When ten roommates were startled by mysterious noises emanating from their basement, they initially suspected paranormal activity, only to uncover a far more unsettling truth.
In addition to the unsettling sounds and alarms, the residents noticed open drawers in the kitchen and bathroom, and lights inexplicably turned on in unoccupied rooms.
Driven by a mix of curiosity and fear, the group traced the noises to the basement, where they encountered a locked door.
One of the occupants, Mark Hartman, recounted to ABC News that his roommate Brett had repeatedly heard noises in the basement but could never access the locked door located there.
During a subsequent exploration of the basement, Brett was startled to come face-to-face with an unknown man.
According to Mark, Brett, visibly shaken, questioned the man, identified as Jeremy, who remained evasive and promptly exited the premises without providing any answers.
With the assistance of law enforcement, the group managed to breach the locked door, revealing a fully furnished bedroom belonging to Jeremy, complete with personal items, books, a TV, and clothing.
The students from The Ohio State University were stunned to realize that Jeremy had been clandestinely residing in their basement, entering through a side door and eluding detection.
It was later discovered that Jeremy gained entry to the property through his cousin, who had lived there the previous year.
The chilling incident took place in Columbus, Ohio, in 2013, leaving the students understandably shaken.
Following Jeremy’s discovery, the leasing company promptly changed the locks, although concerns lingered among the residents about the company’s oversight in detecting squatters.
A note was left by the landlord at the residence, urging Jeremy to contact them, which he did later that evening before removing his belongings from the room.
Jeremy had access to a bathroom and a sink in the basement, suggesting he may have used the facilities for personal tasks like laundry. The students, however, had no indication that he had consumed their food or entered their living quarters.
Mark expressed concerns about the lax security measures, noting that the keys were not marked as non-duplicable, potentially granting access to numerous individuals. The students sought possible rent concessions and sought advice from student legal services.
Despite the alarming situation, Jeremy was described by another roommate, Jimmy Alderman, as a generally amiable person. Alderman acknowledged the potential danger of the situation, emphasizing that it could have escalated to a more serious outcome.
