According to Cut, Kaplow had told a story to his students over the years about a particular house in Westfield and his obsession with it. A former student even stated that Kaplow had this idea to start writing letters to the house — not the occupants, but to the house, whilst another student said Kaplow once told them he had sent more than 50 letters to the house in question! According to reports, John List laid the bodies of his family members on top of sleeping bags in the ballroom of the home, having composed a note to his pastor, stating that he feared his family, who were confronted with a world full of evil and poverty, would turn from God and he wanted to ensure their safe arrival in heaven. 18 years later, it turned out that List had changed his identity and moved to Colorado under an alias, before being captured and sentenced to five life terms in prison.