Haunted Canadian County

Womack-McCoy.

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION TO PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION

Through the centuries, people from across the world have shared their ghostly encounters. When you become involved with ghost hunting or, as we like to call it, paranormal investigating, you must first understand what a spirit or haunting truly is. Reaching the paranormal has become more popular and widely more accepted over the past decade due to the recent rise in paranormal shows on television. Even though most of the shows are over dramatized and some even faked for ratings, the fact is that paranormal activity does occur. Just keep in mind that not everything that happens is paranormal. When investigating, it is best to use a scientific view and see if you can find a reason why such things might be occurring. For instance, is the knocking sound you are hearing coming from a loose window screen or a tree limb hitting the house? Did the door that just slowly open have a weak catch that is easily moved or has the house settled, causing it to pitch and make the floor uneven? Often a strange image in a picture can be caused by a light flare or reflection. Please keep in mind that dust particles captured on film do not constitute an orb. It is also necessary to do your research prior to ever investigating, not only on the location but in the paranormal field as well. It’s hard to conduct a proper investigation if you don’t know what you’re doing or even what you are dealing with.

There are several different types of hauntings, as well as different terms being used in the field of paranormal research. What equipment you may choose to use will depend on the location and what type of haunting it is. To help you better understand some of our experiences, we will first discuss the type of hauntings written about in this book and some of the equipment we often use.

What is a ghost or spirit? The study of the paranormal is still in its early stages, even though it has been in research for the past two centuries. Most of what we know, or think we know, is based on theory and personal experiences. Much like the study of medicine, it will take us more time to possibly be able to explain and prove or disprove the existence of a ghost. The present theory behind the existence of a ghost is that it is a person who has passed on, leaving their earthly body behind while their spirit moves on to another plane of existence. Scientists have proven that each one of our cells contains a small battery pack called ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is a molecule in the nucleotide. The molecule is able to store and transmit energy within the cell. The question is, when our body dies, where does that energy go? Many people believe that it is that energy that is our actual soul, and that the soul leaves the body, which causes the body to die. For years, when someone would pass, a family member or even nurses I have worked with in the past have opened a window so the spirit would have a way to leave. Many cultures still cover all the mirrors in the house so the spirit won’t become trapped in their glass. Is it possible that certain spirits don’t cross over to the other realm, and that’s why so many people are claiming to see ghostly apparitions to this day? To better understand a haunting, we must figure out what type of haunting it actually is.

One type of haunting we often encounter is called an intelligent haunting, which is when you come in contact with a spirit that can interact with you. For example, if a spirit responds to the knock test—a test where you knock a certain number of times or use a special rhythm and then ask the spirit to repeat it for you—then it is considered an intelligent haunting. These types of spirits are also known to interact by moving objects, turning on lights or setting off sensors on command.

A photographic haunting, or residual haunting, is just the opposite of an intelligent haunting. It never interacts, and it plays over and over like a scene from a movie. For example, if you witnessed a woman in a long blue dress walking up the stairs during a certain type of day or night but she never turned to acknowledge you or interact but is always seen doing the same activity, then she is a photographic haunting. Photographic hauntings are believed to be caused by a large burst of energy caused during a person’s life where they leave an ever-lasting imprint on time, much like a photograph or movie. A person’s feelings can send out a large charge of energy, often marking the area with what appears to be an imprint on time.

A poltergeist haunting, also known as a noisy ghost, may or may not be an actual spirit. I do believe that spirits can manipulate the atmosphere and move objects by using a large amount of energy and force, but I also believe that some people do have the power of telekinesis without even realizing it. After all, science has proven that we only use a small percentage of our brains’ capability, and some people use even less. These cases are most often found when a young teenager is involved. It is believed that when teenagers are going through life changes, their emotions and energy are out of whack, causing an energy shift that can, in turn, move objects. If there is a poltergeist haunting being caused by an actual spirit, then it is more likely haunting that particular person and not the location. That being said, some intelligent hauntings can produce poltergeist activity as well.

A demonic haunting is exactly what it sounds like: a demonic. A demon is something that has never been human. The word demonic originates from the Latin word daemonicus, referring to a supernatural being with superhuman powers. It is considered to be a spirit intermediate between God and humans associated with Lucifer, better known as Satan, an outcast angel from heaven. Reports of demonic possession have occurred for centuries, and it has been claimed that some people have even died from demonic possession. Over the years, I have met several paranormal teams that claim to have come across demonic cases. Even though we have seen a rise in cases, most people jump to calling a haunting demonic prior to learning all the facts. A demonic haunting is a rarity and often is nothing more than just an angry spirit or one trying to make someone believe it is more powerful than it truly is.

To try to determine if a haunting truly exists and what type of haunting it may be, we use several different pieces of equipment. Cameras—both still frame as well as night-vision video cameras—are always essential for gathering possible paranormal activity. The downfall to using a camera is the capturing of orbs. Orbs are bright balls of light often seen flying through the air. They can take on different colors, but they can also be mislabeled by paranormal researchers or enthusiasts. Many different things can cause an orb effect on camera; usually it’s dust particles in the air, but they can also be caused by moisture, bugs and even cobwebs. Another known abnormality that can occur on film is called a rod. It’s often produced by cameras capturing an elongated artifact of something moving quickly in the air. It is often associated with cryptozoologists and ufologists in the study of UFOs, but some paranormal researchers associate it with a possible spirit flying through the area. An SLS camera can also be used to determine shadow movement using a Kinect software, found in your common Wii video games, to form a stick outline to show movements of someone or something walking through a space.

Voice recorders are always used in hopes of gathering an EVP, or electronic voice phenomenon. It is believed that a voice recorder can pick up sound waves on various levels, making it possible for spirits to communicate with us. I still remember the time I captured my first EVP. There are three types of EVPs: Classes A, B and C. Class A is an EVP that is so clear that you can tell exactly what is being said. Class B is a recording where you can make out bits and pieces of what the spirit is saying, and Class C is where you can hear that something is being said but you can’t hear it clearly enough to make out what it is saying.

Another popular piece of equipment we use are EMF (electromagnetic field) detectors. There are a few different versions of the EMF detector. The K2 and ghost meter, also known as an electromagnetic detector, detect electromagnetic energy in the area. The theory behind using this device is that spirits leave behind an energy field in the area they may be in or may have been in. It is also used as a piece of equipment to interact with spirits by having them manipulate the device to light it up or make it sound. Unfortunately, this device can also pick up on nonparanormal activity such as energy caused by cellphones, lights, electrical equipment, police radios, CB radios or walkie-talkies, often giving off false readings. It’s best to always use two different types of equipment to help substantiate any possible activity that might occur.

The FLIR (forward-looking infrared) camera detects infrared energy (heat) and converts it into an electronic signal. It then takes that signal and produces a thermal image on a monitor or screen, often showing the outline of an object or spirit. It also helps to outline cold spots. It is theorized that spirits will use the energy in the air to help manifest, leaving behind a cold spot.

The Parascope, created by