Para-Monthly Review
April 2008
www.iprainc.net

As a research specialist and a sensitive Michelle brings to IPRA a deep understanding of spirit and the spirit realm. She is the mother of two boys and is happily married to Jeff. Michelle’s interest in paranormal research intensified when her visions became more frequent and with intense clarity. Seeking answers to the questions she had involving spiritual coexistence she joined IPRA in their quest for those answers. Watch Seekers of the Paranormal to learn more about this young lady.   www.iprainc.net www.wispexpo.com www.psychicjacqui.com

I.P.R.A. Research Specialist Michelle Vincent

The Paranormal Community is growing in leaps and bounds. With access to the Internet and cable television, one can almost always find either some interesting chat or television show to occupy their thoughts, time and mind. In my opinion, there is however one aspect of the paranormal, although still in its infancy, in which has a lot of room to grow and expand; I speak of Unity in the paranormal community.

Everyday, somewhere across the U.S. or other parts of the country there is a new paranormal investigating group venturing out into the unknown paranormal realm. Many of these groups are trying to make spirit contact and capture that one piece of evidence that will prove that we are cohabitated with here on the earthly realm or maybe they are just trying to have that one personal experience that will too make them a believer just like the paranormal enthusiast they have read about, heard of or witnessed on one of the many paranormal reality shows. With increasing interest in these group formations and the use of scientific technology, we have seen not only an increase in numbers but also a decrease in unity. All of this newfound attention has indeed caused a caring community among those interested in the paranormal to become somewhat “protective” of their evidence, research techniques and haunted locations.

Many paranormal enthusiasts’ that I have had the privilege of speaking with claim that the reason for their lack of sharing is because of evidence theft and the claim of being blamed for negative attention that could brand their group and/or name should they share a haunted location with another group and the group behave poorly.

This lack of unity will have a very negative affect on the pursuit of research and growth in the study of parapsychology. If one were to take a close look into any science, research efforts continue to make great strides due to each researcher putting their evidence out there. Placing their theories on the table so that a form of quantum comparison can be done and one can compare and find the similarities and the rationalization of the tabled facts, evidence and collected data.

With a lack of unity, we are and can potentially hold back our growth in our research efforts. We need to all come together as one and work on developing the means, methods and theories to support what we all know exist. There is strength in numbers!

Selfishness is a negative act, fear can be so bounding, over thinking can prevent clarity! Why not share our ideas, fear not what could happen and rely on each other to take some of the load off our group’s “plate”.

Take the I am Haunted online community for example, this wonderful networking opportunity brings so many of us together on a daily basis and it gives us the opportunity to compare our notes, theories, and allow an advisory opportunity to those of us on our spiritual journey. Have you ever wondered or do you remember what it was like before there was places like I am Haunted? The stigma that was and is associated with the paranormal and its believers left many of us very isolated. The unity that I am Haunted provides can and should be used as an example to all of the paranormal enthusiast in a means to unite us and our ideas together and to help us grow in the pursuit of truth in the research of the paranormal existence.

The next time you hesitate to share your story, personal experience or paranormal investigative techniques just remember one thing, there is and has always been a “pioneer” for every discovery but without growth, networking and the discovery itself, the pioneer remains nameless.

So reach out to the other paranormal groups and enthusiasts’’ and let’s grow, investigate and discover the unknown TOGETHER!

My name is Rochelle Evans. I am the founder of a Louisville, Ky. Based organization named The Paranormal Realm. I, along with my two very close friends and co-founders, Jeff Carlson and Robb Sheffer formed this organization about two years ago. The organization had a very slow birth and a very long planning stage.

The Paranormal Realm is a very professional group of individuals who are dedicated in the research and study of the paranormal. We are diverse in membership with many special gifts and attributes. We strive to offer all of our clients both those of the spiritual and physical plains a “complete” service and tailor fit all of our investigations to fit their needs. We employ the use of both the scientific and sensitive methods and techniques needed to effectively research the paranormal and its cohabitants. We never charge a fee for our services. Our two most supreme goals are paranormal awareness and paranormal unity. The Paranormal Realm is a strong supporter and member of many affiliate groups and/or organizations.

I am married and the proud mother of two beautiful and gifted children. They are the highlight of my existence and the true sense of my being. I feel very blessed to be going through this life with these little people. Thank you God!

You can view more about me, co-founders and The Paranormal Realm on the web by checking us out at: www.theparanormalrealm.org. Happy Haunting!

