A Haunting - S04E11 - Casa de los Muertos
In 2005, Latin Jazz Guitarist Eddie Benitez moves his family to Tempe, Arizona hoping to resurrect his musical career but his optimism fades when unexplainable occurrences plague the house and his son becomes gravely ill.
Transcript
00:00in this world there is real evil in the darkest shadows and in the most ordinary places these
00:16are the true stories of the innocent and the unimaginable Latin guitarist Eddie Benitez
00:23moves out west hoping to resurrect his music career but his optimism soon fades as his
00:29new life is shattered by the vicious attacks of a deadly force now he must confront his
00:36ultimate fears to protect his family from the evil that is determined to destroy them
00:42all between the world we see and the things we fear there are doors when they are opened
00:57nightmares become reality there are those who walk this earth that possess the ability to see
01:15the dead amongst the living for many the special gift gives hope of life after death but the spirit
01:26world can be deadly creating a living nightmare for those who can never escape
01:36the year is 1976 Carmen Benitez and her son Eddie enjoy a beautiful day in Brooklyn
02:07the ranting of a madman suddenly shatters the afternoon calm
02:15this man was very hostile physically violent with people around them go in the house go
02:28in the house I knew that there was something wrong with him beyond the human norm
02:36Carmen is known throughout the neighborhood as a spiritual healer everybody would go to my mother
02:42for some type of help but Eddie is shocked he never fully realized the strength of his mother's
02:49gift to see a woman have control over this man was an amazement in itself I think our
02:58friend's been possessed by a demon you got to help us out you ain't got nowhere to go
03:10Carmen orders them to bring the possessed man inside her home
03:13using holy water Carmen prepares to perform an exorcism this ritual
03:32originated in Puerto Rico and has been passed down from many generations of her family
03:44as she repeats the Lord's Prayer Carmen places the man's hands over a goblet of water which
03:55weakens the evil spirit and prevents its escape from the man's body
04:00quickly
04:12to complete the exorcism she holds a glass of water and play with the man's head then
04:18she taps the glass three times and expels the demonic spirit from the man's body trapping it
04:28between the plate and glass of water you could see that there was an immediate change not only
04:33in the way he looked physically but in everything else in the room you could feel it
04:38after viewing what my mother did that led me to ask a lot of questions about my mother the
04:49power she possessed and who gave her that power Eddie is considered a musical prodigy and already
05:09has made a name for himself as one of the industry's hottest Latin jazz guitarists when I
05:14was 14 I was signed to a record deal by one of the largest Latin labels in the world my
05:21first album nightlife was out and became gold fantastic Eddie that was great it's a wrap
05:45so what'd you think so far how about what the album look it sounds great you do it fantastic
05:51don't worry about that can you come by tomorrow cut some more tracks with me
05:55yeah absolutely right after school sounds good sounds good
06:03all right ready to go yeah okay let's go
06:07straight home okay no stops anywhere else all right got it hey you have a great day man see
06:17you you take care thanks all right where you going Brooklyn 128 Hayslip you got it
06:37hey Brooklyn's that way
06:55hey man where are you going hey hey why are we stopping man he said no stops I'm talking to you
07:03man why are we stopping
07:24Eddie tries to explain what just happened you could see the transformation in this man
07:33he took on this appearance of evil common believes that he was confronted by a demon
07:44for the first time she tells Eddie that he has the ability to interact with the spirit world
07:51you have a special gift a gift that runs in their family into the spirit for the rest of his life
07:58Eddie will have encounters with the supernatural but that there is no reason to be afraid the
08:04spirit world is just part of life the dead cannot harm you although he is uncertain of his newfound
08:12gift Eddie finds comfort in his mother's words the moment had a big impact on me because it
08:18started what I call my search for the truth seeking more about religion and understanding
08:27the spirit world and over the years Eddie eventually accepts this ability as a part of his life
08:48in the 1970s Eddie tours the world playing with some of the biggest names in music I've
08:55toured with Tito Puente, Larry Harlow, Mongo Santamaria, Barry White, George Benson, you name it
09:04at the age of 23 Eddie takes a break from the music scene
09:15he gets married goes to college and starts a family of his own
09:18in 2003 Eddie returns to the stage playing a private concert for 200 of his closest fans
09:32he's ready to relaunch his solo career
09:34before I was more commercial and now my music has matured a lot I made it more
