Airbnb guests flee house after finding dead bird, satanic ritual items

A man has described how the charming house he booked for a family getaway took a macabre turn, complete with “Satanist” items and dead animals.

An Airbnb guest has revealed how he fled the creepy rental house after discovering Satanic paraphernalia, ritualistic floor markings and a dead bird.

New York City author Frederick Joseph said he booked the two-bedroom house in Spring Glen, New York, for himself, his girlfriend, cousin and young brother, paying about $1580 for the stay.

But soon after arriving at the property, its “Scandinavian vibe” took a dark turn.

“When we walked up to the house we noticed an animal skull hanging on the outside of the house, so I went inside to check it out,” Joseph tweeted on Tuesday.

“When I walked I went to the basement and found more animal skulls and ritualistic floor markings and then I went up to the rooms to find much more.

Joseph shared his experience on Twitter.

The house looked normal enough from the listing. Picture: @FredTJoseph

As we walked through the two rooms we found a bunch of imagery, candles, books, etc for rituals and what looked like devil worship. My brother was terrified, as were we.

We called @Airbnb and told them we couldn’t stay there and explained the situation. pic.twitter.com/7kIl9ptitt

— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) September 7, 2020

“As we walked through the two rooms we found a bunch of imagery, candles, books, etc for rituals and what looked like devil worship. My brother was terrified, as were we.”

He uploaded photos and videos from inside the creepy house, showcasing the erotic art and other curious decor pieces.

Another video shows a dead bird in a bag next to a statue of Baphomet – a goat-headed, winged deity that has become associated with Satanism.

The Baphomet was found behind a dead bird in a plastic bag. Picture: @FredTJoseph

The family found lots of curious items in the house. Picture: @FredTJoseph

Joseph said he contacted Airbnb and explained why they couldn’t stay at the property. He said he was refused a refund, as Airbnb had spoken to the owner “who said there were just a few small art pieces that they could come remove”.

“This was a lie, it was the whole damn house not a few things,” Joseph said.

“Needless to say, we left because we are black and not dealing with something that was: 1. advertised completely different; 2. Looks like a scene from (the horror film) Hereditary; 3. Made the entire family feel unsafe.”

There was also a bridge from the woods behind the house to the back patio.

Needless to say, we left because we are Black and not dealing with something that was:

1. advertised completely different
2. Looks like a scene from Hereditary
3. Made the entire family feel unsafe

— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) September 7, 2020

He continued: “All of that to say, this isn’t how guests should be treated.

“I use @Airbnb frequently and there are many reasons in this situation which should warrant a refund. Especially our safety and mental/emotional health.”

Joseph was eventually reimbursed for his stay, a spokesperson for Airbnb told Fox News in a statement.

“Frederick was fully refunded yesterday morning, and we apologise for the delay in providing support,” the statement said.

“Our policy prohibits sexually explicit images within our listings, and we are currently working with the host to help ensure he is in compliance.”

While Joseph’s story spooked plenty of people on social media, the Church of Satan took the author to task.

“The photos in this thread depict thrift store curiosities & hot topic kitsch, not evidence of satanic rituals,” the church tweeted.

“Sounds like you have an overactive imagination and can’t tell the difference between supernatural horror movies and reality.”