Skullduggery
By: Laurie Champion

I have been a paranormal investigator for over thirty years and in that time have come across all kinds of things, while investigating “Hostile Haunts” which is what I am known to specialize in. I am well versed in all the possible reasons and scenarios for an aggressive and hostile haunting. This story is that of a case I took on in February of this year, 2008.

We have all heard the stories and the seen the movies, where ghosts haunt because their burial site was desecrated. This is an old theme and good fodder for books and movies, but is there something to it? I will let you decide after reading this article. More importantly, I think we have to address a larger issue contained herein that is quite unsettling…the sale of human remains. I will start by giving you the case details.

I got a call from an artist who recently moved his aging mother into his home rather than have her go to an assisted living facility She was very much alert and in her right mind, but suffered from respiratory trouble. Now, he was concerned for her well being as apparitions were showing themselves to his mother and it was upsetting her greatly. He stated that he was aware of spirits in the home and that they had been there for about two years now. He heard them rather than saw them and was not really that confronted by it but his mother on the other hand was. So we went out there to see what we could do.

The reports included apparitions, crying in the night, voices and other disturbances. When we arrived, my daughter and I set up our recorders and an infrared camera. We, as we always do tried to communicate with the alleged ghosts via EVPs. While we were seated on the living room floor, I saw an apparition in the hallway near the bedroom, so I immediately got up to see what it was and started moving towards it. As it turned into the bedroom doorway, I called out to my daughter saying “Come here, I want you to see this.” The apparition vanished. This apparition looked like a small, young woman with long black hair who was holding her hand sort of over her face on one side. She was frail and tiny and gave me the sense that she was frightened by our presence.

Going back to review the tapes here and there during the EVPs sessions we discovered an EVP on the tape that took place just as I had called out to my daughter that said.” I don’t want her to see me like this!” Later we received another saying just” I don’t want her to see me.”

We received several other EVPs that night from three different spirits at different intervals. From what we could gather there was a male and another female. They helped to put together an interesting scenario for us. My daughter and I are sensitive’s. Not the overzealous mediums you see on television with the shoulder duster earrings and black hairnets. We are sensible, and skeptical in our investigations, but we were both getting the same impressions of an Asian girl from the apparition. Upon asking the client if he had anything in the home from Asia or if he knew an Asian girl that passed, he looked worried, and then he relayed some facts he should have told us in the first place. That he was in possession of a human skull. Before I go into those details, I would like to present this story to you from the ghost’s side of things.

Picture this: You are a petite woman who may have suffered some disfiguring abuses. You are frail and emotionally traumatized. You pass away at a young age, probably by violence of some kind. Men who discover that there is a market for human skulls pillage your resting place. Your skull travels across the world from person to person, is sold and then abandoned and finally winds up in the hands of an artist.

You, after wandering, confused and scared through the afterlife, find his home to be a safe and comforting place as he can hear your cries, and is consoling and accepting of your presence. You find two other spirits there as well who are protective and nurturing to you. You are shy, and in the habit of hiding your face, and do not want to be seen due to some past trauma. You and your spirit friends have been at home there with no harassment, from the artist who accepts your presence. You cannot have your skull returned to your resting place as now; no one knows where that was. Not even you, as so much time has passed and you have become lost to conscious memories.

Two paranormal investigators who are sensitive’s show up to talk to you and you are terrified, as you think they are there to make you leave the only home you know at this time. Even though that is not the case, you try to hide, using the other two spirits as your shield as they are stronger than you. All they and you really want is to be left alone to dwell in a mutual place of safety and comfort.

How would you feel if you were this spirit? What if you never found someone like the artist whose abode has given you and two newfound friends a safe haven. You know we really are so unaware of the things that we do in this world in the name of forensics, medical specimen study, and the like. What if spirits actually do not rest when their remains are desecrated in this way?

As it turned out we learned that this artist had been given the skull to use as a model to make a cast for some skull work he was doing for a job decorating a Gothic Nightclub. When he was through with the skull he called the man who had offered it to him, in order to return it, only to find his number was disconnected. He said that the man, when asked where he got the skull had replied that he bought it on the Internet, and that it had come from China. Now the artist is stuck with the skull and probably the haunting that came with it. He does not know what to do with the skull as he feels the only right thing would be to return it to it’s resting place, but he has no idea where that is and either does anyone else, except the people who took it in the first place.. Who has a right to sell someone's remains? What are the ramifications of bringing home stolen human remains? Well in this case at least it did not have a good outcome for all concerned.

When I went on the net to research and discovered that there are hundreds of sites that sell human bones. I was astounded and appalled. Now I understand that the medical field needs specimens for study, but these sites are not for the medical field. People buy human remains for all sorts of reasons, from simply the desire to have a macabre centerpiece for their coffee table to black magic rituals.

