The House on Telford Circle | A Haunted Halloween Reunion

0:02 In 1999, Amanda and Felipe barely escaped the Sullivan house as teenagers. Now a Halloween birthday reunion brings them back with two old friends. A child is crying upstairs, and the woman who died there remembers their visit very fondly. Trick or treat. There's a chill in the air. Must be fall. Join me for a tale of Halloween. You will experience tales of horror, ghosts, and death. It is not recommended for the weak at heart, but who merely listens to warnings anyway.

1:15 This is Weekly Spooky. Hello, my spookies. It's not Wednesday, no, no. It's the Thursday before Halloween. Halloween Eve Eve. I'm not going to dig into that deeper. I'm your host and narrator Enrique Couto, and we have a very special novella surprise for all you spookies who need something scary to enjoy this time of year. And who doesn't? But before we get to that, I want to say thank you all so much for spending so much of your Halloween season with little creepy me. And please consider sharing this podcast with a friend who also loves the scary, the spooky, and the altogether ooky. And remember, we're not going anywhere when October ends. Oh no, we bring the spooky all year long and especially during the Christmas season. so make sure you're subscribed on your favorite podcast app. Or better yet, go to the Apple App Store or the Android Google Play Store and download the Weekly Spooky app right now.

2:43 It's completely free, and it allows you to not only listen to the podcast, but also curate your experience. So if you want to get notified every time author Bruce Haney has a new story, you can make that setting. You can also set a sleep timer, look at curated collections, and so much more. You can even subscribe based on ghost stories, cryptids, or whatever your creepy little heart desires. Just head to the Apple App Store or Google Play and type in Weekly Spooky. It's free to download, and we appreciate the support. It's a gift to you spookies. But now, as for tonight, Every Neighborhood As that house.

3:30 No plastic skeletons, no pumpkin on the porch, just the place you cross the street to avoid, even when you're old enough to know better. For our duo tonight, it was the Sullivan house. One Halloween, they dared each other to knock. They still don't like talking about what exactly answered. Now Amanda has decided it's the perfect place for a 40th birthday reunion. Old friends, old costumes, a few more aches and pains. Personally, I would have suggested cake, but that's just me. Amanda has questions about that house, and tonight she's bringing everyone inside to help her find the answers.

4:19 So keep your flashlight pointed ahead, my spookies. Something upstairs has heard us come in. The House on Telford Circle by Bruce Haney Fall 1978 Suzanne had to park the Chevy Caprice three blocks away from the house at 1435 Southeast Telford Circle to find a spot. Could you park any further away? Her partner Dan asked. How? She pointed to the many other cop cars, ambulances, and news vans that surrounded the house. Want me to push the news vans out of the way with the Chevy? There's a spot right there, he said, pointing. Sure, I could fit this car there, but we wouldn't be able to open the damn doors, she said. There's a, come on, we could have already been to the house by now. Get your lazy ass out of the car. Let's go, Suzanne said.

5:31 He took a quick drink of his coffee, sighed, and said, Yes, ma'am. They walked behind a young news reporter from KPWN who was recording live two blocks away from the action. That's Heidi Brink, Dan told his partner. They both listened to her as they walked to the house. Have seen at least two black bags that can only be described as human-shaped brought out of the house on stretchers so far. One neighbor told us that they have not seen Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan, who live at this address, for over a week, and that some time ago, at this point Dan and Suzanne were too far away to hear the reporter.

6:17 especially with all the noise coming from the crime scene ahead. Here comes another one, an officer yelled. They looked ahead and saw two people carrying out a stretcher with another human-shaped object in a black bag. Suzanne noted the size of the body bag, and it made her shudder. When they got to the crime scene, they walked up to the chief of police. Has the suspect been apprehended? she asked. You could say that, he replied. She's dead. October, 2026.

6:57 Amanda and Felipe were bonded over a Halloween they experienced at 14, when they dared to enter the Sullivan house. Their connection flirted with romance, but never quite took hold. Felipe never fell out of love with her, but the timing was never quite right for them to be together. There was one time when they were still teenagers, but Felipe was still with Marissa. He initially said no and even went to leave, but once Amanda kissed him and put her hand on his thigh, he knew he was in trouble. Amanda had been working at her place of employment long enough to be promoted to a leadership role.

7:47 She would rather be spending her time researching and writing, but the pay was okay, and she was good at getting results from her team. Felipe encouraged her to pursue her writing, but she claimed it was impossible to make a living from it unless you were lucky or insanely prolific. Her last book was a surprise success for her standards. She was even able to pay her rent once. Felipe had a couple of jobs that made him enough money to keep him in an apartment and a five-year-old car. He lived a very Portland life. Four days a week, he worked at a mental health non-profit, and most nights worked at a small indie theater. It was supposed to be a couple of days a week, but a few years ago an opportunity for him to be co-owner came up.

8:46 It was never that profitable of a business, but after Felipe took over programming and showed old movies that Portlanders cared about, not just obscure art films people watched to prove they were smart, it became a success. Amanda and Felipe didn't have many other friends. The only person they talked to from their youth was Jenny, who was now a mother, so they didn't get to see her very often. Of all these people who left their lives, Marissa was the one Felipe mourned. He missed her. He loved her.

