When a group of 10 housemates started hearing mysterious noises emanating from their basement, they initially thought their residence might be haunted. However, the situation turned out to be more unsettling than they imagined.
Apart from the unexplained sounds and alarms, the residents also noticed open drawers in the kitchen and bathroom, as well as lights turned on in unoccupied rooms.
Driven by curiosity and fear, they traced the noises to the basement, where they encountered a locked door. One of the housemates, Mark Hartman, shared with ABC News that his roommate, Brett, had heard strange sounds in the basement multiple times, but each time he attempted to open the locked door, he was unsuccessful.
During a subsequent investigation in the basement, Brett was startled to discover an unidentified man. Brett, understandably alarmed, questioned the man named Jeremy, who refused to provide any answers and left the premises abruptly.
With the assistance of law enforcement, the group managed to force open the locked door, revealing a furnished bedroom with personal belongings, including photos, books, a TV, and clothes.
The students from Ohio State University realized that Jeremy had been residing in their basement without permission, utilizing a side entrance to gain access without being noticed. It was later uncovered that Jeremy’s cousin had previously lived in the house, granting him initial entry.
This unsettling incident took place in Columbus, Ohio, in 2013. Despite the discovery, the leasing company, NorthSteppe Realty, only changed the locks after Jeremy was discovered, raising concerns among the students about the company’s oversight of the property.
The landlord left a note on the house for Jeremy to contact them, which he did later that evening to remove his belongings from the room. Jeremy had been using a bathroom in the basement with a sink, potentially for laundry purposes, but the students believed he did not consume their food or enter their living spaces.
Mark expressed his concerns to The Lantern, highlighting the lack of lock changes and the potential security risk posed by multiple key holders. The students sought possible rent discounts and engaged student legal services for support.
Despite the alarming situation, Jeremy was described as a “nice enough guy” by another housemate, Jimmy Alderman, who acknowledged the potential danger of the situation but also noted that it could have been far worse.