Paranormal Witness (2011) s05e01 Episode Script
Voodoo Preacher
(DOG BARKS) We were starting a new life in Rockford, Alabama.
This is gonna be the perfect house.
I'm thinking, "What's the catch?" I was expecting quiet country life, and what I got is this feeling of apprehension.
I think there might be somebody in the house.
Ain't nobody in that house.
(SCREAMS) (PLATE SHATTERS) You're just dismissing me.
This time, I'm going to see what it is.
(SCREAMING) I couldn't believe it.
(BOTH SCREAMING) (BOTH SCREAMING) And I thought, "This is how I'm gonna die.
" (YELPS) (HAUNTING MUSIC) (KEYS CLACKING) (OMINOUS PERCUSSIVE MUSIC) Can you feel it in your spirit? I said I said you feel it in your spirit? (OMINOUS MUSIC, KEYS CLACKING) Amen! (OMINOUS MUSIC, KEYS CLACKING) Give me a hallelujah.
(OMINOUS MUSIC, KEYS CLACKING) (INSECTS BUZZING) (KEYS CLACKING) (PLAINTIVE MUSIC) Back in 2012, I was a journalist.
I worked for the local paper in a city called Auburn, Alabama, in east central Alabama.
I'd lived there ten years.
But this morning, I had to say good-bye to being a career woman in the city.
- Hey, honey.
- Hey.
Just gonna get Gracyn strapped in, and we should be ready to go.
You go with Daddy; get in that truck.
Yeah.
My husband, Hunter, was starting a new job, which meant we needed to move to be closer to where he worked.
(DELICATE MUSIC) This job was going to be my chance.
It was a lot more money.
Had to make some sacrifices, but we were very excited.
It would be just the four of us out there.
Just gonna lift you in.
Hunter, our daughter, Gracyn, and our dog, Betty-Lou.
This was a big change for me.
I was gonna have to be a stay-at-home mom.
But I was really determined to make this work.
I thought this is the perfect opportunity to use my journalism skills to blog about our whole experience.
It's moving day.
It's time for a fresh start for our family.
Today we move to Rockford, Alabama.
We're leaving the city for the country.
Our journey begins.
We're gonna stop at that place you like, all right? Jenny and I both had children by previous marriage.
Jenny had Buddy who was nine, and I had Faith.
She was also nine.
It's a kind of, you know, it it fit.
Hunter is the love of my life.
You don't often get second chances, and this was our second chance, together.
We said good-bye to the concrete and just rolled out into this country green landscape.
I started getting nervous because we were literally in the middle of nowhere.
(BIRDS CHIRPING) (WINDMILL SQUEAKING) Oh, my gosh.
Hunter, it's amazing.
It's so big! It was absolutely beautiful.
I was really impressed that he had found us this house.
Are you sure we can afford this, Hunter? I was amazed it was in our price range.
Oh, yeah.
It was a deal.
I'm thinking, "What's the catch?" (CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS) (BIRDS CHIRPING) That's gonna be your bedroom up there.
Big house.
There were fields as far as the eye could see.
Our closest neighbor, I have no idea where they are.
Come on, honey.
I want to show you the inside.
Yeah.
Great.
- Betty-Lou! - (BARKS) It looked like the people that had lived there before got out in a hurry.
I didn't want Hunter to be disappointed in my reaction, because he was so excited about this house.
It was a heck of a deal.
Yeah.
(LAUGHS) I bet.
Pick out your new room.
Let's put you down right there, sweetie.
Upstairs, all I could see was this awful, awful blue.
Oh, my gosh.
This paint had been thrown on.
Like someone had taken a paintbrush and just done like this.
Why would you paint the window frames? Why would you paint the light switches? What an ugly mess.
Probably trying to liven it up a bit.
What were they thinking? (OMINOUS MUSIC) It was creepy.
(SCURRYING) Gracyn, can you come here, please? It made me really wonder what I was getting in to.
(DOOR CREAKS) I think this is a bathroom.
Careful, sweetie.
(OMINOUS MUSIC) Why'd they take the mirror? It was like the mirrors had been ripped off the wall.
You don't ever notice a mirror, but when it's not there, then you're like, "Why is it not there?" Anything else I should be looking out for, Hunter? And then it dawned on me I haven't seen one single mirror in the whole house.
(WHIMPERS) I thought, "This is just another expense.
" Let's have a look at the bedrooms.
Okay.
(OMINOUS MUSIC) (LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS) (ELECTRICITY SIZZLES) I could see something on the ceiling.
There was duct tape on the attic entryway.
(WHIMPERS) It's been duct taped completely shut, and it has that same awful blue paint.
The tape has to go.
So I reached up, and I yanked it down.
(TAPE PEELING) (BARKS) I thought the reason it had been taped was because it was broken.
But it was fine.
(DOOR CLICKS, SQUEAKS) (WHIMPERS LOUDLY) (COUGHS) It was kind of odd to me.
It looked like somebody didn't want that attic to be used for a reason.
(GASPS) (CHAIN CLICKS) Well, I can see why it's taped up.
It's filthy! (ELECTRICITY SIZZLING) Let's go check out the kitchen while it's still daylight.
Oh, yes, ma'am.
(DISEMBODIED SCREAM) (HAUNTING MUSIC) (OMINOUS MUSIC) Oh, my gosh.
(TAPE RIPS, DOOR CLICKS) (OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES) Honey, what time is it? About 8:30.
Oh, I got to go.
Soon after we had moved in, it was time for me to start this job.
I was excited.
Jenny and I only had one car, and so I felt bad leaving Jenny by herself.
Wish me luck, honey! Show 'em who's boss! But Jenny put on her happy face.
She's being the supportive wife, you know? We'll do what we gotta do to make this work.
(BIRDS CHIRPING) When he went off to work and the door closed, it was so quiet.
(DISTANT CREAKING) (CLOCK TICKING) (FAUCET DRIPPING) (CLOCK TICKING AND FAUCET DRIPPING) (WHITE NOISE BUILDS TO CRESCENDO) The house had a cool music system.
It was like an intercom system, and it would play music throughout the house.