9:27 He thought if Amanda was never going to happen, he could be happy with Marissa forever. and could make her happy in return. But he hadn't seen her in over a decade, and that was only in passing. He thought it possible that he would never see her again. That is, until Amanda pitched her plan one evening, while they hung out at Division Street Tavern. Felipe, she said. I've been thinking. His ears... perked. He had heard this before, when they were younger, when she asked him out, but then broke up with him a week later, for reasons still unclear to him.' I want to get the gang together for my fortieth.'' The gang?' You know, the gang. You, me, Tom, Russ, and Jenny. What about Marissa? Yeah, I guess her too.

10:26 She was a part of the group, I guess. How can you still be jealous? Felipe asked. You might have wanted me then, but you don't anymore. She gave him a look, but he couldn't quite interpret the message. How would we get a hold of them? We're all nearing forty- And we are the Facebook generation. Tell me you haven't looked them up before. Marissa hasn't updated hers in five years, Felipe admitted. I knew it. Still crushing on your high school sweetheart. We dated in our twenties, too. You broke up with her when you were twenty, Sarah said.

11:08 For you, Felipe added. I never asked you to, Amanda replied. I should have done it earlier. Felipe offered. Amanda smiled at him and took a drink. Let's stop with that old will-they-won't-they talk. You're my best friend. That's all that matters. So when do you want to have this get-together? Amanda gave an evil smile. On Halloween, of course. She took a drink and then muttered, At the Sullivan house. Felipe gave her a, you've gotta be kidding me look. This is your idea of a midlife crisis. If you want excitement, go buy a sports car like a normal person. One, that's a middle-aged guy thing to do. Two, in this economy?

12:05 I don't think I want to go back there, Felipe said. Halloween, 1999 All the other houses in the cul-de-sac were decorated for the holiday. Despite the lack of fake spiders, blow molds, or even fake grave markers, the Sullivan house was considered the creepiest. The story that the kids told each other was that the house was haunted by a woman who had hanged herself after losing her child. But that was just the version people told because The full story was too tragic. If that were all there was to it, there would have been fewer heartbroken parents around there in the 1970s. Everyone in their group had sworn that they would come that night, but only two did. Felipe was the first to show up. As he waited, he adjusted his red tie that he had drawn a question mark on.

13:15 He wore this over a black Dickies shirt. His dyed blue hair and new nose ring completed the look he was going for. Felipe stared at the Sullivan house. He was not excited about entering it. He lived a few houses down from the haunted house, but had never been this close. Any time he ever had to go by it, he would walk in the street. There was no life to the place. It was quiet and dark, and he swore that even during the summer, if he walked near it, he would get chills. Felipe knew one of his friends had arrived by the sound of boots hitting the cement.

14:03 He turned around to see Amanda. He was taken aback by how rad she looked to him. She had cut her hair and dyed it black. She wore a spiked choker, eyeliner, and black lipstick. The black dress completed her outfit. Where is everybody? Amanda asked. Felipe didn't say anything. He was too caught up in how cool she looked. Felipe, she said while waving her hand to get his attention. Sorry, wow, you just, you look like Nancy from The Craft. And you look like Billy Joe from Green Day, Amanda said, which isn't even remotely a spooky costume, but I'll let it pass since you do look cute. Say the line.

14:57 Felipe cleared his throat. Then he did his best to imitate Billy Joe with a mimed microphone, saying a line from when Green Day played Woodstock in 94 and got in a mud fight with the audience. I don't care what you do. I just don't want to be a mud hippie like you. Amanda laughed. Another. He loved her laugh, so he obliged. One more. It's like they say we're alternative. Like, alternative to what? She gave him another laugh and moved towards him. He desperately wanted to kiss her and felt butterflies in his stomach. She smiled back at him. but he felt a little guilty for having these feelings since Amanda was not his girlfriend. Are you ready to go inside?

15:53 Amanda asked. Shouldn't we wait for the others? I don't think anyone else is showing. I was 20 minutes late. Putting eyeliner on is a bitch. Chickens, Felipe said. Yep. I don't see why we need to go in then. If they aren't here, what's the point? Oh, Felipe, are you a chicken too? No, it's just... What's the point? He mumbled. What was that? Was it a... Bok-bok? Fine, I'll go. I will go. They walked up to the house that was maintained by the other neighbors, who didn't want their property values to go down. But the care was minimal. The grass was a bit... too high the paint was likely applied to the house in the last five years and was a rush job there were already cracks the porch creaked as they stepped on it and each step they took had a spring to it felipe walked carefully hoping not to fall through while amanda practically skipped to the door this isn't the way in there's supposed to be a broken window in the back Are you brave enough to knock? Amanda asked. Or are you afraid to let her know we're here? No, but we

17:25 should get off this porch before somebody notices us. Amanda smiled at him, then put her hand out to hold. He thought better of it, but wanted so badly to touch her that he let it happen. The butterflies in his belly went wild, but he didn't expect what happened next. She swung his hand up with hers and made him knock on the door. They knocked three times. You bitch, Felipe said. Be nice, Amanda said, then kissed his cheek. The butterflies were happy again, but that's when there was a creak from inside the house. They both looked at each other. Felipe mouthed, What the hell? As the sound moved towards the door, Amanda swore she heard a crying child, but said nothing. Let's get out of here, Amanda said.

