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Los Feliz Murder Mansion
Left untouched since a double murder-suicide in the 1960s, Los Feliz mansion remains a neighborhood mystery
Category Memento Mori
Hilltop home, site of double murder-suicide. Photo taken by Genaro Molina of the LA Times.
Source blog.allanellenberger.comOn the night of December 6, 1959, in a mansion that sits on a Los Feliz hilltop, Dr. Harold Perelson struck his wife to death with a hammer, severely beat his 18-year-old daughter, and then ended his own life by drinking a glass of acid. For the next fifty years, the mansion would remain completely untouched and uninhabited by anyone.
A year after the gruesome murder-suicide, the mansion was sold to a couple, Emily and Julian Enriquez, who only used the 5,050-square-foot house as a storage site. Neighbors recall seeing the couple bringing boxes to the mansion, but never staying overnight. In 1994, Rudy Enriquez inherited the house and, like his parents, neither stayed nor made any changes to the Perelson's old decor.
Local neighbors and brave visitors of the Perelson mansion have shared their tales. Through grimy windows, one can see a 1950s-style television set, a Christmas tree, and neatly-wrapped gifts. The furniture is covered in a thick layer of dust and the living room remains the exact same as it was that one December night.
Rudy Enriquez, now a 77-year old retired music manager, has refused to sell the property, though he has admitted to frequenting the site to feed his two cats who live there. The exterior of the mansion is in slow decay, and the local neighbors have had to pitch in to help maintain the property.
Though no one has been formally invited into the home, it is rumored that the mansion attracted trespassers for some time. Former neighbors have even witnessed people having picnics in the backyard. One trespasser alleges that the house is haunted and that she was bitten by a black widow spider upon trying to break in. An alarm system has been installed and, to this day, remains one of the only changes made to the Perelson's old home.
No one knows what exactly prompted Dr. Perelson to commit those atrocities fifty years ago. Some have speculated financial woes, while others have dug up old, unconfirmed rumors of Dr. Perelson having been secretly hospitalized. All three Perelson children survived the incident, though none have been mentioned in the media since.
What remains an even larger mystery is why the current owner has left the scene of the crime almost exactly as it was in 1959.
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- Hours Private residence
- Address 2475 Glendower Place, Los Angeles, California, United States
Comments
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Anonymous
December 28, 2011
I go visit the "house" at least 2 or 3 times a year as I was 16 years old when it happened. My step dad was an L.A. cop so along with this house, the house behind it where House on Haunted Hill with Vincent Price was filmed and the Sharon Tate murders (I dont think that house is the same anymore) have fascinated me from day one. It's like I try to imagine the day it happened, what must have been going through the Dr's head or if he planned it. How many people keep acid around as he drank it before the cops came. I always take one of my friends with me as I am actually afraid to be there alone, even in the day time. I always get such an erie feeling, probably because I feel so sorry for the impact it left on the daughter that ran and the two that were sleeping. I can't even visualize what the wife went through-someone you love and trust and then that someone comes at you with a hatchet. The view from the front door is like you have never seen before of Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Especially at night. I would love to purchase the house and probably put in 2 million to upgrade it. But don't think I could live there. I get the erie feeling just visiting. -
Anonymous
September 26, 2011
I just went there today 9/26/11 and it's freaking Scary creepy! We didn't even get out of the car. The house was the last house to a dead ended road and this was at 6pm when we went! Never going back!
