Maggie, Part 4

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Continuation of a fictional story based on some of the author's favorite TV personalities and actual events...

Callae, one the Stanley's staff members and who called the teams to the hotel, checked in on the investigations.  She happened to arrive while Ben, Bill, and Lanisha were discussing the strange voice they recorded and played it back for her before returning to the room.  "Do you mind if I stick around and watch through the monitors?" she asked.  Ben responded, "Of course not, we may need all the help we can get with this case."  

Ben and Lanisha returned to the room while Bill and Callae watched for any anomalies on the cameras.  What the team didn't know was that they had a third helper, Maggie, guarding the area and ready to help however she could.  As soon as Ben settled on the bed for another EVP session, he felt lightheaded and short of breath.

"It's happening again."
"Do you feel sick?"
"Sort of but this time I'm finding it hard to breathe.  I feel like I should leave again but I don't want to give in to this."

Maggie could feel the man's prescence and the overwhelming feeling of dread and dispair.  Why are you doing this? she thought.  And suddenly, she heard a male voice respond, I hated life and all that it brought.  Others need to be warned.  Maggie discovered that spirits could communicate each other; not with voice but with thought, emotion, and the surrounding natural energy.  Maggie knew she had to help and she also knew that Callae had more information than she realized.  It was perfect that Callae came to join so that Maggie could help her fit the pieces together.  It only took one lost soul to disturb the hotel's peaceful history. 

It came out of no where for Callae.  As she watched Ben struggle to keep his cool in the room, she realized that this was no ordinary experience and there was only one extraordinary occurance at the hotel since she had worked there.   

"Bill, a man named John committed suicide in the hotel last year.  He smothered himself with a pillow and was found lying on the floor of his room.  All of this could be because of him."  Bill sat back and contemplated this idea.  Could it really be just that simple?  After thinking back to the experiences, Bill agreed. "The picture, the heavy breathing, the unpleasant feelings, what Ben is experiencing, and even the 'help him' could all be related.  It makes sense."

Maggie had helped; she had connected with Callae in a brand new way that allowed her to share thoughts, almost like telekinesis.  It worked and Maggie felt optimism that they could now help John.  However, this made him even more angry and eager to share his anger.

Bill and Callae joined the other two and Callae explained what had happened.  The team agreed to call the TAPS members and formulate a plan of how to handle the case.  Jason and Grant arrived quickly and decided that this case had become more about collecting evidence but about resolving the haunting.  Since Lanisha and Ben had already experienced the spirits that were present, Jason asked them to be in the room with he and Grant. 

"If someone is in the room with us, show us a sign of your presence" demanded Jason.  Suddenly the team heard a series of words they could not make out; a whispering loud enough to hear but not clear enough to understand.  Jason replied in a stern voice, "If that is you, make yourself known."  Without pause, the table Grant was sitting at suddenly lifted off the floor!  Stunned by the experience, Grant stood up, almost knocking his chair over, and stared at the table which was now almost two feet in front of him.  Ben, as shocked as Grant, slowly muttered "I've never seen anything like that."  "I have" answered Grant and Jason in unison. Jason continued, "We've experienced malacious spirits who have not found happiness and need help, even when they don't think they need help."

Maggie's new experiences taught her that she could intervene and help in a way she never understood until now.  She could interact with the living through touch, sound, thought, and with positive energy.  She grew up believing that good always won over evil and she now believed that spirits could battle in the afterlife. 

Is that your name? John? Maggie asked to begin her communication.  And is that what happened to you?  Silence filled the space between them. John, you have to believe me when I tell you, you don't have to be this way.  This existence can be very pleasent for you, if you let it.  What happened was horrible but it is time to move on.

NO! Shouted John.  I don't WANT pleasentness, I don't WANT to be nice.  Don't pretend to be my friend, I DON'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS! 

The lightbulb in the lamp next to Lanisha burst, creating a flash of light in the room.  This should have startled Lanisha, as it did everyone else in the room; however, she sat in complete calmness, something she couldn't quite explain to herself.  "I think he is pissed off that we are even wanting to help him." 

"Help him" is all Maggie managed to produce that the room could hear.  "Did you hear that?"  Asked Grant.  Everyone in the room answered "Yes" in soft, stunned voices.  "What do we need to do?" Ben questioned. 

"We need to help him" answered Lanisha.

Maggie, part 3

Part 1
Part 2


Continuation of a fictional story based on some of the author's favorite TV personalities and actual events...

Bill offered to conduct the first EVP session while Ben watched the video camera feed in headquarters.  If Bill had any problems or needed help, Ben could see and assist when necessary.  He could also be a second set of ears to listen for anything out of the ordinary.

While Bill and Ben investigated, Lanisha talked to Austin, Jael, and Devin back at the "Situation Room" in Los Angeles, where the Fact or Faked team met to research potential investigations.  She had emailed the photos to the rest of the team so that they were able to take a look at them before talking to her.  "I don't know if you would consider this good news or bad but we cannot figure out what is in this picture!" explained Jael.  "We all agreed on one thing" added Austin "we wish we could be there with you!"  Nodding his head, Devin agreed, "Since the picture was taken in the same room with the same result without explanation, we believe the original photo was not faked and seems to be something paranormal.  Be safe out there!"  Before she hung up, Lanisha  commented "Thanks everyone for your help, I hope tonight's investigation yields even better results to share with you!"

Bill sat quietly in the room, letting his eyes and ears adjust to the darkness and the natural sounds around him.  He could hear a soft hum, which he determined was coming from the TV in the room.  He also noticed that light shadows could be seen passing through the room as people walked by outside.  He could also hear people talking as they walked by, some sounding like faint whispers while other conversations could be heard as if they were in the room.  He reported all of these to Ben so that he also knew what would be "normal" in the room and took mental notes in order to find the paranormal; in other words, what was not normal.

Maggie knew what Bill was doing and let him settle in.  She wanted to help the poor guy who had committed suicide but wasn't sure what to do.  But then Bill asked out loud, "Is anyone here with me?"  Of course!  She thought, he is trying to talk to someone!  If she could just tell him what the sad soul needed, maybe Bill could help.  Problem was, she didn't know what he needed.  If he could find his peace, maybe he could share this wonderful world she now enjoyed instead of the torment he seemed to endure. 

