Posted on 05/22/2007 6:48:07 AM PDT by Rita Hayworth
A family in Central Florida is outraged that they were kept in the dark about their new house's dark secret: A triple murder and suicide happened within the four walls they'd just begun to call home. John and Kathy Johnson and their 24-year-old daughter Christina were horrified to learn that their bucolic Lake County ranch home was the scene of such a bloody crime — and worse, that the realtor and seller kept quiet about the grisly homicide. But on May 5, when the Johnsons moved into the Greenbrier Street residence, a neighbor mentioned that local police Cpl. Michael Mount of Eustis, Fla., gunned down his estranged wife Kim, fellow cop Joe Gomez and Gomez' wife Serena in a jealous rage in February 2006, according to The Orlando Sentinel. He then shot and killed himself. The crimes took place in what was then the Gomez family's house. A minor in the family inherited the property. "There was no way we could ever stay here," Christina Johnson told the Sentinel as she stood in the master bedroom, where three of the four victims perished. "It would be like living in a morgue." Her mother, Kathy Johnson, said the family thought about staying in the home, but after finding out what had happened, they were scared to death and felt fearful whenever they were inside. "We couldn't live with someone dying in the house," she said in a telephone interview with FOXNews.com. The house cost the Johnsons $227,000, but a Florida state law — one they want amended — allows real estate companies to withhold information about their properties' unsavory pasts, including homicides, suicides or deaths that occurred on the premises. "They don't have to reveal that three people died and a person committed suicide in the home," she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
-Chester A. Riley
I grew up watching The Life Of Riley - the first Ed Bundy.
On subject, friends of mine lived for years in a house where a suicide occurred, no ghosts. Folks across the street are living in a house where a Russian Roulette stunt went wrong, no ghosts. Some people need to get real.
I have a bunch of old furniture from family -- I mean Civil War era stuff. Would not be at ALL surprised if somebody died in it.
But so what? The Cross of Christ between me and all harm.
That is true is every state. It is called an emotionally-distressed property and facts such as that are supposed to be disclosed.
"I could have gone all night without you saying that," he said.
Eh. Pappy went on to his eternal reward. I'd be surprised if he showed back up (to say the least), but if he did, we'd just set another place at the table.
I had to sign a disclosure when I sold my house in San Pedro. Luckily, the buyer wasn’t concerned — even bought the bed my wife died in.
Well now that they have publicized it, they are screwed because now everyone knows about it. If they were smart, they would have kept it quiet and eventually sold the place for a profit.
At Passover an extra place is always set for Elijah - and in the Ashkenazic tradition he is formally invited in as a glass of wine is poured for him.
Some folks I know got to that point in the ritual, and the door blew open with a loud bang and a gust of wind swirled into the room. Everybody went "oooooooooh!"
From what I can tell here, there are many FReepers that support hiding the truth.
Put on a CD of Handel's Messiah?
Actually, what I said only applies to most states. It seems from a cursory reading about Florida, at least the real estate agent is protected from not having to disclose. The Florida agent is only allowed to disclose what the Buyer approves of, which is different than a lot of states, and there are things like deaths and suicides that the buyer has no obligation in Florida to disclose. I am not sure if a triple murder is covered though.
I myself would not buy a house that was a murder scene. If I found out after I moved in I would have it blessed but I don’t think I would move for that reason.
Same here. The first owner of my house committed suicide in the living room. The owner prior to me died of AIDS. His family would not touch the house so I got a good deal on it. I've never had any ghosts. A bat and a lot of crickets, but no ghosts.
I would be completely flabbergasted, but at that point your autopilot "host to honored guest" mode ought to take over . . . .
Should be happy to find a house for 227,000 in Florida.
More than likely these folks are upset because they think they should have or could have gotten a better deal ...Follow the money!
Unless the house is haunted what’s the problem? If there is a bad vibe to it get the house blessed or something.
To my fortune, this is one of the best built homes in the neighborhood.
Doesn’t bother me a bit ;D!
This time on TAPS. Jason and Grant.......
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.