOLEN MALE VOICE.
[ DVR SQUEALING, DISTORTED WHOOSH .]
Cristallo: IT SAID, "PLAY.
" WE GOT IT EXACT, EVP, AND I JUST -- IT FELT SO AMAZING.
IT'S LIKE -- AND HE SAID, "SO, YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO HER PLAY?" AND IT SAID, "PLAY.
" [ DISTORTED WHOOSH .]
I WAS SCARED TO DEATH.
Hodgman: IT SOUNDED LIKE A MALE VOICE.
IT WASN'T DEMANDING.
IT WAS JUST A DARK, LOWER VOICE THAT COMES ACROSS.
Narrator: SHORTLY AFTER, THE TEAM PUTS THE INVESTIGATION ON HOLD, PROMISING TO RETURN IN A FEW DAYS TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH SAGING OF THE HOUSE.
Cristallo: I WAS SPEAKING WITH MELANIE, AND SHE WAS EXPLAINING TO ME THAT WHATEVER WAS THERE, SHE WAS CONFIDEN THEY COULD GET IT OUT FOR ME.
I NEEDED TO JUST, LIKE, STAY POSITIVE.
AND SHE WAS GONNA COME BACK AND SAGE THE HOUSE FOR ME.
WE WOULD CHASE IT OUT.
AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
Narrator: SOON AFTER, A SOPAH TEAM MEMBER RESPONSIBLE FOR RESEARCHING LITA'S PROPERTY CONTACTS HER WITH A NEW DEVELOPMENT.
RUNNING CLOSE TO LITA'S HOUSE IS A LEY LINE.
Nunez: LEY LINES ARE SUPPOSEDLY LINES THAT ENCOMPASS THE GLOBE THA HAVE HIGHER PARANORMAL ACTIVITY AND PARANORMAL ENERGY.
THE STATE OF ALASKA HAS A LEY LINE THAT RUNS THROUGH FAIRBANKS AND DOWN TOWARDS ANCHORAGE.
SALCHA IS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF FAIRBANKS, SO IT FALLS IN THAT KIND OF BANDWIDTH OF THAT LEY LINE.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THA WHEN LITA BUILT THE EXTENSION, IT OPENED UP A DOOR IN THE LEY LINE, ALLOWING PARANORMAL SPIRITS ACCESS TO HER HOME.
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS .]
Nunez: IN THE PROCESS OF THIS EXPANSION, SHE MAY HAVE UNEARTHED SOMETHING OR SHIFTED SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T WANT TO BE SHIFTED.
WHEN YOU ADD A SPIRIT BOARD INTO THE MIX AND OPEN UP A DOORWAY, ANYTHING CAN COME THROUGH.
IS ANYBODY HERE? DO YOU FEEL ANYTHING? PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHAT THEY'RE DOING WHEN THEY OPEN UP A DOORWAY.
Narrator: THE PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS ARE CERTAIN LITA'S HOME IS HAUNTED, BUT THEY STILL DON'T KNOW BY WHAT.
Cristallo: THE TEAM DID SAY THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT HAPPENED AT MY HOUSE THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO THEM ANYWHERE BEFORE.
EVEN NOW, MY HOUSE IS STILL ONE OF THE BIGGEST MYSTERIES TO THEM THAT THEY'VE HAD.
Narrator: SO, LITA STARTS LOOKING ELSEWHERE FOR ANSWERS.
AND ON THE ADVICE OF A FRIEND, SHE INVITES A PSYCHIC OVER TO INSPECT HER HOUSE.
[ INDISTINCT WHISPERS .]
I DID HAVE A PSYCHIC COME OU TO THE HOUSE AT ONE POINT, AND SHE DID TELL ME THAT SHE'D SEEN A GHOST ON THE PROPERTY.
Narrator: BUT THE PSYCHIC HAS ANOTHER CHILLING DETAIL TO REVEAL.
A YOUNG GIRL'S BODY IS BURIED UNDERNEATH THE HOUSE.
Cristallo: SHE'D BEEN MURDERED IN THE LATE '50s, EARLY '60s BY A SERIAL KILLER.
