12 Ways to Make Money in the Paranormal

November 20, 2020November 20, 2020 Alex Matsuo

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

It seems that the only people who can make money in the paranormal are the folks from TV shows. Well, that’s not true! I’ve debated writing about this, as making money usually isn’t someone’s first priority in the paranormal. In fact, making money in the field is often frowned upon. I don’t want to say that you shouldn’t be in this field to make money, because, yeah…you might get disappointed when you’re not making much if any at all.

I often get asked how I’m making some side cash in the field. It’s a lot of work. But, perhaps these tips will help you find a start. You’ll be creating some sort of content or product, and it may take a lot of work.

Ways You Can Make Money in the Paranormal

1. Write Books

In my opinion, this is probably the best way to make money that becomes a source of passive income that lasts for years. It’s not easy though, and you have to make something that is quality. It takes a considerable amount of time to write and publish a book. If you manage to go through a traditional publisher, it will take at least a year from submitting your manuscript to release. Also, you may get an advance for your book, which is nice. If you self-publish, you can set your own prices and get your book out a little sooner. However, you’ll have to invest some money into editing, cover design, and formatting. By the way, you can check out my books here.

2. Sell T-Shirts

If you’re handy with graphic design, you can definitely design and sell t-shirts and other products on platforms like RedBubble and CafePress. Also, a bunch of paranormal folks love supporting other teams, and buying shirts is exceptionally popular! I know folks who’ve been able to support their expenses with shirts alone, which is great! My team has a RedBubble store, and I have a RedBubble store with my own cute ghost designs. T-shirts are always a fun investment that can be worn for investigations, sleeping, or even painting your house.

3. Make a Blog & Monetize

You’ve probably noticed that there is ad space on my website. The more content I create, the more people will come to my website. I get a small sliver of change every time people visit my website, and I get a little more when people click on those ads. The key to making money from this is creating quality content on a regular basis that people will continue to come back to. There are other ways to drive traffic to your website as well like Facebook groups, newsletters, and more. Google AdSense will let you cash out every $100. You’ll have to host your blog on a hosting platform like Bluehost in order to qualify for monetization. Bluehost has a deal right now if you pay upfront for a year’s worth of hosting.

4. Social Media Brand Deals

If you have a decent following on social media, like a couple thousand followers on Instagram, you may be able to land brand deals from companies that are similar to your niche. Companies are looking at micro-influencers these days for promotion because they have an audience that trusts them and it’s less expensive than paying a major influencer with millions of followers. A brand deal is when a company pays you to promote their product. For me, I get brand deals with companies that make jewelry, makeup, and horror movies. It’s not a lot. Like, I’m not going to quit my job anytime soon. But it’s enough to break even on my business expenses. If you’re not getting paid, you could get free stuff instead. Also, you have to be able to back up your numbers with engagement percentages to prove your audience is paying attention to you.

5. Join Affiliates

Websites like Amazon and other major retailers have affiliate programs! All you need to do is sign up. For example, I’ve promoted products on Amazon before, and I use my affiliate link for each product. This means that if someone buys a product I recommend using my link, I get a cut of the profits. This is really effective if you have thousands of followers. If you’re going to use affiliate links on your posts, blogs, etc. you MUST add a disclosure and is an FTC-mandated practice. See my disclosure at the top of this blog.

6. Freelance Writing

If you’re good at writing, you might be able to get onto some online publications that need writers. For several years, I wrote for a list-based website that occasionally needed paranormal content. I made anywhere between $50-$100 per article. Then, I moved on to write scripts for that website’s YouTube channel, which paid about $150. Don’t get me wrong, it was work. Like, 2000 words work. But it was worth it to me because I was writing about my passion.

7. Start a YouTube Channel

If you have some patience and the ability to stay consistent, YouTube is another possible avenue to make money. On YouTube, you have to have 1000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in a span of 12 months to qualify for monetization. Personally, I’m not there yet, but I’m over halfway. Do I aspire to be a professional YouTuber? No. But I know many who have been able to make that dream come true. This one takes time and patience, and you’ll often question your sanity as to why you’re doing it.

8. Offer a Service

If you have a skill like graphic design, web design, coding, etc., you can offer your services to folks in the paranormal field. Recently, I’ve started offering social media and blog training for paranormal teams and individuals. My friend, Alex King, is an amazing graphic artist and he also builds websites. I know a few folks who will repair your paranormal equipment, fix cars, etc. If you have something to offer the community, you can definitely make some money while still staying in your paranormal niche.

9. Sell Merchandise

If you have a brand, whether it’s your team, your business, etc., you can make merchandise. If you make an image that is popular, people will want it on bags, magnets, stickers, and more. I know I have a few fun items that were designed by friends, and I’m often asked about them. On RedBubble, one of my most popular designs is the Ghost with a Flower Crown, and it makes me a decent commission each month.

10. Make Products

Handmade items are all the rage, and they are a favorite when it comes to gift giving. You can make and sell handmade items, especially in the divination community. There is a high-demand for crystals, pendulums, and “baby witch” kits right now. Or, some people build their own ghost hunting equipment and sell. I also know folks who sell prints of their photography of haunted places, make their own jewelry and pottery, the list goes on. If you’re creative and like to make things, this might be a venture to explore.

11. Run Events, Ghost Hunts, and Ghost Tours

I put this last because it’s the most difficult and my least favorite. There’s a lot of work behind this including book venues, selling tickets, set up, tear down, hiring help, and running the event. But I know plenty of people who have started their own businesses running events, ghost hunts, and ghost tours, and they are amazing at it. This is definitely an option to explore if you have the time and seed money to get it all set up.

12. Start a Store

This takes some finesse and knowledge on how to run a business. But I see a decent amount of people starting their own “ghost hunting store” where they will buy equipment and accessories at wholesale price and then resell them. I also know folks who will sell used ghost hunting equipment, supplies, jewelry, apparel, and books. This takes a considerable amount of work to get it all set up with business licenses, taxes, and maybe even a retail storefront.

Ways to NOT Make Money in the Paranormal

Charging Clients for Residential Investigations

Don’t do this. Just don’t. Considering that we can’t even prove that ghosts exist, it’s a bit hard to make an argument for charging clients. Doing residential cases is a huge liability along with that. Charging clients go from a volunteer context to a business transaction, and that can open up a whole wormhole of legal issues if things go sour.

Fundraisers

You shouldn’t be doing fundraisers to turn a profit for yourself if you’re advertising that 100% of the proceeds is going to a charity. Yes, you can pay for the fundraiser’s expenses from the money you raise, pay event staff, etc. The tricky thing here is that people have gotten in trouble for organizing fundraisers, and then people find out they pocketed the money, or didn’t send as much to the charity as they promoted.

Fundraising is typically seen as community service that people shouldn’t be making money from. Of course, there are nonprofit organizations that manage to do this. However, you need to be completely transparent about where the money is going and be ready to show receipts. Note: The exception here are events that will also support a charity. Event planning is a huge task to take on, and people working in the event should be paid for their time.

One More Note: Taxes

Anything you do to make money in the paranormal is taxable. Yes, you still have to pay taxes. You will want to keep track of everything and report all of your income including cash, books, products, commission, and free stuff. You don’t want Uncle Sam knocking on your door and then you aren’t able to pay because you spent your money already.

The Real-Life Haunting That Inspired “Poltergeist”: A Terrifying True Story

November 18, 2020November 23, 2024 Alex Matsuo

Before “Poltergeist” terrified audiences, a real-life haunting shocked America. But what really happened, and how much of it made it to the screen?

While the movie, “Poltergeist”, isn’t about an actual poltergeist, it drew inspiration from real-life events. The “Popper Poltergeist” plagued the Hermann family in 1958. We have actual police reports, and even an investigation from parapsychologist, J.B. Rhine of the Rhine Research Center. Let’s take a deep dive into this case and how it inspired the blockbuster hit just a few decades later.

“Don’t Tell Anyone”

The first thing to address is that this situation happened in 1958. This was very much the age where people did not talk about their paranormal experiences in fear of being shunned by the community.

On February 3rd, 1958 in Seaford, New York (Long Island), patriarch James Hermann came home one day to his family telling him an extraordinary tale. Hermann’s wife, Lucille, said that after their children (also named Lucille and James) came home from school that day, they heard popping noises coming from different places around the house. When she and the kids investigated, they found several common household substances uncapped and placed upside down. The bottles were also hot to the touch.

