Parents ignored daughter's 'Monster' fears - until they uncovered the truth

In a startling turn of events, a family's century-old home in Charlotte, North Carolina, became the unexpected residence for an astounding number of honey bees – more than 50,000 of them. Ashley Massis Class, the homeowner, initially dismissed her 3-year-old daughter Saylor's claims of hearing "monsters" in her bedroom, but a beekeeper's investigation revealed the truth behind the child's persistent fears.

For eight long months, Saylor insisted on hearing strange noises coming from the wall of her room, causing her to become increasingly terrified. Concerned parents Ashley and Chris Class tried to reassure their daughter by engaging in a game where they provided her with a "monster spray" – a bottle of water she could use to ward off the imaginary creatures. Little did they know Saylor's claims were rooted in reality.

As a renovation project, the family purchased the 99+-year-old home in Charlotte three years ago. To their surprise, the walls harbored a thriving colony of honeybees. Ashley initially thought she saw yellowjacket wasps flying in and out of the attic above her daughter's room, which sparked her concern. Upon consulting pest control professionals, they identified the insects as endangered honeybees and recommended contacting a beekeeper for assistance. 

The first two beekeepers failed to detect the bees' presence. However, Curtis Collins, the third beekeeper they reached out to, had a different tactic and that was cutting a hole in one of the walls.

 He informed Ashley that a hole would need to be cut into the wall to investigate further. When he did so, a remarkable sight unfolded – bees began pouring out, unveiling the massive colony that had taken up residence in Saylor's room.

Using a thermal camera, Collins discovered an 8- to 9-foot section of hive within the wall, devoid of insulation – a perfect environment for the bees to thrive. The bees had been entering through a tiny hole in the attic, and their presence coincided with Saylor's initial reports of hearing "monsters" in September.

Collins set out on the difficult task of eliminating the bees over the course of several days, extracting 20,000 on the first day and another 20,000 three days later. According to his estimations, there were between 50,000 and 65,000 bees in all, which was a record colony size for him during his beekeeping career.

While the bees were successfully relocated to a sanctuary, the aftermath left the family facing significant damage and repair costs. Ashley Class estimates a staggering $20,000 in expenses, none of which is covered by their home insurance. The 100-year-old plaster walls will need to be demolished, rewiring and insulation will be necessary, and the attic and Saylor's room will require patching and repainting.

Despite the challenges, the Class family found solace in validating Saylor's initial concerns. They explained the situation to her, allowing her to listen to the buzzing of the bees and confirm that it matched the "monster" sounds she had been hearing. Ashley reassured her daughter that "adults can make mistakes," acknowledging the oversight in dismissing her fears.

Saylor now affectionately refers to Collins as the "monster hunter" and has overcome her night terrors, although she has yet to return to her bedroom as the bees continue to attempt repopulating the area. Collins makes regular visits to monitor the situation, as Ashley can still hear the persistent buzzing of the determined insects.

While the incident may not be fully resolved, it has undoubtedly brought relief to the family, particularly for young Saylor, whose childhood fears were not merely the product of imagination but a real-life encounter with nature's remarkable yet sometimes unwelcome inhabitants.