If you are a fan of Unsolved Mysteries, Beware the Slenderman and The Mothman Legacy you will not want to miss 28 Days Haunted on Netflix.
The Netflix series uses the theory put forward by famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who believe it takes a total of 28 days to make the connection between the human and spirit worlds. As a result, ghost hunters spend 28 days in the haunted buildings in a bid to make a link to another world.
Across six episodes, 28 Days Haunted investigates three haunted buildings across the United States, searching for evidence of paranormal activity.
One of the buildings is located at 104 West Murphy Street, in Madison, North Carolina. The upstairs of the grand buildings housed the T.B. Knight Funeral Parlor, where the victims of a brutal mass murder, the Lawson family, were embalmed.
Newsweek has everything you need to know about the apparently haunted funeral parlor and what happened to the Lawson family.
What Happened to the Lawson Family?
On December 25, 1929, 43-year-old Stokes County farmer Charlie Lawson shot and bludgeoned his wife and six of his seven children to death at their family home in Germanton, North Carolina.
He then took his own life that same afternoon. The only survivor was their son, 16-year-old Arthur, who had been sent on an errand before Charlie Lawson committed his crimes.
The victims' bodies, including a newborn, were taken to T.B. Knight Funeral Parlor, situated on the upper level of 104 West Murphy Street.
Today, it is believed the ghosts of the Lawson family haunt the building.
What Happened to the Madison Funeral Parlor?
In 1998, Richard and Kathy Miller purchased the building at 104 West Murphy Street and opened Maddison Dry Goods and County Store.
At the time of purchase, they knew of the history of the building, including the existence of a former funeral parlor and a hotel. However, they were not prepared for the stories of paranormal activity and hauntings at the property, particularly reports of visitors and employees allegedly seeing a young girl wearing a white dress roaming the building.
"I've never seen her, but four people have seen her. I was in here years ago and apparently, she was looking out the window because the man wanted to know if my daughter was in here working with me," Richard Miller told 28 Days Haunted.
"One kid, about three years ago, grabbed his dad's arm and said, 'I'm not going up there. There's a little girl standing there.' I've had a couple of kids who won't go down the hallway."
The Millers have also stated that pictures and objects in the building have been moved around without explanation, the Greensboro News & Record reported.
The reports of unexplained activity at Madison Dry Goods attracted the attention of paranormal investigators over the past decade, with many visiting in hopes of seeing the little girl.
The story of the haunted funeral parlor caught the attention of the team behind Netflix's 28 Days Haunted, and by August 2021, paranormal investigators had access to the building.
Fifth-generation psychic medium Brandy Marie Miller (no relation to Richard and Kathy Miller) and self-proclaimed "demonologist" Jerome Leonard were granted full access to the property between August 12 and September 15, with the Millers closing their store for one month.
While inside, the duo had no access to the internet or resources to research what they witnessed. Before entering the building, Miller announced that she had sensed two children at the top of the staircase. They proceeded to investigate further by attempting to summon spirits.
To do so, Miller lied down in a casket from the upstairs mortuary museum and appeared to enter a trance while Leonard led her mock funeral. As seen in 28 Days Haunted, Miller claimed to be overwhelmed by the sensation that people gathered around her casket and said she could see a woman standing at the end of the box. She also complained of pressure on her head and ran out of the room.
Over 28 days, they recorded loud noises and flickering lights and reported hearing voices, strengthening their belief the building was, in fact, haunted.
Today, Madison Dry Goods is still operating as well as serving as a free museum of local and regional history, including the Lawson murders.
Newsweek reached out to Netflix for comment.
28 Days Haunted is streaming on Netflix now.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Molli Mitchell is a Senior SEO TV and Film Newsweek Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
