Sinister! Vandals Damaged Lockport Haunted House: Cops

LOCKPORT, IL — Two Lockport men were jailed for allegedly vandalizing a haunted house that is supposed to open in time for Halloween.

Jonathan Chamberlin, 32, and Marcus Hibbs, 33, were both charged with felony criminal damage to property in connection with the alleged vandalism.

Hibbs was taken into custody Tuesday evening and released on bail early Wednesday morning. Chamberlin was arrested Wednesday and remains locked up.

Bond for both men had been previously set at $10,000.

Chamberlin and Hibbs “knowingly damaged” Hellsgate Haunted House, which belongs to a man named John Laflamboy, according to a criminal complaint filed in Will County court.

The Lockport Park District Police investigated the alleged crime and obtained arrest warrants for Chamberlin and Hibbs.

The complaint does not specify how Chamberlin and Hibbs allegedly damaged the haunted house, and the park district police would shed no light on the case.

Both park district Police Chief John Waxweiler and Police Officer Jeff Schenk, whose name is listed on the warrant applications, failed to return calls for comment. The Lockport Park District website lists Waxweiler and Schenk as its entire police department.

The complaint does say Chamberlin and Hibbs did their damage to the haunted house about two weeks ago.
The Hellsgate Haunted House website says the attraction’s opening was pushed back until October.

“Although Zombie Army Productions worked tirelessly to get the doors open for the 2015 season, a project this massive simply has too many variables, many of which are beyond our control,” the site said. “But don't worry! We are incredibly excited to show Chicagoland our beautiful and hideous mansion in the woods and we will continue to work throughout the coming winter, spring and summer to bring you HellsGate in October of 2016.”

The haunted house is to be located on Canal Street, according to the website.

Calls to the telephone number listed HellsGate Haunted House’s website went unreturned.

Laflamboy, in addition to reportedly owning the haunted house, is the director and founder of Zombie Army Productions, according to the Zombie Army’s website.

“Zombie Army Productions is a consortium of businesses that brings the highest production quality to the darkest events,” the website says. “From haunted houses to feature films, the Zombie Army can produce your event from conceptual design to closing night."