18:29 The creaking sounds grew louder as whatever was inside hurried to the door. I agree. Let's get the hell out of here, Felipe said. Then the door opened. Marissa woke up to the sound of knocking. She had been hoping to sleep the hangover away. Tequila was never her friend. She waited until they stopped before making her way to check who it was. She had to step over Various items on her way to the front door. She wore sweatpants and a last-chance saloon hoodie with the hood pulled over her blonde hair. She looked through her peephole and spotted a brunette roughly her age get into a car and drive away. She would have checked her doorbell camera on her phone to identify her further, but her internet bill had not been paid. Once the car drove off, she looked around to make sure no one was watching, then opened the door to pick up the red envelope left behind. with it in her hand she retreated to her bedroom the front of the card in big bloody letters read we aren't dead yet printed underneath in a

20:04 cursive font was so join Amanda and the rest of the old gang at 1435 Southeast Telford Circle, at midnight, on Halloween. Except, midnight was crossed out, and written underneath was, 9pm. We're all too old for that midnight shit. Marissa laughed, and wondered if Felipe would be there. He would be. She knew that, since it was Amanda's party. She always had him wrapped around her finger, didn't she? But could she put herself together long enough to go? She didn't want them to know how messed up she was. Also, why that house? Though Felipe had never told her what had happened, she knew he was different after that night.

21:07 Amanda's 40th Birthday at the Sullivan House Amanda and Felipe stood outside the old house, dressed as they had on Halloween night in 1999. The only differences now were that they were older and that Amanda wore a backpack over her Nancy Downs costume. The house had aged much worse than they had. It had peeling paint. Siding had fallen off, windows were broken, gutters were long gone, and even the front porch had collapsed. Without maintenance, the Pacific Northwest weather will quickly destroy a house. You sure this is where you want to spend your birthday? Felipe asked. Let's go to the Division Street Tavern, get shit-faced and Uber home.

22:00 Wouldn't that be better? It's Halloween. Can you name somewhere spookier to spend it than this? How are we going to get in? Same way we did last time. The front door. Do you not see that the porch has collapsed? Oh, can your 40-year-old knees not make it up that one-foot gap? Ha ha. We almost died here when we were kids. The conversation stopped. as they watched an old green Volkswagen Jetta drive up. Who the hell is that? Felipe said.

22:41 His eyes lit up after the person parked and climbed out. It was Marissa, and she was gorgeous. They were worried that they might be the only ones in costumes, but here she stood in one of those sexy costume-store red Victorian dresses. She smiled to show her vampire teeth. Hey, Felipe said. Hey, Felipe. Long time. How've you been? Life has its ups and downs. Things are good right now, Felipe said. I hear that. I've had my ups and downs, too.

23:26 Let's not discuss which one I'm in the middle of at the moment, okay? Sure. Are you ready for this? Amanda asked. For your 40th? I guess so. At least it's not mine, she joked. You are 40, Felipe said. Shut your mouth, you don't know that. Marissa said as she approached Felipe. Yeah, I do. We dated on and off for years and During that time, I do recall you having some birthdays. Actually, you're a January baby, so you've been in your 40s for 10 months. So how does it feel? Have you had a chance to sign up for your AARP membership yet? Fuck you, Felipe, she said as she put her arms around him to hug him. As she did, she whispered in his ear, I missed you. He wasn't sure if it was an accident or not, but her lips grazed his earlobe, sending a shudder through his body. Jenny showed up in a laissez-faire witch's costume. It consisted of her normal clothes and a black pointy hat. She was over half an hour late, but she had a good excuse. She was the only one of them who had children.' Where' s everyone else?' Amanda asked Jenny. When I asked Tom, he just laughed. Russ,

24:58 I just couldn't find. Russ is dead, Marissa said. What? Amanda replied, followed by Felipe. No way, Jenny asked. How do you know that? Marissa pulled out a cigarette and lit it. She told herself she wasn't going to smoke, not around them. didn't want the judgment, but she knew that if she were going to have control of herself, she would have left them at home. She took a long drag, then said, Fentanyl overdose at Paul Crager's house during a get-together about two years ago. If only someone had needed to use the bathroom, maybe he could have been saved. Paul did keep Narcan in the house. They all stood in silence for a moment, absorbing the shocking news.

25:58 Marissa took another long drag and walked towards the house. So, are we going in or what? As they walked up to the house, they noticed the decay and collapsed front porch. Felipe felt a chill once again, but none of them noticed the woman anymore. looking out the window. From the ground, Amanda, on her tippy toes, could just reach the door handle. It turned, and she pushed the door open. That was easy, Amanda said. The neighbors had attempted to keep people out by nailing and padlocking the door shut, but within a week, whatever efforts were made would be reversed. was like the house, wanted visitors. Without a porch, it wasn't easy, but Amanda was able to climb up and offered a hand to help the others. Felipe didn't enter until he saw Amanda looking back for him. He took a deep breath and then took Amanda's hand. He did feel the climb in his knees. Decades without inhabitants left Everything inside covered with a fine layer of dust. Paint chips and pieces of wallpaper littered the floor. Okay, Marissa said. Now what? Amanda

27:36 pulled off her backpack. You got booze? Marissa asked. Maybe, Amanda replied, but didn't pull any out. Instead, she pulled out a flashlight for each of them. Let's explore this place like we were all supposed to when we were kids. Let's just hope whatever was here then is now dormant, Felipe said. Jenny and Marissa laughed. Sure, Marissa said. Yeah, I'm really scared, Jenny joked. Upstairs came the sound of a creaking floor. They all looked up. trying to convince themselves that it was nothing. They couldn't deny that something was up there when the drywall dust followed. Felipe moved toward Amanda for comfort. Jenny started backing towards the door.