Bill continued to ask questions but Maggie did not know how to actual talk in order for him to hear her.  Then suddenly another spirit was there.  Bill asked, "Do you like it here at the Stanley?"  Maggie could feel the other spirit's energy rise, almost pulsate, enough to produce "Love."  She could tell from the energy the female spirit produced that she had fallen in love and eventually married her love at the hotel.  Bill didn't seem to hear her but Maggie remembered that spirits "voices" could sometimes be heard later on a recording.

Bill stopped asking questions, feeling that he was not getting a response but was looking forward to hearing the recording for any EVPs.  He had not experienced anything paranormal and was ready to switch with another investigator.  The team checked in and Lanisha explained what Austin, Jael, and Devin had told her.  Bill also reported his initial sweep of the room with the normal sights and sounds.  Bill stated, "Clearly something is going on here between both of your experiences and the photo being reproduced.  Let's keep going with our investigation and hopefully we'll find something as evidence of a haunting here."  The team agreed and split again, this time with Lanisha and Ben in the room and Bill monitering.

This time Maggie was determined to communicate; she had to if she was going to help.  She witnessed the other spirit and hoped she could do the same.  As soon as Lanisha entered the room, Maggie felt she had the energy needed.   Their earlier connection seemed to have heightened the energy between them.  She then realized that if her energy was strengthened by interaction, then the same must be true for the angry spirit because of how he made Ben feel earlier.  She had to act fast.

"Is there anyone here with us?" asked Lanisha.  Maggie didn't waste time with introductions: "Help him" she replied.  "Did you hear that?" Ben asked with enthusiasm.  "Yes!  It sounded like 'help him'" answered Lanisha.  They immediately rewound the tape to hear if what they heard was correct and they were excited to hear the same answer in the recording.  Ben wondered if this could really be happening.  "Let's see if Bill hears what we hear and it's not just us getting excited over a sound that can be explained naturally." 

"What do you hear after our question?" asked Lanisha of Bill.  "I don't know why this would be the case since you asked a simple yes-or-no question but, to me, it sounds like, "help him."  "That is what we heard!"  Both investigators said in unison.  Maggie became frustrated.  She desperately wanted them to actually help, not ponder over this quick interaction.  But luckily for all of the team members, they were excited to get back and listen for more.  Lanisha pondered outloud, "I wonder what it meant, 'help him'?  Help who?"  "Let's get back and find out!" Ben answered with excitement.

Part 4

Maggie, part 2

Part 1


Continuation of a fictional story based on some of the author's favorite TV personalities and actual events...

The investigation teams split up into three teams: two TAPS members in the main hotel on the fourth floor, two other members in the Manor House (a separate, smaller building designed to replicate the main hotel), and the Fact or Faked team in a first-floor room in the main hotel where the picture in question was taken.  Maggie was able to see all of this happening at the same time, a new experience for her.  She could move in and out of areas as she pleased and she wanted to take full advantage.  Her new-found ability to interact, as she did with Lanisha, was a little too tempting to not test out more.

What Maggie did not expect was sharing this experience with others.  Spirits are curious, especially curious of the living trying to communicate with them.  She knew others were watching, some idling standing by, others attempting to interact.  What concerned her was the man who committed suicide; he just wanted to create havoc and confusion when the investigators just wanted answers.  He seemed to want others to feel what he was feeling: anger, sadness, bitterness, distrust.  He was cursed with experiencing his death over and over and wanted - needed - others to hate this awful pain, to know what it is like.  Maggie was able to exist in peace while he was cursed to exist in turmoil. 

The Fact or Faked team set up cameras and began taking a series of pictures, hoping to create the same image.  From there, they could analyze the pictures and the room and hopefully determine what had created the strange image the tourist had captured.  While Lanisha was taking pictures, Ben suddenly felt sick and developed a piercing headache.  "Guys, I feel awful.  I can't even stand up straight, I don't know what's going on!"  With a sympathetic look, Bill said, "Why don't you try leaving the room and see if that helps."

As soon as Ben went into the hallway, he felt better.  It was as if he stepped off a spinning ride and got his bearings again by not being the in the room.  After a few minutes, he went back into the room to see the team's progress. 

"Doing ok?" asked Lanisha.  Ben answered, "I do feel much better, that was really odd."  Bill then suggested they take the equipment down the hall to analyze the pictures and video they took so they could talk freely without disturbing the guests that were staying in nearby rooms. 

"Guys, you need to see this" exclaimed Lanisha.  Her first picture looked normal, the second with the strange image, almost exactly like the one they were investigating, the third completely black, and the rest normal again.  She had taken about twenty consecutive shots, one within seconds of another.  "Any reason that picture is black?" asked Bill.  "I suppose the shutter could have not opened in time but I have never had that problem with this camera and it never happened again" answered Lanisha, an expert in photography.  "More importantly, why is that image showing up again?"

The team focused on the strange picture, magnifying the image and trying to see what light could have created it naturally.  No matter how they viewed it, it looked just like a person laying on the floor, hands covering the face, and possibly something else over the face.  If it were a natural occurance because of light in the room, why did the other shots not have the same effect?

"You know, it just occurred to me that my personal experience must have happened just after the black image was taken."  Ben announced thoughtfully.  "And when I left, the pictures returned to normal.  The timing seems about right."  "Wow, that is so strange!" Bill said with excitement.  Lanisha added, "You know, maybe we're looking at this with tainted eyes being here, why don't we send it to the rest of the team and see if they can make anything of it."  "Great idea," Ben agreed "go ahead and email those and we'll continue to run some tests to see if we can recreate the picture."

Maggie couldn't believe what she had seen.  The mysterious, angry man had been in the room with the team and wanted so badly to be noticed.  His negative energy was actually transferred onto film, allowing the team to "see" him through pictures but not with their own eyes.  He had died by smothering his face with a pillow while laying on the floor and his torment replayed where ever he went.  His strong energy had caused the camera to malfunction, creating the black picture.  And for some reason also transferred his negative energy onto Ben, making him feel sick.  This has to stop! Maggie thought to herself.

The Fact or  Faked or team worked through the evening trying to recreate the photo using various lights, shadows, and photography techniques but without success.  They then decided to join the TAPS team in an investigation.  Jason and Grant reported that they had some interesting personal experiences including the feeling of being touched, hearing whispers, and seeing shadows.  While TAPS continued to investigate various areas of the hotel grounds, Ben, Bill and Lanisha stayed in the first floor wing with headquarters being shared with TAPS.  Each team member took turns attempting EVP sessions and trying to collect various evidence. 