(CHEERFUL ORCHESTRA MUSIC) The classical music made me feel comfortable, secure.
(WINDMILL SQUEAKING) (CRICKETS CHIRPING) Hunter was working late, and Gracyn was asleep.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) I was alone.
I suddenly got this strange feeling like something was watching me.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) Being out in the country was starting to get to me.
And so I just decided to go to bed.
I wanted some company upstairs in my room, and so I was like, "Come here, Betty-Lou.
Come on, baby, let's go upstairs.
" Come on, baby.
(WHINES) Betty-Lou, come.
Let's go upstairs.
And she would not go.
Come on.
Come on.
Let's go upstairs.
Yeah.
Okay, Betty-Lou.
Okay.
Come on.
(WHIMPERS) What's the matter, hon? She ran faster than I've ever seen her run.
(WHINES) Betty-Lou didn't want to be around me, and she didn't want to be upstairs.
(SIGHS) The house was completely still.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) (SCURRYING) (SCURRYING) I heard something scurrying.
(SCURRYING) Outside of my window (LOW THUD) a thud.
And then this (MIMICS SCURRYING) (SCURRYING) Almost like a cat, but bigger.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) (OMINOUS MUSIC) (PANTING) (SCURRYING) My heart was pounding.
(SCURRYING) On the front of the house, there was a motion sensor system.
But whatever made the noise, it did not trip the lights.
(SCURRYING) (PANTING) I can't see anything.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) (WINDOW RATTLES) Whatever's out there, just have fun, because I'm not opening this window.
I don't want to get bitten by some strange animal out in the country.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) (SCURRYING) (LOW GROWLING) (BIRDS FLAPPING, CHIRPING) The next morning, I told Hunter what had happened.
Security sensor is armed, so I checked those sensor lights.
Every time, they'd come on.
Didn't turn on last night, Hunter, I'm telling you.
I'm thinking Jenny's imagination's getting carried away.
Country quiet is starting to kind of get to Jenny a little bit.
It's an old house.
Could have been creaking or settling.
Hunter said when you go from bustling city to completely quiet, you start thinking, "Well, I'm hearing things," you know? Looks fine to me.
I mean, I'll just check it again and I'll be right back.
So I thought it was all in my head.
Just put it out of my mind.
(SOOTHING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) If I wasn't writing my blog, I unhappy.
I had to have an outlet.
(KEYS CLACKING, MUSIC CONTINUES) The to-do list just keeps growing.
I am no Martha Stewart, but I'm gonna have to do a real makeover on this house.
I do always love a challenge.
It was time to start getting to work on this house.
Hunter and I both had children from previous marriages, and I wanted to make sure that when they come to stay, everything would just be perfect.
(KEYS CLACKING) It's the kids' first visit.
We are really excited.
Hunter's daughter Faith and my boy, Buddy, are gonna be with us all weekend.
(KIDS CHEER) We're really looking forward to the house being full of the sound of laughter.
It had been maybe a month since we'd seen Buddy and Faith.
I'm sitting proud papa.
Dig in anytime you want.
Want some salad? New house, a good job, the family's together: in my mind, I've made it.
(WATER SPLASHING) It was bath time, and Buddy always looks forward to bath time.
Come on up.
Hey, Faith, remember how you said you've always wanted your own room? Yeah.
Jenny and Buddy were in the bathroom, and I was excited to show Faith her new room.
Check this out.
We had put in a lot of work.
Whoa.
It's awesome.
I got dad points there.
So I was excited about that.
(WATER RUNNING) In the bathroom, Buddy just stops.
He just fixates on one point in the mirror.
(FINGERS SQUEAKING) Faith and I are sitting on the bed.
So you like it? I love it.
And I hear something on the window.
It's really pretty.
(DISTANT TAPPING, INSECTS BUZZING) All the pillows and the blankets and sheets (DISTANT TAPPING, INSECTS BUZZING) (FINGERS SQUEAKING) Buddy was seeing something in the mirror.
(FINGERS SQUEAKING) (DISTANT TAPPING CONTINUES, INSECTS BUZZING) That's that's good.
Just stay there a sec, honey.
(YELPS) (OMINOUS MUSIC) (CREATURE SCREAMS) (SCREAMING) (SCREAMING) (KIDS AND CREATURE CONTINUE SCREAMING) (HAUNTING MUSIC) We're gonna fix this, okay, honey? We're gonna get it all cleaned up.
(PANTING) It's okay.
I asked him, "Honey, what do you see in the mirror?" And he just wouldn't tell me.
I couldn't explain it.
After the weekend, the kids went back to the city.
(FLIES BUZZING) I just feel so deflated and upset.
We had such high hopes when we moved into this house, but there are so many strange things happening.
What's going on? (BIRDS CHIRPING) (SOOTHING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) A few days later, I'm downstairs standing in the kitchen doing dishes.
I was thinking, "Maybe I could get some chickens "or start a garden or something "and just really make this work.
I can make this work.
" (SOOTHING MUSIC CONTINUES) Suddenly I just got this feeling that somebody was standing behind me, looking at me.
(DOOR CREAKS) (DISH CLATTERS) I thought, "Well, Gracyn is sleeping.
"Hunter's at work.
Nobody's here but me.
" (SOOTHING MUSIC CONTINUES) There wasn't anybody there.
So I just dismissed it.
Like "I'm going crazy.
" (SOOTHING MUSIC CONTINUES) (LOW GROWL) (RADIO FALTERS AND TURNS OFF) (WATER DRIPPING) (EERIE SILENCE) (DEATH METAL MUSIC BLARING) (SCREAMS) (PLATE SHATTERS) Suddenly, the radio system is playing full-volume.
It just made me jump out of my skin.
(DEATH METAL CONTINUES BLARING) I can't get the thing to turn off.
(CELL PHONE RINGS) (DEATH METAL MUSIC BLARES) There's something wrong with the radio.
The music was so loud, it was like it it hit you with full force.
Can you turn down that music? I can't get it to turn off.
And she's frantic.
Just tear out the wires completely.
(DEATH METAL CONTINUES BLARING) I had to reach my fingers around and jerk it out of the wall.