28:37 It's probably just kids. It is Halloween and all. What else is there spooky to do in this little shitheel town for troublemakers? Marissa said. They all seemed to accept this as a possibility and calm down, but that's when they heard a young kid crying. Amanda, always being the bravest and their de facto leader, ran up the stairs towards the sound. The rest instinctively followed her. As soon as Amanda set foot on the landing, the crying stopped.

29:18 She continued anyway, peeking her head through the various doors, finding nothing but old furniture. Then she entered the last room. The others watched until she stuck her head out and said, Come on, the room was just as it had been left when the occupants were removed from this mortal plane, with the green shag carpeting, the orange flower wallpaper, and still, somehow, the smell of cigarette smoke. If it were not for the peeling wallpaper, dust, and paint flecks everywhere, entering this room would feel like Time traveling to the 1970s. These people had rad taste, Marissa said. For murderers, Amanda added.

30:10 Let's go, Amanda, Felipe said. I hate it here. It'll be fine. I have a plan. But last time, when we were kids, we almost didn't make it back out of this house. Amanda shot him a dirty look. Why don't you tell us the story already? Marissa said. I knew something happened here that night, and you kept it to yourself the whole time we dated. I figured it was just some guilt-ridden lie you gave instead of the truth that you hooked up with Amanda that night. That's not what happened, Amanda yelled. Then what did? Did you let him touch your tits? Sucked his dick? Fuck off, Marissa, Jenny said before Amanda could. But seriously, tell us what happened.

31:01 Come on. We've been friends forever. And here you've brought us back to the place, so tell us what happened. You owe us that at least. I had to get a babysitter for this little haunted house trip. Amanda and Felipe shared glances. We disagree on what happened that night, Felipe said. Honestly, I think I blacked it out, Amanda added. What do you remember, Felipe? Marissa asked. Okay. After you all failed to show, Amanda and I decided to go in ourselves. Honestly, we almost chickened out. That is, before something pulled us inside. The cold hands that dragged Felipe and Amanda into the Sullivan house felt strong, but the skin was the texture of a rotten plum. Felipe felt that if he tried to pull away, the skin would come with him. Once the door slammed behind them, their captor slipped into the darkness of the room. Felipe spun to the left and then to the right, but saw nothing.

32:24 Amanda spun around and grabbed the doorknob, which turned with ease but would no longer open. Felipe gave it a try as well. They took turns yanking and pounding on the door. Once they had given up, they walked forward to what appeared to be the living room. All that remained was a couch, a couple of chairs, and an old tube TV with a large crack going through it. Even back then, the glue was starting to fail on the wallpaper, but it was mostly intact. Hello, a small voice said. Amanda and Felipe turned around and saw what appeared to be a young girl in pajamas. Do you need, Amanda said while pointing her flashlight at her. She was shocked.

33:23 when she saw that some of the light shone through, illuminating the room behind her. Despite that, they could see that she looked sick. Her skin appeared green, and she had dark circles around her eyes. Can you take me home? I don't live far. Please. I miss my mom and dad. Where do you live? Felipe asked. One, four, three, two, Telford Circle. Amanda started backing away from the kid. No, no, no you don't. How do you know where she lives?

34:07 Because that's my address, and I think I would remember a ghoulish little girl walking around my house. The girl stepped closer to them. Won't you please take me home? As she said this, she smiled. which caused her lips to crack and bleed. You don't live at 1432 Telford, she said. My mommy and daddy own that house. I think you're mistaken, she grabbed Felipe's hand and led them away from the kid. She's right, a voice from above said.

34:49 Felipe and Amanda looked straight up and saw a woman with pale white skin hanging from a noose. She started to laugh. You don't live here anymore. This is your new home. Amanda once again pulled Felipe out of the room and dragged him through another door that led to a bedroom, slamming the door closed behind them. Once inside, they looked for another door, but there wasn't one. What are we going to do? Felipe asked. I don't know. I don't know, she said. Marissa faked a yawn. You really expect us to believe that? Of course not, but that doesn't make it any less true, Amanda said. Why do you think we kept it secret? We knew you would all just laugh at us. You heard the kid crying.

35:51 How can you not believe- Felipe asked. You probably hooked up a Bluetooth speaker and are controlling them with your phone, Marissa said. So what happened next? Jenny asked. I don't remember, Amanda said. She... She caught me. The door flew back open and Mrs. Sullivan appeared, so Amanda took the only choice she had. She jumped onto the bed and from there leaped through the closed window. Felipe tried to follow, but when he made his leap, he missed and bounced off the window frame, landing on his back on the side table before falling to the floor. That's when she appeared over him. Three sickly little girls walked into the room.