Maggie stayed close to the Fact or Faked team as she did not want the angry male spirit to cause any more harm than he already had.  In fact, she wanted to help him find the peace he so desperately wanted.  Now she just needed to figure out how to do that. 

Part 3

Maggie, part 1

A fictional story based on some of the author's favorite TV personalities and actual events...

Maggie left her body calmly and peacefully, watching her still form below as her energy lifted into warmth and quiet.  She had been sick and was prepared for her departure.  Her loved ones may not have been ready for their loss but she assured them she would let them know she was still around and she intended on keeping her promise.  Time has no relevance in her new plane of existence; when she felt someone needed her or she wanted to return to previous plane, she could. 

While alive, Maggie's most favorite place to visit was the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado.  She loved to sit on the front porch and admire the beauty surrounding the hotel.  The tranquility of the mountains, the crisp mountain air, the happy sounds of families, it was all enough to keep her coming back as often as she could.  She knew about the ghost stories of the hotel and had experienced some strange phenomenon but never really felt the place to be haunted.  How could a place with so much peace be filled with turmoil of spirits?

It wasn't until she returned to the Stanley in the afterlife that Maggie understood what it meant for a location to be haunted.  It didn't mean noisy poltergeists or evil spirits or white sheets floating in the air trying to frighten the living.  At least not here.  Instead she could feel and share energy with the other peaceful souls who came back to experience the magic of the hotel again.  Sometimes the energies of the living and the spirits who returned would be shared so that the living could hear or even interact.  But for the most part, the place was literally buzzing with energy from both planes of existence.  The Stanley never rested; it was always filled with occupants.

There was one spirit who Maggie encountered who was not as happy.  He sadly took his own life at the hotel and his energy was trapped until he could find peace again, until he could truly be okay with his existence before and after his death.  Maggie couldn't help but think how sad this was, especially since he was determined to make the living guests uncomfortable.  How could you find your peace when all you want to do is create unpleasantness?  The living who worked for the hotel apparently agreed with Maggie and were eager to find some answers to the newest spirit who made guests leave the hotel. 

"What are some of the claims?" asked Jason of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS), a paranormal investigative team featured on the Syfy Channel's show, Ghost Hunters.  "Heavy breathing, quiet mumbling, and general uncomfortable feelings" responded Callae, one of the hotel's staff members and famed house investigators. "Our guests are freaked out when they realize they are alone but it clearly sounds like someone is with them.  It used to be guests from all over the world would come wanting to see a ghost but now they are leaving early when they feel incredibly uneasy and unwanted." 

The TAPS team had been called by the hotel after multiple reports of the new phenomenon.  This was clearly a spirit that the Stanley did not want.  And the team was not new to the location.  They had investigated many claims all over the property for the show and during special events.  They even had local investigators who had worked for the team and now were part of the hotel's staff to call on for help. 

"One guest thinks he caught the spirit on his camera."  Callae passed a photo to Grant, Jason's partner.  "He kept hearing deep gasps as if someone couldn't breathe and started snapping photos all around his room."  The picture revealed what looked like someone lying on the floor, hands to the face.  "This is strange, no doubt" Jason responded.  "Grant and I will meet with our team to determine our next steps and start our night investigation.  We brought some guest investigators to help with the photo."  Steve, the TAPS tech lead, added, "I will assure that our tech team sets up equipment in all of the locations you've mentioned."

Maggie had been watching the conversation unfold and was impressed with how this group was handling the situation at hand.  No one was scared or desperate, they just wanted answers, and they had fancy equipment to help.  She could imagine how this could be confusing to the living.  The poor guy who took his life was eager to be a pest, where other spirits just wanted to relive happy times. 

The guests Jason and Grant brought with them included Ben, Bill, and Lanisha from another Syfy Channel hit show, Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files.  Many of the Fact or Faked investigations have included analyzing photo or video evidence so it was perfect to have the team members as a part of this particular investigation.  In fact, this was the first time the two teams had met up for an official investigation.  Ben and Bill had been to the hotel before for events but this was Lanisha's first visit and as a professional photographer, she was excited for this opportunity. 

Maggie couldn't help but feed on Lanisha's heightened energy.  Maybe it was because she is female, maybe because of her love of photography, which Maggie enjoyed during her life as well, or maybe it was her pure desire to also be at the Stanley, but Maggie was drawn to her.  And Lanisha could sense her closeness.

While Ben and Lanisha were setting up their equipment, Lanisha turned quickly over her shoulder. 
"Ben, did you need something?"
"No...why?"
"Didn't you just tap me on the shoulder?  When I turned around, you were just unpacking the computer and ignored me."
"No, I didn't tap you on the shoulder, sorry.  I've been over here the whole time."
"Weird.  I just keep thinking there is someone else in here besides you and me."

She felt that? thought Maggie.  She wasn't trying to get Lanisha's attention; she just wanted to peek over her shoulder to view the beautiful pictures she had captured from her visit to downtown Estes Park. 

"Thanks again for joining us, it means a lot" announced Jason as the TAPS team and Bill entered the room.  Lanisha jumped from being startled. "Grant and I met with our hostess for the weekend and we have that picture she informed us about.  We also have a better sense of the claims.  Let's grab some dinner and divide up the teams.  Bill and Steve have already done a sweep of the hot spots so that will aid in our investigation."

The team members were looking forward to tonight.  And so was Maggie.


Part 2

Season 1, Episode 8: Symphonic Spirits/Hovering Humanoid

Symphonic Spirits:
The team (Bill, Chi-Lan, and Larry) travels to Victor, NY to the Valentown Museum. A video sent to the team shows what appears to be a full-bodied apparition walking through the museum while a researcher stands by, not noticing the figure caught on camera.

(Figure is seen just right of the woman in picture)



The team first tries to recreate the video using Larry as the figure and keeping him out of focus but he was still too defined; you could tell there was definitely a person there and not a figure like in the video.  Next, using plexiglass, the team creates a reflection which turns out to be pretty good but still not quite like the video.  Larry just doesn't look creepy enough!  Lastly, they try a projection of Larry walking but again, the image is seen clearly and does not look like the video. 