(DEATH METAL TURNS OFF ABRUPTLY) (GASPING) Jenny? Honey.
(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) Suddenly, I started hearing this creaking noise coming from right above my head.
(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) Are you still there? (FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) Hunter, I think there might be somebody in the house.
And I'm like, "Nah, ain't nobody in that house.
" (FAINT BUZZING) Hunter? (STATIC CRACKLING) Hunter.
Jenny? (FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) Whatever it was was heavy enough to make the boards creak as it walked.
And so I knew it wasn't Gracyn.
(BREATHING SLOWLY) Somebody was up there.
And my daughter was up there too.
(OMINOUS MUSIC) (FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) (GASPS) There's nobody there.
(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) (OMINOUS MUSIC RESUMES) (FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) I realized that creaking was coming from the room down the hallway.
(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) (FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) (FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) I had to take care of it.
I have to protect my child.
(PANTING) (ELECTRICITY CRACKLES) (PANTING) (EERIE CREAKING) I couldn't see anything, but I knew that whatever it was was still there.
(OMINOUS MUSIC) (PANTING) (PANTING) (SCREAMS) (HAUNTING MUSIC) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) (SCREAMING) There's nothing in the closet.
(GASPING AND SOBBING) I was absolutely sure of what I heard.
Now there was no doubt in my mind: the house was haunted.
And whatever it is, it doesn't want us here.
It doesn't want me here.
(PLAINTIVE MUSIC) - Hunter.
- Honey, you okay? Listen to me.
This house is haunted.
It's haunted.
She was convinced that the house was haunted.
And I was not convinced.
- Honey, it's an old house.
- Hunter.
It's all creaky and settly.
This is the problem, Hunter.
You're just dismissing me.
It really made me mad.
Why don't you believe me? You need to start thinking about your family, Hunter.
The last thing I shouted at him was, "I gave up everything for you.
I gave up everything for you.
" (SNIFFLES) And I need you to be there for me.
I can't do this by myself anymore.
It's too much.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) Hearing that from Jenny was a knife in the heart.
(BIRDS CHIRPING) I felt like Hunter and I were leading separate lives.
I was expecting quiet, calm country life, and what I got instead is this feeling of isolation.
I really, really needed somebody to talk to face-to-face.
So I invited my friend Kim over.
My first impression was that the house was very odd and out of place.
I felt uncomfortable just to be standing in the yard of this home.
Then in the upstairs room a shadowy figure through the window.
It gave me chills.
- Hey, Kim.
- Hi.
- You made it.
- I did.
Say hi to Kim, Gracyn.
- Hi.
- Hi, Gracyn.
Nice to meet you.
Can I get you a coffee? Yeah, that'd be great.
Thank you.
When Kim came over, it was nice to be able to talk to somebody who wouldn't judge me.
I decided to show her photos of the house before I had painted.
I noticed that the blue paint was just everywhere.
Jenny, I I've seen it before.
It's called haint blue.
It's used in voodoo.
It made me think back to when I would visit New Orleans with my mother and she would tell me about the blue paint warding off evil voodoo spirits.
Maybe there's something in your house.
I felt I could trust Kim.
I told her everything that had happened in the house.
She told me about the bug infestations (SCREAMING) The footsteps; her son being afraid of mirrors.
(SCREAMING) Let me be clear.
You think this house is haunted? Jenny knew that I was a historical researcher.
It's kind of like being a investigator.
I hoped we could come together and find out what was going on in this house.
Jenny and I planned to meet at the courthouse and see what we could find out about the families that had owned the land prior to her living there.
- Drive safe.
- I will.
(KEYS CLACKING) I need to convince Hunter that this haunting is real.
The fight back starts here.
(WINDMILL SQUEAKING) I got home late from work one night, and Jenny was already in bed, so I flopped down in front of the television to unwind a little bit.
So I'm watching TV.
(CHEERING ON TV) (DISTANTLY) Hunter? (BARKS) (CHEERING ON TV) Hunter.
(WHINES) Was my wife's voice right here by my ear.
(DISTORTED) Hunter! (CRICKETS CHIRPING) Jenny, you need me? I'm thinking, "She's playing with me.
She's not really asleep.
" And so I go and I shake her.
What? Did you need me for something, honey? No.
I was annoyed because he woke me up.
You didn't just call me just now? No.
No, I didn't.
I'm dumbfounded.
I'm sleeping.
I'm trying to process what's going on.
I worked a 14-hour day that day.
Not getting a lot of sleep.
Stress.
Did I really hear it? (CHEERING ON TV) I go back to watching TV.
(CHEERING ON TV) (SCURRYING) There's something out of the corner of my eye.
(CHEERING ON TV) Am I going crazy? (SCURRYING) (OMINOUS MUSIC) (CHEERING ON TV) (CREATURE HISSING) (HAUNTING MUSIC) (SCURRYING) (OMINOUS MUSIC) There's something out of the corner of my eye.
(CHEERING ON TV) (CREATURE HISSING) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC BUILDS TO CRESCENDO) There's nothing there.
And I know I saw it.
Started to believe what Jenny was telling me.
But at the same time, I didn't want to discuss it with her.
I was trying desperately to push through this, and this is gonna be the perfect house.
(TRUCK RUMBLES) The following morning, I met Kim at the courthouse.
We were looking for clues that would explain what was going on in Jenny's home.
I just had to know the history of this house.
- Jenny? - Mm-hmm.
Okay, come here.
We discovered that there was a family by the name of Maxwell There it is.
Right here.
That back in the 1940s had owned Jenny's land.
Is this one? Hopefully the name Maxwell would give me the answers that I needed.
I began searching on the Internet, and a ton of stuff came up about a local preacher called William Maxwell.
In the 1970s, he would preach at the church right down from our house.
The rumor was that he was involved in some mysterious deaths in the area.
It was a huge story.
The national press picked it up.
Even Harper Lee, the iconic Alabama author, spent time in Rockford because she was gonna write a true crime novel about it.
The suspicious thing about the Maxwell case was that all the people who turned up dead (CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING) Happened to be Willie Maxwell's family members.
