'Extreme' Tennessee haunted house operator accused of real-life violence

Russ Alan McKamey, the owner of the controversial McKamey Manor haunted house attraction in Tennessee, is facing criminal charges, including two counts of attempted murder, rape, and domestic assault.

According to Lawrence County charging records, McKamey was arrested on Friday, July 19, following a series of alleged incidents last week.

The alleged victim's identity and relationship with McKamey have not been disclosed.

Online records indicate that the first alleged murder attempt occurred on Wednesday, July 17, followed by an assault on the next day, July 18. On Friday, July 19, McKamey allegedly attempted to kill the woman again and raped her. The arrest affidavit, as reported by WKRN, states that the woman lost consciousness after both alleged murder attempts.

McKamey Manor, famous for its intense fright techniques, has faced criticism in the past. In November, the Tennessee Attorney General's Office started looking into the attraction after a Hulu documentary brought attention to claims made by visitors who said they were scared during tours.

The Attorney General's letter to McKamey, shared by The Tennessean, mentioned allegations of visitors being subjected to "horrors" such as "getting dragged via heavy chains or locked into confined spaces while water pours in."

District Attorney Brent Cooper told WKRN about additional concerning incidents. "A witness alleged they saw a woman dragged behind a vehicle," Cooper said. He also mentioned another witness report of "a woman being put in a vehicle against her will."

WKRN previously reported that authorities had been called to McKamey Manor on several occasions, but no charges have been filed against McKamey regarding the attraction until now.

Initially, McKamey posted a $1,000 bond. However, WKRN reports that police later set his bond at over $100,000 due to the multiple charges. It remains unclear if McKamey posted the larger bond amount.

As of this report, online charging records do not indicate a plea, and attempts to reach McKamey's attorney were unsuccessful.