Most of these sites that sell this stuff are for the general public. These skeletons come from different places. Some come from mass graves in China, Thailand and India. Some come from Africa and South America. Some even come from the US from Jane and John Does that were never claimed. Yet all of them state that the bones were obtained legally. I do not know that grave robbing is legal in other countries or that the sale of human remains is legal in other countries. But I am very disturbed to know that the sale seems to be legal in this country.

There is a big market for skulls in this country, so what does that say about us? These skulls range from $350.00 for a partial skull, missing the lower jaw, up to $2000.00 for a deformed skull. An intact skull averages about $900.00, Talk about having a price on one's head! Is it any wonder that this has become a lucrative business all over the world? I am inclined to think that the grave robbing that goes on in some of these countries is done illegally, as most cultures have some respect for their dead, and probably would frown upon this.

Spirits form attachments to material objects like jewelry, a house, even furniture supposedly. Now how much more of an attachment would they have to the former home of their soul, that being their body? I am not the least bit surprised that a spirit might haunt a person who was in possession of a piece of that body, especially if it was pillaged by a grave robber. We have all heard of the curse of King Tut's tomb. Maybe this Karmic retribution is not limited to Kings, but applicable to every soul whose resting lace is disturbed should they find their eternal rest being disturbed. Who knows? How many ghost stories have been based on a spirit who is upset over his or her undiscovered body buried in a basement or other inappropriate place? I feel there is something to this connection with a spirit's rest and the mistreatment of their remains.

This case brings out another thing to think about as well, that I try to get people to consider all the time. Are so called “Hostile haunts” really an evil spirit or just a troubled or angry spirit. From what I have seen over the years the latter applies more often than not.

Here is the link to the EVPS from this case; which you can use to hear them on your computer, if you like.

http://www.esnips.com/web/Skullduggeryevps

My Trowbridge Experience 4/24-25/2007
By Eric Kline

I have investigated the unknown for almost two years. Only half of that time I have spent “opening” the door and paying attention to my natural gifts. The following experience is one of my early adventures while paying attention to my sixth sense.

I arrived at the building for class at around 6:50pm. Trowbridge Hall is located on the University of Iowa main grounds. I wanted to get there early. When I got there, it smelled good on the level that the classroom is on. It wasn’t all over that floor but it was strong when I did smell it and I didn’t think too much of it.

Class was over around 8:30pm. I stayed and talked with my instructor, Tom Marshall, and we started talking about the building. I told him about the areas that gave me strange vibes or creepiness. Just before this, during class, the door to the classroom shut with a little force. This happened when Tom left the classroom for a few minutes. He told me that the door was partially shut and it flat out slammed shut, which is hard to do because of the air resistance in that room. Another student and I knew about his claims and we were the only two in that room that thought about what Tom said. We shared looks and kind of smiled. The other thing that happened before we wondered the building was my ears shifted with a slight ringing. They did not pop like a typical pressure change (airplane ride) would cause them to do. The sound shifted from my right ear to my left. Along with a little ringing, I could hear well out of my left ear for a minute or so. This isn’t normal for me. I told Tom about it right when it happened.

The areas in the building that grabbed my attention are the sub-basement (where they used to store cadavers for dentistry) and an isolated area on the same floor as my class. I told Tom about these areas and he suggested we check them out. We walked over to the area on the same floor as the classroom. We started catching a scent of perfume that moved. Tom said it reminded him of lilac and roses. We captured the scent a few other times. We walked away from this area and started to smell it in areas that it wasn’t in before. Tom told me he thought it was following me. I told him that it very well could be. We got a third nose, a custodian, who walked with us for a few minutes and she caught that smell too. We couldn’t explain it.

The feel of this particular area was different to me. I asked Tom what he felt and if he felt different when he left that area. He told me he didn’t feel different. I walked away from this area of interest a few times and then returned. I did this for confirmation. There was a change almost every time. I felt relief when I walked away and heaviness, tummy-flutter when I got close to that area of interest. He let me go into the “blue room” which is a room on the other side of the wall of the “cubby, cove” area of where we were catching the smells. The first time I walked it there, I got the butterflies and heaviness severe enough that it almost made me want to step out of the room. Tom asked me what I was picking up. I told him that it was like trying to read in a moving vehicle. He immediately knew what I meant. A sick, discomfort… I told him I should test it by leaving this room and walking back. So I did this and was relieved to be out of there and came back and it wasn’t overwhelming discomfort like it was the first time. It did have a dizzy effect this time though. I told Tom it is almost like the heat wave appearance in the room. I can’t really explain it. When I stood still a couple times, it seemed like a cool rush of air moved by my right arm/hand. It wasn’t enough to make a big deal about, but I noted it to myself.