The substances included things like shampoo and bleach. Also, these caps had to twist to come on and off. It’s time to mention that the children were in their teens and preteens. I should also mention that Lucille was thirteen years old and James (Jimmy) was twelve years old.

What was even more disturbing was that a bottle of Holy Water had been spilled on the dresser. Cue the demon music!

Remember, this was 1958. When James heard this story, he told his family to stay calm, and also, don’t tell anyone. He tried to explain the phenomenon with science. Perhaps there was some chemical reaction causing the caps to pop off.

Popper

Just five days later, the popping sounds happened again. But this time, James was home. At first, he suspected Jimmy was behind the incidents because Jimmy was a big fan of science. James observed Jimmy closely, and was baffled when the caps were still popping off the bottles.

When he investigated, he too found several bottles uncapped and turned upside down, and Jimmy hadn’t been near them. This time, James called the police. What is interesting is that the dispatched officer also heard the popping sounds and saw the upside-down bottles.

The house was investigated several more times by police and detective Joseph Tozzi. Explanations like a deteriorating house or family pranks were explored but were later ruled out. There was no obvious nor easy explanation for the occurrences, much to the Hermann family’s frustration. James still had suspicions and blamed the occurrences on his teenage kids.

The incidents were soon named Popper.

Nationwide Coverage

Then, the story went public. Incidents were also televised. It became a media sensation. Remember, this was 1958 and these things don’t happen. Or, if they did, you didn’t tell anyone. I have to wonder what James thought of all of that. Soon, advice was pouring in from all over the country. The story even made the cover of Life magazine.

The Hermann family became a media icon. Their story was covered publicly on multiple news outlets. The police officers and detect

Escalation

Since going public, the incidents at the Hermann home only got worse. A cousin of the Hermann family, Marie Murtha, visited. I assume it was a form of moral support. She too heard the popping and saw that the teenaged kids were in another room on the other side of the house. So, teenage pranks were officially ruled out.

What was also troubling was that the phenomenon was starting to target bottles of holy water. Detective Tozzi connected the family to Father William McLeod of the Church of St. William the Abbott. The Hermanns were also Catholic, which explains the presence of holy water.

James, concerned for the safety of his family, moved the Hermanns away from the house for the time being. They definitely needed a break.

But, when the Hermanns returned, the activity came back. This time, it came back with a vengeance. Larger and heavier items were now being moved, upturned, and more.

Investigations

Detective Tozzi heavily investigated the case. When the heavier objects started moving, he contacted the nearby Air Force base to see if there had been tests being conducted that may have caused a sonic boom. That was soon debunked. Robert Zider also investigated the case with dowsing rods and said that there were streams under the house created a magnetic field. Tozzi looked at geological records and found there were no streams under the house.

About a month later, J.B. Rhine of Duke University, was on the case.

Yes, Duke University once had a parapsychology lab. J.B. Rhine would later break away from Duke to create the Rhine Research Center, which is still active today in Durham, North Carolina. If you enjoyed this blog, send them a few bucks!

Rhine concluded that the presence of two hormonal teenagers created some sort of poltergeist activity or telekinetic events. Apparently, there was some conflict between James and Rhine’s team as well.

What is really interesting is that shortly after Rhine and his team arrived, the incidents stopped around March 10, 1958. This is a common thing with poltergeist cases. Once the agent (or in this case, the two teenagers) becomes aware that they are the center of the activity, it stops.

Looking Back

The teenage daughter, Lucille Hermann, appeared in the documentary, “Real Fear: The Truth Behind the Movies” on Chiller. She also was interviewed by HuffPost Weird News. Lucille admitted that she never saw the movie, “Poltergeist”, because she had lived in her own nightmare during that time. According to her, the incidents stopped when her family moved away.

Theories

While this situation seems like it happened over the course of at least a year, it was only five weeks. During those five weeks, over 70 incidents were recorded.

I wonder, when James took the family out of the house for that short break, did the incidents continue? I haven’t found much info on what the family did outside of the home. If it was poltergeist phenonmenon centered around the two teens, I wouldn’t be surprised if the activity followed them. Lucille (the daughter) didn’t report any activity after leaving the house. So then, it makes you wonder what else was going on?

Or, perhaps all of the police visits and nationwide media attention had perhaps escalated the activity because it was causing stress to the family and the two teens? Or, perhaps, was Lucille (the mother) going through menopause at the time? Menopause has been linked to poltergeist activity as well. Or, maybe between the hormonal stress of the two teenagers, plus mom maybe goin through menopause, there was a lot going on to contribute to the activity.

It should also be noted that the activity often happened while Jimmy was alone. Plus, Jimmy was around about 75% of the time when the incidents happened. Maybe he was the source?

Popper vs. The Movie

As you can probably tell, the 1982 movie, “Poltergeist“, was loosely based on the Hermanns, and very loosely based on actual poltergeist phenomenon. Basically, the Hermanns’ story laid out the basic framework of a family being plagued by an unseen force. But that’s it. Their home wasn’t built on a former cemetery where they moved the headstones but not the bodies.

For more information on poltergeist phenomenon, I recommend checking out this panal from Ghost Education 101.

Sources

The Herrmann House

https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/popper

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/poltergeist-amityville-horror-survivor-real-fear_n_1335948

http://troytaylorbooks.blogspot.com/2013/02/popper-poltergeist.html

*Header image used in cooperation with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

15 Things Paranormal Investigators Should Stop Making a Big Deal About

November 13, 2020November 13, 2020 Alex Matsuo3 Comments

This might be my most controversial blog to date…well, maybe. This is something I’ve talked about with other members of the paranormal community, and I managed to compile this list. There is a lot going on in the paranormal community. But these fifteen items seem to be something that remains consistent.

1. Egos

This seems to be an ongoing problem in the field that continues to get worse. You would think there would be more openness on the Island of Misfit Toys. What’s more, the things that drive people’s egos are ridiculous things like, “We’re on YouTube.” Yes, so are millions of other people. Or, “I’ve been on TV.” Great, so have a bunch of other people. It’s one thing to have confidence in yourself and the work that you do. But when people start ostracizing, excluding, and being hurtful to others because they’re “too good” for us regular folk…because they’re on YouTube, they’re “young”, or they’re “going places”, then that becomes problematic.

Weird timing, but a few days after I drafted this blog, I was sent this video of a gentleman who was basically told he couldn’t investigate with two teams because he was too old, and no one ever heard of him even though he had been in the field for so many years. I’m sorry, what? That’s ridiculous. YouTube doesn’t make you an instant celebrity, nor does age have ANYTHING to do with skills in the paranormal. Also, not everyone is trying to gain notoriety or celebrity status in this field. If I meet someone with decades more experience than me, heck yeah, come sit at the table and let me pick your brain while I buy you a cup of coffee!

2. Social Media Following

Influencers will tell you that social media following doesn’t mean ANYTHING anymore. It doesn’t mean you’re popular. Likes and follows can be bought these days, and you can tell when a page or profile does this. If you’re going to pay to grow your social media following, put money into Facebook and Instagram ads. The likes and follows you get from that will be genuine followers who will respond to your content. If a page has 300K likes and followers, but they only have an engagement of a few dozen; they bought their likes.

3. Online Classes

Man, when someone is offering an online paranormal class for a price, people lose their minds. Words like “scammer”, “someone trying to make easy money”, and “fraud” start coming out. Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with online classes. They can be useful. Now, if they’re offering a certification, then I raise an eyebrow. But, as someone who develops courses and eLearning as their day job, do y’all know how long it takes to make a course? Let alone a full out class with modules? Also, how expensive it is to give it a platform to live on? It takes time. If you don’t want to take the class, then don’t. But don’t demand that the instructor offers their expertise for free for the sake of “anyone can learn.” Go find someone offering their expertise for free. They’re out there. Yes, anyone can learn for free. If someone wants to pay for a class, it’s fine. Keep scrolling and move on.

