Episode 613: Latoya Ammons and the Demon house

The Ammons family, consisting of Latoya Ammons and her children, reported experiencing a range of unexplained and terrifying phenomena in their rented house that suggested supernatural occurrences.

The Ammons family encountered a variety of unexplained and terrifying phenomena in their rented house, including swarms of black flies, unexplained noises, shadowy figures, objects moving on their own, and the children exhibiting signs of demonic possession.

Persistent swarms of black flies

The family observed swarms of large black flies gathering in their screened-in porch, even during freezing December temperatures, which was uncommon as house flies shouldn't survive in such cold. Despite repeated attempts to exterminate them, Rosa Campbell, Latoya's mother, remembered that the flies kept coming back.

Unexplained noises and shadowy apparitions

Noises that sounded like someone with heavy footsteps were heard ascending the stairs from the basement into the kitchen after midnight, coupled with sounds of doors opening and closing. Rosa awoke to the sound of pacing and witnessed a shadowy figure of a man wandering the living room. Subsequently, Rosa and Latoya found muddy footprints from boots indoors, despite no evidence of an intruder.

Children's agonizing encounters

The children reported seeing ghostly figures, including an "elderly lady with red eyes in the backyard" and a young boy who would appear in their closet with whom the youngest son, Andre, claimed to interact. Disturbingly, the children were afflicted with torment: they were physically levitated, thrown across rooms, and discovered with unexplained marks and blood on their bodies, symptoms that often prevented attendance at school.

Signs of demonic possession

The children's encounters culminated in events that Latoya described as demonic possessions. Instances of possession were marked by the children’s eyes bulging, faces contorting into evil smiles, and their voices deepening unnaturally. During these episodes, the children spoke of violent intentions or chanted ominously, and the entity would rapidly move from child to child, causing chaos.

One incident involved Latoya’s son Andre walking up a wall ...

The Ammons family's harrowing experiences with what they believed to be supernatural forces led them to seek help from various sources, only to be met with skepticism and disbelief before finally finding some validation from unlikely witnesses.

The Ammons family tried to get help from local churches and medical professionals, but most were skeptical or unwilling to assist.

The family's matriarch, Rosa Campbell, and her daughter, LaToya Ammons, convinced of the supernatural nature of their torment, initially sought assistance from their church. Unfortunately, the church leadership offered little more than sympathetic ears, unable to provide concrete help or even a blessing. Other local churches also declined to get involved, seemingly unwilling to acknowledge the possibility of paranormal activity.

After hitting dead ends with church leaders, the family turned to medical professionals, taking the afflicted children to their primary care physician. The doctor and medical staff were also skeptical, dismissing the family's accounts as delusions even after witnessing some bizarre phenomena themselves. The situation escalated when the medical staff called 911, resulting in the children being taken to the hospital.

The Ammons family reached out to several local churches for help, but the clergy were largely unsympathetic and unwilling to intervene, suggesting the family was experiencing a mental health crisis.

In their desperation, the Ammons family extended their search for help, but found few willing to take their claims seriously. A neighbor eventually referred them to a church that was more attuned to dealings of deliverance, offering some hope of assistance.

When the family took the children to their primary care physician, the doctor was also skeptical and believed the family was delusional, despite medical staff witnessing unexplained phenomena.

An anonymous call to the Department of Child Services (DCS) suggested that LaToya Ammons was mentally ill and that the children were acting under her influence. Medical staff at the hospital observed the youngest son being 'lifted and thrown into the wall with nobody touching him', hearing growling noises from him, and saw his eyes rolling back, while other accounts told of a child being thrown across the room by unseen forces.

Even the caseworker, Valerie ...

The Department of Children's Services (DCS) became involved with the Ammons family due to the children's frequent absences from school and concerns about their safety, leading to their temporary removal from the home.

Due to the children's frequent absences from school and concerns about their safety, the Department of Children's Services (DCS) became involved and temporarily removed the children from Ammons' custody.

An anonymous caller triggered an investigation into the Ammons family, which was undertaken by DCS caseworker Valerie Washington. Though there was no physical evidence of abuse, the caseworker became convinced that something strange was occurring in the home after interviewing the children and directly witnessing inexplicable events.

Given the children's poor health, which impacted their ability to attend school, and the perceived unsafe home environment, DCS decided it was necessary to remove the children from Latoya Ammons' care on one of the children's birthdays. Latoya felt that the separation hindered their ability to fight what she believed was a supernatural battle as a family.

The DCS cited Latoya's inability to provide proper education and supervision, considering the significant amount of school the children had missed and the unsafe conditions at home. Latoya attributed the children's sickness and sleep deprivation to spirits present in the home. During interviews, Chante, the eldest child, told Washington about the unnatural events they experienced, particularly at night.

This involvement was not the first time DCS interacted with the Ammons family. A caseworker had previously been assigned to the family in 2009 due to concerns over the children's school attendance a ...

After her children were placed in temporary custody, Latoya Ammons collaborated with Reverend Mike Magino to expel the demon beleived to reside in her home.

Exorcism Rituals by Reverend Magino

Latoya, seeking to prove her stability and responsibility, turned to Reverend Mike Magino for help. Magino had previous experience with exorcisms and was open to the idea of a demonic presence when contacted by hospital chaplain David Neville.

Initial Assessments and Preparation

Magino met with Latoya and her mother Rosa to hear their accounts of the events. He also reviewed additional evidence such as footage and documents from law enforcement and medical professionals. Before proceeding, Magino sought approval from Bishop Dale Melzchak and consulted with other priests for training in the rite of a minor exorcism, after his initial request was denied.

Conducting the Exorcism

Magino performed three major exorcism rituals between May and June. During these exorcisms, Latoya exhibited physical and emotional distress. The final ritual took place in June; this time Magino conducted the exorcism in Latin, believing it to be more effective. At the end of the ritual, Latoya's dramatic physical reactions subsided, suggesting to those present that the demons were expelled.

The Ammons family provided Magino with the names of the demons they believed inhabited the home, despite experiencing computer shutdowns and physical discomfort whenever Latoya tried to search for the correct names. It became clear to them that high-ranking demons, including Beelzebub and other malevolent entities that tortured children, were blamed for the disturbances.

Observations by Skeptical Witnesses

The exorcism was witnessed by caseworker Virginia Washington and ...

The Ammons case remains a notable example of purported supernatural phenomena and has influenced both media and pop culture.

A New Beginning for the Ammons Family

After the harrowing events that led to alleged demonic possessions, Latoya Ammons regained custody of her three children in November 2012, a year after the ordeal began. The family began participating in in-home therapy services, regularly attended church, and did not rely solely on religion to cope with the children's behavior issues. They reported no further encounters with demonic presences or spirits in their new Indianapolis home.

Media Attention and Demolition of the House

Widespread Attention and Paranormal Investigation

The Ammons case drew widespread media attention after a 2014 article in the Indianapolis Star detailed the family's experiences. This attention drew paranormal investigator Zach Bagans, known for his Ghost Adventures series and collecting haunted items for his museum.

Bagans purchased the Ammons house for $35,000 with the intention of examining its mysterious occurrences. This led to the creation of a television documentary released in 2016, chronicling the findings of his investigation.

The House's Destruction

After the release of the documentary, Bagans made the decision to demolish the home. He stated that there was something inside the house that was "very dark yet highly intelligent and powerful," unlike anything he had ever encountered before. He believ ...