09:47spiritual because a lot of the things that have happened in my life always there to support him
09:53are his wife Myrna and son Eddie jr. being married for so many years it's been quite exciting you
10:02meet a lot of different interesting people in the music world me and my dad are really
10:07close you'd say we're like brothers we've always been a close tight-knit family
10:18in 2004 Eddie's beloved mother passes away
10:25nearly a year later he and his family decide to leave New York and start a new life elsewhere
10:31we figured Arizona would be a nice spot because it's close to
10:34California close to Vegas where I could still be able to do my thing in the music industry
10:40I'm really going to miss this place
10:51you okay dad oh yeah yeah yeah well guys I think that's everything we are ready to go ready yeah
10:58yes but I've made some lunch if you'd like to come in grab some lunch food let's start with that
11:03go
11:09Eddie is suddenly reminded of his unique gift
11:32so
11:40so
12:00a week later the Benitez family arrives at their new home in Tempe Arizona
12:10yeah
12:27although they are miles away from New York they welcome this new phase in their lives
12:32we just love the house we work like this is a fabulous place to be at
12:38whatever happened we were happy we were content everything was there that we needed
12:47and we would be even more united as a family
12:54it was a house that we would be able to stay in for a very long time
13:07you
13:11weeks after they move in Eddie begins working on his new album
13:17he prefers to record late at night when the house is quiet and there are fewer distractions
13:37Eddie
14:01being from New York you start to speculate maybe an intruder
14:07so
14:37so
14:52Eddie finds no sign of a break-in there was nobody around
15:07over the next month while Eddie works on his album the rest of the family settle into their
15:12new lives Myrna gets a job as an elementary school teacher well well well buenos dias
15:22yes how's it coming what the album it's coming it's coming yes I know you kept me up all night
15:30well I was working very hard all night long I'm very glad
15:35Eddie Jr. also finds work as a manager at a large drugstore chain help yourself honey
15:43where are you going off to work with a bowl uh oh yeah that reminds me um I've met some
15:49friends at the gym so we're gonna go play basketball after work have a good day okay
15:53buena suerte chico
16:15that night
16:22so
16:40uh
16:52uh
17:01so
17:22I had no idea what was going on I could just feel my heart just beating out of my chest
17:27it felt like I was having a heart attack Eddie Eddie what's wrong
17:32that's it I can't breathe that's it I can't what calm me down calm down I can't breathe
17:42it's my son I I don't know what's wrong with him thank you please hurry and come thank you
17:46thank you
17:54doctors run a series of tests on Eddie Jr.
17:57well I've gone over his chart blood pressure's fine his heart's fine looks like he uh probably
18:02just had a panic attack panic attack I've never had any problems health-wise just didn't make
18:07sense at all yeah he's normally calm and relaxed that kind of be right well you know it could be
18:13anything it could be the stress of the move could be a new job anything to set off a panic attack
18:19look I'm going to write your prescription for a mild sedative I think it'll help calm you down
18:24if you have any of these attacks in the future okay the doctor told me that there doesn't seem
18:30to be anything medically wrong with him oh by the way uh when you experience one of these anxiety
18:35attacks like think about writing it down in the journal try to think of what's on your mind what's
18:39going on uh just keep a record of what happened give us a call if you have any problems panic attack
18:54over the next month Eddie Jr. continues to suffer from these inexplicable attacks
18:59his doctors are baffled unable to remedy his mysterious condition
19:29so
19:35there had to be something causing this and it's just very frustrating not knowing
19:39what to do about it or not having some kind of answer for it
20:00so
20:12Eddie Jr.'s health continues to rapidly deteriorate
20:17it just physically beat me down I wasn't able to work I wasn't able to leave the house
20:21Eddie Jr. would basically lock himself in the room and just keep to himself he didn't want to
20:34talk to anyone we just shut those curtains and get out of here it was very hard seeing him seclude
20:40himself Eddie come on please you've been in your room for days get out of my room don't you ever
20:47talk to your mother like that again he wasn't himself like there was somebody else in his body
20:52you don't look so good you're really pale and you need some fresh air just get the hell out
20:58of my room and don't bother me again one night Eddie prepares a special dinner for his family
21:13hoping to distract them from the problem at hand
21:24under the doctor's advice I started keeping a journal and just writing down the thoughts that
21:28was going through my head or whatever was feeling or whatever happened to me that day
21:33Eddie Jr. hopes that it will help end these attacks
21:43it's
22:13so
22:17let's see
22:43Eddie is stunned.