36:48 They all appeared sickly and dead. Felipe had to dodge them as he ran out of the room and back to the front door, which was now open. Why was the door open? Marissa asked. I don't know, Felipe said. You guys, Jenny added, this isn't funny. I know that, Amanda said. I don't believe the story, Marissa quipped. Amanda lifted the right side of her black dress, revealing a long scar on her leg. Okay, then we should probably go, Marissa said. Yeah, let's hit up Last Chance Saloon, Jenny suggested.

37:39 Have a few drinks, let guys hit on us, I could use the self-esteem boost. Me too, Marissa said. You are the three prettiest ladies I know, Felipe offered. Thank you, Marissa said and flipped her hair a few times while smiling at him. Thanks, Amanda added dryly. You don't count, Jenny said. You're married anyhow, Felipe countered. What would your husband think of you flirting with other guys? Like he has no room to talk. Plus, it's just harmless flirting. I'm not going to screw them, Jenny said. I might.

38:22 Marissa added. Felipe knew he had messed up with Jenny, but he should not have offered an opinion on her love life. He was now one guy with three girls who weren't looking too pleased with him. He wanted to take it back, but he didn't think it was a big deal, and he only pushed because Jenny said he didn't count. It was at this moment of overanalyzing that he realized that he hadn't responded. And it had been about a minute. He should have said something right away, but he was too busy thinking of what to say to calm the situation down. Jenny, I, he started, but hesitated. Amanda, who knew him best, saw what was happening. Get out of your head, Felipe. She isn't really mad. I can see your brain building that mountain out of a molehill.

39:20 Felipe looked to Jenny to confirm. Jenny just laughed. Marissa hugged him. I think Jenny is right. Let's go. Marissa said. There's nothing to do in this old house but to be scared and possibly murdered by ghosts. Let's get out of here. First drink's on me. They all looked to Amanda for a response. She was the one who dragged them out there after all. Okay. Okay. Amanda said. But first, I need your help. Doing what? Felipe asked. All right, let me tell you the story of this place. A woman's child died and she hanged herself here. And now she's a ghost. Ooh, spooky. We know the story, Marissa said.

40:16 It's so much more than that. Amanda pleaded. That wouldn't explain the multiple ghost children we saw that night. Okay, Marissa said. The story is fascinating, so much so that my next book is going to be about it, and this house. Oh, Felipe said. That's why we're back here, for research? So tell us the story already, Jenny said. Well, okay, but let's set the mood first. Amanda opened her backpack and brought out a new pack of tea candles. With the candles lit, the once-still room filled with flickering shadows.

41:08 You couldn't bring an even light source? Felipe asked. It's spookier this way, Amanda answered. Who wants that? Thanks again, everybody, for coming out. I wouldn't have had the nerve to come here alone. Amanda started. Happy birthday, Marissa said without an ounce of enthusiasm. Now sit with me in a circle. She motioned to the floor. You want us to sit on this dirty floor? Jenny asked. Marissa sat down on the ground. I'm tired of standing. Felipe sat next to her.

41:50 Why does this feel like the campfire scene in Friday the 13th Part 2? Ha ha, Amanda chided, putting on his best camp counselor voice. I don't want to scare anyone, but I'm going to give it to you straight about the ghost on Telford Circle, Felipe joked. Amanda shot him a dirty look and cleared her throat. This is what I know so far First, did you know that for over ten years, no female children were living in this neighborhood? The reason, from 1972 to 1975, every little girl on this street went missing. When I moved here as a kid, I was the only girl, Marissa interrupted. The story I heard was that the daughter died, the mother went crazy, and killed the husband before hanging herself that's not the whole story it started when phyllis tried to wake up her daughter one morning and she didn't respond she shook her shoulder nothing she shook her harder then in a panic she yanked the blanket off she yelled for her to wake up her daughter lay there not moving skin devoid of color Mrs. Sullivan couldn't comprehend what was going on.

43:19 She attempted to pick her daughter up, but she was cold and stiff. Her husband heard her wailing and came in. When he saw their daughter's lifeless body, he ran downstairs to call for help. Mrs. Sullivan's continued wailing caused the neighbors to come outside. When the girl was determined to be dead, the coroners went to remove the body, but She tried to stop them, and according to the Oregonian, she attacked two people before finally being tackled and handcuffed. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose a child, Jenny said. How did the daughter die? Felipe asked.

44:04 They found a peanut butter cup wrapper next to her bed, and she was deathly allergic. Mrs. Sullivan and her husband had a rule not to have them in the house, not even in a secure place, not even in their safe. But one of them must have broken the rule or maybe she got it from a friend. After they handcuffed Mrs. Sullivan, they were able to take the poor young girl's body from the home. They felt bad for her and tried to get her to calm down so they could take the cuffs off before leaving. But she never stopped attacking.