There were five deaths.
And the Reverend Maxwell had taken out insurance policies on every one of them.
Thank you.
At the last funeral, the victim's uncle went up to Willie Maxwell and shot him dead.
Wait! Wait! No! (GUNSHOT) But that wasn't the end of the story.
I found out that the locals referred to Reverend Maxwell as the Voodoo Preacher.
(KEYS CLACKING) (INDISTINCT WHISPERING) I was shocked.
Kim had told me that the haint blue paint was a way to keep out voodoo curses.
There was no way that this is a coincidence.
(WINDMILL SQUEAKING) Later that day, I was cleaning.
I spent a lot of time cleaning, because it was a big house.
Gracyn was in the bedroom.
How you doing, baby girl? Good.
Good.
(OMINOUS MUSIC) (PHONE RINGS) If I do get a call during the day, it's usually Hunter.
And so I thought, "Well, I need to hurry up and answer that.
" (PHONE CONTINUES RINGING) (OMINOUS MUSIC) (WHINES) (PHONE CONTINUES RINGING) (BARKS, WHINES) (PHONE RINGS DISTANTLY) I started feeling like something was standing behind me.
(PHONE RINGS DISTANTLY) (PHONE RINGS, BETTY-LOU WHINES) (BARKING) But Betty-Lou was yelping and growling.
(GROWLING) Betty-Lou, shh! I get to the top of the stairs (BARKS) Betty-Lou, shh! (GASPS) Bam.
(GASPS) (YELPING AND SCREAMING) (THUDDING) (DIAL TONE) (WHIMPERING) (WHIMPERING, GASPING) I'm in a lot of pain.
But my first thought was to turn around and see what had pushed me.
(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) This time, I'm going to see what it is.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC BUILDS TO CRESCENDO) (PANTING) (GRAVEL CRUNCHING) (CRICKETS CHIRPING) Honey, are you okay? What happened? Where's Gracyn? She's upstairs.
She's asleep.
No man likes to see their wife in tears.
It wanted to hurt me, Hunter.
I can no longer deny what's going on in that house.
He finally said, "I believe you.
" Hunter, we can't stay here anymore.
It's too dangerous for all of us.
We both agreed that as soon as the lease was up, we were out of there.
There was a light at the end of the tunnel.
(BARKING) Betty-Lou, don't go too far! Even though in just four weeks, we'd be gone, I wanted some answers.
Did the things going on in our house have something to do with the Reverend Willie Maxwell? (WINDMILL SQUEAKING) I decided to dig deeper into voodoo.
I found out that mirrors are the doorway to the dead.
(FINGERS SQUEAKING) Bug infestations (SCREAMING) Are common voodoo curses.
Just started to really make sense.
(BARKING) Damn it.
Betty-Lou.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) Betty-Lou! Betty-Lou, come home! Nothing.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) I didn't want to go looking for Betty-Lou in the dark with Gracyn.
So I just waited until Hunter got home.
Betty-Lou! Come here, girl.
I'm looking for Betty-Lou, and I thought maybe if she is hurt, I can hear her yelping.
But I got nothing.
Suddenly something just jumped off the page.
The voodoo spirit known as the Boo Hag.
It's just like a vampire that will come into your room at night and sit on your chest and steal your life energy.
And after it's finished, it will move into the attic.
And I thought, "Well, the attic was duct taped shut.
" (TAPE RIPS, DOOR CLICKS) Had I let some sort of voodoo creature out of my attic? Betty-Lou? I couldn't find Betty-Lou at all.
Maybe she's on the trail of something.
She'll be back in the morning.
Come on, girl.
I began to think was it the Boo Hag that Buddy had seen in the mirror? Had the Boo Hag pushed me down the stairs? (GASPS) (SCREAMING) I was afraid my family was in danger.
(UNDERBRUSH RUSTLING, CRACKING) Come here, girl.
Betty-Lou? And then, all of a sudden I was just seeing these disturbing voodoo sacrifices.
Blood everywhere.
(OMINOUS MUSIC) I'm almost back to the house And my light catches something.
(OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES) I couldn't believe it.
(HAUNTING MUSIC) (EERIE MUSIC) (CRICKETS CHIRPING) (PLAINTIVE MUSIC) (SOBBING) Betty-Lou was ripped open savagely, and her heart had been removed.
Had Betty-Lou's death been some kind of voodoo sacrifice? I was angry.
I was so angry.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) That night, Gracyn was asleep, Hunter had already gone to sleep, and I was really, really tired.
(OMINOUS MUSICAL FLOURISH) (SCURRYING) I heard (MIMICS SCURRYING) a scurrying sound.
(SCURRYING) Through the darkness, I can see this shape.
I tried to get Hunter's attention.
But I can't move a muscle.
(CREATURE GROANING) I'm paralyzed.
(CREATURE GROANING) (CREATURE SNARLING) (JENNY GASPING) (CREATURE SNARLING AND JENNY GASPING) It starts sucking my air out of me.
(GASPING) And I thought, "This is how I'm gonna die.
" (GASPING) Suddenly it just popped in my brain, "I'm going after your daughter.
" And it ran down the hall.
- (SHRIEKING) - Hunter! I've never heard Gracyn scream like that before.
(SHRIEKING) Jenny takes off down the hall.
(SHRIEKING) I was just freaking out.
You okay? Are you hurt? Let me see you.
I looked over her for physical marks.
What happened? I'm the husband.
I'm the protector.
And here something has attacked your wife and your kid.
I'm sorry, baby.
It makes you feel like crap.
I'm so sorry.
I was terrified it was gonna come back and finish what it started.
I just wanted out of there.
If we could have moved that night, we would have.
(DOOR SLAMS) (BIRDS CHIRPING) (HOPEFUL MUSIC) (CAR DOORS SLAMMING) (ENGINE TURNS OVER) The next morning, Jenny and I, we got out.
Was the Boo Hag some voodoo curse conjured up by Willie Maxwell? Whatever it was was absolute evil.
(KEYS CLACKING) And what about Harper Lee? Maybe Harper Lee did dig too far into Willie Maxwell.