23:12He is beginning to believe that they are not alone in the house.
23:17At this point I'm realizing that it's paranormal what's going on.
23:42Dad, I don't, I don't know what happened.
24:12I was writing in my journal and I must have blacked out or something.
24:15The next thing I know, Rick, Rick, Rick.
24:18I didn't know what to think or what to make of it.
24:20I just was baffled.
24:23It was all over the pages.
24:25It's not even my handwriting.
24:28What's running through my mind is that there's an entity or spirit who's around who is being harmful.
24:37Eddie suspects that it could be the cause of his son's mysterious condition.
24:45He now wonders if anybody else who has lived in the home has been affected by this presence.
24:53Eddie invites his neighbor over and hopes that he can tell him anything about the previous owners.
24:57Good.
24:58Good, good.
24:59I see you getting some work done to the house.
25:00We've been having some issues with the house.
25:03Minor stuff.
25:04Oh, man.
25:05Sorry to hear about that.
25:06Anything I can do to help?
25:07You know, do you know how to get in contact with the previous owners?
25:13You know, maybe they can help us fix whatever is wrong with the house.
25:16I don't think that's going to work there, partner.
25:19You know, the guy that used to live here, he's dead.
25:24The rumor is, is that he killed himself.
25:28The hairs on my arms and my back just started standing up, and I knew that there was something more to this.
25:37Oh, listen.
25:38I got to take this call.
25:39Listen, you're in luck.
25:41The guy that used to live here, his daughter, she lives right down here on the corner.
25:44If you talk to her, she can probably help you out, okay?
25:48Thanks.
25:49My pleasure.
25:50Take care.
25:54The only lead we had was her father had died there.
25:59He had to be the cause of this.
26:05Eddie believes that Rick could be this woman's father and decides to pay her a visit.
26:13I was hoping to learn the circumstances of her father's death, the type of person he was,
26:21and maybe make some sense as to what was going on in my house.
26:25Hi.
26:26Can I help you?
26:27Joan?
26:28Yes.
26:29Hi.
26:30I am Eddie Benitez.
26:31I just moved a few houses from here.
26:33Oh, yeah.
26:34Yeah, I think where your father used to live.
26:36Yes, he did.
26:38Is that all?
26:40Listen, I don't want to intrude, but I need to speak to you.
26:44It's about your father, Rick.
26:47Listen, please.
26:49There's many strange things happening in my house.
26:52My son is getting sick.
26:54I believe it's your father causing this.
26:56Look, I have no idea what you're talking about.
26:58My father's name was Christopher.
27:00Now, if you don't mind, I've got things to do.
27:02Listen, please.
27:05Eddie's more confused than ever, and now he has absolutely no leads as to who Rick is
27:10and why he is hurting his son.
27:14I tried to find out other ways of figuring the situation out
27:18and what was going on with him.
27:20So I'm at the beginning of the road again.
27:26That night, Eddie tries to work on his album, but is unable to concentrate.
27:34Although he has never been harmed,
27:36he now believes that the spirit world is far more powerful than he ever imagined,
27:41and he fears that he may not be able to help his son.
28:03Listen.
28:04Take it.
28:05Take whatever you want.
28:07Just don't hurt my family.
28:09Just like this.
28:11Beautiful.
28:20Eddie realizes that the man is not an intruder,
28:23but the ghost that is haunting their house.
28:39So now I've become at a point where I'm more desperate,
28:42and this is where I say to myself,
28:45OK, I need outside help.
