A Haunting in New Jersey? Family Flees and Sues Landlord

Call in the Ghostbusters. A New Jersey couple left their Toms River rental home after claiming to be haunted by paranormal activity. Michele Callan and her fiance, Josue Chinchilla filed suit last week in New Jersey Superior Court, seeking the return of their $2,250 security deposit from their landlord, Richard Lopez.

Callan and Chinchilla moved in on March 1 along with Callan’s children and were immediately spooked by the strange happenings occurring inside their new home. Clothes began flying out of closets, menacing voices whispered “let it burn,” and lights flickered without anyone touching the switches. The new tenants blamed their fears on adjusting to their home, but said they couldn’t take the craziness anymore and checked into a hotel on March 13, where they have been living ever since. Their landlord Richard Lopez has filed a counter-suit claiming the couple is using alleged paranormal activity as a way to break their lease. Lopez’s lawyer David Semanchik agrees and told the Asbury Park Press he believes ghosts are not the real reason that prompted Callan to move out with her family. “She is a single mom, she has this fiancé living with her,” Semanchik said. “I think she is in over her head and she can’t afford the rent.” Whether it’s money woes or ghosts that caused the new couple to move out, the judge will have the final say on the “haunted” house in Toms River.