Woman almost bought an alleged murder house without knowing

A real estate agent almost sold a home to a buyer where a murder allegedly took place, without realising the grisly backstory, she says.

Kate Joynt, a Connecticut-based agent, was about to sign on the dotted line with the buyer when their lawyer enquired and the gruesome allegations emerged.

In some US states, unlike Australia, a seller needs only disclose a crime at the property to a purchaser if they are directly asked.

The question can come from the buyer themselves or a representative, including a lawyer.

In Australia, materials facts that could influence a buyer’s decision must be shared. In states including New South Wales, Victoria and more recently Queensland, disclosure is mandatory.

Material facts can include body corporate certificates, structural defects and whether a home has has been subject to natural disasters, such as a flood or a bushfire, or a crime, including murder or drug manufacturing.

Joynt told Realtor.com that she thought it was strange that vendor at 16 Nleson Avenue in Norwalk was present for every open for inspection at the three-bedroom colonial-style house in the city of Norwalk.

She said it was not unusual for sellers to attend the occasional open house, but this vendor was always there.

It turned out, the vendor was under house arrest after being released on bail, charged with one count of murder.

“This was the first one I’ve been personally involved in in my career, but they do happen,” Joynt, a broker with Atmosphere Real Estate Services, told Realtor.

“If our lawyer never asked, we would never have known. But he asked specifically if there had ever been a murder on the property…”

The buyer ultimately opted not to go ahead and buy the house after the allegation emerged. However, the property did eventually transact.

The vendor, Ellen Wink, was awaiting trial, accusing of the shooting of her tenant in January 2022. Police allege she entered the house to clean out the fridge before listing it sale. Her tenant, Kurt Lametta, filmed her doing this and it is alleged her was killed in the ensuing argument.

Connecticut press reported the house sold for $US506,000 ($AU881,525) in May 2023.