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 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.