A Bump in the Night and Unexpected Guests

This episode of Criminal delves into two unsettling encounters with unexpected houseguests, exploring the psychological impact of feeling unsafe in one's own home and the bizarre circumstances surrounding these intrusions.

The Animal Trainer and the Attic Intruder

Amber Don, an animal trainer from Berwyn, Illinois, who specializes in penguins and otters, shares a chilling experience from 21 years ago when she lived in a small apartment in Enumclaw, Washington. Her apartment was on the top floor of a building, featuring a one-bedroom layout with a small balcony. One night, shortly after moving in, Amber heard distinct footsteps in the attic above her bedroom. Initially dismissing them as the sounds of a new apartment or her active imagination, she eventually confronted her landlord, who attributed the noises to squirrels or raccoons. Amber, however, was skeptical, noting the size and clarity of the footsteps.

The apartment had a crawl space accessible through a push-up panel in her bedroom ceiling. Amber had not been informed of an attic, nor did she have direct access to it. The sounds continued intermittently, along with other strange occurrences: items in her pantry, like soda and cans of soup, would go missing or be moved. Her initial suspicion fell on her brother, who lived three blocks away and had a key to her apartment. She even confronted him, telling him she couldn't afford to feed him. However, the incidents persisted, leading Amber to believe someone else was entering her apartment.