I wonder why the team did not try to manipulate their trials using simple video editing that anyone could have done to create a hoax?  The images were too clear but with some editing, they may have been able to recreate the images more.  And with the reflection test, it seems like there is enough surfaces to reflect the image without using the plexiglass; maybe that could have explained a natural cause for the image?  Another blog also mentions that they used an IR light which creates too much light to effectively recreate the video. 

While reviewing their tests, the team suddenly hears piano keys being struck in the background.  Everyone pauses to find out where it is coming from.  When they reach the piano, there is no explanation for the sound.  They then hear what sounds like a stringed instrument and find an old guitar...with no strings.  This prompts the team to conduct a full investigation. 

Larry watches on the camera while Bill investigates the second floor and Chi-Lan takes the basement.  Bill attempts to stir up the energy in the building using a crank machine that sparks lightening due to reports of increased activity during lightening storms (this also creates a very cheesey and, in my opinion, unnecessary entertainmemt factor to the show).  Larry hears something moving which is not caught by the camera and feels as if he is not alone.  Chi-Lan also hears a groan, which was caught by the camera and later presented to the group (I was not able to get this EVP as it is property of the show, boo.).

The end result is that the video remains unexplained and the team finds that the place may in fact be haunted. 

Interesting side note: after reading other reviews on this case, some of which claimed that the museum has told patrons that the video was found to be hoaxed, I decided to call the museum myself.  I reached Kathryn White, president of the Victor Historical Society and who is responsible for the building.  She responded with "no comment" regarding whether the building is actually haunted and has not heard that the video was in fact hoaxed (I have a feeling those reports are coming from personal opinions of tour guides and/or visitors).  If you want a good discussion on the here-after, call her up, she has a lot to say! 

The sad part of our conversation was her disappointment with how the investigation took place and lack of support for the building itself.  A third party was used to host ghost hunts in the building and that group was the one to contact the producers; the Society was not involved in the process and did not even know what was happening until very close to taping.  In Kathryn's opinion, respect for the historical building was not shown by the film crew and third party and the show seeemed to not truley care about the building and how fragile it actually is.  The building will not survive much longer without financial help through donations and she wishes someone from the show would have been a support.  The building holds many important artifacts not only from history of the local area but of the country, which she feels is the more important issue than whether or not it is haunted.

Unfortunately, show business is business and the viewers (myself included) got what they wanted.  It was really interesting hearing her perspective and her passion behind this museum.  I wish I lived close enough to visit!  For more information about the museum and Historical Society and/or to donate, visit: http://www.valentown.org/valentown_home

Hovering Humanoid:
The other team (Ben, Jael, and Austin) travel to McKinney, Texas to find the mystery behind a humanoid figure captured on video in Monterey, Mexico.  The woman who took the video agreed to be interviewed in the US and she shared her belief that it could be some kind of UFO or Bruha (witch).

(This shows the figure hovering just right of mid-photo)

The uniqueness of this flying mystery is the consistent, straight path (despite strong wind currents) and lack of sound.  The teams first thought was that it could be someone flying a jet-pack, which turns out is possible in the area where the film was shot (there are only a few people in the world flying jet-packs).  Maybe a little over-excited, the team watches a trained flyer fly over a field to see if it looks like the object on film and Austin measures the sound frequency.  While it did look like a possibility, the jet-packs can only stay in flight for 30 seconds, much quicker than the video.  You can also hear the craft which doesn't match the eye-witness accounts.  

The team then tests the theory that it was someone on a zip-line traveling across the mountains, another strong possibility in the area where the video was taken.  Being the trusty stuntman, "Crash Test Dummy Austin" hops on a line and zips at the same speed and tries to match the shape.  The speed and consistency match but it is clearly someone on a zip line as you can see the line in the sun and doesn't match the strange shape in the video.  

Another theory is that it was simply trash floating in the wind.  Since the speed and height was so consistent, the team first tries to recreate the object using a bag filled with balloons and tied to a tether.   While the speed and height could remain consistent with this method, the bag still waved in the wind, very much unlike the video.  Ben comments that it would have to be perfect conditions for this theory to be possible.
The final attempt used the same bag of balloons but this time tied to a remote control plane.  This kept the bag very still with the same effect of floating straight, silent from a distance, and at a consistent speed.  In fact, this test looked remarkably similar to the video.  The team concluded that this must have been a hoax for the UFO enthusiasts standing by to witness.  

Season 1, Episode 7: Haunted Mansion Mist/Starlight Intruder

Haunted Mansion Mist:
The team (Ben, Austin, and Chi-Lan) investigates claims of a strange mist in the basement of McPike Mansion in Alton, Illinois. A group had captured the mist as it moved throughout the basement around them. The first test attempted was creating a simple dust cloud using powdered earth and a shop vac. At first it seemed to match the video exactly, swirling around and moving just the same. However the mist in the video seemed to have more of a concentrated pattern and move in a more natural way whereas the test cloud swirled, didn't move around the same, and remained hovering in the air.

The next experiment tested the theory that it was a swarm of insects. The team devised a smaller room made of plexiglass walls and released hundreds (thousands?) of gnats and flies. In the video, people were surrounding the mist so Austin "took one for the team" and walked among the insects to see if a similar pattern could be made. However, the insects simply clung to him and were clearly a nuisance, unlike what was seen in the video.

Next, the team tests if the mist was an actual mist of water vapor (humidity) by using air conditioning and humidifier. They could not formulate a controlled pattern like what was seen in the video, even when Ben walked through the mist.

With unsuccessful experiments, the team then decides to conduct an overnight investigation to see if the mansion is in fact haunted. There had been claims of activity throughout the house so the team splits up to cover all four levels. As Ben is sweeping with a Mel meter, he discovers the temperature has risen from a steady expected temperature to over a thousand degrees, something he has never encountered.  As Austin is sweeping rooms on the top floor, he hears a faint whisper but can't make it out and it is not revealed in the Situation Room of whether the voice was picked up by a recorder or camera (so I assume it was not).  Chi-Lan also finds a strange visual on the camera in the basement although it looks pretty obvious to me that an insect's antennae creeped up in front of the camera.  In the Situation Room, an EVP is played back from Ben's knocking test.  He asks if who ever is present can repeat his knocking sequence of three knocks and the recorder picks up three distinct knocks as an answer. 