4. Getting on a TV Show

This sort of hits on my first point. This drives me nuts. It really does. Why? Getting on a TV show isn’t the end-all, be-all in this field. I see folks get almost rabid if a new face gets on a TV show. Their experience is questioned, people wonder if they’re professional. Then there’s all this complaining about how there are people who have been in the field for decades who deserve their own show. Okay, here’s the deal; paranormal reality TV isn’t marketed to seasoned paranormal investigators. It’s marketed towards regular people who have no idea what the ghost hunting world is about. Personally, a lot of the shows I prefer to watch are on YouTube and Amazon Prime, and other more independent platforms. But, do you know what this means? You can create your own paranormal show! Don’t wait for the mainstream networks to make you an offer.

5. Para Unity

Don’t get me wrong, we should all treat each other with decency and respect. But, I’ve noticed that the people who yell, “Para unity!” the loudest are often the ones who treat others poorly. They steal material, gossip, put people on blast for no reason, and constantly air their drama. I’ve been asked to do some pretty awful things for the sake of “para unity.” Truth be told, I don’t believe we should be rewarding good behavior that we should already be doing as decent human beings. Don’t be a jerk. That means you shouldn’t steal other people’s images or videos. It’s not fair to keep building your platform on the hard work of others and give credit where credit is due.

6. Differing Opinions

Okay, I will out myself and admit that this is something I’m still working on. If someone disagrees with you, or doesn’t think that your evidence is showing a ghost, it doesn’t mean they’re attacking you. They won’t think any less of you unless you start personally attacking them. I’ve seen people put others on full blast and start doxxing their personal lives because they disagreed about an orb in a video. There is a lot of ego in this field to the point where folks are causing harm and heartache to others. It needs to stop.

7. Acronyms

Acronyms were cool back in the early 2000s, maybe in the 2010s. But, acronyms are kind of old now. Plus, I’ve seen some really weird team names for the sake of spelling out G.H.O.S.T. or P.A.R.A.N.O.R.M.A.L or S.P.I.R.I.T. It gets confusing too, and it can be hard to brand that. Do you know how many GHOST teams there are with that acronym? A lot. Too many to count.

8. CCTV Video

I’ve been seeing CCTV as the “end all be all” factor for paranormal evidence, and honestly, it’s not. It’s faulty. It lags, it freezes, and it makes things like raccoons look like demonic gnomes. Plus, CCTV footage can easily be manipulated. Unless I have a personal tie with that CCTV security system (it’s mine), and I can track what was captured and it’s hard to take anything on the internet at face value. I’m seeing more and more paranormal compilation videos on YouTube that are obviously fabricated, and it’s disappointing.

I know some will fight me tooth and nail on this, so I’m probably preaching to the choir since my regular readers align with the same thoughts as me. This is my opinion, and if you disagree, I promise I don’t hate you. Confession: I was a photographer before I considered myself a paranormal investigator. I knew what orbs were before I realized people called them ghosts and spirits in the paranormal community. Orbs are actually covered in a lot of manuals for cameras. It’s dust, moisture, bugs, dander, basically explainable. Yes, dust can look like it’s going through walls if it’s going in and out of focus. Bugs can look like angels or fairies on camera. Yes, you can see faces in orbs thanks to the pareidolia effect.

Does this mean I don’t believe in orbs? No. Another confession: I’ve seen orbs I couldn’t explain. But I saw them with my naked eye. They emitted their own light. And they didn’t float the same way as dust. Orbs in photos and videos don’t emit their own light, they’re reflecting light. That’s a big difference.

9. Apps

Not all ghost hunting apps are created equal. I suggest that you research apps before downloading them. Anything that’s sold as a “ghost radar” or “ghost detector”, you should look for something else. Some of the better ghost apps include EchoVox, which is an ITC tool. Personally, for me, I’m hesitant to use any apps since our phones aren’t equipped to detect and gauge the environment. Also, any app that lets you insert a photo of a ghost is a big NO.

10. Skeptics

When I say skeptics, I mean the paranormal community needs to stop the mindset that skeptics are bad. They aren’t. They’re fantastic. Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely some skeptics out there who are total jerks. But, that doesn’t mean that all skeptics are that way. There are many fantastic ones out there who are just as curious about the paranormal as the rest of us, and often, they are looking to have that experience. The difference is that skeptics are hardcore critical thinkers, and need something more solid. They hold the paranormal community accountable and they are a valued asset to the community.

11. Demons

Not everything is a demon. Sometimes it’s a really negative human spirit. Other times, it’s elemental. Sometimes it’s nothing at all. It’s interesting how those who don’t believe in demons don’t seem to have an issue with them. It’s all about mindset and what energy you’re putting out there.

12. Religion

There is more than one religion in the paranormal field, and they are all bring something of value to the table. To me, all religions are valid because it goes back to intention and mindset. I’ve seen cleansings and blessings tied with other religions that were just as effective as Christian methods. As I mentioned in the point about demons, it goes back to your intentions and your convictions. If you’re certain that a Christian method will work, it will.

13. Ouija Boards

I don’t understand the hate against Ouija boards. Yes, I know people associate them with demons. Yes, people have had negative experiences with it, but people have had negative experiences in other areas of their life that they keep going back to. Furthermore, I don’t understand the venom that comes from people who speak out against the Ouija board. We’re talking personal insults, and even lowkey paranormal drama. Do these folks not understand that their hatred of the board and attacking others is just as negative and evil as the Ouija board (or so they think)?

14. Celebrities Joining the Field

This is something I’ve always been fascinated with, especially after it was revealed that Stormy Daniels was working on her own ghost hunting show. So many people have had paranormal experiences, and it should be no surprise that celebrities have had them too. If they want to join the paranormal bandwagon, let them! The more the merrier. There is a lot of gatekeeping in the field, questioning experience and professionalism, It needs to stop. Especially when someone who isn’t famous shares similar life experiences as a celebrity, and they see their lifestyle and choices under attack as a reason to not be in the community.

15. Facebook Groups

I love Facebook groups. They are such a wonderful way to connect with other like-minded people. I can share my content and have amazing conversations with folks and get awesome perspectives. But, each Facebook group is like its own little universe, and some people think they’re gods in little ponds. There are millions of paranormal Facebook groups out there, and there should be a shift in focus to cultivating the community instead of trying to constantly grow numbers, competing for admin/mod status, and booting people over disagreements. It’s just Facebook, y’all.

Do You Know the Creepy True Story Behind “Child’s Play”?

November 4, 2020November 4, 2020 Alex Matsuo

Could there be anything more terrifying than a possessed doll on a murderous rampage? Well, the thought that the movies are based on a true story is enough to keep you up at night! This might be why the movie, Child’s Play (1988), became such a box office success that inspired a major franchise.

The premise was that serial killer, Charles Lee Ray, was on the run from the cops. Knowing he was about to be killed, he used a voodoo spell to transfer his soul into a doll. Yes, the subsequent sequels got a bit more ridiculous as time went on. But still, we can’t help but still get the chills at the thought that one of our dolls could be alive…and plotting our demise.

It may be even more unsettling to know that Child’s Play is based on a true story. Robert the Doll is one of the most famous haunted objects in the world, and the Child’s Play franchise is partially based on his story. What’s more, you can visit him in person if you dare!

Real-Life Andy

Andy was the poor victim that was gifted Chucky in the movie. The poor kid just wanted a doll to play with, not a homicidal maniac! Andy’s real-life counterpart, Robert Eugene Otto (called Gene), probably dealt with similar annoyances. Gene lived in Key West, Florida, and was a member of a very prominent family in the area. The Ottos very much appreciated fine art, but Gene didn’t have many friends.

Robert the Doll was a gift from Gene’s great-aunt during a trip in Germany. Apparently, the doll had been a window display. Gene named the doll after himself and loved him as his own. According to legend, it is believed that the servants face terrible abuse from Gene’s parents and placed a voodoo curse on Robert the Doll as revenge. However, there isn’t much that supports this rumor.

Gene was eight years old when he got Robert, and he was unhealthily attached to the doll. He wasn’t making friends and would spend a significant amount of time alone with Robert, much to his parents’ concern.

Robert Causes Chaos

It didn’t take long for the family to realize that something wasn’t right with Gene or with Robert. His mother, Minnie Otto, was exceptionally protective of Gene. This occurred even when Gene’s father, Thomas, insisted that he was too old to have a doll. It didn’t take long for his parents to notice weird things like footsteps running above them, and Robert being in places he shouldn’t be. But probably the most terrifying of all is that Gene was seen having a one-sided conversation with Robert. But when his parents left the room, they would hear another voice responding to Gene.