We left that room and were waiting for Diane so we could get her opinion. Diane is another T.A. and colleague of Tom’s. She also is a believer and sensitive. While we were waiting, I told Tom I was practicing on seeing auras. He wanted me to practice on him. I did. I told him that all I can see still is this white or clear outline. I had him walk around and I could see that the outline was dark for a second. I don’t know if it was dark brown. It appeared dark.

We decided to go up to the second floor to meet up with Diane. She was in the computer area of room 231, which gave us some EVPs earlier when I had a parabolic. She said that she told them that she didn’t want to be fucked with today. I asked her if anything happened after she said that, she said no. The room did feel fine to me. I stepped out into the hall and walked a little ways and it was slight movement, but something caught my eye toward the stairwell and then shortly after that something caught my eye at the OLD, turn of the century elevator. I peeked inside the little window of the elevator and seen nothing. I returned to room 231. We were in the process of looking up history of Trowbridge hall when I heard a pen/pencil drop and Diane was talking to herself, “Oh, no, that didn’t just happen…” I asked her if her pen fell or was it thrown? This seemed to surprise Diane. “How did you know!?” I told her I just felt I needed to ask. She told me that she went to reach for her pen and the darn thing flew and landed on the floor, distance of a couple feet.

We went back down to the area of interest and she didn’t seem to feel anything, I didn’t either. This same area grabbed her attention long before this adventure. She told me that she was talking to someone near this area and told that person she needed to walk to a different area to finish their conversation. This was another confirmation thingy for me. We both agreed on the same areas in the building. The other areas are the stair well and the sub-basement. We both agreed that we felt the need to look toward the stairwell each time we enter the hallway. I told her about the sub-basement. I told her that the area where they stored the cadavers didn’t creep me out. It was actually the main hallway that the storage area is connected to that gave me a feeling. She agreed and I thought that was awesome that we agreed.

I walked into Tom’s office and it felt fine. I asked him if this area was remodeled or newer. He thought it was some kind of attachment that was different then the main building. I told him that explained why his office felt normal. I told him that for me, it was like “interstate 80 on the other side of this wall.” I told him I don’t think anything will happen in this office. He said that nothing has happened. I told Diane about my interstate comparison, she agreed yet again!

Diane and I were in the hallway outside of my classroom and seen that there was a rapid, multiple flash of light that came from the stairwell. Only Diane and I seen it. It was obvious and bright. It reminded us of a fire alarm light system flashing. She even asked if there was a fire alarm and the custodian said no. We went to the stairs and didn’t see a fire light in the stairwell of that floor. We were going to rush upstairs to get something and the OLD elevator was not even with the floor, it was so messed up that it was up high enough for us to actually see the shaft. This wasn’t very comforting. I told Diane and Tom about earlier. Something caught my attention about the stairwell and the elevator when I was up in 231. And now the elevator was acting strange and a strange light was in the stairwell!

The time now was about 11:15pm. We were back on the floor of my classroom. We hadn’t smelled the smell of perfume for a long time. We went into another computer lab area across the hall from my classroom. She said it didn’t feel bad at all in this room. I walked in to it and it felt like it was embracing us. “A hug” was what I told Diane it reminded me of. She agreed with me once again. I tried to test this room to the hallway and it was different. I felt like I was on display to someone in the hallway and I stepped in the room and that feeling was gone. The feeling of display is like those old 1900s pictures of the creepy people looking at you with no emotion. This was the way I tried to explain it to Tom. Just after I told Diane and Tom how it felt in the hallway, I seen sudden movement on the window in that “comfort room.” It was something in the reflection that moved. Diane said, “What did I tell you about reflections here?” She did say that sometimes there is movement in the reflections. By this time they both wanted me to leave. It’s because this activity seemed to spike with my presence. It was almost midnight anyway by this time. Tom was going catch the bus. Tom said it was an interesting night and Diane jokingly blamed me for the strange night at Trowbridge. Having some gifts of my own, this comes as no surprise.

Is there a correlation between high levels of electromagnetic energy and anomalous photos taken with a digital camera? We have collected evidence that would indicate that this is so. Why not definitive, it is somewhat compelling. Back in the fall of 2006 we visited a location in Flemington where we documented significant photographic anomalies. We recently returned to the scene in an attempt to gather additional evidence to support some of those photographs. While we didn’t get the evidence we were seeking, we actually got something completely different.