Overall, the experiments cannot debunk the video's claim of a mist present and the investigation reveals a potential for the mansion to be haunted. 

I usually have some beefs with the editing of the show but this one in particular drove me a little crazy!  While the team is investigating, an obnoxious "haunting" music is playing and is really distracting!  When Ben does his knocking test, the music even includes knocking noises, as if we are supposed to get excited that someone answered even though he doesn't react...ugh.  And when Austin asksChi-Lan over the radio if she sees anything on the camera in the room that he heard the whisper, we suddenly see the "mysterious figure" (aka insect antennae) in the camera and she exclaims "Did you see that?!" (and cuts to commercial of course) to make us think she is reacting to something in the video of that particular room Austin asks about...again, ugh.  Oh, TV magic. 

Starlight Intruder:
The other team (Bill, Jael, and Larry) travel to Fremont, CA to investigate a UFO sighting.  Since the shape of the object was triangular, the team was able to test some fairly simple theories.  First, they place LED lights on the bottom of a large kite.  At first, the experiment seems to mimic the video exactly with the shape of lights, lack of sound, and smoothness of flight.  But quickly the wind takes over and the kite is not stable and does not fly like the object in the video.  Next, the team tries the same concept but with an RC airplane.  Again, very similar but it is definitely loud enough to hear and the wings hide the lights when shifting in the air.  Lastly, they attach lights to a hang glider and have a professional take the air.  This, all of the elements line up and Jael is able to capture the same image on camera.  In fact, night gliding is typical in this area and gliders use the same technique of attaching lights to their kites to be visible at night.  The team decides that a hang glider is the most likely culprit, not an alien visitor.

Season 1, Episode 6: The Caretaker/Cutter

The Caretaker:
The first team (Ben, Jael, and Austin) head to Indiana after being sent a video of a "graveyard ghost."  The story is of a caretaker who was buried on site and supposedly haunts the cemetery.  The video, at first glance, looks like an apparition carrying a lantern passing the camera as the videographer is walking.  The team first tries an experiment using an ATV to test the theory that the "lantern" was actually just the light from an ATV passing quickly.  The video the team captures clearly shows a vehicle and the people in the video would have most definitely reacted.  The next experiment tests the theory that it was a naturally occurring wind storm.  The team devises a clever dust storm but again, it is clearly just that and the people would have reacted to such an occurrence.  The team then creates a misting system to test for a hoax.  The mist could create an apparition-like appearance and a moving light source could account for the light seen on the video.  Once again, the team cannot recreate the video.  A quick Internet search on this episode turns up the same conclusion that the video is actually of a spider web and the mysterious light is just the camera's light shining on a spider.

Oops, looks like the viewers have it right here!  Leaves me scratching my head wondering how no one else from the production team didn't come to this conclusion.  This unfortunately leaves some viewers upset with the show. Luckily it seems most viewers have moved on and we still beg for more, mainly because of the night investigation after the experiments. 

While Austin keeps an eye on the video monitors set up around the graveyard, Ben and Jael walk the site in hopes of catching any strange phenomenon...and they do.  I have heard Ben talk about this investigation and how it was one of the strangest experiences since being on the show.  He could clearly hear footsteps around them as if someone was walking in pace with them.  He and Jael even witnessed depressions being made in the grass as if someone was standing near them.  Unfortunately they could not capture this on camera and had to assume it was insects in the grass.  The footsteps they heard literally led the team to the caretaker's grave site where they then conducted an EVP session.  The evidence they caught from this session was impressive.  You can hear Austin cough and you hear a voice clearly saying "cough" followed by a sigh.  I don't know why an entity would actually say "cough" but it is interesting that you can hear it after an actual cough.  Here is the audio clip so you can listen for yourself! CLICK HERE TO LISTEN (Courtesy of Ben Hansen)

Ben sent me another EVP that was caught that night but didn't make the show.  He believes the soft voice after Jael speaks says "Twilight" or "I might."  What do you think?  CLICK HERE TO LISTEN (Courtesy of Ben Hansen)

As Jael says, this is a "perfect setting for a ghost story."  While the video is far from paranormal evidence, the investigation leaves you scratching your head. 

Cutter (Colorado Cattle Mutilations):

I have to admit, I was incredibly excited to watch this episode when it first aired after living in the San Luis Valley (Alamosa) for three years and knowing the history behind this story well.  San Luis Valley is well known for its UFO sightings and strange occurrences, including the cattle mutilations, and has been documented on websites and newscasts for years.  Many reports of the mutilations include strange lights in the sky before finding the dead cattle, which was reported in this case as well.  This particular investigation is in regards to a specific news story and a picture sent to the show (below). 

As you can see from the photo, the calf was torn apart cleanly and left with no internal organs.  The front half seems to have been cleaned away while the bottom left untouched.  Strange.  There is no blood, no traces of the cow's skin or innards, and no footprints left to assume it had been picked apart by scavengers.  The calf was seen the day before and in the morning, the rancher found it like this.  Strange.

The team (Bill, Larry, and Chi-Lan) first survey the land to find any evidence of the cow to be tested (Bill did find a bone but nothing unusual came from the testing done by UCLA scientists) as well as any EMF and radiation detection in the area (small spikes were found where the calf was discovered but was never talked about as part of the evidence).  They then brought in a veterinarian to conduct some testing (on a calf who died of natural causes) based on theories surrounding the case. 

The first experiment used a cauterizing tool to see if the hide could be cut as clean as in this case. Since there is no sign of blood, the cauterizing is plausible; however, this technique takes a long time to complete and it doesn't seem possible for someone to do this without being caught at some point.  The vet also tries careful cutting using a scalpel but the process is just too messy.  The last attempt is with a laser but this proves not possible as well (I think we all saw that coming).  The team decides to leave their test carcass out overnight with a camera pointed to observe predators.  They do find birds are happy with the present left behind and could account for the scavenging of the internal organs, etc.  I am personally not satisfied with this conclusion as you would most certainly find evidence of it being picked at by birds!  Not to mention the crap (literally) left behind. 