We will never know.
(PLAINTIVE MUSIC)
This is gonna be the perfect house.
I'm thinking, "What's the catch?" I was expecting quiet country life, and what I got is this feeling of apprehension.
I think there might be somebody in the house.
Ain't nobody in that house.
(SCREAMS) (PLATE SHATTERS) You're just dismissing me.
This time, I'm going to see what it is.
(SCREAMING) I couldn't believe it.
(BOTH SCREAMING) (BOTH SCREAMING) And I thought, "This is how I'm gonna die.
" (YELPS) (HAUNTING MUSIC) (KEYS CLACKING) (OMINOUS PERCUSSIVE MUSIC) Can you feel it in your spirit? I said I said you feel it in your spirit? (OMINOUS MUSIC, KEYS CLACKING) Amen! (OMINOUS MUSIC, KEYS CLACKING) Give me a hallelujah.
(OMINOUS MUSIC, KEYS CLACKING) (INSECTS BUZZING) (KEYS CLACKING) (PLAINTIVE MUSIC) Back in 2012, I was a journalist.
I worked for the local paper in a city called Auburn, Alabama, in east central Alabama.
I'd lived there ten years.
But this morning, I had to say good-bye to being a career woman in the city.
- Hey, honey.
- Hey.
Just gonna get Gracyn strapped in, and we should be ready to go.
You go with Daddy; get in that truck.
Yeah.
My husband, Hunter, was starting a new job, which meant we needed to move to be closer to where he worked.
(DELICATE MUSIC) This job was going to be my chance.
It was a lot more money.
Had to make some sacrifices, but we were very excited.
It would be just the four of us out there.
Just gonna lift you in.
Hunter, our daughter, Gracyn, and our dog, Betty-Lou.
This was a big change for me.
I was gonna have to be a stay-at-home mom.
But I was really determined to make this work.
I thought this is the perfect opportunity to use my journalism skills to blog about our whole experience.
It's moving day.
It's time for a fresh start for our family.
Today we move to Rockford, Alabama.
We're leaving the city for the country.
Our journey begins.
We're gonna stop at that place you like, all right? Jenny and I both had children by previous marriage.
Jenny had Buddy who was nine, and I had Faith.
She was also nine.
It's a kind of, you know, it it fit.
Hunter is the love of my life.
You don't often get second chances, and this was our second chance, together.
We said good-bye to the concrete and just rolled out into this country green landscape.
I started getting nervous because we were literally in the middle of nowhere.
(BIRDS CHIRPING) (WINDMILL SQUEAKING) Oh, my gosh.
Hunter, it's amazing.
It's so big! It was absolutely beautiful.
I was really impressed that he had found us this house.
Are you sure we can afford this, Hunter? I was amazed it was in our price range.
Oh, yeah.
It was a deal.
I'm thinking, "What's the catch?" (CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS) (BIRDS CHIRPING) That's gonna be your bedroom up there.
Big house.
There were fields as far as the eye could see.
Our closest neighbor, I have no idea where they are.
Come on, honey.
I want to show you the inside.
Yeah.
Great.
- Betty-Lou! - (BARKS) It looked like the people that had lived there before got out in a hurry.
I didn't want Hunter to be disappointed in my reaction, because he was so excited about this house.
It was a heck of a deal.
Yeah.
(LAUGHS) I bet.
Pick out your new room.
Let's put you down right there, sweetie.
Upstairs, all I could see was this awful, awful blue.
Oh, my gosh.
This paint had been thrown on.
Like someone had taken a paintbrush and just done like this.
Why would you paint the window frames? Why would you paint the light switches? What an ugly mess.
Probably trying to liven it up a bit.
What were they thinking? (OMINOUS MUSIC) It was creepy.
(SCURRYING) Gracyn, can you come here, please? It made me really wonder what I was getting in to.
(DOOR CREAKS) I think this is a bathroom.
Careful, sweetie.
(OMINOUS MUSIC) Why'd they take the mirror? It was like the mirrors had been ripped off the wall.
You don't ever notice a mirror, but when it's not there, then you're like, "Why is it not there?" Anything else I should be looking out for, Hunter? And then it dawned on me I haven't seen one single mirror in the whole house.
(WHIMPERS) I thought, "This is just another expense.
" Let's have a look at the bedrooms.
Okay.
(OMINOUS MUSIC) (LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS) (ELECTRICITY SIZZLES) I could see something on the ceiling.
There was duct tape on the attic entryway.
(WHIMPERS) It's been duct taped completely shut, and it has that same awful blue paint.
The tape has to go.
So I reached up, and I yanked it down.
(TAPE PEELING) (BARKS) I thought the reason it had been taped was because it was broken.
But it was fine.
(DOOR CLICKS, SQUEAKS) (WHIMPERS LOUDLY) (COUGHS) It was kind of odd to me.
It looked like somebody didn't want that attic to be used for a reason.
(GASPS) (CHAIN CLICKS) Well, I can see why it's taped up.
It's filthy! (ELECTRICITY SIZZLING) Let's go check out the kitchen while it's still daylight.
Oh, yes, ma'am.
(DISEMBODIED SCREAM) (HAUNTING MUSIC) (OMINOUS MUSIC) Oh, my gosh.
(TAPE RIPS, DOOR CLICKS) (OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES) Honey, what time is it? About 8:30.
Oh, I got to go.
Soon after we had moved in, it was time for me to start this job.
I was excited.
Jenny and I only had one car, and so I felt bad leaving Jenny by herself.
Wish me luck, honey! Show 'em who's boss! But Jenny put on her happy face.
She's being the supportive wife, you know? We'll do what we gotta do to make this work.
(BIRDS CHIRPING) When he went off to work and the door closed, it was so quiet.
(DISTANT CREAKING) (CLOCK TICKING) (FAUCET DRIPPING) (CLOCK TICKING AND FAUCET DRIPPING) (WHITE NOISE BUILDS TO CRESCENDO) The house had a cool music system.
It was like an intercom system, and it would play music throughout the house.
(CHEERFUL ORCHESTRA MUSIC) The classical music made me feel comfortable, secure.
