The Haunted Antique Store

by M.P. Pellicer | Stranger Than Fiction Stories
It was high summer in 1984, and snowbirds had fled back up north from spending the winter in Reddick, Florida, just north of Ocala. Insects buzzed in the field, and all was quiet; too quiet inside the Wayside Antique shop, a two-story, white-washed structure just off I-75.

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Sketch of suspects in the Branum murder c.1984 (Source - Tampa Tribune)

Inside were the bodies of managers, David and Betty Branum both in their late 50s. They were handcuffed to a floor safe, in a small office away from the main showroom, and shot in the head execution style. Martin Gates, the son of the store owner, Tom Gates discovered them.

Analysis of the crime scene indicated that one of them had to witness the slaying of the other, before they met their own end.

The couple lived in a mobile home just behind the shop for 12 years. L.K. Edwards who owned the land where the antique store was located, told newspapers that "someone broke into Wayside about a month ago by tearing off a piece of aluminum siding." He believed the robbers came back to break into the safe, which contained expensive jewelry. Not only was jewelry stolen, but expensive antiques and collectibles. The place was not ransacked, and items were specifically picked to be taken, indicating there was foreknowledge of what was kept at the shop. Police accurately suspected the motive for the crime was robbery.

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Antique Emporium, c.2020

Three years sped by before police asked the grand jury to indict two men on the charge of first-degree murder. One was a Missouri native, Lewis W. Barnes already in trouble with Texas law, where he was held on charges of attempted murder and grand theft. The other man, Pedro Covarrubias was serving time in a Texas prison for the sale of heroin

​In 1987, investigators zeroed in on concrete evidence against the perpetrators. On July 4, FBI agents accompanied by Marion county sheriffs searched the home of Edwin Slade in Las Vegas. They found collectibles and antique furniture estimated to cost about a quarter of a million dollars. These along with $250,000 worth of jewelry were stolen from the Branums. The jewelry was not found and the police feared they were melted down. Edwin Slade had bought the stolen goods from the suspects in August 1984.

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Lewis Wesley Barnes c.1989

Prosecution of those accused stretched out, and in 1989, Lewis Wesley Barnes confessed he was present during the murders, but did not do the shooting. He said he didn't know anyone was getting shot. He said Pedro Covarrubias shot the Branums. He pled no contest and was sentenced to two life prison terms, however he was first serving a 40-year sentence in Texas for attempting to kill a Houston police officer.

In 1991, Pedro Covarrubias was charged by a grand jury with two counts of first-degree murder. This was more than seven years after the owners of the Wayside Inn Antiques were killed. Covarrubias was already convicted in federal court in connection with the robbery for bringing antiques across state lines. He was sentenced to 20 years. He was serving 15 years on drug charges.

​​Fast forward into the 21st century and the Wayside Antique shop is now the Antique Emporium. Since the day of the brutal crime, employees and shoppers have experienced paranormal activity within its walls.

A former employee, Ana described an incident while she worked there this way:

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I knew about the murders before accepting the job. I mean, everyone in Reddick knows what happened there, how awful it was. It was a bit spooky to work in a place where something like that happened, but it was a great opportunity at that time in my life. I had been at the shop for, maybe, two months

​​I was the newest staff member, so when they needed someone to cover the closing shift, I felt like it was my duty to take it over and learn the ropes. Usually a manager is with me, but he had to go home to take care of a sick child. He offered to call someone in for me, but it felt like a good time to test what I had learned about closing the shop, ya know?

Anyway, it was late and I had just finished ringing up the last customer of the day. I closed out the register, and started sweeping up the floor. I remember thinking I heard someone call my name as I worked... I stopped and listened, but didn't hear anything, but as soon as I started sweeping again, I heard it.

I won't lie, it frightened me. I tried to tell myself that if there were ghosts there, it would be Mr. and Mrs. Branum and that they had been good people. They wouldn't try to harm me or anything like that. I kept sweeping and my name was called more loudly. It was so loud and so clear, I started to think, well maybe another staff member had been there and I just didn't know it.

I set my broom down and walked into the back room. We keep upcoming items back there until we have processed them to sell. As I looked around, I was distracted by this beautiful antique wedding dress that had just come in. It was very pretty, very ornate, with a lot of lace detailing. Suddenly, all of the lights went out. The only light that remained seemed to come from a lamp on the other side of the dress. And hands started appearing from inside the fabric, as they were blindly searching for me. As I stood in horror watching them, a voice inside my head told me that they were victims... Victims of violent crime, marking the places where innocent people had lost their lives.

It was equal parts terrifying and heart breaking. I haven't been back to Reddick in quite a while, but I will never forget the Branums and others who had lost their lives to violence. 

​The following are stories told by those who visited the antique store which is open and still operating as of today:

~ I worked there for the original owners for twenty years. I can't tell you how many times I had random customers tell me that they had weird feelings or experiences in one of the upstairs rooms. It was a room that contained an antique bed from the 1700's. Also, it was very common for employees to hear footsteps and smell the distinctive pipe smoke of the store's late owner in the workroom in the back. (2014)

~ I visit this place a long time a go, about 1995 when I didn’t even know about the haunting. I experienced this in the second floor. I saw a beautiful little girl dressed like 1890 or 1900, about 7 , 8 years old. She was seated in a little antique rocking chair and next to a mirror and other furniture. She looked at me and stood up, walking close to me, when I said to her she was so beautiful, she had a pleasant smile, and she stared at me when I said many times 'you are so beautiful. You're dressed like Christmas, did your grandmom dress you?' I looked to my friends and son who was with me, and everybody enjoyed her presence, she was so real. No one knew until 20 years later that she was a ghost and not a real girl. She then took the stairs and in a strange position looked at me for the last time, and I went to my business. When I looked back she just was not on the stairs anymore. (2014)

~ About 10 years ago my husband, son, and I visited there. I suddenly heard a man’s voice call my name clearly. I answered and it called again. I thought it was one of them but it turned out they were way on the other side of the building downstairs, I was upstairs. (2014)

~ I still think and say a prayer for Mrs. Branum. I lived east of Gainesville and had friends who lived close to Wayside Antiques. I shopped there from the late 70’s to the 80’s. I still have a beautiful old desk that Mrs. Branum told me belonged to the Portuguese ambassador to Spain! She was always very nice and professional. I think 1985 was the last time I went there. I pray that she and her husband, whom I never met, are happy and together. I should have told you this. It must have been 1979, I went there with my daughter who was in her car seat. The entrance after the highway, was through trees and it went up to Wayside Antiques. It was very quiet but there was a semi there and I got a creepy feeling so I didn’t go in. But, that was years before the murders. Actually, those guys had no fear of being caught, since they were alone up on that property. (2015)

~ Most definitely something is there and I’ve visited several “haunted places” with no luck of an experience. I was out and about at the local flea market on I-75 and decided to travel north and stopped here. This is a gorgeous place inside. I was fine downstairs. I felt great. As soon as I made my way upstairs that’s when I felt sick to my stomach and got very dizzy several times almost knocking over precious antiques. felt like I was on a cruise ship getting sea sick. As soon as I left I was perfectly fine again. I really do believe something was heavily trying to attach itself to me. (2021)