Upon the preliminary investigation of the house originally, we discovered a very high level electromagnetic field centered on the electrical service box in the basement. Out initial EMF readings of were over 200mG all around the panel.

As stated, we discounted these photos as an anomaly based on the high EMF and the unnatural appearance of the photo. During the actual investigation, EMF readings peaked above 250mG and the anomalies took on an orb like appearance and turning slightly greenish in hue. In our follow up recently, similar photos were obtained using a different digital camera and different photographer. While the effect was less intense, it appeared non-the-less. A re testing of the EMF revealed the field to be significantly less than the original measurements (around 70mG), but still way above base readings.

This would lead one to the possible conclusion that intense EMF may cause a digital camera to print anomalous imaging due to electromagnetic interference with the video processor. I may also suggest that certain orb-like imagery and ecto imagery may be related to above normal EMF. We will have to repeat this type of test in the field further before issuing any findings, but so far it seems to be compelling. We will keep you posted on further developments. It may be that we encapsulate a camera inside a Faraday Cage to determine the nature of the effect in the future.

Note photos below

Interesting research would be to always to an EMF sweep of the room to establish base levels.

1. Check the area around the electrical panel for high EMF, Ion count, static electricity, Radiation, RF levels if possible. For sure check and monitor EMF.
2. Photograph the electrical panel from different angles and includes the EMF meter in the shot.
3. Continue with other aspects of investigations. You should document the team’s activities with video and audio for record keeping and verification of evidence, as well as to place a time frame on everything in the investigations.
4. Record findings and compare photographs later to see if any anomalies are present
5. Discuss findings.

The ramifications of this are enormous. A correlation between EMF and photographic anomalies may indicate that much of the phenomena we encounter in this field have a natural explanation. It also may indicate that there is an unknown source of EMF that may be the effect, cause, enabling factor or by product of a paranormal effect. It may also indicate that EMF feeds or intensifies paranormal phenomena, which would explain why some places are “haunted” and some are not. It will also require mapping EMF during an event, and trying to discover its source. It may indicate that a resonance is occurring between two or more dimensions, and the EMF burst is a reaction of that interface. The implications are incredible. We may have stumbled upon an example of the Zero Point Energy Field, or any number of a thousand other possible explanations.

It is imperative that we gather as much data as possible. Measure everything and document it. Measure your own homes, as it will establish viable control readings as well as possibly identifying wiring issues in your home that may be a fire hazard. What we do know, is if this is a real and not artifactual occurrence, then we will need to identify the sources of EMF in the field. While my team is already working on this, the possibilities are numerous, requiring measurement of every segment of the radiation spectrum, which will require new equipment configurations as well as protocols for detecting and measuring the possible sources. I believe that something is creating a resonance that allows two fields that don’t normally react to each other, interfere with each other. This resonance is creating an environment conducive to paranormal activity, by creating a portal for it, or feeding it. Or it could simply be normal laws of physics from an unknown as of yet source.

I don’t mind telling you that I am excited about this discovery. It is conceivable that the answer may open up a realm of Quantum Mechanics that has here-to-fore been relegated to pure theory. It may unlock the secrets to time travel as well as dimensional travel. If we can identify and measure the effects, then we can artificially recreate them. If we can recreate them, then it is possible to open threshold, at will, to the cause of what we term paranormal phenomena.

While traditional medicine continues to ply us with synthetic drugs and the pharmaceutical companies pad their pockets and dictate our health care, many are seeking alternative solutions to their health problems. For thousands of years our ancestors used and believed in the healing properties of plants, herbs and stones to bring balance and healing to their bodies and mind. This article is going to specifically deal with healing stones and chakras, how they work and how they can benefit your life. For thousands of years gemstones were used to balance the seven centers of energy in our bodies. By balancing these centers it allows us to open to healing and removing the underlying energy imbalances that may eventually lead to physical problems.

Picture of Polished stones used in healing kit

We are all a complex schematic of energy systems, which interact with each other. While it is easy with modern technology to diagnose the physical body when it comes to the energy fields surrounding us the task is not so apparent. Today there the technology of infrared scanning can photograph this aura and by exploring the color spectrum in that imaging we can determine which areas of our energy fields are out of balance allowing us to work to bring them into alignment.

Ancient Indian seers perceived seven centers of energy with a direct link to healing different parts of our body. These points are called chakras. Each chakra energy point has been assigned a color to enhance the process of balancing these centers.