Soon, mutilated toys started showing up. Gene was blamed for the destruction, but he insisted that Robert did it. In the middle of the night, his parents would hear Gene screaming and then go into his room, where the furniture was overturned. But it wasn’t his fault…Robert did it.

Gene’s parents also heard Robert giggling. Initially, then thought it was Gene changing his voice, but it turned out that wasn’t the case.

Eliminating Competition

There was a lot of tension in the house, and Gene seemed to constantly lose himself in Robert. There would be a lot of sitting in silence, just staring at Robert, like they were psychically connecting with each other. Gene started isolating himself from the other children and eventually, from his parents, which caused them to worry. Robert was also a regular guest at the dinner table.

According to legend, when Gene’s great aunt advised his parents to get rid of the doll, his parents put Robert in a box and nailed it shut. The next morning, the great aunt was found dead. The coroner ruled that she had a stroke. Was this coincidence, or was it Robert exacting his revenge on the old woman for advising that the family get rid of him?

Fearful for Gene’s life, his parents sent him away to a boarding school for disturbed children. Robert did not go with him, and he was put away in a box for many years. Gene would eventually grow up to be a famous artist.

But Minnie claimed that she would see Robert around the house, in the shadows, and she knew that eventually, he would get her.

Into Adulthood

Gene Otto as an adult. Credit: Monroe County Library Collection

Gene grew up to be a famous artist and a well-adjusted young man. While it seemed that Gene outgrew Robert and eventually forgot about him, all of that changed when his mother died. Gene and his young wife, Ann, found themselves living in his childhood home. According to legend, before his mother died, she told Gene’s wife to never move into the house and never tell him about Robert. Well, the couple now lived in the house, and Gene eventually found Robert again.

Some sources say that Gene reverted back to his isolated behaviors and was oddly attached to Robert as a grown man. This eventually caused issues in his marriage and his wife was fearful of the doll as well. Gene placed Robert by the window so he could look outside. However, neighbors claimed that they would see Robert passing the windows and peering through the curtains outside of his normal spot. Gene eventually locked Robert away once again.

Gene passed away in 1974, and Robert was found in the attic. The family that moved into the house had a 10-year old daughter who found Robert and took an immediate liking to him. However, it didn’t take long for Robert to start causing the same chaos once again. While the new family didn’t throw him away, he was locked away once more until he was moved to a museum, with his reputation well known.

Ask Permission

Robert has been blamed for much misfortune and bad luck. If you visit Robert at the East Martello Museum, and you don’t ask for permission to take his photo, he will cause absolute chaos in your life. Littered around the walls in Robert’s area are letters begging for forgiveness for taking his photo without consent. According to legend and first-hand witnesses, Robert has caused car crashes, diseases, divorces, and even catastrophic cybersecurity compromises. That’s a lot for a little doll to accomplish!

What is Robert?

I’ve often been asked what I think Robert is. Could he be possessed by a ghost? Or is Robert something of demonic energy? Or, have all the stories and legends we’ve heard about this terrifying doll have accumulated and we’ve created that energy ourselves? It’s hard to say.

You can visit the house today where Gene Otto grew up and Robert was seen through the windows. You can even stay overnight!

What do you think? Do you think Robert the Doll is real? Or was it all the shenanigans of a michevious little boy? The world will never know.

Sources:

http://www.the13thfloor.tv/2016/03/18/did-you-know-the-movie-childs-play-is-based-on-a-real-event/

https://filmdaily.co/news/robert-the-doll/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-story-behind-the-worlds-most-haunted-doll

Disneyland Ghost Stories and Creepy Hauntings!

October 27, 2020October 27, 2020 Alex Matsuo

Could it be that the happiest place on Earth is also the most haunted place on Earth? Be still our hearts! With so much energy going through the park on a regular basis, plus the heightened emotions and spiritual awakening many of us feel when we pass through those gates, it’s not surprising that there could be spiritual activity going on.

Disneyland was once a way of life for me. Growing up and living in San Diego, Disneyland was just a 90-minute drive away. Even before I dove into becoming a paranormal investigator, I always felt a strange energy in Disneyland that I wanted to experience over and over again.

Walt LOVED Spooky Stories

Walt Disney loved the creepy and spooky. In fact, one of his favorite legends is the Headless Horseman. And we can’t forget The Haunted Manion. Here’s some fun Disneyland trivia: The Headless Horseman was part of the earlier plans for the Haunted Mansion. Apparently he was going to be part of the finale in the graveyard area. The plan was ultimately scrapped. But today, well, when Disneyland was having parades, the Headless Horseman opened up the “Boo to You” Parade.

The Ghost Stories

The Woman in White

Did you know that Disneyland has its own Woman in White? Many believe that this woman died around the area even before Walt built Disneyland. This is an entity in a white dress that hangs out around Main Street after dark. According to legend, she scopes the area out looking for lost children and escorting them to the Baby Care Center where they can be reunited with their parents.

Ghost Train

This might just be my favorite story. A former cast member by the name of Darrold Wagner claims that the Disneyland Railroad is haunted. If you’ve ever been on the ride at Disneyland, it circles the park and it’s a nice way to relax and get off your feet for a bit. As always, there’s usually more than one train on the track, but you would never know. According to Wagner, the train command center has a board that shows where the trains are on the track. Usually late at night, a train would show on the board in the far corner. The whistle would even blow even though there wasn’t a train. The older employee’s used to say, “That’s Walt’s train.”

The Constant Vigil & a Smoke

Walt’s apartment is above the fire station to your left when you walk into the park. If you’ve ever been to Disneyland, you’ve probably noticed the lamp that’s always on. That’s a constant vigil in Walt’s memory, reminding us all that he is still watching over his beloved park. But could there be more there than just a lamp? According to Anna Bees, who can see and sense spirits, has seen Walt in the window of his apartment by the lamp. There is also the famous story of a cast member who tried turning off a light in Walt’s apartment, only to come downstairs to see it lit up again. This incident happened multiple times until the cast member gave up and kept the light on. She also heard a voice say, “I’m still here.” Apparently, the constant vigil to Walt was born from this experience.

Anna has also seen Walt smoking while leaning on a lamppost in front of “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” Considering Walt’s apartment and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln are close to each other, this doesn’t surprise me.

A Wave Hello

Multiple guests have claimed to see Walt around the park. One guest, who was let into the park after hours by a cast member (supposedly), said that they saw a man standing outside of the castle. He was on the drawbridge, noticed the guest, and smiled and waved. According to the guest, they immediately recognized the man as Walt Disney. He stood there waving for about 20 seconds before he disappeared.

The Crying Boy

I’ve heard of this for years growing up, and I honestly thought it was an urban legend until about middle school. The Haunted Mansion is apparently a favorite spot for people to scatter human ashes. I’ve also heard that Pirates of the Caribbean is another popular spot. From my research, this trend seemed to have started in the 90s. Or, at least that was when Disney started to notice it. By the way, if this is something you’re wanting to do, just don’t. They will close the ride and your loved one’s ashes will likely get vacuumed or swept up. I don’t even know if you’d see those remains again. That is such a bizarre situation.

There is reports of a crying boy seen in The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. The reason why he is there is because, according to legend, his mother scattered his ashes on Haunted Mansion.

The Man with the Cane

Is it a shock that Haunted Mansion might be home to actual ghosts? In the 1940s, there was a terrible plane crash in Anaheim, not too far from where the Disneyland property sits today. Apparently, this plane crash took the life of a pilot who walked with a cane. Cast members and guests have claimed to see a man hobbling around the attraction, especially in the loading dock, while walking with a cane.

The Stockroom

A former cast member reported that she often heard the door open and close in one of the stockrooms of one of the gift shops. At one point, she even heard a crash, and one of the items in the stockroom was broken. According to the cast member, there was no way that the item could have fallen by itself since the park was empty and there was no other cast member in the stockroom.

Mr. One Way

Mr. One Way is one of the most well-known ghosts at Disneyland. He has been seen riding next to single riders on Space Mountain. He has been described as a large man with red hair and a red face. Many believe that they have caught glimpses of him on camera. Apparently, he will disappear before riders reach the final tunnel of the ride.