(WINDMILL SQUEAKING) (CRICKETS CHIRPING) Hunter was working late, and Gracyn was asleep.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) I was alone.
I suddenly got this strange feeling like something was watching me.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) Being out in the country was starting to get to me.
And so I just decided to go to bed.
I wanted some company upstairs in my room, and so I was like, "Come here, Betty-Lou.
Come on, baby, let's go upstairs.
" Come on, baby.
(WHINES) Betty-Lou, come.
Let's go upstairs.
And she would not go.
Come on.
Come on.
Let's go upstairs.
Yeah.
Okay, Betty-Lou.
Okay.
Come on.
(WHIMPERS) What's the matter, hon? She ran faster than I've ever seen her run.
(WHINES) Betty-Lou didn't want to be around me, and she didn't want to be upstairs.
(SIGHS) The house was completely still.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) (SCURRYING) (SCURRYING) I heard something scurrying.
(SCURRYING) Outside of my window (LOW THUD) a thud.
And then this (MIMICS SCURRYING) (SCURRYING) Almost like a cat, but bigger.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) (OMINOUS MUSIC) (PANTING) (SCURRYING) My heart was pounding.
(SCURRYING) On the front of the house, there was a motion sensor system.
But whatever made the noise, it did not trip the lights.
(SCURRYING) (PANTING) I can't see anything.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) (WINDOW RATTLES) Whatever's out there, just have fun, because I'm not opening this window.
I don't want to get bitten by some strange animal out in the country.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) (SCURRYING) (LOW GROWLING) (BIRDS FLAPPING, CHIRPING) The next morning, I told Hunter what had happened.
Security sensor is armed, so I checked those sensor lights.
Every time, they'd come on.
Didn't turn on last night, Hunter, I'm telling you.
I'm thinking Jenny's imagination's getting carried away.
Country quiet is starting to kind of get to Jenny a little bit.
It's an old house.
Could have been creaking or settling.
Hunter said when you go from bustling city to completely quiet, you start thinking, "Well, I'm hearing things," you know? Looks fine to me.
I mean, I'll just check it again and I'll be right back.
So I thought it was all in my head.
Just put it out of my mind.
(SOOTHING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) If I wasn't writing my blog, I unhappy.
I had to have an outlet.
(KEYS CLACKING, MUSIC CONTINUES) The to-do list just keeps growing.
I am no Martha Stewart, but I'm gonna have to do a real makeover on this house.
I do always love a challenge.
It was time to start getting to work on this house.
Hunter and I both had children from previous marriages, and I wanted to make sure that when they come to stay, everything would just be perfect.
(KEYS CLACKING) It's the kids' first visit.
We are really excited.
Hunter's daughter Faith and my boy, Buddy, are gonna be with us all weekend.
(KIDS CHEER) We're really looking forward to the house being full of the sound of laughter.
It had been maybe a month since we'd seen Buddy and Faith.
I'm sitting proud papa.
Dig in anytime you want.
Want some salad? New house, a good job, the family's together: in my mind, I've made it.
(WATER SPLASHING) It was bath time, and Buddy always looks forward to bath time.
Come on up.
Hey, Faith, remember how you said you've always wanted your own room? Yeah.
Jenny and Buddy were in the bathroom, and I was excited to show Faith her new room.
Check this out.
We had put in a lot of work.
Whoa.
It's awesome.
I got dad points there.
So I was excited about that.
(WATER RUNNING) In the bathroom, Buddy just stops.
He just fixates on one point in the mirror.
(FINGERS SQUEAKING) Faith and I are sitting on the bed.
So you like it? I love it.
And I hear something on the window.
It's really pretty.
(DISTANT TAPPING, INSECTS BUZZING) All the pillows and the blankets and sheets (DISTANT TAPPING, INSECTS BUZZING) (FINGERS SQUEAKING) Buddy was seeing something in the mirror.
(FINGERS SQUEAKING) (DISTANT TAPPING CONTINUES, INSECTS BUZZING) That's that's good.
Just stay there a sec, honey.
(YELPS) (OMINOUS MUSIC) (CREATURE SCREAMS) (SCREAMING) (SCREAMING) (KIDS AND CREATURE CONTINUE SCREAMING) (HAUNTING MUSIC) We're gonna fix this, okay, honey? We're gonna get it all cleaned up.
(PANTING) It's okay.
I asked him, "Honey, what do you see in the mirror?" And he just wouldn't tell me.
I couldn't explain it.
After the weekend, the kids went back to the city.
(FLIES BUZZING) I just feel so deflated and upset.
We had such high hopes when we moved into this house, but there are so many strange things happening.
What's going on? (BIRDS CHIRPING) (SOOTHING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) A few days later, I'm downstairs standing in the kitchen doing dishes.
I was thinking, "Maybe I could get some chickens "or start a garden or something "and just really make this work.
I can make this work.
" (SOOTHING MUSIC CONTINUES) Suddenly I just got this feeling that somebody was standing behind me, looking at me.
(DOOR CREAKS) (DISH CLATTERS) I thought, "Well, Gracyn is sleeping.
"Hunter's at work.
Nobody's here but me.
" (SOOTHING MUSIC CONTINUES) There wasn't anybody there.
So I just dismissed it.
Like "I'm going crazy.
" (SOOTHING MUSIC CONTINUES) (LOW GROWL) (RADIO FALTERS AND TURNS OFF) (WATER DRIPPING) (EERIE SILENCE) (DEATH METAL MUSIC BLARING) (SCREAMS) (PLATE SHATTERS) Suddenly, the radio system is playing full-volume.
It just made me jump out of my skin.
(DEATH METAL CONTINUES BLARING) I can't get the thing to turn off.
(CELL PHONE RINGS) (DEATH METAL MUSIC BLARES) There's something wrong with the radio.
The music was so loud, it was like it it hit you with full force.
Can you turn down that music? I can't get it to turn off.
And she's frantic.
Just tear out the wires completely.
(DEATH METAL CONTINUES BLARING) I had to reach my fingers around and jerk it out of the wall.
