5 Infamous American Murder Houses

Would you buy a house that was the scene of a grisly murder? Truth is, you might never come to know your home's dark history, since only about half of the states in the U.S. have formal seller disclosure laws. That means agents don't have to fill you in on a property's past unless you ask outright. Why? Well, selling houses is hard enough these days. But don't worry. TOH has your back with another list of what the National Board of Realtors calls "stigmatized properties." Meantime, if you're in the market for a new home and you'd rather not live where someone once died, do your homework. Make sure you explore the neighborhood and chat with locals—and ask your agent about the house's history, especially if the property is particularly grand with a suspiciously low price tag. (Amityville 101, people!) See ALL of TOH's American Murder Houses II

• 1. Yates House in Houston, Texas

  

  This home on the corner of Beachcomber Lane and Sea Lark Road in Houston is where Andrea Yates drowned her childrenâ€â€6-month-old Mary, 2-year-old Luke, 3-year-old Paul, 5-year-old John, and 7-year-old Noahâ€â€in the bathtub in 2001. In a trial that would shed light on postpartum depression, Yates was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison, a judgment that was later overturned. In her second trial, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity and has since been committed to a minimum-security mental hospital. The three-bedroom, 1620-square-foot property has since been renovated and currently serves as a rental property. Neighbors report that, for a time, the Spanish-style home was quite an attraction, but interest has waned in recent years.  MORE: 13 American Murder Houses

• 2. Ramsey House in Boulder, Colorado

  

  The body of 6-year-old beauty-pageant princess JonBenet Ramsey was discovered in the wine cellar of her family's Tudor-style home back in 1996. She would have turned 21 this year. John and Patsy Ramsey were the prime suspects in the high-profile case, until new DNA evidence cleared them of any wrongdoing in 2008. The murder remains unsolved. After an address change in 2001 and extensive remodeling, the 5-bedroom, 6-bath house is currently valued at a cool $2.3 million. It was last sold in 2004 for about $1 million.  MORE: Scary Houses Turned Into Spectacular Homes

• 3. Crandall-Amos House in Saginaw, Michigan

  

  This modest 879-square-foot Cape has been the setting for two unrelated homocides. In 1990, 69-year-old Joyce C. Crandall was shot and stabbed multiple times, and later discovered by a Meals-on-Wheels volunteer. Timothy Granderson, a neighbor's son who did odd-jobs around the house for Crandall, was charged with the murder. Then in 2009 homeowner Barnell Amos and 9-year-old houseguest Devin Elliot were shot during a late-night robbery. These latter murders remain unsolved, and the 3-bedroom house sits vacant. If it is someday listed for sale, Michigan state property disclosure laws do not require agents to share the home’s history with buyers. MORE: Craziest Homeowner Holiday Disaster Stories

• 4. Trick-or-Treat Murder House in Los Angeles, California

  

  The 1957 murder of hair stylist Peter Fabiano was like something out of a Hollywood movie. Fabiano's estranged wife, Betty, convinced her alleged lover, Joan Rabel, to arrange a Halloween hit on her husband after Betty lodged bitter complaints of abuse at his hand. Rabel recruited Goldyne Pizer to pull the trigger. On Halloween night, Pizer donned a mask, rang Peter Fabiano's doorbell on Community Street, and shot him in the chest just as he answered. Rabel and Pizer were both charged with second-degree murder in 1958. Betty Fabiano was never charged and went on to live a full life in Riverside County until she died in 1999. The 7,650-square-foot L.A. home on Community Street still stands, and last sold in 1980 for just $112,000.  MORE: Home Inspection Nightmares XX

• 5. Versace House in Miami, Florida

  

  Famed fashion designer Gianni Versace was shot on the steps of his Miami home, the last victim in a 3-month, 5-victim killing spree by Andrew Cunanaan back in 1997. The house at 1116 Ocean Drive was built in 1930 and modeled after the 1510 estate of Christopher Columbus' family in the Dominican Republic. After it fell into a state of disrepair, Versace bought the place for about $2.9 million in 1992, and refurbished the property, making it the 26,000-square-foot estate is today. A telecommunications mogul now holds the deed, which serves as a luxury hotel. You can stay in one of Versace's suites for off-season nightly rates of $1,200 and peak-season nightly rates of $3,995. You can also tour the property for about $65. Don't miss ALL of TOH's American Murder Houses II