Deaths at the Park & Their Hauntings

There are multiple hauntings that are associated with deaths that have occurred at the park.

Matterhorn

Since Disneyland opened in 1955, there have been multiple deaths on the property. Several of those deaths are associated with hauntings. In 1964, 15-year old Mark Maples was killed after he and his friend stood up in their bobsled on the Matterhorn. Maples ended up falling out of his bobsled. He was the first documented death at Disneyland.

In 1984, a 48-year old woman named Regena “Dolly” Young was killed after she was thrown from her bobsled while riding the Matterhorn. She was struck and killed by an oncoming bobsled. To this day, cast members say that her spirit still lingers where she died, known as Dolly’s Dip. Cast members also report hearing strange sounds in that area.

Monorail

In 1966, a 19-year old teen named Thomas Guy Cleveland was killed after he was struck by the Monorail that connects the park to the Disneyland Hotel. He had been trying to sneak into the park using the Monorail track. A security guard found him, Cleveland was spooked, and he ran down the tracks before being killed. According to legend, the teen can still be seen running for his life on the tracks.

Rivers of America

In 1973, an 18-year old teen drowned in Rivers of America after he tried to swim from Tom Sawyer’s Island after the park closed. This was all while carrying his 10-year old brother on his back. In 1983, another 18-year old teen drowned after trying to pilot a rubber emergency boat from the cast member’s area of Tom Sawyer’s Island. According to rumors, the men can still be seen in the water and by the train to this day.

People Mover

Let’s start with the People Mover, which ran from 1967 until 1995. When the ride first opened, a 15-year old teen named Ricky Lee Yama decided to get out of his People Mover car as it was entering a tunnel. He tried to jump from car to car when he slipped and landed on the tracks. He was struck and killed by oncoming cars.

A similar accident happened in 1980 to 17-year old Gerardo Gonzales. During Grad Night, he was jumping from car to car when he too lost his footing and fell onto the tracks. He body ended up being dragged for a few hundred feet. I also read a witness testimony on MiceChat that he actually fell off the track and broke his neck. Either way, it was tragic and horrific.

When the ride was still functioning, visitors (specifically blonde females) reported getting their hair pulled as they entered the tunnel.

America Sings

In 1974, a woman named Deborah Stone was crushed to death when she was caught between the walls of America Sings. Cast members reported feeling a strange presence in the area when the attraction was open, especially if they got too close to the rotating walls.

This is just a sliver of the deaths that have taken place at Disneyland. For more info, check out this list from Snopes.

Why Disneyland? It’s a Prime Energy Source

Ultimately, we need to ask ourselves, why is Disneyland haunted? I touched on this in the beginning, but I truly believe that Disneyland is a prime energy course for paranormal activity. Not only do you have the energy from people, but there is so much electricity and EMF running around the park from the lights, fireworks, powering the rides, the list goes on. But also, if we truly get to choose where we get to haunt after we die, I’m sure millions of people would choose Disneyland. I know I would.

Have you every had a weird experience at Disneyland? Tell me about it!

12 Cool Tech Items for Your Ghost Hunting Kit

October 23, 2020November 19, 2020 Alex Matsuo1 Comment

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

One of the most common questions I get is, “What kind of equipment should I buy? What do I need to start ghost hunting?” Truly, you could just use a notebook and pen to take notes. But if you want to take your ghost hunting to the next level, there are tech items you should consider buying. I do want to say that you don’t have to have every item on this list to be a “real” ghost hunter or paranormal investigator.

Also, I want to preface this by saying that none of these items are proven to detect ghosts or capture evidence of paranormal activity. Look at these pieces of equipment for monitoring changes in the environment. If there is weird stuff happening when the equipment is going off, then that’s something to further research and explore. Also, note that a lot of the “official” ghost hunting tech is made for entertainment purposes only. I also list the price so you can get an idea of how much you might be spending.

Also, just beware of any basic items that are rebranded to be a “ghost hunting” device. Sometimes, these products’ prices are inflated because the term “ghost hunt” is associated with it. You can probably find the exact same device for cheaper without the branding. I have had great experiences working with Ghost Stop when looking for my gear.

Laser Grid – $20

A laser grid not only looks cool, but it can also help detect mass. If there’s a hot spot where shadows have been seen, setting up a laser grid can help you determine whether said shadow has mass or not. Visual disturbances can happen in investigations. If the anomaly has mass, the green dots will be disturbed. Usually, these things do come with little tripods and a clamp so you don’t have to keep pressing the button. Also, set up a camera with it so you can capture that data. Laser grids tend to deplete battery life a bit faster, so have extras on hand to replace as needed. Not only does Ghost Stop carry them, but you can also find them on eBay.

Motion Sensor Lights – $22

Anything with a motion sensor is good to buy, especially lights. If there is any kind of movement happening, the lights will go off. These are effective to set up in a hallway or any other area with reported activity. A pack of six on Amazon is about $22, which isn’t bad. I highly recommend having a camera set up to watch the area, or be there physically to watch so you can try to debunk and/or engage should anything happen.

Infrared Thermometer – $35

This nifty tool is a great thing to use to monitor temperature changes, which people often associate with a paranormal presence. You can use this to take baseline readings, find cold spots, hot spots, and see if your team member really is feeling a chill. If you want to amp up your thermometer experience or combine forces with EMF detection, Ghost Stop has something called the EDI (“Eddy”), which runs about $200. This is definitely on my wish list since it also does data logging as well as sense pressure and humidity.

Audio Recorder – $52

Technically, you could use the microphone feature on your phone as an audio recorder. But, I do recommend turning off your phone whenever possible so you don’t accidentally cause a false positive with your K2 meter. You can also buy cheaper audio recorders. Personally, I don’t go too cheap on my audio recorder because quality matters in this case, especially when you’re reviewing audio evidence. I use this Olympus recorder, and it suits my needs. But if you don’t want to spend $50+, a basic audio recorder will do you just fine when you’re first starting out. I know several in the paranormal community who upgrade their recorders to one of the Zoom devices, and they come with amazing microphones that are crystal clear. As you can see, it’s quite a bit more expensive.

K2 Meter – $60

By the way, don’t buy the orange ones like in the photo…they don’t work. Like, they don’t even function correctly in detecting EMF levels. After Ghost Hunters premiered in 2004, the demand for the K2 meter exploded. This item is used to detect electromagnetic fields, better known as EMF. This is a real thing. Your smartphone, your computer, your TV, your kitchen appliances…all emit EMF waves. There is also such a thing as EMF poisoning that can cause one to have hallucinations similar to paranormal experiences. These devices were originally manufactured for detecting harmful EMF radiation from power lines and household appliances. Over the years, the paranormal community has come to believe that there is a link between ghosts and EMF since the activity is usually correlated with high EMF levels.

Camcorder – $69

Video data of your ghost hunting adventures can be very useful for you in many ways. The first is to relive your ghost hunt and review for audio and visual data, and the other is for multimedia purposes. If you want to create a video of your investigations, then you’ll want to have a few camcorders on hand. The first-person perspective will help the camera see what you’re seeing, like when you have a camcorder in your hand. You might also want to have a few stationary cameras in reported hot spots. Since you’ll probably be in the dark sometimes, you may want to consider a camcorder that comes with night vision or infrared. You can certainly use your phone, but it will be limited on storage space. If you want crystal clear clarity in 4K, then you’ll probably have to spend more in the $150 range.

PSB-7 or PSB-11 Spirit Box – $70-$130

Not an actual spirit box…I just liked the photo.

Ah, the controversial spirit box, also known as the ghost box. This is a tool that ghost hunters will use to try to listen for spirit voices while the device sweeps through radio stations. While this isn’t proven to speak to ghosts, it’s used by both believers and skeptics alike (for experimental purposes). I have a few team members with both of these devices, while I’m old school and use a “Shack Hack” radio. You could say it was one of the first spirit boxes made from an old radio from Radio Shack. Ghost Stop has a bunch of different rigs for spirit boxes that include teddy bears and hybrids of spirit boxes, EMF readers, and recorders.