(DEATH METAL TURNS OFF ABRUPTLY) (GASPING) Jenny? Honey.
(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) Suddenly, I started hearing this creaking noise coming from right above my head.
(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) Are you still there? (FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) Hunter, I think there might be somebody in the house.
And I'm like, "Nah, ain't nobody in that house.
" (FAINT BUZZING) Hunter? (STATIC CRACKLING) Hunter.
Jenny? (FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) Whatever it was was heavy enough to make the boards creak as it walked.
And so I knew it wasn't Gracyn.
(BREATHING SLOWLY) Somebody was up there.
And my daughter was up there too.
(OMINOUS MUSIC) (FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) (GASPS) There's nobody there.
(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) (OMINOUS MUSIC RESUMES) (FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) I realized that creaking was coming from the room down the hallway.
(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) (FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) (FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) I had to take care of it.
I have to protect my child.
(PANTING) (ELECTRICITY CRACKLES) (PANTING) (EERIE CREAKING) I couldn't see anything, but I knew that whatever it was was still there.
(OMINOUS MUSIC) (PANTING) (PANTING) (SCREAMS) (HAUNTING MUSIC) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) (SCREAMING) There's nothing in the closet.
(GASPING AND SOBBING) I was absolutely sure of what I heard.
Now there was no doubt in my mind: the house was haunted.
And whatever it is, it doesn't want us here.
It doesn't want me here.
(PLAINTIVE MUSIC) - Hunter.
- Honey, you okay? Listen to me.
This house is haunted.
It's haunted.
She was convinced that the house was haunted.
And I was not convinced.
- Honey, it's an old house.
- Hunter.
It's all creaky and settly.
This is the problem, Hunter.
You're just dismissing me.
It really made me mad.
Why don't you believe me? You need to start thinking about your family, Hunter.
The last thing I shouted at him was, "I gave up everything for you.
I gave up everything for you.
" (SNIFFLES) And I need you to be there for me.
I can't do this by myself anymore.
It's too much.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) Hearing that from Jenny was a knife in the heart.
(BIRDS CHIRPING) I felt like Hunter and I were leading separate lives.
I was expecting quiet, calm country life, and what I got instead is this feeling of isolation.
I really, really needed somebody to talk to face-to-face.
So I invited my friend Kim over.
My first impression was that the house was very odd and out of place.
I felt uncomfortable just to be standing in the yard of this home.
Then in the upstairs room a shadowy figure through the window.
It gave me chills.
- Hey, Kim.
- Hi.
- You made it.
- I did.
Say hi to Kim, Gracyn.
- Hi.
- Hi, Gracyn.
Nice to meet you.
Can I get you a coffee? Yeah, that'd be great.
Thank you.
When Kim came over, it was nice to be able to talk to somebody who wouldn't judge me.
I decided to show her photos of the house before I had painted.
I noticed that the blue paint was just everywhere.
Jenny, I I've seen it before.
It's called haint blue.
It's used in voodoo.
It made me think back to when I would visit New Orleans with my mother and she would tell me about the blue paint warding off evil voodoo spirits.
Maybe there's something in your house.
I felt I could trust Kim.
I told her everything that had happened in the house.
She told me about the bug infestations (SCREAMING) The footsteps; her son being afraid of mirrors.
(SCREAMING) Let me be clear.
You think this house is haunted? Jenny knew that I was a historical researcher.
It's kind of like being a investigator.
I hoped we could come together and find out what was going on in this house.
Jenny and I planned to meet at the courthouse and see what we could find out about the families that had owned the land prior to her living there.
- Drive safe.
- I will.
(KEYS CLACKING) I need to convince Hunter that this haunting is real.
The fight back starts here.
(WINDMILL SQUEAKING) I got home late from work one night, and Jenny was already in bed, so I flopped down in front of the television to unwind a little bit.
So I'm watching TV.
(CHEERING ON TV) (DISTANTLY) Hunter? (BARKS) (CHEERING ON TV) Hunter.
(WHINES) Was my wife's voice right here by my ear.
(DISTORTED) Hunter! (CRICKETS CHIRPING) Jenny, you need me? I'm thinking, "She's playing with me.
She's not really asleep.
" And so I go and I shake her.
What? Did you need me for something, honey? No.
I was annoyed because he woke me up.
You didn't just call me just now? No.
No, I didn't.
I'm dumbfounded.
I'm sleeping.
I'm trying to process what's going on.
I worked a 14-hour day that day.
Not getting a lot of sleep.
Stress.
Did I really hear it? (CHEERING ON TV) I go back to watching TV.
(CHEERING ON TV) (SCURRYING) There's something out of the corner of my eye.
(CHEERING ON TV) Am I going crazy? (SCURRYING) (OMINOUS MUSIC) (CHEERING ON TV) (CREATURE HISSING) (HAUNTING MUSIC) (SCURRYING) (OMINOUS MUSIC) There's something out of the corner of my eye.
(CHEERING ON TV) (CREATURE HISSING) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC BUILDS TO CRESCENDO) There's nothing there.
And I know I saw it.
Started to believe what Jenny was telling me.
But at the same time, I didn't want to discuss it with her.
I was trying desperately to push through this, and this is gonna be the perfect house.
(TRUCK RUMBLES) The following morning, I met Kim at the courthouse.
We were looking for clues that would explain what was going on in Jenny's home.
I just had to know the history of this house.
- Jenny? - Mm-hmm.
Okay, come here.
We discovered that there was a family by the name of Maxwell There it is.
Right here.
That back in the 1940s had owned Jenny's land.
Is this one? Hopefully the name Maxwell would give me the answers that I needed.
I began searching on the Internet, and a ton of stuff came up about a local preacher called William Maxwell.
In the 1970s, he would preach at the church right down from our house.
The rumor was that he was involved in some mysterious deaths in the area.
It was a huge story.
The national press picked it up.
Even Harper Lee, the iconic Alabama author, spent time in Rockford because she was gonna write a true crime novel about it.
The suspicious thing about the Maxwell case was that all the people who turned up dead (CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING) Happened to be Willie Maxwell's family members.
There were five deaths.
