The Massapequas, a suburban community on Long Island, has become a focal point for paranormal investigators experiencing what they describe as unease, a sentiment amplified by recent shocking crimes and a lingering local lore of disturbing events. The Long Island Paranormal Investigators (LIPI) recently conducted an investigation into the area, citing a desire to explore if metaphysical factors might contribute to the town's troubles.
Emily Granados, an investigator with LIPI, reported feeling a strong negative presence, describing a sensation of a "sharp blow to the chest" and disrupted breathing when near the Massapequa Park property of Rex Heuermann, the convicted Gilgo Beach serial killer. Neighbors had previously described the home as one to avoid, even on Halloween.
Massapequa Park was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 place to live in New York for 2025 and 2026. However, Granados stated that she has felt a persistent "sadness" and "despair" while in the bustling Massapequa Park Village.
The area has seen a recent increase in high-profile criminal incidents. In late June, Joseph Horner, a 27-year-old music teacher, was accused of murdering his wife's sister, Victoria Castle, in their North Massapequa home. Days prior, 22-year-old Kristin Scully was arrested for allegedly stabbing 28-year-old Robert Carragher to death in his Massapequa home.
Granados also noted sensing "a lot of aggression" in the area. While investigating the Massapequa Preserve, an area where MS-13-related killings have been found in the past, she described a "very heavy sadness that's lingering."
Despite these unsettling accounts, many residents emphasize the family-friendly aspects of Massapequa, highlighting good schools, Little League programs, and a generally good-hearted community.
LIPI's founder, Michael Cardinuto, recounted a past investigation in Massapequa involving a child experiencing severe nightmares and sleep disturbances. The team captured what they believe to be audio evidence and were asked to return by the homeowners. During this investigation, the team was unaware that the house was in close proximity to the Biltmore Shores home where Amy Fisher shot Mary Jo Buttafuoco in 1992.
Cardinuto suggested that Massapequa's proximity to other sites of notoriety might be contributing to an unsettling energy. He pointed to the "Amityville Horror" house, located minutes to the east, where Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his family in 1974, and a house on the Seaford-Massapequa border that reportedly inspired the 1982 film "Poltergeist." The latter property was associated with a 1950s family who allegedly experienced unexplained phenomena such as flying objects and bloodcurdling noises.
"There are entire states that have, maybe, one case like that. We have two right here," Cardinuto stated, suggesting these historical events could be a significant factor. LIPI investigators typically approach their cases without prior research to avoid influencing their findings.