Mel Meter – $100

The Mel Meter was invented by Gary Galka after the tragic passing of his daughter, Melissa. He named the Mel Meter after Melissa, and it’s one of the most popular pieces of ghost hunting equipment out there. A Mel Meter measures temperature and EMF “bursts” that is said to happen when there is paranormal activity. This piece of equipment has evolved over the years and now there are Mel Meters out there that come with REM-Pod-like features and more advanced temperature detection.

Surveillance Camera System – $170

This is a great tool to use if you’re able to set up shop for several hours. We use these for our residential cases as well as spaces we’ve reserved for all night. It does take some time to set up (you’ll need the help of multiple people, FYI), but it will give you the ability to have eyes on multiple places on the property without using your camcorders. I do suggest having someone watching the monitor, which you can arrange in shifts.

REM Pod – $190

Basically, a REM-Pod goes off when someone is close to the antennae. I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t seen a REM-Pod go off very often, but when it does, there are various things happening as well like EMF spikes and my mediums will sense something is near. According to the description, the antennae radiates its own magnetic field and can be easily influenced by people or objects that conduct electricity. If you want to see the REM-Pod in action, check out this video from my team’s YouTube channel.

DSLR Camera – $300+

This is one piece of equipment that you’ll have to spend more money on if you want quality. DSLR is short for, “digital single-lens reflex camera.” I highly HIGHLY recommend using a DSLR if you’re going to be taking pictures during your ghost hunt. Do you know those grainy photos showing “orbs” when they’re all close-up? There’s tons of pixelation in these photos, which results in a phenomenon called pareidolia, which means that our brains are trying to make patterns from these pixels and that’s why you think you see a face. A DSLR won’t completely solve this issue, but the pixels and quality of your photos will be so much better and you’ll be able to zoom into weird anomalies without the pixelation.

Thermal Imaging Camera – $200-$1200

While this may be the most expensive, I personally think this is the neatest tool for ghost hunting. While this is used by builders, contractors, hunters, etc. in the average world, this has become a favorite in the ghost hunting community because people are catching fascinating anomalies with these thermal imaging cameras. FLIR is the most popular brand, and we have personal experience using their cameras and they are truly fantastic. An average FLIR camera will cost you around the $300 range and higher. FLIR does make attachable cameras for Android and IOS too. As you can see, you can get FLIR cameras on Amazon. Ghost Stop also has a selection as they are an authorized FLIR distributor.

Honorable Mentions

Ovilus – $399+

I will forever be skeptical of the Ovilus. I also am not a fan of the price tag given the usability of the device. It’s a popular device with ghost hunters. The word bank is a bit problematic for me since it is pre-programmed. I will admit that I’ve had interesting results using the Ovilus III in reverse phonetic mode, which I think is important to note. We didn’t have a word bank coming at us, and instead, had sounds come out. Does this leave room for pareidolia and the power of suggestion? You bet. Just proceed with caution.

Motion Sensor Alarm – $30+

I put this in the honorable mentions because this can end up being a problematic device because it’s noisy. I do like the indoor versions since they have a chime instead of a loud alarm. The one that Ghost Stop offers also has different sound choices too. They are worth purchasing, especially if there is reported movement in certain areas and it can let you know of different disturbances in the area.

Final Thoughts

All of these items will be useless to you if you don’t know how they work. When you receive your equipment, read the instruction manual, go to online communities and ask questions, learn as much as you can. Learn how the device works, and learn what makes it go off. This will better equip you in your evidence review and you’ll be able to separate what isn’t paranormal, and what is a true anomaly. When it comes to cameras and camcorders, this is especially true.

What do you have in your ghost hunting bag?

10 Scary Places To Visit In North Carolina

October 20, 2020October 20, 2020 Alex Matsuo

North Carolina is rich with history, and it is one of the birthplaces of the United States. This means that there are plenty of ghost stories to go along with this history. There are hauntings all over North Carolina from each chapter of the state’s history, and they are all available and accessible to the public!

If you’re a roadtripping kind of person, you can easily make a fun roadtrip out of these locations and make a complete circle! This is meant to be a quick list. Each one of these places warrant their own full blog post!

Trivette Clinic – Hamptonville, NC

The Trivette Clinic is located in Hamptonville, North Carolina. Dr. William Amos Trivette built the clinic in 1932 after relocating to take care of his aging parents. The clinic was a full-service hospital until 1939. After Dr. Trivette passed away at the age of 50 in 1938 from pneumonia, his wife, Lorah Gwendolyn Trivette, decided to close the clinic and sell it. The clinic became a supper club, as well as an alcohol detox clinic; a rather ironic combination. The Trivette Clinic then became a nursing home in the 1950s and later became a private residence in the early 1960s.

It is believed that the Trivette Clinic is believed to be haunted by over 70 ghosts. Some of the most commonly reported activity includes a little girl named Emily who haunts a wardrobe on the second floor. She has been known to open and close the wardrobe door. A young girl, named Majesty, haunts the basement. She even has a ball to play with! There is reportedly another child spirit by the name of Jimmy. Two nurses named Helen and Polly are also believed to be haunting the clinic, never clocking out from work.

There are also reports that flashlights will turn on by themselves as well as a male entity haunting the operating room named Philip. His presence was confirmed by a former employee of the nursing home. Apparitions have also been seen in the windows.

Henry River Mill Village – Hickory, NC

Henry River Mill Village opened in 1905 as a cotton yarn manufacturer. The area had 35 company houses for employees and their families and even had a company store, a two-story boarding house, and a bridge. You may recognize Henry River Mill Village as the filming location for District 12 in “The Hunger Games” movie franchise. While prosperous and bustling in the beginning, Henry River Mill Village would suffer the same fate as other boomtowns. The mill shut down in 1973. Even though people moved away, there were many that remained until the early 2000s. Today, Henry River Mill Village is a historic site, as well as a haunted hot spot. It seems that the folks who lived in this community don’t want to leave.

Brookstown Inn – Winston-Salem, NC

The Brookstown Inn is located in the Old Salem district of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It began as an old cotton mill in 1837. So, many of the employees were women who actually lived in the mill. According to legend, two women got into a fight, and it took a turn for the worst. Tragically, one of them was killed after she was pushed down the elevator shaft. That woman, named Sally, is reported to haunt the Inn, specifically the fourth floor at night, and as a full-bodied apparition. At night, reports of the screams of a woman are heard. While you may not be able to have an investigation at the Brookstown Inn, you can still book a room for the night.

Person’s Ordinary – Littleton, NC

Person’s Ordinary was built in 1739 was built on one of the main stagecoach routes running from Hillsborough to Halifax. It is called by Person’s Ordinary as it was owned by Thomas Person, a prominent political leader of the time. An Ordinary was a place for “ordinary” men to sleep, as the wealthy and connected traveled with letters of introduction and stayed at manor houses during their travels. On the second floor, there is a bloodstain in one of the bedrooms. This was one of the only places I have witnessed a REM-Pod go off by itself in a room where the nearest person was at least six feet away. People have reported seeing faces in windows as well as candle-like flickering when no one is in the building.

Lydia’s Bridge – Greensboro, NC

I’ve heard a few different stories in relation to Lydia’s Bridge over the years since I’ve moved here. This is your classic hitchhiking ghost story. But in this case, I actually know people who have encountered this phenomenon. Lydia’s Bridge is actually not a bridge. It’s located just south of Jamestown, NC, but instead it’s a culvert for railroad tracks. The story goes like this; on a rainy night at an old underpass, drivers will see a woman in a white evening dress. She will flag the driver down, hoping for a ride. Then, she will get into the backseat, tell the driver her address, and then she will disappear upon arrival. There have been variations of this story over the years, including a name change to Mary. You can dive deeper into this legend with the book, “Looking for Lydia.”

Battleship North Carolina – Wilmington, NC

This location is something special. Also known as the USS North Carolina, the Battleship North Carolina is a favorite among ghost hunters. When I went with my team, we dressed up in period clothing and had quite an active investigation. The Battleship North Carolina has quite a history with World War II, and there seem to be sailors still on the ship…unable to leave. Or, maybe they don’t want to leave? We heard strange noises throughout the ship like tables were being dragged in the mess hall area. What was also interesting was that overnight, the activity was pretty dull. But then, it started to pick up around 4am-7am, around the time the sailors would have been waking up.