44:45 She eventually had to be dragged outside and put in the back of a cop car. Because of this, the neighbors suspected that she was the one who killed her daughter. Rumor is that she even attempted to take Sylvia's body back from the morgue. She just couldn't accept that she was gone. After an all-too-brief 50-51 hold, she was let out. and it was said that she would sit on her porch, nearly catatonic, swinging on a bench her husband bought for her, and watching all the children play, with an angry look on her face. Then one day she seemed better, and people saw her out gardening again. She talked to her neighbors who offered their condolences, This just happened to coincide with the Barkley girl going missing, but nobody connected the dots then or even when Sarah Thomas disappeared, or Mary Brown.

45:53 How did she get caught? Marissa asked. Technically, she didn't. She hung herself, remember? But they were on to her. Once people stopped seeing her husband around, they put two and two together. It was after every little girl was gone, and after the cops started coming by to ask questions, that she killed herself. I assume that she knew any day now they would find reason to search her house. It was two weeks after her death that a warrant was finally issued. They had to break down the door. They found her hanging in this room. They found the husband in the basement. along with the bodies of the little girls, except Janet. God, that is fucked up, Felipe commented. Okay, you both spooked and bummed us out. Can we get out of here? Jenny asked. Not yet, Amanda said. I want us to search the house. Screw that, Jenny said.

47:10 This is the worst birthday party I've ever been to, Marissa added. I mean, who even has a birthday party after they turn 12? And what are we, Scooby-Doo? You want us to search for clues for a murder that's already been solved? What is this? I want to find the missing girl's body. For the family. Maybe they were a runaway, Jenny said. Uh-uh. That's what the cops said, but we saw her that night, Amanda added, digging into her bag. Tell me this isn't the ghost girl we saw. Felipe looked at the old photo, and even though it had been 27 years, he knew it was the same girl.

48:00 It's her. So are we going to divide and conquer this thing or what? I'd like to move on to Jenny's much better plan for the evening of getting guys to buy us drinks, Marissa asked. You never separate. That's rule number one in a horror movie, Felipe said. We should at least stay in twos. Marissa can be with Jenny and search this floor. It's easy. It's half searched already, Amanda said. Felipe and I will search the main floor and then Since the basement is a basement, we'll search that all together. You take Jenny and I'll take Felipe, Marissa offered. I think I get Felipe or I bounce, Marissa said. Bounce then, Amanda challenged. Why do you want Felipe?

48:55 Jenny raised an eyebrow. Maybe I need a strong man to keep me from being too scared, Marissa laughed. Fine. Yell if you find anything. Amanda reached into her bag and pulled out a spiral notebook and handed it to Felipe. Take photos of anything out of order. Please, write down anything that you think will help me tell the story. what if we see a ghost felipe asked well i guess if you see a ghost ask it some questions amanda quipped as soon as amanda and jenny left the room marissa asked wanna fuck and placed her hands between his legs. I see you haven't changed, Felipe said. I missed you. I miss Felipe Jr., too. Then she moved her hand away. Felipe was thankful because he knew he was seconds from liftoff, and if that happened, he wouldn't be able to resist her. He never could before. I've missed you, too, Felipe said. then took his pen and flipped open the notebook. Scratch on the ground near the window, stain in the middle of the room below beam. Amanda still has you wrapped around her little finger, I see, Marissa said, still hoping that if you're a good enough guy and do enough for her that she'll get around

50:28 to fucking you. Felipe stopped and gave her a telling smile. No way, Marissa said. Felipe shrugged his shoulders. No way she would give up her power over you to actually fuck you. Let's see if we can find anything, okay? Felipe suggested. On the first floor, Amanda dragged Jenny right to one of the bedrooms. Her curiosity had been piqued when she noticed no outside windows. Their flashlights reflected off the cracked pink paint. revealing a well-kept little girl's room.

51:10 Amanda looked under the bed and opened drawers, while Jenny searched in the walk-in closet. Amanda was disappointed when they found nothing except some old dolls. Why is the room shaped like this? Jenny asked. Amanda spun around to see what Jenny was talking about and noticed the room was indeed not square. Half of the wall that the bookshelf sat against jutted out. She walked over to the bookshelf and tried to move it side to side, and even tried to knock it over, but it wouldn't budge. Help me.

51:53 Jenny grabbed one end, and they tried to push it once again, but it wouldn't move. Well, it moved just a little if they went to the right, like it was up against something. They both pushed, let go, pushed, and each time felt it move the same quarter inch, then back. I give up, Jenny said. Amanda stepped back and looked at it, trying to figure out the trick. She looked at all the books, for one that could engage what she believed was a false bookshelf. She found nothing. Then she thought about how it would only move a tiny bit. Come on, let's try one more thing, Amanda said.

52:42 When we hit the stopping point, lift. They moved it as they had, then felt the resistance, so they pulled up as hard as they could while moving it to the right, and it slid two feet, revealing a room behind it. Back upstairs, Felipe and Marissa were exploring what appeared to be a guest room, as it had generic landscape paintings on the walls and nothing else with any character. Let's search another room, Felipe said. Marissa attempted to sit on the bed in a provocative pose. She held herself up with her arms behind her, pushing her chest out, and spread her legs open. not revealing anything but her offer.

53:36 This is likely the least gross room. Come on, Felipe, for old time's sake. You know you want it. I don't know that. I'll be on top, she offered. Felipe thought for a second. She would never be on top when they dated. Boobs out? Boobs out, she confirmed. Felipe sighed. No, I don't think I can do... She interrupted him and made up his mind by pulling him towards her by his necktie and giving him a deep kiss. Amanda and Jenny both pointed their flashlights inside the space behind the bookshelf.