28:49He begins scouring the Internet.
28:54One organization that caught my eye was the Arizona Desert Ghost Hunters.
29:00He immediately sends them an email,
29:03hoping that they can remove the entity from his home.
29:10Arizona Desert Ghost Hunters
29:15That weekend, a team of investigators arrives at the Benitez' home.
29:20Ann Martin is the founder of the Arizona Desert Ghost Hunters.
29:25We decided to go and see if we can help him,
29:27because he was having so much activity
29:29that we felt it was warranted to go and look.
29:31Also a part of the team is Debbie Bennett,
29:34an intuitive who reads tarot cards,
29:37to give insight into the past, present and future.
29:41The images on the cards trigger psychic visions,
29:44providing her with a deeper knowledge of what's going on in the house.
29:49It opens up psychic responses
29:51to where all cards have different meanings,
29:54but whatever the question is,
29:56it's going to apply and give you the answer for that specific question.
30:01When I got the hangman,
30:03I felt the impression of the entity taking his own life.
30:13The ten of swords represents somebody who chose not to move on.
30:20What does it all mean?
30:22I'm sensing pain.
30:24I could feel the presence of a very angry man.
30:27He didn't want me there.
30:29I could feel the energy of the entity getting angrier.
30:33Who is it? What's his name?
30:37I only see the letter R.
30:46Get out.
30:49Get out.
30:51Once we get out of his house,
30:53I'm afraid he'll do anything in his power to get you out.
30:55I'd like to perform a ritual to help you remove the evil spirit from your home.
30:59Whatever you can do.
31:05That night, Debbie performs a smudging on the house,
31:09a Native American ritual where sages burn to cleanse the house of negative energy.
31:15The smudging is used for protection from the spirit world.
31:20Immediately after the ritual,
31:22Debbie no longer senses the ominous presence,
31:25believing that the spirit has gone to the other side.
31:32Over the next few days,
31:34there are no signs of any paranormal activity in the house,
31:37and Eddie Jr.'s health appears to be getting better.
31:42The question was, would this return or not?
31:45Because you usually don't get rid of these things that easy.
31:49Then, one night.
31:57Shut up! Shut up!
31:59I'm just taking your medicine!
32:01Eat Eddie! Sleep Eddie! Take your meds, Eddie!
32:04What the hell is wrong with you?
32:06Are you stupid? Are you dead?
32:08Why don't you get out of my bed and leave me alone?
32:13Eddie! Eddie!
32:15He just looked at me with this scary, awful look in his face,
32:20and just lashing out at me, cursing at me.
32:23I was in shock.
32:25Tell her to stay off my back!
32:27Eddie's fighting with me! Get off me!
32:29Don't you touch me!
32:31Eddie!
32:45Eddie! Eddie!
32:47Tell her to stay off my back!
32:49Eddie's fighting with me! Get off me!
32:51There was a darkness in him.
32:53Don't you touch me!
32:55Something of evil, and I could feel it.
32:57Give me that holy water! Now!
32:59There!
33:01Open it up!
33:03It's right!
33:05In the name of the Father,
33:07and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!
33:10As I threw holy water at him,
33:12As I threw holy water at him,
33:14he's screaming, I'm burning, I'm burning.
33:16Your finger, sir.
33:18My mother's stomach.
33:20My mother's stomach.
33:22Yes!
33:24I was going to perform the ritual
33:26that I had seen my mother perform many years ago.
33:36In the name of the Father,
33:38and of the Son,
33:41and of the Holy Spirit!
33:44Amen!
33:46All-powerful!
33:48Eddie!
33:50A class of women!
33:52A class of women!
33:54A class of women!
33:56In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!
33:58Our Father, who art in heaven,
34:00hallowed be thy will,
34:02thy kingdom come,
34:04thy will be done,
34:06on earth as it is in heaven.
34:08Let the Lord be with you.
34:14Eddie!
34:18Like his mother,
34:20Eddie places the glass and plate over his son's head,
34:22hoping to trap the evil spirit infesting his body.
34:24Eddie places the glass and plate over his son's head,
34:26hoping to trap the evil spirit infesting his body.
