Alleged demon home sells for $35,000

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Four days after The Indianapolis Star broke a story about a mother who told public officials she was possessed by demons, the home in which she and her family once lived was purchased for $35,000.

Zak Bagans, host and executive producer of "Ghost Adventures" on the Travel Channel, offered Wednesday to purchase the home on Carolina Street in Gary, part of a media frenzy that enveloped many of those connected to the case.

Media outlets in more than a dozen countries have clamored for interviews with Latoya Ammons, her family and others mentioned in The Star's report. The article chronicled Ammons' description of strange occurrences involving her and her three children — and the government's response.

Her tale spurred a series of exorcisms that a priest claims were the first authorized by the current bishop of the Catholic Church's Diocese of Gary.

The fervor over Ammons' claims took nearly everyone closest to the situation by surprise.

"I figured that we would get some type of uproar, that I would get uproar from ... my hometown, but I never imagined that it would go viral," said Ammons, who now lives in Indianapolis. "I never knew. I never thought it would do that."

MORE COVERAGE: How other outlets handled 'The exorcisms of Latoya Ammons'

Ammons said people have shown up at her home, bombarded her Facebook page and falsely claimed they were her friends. She fielded requests for interviews from national media outlets, such as CNN and "The Dr. Oz Show," as well as movie producers but, as of Wednesday afternoon, had only agreed to an interview with "Inside Edition."

For Ammons, it hasn't all been good. She said she stopped looking at social media sites after reading negative comments.

"They can say whatever they want to say," she said. "I'm fed up with the backlash."

The Rev. Michael Maginot also has granted a series of interviews, including with "The O'Reilly Factor." Maginot, priest at St. Stephen, Martyr Parish, in Merrillville, investigated the house and, ultimately, conducted a series of exorcisms on Ammons.

"I was kind of shocked that it would stir that much interest," he said.

Gary police Capt. Charles Austin, who investigated Ammons' claims, said he expected notoriety and figured the situation would be made into a movie.

"I thought that because of my expertise in the field of law enforcement and the things I've done in my career and the things I've seen at this house that I've never seen before in my life," he said. "(But) I didn't expect this kind of reaction, not on my life."

Austin, who said he was initially skeptical but became a believer, told The Star he's been contacted by media outlets from 20 countries, including Australia, France and in the United Kingdom. And he's enjoying that brief taste of fame.

But he said he wouldn't go back to the house unless required to do so for an investigation.

"We know that there's evil in that house, and we know that evil is ever-present," Austin said. "Why go where evil possibly is there? You have no idea what you may run into."

Psychologists who evaluated Ammons and her children came to a different conclusion. They characterized her fixation on demons as being part of a "delusional system" and tried to teach her different ways of interpreting the children's behavior.

Bagans of "Ghost Adventures" said he hasn't decided what he will do with the home once the purchase goes through, but it will likely involve research into the purported paranormal activity.

"It's not entertainment," he said. "I really do have a passion for this stuff and the research aspect of this stuff."

Charles Reed, the current homeowner and Ammons' former landlord, said media interest in the house has been unbelievable — so much so that the current tenant called Gary police to complain when reporters and photographers showed up.

He said his tenant declined offers of money and interview requests.

"She wants total privacy."

Call Star reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski at (317) 444-6135. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyMarisaK.