Pine Grove Cemetery: Where Nightmares Live

By: Chris Setterlund, October 18, 2011

Chris Setterlund - Truro's Pine Grove Cemetery hosts graves dating back to the 1820's, but became famous for murders and paranormal activity after 1969.

1 photos

Cemeteries are often associated with fear and apprehension, no matter where they are.  But Pine Grove Cemetery in Truro may be the scariest spot on Cape Cod due to the events that are purported to have happened there. 

The name Antone Costa may not ring a bell to those born after the 1960’s, but his name is well known as being the most infamous serial killer in Cape Cod history.

In 1969, Costa was charged with four counts of murder for the horrifying mutilations and subsequent deaths of Susan Perry, Sydney Monzon, Patricia Walsh, and Mary Anne Wysocki.  He was sentenced to life in prison in 1970 and committed suicide in his cell four years later. 

The mutilations consisted of cutting the bodies up into many pieces and removing organs such as the heart. There are even rumors of cannibalism.

Costa’s crimes were so shocking that famed author Kurt Vonnegut compared him to Charles Manson in his collection of essays Wampeters, Foma and Granfalloons. 

The serial killer has a connection to my own family, as my Aunt Susan spoke with him one night at the emergency room at Cape Cod Hospital. 

“He came in complaining of stomach cramps,” she recalls.  “I think he was just trying to set up an alibi since the bodies were found only a few days later.”

These terrible murders are reported to have taken place at Pine Grove Cemetery, a very secluded area off of Old County Road in Truro.  The word ‘secluded’ is driven home when you step foot on the grounds and feel the silence.

The despicable acts reportedly took place in a crescent-shaped brick crypt located at the end of the cemetery’s dirt road. It is in this area that some strange things take place. 

In 2007, The New England Society of Paranormal Investigators (NEPSI) did a little investigating of their own at Pine Grove, with some interesting results.

Using a K2 Meter to record Electronic Voice Phenomena, NEPSI received answers to several questions posed to potential spirits. There was also an incident involving one person losing all battery power in both his camera and microphone at the same time as a cold spot moved through the area.  This is believed in paranormal circles to be caused when a spirit uses all surrounding energy to manifest itself.

This very same incident happened to me when I visited Pine Grove.  Upon entering the infamous crypt, I snapped a couple of photos with my phone and sent them to a friend.  Within the next minute, my full phone battery was dead and I was left alone, with only the misty dusk surrounding me.  A terrifying high-pitched whistle seemed to emanate from next to my head, but there was nothing around to be seen.

These strange happenings may be common or uncommon.  One thing is for certain though: a trip to Pine Grove Cemetery at dusk is a frightfully perfect way to enjoy the Halloween season. 

Remember to expect the unexpected!