The final test to this investigation is a bloating test.  One theory is that this is a natural phenomenon due to bloating from gases in the body.  Once an animal dies, it starts to bloat and can tear the skin, allowing predators to get to the animal.  They test this using a piece of cow hide over a balloon.  When they inflate the balloon, the skin tears, mimicking the look from the picture.  The team decides this must be what has happened and case closed.  I'm sorry but I don't buy this and I know I am not the only one.  The skin was missing from the top of the calf, not the stomach where the gases are stored...how do you explain that?  How are there NO signs of scavengers' teeth (or beak marks) left on the bones or surrounding skin that is left?  Did the scavengers suck out the insides, leaving the rib cage intact??  And this is just one case out of many in the area and some of the other cases seem even stranger.  One calf was found dead and mutilated within minutes of being seen alive.  My conclusion: this case is not closed but left a mystery. 

I asked Bill about this case and if he was satisfied with the results.  He said he was completely satisfied as it seemed to answer the question about that particular animal.  Both him and Ben mentioned that those cases are mysterious and recognized that the particular case was one out of many.  I don't want to seem as if I am attacking the team in any way, they have my full respect. But I am disappointed; I'd like more scientific investigations about this case as a whole, not just regarding one lone photograph.  But I guess I need to be satisfied with the show's premise.  

If you are interested in another viewpoint from someone actually involved in this investigation, I found a blog entry during a Google search: http://www.ufonut.com/wordpress/?p=1472.   

Season 1, episode 5: Blazing Horizon/Rollover

Blazing Horizon/Paulding Light
The first team (Bill, Jael, and Austin) travel to upper Michigan to investigate the legendary Paulding Light, a mysterious glowing light that appears almost on cue at night through a certain viewpoint of bare roads and telephone wires. No one seems to know why this happens and has become a ghost story after a railroad operator was killed near the site. The tale is that this man carries a light to warn people of oncoming trains. While this sad story does hold true, the light is more likely a natural occurrence that has not yet been explained. The team first tests the theory that it is a plane flying low over the area but the light from Austin's test flight is not steady or long enough. The second test was car lights from a distance, which the team thought might actually be the culprit. To me, if this were the case, the light would go in and out as cars are passing by but the light is strong and steady in one bright light. They discover that the light from Bill and Jael's drive-by is not even seen from the viewpoint's distance. The team then conducted an overnight investigation using cameras and audio recorders in hopes of catching evidence of the supposed train operator ghost, yielding no results. The team decided the lights to be inconclusive and let it remain a mystery.

During a recent radio show with Bill, one listener inquired about the case and asked if it could be some kind of natural occurrence with the rocks in the area. This theory sparked my interest as a definite possibility. Bill has also been testing the idea of granite holding onto spiritual energy at such haunted locations as The Stanley Hotel. I would love to see the team, or some other scientific investigation group, try this theory and put a rest to the mystery. It does seem entirely possible that certain rock in the area could be holding onto light or energy and release it when the sun goes down, or maybe we just can't see that energy until the light of the sun dims. If any readers know of updates, please let me know!

Rollover:
The other team (Ben, Chi-Lan, and Larry) travel to Texas to uncover the mystery of cars being pushed uphill over train tracks. The legend says that a school bus filled with children was hit by a train and several children died in the accident. Those children now push cars across the tracks so that other people will not suffer the same fate. If a car sits in neutral, the car will begin to move by unseen forces, uphill, and over the tracks. Additionally, if you sprinkle the car with powder, little fingerprints will appear. Great story!

The team first hops in a similar car to the one in the video sent to the show; lo and behold, the car moves on it's own while in neutral. Assuming that the fingerprints that appear are nothing more than previous fingerprints left behind (smart.), the team had wiped down the back of the car before starting the test and Ben uses his magic FBI print powder to look for prints left after "being pushed.". No evidence.  The team then tries an actual school bus to see if even something so big can be "pushed" over the tracks; and it does.  Using the same fingerprint test as before, the team again has no results.  Something is clearly making these vehicles move on their own.  The team then conducts a survey of the land to test the grade of the hill.  It looks at first glance like there is an uphill to the tracks and a downhill on the other side; however, the survey revealed that optical illusions are at work: there is actually a downhill over the tracks and the land surrounding makes it look like its uphill!

This optical illusion still blows my mind, its hard to wrap my head around it!  And I think its genius how the team tested these theories.  If anyone doubts the Fact or Faked team at large, this episode helps prove their credibility.  A ghost story would sure be romantic but sorry folks, its just not the case here.  

Season 1, Episode 4: Predator/Red Sky at Night

Predator - Beast of Dartmoor:
The first investigation takes the team (Bill, Austin, and Chi-Lan) to the United Kingdom for a cryptid case of what looks like a black lion running across a field.  The theories behind this animal is that it was a dog, a pony, or an actual lion.  I think the coolest part of this investigation was that they actually got to use real animals with a green screen to test the theory.  When using the same background from the video in question (taken from the actual location), they could superimpose the actual animals to see how it matches.  I could definitely see why people would think it could be any of those animals and it most certainly looks just like a black lion, although those animals are said to not exist.  When you see the lion running, it really does match up the best; the other animals just don't compare to the speed and agility of the animal in the video.  In the last part of the investigation, the team checks the landscape for their own clues and finds an animal torn to shreds, clearly by something large. After watching the investigation and reading up online, it does seem possible that it is some type of large cat that has not yet been categorized.

Side note: my favorite part has to be Ben's reaction to the lion roaring...classic.

Red Sky at Night:
The other team (Bill, Jael, and Larry) travel to El Cajon, California where a video was taken of mysterious lights in the sky in a triangular shape, which suddenly go out one-by-one and disappear all together.  The official report was that it was Chinese lanterns floating in the sky.  The other two theories was that it was some kind of aircraft and weather balloons.  The first test the team proposes is using Chinese lanterns, although their lanterns quickly catch on fire before catching much air.  The fact that the lights in the video keep a specific distance and the height that they are seen make it obvious that it can't be lanterns as reported.  For the second test, the team attaches LCD lights in a triangular shape to the bottom of a helicopter.  While the replication looks perfect, its the sound that doesn't match up.  The report from the videographer and other eyewitnesses is that there was no sound coming from the "craft."  Even at a great distance, the sound is clearly there both from the ground observation and through the video.  The last test used weather balloons with flares attached.  When you compare the experiment video to the video in question, the match is perfect.  Larry calls it a hoax without question.

Side note: favorite part of this investigation was Larry's awesome blue blazer!

