Nightmare Houses

In 1926, party couple John and Ruth Sowden worked with Lloyd Wright to design a Mayan style playhouse. Decades later, the unique residence would become affiliated with one of America’s most gruesome and unsolved crimes, the Black Dahlia.

What other dark secrets does this place hold?

Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

On October 30, 1968, silent film star, Ramon Novarro, was brutally murdered inside his 1945 Spanish-Colonial style home in Laurel Canyon.

The actor was 69 years old. Who murdered the "Latin Lover" and why?

Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, August 5, 1962 the iconic actress, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her bed at her 1929 Spanish Hacienda style home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. The superstar was only 36 and poised for a major comeback.

But did she die by her own hand, or was it something worse?

Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

On the night of June 20, 1947, notorious Mobster Bugsy Siegel was gunned down in his mistress’s 1928 eclectic Italianate-style home in Beverly Hills. His murder has never been solved.

Will we ever know who killed Bugsy Siegel?

Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

In the early morning hours of July 1, 1981, four people were brutally beaten to death inside their 1960 mid-century rented home in Laurel Canyon. Only one person survived, but the murderers were never caught.

Will the killers ever be brought to justice?

Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

In November 1924, filmmaker Thomas Ince celebrated his birthday on William Randolph Hearst's yacht. But days later, Ince died at the Spanish-Mission style mansion he just had built.

Did Thomas Ince die of natural causes, or was there a cover-up?

Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

On April 1, 1984, legendary singer/songwriter Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his father in the 1905 Tudor-style mansion they shared. The world lost an iconic performer in a sudden and shocking moment.

But what really happened that day?

Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

On September 5, 1932, Hollywood Producer, Paul Bern was found dead in the home he shared with his wife of two months, actress Jean Harlow. It appeared that his death was from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head upstairs of the Bavarian Craftsman style home he had built.

But what really happened inside that home in 1932? And what role does the house play in another infamous and gruesome Hollywood murder?

Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

On June 16, 1959, George Reeves, the actor who played Superman on television, was found dead in his quaint, 1940s New England style Beverly Hills on Benedict Canyon. It appears to have been a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but was it a suicide or was he murdered?

Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

In July 1951, 67 year old Mary Reeser was found burned to ashes in her St. Petersburg, FL 1947 ranch style apartment. Only a shrunken skull, piece of spine and a foot with a slipper still attached were all that remained. Remarkably, little else in the apartment was damaged.

Was Mary Reeser a victim of Spontaneous Human Combustion?

Welcome to Nightmare Houses.