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Anonymous
August 22, 2011
i wish i can see it in person but i now the story
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Anonymous
August 22, 2011
i been there in person and i saw the christmas tree its really creepy i now the real story that makes it haunted!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Anonymous
July 31, 2011
A friend and I combined visiting this house with the Lloyd Wright Samual-Novarro House andthe Frank Lloyd Wright Ennis House, which are both nearby. Madonna's former house is very close by, but on a different street dead-end street. Just two or three houses seperate the Perelson house from the Madonna house. When we arrived it appeared that the Perelson House might be occupied or under rennovation because there were a number of cars in front of the garage and construction vehicles parked in the driveway. We soon realized that those vehicles were all from 2476 Glendower Place where a major renovation is underway. That home sold on June 7, 2010 for 2.1 Million. We decided not to risk trespassing, so exerted restraint and used binoculars to do our viewing. While there, a strikingly handsome young man excused himself to get around me. The street is barely wider than a car. I excused myself and told him we just came to see the "death house". He said that "it was certainly an interesting story", at which time his wife joined the conversation. I asked if their home was where the girl ran to after being beaten by the father. She said that they had purchased the home from a woman that lived there in 1959 and in the process, the entire story had been told to them. She said that the previous owner was the one that had taken in the young girl on that night. We were told that it isn't true that the house was never occupied after December 6, 1959. Apparently a family did live in the house for a few months just prior to Christmas 1960. She explained that the Perelson's were Jewish and did not celebrate Christmas. According to her, the Christmas Tree and gifts were from the subsequent occupants I was about to ask why that family has left in such a hurry that they didn't take the gifts with them when she became panicky. "I have two young boys and I hope they never have to know we live across from 'the death house'. She seemed very distraught and left. The young man, apparently her husband, was dragged away by their architect. On the way to the Frank Lloyd Wright house, we discovered that there is a fence and gate that leads to the back of the home from another street. A steep staircase leads to the back of the home and a second 3 car garage.
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I'm confused as to how he actually killed himself. Above on this page it says he drank a glass of acid. On the actual article from the newspaper it first says, 'and then ended his own life by swallowing poison,' but later in the same article in the photo caption, it says, 'and then took own life with pills in this $60,000 home.' Where did the acid story come from? I guess acid is poison but pills aren't acid. Maybe the newspaper had faulty information.
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Here's another death (I don't know if he died in the actual house) from December 4, 1932: Beautiful Los Feliz Home Estate of Harry F. Schumacher, Deceased 2475 Glendower Place AUCTION: Tues. Dec. 6th, 11 A.M. A delightful 12-room Home, with terraced lawns, artistic gardens and a magnificent view. Spacious tiled Entrance Hall and Stairway, Charming Living Room, 18 x 32, Large glassed-in Conservatory, Dining Room, Den, Breakfast Room, Kitchen and Lavatory on First Floor. Four Master Bedrooms and Three Baths on Second Floor, Attractive Ball Room and Bar, 20 x 36, on Third Floor. Laundry, Maid's Room and Bath in Basement. Three-Car Garage. The beautifully landscaped grounds face two streets, with frontage of 83 feet and 243-foot depth. Property will be sold to the highest bidder for any amount over present Bank encumbrance of $15,000, subject to approval of Superior Court. If you are looking for a home in a beautiful district, centrally located, yet with the seclusion of a large estate, inspect this property. SUNDAY FROM 1 TO 5 P.M.
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Maybe there's another ghost in the house. This is an obituary from May 6, 1931 which ran in the LA Times: BEATON, May 3, at 2475 Glendower Place, Hollywood, Donald Beaton, aged 20 years, beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Welford Beaton and brother of Mary Beaton and Mrs. E.A. Bowen. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 6, at 2:30 p.m., from the Little Church of the Flowers, Forest Lawn. B.E. Dayton, Inc., directors.
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Anonymous
February 14, 2010
This is interesting to me as I have Enriquez decendants. I will research this further, just out of curiosity.
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I drove by last night to check this place out... even in the dark I could tell that it's an absolutely stunning house. It's such a shame that it has fallen into such disrepair. The house did not seem very haunted to me, but it did feel incredibly sad and lonely, as many of these characterful old buildings can if they're abandoned. It would no doubt be a wonderful place to live if it was fixed up, although I'm sure many people would have issues buying a house where people were murdered! I look forward to returning during the day and hopefully getting to do a little snooping!
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