Narrator: THE PSYCHIC UNFOLDS A SHOCKING TALE OF A DEVIANT KILLER WHO MURDERED FIVE LOCAL WOMEN BEFORE COMMITTING SUICIDE ON THE EVE OF HIS ARREST.
MOST ALARMINGLY, ONE OF THE WOMEN'S BODIES HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND.
Cristallo: I WAS DEVASTATED.
I WAS THINKING I HAD A YOUNG WOMAN THAT WAS KILLED ON MY PROPERTY.
HER FAMILY'S BEEN LOOKING FOR HER FOR 50 YEARS.
I NEED TO GO TO THE POLICE.
I HAVE TO FIX THIS.
I WAS FREAKING OUT.
THERE WAS ANGER.
THERE WAS A DARKNESS.
A SERIAL KILLER SOUNDS ABOUT RIGH FOR THE FEELING THAT YOU GOT AROUND THE HOUSE.
IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE BEEN.
IT WAS THAT TYPE OF ENERGY.
SOMETHING NEGATIVE, SOMETHING BAD HAD HAPPENED FOR SURE.
Narrator: A SHORT TIME LATER, AS PROMISED, MELANIE RETURNS TO LITA'S HOUSE TO CONDUCT A SAGING.
Lita: IT'S IN HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, LITA.
[ SIGHS .]
SO, RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS A CLEANSING RITUAL TO GET RID OF THE EVIL SPIRIT.
OKAY.
Hodgman: I HAD CEDAR, FRANKINCENSE, WHITE SAGE.
THE THEORY IS, THROUGH THE BURNING OF SAGE, THAT WHEN THE SAGE IS SMOKING, THAT THE SMOKE ITSELF WILL CLEAR DARK ENERGY OUT OF THE HOUSE.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY ENERGIES THAT ARE IN THE HOME THAT ARE LOST, THEY CAN FOLLOW THE SMOKE.
AND IT HELPS THEM GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
THIS IS A HOUSE OF LOVE AND LIGHT.
IF YOU ARE NO OF THE LIGHT, YOU MUST LEAVE NOW.
[ INDISTINCT WHISPERS .]
LITA, THERE'S A VERY EVIL SPIRI IN THIS HOUSE.
IT DOES NOT WANT US HERE.
THIS IS A HOUSE OF LOVE AND LIGHT.
IF YOU ARE NOT OF THE LIGHT, YOU CANNOT BE HERE.
THERE'S A HEAVY DARKNESS HERE, LITA.
WE HAD HOLY WATER, WHICH HAD BEEN BLESSED.
AND I WANTED HER TO SPRAY ALL THE WALLS, JUST COVER THE WALLS.
YOU COULD FEEL IT FOLLOWING US.
BY NOW, IT'S LIKE RIGHT ON TOP OF US.
WE CAN BOTH FEEL IT.
Hodgman: YOU COULD TELL THE ENERGY WAS AMPING UP AND IT WAS GETTING READY TO DO BATTLE.
OH, MY GOD, THE WALLS.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE WALLS LITERALLY SIZZLED.
[ SIZZLING .]
Narrator: LITA CRISTALLO BELIEVES HER ALASKA DREAM HOME IS HAUNTED BY THE EVIL SPIRI OF A SERIAL KILLER WHO ONCE STALKED THE AREA.
THIS IS A HOUSE OF LOVE AND LIGHT.
Both: IF YOU'RE NOT OF THE LIGHT, YOU MUST GO NOW.
[ SIZZLING .]
Cristallo: AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE WALLS LITERALLY SIZZLED.
I REMEMBER HEARING IT, THINKING, "THERE'S NO WAY.
" AND THEN I SEE THE STEAM.
Hodgman: YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE STEAM COMING OFF THE WALLS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT SINCE.
Cristallo: YOU COULD JUST FEEL I COMING AT YOU FROM EVERYWHERE.
[ GROWLING .]
YOU COULD TELL WE WERE GETTING IT MADDER AND MADDER.
Hodgman: AND I TOLD HER, "DON'T BE AFRAID.
" LITA, DON'T SHOW ANY FEAR.
"WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING.
IT'S TRYING TO SCARE US.
IT WANTS US TO STOP, AND WE CANNOT STOP.