34:28Thank you for your presence in heaven.
34:30Thank you for your presence in heaven.
34:32Glory forever, Lord!
34:34Applause!
34:38Glory forever, Lord!
34:40Applause!
34:54Eddie?
34:56Eddie?
34:58Eddie?
35:00Eddie?
35:02What happened?
35:04We're here.
35:06We're here, Eddie.
35:16Soon after,
35:18life returns to normal for the Benitez family.
35:22The house was at peace.
35:26We were very hopeful that it would continue.
35:28Several days later,
35:30Eddie receives a surprise visit from Joan,
35:32the daughter of the previous owner.
35:34You know, I'm sorry about the other day.
35:36You really caught me off guard.
35:38I understand.
35:40God, it's been so long since I've been in this house.
35:42It really brings back a lot of memories.
35:46Look, when I told you my dad's name was Christopher,
35:48it wasn't entirely true.
35:50It's true.
35:52It's true.
35:54It's true.
35:56My dad's name was Christopher.
35:58It wasn't entirely true.
36:00His middle name was Richard.
36:02Only his closest friends and family called him Rick.
36:06It was like the puzzle was starting to fall in place.
36:10It's just really hard to talk about my dad.
36:16He went to prison for a long time,
36:18but when he got back,
36:20he just had a really hard time adjusting.
36:22Of course, I wanted to help, you know?
36:24Sure.
36:26So I rented him this house.
36:30Would you mind if I took a look around upstairs?
36:32Oh, no, no, sure, if you want.
36:34Just for a minute.
36:36Sure.
36:40Joan asks to see her father's old room.
36:54Everything's in the same place.
36:56Rick had the bed
36:58in the same position my son did,
37:00the dresser,
37:02and the flag on the wall
37:04in the exact same area.
37:08I don't know.
37:10I don't know.
37:12I don't know.
37:14I don't know.
37:16I don't know.
37:18I don't know.
37:20I don't know.
37:22I don't know.
37:30Dad!
37:32Dad, wake up!
37:34Wake up, please.
37:38Wake up.
37:52Wake up.
38:14He went to prison for a long time,
38:16but when he got back,
38:18he just had a really hard time adjusting.
38:20Dad! Dad, wake up!
38:34I think I know why my father's
38:36trying to hurt your son.
38:38Why? Why would he want to hurt him?
38:40If my father were
38:42still alive today, he would be doing
38:44everything in his power to harm you
38:46and your family.
38:48Eddie now understands that
38:50Rick was a violent racist,
38:52carrying on in death as he did
38:54in life, that he and his family
38:56were just targets of his
38:58hatred.
39:00We were
39:02basically in his house.
39:04My son was still in
39:06his room, and he
39:08wanted to get rid of us no matter what.
39:10Weeks later.
39:40Weeks later.
39:48I started feeling weird.
39:50My breathing became distressed.
39:52My body
39:54was trembling.
39:56And, uh...
39:58I don't know, I just
40:00felt like I was dying.
40:02Dad!
40:10Eddie
40:14lapses into a deep coma.
40:18And doctors are unable to
40:20determine why.
40:24Three days later, he mysteriously
40:26and miraculously
40:28regains consciousness.
40:32Eddie!
40:34It's me, Myrna.
40:36Hi.
40:38Oh, my God.
40:44I believe that maybe Rick was trying to
40:46make one final attempt to take a life
40:48and he wanted mine.
40:54Eddie fears for the safety of his family.
40:58Scared of who Rick will target next.
41:02And decides to move out of the house.
41:08Because of this experience,
41:10Eddie's views on the supernatural have
41:12completely changed.
41:14Although he
41:16cherishes his unique gift,
41:18he now believes that
41:20the spirit world
41:22can be dangerous.
41:24You know, I learned that evil can
41:26come in and take control
41:28of your life if you don't put a stop
41:30to it and
41:32deteriorate your body, your mind
41:34and your spirit.
41:38You
41:40You
41:42You
41:44You
41:46You
41:48You
41:50You
41:52You
41:54You
41:56You
41:58You
42:00You