54:23 The ghost of Mrs. Sullivan appeared from the space, grabbed them by their necks, and pushed them to the floor, sending Jenny's witch hat flying. Amanda fought back as hard as she could and got out of the ghost's grip. She then jumped to her feet and attempted to escape. Are you going to leave your friend behind again? Mrs. Sullivan asked. Amanda thought about this and decided no, she wouldn't, so she cocked her arm back and punched the spectral figure in the head, but her hand went right through. The old woman laughed, then looked down at Jenny, took her bony hand, and placed her index finger at the corner of Jenny's eye. She started to press, ever so slightly.

55:18 Jenny screamed. Her eye gave in from the pressure and indented slightly, but hadn't punctured just yet. Amanda didn't want to get too close. She grabbed Jenny by her brunette hair and yanked to get her back. It wasn't enough to free her, but it did get Mrs. Sullivan's finger out of her eye. So she grabbed her by the head and tried that. It didn't work. Jenny flung her arms up towards Amanda. Pulling on her arms gave her more leverage, so when she yanked, she was able to free her. Mrs. Sullivan tumbled but got right back up.

55:59 She looked shocked and angry as she flashed her chipped, decayed teeth at them, then ran at Jenny again. Stop, please, I'm a mother too. I have three babies at home, Jenny pleaded. Will you bring one to me? Mrs. Sullivan asked. Fuck no, Jenny yelled. Then I have no use for you, Mrs. Sullivan responded. then slashed her sharp nails across Jenny's face while laughing. Amanda tried to help again. Growing irritated, the ghost stopped the torture by taking Jenny's head and pulling it hard to the right, breaking her neck. With that, Amanda ran back to the hidden opening, jumped through, and slammed the bookshelf closed. She hoped it would work. but had little faith that it would. So, she acted fast, flashing her light around the room. It turned out to be very small, about five feet by five feet, with no other exit. The walls were covered in scratch marks, with what she could only guess was dried blood around them.

57:21 She hit the walls and floor in a desperate attempt to find an exit. In the middle of the floor, she heard an echo, and she found a loose board. But she couldn't pull it up with one hand, so she put the flashlight in her mouth, then pulled it up, and then the one next to it. After pulling up the third one, Mrs. Sullivan stuck her head into the room and grabbed Amanda by the ankle. She ignored this and pulled another plank, but After another shake by Mrs. Sullivan, her teeth lost hold of the flashlight and it fell down the hole under the floorboards. By the sound of the falling flashlight, Amanda figured that it was over ten feet deep. She looked down, but there was no light.

58:15 She assumed it must have broken when it hit the ground. Amanda had no choice but to continue. She pulled two more boards, and it was finally big enough for her. She kicked her legs as hard as she could and got Mrs. Sullivan to release her. She then leaped into the hole. She attempted to use her leg arms against the sides to slow her speed so that when she landed, she wouldn't break anything. She hit the floor hard and screamed. Upstairs, Felipe heard the muffled sounds of Amanda's screams from downstairs and attempted to push Marissa off him. Uh-uh, I haven't come yet, Melissa said. That was Amanda's scream, Felipe laughed. replied, and then attempted to buck her off again. So Marissa used her arms to hold him down and started moving her hips at a faster rhythm. After a few moments, she moaned loudly and then relaxed. Felipe was now able to push her off. Marissa pulled the top of her red dress back up to cover her breasts, then reached for her bag to grab a cigarette. Thanks. Once Felipe was dressed, he hurried towards the sound of Amanda screaming.

59:45 Once he left the room, he was greeted by six ghost children, who stood in his way, staring up at him with dead looks in their eyes. When they began to approach him, he backed his way, into the room again. Marissa was straightening her dress. Felipe didn't know what to do, but Marissa just walked past the ghosts. Felipe stared at them for a moment and then did the same. The children followed them as they went to the stairs. Amanda! Felipe yelled. Amanda! Jenny! Marissa joined him. There was no reply.

1:00:33 Amanda felt around in the darkness, trying to figure out where she was, then pulled out her cell phone. From the fall, the screen cracked, but she was still able to turn on the flashlight. She had assumed that she was in the basement, but it wasn't much bigger than the room she had just left. It didn't contain much, but looking around, she believed that it was exactly what she was looking for. The burial of Janet Sadie. There were old, melted-down candles around an old trunk. On top of it were long-dead roses and a note. Amanda picked it up. Rest in peace, my beloved Sylvia. Every time I have lost you, it gets a little easier. But dear, please don't take that to mean that my love for you has diminished in any way. Amanda smiled. She was going to be a hero and would likely have a best-selling book out of the deal. So, what should she do next? Should she open the box and confirm the girl is still there? Should she carry her body out of the house? And would that be the end of the haunting of Telford Circle? At the very least, she thought, I need to see it for myself. So, she lifted

1:02:03 the lid. She felt tears fill her eyes and the worst pit in her stomach. Despite this being the moment she had always hoped for, she hated it, and it still broke her heart. Her tears stopped when she felt a presence behind her. Without looking back, she said, It's all over. I found her. Your power is going to be gone, and the Sadie family will finally have closure. Mrs. Sullivan laughed. Amanda sucked in a long breath to scream for her friends, but before she could, Mrs. Sullivan placed her hand over Amanda's mouth. She struggled to get it free, but Phyllis put her other arm around her and held her tight to her body. Felipe and Marissa continued to yell for Amanda. and searched the house from top to bottom, including the basement, but saw no sign of her or Mrs.

