Wednesday, March 21, 2012

'And the screams continue'

In January, a resident told us the following:

I live on Second Avenue, between Fifth and Sixth Street, and this is the second night since last week that I've heard bloodcurdling screams around 12:30 a.m. outside of my window toward Sixth Street.

Readers had some theories — the sound of the neighborhood dying, Lana Del Rey, etc.

But the screams continue. A reader left this at 12:56 a.m.:

We hear it also, and the screams continue...I hear it pretty much every night now. Last night someone actually responded by yelling "shut the f#%* up!". The night before I was woken up every hour from around 1 to 4. It is getting ridiculous and I don't know about other people, but I wake up every time because it is so disturbing. I reported it to the 9th precinct today but all they could say is call them when it actually happens. It's so hard to pin point where it is coming from though because it is relatively short, and usually when I'm sound asleep. If it is a person, which it sounds like it is, I really hope they get caught. If it is cats, I hate to say it, but they should be euthanized. Someone please help all the restless neighbors, it is getting very tiresome.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Looking for an explanation about those bloodcurdling screams

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Could there be a fox living in the East Village? They make bloodcurdling screams in the night.

LIBERATION said...

Wow! I remember Lana Del Rey! It's most likely not her as she's more of an inaudible drone. If the screaming has piano accompaniment my money is on Diamanda Galas!

nygrump said...

Oh they're adorable!

http://orange.patch.com/articles/foxes#youtube_video-5591733

Anonymous said...

I also live on 2nd Ave, between 5th and 6th. It sounds to me like a cat in heat, having had one myself. Trapping and spaying her should do the trick - maybe the ASPCA or some local shelter could help out?

And, frankly, the dude yelling "shut the f#%* up!" was way more annoying than the cat. The cat rarely wakes me up, but that asshole sure did - twice.

tim said...

It's just performance art, man. I think it's called Kitty Genovese.

LIBERATION said...

@Tim If someone is acknowledging the screaming, even with a 'shut the fuck up', it rules out Kitty.

Anonymous said...

I'm tired of seeing the fox suggestion each time this story is posted. Are you the same commenter from London? No, there's no way it's a fox. I've been to London. I know how there could easily be a fox in a back yard there. It's not the same case in New York (definitely not this section).

Anonymous said...

In poor taste, Tim but I hear you.

nygrump said...

Anon 10:49, I can assure you there are plenty of American foxes in the East Village and they make me feel old and lecherous which I believe is quite normal.

Anonymous said...

I heard screams on my block - 2nd st.

Anonymous said...

I hear the screams every week (on 4st st. and 2nd) I always assumed they came from the drunk and flamboyant crowd that departs The Boiler Room and The Cock. I say this not to stereotype, but because the screams sound very shrieky, and are often followed by laughter and loud conversation. There are no other bars in the area that have a consistently rambunctious crowd.

Laura Goggin Photography said...

There are a huge number of feral cats on that block and their screams can sound a lot like a person or banshee. I'm not saying the screaming isn't a person, but with the warm weather and basement doors being left open, the cats have been partying a lot lately.

JM said...

Tim, really? joking on a blog about a woman who was murdered due to the community's apathy and ignorance? y u c k. Please check your head.

Anonymous said...

i had a very similar experience. i live on Orchard st, I was hearing some loud moaning from a women, I couldn't believe one lady could get rammed that many times in one night. It was super disturbing. After a little investigating I discovered it was a trapped cat.

tim said...

while I'll admit that my prior comment was a bit off color (and any pun was completely unintentional). I'm heartened to know that people actually know who kitty genovese was and hopefully don't act as apathetically when they hear someone screaming in the night.
That said, now all I can think about are cartoon cats sitting on top of plank fences screeching in the night under a full moon.

Anonymous said...

Maybe someone can record and post for us? iPhone has a record function.
And funny, as I post this some one has started playing trombone outside my window! (2nd Ave & 4th St)

David

Anonymous said...

A posted recording would be good, because I can't believe this crap about "cats". I've heard every kind of cat-in-heat sound there could be, and while some of them can be truly bizarre, I would never mistake it for an actual human being screaming.
So I really want to know what the fuck these people are hearing??

Anonymous said...

Often those who attempt to silence noise by rudeness are far more annoying than the original source of noise. Deal with it politely if possible. Make friends with your neighbors instead of enemies.

If you don't know the cause of the noise, and it sounds like human screaming, it might be best to investigate and/or call the police. For all you know, it's domestic violence happening.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Goggla too. Back in the day in the EV neighborhood there were either scream feasts or cats in heat. Very annoying but at least you knew what it was.

Anonymous said...

Up to about 7 years ago I lived in a back apt on that block, on occasion I'd hear a woman who would scream during sex. I also remember a feral cat that would yowl very loudly, but it didn't sound like screaming, really.

One night in my own building I heard blood-curdling screaming but couldn't pinpoint which apt it was from. When the police came, I realized the 'screamer' was a tiny presumably psychotic woman who had threatened me and others in the bldg.

Think she and her husband still live there - so maybe she's still at it.

BabyDave said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulTmmTIlM_o

Anonymous said...

On 7th st between B & C. definitely heard disturbing bloodcurdling screams coming from a man, on Tuesday, after midnight. a mix of The Exorcist with a dose of some serious domestic violence.