Our aura is a subtle body; each level of the aura can be seen as a separate core, which works when in balance with the whole system to promote healing. A subtle body by definition operates on a different vibrational frequency. Much like instruments in a band.

The etheric body, an exact copy of our physical body acts a template for the physical organs. On a finer level are the emotional body and the mental body. Like the chakra system the subtle body interacts and flows between each point.

By placing stones on the seven chakra points and doing simple meditation we can open to healing. For the purpose of this article and to keep you from getting bored to tears I will talk a bit about each stone, their purpose and encourage you to do some research and purchase a set of stones to add to your cache of medical alternatives.

The chakra system was simplified in the West and each center was given a color scheme to the centers as I stated above. The color of the stones can be combined with the centers of the chakras to promote healing. Through observation and intuition, a person can determine which of their chakras are out of balance and work with the stones to promote the healing they need.

The first chakra center is located at the base of the spine. A black or red stone between your legs is used to balance physical energy, motivation and practicality, and to promote a sense of reality.

The second or sacral chakra is in the lower abdomen, below the naval. Use an orange stone here to balance creativity and to release stress and blocks in life that prevent enjoyment.

The third or solar plexus chakra is close to the bottom of the ribcage and a yellow or gold stone in this position clears your thoughts, reduces stress and anxiety, and works to enhance your self-confidence.

The fourth center of chakra base is in the center of your chest. Using a green stone here balances your relationship with others, the world, increases calm and creates a sense of direction in life.

The fifth center is at the throat. A light blue stone here helps to ease communication difficulties, express yourself and bring peacefulness.

The sixth or brow chakra in the center of the forehead uses a dark blue or indigo stone. This center increases understanding, access to ideas and promotes intuitive skills and memory.

The seventh chakra is the crown situated just a little way above the top of the head. A violet stone placed in this position integrates and balances all aspects of the self-physical, mental, emotional and spiritual centers.

By incorporating alternative healing into our lives we can enhance our quality of life and eliminate our continued need to depend on synthetic medicines to heal us. We have always held the ability to heal why not use it. This being said, it does not mean this is a replacement for the modern technology used today in medicine, it is however a powerful tool to enhance what your doctors are using to heal you.

The Fancher Road House
By Kristy Hinkle

In 1997 I began dating the guy who lived in the house next door to my family’s home on Fancher road out side of Westerville Ohio. It took a few months, but we were both out fresh out of high school when I started sleeping over at his house a lot. From the first time I stayed over with him I knew something was not right with that house. The first night there we were up late watching television we fell asleep after turning off the lights and the bedroom television.

In the middle of the night, I woke up to a noise I heard coming from the hallway. It sounded as though someone had hit the wall near the bedroom door. Initially I assumed it was one of his parents or their friends stumbling around after a party, so I went out to make sure no one was in need of help, but there was no one there. I thought it was possibly the dog wondering around but when I found her, she was where she could always be found, asleep on the couch.

I went back into Jessey’s bedroom, and went back to sleep. The rest of the night I slept well, I mentioned it to Jessey in the morning, but he told me that I was hearing things which did not surprise me at all as I am used to being told that by this time. Many times when I would stay over there, I would feel apprehensive about going into the hall way after the lights went out. There were no light in the hall way, I did not know why I would feel this way, but I just did, and I would not tell Jessey about it, because he would just say what he had always said ‘it’s just your imagination’.

I put up with it, and just stopped leaving the bedroom at night for another few months. Then Jessey’s parents decided to file for divorce. Neither one of them had the means to care for the home or pay the mortgage on their own. At this time Jessey and I were both working full time jobs. They offered the house to us and we accepted. We agreed to pay the mortgage while they went their separate ways.

The house was just a small three-bedroom ranch style house with two bedrooms at the end of the hallway and the master bedroom off the back of the kitchen. The living room was fairly large for the small house, it had an addition off to one side of it, and making it twice the size it originally was when built.

After the first few months went by, and though still slightly apprehensive about living there and walking around at night, nothing had happened. I assumed it must have been my imagination all those things I heard when just sleeping over. After a long while in that house and not having any problems, I was to the point where I could stay wake late at night alone. Our friend Andy moved in with us and took one of the back bedrooms, he would be up with me late at night most of the time. He worked nights at this time and on his nights off he would watch movies with me but on the nights he worked, if I wanted to stay up after Jessey went to bed, I was on my own. Of course since the apprehensive feeling went away I was fine staying up late alone.

It came as a shock to me when I stayed up late in the summer 1999. Jessey had to work overtime the next day, and I was off for the weekend. I still remember this as though it was only last week, I was sitting on the couch in the living room, flipping through channels trying to find something interesting. I saw a movement out of the corner of my left eye so I turned my head thinking that Jessey had gotten up and was walking out of the hallway. To my surprise Jessey was not there, no one was. I did not think too much of this, it was dark in the house my eyes were playing tricks on me.

It was a few months after that I found out that I was pregnant with my first child and we decided that we wanted to keep the baby in our room with us, but the room we were in was too small to put a crib in, so Jessey and I moved into the Master bedroom which was being used for storage, but was twice the size of the one we were in.

I could never sleep well in that room, it was the most uncomfortable I had been in the entire house. There was always the feeling that someone was watching me. That someone was in the room with me even when I was there alone. I would make excuses not to stay back in that room much. I would stay up late, and watch television in the living room. The noises picked up again and the noises were not centered in that room. It was spreading through the house; I was uncomfortable and felt as though I was being followed around the house, no matter where I went. Many times I heard the knocking on the hallway wall like I had heard that first night in that house. Jessey would tell me that I was hearing things; with me being pregnant he thought I was getting paranoid. It was not until I was home alone at night Jessey had gone out, and Andy was at work. I sat alone in the living room, with only the kitchen light and the television on, I saw a light coming from the hall way. It was a bright white light. I knew there were no lights on down there. Andy was not home, the other room was empty and the bathroom door was closed. I slowly stood up, and slowly walked towards the hallway. Once I got around the corner I saw a white mist in the shape of person. I gawked at this light for a few seconds, I felt as though the breath had been sucked out of my lungs, and I was fighting to get it back. I could not breath, I could not speak. I just stood there for what seemed to be an eternity. The white mist moved down to the end of the hallway and disappeared into the door of what used our bedroom that we had given to Andy when we took the master bedroom. Once the thing in the hallway had vanished, I grabbed my smokes and headed out the door. I ran to my mother’s house, which was still next door to me. I sat there waiting until I saw Jessey’s car pull up. I did not tell anyone what I had seen, but I did not like to be in the house alone at night after that. As the time passed and it was nearing the baby’s due date it seemed as though the activity picked up. Jessey and Andy still had not seen or heard anything that I had, though at times one or both of them were right in the room with me when I would experience things. I think they were both convinced that I was losing my mind. I had be taken off of work and put on bed rest due to a few minor complications; I ended up being alone in the house more than ever before after that. One day as Andy slept and Jessey was working I had to make one of many trips to the bathroom. While in the bathroom I could hear what sounded like metal rattling on metal. I looked over at the washer and dryer where I had left a butter knife that I had used to help scrape a stain out of one of Jessey’s work shirts. The butter knife appeared to be vibrating, but neither the washer nor dryer were on which would be what usually caused it. As I looked at this knife rattling on top of the dryer and shaking. The shaking grew more intense, and the butter knife shot off of the dryer and hit me blade first in the left leg. Luckily it was only a butter knife and left no mark. That scared me though, and I ran out of the house as fast as I could at seven months pregnant. Again I waited at my mom’s house next door for Jessey to get home.

Still convinced that I was losing it, Jessey tried repeatedly to convince me that there was nothing wrong with that house. He had lived in that house all his life, and had never seen or heard anything out of the ordinary. Hearing this I began to think maybe I was going crazy and my mind was overreacting.

There had been several people who stayed over at the house during the years, and some of them had left in the middle of the night, and never come back. They would always give some excuse as to why they could not come over even in the daytime.

In October my first child was born, and I was very nervous about having him in that house. To keep him safe, or so I thought, I kept him in my room with me instead of putting him in the spare room. Two weeks after he was born, I woke up in the middle of the night when he did. I fed him and rocked him on my lap in my bed, and watched television. After a while, I was sure he was sound asleep and I was ready to put him back in his own bed. I noticed that my lap became light, and when I looked down the baby was gone. He was no longer in my lap. I jumped up and ran over to the baby’s crib only to find that he was still lying there sound asleep.

Now I was convinced that I was suffering from a sever case of exhaustion. The first thought that crossed my mind was, “Man I need some coffee.” So I turned to do exactly that, make a pot of coffee.

The baby’s crib was up against the wall, near the bedroom door, I turned to walk out the door and felt a hand on my shoulder. I thought it was Jessey so I turned to see him and he was not there. Instead it was a brightly lit woman glowing white, the glow lit up most of the room. Her face looked as though it was in an advanced stage of decomposition, and her dress was tattered and torn. The only way I could describe her to people is that she looked like the librarian from Ghostbusters the Movie, when she transformed into that hideous being.

After turning to face this woman she swiftly grabbed me around the neck and began to choke me. She hurled me backwards toward the door. I slammed into it and fell into the wall to my left, and into the side of the babies crib. This woke him up and he started crying. All of the noise woke up Jessey who helped me up, and picked up the baby. We went into the kitchen where I proceeded to tell him what had happened and he of course told me I was dreaming however the marks on my neck told a different story. On the side of my neck there were finger marks, and on the back it looked as though her fingernails had dug into the skin. The baby had scratches on his face as well, there were three total. One next to his eye and one near his eyes on either side of his nose.

After this incident, I contacted a Pagan High Priestess, (who refuses to be named) She helped me get a few items that she said I would need to do a cleansing of the home. I walked out of the shop with a White Sage Smudge Stick, Sea Salt, and a crystal. This she said would help me to rid the home of negativity.

(This ritual has never been discussed in public or written down by me)

I stayed out of that room for a few days; I needed to gather myself before I went on to do this cleansing. I made the baby sleep in a bassinet in the living room with me, and then when I was ready to do the cleansing, I waited until Jessey was at work and the baby was with his grandmother.

I set up my Altar table in the bedroom, lit three of the four white candles and one black one. I put the black one in the center of the four white ones as instructed, and put the crystal next to it. I did what I was supposed to do, according to the priestess. I put a bit of sea salt into a chalice of water, and walked around the entire room with it, sprinkling drops around the room. I walked with the White Sage Smudge stick around the room, following the same motions. I began the incantation to trap the negative entity inside the circle. I sealed the circle, and spoke the incantation to attract the negativity into the center of the white candles, using the black candle to attract it. When I felt as though I had done what I was supposed to do, I lit the final white candle to seal the negativity inside the smaller circle on my altar table. Finishing the final phrase of the incantation I forced the negative spirit into the crystal, which I followed up by sealing in a medicine pouch that was filled with Sand and sage. I then dug a hole in the ground in the furthest corner of my back yard that I could get to, filled it with sea salt and deposited the pouch inside and black candle inside. I covered it with more sea salt, and then topped it off with dirt. I marked the spot with a flat stone that I found laying on the ground close to me, and swore over the small burial place that no negativity would ever enter my home again. I took the remaining sea salt, and walked around the perimeter of my yard and then again around the outside of the house. After that, I never had to deal with a negative entity in that house again. There were still strange things happening in that house, but nothing that felt threatening to me or anyone else. After a total of six years in that house, we moved and bought our own house in Newark Ohio, but that is a story for another day.

Spirit Fest

Joplin Paranormal Research Society is a professional investigative group based in Joplin, MO. We offer our services free of charge and conduct investigations for most types of haunting. The group was founded in 2006 and still going strong. We conduct our investigations from a scientific perspective, although some psychic events have happened to members during investigations.

We are close with a lot of paranormal groups in the surrounding area and never really get a chance to meet, so I’ve decided to organize an event for people with an interest in the paranormal. We’ve invited local paranormal groups and others with experience in various paranormal fields to speak about their groups and their encounters. There will also be several bands providing live music, tons of vendors and food and refreshments while you enjoy the atmosphere with swimming and camping out all night. So bring your camping gear, bathing suits, and B.Y.O.B. It will be an event for everyone to enjoy.

The location of the festival is a beautiful, fairly new campsite across from Zan’s Creek called “The Beach”. The cover is 7 dollars per person and 12 for overnight.

There is a handmade cave made by Indians on the campground and it is believed that the top of the cliff where the apartments were built was an Indian burial ground, but is yet to be confirmed. There have been complaints of paranormal activity from several tenants. Also, there has been activity that has happened on the campsite, Phil the owner of the grounds claims, “I was standing next to the creek when I felt someone/something put their hands on my shoulders one night yet there was nobody there“.

The J.P.R.S. members will be spending the night at the campsite to do an investigation and sleeping inside the small Indian cave.

You can find more information on Spirit Fest on our myspace page.

Darlene, the founder of J.P.R.S. started the group with interest to help others with paranormal problems, just as she has had many times in her life. “This was something I have always wanted to do, and I love to research the historical buildings in this area”. The group has been to many of the popular haunted places in the Joplin area, including Peace Church Cemetery, The Prosperity School Bed and Breakfast, and the Kendrick House.   Dar, The Founder and Lead Investigator of the Joplin Paranormal Research Society, Standing outside of the slave house at the Kendrick House in Carthage, MO.