Cabelands Cemetery & Eno River – Durham, NC

This location is near where I live, and it’s probably one of the most active places I’ve been to. This little cemetery is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention while you’re on the hiking trail. While there are only 12 markers, it’s believed there are actually 51 people buried here. The nearby Cabe homestead is also a hotbed of activity. My team and I did an extensive investigation in the area right before COVID-19 hit, and funny enough, we kept getting responses from a spirit that was obsessed with geese. They just kept saying, “Goose. Geese. Goose” repeatedly. Others who have visited this spot have also reported seeing shadow figures and feeling the presence of multiple people. We also heard phantom voices, and strange feelings around the Eno River.

Heritage Square – Fayetteville, NC

We spent about a month at the Sandford House in Heritage Square in October 2019. We spent about a month at this location and encountered quite a bit of activity. The whole property has something going on, but the Sandford House is truly a marvel. It was the headquarters for Sherman’s men when he was coming through Fayetteville for his infamous march. There is a chip on the mantle from a bullet that was shot from the inside! During the 1930s-1950s, the house was home to numerous families, especially women who were displaced by World War II and looking for work. The second floor is one of the most active spots with the spirit of a young boy named David.

Asheville, NC

I have to tell you, there are a ton of haunted hot spots in Asheville, NC. I’m pretty sure this town has more haunted hot spots per capita than most cities around the country. Asheville was incorporated in 1797, there is a ton of history in the area, which makes its haunted status unsurprising. The Biltmore House might be one of the most notable haunted places in the area, as well as The Grove Park Inn. From Riverside Cemetery to Helen’s Bridge, plus an array of ghost tours around the area, you won’t have a problem quenching your thirst for spookiness in Asheville!

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – Buxton, NC

The Outer Banks is a rich source of paranormal hauntings, especially those that are pirate-centric. Did you know the ghost of Blackbeard has been seen and heard around the Outer Banks? It’s crazy that such a famous part of history is just a drive away from me. I was especially drawn to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse because there have been sightings of a ghost kitty around the area! The shoals that extend offshore of Cape Hatteras has been known as the “graveyard of the Atlantic” because there have been so many shipwrecks.⁠
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Stormy Daniels is Filming a New Ghost Hunting Show

October 18, 2020April 9, 2021 Alex Matsuo1 Comment

This is a post I never thought I’d be writing. When you hear the name Stormy Daniels, what do you think about? Most of us associate her with Donald Trump. But, she’s so much more than that. She is a person with hobbies and interests…and one of them is paranormal investigating.

Daniels was recently spotted ghost hunting in Atchison, Kansas at the Sallie House and the McInteer Villa. She was on a ghost hunting adventure. According to KCTV News, Daniels is working on a new show about ghost hunting.

Daniels is currently traveling around the country to different haunted locations for her show called, Spooky Babes. Her team already has merch and Daniels is headlining a few speaking engagements.

According to Daniels, she’s always had an interest in the paranormal, and she believes that the shows give people a safe space to talk about it. She is pitching her show to a few different networks at the moment, and I’ll be curious to see if it gets picked up.

About the Team

Spooky Babes was founded by Stormy Daniels in 2020 after she had intense paranormal activity in her home in New Orleans. She started the team with her friend, Justin Loupe. Apparently, the haunting of her New Orleans home started in 2019 and there are over 20 witnesses to the phenomenon. The activity was described as poltergeist-like with shadowy figures and physical attacks. Stormy started the team out of a desire to better understand her experiences.

Personal Thoughts

This is interesting. I know a lot of celebs have been jumping on the paranormal show train for decades, but I didn’t expect Stormy Daniels to be one of them. It honestly just goes to show you that anyone can have an interest in the paranormal. But as Daniels said, a lot of people don’t feel like they have a safe space to talk about it. The Osbournes are currently the big celebs riding this train right now.

I have to admit, it’s entertaining to watch celebrities ghost hunt. When you see a celebrity share that they too had experiences, it does make you feel less alone. It makes them a bit more relatable. I wish Stormy all the best in her ghost hunting and paranormal investigating, and I’ll be interested to see if her show gets picked up.

Would you watch Stormy Daniels’ ghost hunting show?

@thespookystuff
#greenscreen Stormy Daniels is doing WHAT? #ghosthunting #paranormaltiktok #hauntedtiktok #stormydaniels #ghosthunters
♬ Creepy Dollhouse – Peder B. Helland

The Fascinating History of the Ouija Board

October 16, 2020October 16, 2020 Alex Matsuo

Since the dawn of time, mankind has been trying to make contact with the supernatural. Whether through natural gifts or making tools, the search for the unknown is never-ending. Ouija boards are probably one of the most objects in the world. It’s just a harmless game, right? For over a century, the Ouija board has been a victim of fear-mongering, skepticism, and misunderstanding.

In order to fully understand the Ouija board, one must understand its history and where it came from. In case you’re wondering, no, it didn’t manifest itself from hell, nor did it drop in from the spirit world.

The Spiritualism Movement

It seems to always come back to Spiritualism, doesn’t it?

The Spiritualist movement was at its peak in the United States in the 1840s. To put it simply, Spiritualism is the belief that we can communicate with our dearly departed loved ones through mediums. One could argue that many ghost hunters today are actually Spiritualists.

The movement especially grew in popularity during the Civil War. This was because people were desperate for closure with their loved ones’ unresolved deaths. They wanted to talk to mediums to find out what happened to their soldiers. This was peak time when seances and public demonstrations became popular. But people wanted more tools to communicate with the other side. Tools like planchettes, spirit writing, trances, seances, and table tipping became the norm in the typical family home.

The earliest recording of a talking board was in 1886 in the New York Daily News, citing Ohio as being the state of origin. This “craze” was replacing card games at parties. It was18 by 20 inches in size, and users had to keep the board on their lap. A little table was used to move around the alphabet, numbers, and the words “yes”, “no”, “good morning”, and “good evening” were written on the board.

Official Invention of the Board

Via American Printing History Association

After seeing the article in the New York Daily News, three men named Elijah Bond, Charles Kennard, and William H.A. Maupin were inspired to create their own board and sell it to the masses. The official patent for “Ouija, the Wonderful Talking Board,” was granted in 1891. If you’re a lover of languages, you may notice something weird with the board’s title.

While some people think “Ouija” is some mystical word, it’s actually the French and German word for “yes” put together as one word. But Ouija expert Robert Murch thinks it’s more spiritual than that. According to legend, Kennard and his friends asked the board what it wanted to be called, and it spelled out O-U-I-J-A. When asked what it meant, it said, “Good luck.” Kennard also claimed that “Ouija” was the Egyptian word for “Good luck.”

From Kennard to Hasbro

The Kennard Novelty Company began producing Ouija boards and selling them for just $1.50. When Kennard left the company, it was renamed the Ouija Novelty Company. William A. Fuld took over production in 1901. The invention of the Ouija board has sparked ideas for other boards. When William Fuld took over the copyright ownership, he made sure that there were no duplicates. Fuld’s estate holds more Ouija patents and copyrights than anyone else in history—a grand total of 21 registrations in three countries—including the design for the modern planchette.

Fuld sued any and all copycats until his death in 1927. In 1966, Fuld’s family sold the Ouija estate to Parker Brothers. In 1991, Parker Brothers was bought out by Hasbro, and they now own all the patents and trademarks.

Ruined Reputation

The Ouija board has been the inspiration for quite a bit of fiction. The book and movie, “The Exorcist,” written by William Peter Blatty, is one of those fictional inspirations. The book is based on a true story of a 13-year old boy who was possessed by a demon and went through an exorcism in 1949.

Blatty was inspired to write the book after he saw the story in a newspaper clipping. Some may remember that the Ouija board was the catalyst for the possession of fictional 12-year old Regan. In the book and movie, Regan had been communicating with a spirit named Captain Howdy, but it was actually the demon Pazuzu. Blatty himself experimented with the Ouija board and thought he was talking to the spirit of his father. After he was done using the board, strange things happened in his home.

Even though the Ouija board wasn’t connected with demons before the movie, it was enough to associate it with demons and spread widespread panic. Everyone seemed to be afraid of it. It went from a fun party game to a demon-possessed board nearly overnight.