Season 1, Episode 3: Off the Deep End/Houseguest

I haven't talked much about the review part of the episode in other posts but I think this one is worth mentioning.  In this review, beyond the investigated cases, the team talks pretty critically about the other videos: a potential UFO case (they can see a piece from the top of the object that eludes to this not being extraterrestrial), a potential poltergeist (lots of theories of how this is faked, and I HAVE to agree, definitely faked!), and an "alien" crossing the road (this I love because of Bill's great deduction of a composite of two videos).  I think the team did a great job of picking the two cases here with potential credibility!

Off the Deep End - Raystown's Ray, Pennsylvania's Loch Ness Monster:
While I enjoy cryptology cases, I have a hard time with lake monsters.  I can see how an animal could survive in a large lake without being cataloged but these types of animals are just SO big, how is that possible?  You would think that with all of these cases worldwide, someone would have found better evidence.  But, then again, its not much different than Bigfoot-like creatures and that does somehow seem possible. One neat aspect of pursuing my marine biology degree (no, I did not become a marine biologist...that's a story for another time!) was the possibility of finding a new species of fish or mammal; so for all of those biologists out there, I hope you blow every one's minds with finding one of these creatures!

The first test the team (Ben, Jael, and Austin) conducted was using a stray log.  Ben and Austin searched the lake for a log that could pass as "Ray" and found one that had a branch sticking out of the water, which could look like the neck and head.  I'm sure, I hope, they looked for and tested more than just this log.  It looked somewhat similar but didn't quite look like the picture evidence.  But, to me, it seems that another log (or other item) could be the culprit.

The next test was creating their own Ray out of PVC pipe and boards painted black.  They did a really good job!  But I love Austin's comment: "...we don't go after really good, we go for perfect."  Determination!!  The team decided that with all of the eye witness accounts and the effort it would take to pull a hoax off like this, it wasn't good enough to prove it faked.

The final part was a night time investigation, complete with a sweep of the lake and dives to find better evidence of an actual creature.  These types of investigations is where I give the team serious props.  I love myself a dive more than the next diver...but at night, in obviously cold water, right where Austin sees a huge hit on the depth finder; it sends shivers down my spine!  And go Jael for man-handling that huge carp for bait!

Houseguest - Ghost Writer on Polaroid:
This is a most interesting case that has been around the paranormal circuit for a while.  A homeowner, who had experienced some strange phenomenon in his house and thought it might be haunted, had received a Polaroid camera one Christmas and discovered strange light anomalies and then writing on the pictures.  The writings were actual answers to questions asked before snapping the pictures.

The team (Bill, Larry, and Chi-Lan) first talk with the homeowner to hear his story.  He explains how it all started and shows him the area where the pictures are taken.  Psychics have told him that there is a vortex where the spirit(s) enter and that there is possibly someone buried under the house.  I learned from some internet research that the Fox show, Sightings, came to the house and discovered through the parapsychologist and an archeologist that the site had once been a Native American kiva, or ceremonial center, as well as the possibility someone was buried under the house.

The team starts the investigation by taking photos themselves, unfortunately without results.  From reading, it sounds like it doesn't happen all of the time and not for everyone but eventually most people get results.  Maybe if the team had been able to stay longer they would have seen writing?  They then test the theory that it can be replicated through a tedious exposure technique.  I love to see Chi-Lan shine in these moments with her photography expertise!  She was describing the process, and she made it sound so easy, but my eyes crossed just listening!  Just do this, and then this, shake this, do a little dance, and presto!  Anyway, when the team tried this technique it produced interesting results.  Not only were they not able to replicate the photos, they got some crazy, unexplained, light anomalies.  Maybe the entity did not want to participate?  Maybe an evil entity was blocking what the benevolent entity was trying to say?  I guess we'll never know.  Maybe the homeowner could ask for the answer to this question!   

The team's final attempt to debunk the case was to see if they could reproduce the ghost writing shown on the evidence video.  For this, they used a plexiglass window, wrote words on the window, and taped the photo session video through the window, expecting the writing to appear on the photo.  The problem with this test was all of the light reflecting; they couldn't get it to look just right because of this.  There was obviously plexiglass there and no evidence of that in the original video.  Besides, how do you account for the photos taken when the video wasn't recording?

Bill and Larry then willingly offer to go under the house to try and find this supposed buried body.  They hire someone to use ground scanning equipment to find where something might be lurking.  The scanner and Chi-Lan guide the guys as they army-crawl under the narrow passages of the house.  After finding some hits on the scanner, they start digging and find bones!  Too bad they were just cow and chicken bones  :-(   But, this does fit with the story that it was once home to Native American rituals.

The end result of this case is that it is unexplained.  It cannot be easily reproduced and the video does not seem to be faked.  Its another one of those strange cases that only happens at this particular location, which is really odd to me.  To the skeptics out there: I would love to see you try for yourself!  

Season 1, Episode 2: Unwanted Visitors/Strange Sightings

Unwanted Visitors:

This investigation was one of the strangest things I have seen.  I wish I could find a simple video snippet off this thing walking across the client's yard but I did find a picture:

One blogger commented that it was just a Snowy Egret:

Possible?  I suppose.  When I did the research on the bird they do live in the Fresno, CA area where the case is filmed but when I watched the film again, I just don't see it.  Maybe this is one of those times where all I can see is this alien-like figure and can't see it for what it actually is.  The surveillance video is grainy, making it hard to see clearly what it could be.  When the team (Bill, Jael and Larry) tries to recreate the figure as a puppet and a costumed child they cannot recreate it successfully.  It just doesn't mimic what is on the surveillance video.   Its pretty clear to me that they only way Jose (the client) could have hoaxed this was with CGI or some technology but why create a creature like that??  Only to spike the interest of the paranormal world?  Seems to me that if it was a hoax, he did not do it; he was the one hoaxed.  And again, why?  Why Jose?  If I had been the one to create a hoax like that, I would come out loud and proud: "look what I made!"  I would personally LOVE to see the team re-visit this case. Maybe if they had more time the team could figure out another way to re-create it. I think the strangest thing about this case is that it doesn't look like anything I've ever seen before and if its "alien" why haven't we seen this type of creature reported before...or since?

The final part of this case was a night time investigation in a nearby field where the "creature" could have come from.  Throughout the night cameras were shutting off, walk-talkie batteries suddenly died, a camera tipped over on its own, and some strange electrical noises could be heard.  Weird stuff.  Bill and Jael then see something on the thermal camera.  I wish they had walked closer to the area to get a better look but when they walked over to the area after the creatures left the point the view, there was no sign of anything besides a track leading to the water, which looked like something dragging through the grass.  Huh?

