Lee Daniels’ The Deliverance came out on Netflix in August, and people can’t stop talking about it. The movie tells the story of Ebony Jackson, a mother of three, who moves into a haunted house without knowing it. The film is full of spooky moments and surprises that have shocked viewers. One particular scene with Glenn Close has gotten so much attention that Daniels even defended it on social media.
But what makes The Deliverance even more terrifying is that it’s based on a real story. The events that inspired the movie happened to a woman named Latoya Ammons and her family. Here’s the true story and an update on what happened to Latoya.
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The Real Events Behind The Deliverance
In November 2011, Latoya Ammons moved into a rental house on Carolina Street in Gary, Indiana, with her three children and her mother, Rosa Campbell. Soon after moving in, strange things began to happen. Even though it was winter, their porch became covered in flies, and they started hearing strange footsteps coming from the basement.
Things got worse quickly. Rosa said she saw a shadowy figure walking around their living room. Then, in March 2012, Latoya claimed her 12-year-old daughter was floating above her bed. Latoya asked her local church for help, and they told her to clean the house with bleach and to draw crosses with oil on the doors and windows.
Latoya also spoke to psychics, who told her that the house was home to more than 200 demons. They advised her to move out, but she couldn’t afford to leave. Instead, Latoya set up an altar in the basement, hoping to drive away the spirits. But just days later, Latoya said that she and her children became possessed.
In April 2012, Latoya visited her doctor, Dr. Geoffrey Onyeukwu. During the visit, her children started speaking in strange, deep voices. Valerie Washington, a caseworker who was also investigating, said she saw Latoya’s son, Andrew, walk backward up a wall and onto the ceiling.
Because of these strange behaviors, Indiana’s Department of Child Services took Latoya’s children away and started an investigation for possible child abuse or neglect.
Where Is Latoya Ammons Now?
After losing custody of her children, Latoya moved out of the house. She turned to a local priest, Reverend Michael Maginot, who performed three exorcisms on her. Latoya eventually moved to Indianapolis and, in November 2012, was reunited with her children. Reflecting on her experiences, Latoya said, “I hadn’t been that happy in a long time.”
Since then, Latoya has mostly stayed out of the public eye. However, director Lee Daniels mentioned in an interview that he spoke with her while making The Deliverance. He described her as “lovely” and “at peace.” Sadly, her son Armani, who was one of the children involved in the haunting, passed away at 17 in 2021.
What Happened to the House?
The house that inspired The Deliverance no longer exists. Zak Bagans, host of Ghost Adventures, bought the house in 2014 for $35,000. After investigating it, Bagans decided to tear the house down in 2016, saying it had a very dark presence.
“There was something in that house that could do things I’ve never seen before,” Bagans said. “It was dark, intelligent, and powerful.”
Although the house is gone, Latoya Ammons’ story continues to haunt those who hear it, proving that sometimes the truth is scarier than any movie.
NGI 
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