And the Reverend Maxwell had taken out insurance policies on every one of them.
Thank you.
At the last funeral, the victim's uncle went up to Willie Maxwell and shot him dead.
Wait! Wait! No! (GUNSHOT) But that wasn't the end of the story.
I found out that the locals referred to Reverend Maxwell as the Voodoo Preacher.
(KEYS CLACKING) (INDISTINCT WHISPERING) I was shocked.
Kim had told me that the haint blue paint was a way to keep out voodoo curses.
There was no way that this is a coincidence.
(WINDMILL SQUEAKING) Later that day, I was cleaning.
I spent a lot of time cleaning, because it was a big house.
Gracyn was in the bedroom.
How you doing, baby girl? Good.
Good.
(OMINOUS MUSIC) (PHONE RINGS) If I do get a call during the day, it's usually Hunter.
And so I thought, "Well, I need to hurry up and answer that.
" (PHONE CONTINUES RINGING) (OMINOUS MUSIC) (WHINES) (PHONE CONTINUES RINGING) (BARKS, WHINES) (PHONE RINGS DISTANTLY) I started feeling like something was standing behind me.
(PHONE RINGS DISTANTLY) (PHONE RINGS, BETTY-LOU WHINES) (BARKING) But Betty-Lou was yelping and growling.
(GROWLING) Betty-Lou, shh! I get to the top of the stairs (BARKS) Betty-Lou, shh! (GASPS) Bam.
(GASPS) (YELPING AND SCREAMING) (THUDDING) (DIAL TONE) (WHIMPERING) (WHIMPERING, GASPING) I'm in a lot of pain.
But my first thought was to turn around and see what had pushed me.
(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING) This time, I'm going to see what it is.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC BUILDS TO CRESCENDO) (PANTING) (GRAVEL CRUNCHING) (CRICKETS CHIRPING) Honey, are you okay? What happened? Where's Gracyn? She's upstairs.
She's asleep.
No man likes to see their wife in tears.
It wanted to hurt me, Hunter.
I can no longer deny what's going on in that house.
He finally said, "I believe you.
" Hunter, we can't stay here anymore.
It's too dangerous for all of us.
We both agreed that as soon as the lease was up, we were out of there.
There was a light at the end of the tunnel.
(BARKING) Betty-Lou, don't go too far! Even though in just four weeks, we'd be gone, I wanted some answers.
Did the things going on in our house have something to do with the Reverend Willie Maxwell? (WINDMILL SQUEAKING) I decided to dig deeper into voodoo.
I found out that mirrors are the doorway to the dead.
(FINGERS SQUEAKING) Bug infestations (SCREAMING) Are common voodoo curses.
Just started to really make sense.
(BARKING) Damn it.
Betty-Lou.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) Betty-Lou! Betty-Lou, come home! Nothing.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) I didn't want to go looking for Betty-Lou in the dark with Gracyn.
So I just waited until Hunter got home.
Betty-Lou! Come here, girl.
I'm looking for Betty-Lou, and I thought maybe if she is hurt, I can hear her yelping.
But I got nothing.
Suddenly something just jumped off the page.
The voodoo spirit known as the Boo Hag.
It's just like a vampire that will come into your room at night and sit on your chest and steal your life energy.
And after it's finished, it will move into the attic.
And I thought, "Well, the attic was duct taped shut.
" (TAPE RIPS, DOOR CLICKS) Had I let some sort of voodoo creature out of my attic? Betty-Lou? I couldn't find Betty-Lou at all.
Maybe she's on the trail of something.
She'll be back in the morning.
Come on, girl.
I began to think was it the Boo Hag that Buddy had seen in the mirror? Had the Boo Hag pushed me down the stairs? (GASPS) (SCREAMING) I was afraid my family was in danger.
(UNDERBRUSH RUSTLING, CRACKING) Come here, girl.
Betty-Lou? And then, all of a sudden I was just seeing these disturbing voodoo sacrifices.
Blood everywhere.
(OMINOUS MUSIC) I'm almost back to the house And my light catches something.
(OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES) I couldn't believe it.
(HAUNTING MUSIC) (EERIE MUSIC) (CRICKETS CHIRPING) (PLAINTIVE MUSIC) (SOBBING) Betty-Lou was ripped open savagely, and her heart had been removed.
Had Betty-Lou's death been some kind of voodoo sacrifice? I was angry.
I was so angry.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING) That night, Gracyn was asleep, Hunter had already gone to sleep, and I was really, really tired.
(OMINOUS MUSICAL FLOURISH) (SCURRYING) I heard (MIMICS SCURRYING) a scurrying sound.
(SCURRYING) Through the darkness, I can see this shape.
I tried to get Hunter's attention.
But I can't move a muscle.
(CREATURE GROANING) I'm paralyzed.
(CREATURE GROANING) (CREATURE SNARLING) (JENNY GASPING) (CREATURE SNARLING AND JENNY GASPING) It starts sucking my air out of me.
(GASPING) And I thought, "This is how I'm gonna die.
" (GASPING) Suddenly it just popped in my brain, "I'm going after your daughter.
" And it ran down the hall.
- (SHRIEKING) - Hunter! I've never heard Gracyn scream like that before.
(SHRIEKING) Jenny takes off down the hall.
(SHRIEKING) I was just freaking out.
You okay? Are you hurt? Let me see you.
I looked over her for physical marks.
What happened? I'm the husband.
I'm the protector.
And here something has attacked your wife and your kid.
I'm sorry, baby.
It makes you feel like crap.
I'm so sorry.
I was terrified it was gonna come back and finish what it started.
I just wanted out of there.
If we could have moved that night, we would have.
(DOOR SLAMS) (BIRDS CHIRPING) (HOPEFUL MUSIC) (CAR DOORS SLAMMING) (ENGINE TURNS OVER) The next morning, Jenny and I, we got out.
Was the Boo Hag some voodoo curse conjured up by Willie Maxwell? Whatever it was was absolute evil.
(KEYS CLACKING) And what about Harper Lee? Maybe Harper Lee did dig too far into Willie Maxwell.
We will never know.
(PLAINTIVE MUSIC)