1:03:09 Sullivan's ghost. All they found was Jenny's dead body in the room with the bookshelf. As soon as they saw this, Felipe pulled his phone out and called the police. Yes, there has been a murder at the Sullivan house, Felipe said. No, this is not a prank! Do I sound like a kid? Want me to text you a photo of my friend's dead body? Would that help? Felipe asked. We're at the Sullivan house. He listened for a response, then said, How do you not know the notorious Sullivan house? Forget it. 1435 Telford Circle. Hurry. And hung up the phone. They heard a noise from the hallway. Marissa was shocked when she peeked her head out. and saw that the front door was wide open. Let's go, Marissa said. We can't.

1:04:08 We haven't found Amanda. Didn't she leave you behind last time? I bet she's long gone. Amanda has always been about Amanda, Marissa argued. Felipe thought about this and wanted to believe it so he could leave. So he let her take his hand. They walked out front and waited for the police to arrive. After searching the house and coming across the body of Jenny, the small-town cops concluded that it was either Felipe or Marissa, or both, who had killed her.

1:04:48 If they hadn't jumped to this conclusion, they might have searched harder. They might have found the fingerprints on the now-closed bookshelf and put two and two together But they did not. So Amanda was never found. Felipe and Marissa were tried separately for the murder. Marissa spent six months in jail awaiting trial, but was found not guilty. Felipe was not as lucky. He spent two years in prison after being found guilty. The original sentence was life in prison.

1:05:31 but Marissa found him a new lawyer who argued that there was a more likely killer, the person who disappeared that night, and the fact that they had no evidence, no hairs, no fingerprints, and none of his DNA, as well as the fact that Marissa confirmed that when they heard her scream, he had an alibi. They were having intercourse upstairs. With all this and months of going back and forth, The DA agreed to an Alford plea, which protected the state from Felipe suing for unlawful incarceration. He signed it to admit that they had sufficient evidence, even though they didn't. He hated this, but it was better than life in prison, so he signed, got out, and moved on with his life. He would always miss Amanda and wonder what happened to her. He also felt horrible that her legacy wouldn't be the true crime and paranormal author that she had always wanted to be. Instead, she would always be known as the woman who killed Jenny, a mother of three. Prologue Once the cops had searched the place and left, Mrs. Sullivan dragged Amanda up to the room. where she liked to tie the kids up.

1:07:03 For days after, this spectral mother doted on her new child. When the house had been searched after the original killings, all the poison had been taken, so all she could do was watch Amanda lose energy as she slowly weakened from dehydration. After the fourth day of no water, she became quite docile. This is what Mrs. Sullivan wanted. It's why she poisoned the kids she kidnapped. Once they got sick enough not to fight back, she could lie with them and pretend that it was her very own sweet Sylvia.

1:07:49 Back in her arms, once again. Well, my spookies, as someone who just turned 40, how about next birthday we just meet at a restaurant? A big spooky thank you to Bruce Haney for the house on Telford Circle. He always delivers the goods and I'm hoping we'll hear from him real soon. Maybe around the holidays. And make sure you're subscribed, my spookies, because tomorrow we have a brand new novella from Rob Fields as well as The Return of... of Weekly Spooky Halloween Radio. You won't want to miss it.

1:08:30 We have tons of tracks, almost two hours of spooky fun music to help you get in the spirit. Pun a thousand percent intended. And we're wrapping things up on Saturday with even more frights. And I want to say thank you all so much for heading to weeklyspooky.com slash join and supporting us for as little as $ 1 a month. It really does make a huge difference for the show. There are over 90 spookies supporting us And now's a great time for you to join up as well. And speaking of, I want to say an extra special thank you to our Patreon podcast boosters. Those are folks who pay just a little bit more to hear their names at the end of the show. And they are Johnny Nix, Kate and Lulu, Jessica Fuller, Mike Eschewy, Jenny Green, Karen Wemet, Jack Kerr, and Craig Cohen. Thank you all so much.

1:09:16 And if you want to hear your name at the end of every episode of Weekly Spooky, just head to weeklyspooky.com slash join and sign up at the $ 15 a month or higher tier. It really makes a difference and means a whole hell of a lot to me. But now it's time for me to get back to work because as October approaches, we'll be publishing more than just once a day. We'll have special novellas, extra stories, all kinds of goodies for you to enjoy right here, so make sure you're subscribed. Now it's time for me to get back to it. So many things to record, including a very special Thursday Thrills with brand new horror Halloween releases you will not want to miss. So see you tomorrow. For myself, for my executive producers, Rob Fields and Bobletopia.com, my producer, Dan Wilder, and my creepy composer, Ray Mattis, talk at you tomorrow.

1:10:04 Thank you for listening. Make sure to find your way back next week. But for now, you are safe. Trust me.