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              Submitted by: Sarabean   Last updated by:   Last updated on : 11/13/2011              Edit Listing       Delete listing
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Sleepy Hill Cemetery (aka Griffin Cemetery)
Sleepy Hill Road
Lakeland, FL
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County: Polk
GPS: 28.0919629 28° 05' 31.1" N, 28.0919629 28° 05' 31.1" N

   

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Location Description:         
 

Griffin Cemetery, commonly known as Sleepy Hill Cemetery, is located on Sleepy Hill Road in Lakeland, FL. It became a cemetery in the late 19th century and is commonly thought of as haunted. People say that there is a hostile spirit in the cemetery, and anyone who walks around in the cemetery will experience a heightened feeling of fear. I am not sure of its history, but I've heard outrageous stories about witches being buried there and what not. While I don't believe that claim is true, the cemetery itself has some weird activity.

The cemetery itself is completely destroyed: all of the graves have fallen into disrepair, the flowers around people's graves are fake, and weeds are growing everywhere. It's very close to the road and surrounded by a little patch of woods, but it's hard to see since it's small and cluttered. There's barely any room in the cemetery and the graves are crammed together, although unbelievably the most recent burial was in 2010. Interestingly, toward the front of the cemetery there is a bed post in place of a head stone (I've heard this was an old tradition though), and toward the back, there is a grave stone roped off with a chair in front of it. It's hard to distinguish between what's supposed to be there and what isn't due to vandalism, but even the cemetery's vandalism is creepy. Last time I was there we found an old pair of brown boots (I'm positive they were from the early 1900s) with cryptic messages written all over them near a gravestone. But that's another story.

I've been there three times, caught a few odd photos and had a few personal experiences, but what haunts me the most is this EVP we caught and how clear it is. My sister makes a comment about how something touched her hair, and right when she's in the middle of talking, a voice (I'm thinking male) makes a growl/yelling sound. It wasn't from the road because we didn't hear it, and it sounds so close to the iPhone I was recording with. Anyways, here is the EVP if you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKxw5BUIGSY

Both times I've gone there I've had to leave early because I've felt sick to my stomach. I've always taken my friend, my sister, and my boyfriend with me for support, and often, they experience the same things. My sister's hair has been pulled, my friend has an EVP lasting 18 seconds in which she is talking and there is a female voice huffing and puffing over her, and I've heard children crying (there is a middle school next door, but this was at night.)

For lakelanders looking for something to do, visit the Sleepy Hill Cemetery and hold an investigation or clean the place up a little. It's off of a slightly busy road, but there isn't a "no trespassing" sign, and there's no gate. I've never had the police bother me for going there. You can park in the grass near the cemetery or the storage place across the street: I've done both and haven't gotten into trouble.




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User Comments: 
               Like      Dislike        Comment# 80226     10/30/2012 2:02:00 PM     Edit       Reply    
AnonymousVisiter

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hi my name is tia i went there a couple years ago a few times ive caught i bunch of pics my brother got scratched on the neck ive seen rocks get thrown in front of the grave were all the kids graves are its creepy love that place
75.77.169.2
 

               Like      Dislike        Comment# 81967     4/24/2013 12:40:00 PM     Edit       Reply    
AnonymousVisiter

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The next time you go there, look for the tomb of William Joseph Moran IV (1966-1984). The inscriptions record that this young man was an ABC News Reporter (probably an intern considering his age) who was murdered July 18, 1984. You can see photographs of his tomb at Find A Grave (link below)

William J Moran IV

Walk slowly, Willie.
Look over your shoulder.
I am walking behind.


I am still trying to find out what happened to him.

Jay
99.174.231.214
 

      Karma [Neutral]          Like      Dislike        Comment# 81971     4/24/2013 3:50:00 PM     Edit       Reply    
Bluejay


Last Seen: 4/24/2013 3:36:30 PM  
If you go back there, look for the tomb of William Joseph Moran IV.

Willie at Find A Grave

I first heard of this unusual marker in September 2004. Since then I have written to ABC News, telephoned the Lakeland County newspapers and TV stations, the historical society, a couple of funeral homes, and the Bureau of Vital Statistics, without luck. Many of the people I spoke to were very sympathetic, they just couldn't find anything.

I haven't given up. I think his story will be uncovered eventually.

Bluejay Young
 

  

  
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