The Impact Murder Makes On A Home's Future
Aug 11, 2023, 03:00 PM
In a recent episode of the podcast "Hidden Killers" with host Tony Brueski and guest Shavaun Scott, a psychotherapist and author, they discussed the psychological impact and emotional reactions people may experience when living in a home where a violent crime had previously taken place.
Brueski broached the subject by referring to the Brian and Anna Walsh property in Washington DC, which is entering foreclosure after Anna's death and Brian's imprisonment. This home had been the site of a "horrific" crime. Brueski added that such properties are often stigmatized, with people uneasy about occupying spaces with a dark past.
Scott stated, "We have strong associational cues with places and when we've had a wonderful experience, we always have good feelings when we go back to that place or remember that place." She noted, however, that the same applies in reverse when we know something terrible has occurred. The negative association can be so strong that it complicates re-occupancy or normal use of such homes.
To illustrate her point, Scott cited notorious properties, such as the home where JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered and the infamous Amityville house, where a gruesome murder occurred prior to the infamous ghost story. The term "haunted house," she stated, is essentially a metaphor for properties where terrible acts have taken place.
Intriguingly, Brueski touched on instances where new inhabitants, unaware of a home's grim history, had sensed something unsettling about the place. This led them to conduct their own research and discover the property's past. "What is that?" Brueski wondered, "When people can feel that sort of energy without necessarily even knowing that the crime took place in a stigmatized home."
Shavaun Scott acknowledged that these are valid instances, even though they verge on the paranormal, something beyond her professional expertise. She shared a personal experience where she felt unease in an old Victorian house she had bought as a young newlywed, later learning that a person had died there.
Scott added that nowadays, "realtors are legally required to disclose" if a death has occurred in a property that's up for sale, due to the widespread discomfort people experience about residing in a home where something tragic has happened. Brueski interjected that there is even a website called Died in Home, which he used when buying a property, indicating how pervasive this concern has become.
In their discussion, Brueski and Scott validated the reality of these emotional reactions and the complexity of navigating such scenarios. As Scott put it, "Associational cues are powerful. This is a real thing, and there are definitely times we get creepy vibes. I don't think psychology has a good explanation for that, but certainly, lots of people would attest to it." This conversation indicates that while the laws and real estate practices have started to adapt to these emotional responses, the impact of a home's dark history on new inhabitants remains a topic of intrigue and concern.
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The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Brueski broached the subject by referring to the Brian and Anna Walsh property in Washington DC, which is entering foreclosure after Anna's death and Brian's imprisonment. This home had been the site of a "horrific" crime. Brueski added that such properties are often stigmatized, with people uneasy about occupying spaces with a dark past.
Scott stated, "We have strong associational cues with places and when we've had a wonderful experience, we always have good feelings when we go back to that place or remember that place." She noted, however, that the same applies in reverse when we know something terrible has occurred. The negative association can be so strong that it complicates re-occupancy or normal use of such homes.
To illustrate her point, Scott cited notorious properties, such as the home where JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered and the infamous Amityville house, where a gruesome murder occurred prior to the infamous ghost story. The term "haunted house," she stated, is essentially a metaphor for properties where terrible acts have taken place.
Intriguingly, Brueski touched on instances where new inhabitants, unaware of a home's grim history, had sensed something unsettling about the place. This led them to conduct their own research and discover the property's past. "What is that?" Brueski wondered, "When people can feel that sort of energy without necessarily even knowing that the crime took place in a stigmatized home."
Shavaun Scott acknowledged that these are valid instances, even though they verge on the paranormal, something beyond her professional expertise. She shared a personal experience where she felt unease in an old Victorian house she had bought as a young newlywed, later learning that a person had died there.
Scott added that nowadays, "realtors are legally required to disclose" if a death has occurred in a property that's up for sale, due to the widespread discomfort people experience about residing in a home where something tragic has happened. Brueski interjected that there is even a website called Died in Home, which he used when buying a property, indicating how pervasive this concern has become.
In their discussion, Brueski and Scott validated the reality of these emotional reactions and the complexity of navigating such scenarios. As Scott put it, "Associational cues are powerful. This is a real thing, and there are definitely times we get creepy vibes. I don't think psychology has a good explanation for that, but certainly, lots of people would attest to it." This conversation indicates that while the laws and real estate practices have started to adapt to these emotional responses, the impact of a home's dark history on new inhabitants remains a topic of intrigue and concern.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com