" [ GROWLING .]
AND THEN YOU HEARD A GROWLING.
[ GROWLING CONTINUES .]
IT WAS MAD.
THE AIR WAS JUST ELECTRIC.
YOU COULD FEEL IT.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE BOTH STARTED CRYING.
I MEAN, WE BOTH HAD GOOSE BUMPS ALL OVER.
AND I THINK IT WAS VERY ANGRY, AND IT KNEW IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS.
WE KNEW WE JUS HAD TO FINISH THIS.
IF YOU'RE NOT OF THE LIGHT, YOU MUST GO NOW.
AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS THIS GIANT, OILY STAIN.
IT LOOKED LIKE A SHADOW COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE BED.
IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.
WHAT IS THAT? Hodgman: IT WAS A HEAD, SHOULDERS, AND ARMS THAT LOOKED JUST LIKE A MAN.
IT WAS FRIGHTENING.
IT'S LIKE WE FEL THE RUSH GO THROUGH US.
IT WAS LIKE YOU COULD FEEL THE RELEASE.
WE KNEW THE SECOND IT WAS OUT THE DOOR.
WE KNEW IT.
AND THEN THE HOUSE JUST LIT UP LIKE THE SUN WAS OUT.
IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
YOU FELT LIKE SPRING HAD JUS HAPPENED IN THE HOUSE.
Hodgman: IT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE SAGING THAT I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.
Narrator: WITH THE CLEANSE COMPLETE, LITA BREATHES A SIGH OF RELIEF, BUT HER COMFORT IS SHORT-LIVED.
Cristallo: WE KNEW IMMEDIATELY.
WE GOT IT OUT OF THE HOUSE, BUT IT HADN'T LEFT.
IT WAS DEVASTATING.
IT WAS DEVASTATING.
IT WAS IN THE YARD.
AND I SAID, "WHERE DO YOU THINK IT IS?" AND WHERE SHE POINTED WAS EXACTLY WHERE I THOUGHT IT WAS.
YOU COULD FEEL IT.
IT WAS IN THE TREES AND I WAS STARING AND IT WAS MAD.
IT WAS MAD.
WHAT CONCERNED ME WAS THAT IT WAS OUTSIDE NOW AND THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T IN THE HOUSE, IT WAS STILL IN MY YARD.
AND MELANIE ASSURED ME.
SHE GOES, "I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT, BUT IT'S GOING TO LEAVE.
" SHE GOES, "THEY NEED SOMETHING TO FEED OFF OF.
IT'S NOT GONNA JUS HANG AROUND YOUR YARD.
" SHE GOES, "GIVE IT A LITTLE WHILE, AND I BET YOU ANYTHING IT JUST KIND OF FADES OUT.
" AND THEN I'M CONCERNED.
I'M LIKE, "WHERE'S IT GONNA GO? YOU KNOW? MY NEIGHBORS?" AND SHE GOES, "I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE IT GOES, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU IT WILL GO LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
" Narrator: DESPITE MELANIE'S ASSURANCES, THE EXPERIENCE IS TOO MUCH FOR LITA.
AND IN NOVEMBER 2013, SHE DECIDES TO LEAVE THE HOUSE FOR GOOD.
WITHIN TWO WEEKS, I HAD MY HOUSE RENTED.
THEY'VE BEEN THERE EIGHT MONTHS.
THEY'RE HAPPY.
THEY FEEL NOTHING.
I'M A SUCCESS STORY.
WE GOT IT.
IT'S BEEN A TOTAL TURNAROUND.
SINCE I MOVED OUT OF THERE, I'M JUST SO HAPPY.
I HAVE A CUTE LITTLE A-FRAME THAT I RENT OU THAT I'M JUST IN LOVE WITH.
I LOVE PLAYING PIANO TODAY.
EVERY TIME I SIT DOWN AND PLAY, I'M JUST GRATEFUL THAT I STILL LOVE TO PLAY IT.
THINGS ARE BACK TO NORMAL.
WE FEEL REALLY GOOD.
MY MOM IS BRIGH AND HAPPY AGAIN.
WE'VE ALL BEEN ABLE TO JUS MOVE ON FROM IT AND CARRY ON.