Unaware, Family Buys Home Where Triple Murder/Suicide Took Place Only a Year Before
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the family began moving their things into their new home on May 1st, but soon learned the horrifying truth that came with their dream home. In fact the way the family found out was through a neighbor, who just happened to casually mention the triple murder that occurred at their home in February of 2006. As of right now the family is quite angry with their realty company, stating that the company should have brought up the house's past at some point before allowing the Johnsons to buy the property.
Christina Johnson, 24 years old, is stuck with a house she no longer wants to live in, along with her parents John and Kathy. The murders that took place in the house were committed by a police officer, apparently in a fit of jealousy. The police officer murdered his estranged wife, a fellow officer and his wife, and then turned the gun on himself. All of this took place within the house. The realtors are remaining silent for the moment, and are allowed to do so by law. It is usually required that realtors divulge information concerning defects of the property that could decrease the value of the home, however past tragedies are not considered part of the deal. Therefore by law, a realtor does not have to reveal to potential buyers that a murder had taken place before in a house.
Usually even if there is a myth that a house is haunted, or that a murder had taken place within a house, it will take quite a bit longer to sell and will usually be bought after the price has been decreased.
There is no real evidence of the tragic murders that took place in the home that the Johnson's now occupy, except for two bullet holes in a bedroom ceiling. Still though, the Johnsons cannot push the gruesome events from their minds. The Johnson family has decided that they cannot live in the house after now knowing what took place within its walls.
Stephen Hudak, "Buyers were Unaware of Lake Home's Violent Past." The Orlando Sentinel. URL: (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/orl-deathhouse1907may19,0,5389155.story?page=1&coll=orl-news-headlines-lake
Published by Miss Jac
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12 Comments
Post a CommentI remember this story. Here in Deltona we had 6 people brutally beaten to death in August 2004, and eventually a couple from New York bought the house saying it was a beautiful house and they didn't believe in ghost's.I think it all depends on the buyer and how they feel about it, some will care and some will look past what happened and find something beautiful and not so scary in their new house.
Maybe she should host a community house rededication party, invite all her neighbors, and make a speech about her positive future plans for the house, rather than walk away from the house. She could also make cosmetic changes to give the house a new look.
I think in real estate there's a term for this - something like a house is "psychologically impacted" or some such thing.
Regardless of whether or not you think a house is haunted, any time a tragedy takes place somewhere it stirs up certain reminiscent feelings in people. The house now has the association of the tragedy, and there will be many potential buyers in the neighborhood who will never be able to separate the house from what happened there, and this can drive property values down, just like proximity to certain businesses or a neighbor's decorating decisions can lower property value. But unless they change the law to make realtors divulge all potential property value loss considerations, you just have to make sure you research, research and research some more before you buy. I'm guessing if they had done a google search on the street name and city the murder would have come up pretty quickly.
There's a reason why the term was coined, "Let the Buyer Beware!" At this point, since they have no legal recourse, they ought to get the house blessed and then live there, filling it with joy and happiness.
Creepy! Sounds like a script from a horror movie.
It was a very sad day when that happened, I just lived down the road at that time, and knew both of the officers and one of the wifes casually :-( They were great people, and I really feel sorry for the new buyers, however I don't think that would influence my decision on the house, kinda scary but not for everyone. Heck, they even sold the house that the Deltona mass murders were commited in and people that are renting it now are all cool with it, now that is scarry.
I'm with Stephanie on this- I'm a Realtor as well, and specific guidelines came down to use from our Association about NOT disclosing. Sometimes our hands are tied.
Wow, I remember when that happened. It is not too far from where I live. How tragic! Now those poor people are stuck with the house. Thanks for the article.
I believe in that case a buyers realtor will disclose that information... a sellers broker won't. When buying any kind of real estate, you always want to have a buyers broker. They are working for you, not the seller, so there's no secrets.