Back to the Snowy Egret.  Doing more research on the bird, it seems like it would live in the kind of place that the team was doing the night investigation.  They feed on snakes, mice, fish, etc and it would make sense that they could be hunting at night.  If you listen to a sound byte of the bird call, it could most definitely explain the strange sounds the team heard.  They also stand high enough to account for the thermal hits.  And considering how tall these birds are, they may even leave those strange "dragging" prints in the grass.  That leaves all of the weird technical failures and mishaps.  Maybe just the problem with investigating out in the middle of nowhere?  Then again, Jael has had her share of remote investigations on Destination Truth and could have said that was normal...if it was.

All in all, possible explanations, but still strange and still one of my favorite cases!

Strange Sightings:

The other team (Ben, Austin, and Chi-Lan) invesigates another UFO sighting case in Lake Havasu, AZ.  Sorry, but I have to say it was obviously a balloon from the start.  The way this "UFO" was dancing around in the air just seemed like it had to be something logical.  I'm no UFO expert but it seemed phishy before the investigation even started.  The final blow to this investigation was the reports from government officials in the area (State Park Rangers) who confirmed that it was only a balloon and possibly from a movie set being filmed at the time.  I have to ask, and I hope one of the team members can answer this for me: why wasn't that phone call made before shooting?  Wouldn't you have picked a better video to investigate?  Personally, I would have gone with the Gettysburg ghost!  But then again, any excuse to visit Gettysburg is good by me  :-)  

Season 1, Episode 1: Burning Rubber/Hyperjump

I have to say, it was quite fun to go back and watch the first episode! I remembered why I starting watching the show in the first place. Its also neat to see the differences between the first episode and more recent episodes, beyond the obvious loss of Larry and gain of Devin. My recent opportunity to meet Ben and Bill also adds a whole new element!

The first difference I noticed was the amount of time the team spent in the Situation Room. Its probably just a few minutes difference but it seemed as though they spent more time reviewing and talking about the potential cases than in future episodes, which I have to say was a good choice. More time spent on the investigations is worth it. Which brings me to the next difference I observed. Because there is more time focused on the investigations, the teams are now able to explain the different tests. In this first episode, they quickly moved from one test to the next without really saying why they thought that test might prove a theory. Don't get me wrong, I still loved the format from the beginning but its just interesting to see the evolution of the show.

Burning Rubber:
A nighttime police chase was documented on the police car's camera and caught a supposed paranormal experience. The car, swerving out of control, made a sudden u-turn and then out of sight. When the police car caught up to the car, it discovered that it had suddenly ended up on the other side of a chain link fence. Without any other explanation, the car seemed to have gone through the fence, hence achieving a "ghost car" title.

The team (Ben, Jael, and Austin) first tests the u-turn since many observers of the video thought that the car turned and sped off at an unusual speed. Using a stunt driver in the "ghost car" replica, Austin rode shot-gun with a police officer in a police car to re-create the video. They fairly simply and successfully recreated the video and proved that the car did not actually take off at super-human speed but was just fast enough to out-run the police car.

The team then tested the theory that the car was able to jump a ditch and over the fence.  They designed a man-made pile of dirt in front of a fence in the middle of a field.  The stunt driver drove at a speed reasonable to what the "ghost car" would have been driving and did actually jump the fence.  However, the car actually took out the fence by hitting the top of it and the driver said the "ghost car" driver would have most definitely been hurt from trying to jump the fence.  There was also no ditch visible in the video, making it very unlikely that this theory does not pan out.

Lastly, the team tested the theory that the car was under to go under the fence.  It is unknown if the fence had sturdy fence ties to keep the chain attached to the posts, making this theory possible.  They removed the fence ties and the stunt driver drove right through the fence.  However, the fence also came apart, knocking the top of the fence completely off.  Being the clever investigators they are, Ben and Jael then used fence ties to hopefully keep the fence in tact but let it lift enough to allow a car to drive through it.  When the stunt driver drove through the fence this time, not only did the fence stay in tact but the fence quickly returned to its original state.  When reviewed in the eyes of the police car (Austin is still taping from the police car), it looks as though the car actually drove through the fence as if it never lifted.

This case is really why I wanted to keep watching the show. I thought it was so cool that they found a "paranormal" experience and actually proved that it wasn't paranormal at all. Finally, actual proof using deductive reasoning! I also loved that they didn't just give up when the car driving through the fence didn't work the first time, they kept trying to prove their theory correct.

Hyperjump:
This case is in regards to the Phoenix Lights, a well-known phenomenon reported around the Phoenix area.  The video in review caught red lights in the sky, jumping around in strange patterns.  At first, it looks as though it could just be an aircraft of some sort but the way that lights jumped around the sky was definitely very strange.

The team (Bill, Larry, and Chi-Lan) first tested the idea that the video could have been faked by using laser lights through a pane of glass.  While they were successful in recreating the lights, it was hard to control the speed and pattern of the lights as shown in the video.  Next, the team tried using lights attached to balloons and controlling the lights turning on and off using remote dimmers.  Again, they couldn't quite get the same effect with this test.  Lastly, the team set up a night time investigation to witness any strange light phenomenon themselves.  Strangely enough, they actually caught some weird stuff going on in the sky.  In the video they caught, you can see a light moving across the sky.  At first, this looks like a satellite travelling, until the team points out that the light moves the opposite way, up and down, and disappears and reappears randomly.  It doesn't appear to be any kind of aircraft because of the strange movement and fast speed.

This case also caught my attention and made me keep watching.  I hadn't watched any other shows investigating not only paranormal activity but UFO activity as well.  I'm sure that skeptics would argue that since the Air Force is so close, these strange lights are only aircraft tests that the government cannot reveal.  To me, that is strange enough to investigate!  Who's to say they aren't testing alien aircraft they've recovered? Or technology discovered by alien influence?  Regardless of what it is, it is worth the time and effort of curious investigators and I hope the FoF team keeps doing these!

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Thank you for reading my first post in this blog!  I hope the FoF team (yes, that includes Larry!) will follow and provide comments.  If I missed anything important or misreported any information, please let me know as it is not intentional.