Community Outrage Sparks Change in Local Ghost Tour
Commercial ghost tours are common in historic cities across the nation. But last month, a ghost tour company advertised a decades-old homicide as the “Nightmare on Live Oak” and planned to include details of the cold case on one of their tours through New Smyrna Beach.
Dating back to 1991, the still-unsolved homicide of Jennifer Duffy remains under investigation. While no new leads have surfaced, the case stays open with local law enforcement as the family continues to push for awareness and renewed attention.
Remembering Jennifer Duffy and the Unsolved 1991 Homicide
The controversy began when residents, family, and friends noticed that one of the stories featured on the ghost walk appeared to reference the Duffy family’s case. Lifelong NSB residents Amber Carter, daughter of Jennifer Duffy, and Deja Duffy, Jennifer’s niece, learned about the tour through social media after a friend sent Carter a link to the event’s description and ticket sales.
“The description was insensitive and untrue, stating that ‘haunting ethereal figures’ are forever bound to Live Oak Street,” Carter said. Seeing her family’s tragedy promoted as part of the tour, Duffy said she was driven to act out of respect for her late relatives and to uphold her family’s dignity. “It deeply disturbed me that a company would be telling stories and making profit off of our name,” she said.
City Officials and Residents Unite for Respectful Storytelling
City officials and community members quickly rallied behind Carter and Duffy. Some contacted city officials, calling for sensitivity toward surviving relatives and the ongoing investigation. “The support was overwhelming,” Carter said. “I heard from people I have not connected with in years.”
According to Sunbiz.org, the ghost tour company is registered in Orlando, Florida. While its business license allows operations within the city, it is not affiliated with NSB’s tourism efforts. Vice Mayor and Zone 2 Commissioner Lisa Martin stated that upon hearing of the incident, city staff, commissioners, and departments—including City Manager Kevin Cowper and the New Smyrna Beach Police Department—all worked together to urge for change.
Within days, the tour company reviewed the segment and confirmed it would be removed, stating publicly, “We hear you and the town of New Smyrna Beach. We did not mean to do any harm.” The tour now operates with a revised route and updated historical narratives.
A Lesson in Community and Compassion
For Duffy, the experience redefined what “community” truly means. As New Smyrna Beach continues to grow, she admits it can be easy to worry about locals drifting apart, but the outpouring of support proved otherwise. “Community means sticking together, and that’s exactly what everybody did,” she said.
Carter and Duffy also expressed gratitude to those who stood by their family. “We would like to thank every single individual who reached out and helped us with this situation,” Duffy said. “Even if you just liked or commented on the posts, you helped get the attention we needed for the script to be changed. Amber and I are overwhelmed with the love from our community.”
The quick response to this issue underscores how effective community engagement can be. At a time when New Smyrna Beach faces complex discussions about its future, it’s a reminder that residents’ voices still have the power to shape the city’s direction and its values.