The Zozo Confusion

While Captain Howdy and Pazuzu were fictional in “The Exorcist,” people using the board today claim to communicate with a demon known as Zozo. This entity seems to haunt just the Ouija board and board users. Stories of Zozo first emerged in 2009 on message boards. It didn’t take long for people to realize that they were all talking to the same demon. Reported encounters with Zozo are nothing short of terrifying.

According to legend, Zozo causes chaos in people’s lives. They claim they can actually hear him cursing in different languages, like Latin and Hebrew. Darren Evans was one of the first people to report his experiences to the world and give Zozo a name. Zozo can apparently possess people and even take the lives of children.

Possession & Crimes

If we go with the idea that people can potentially be possessed by demons like Zozo or some other supernatural beings, what are the consequences of that? There are a lot of crimes associated with Ouija board use. One story goes back to 2008 when Blaine Milam and his girlfriend Jessica Carson started using the Ouija board. Carson, then pregnant at the time, started showing signs of psychosis and it was believed that she was possessed. However, the psychosis ended after she had her baby. Then it was thought that the baby, Amora, was possessed instead. The couple tried to perform a rather graphic exorcism that took the baby’s life. Milam was sentenced to death while Carson was sentenced to life in prison.

The Carroll family also faced consequences after using the board. The parents, Paul and Margaret, became paranoid after using the board. This next part is upsetting; Paul drowned the family dog, Molly, because he thought she was possessed. Then, Margaret and their daughter Katrina used the board again and it said their lives would end. The house then burst into flames after the women conducted a black magic session. They almost lost their lives.

How the Ouija Board Was Used in Court

Those who decide to take the risk and use the board themselves have discovered different ways to experiment with the board. A lot of people will discard the planchette and use something else. Some people will use a person’s personal possession as a pendulum and use that to point to the different letters. There are numerous types of divination or seeking advice and information from supernatural means. You would think that this would only stay with people who specialize in this area. When you’re desperate for some sort of information, perhaps the Ouija board isn’t the safest method if you don’t know what you’re doing.

In 1994, Stephen Young was charged with the murder of Harry and Nicola Fuller. But the jury couldn’t come to a decision. They were so stumped that they all deliberated together over drinks at their hotel. When they still couldn’t come to a conclusion, they decided to consult the Ouija board to try to talk to the Fullers themselves.

A small group of jurors made a board with a piece of paper and a wine glass. The spirit claimed to be Henry Fuller and the board spelled out things like “Stephen Young done it”, “Shot”, and “Vote guilty tomorrow.” When this information came to light, Young got a retrial, but he was still found guilty.

The Board Writes a Book

For over a century, people have claimed to have made contact with long lost celebrities using the Ouija board. Did you know that a Ouija board was used to write a book? It was the most fascinating lawsuit case of the century. In 1917, writer Emily Grant Hutchings and medium Lola Hayes claimed they wrote a book, dictated by Mark Twain. Keep in mind that Twain died in 1910. According to Hutchings, the ghost of Mark Twain dictated the book to her using the Ouija board. The book was titled, Jap Herron, and it got quite a lot of attention in its time.

When Twain’s family and publishers caught wind of this, they tried to take Hutchings to court. But the case never ended up going to trial. Copies of Jap Herron are rare since the manuscript has been destroyed. If you’re really curious, you can read it online for free.

Debunking the Board

It’s important to know that there are many instances where the Ouija board has been debunked. One of the most popular theories that explain the Ouija board is the ideomotor effect. This basically means that we unintentionally move our hands to the desired answer. This theory has also been used to explain divining rods and pendulums. If you really want to avoid having your experience debunked with this theory, I advise that you ask the questions, but don’t touch the board.

Have you ever tried using the Ouija board? How was your experience?

Sources:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-strange-and-mysterious-history-of-the-ouija-board-5860627/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-08/ouija-board-juror-misbehaviour-murder-trials/9734868

https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/jap-herron-a-novel-written-from-the-ouija-board-1917

Slenderman: The Internet’s Darkest Urban Legend and Its Chilling Legacy

October 13, 2020November 23, 2024 Alex Matsuo

In 2009, Slenderman was born from a simple Photoshop contest. But within a few years, this internet creation would inspire terrifying real-life acts, leaving behind a trail of fear and fascination. What makes this modern myth so dangerous?

Don’t go into the woods at night.

Actually, don’t even look at the woods.

Slenderman just might be there waiting for you behind the trees…waiting to take you away into oblivion.

When it comes to myths and legends, Slenderman is a modern-day urban legend. Bloody Mary, the Woman in White, The Man with the Hook, Crybaby Bridge are all urban legends that are made of nightmares. Slenderman has good company. He has even made an appearance in media and art, If you play Minecraft, you might be familiar with the Enderman characters, which are long, tall, block characters. People assume Slenderman was their inspiration because of how they look.

Even though he’s fictional, the stories about him are so realistic that many think he’s a god. Slenderman has even become one of the most popular characters for Halloween. In 2018, the movie, “Slender Man” came out. A documentary was created in 2016 called, “Beware the Slenderman”. Movies and documentaries have been made with Slenderman in the starring role. Throughout this time, Slenderman has truly garnered a cult following.

In order to fully understand the Slenderman legend, we have to understand exactly where it all started.

From Art to Reality

Slenderman is a modern urban legend that has been creeping us all out since 2009. He became popular on the online forum, Something Awful. The original artist’s name is Eric Knudson, who created Slenderman while competing in an online contest. The contest was issued by Something Awful. The rules were that participants had to create a photo that looked paranormal. Participants had to use an average, everyday photo. Using the pen name Victor Surge, Eric took two black and white photos of children and inserted Slenderman into the background. From there, a legend was born.

The Great Creator

Eric Knudsen is a pretty normal guy. He lives with his wife in Florida and he’s a family man. He found inspiration from HP Lovecraft and Stephen King while creating Slenderman.

Slenderman’s tall, thin, faceless look came from by “The Mist”, written by Stephen King. There are tentacles that sprout out of Slenderman’s back, he is known to stalk the woods at night, and he can cause amnesia. What is even more interesting is that it seems that Knudsen just planted the seed and then left the story up for others to adapt as they saw fit.

He hasn’t been involved much when it comes to the art and video game incarnations of his creepy character. Why? He says he’s too busy with real-life stuff. It’s also possible that the crimes that were inspired by Slenderman might have made Eric want to stay behind the scenes and to back off his involvement with the character.

It can be said that because Slenderman really has no official creator, he doesn’t have an official canon. There are hundreds of people who have written their own stories about Slenderman. You could say that his story is still being written as we speak. Parsec Productions created their own version of Slenderman for a video game where it plays a starring role.

Is There a Chance Slenderman Could Be Real?

Of course, Slenderman is fiction, right? And there is no way that he could ever be real. Well, that’s what we think.

But, there is also a theory that one can manifest an entity if enough brain power is engaged. Don’t believe us? Let us tell you about the Philip Experiment. In the 1970’s in Canada, a group of people managed to create their own ghost with his own back story and everything. Philip was able to think for himself and had his own free will. Philip became so strong that he was able to move tables around the room and eventually outgrew his creators. This has also been a practice for centuries by Buddhist monks, where they create entities called “tulpas.”

Could something like this happen with Slenderman? If enough people around the world have a specific image in mind, and they treat him like an existing being, they could very well bring him into this world.

Inspiring Crimes

While Slenderman is fictional, he has inspired not only art, comics, and movies, but also some real-life horror stories that have ruined many lives. Let’s just say we need to teach our children the difference between reality and pretend.

Crime #1

Two girls by the name of Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser thought Slenderman was real. They truly wanted to be his followers, like Slenderman was some sort of deity. The girls were just twelve years old at the time. Anissa and Morgan believed that they had to become servants of Slenderman, and had to appease him to protect their families. So they decided to attack their young friend, Payton Leutner. They stabbed her 19 times and left her severely wounded in the forest. Luckily, Peyton survived the attack.

Police arrested Anissa and Morgan, and they were put on trial. Morgan was sentenced to 40 years in a psychiatric facility. Anissa was sentenced to 25 years. Morgan was the one who allegedly did most of the dirty work while Annisa looked on, which is why she received a more severe punishment. Both girls were clearly mentally ill.

Crime #2

In the same year that Anissa and Morgan committed their crime, a thirteen-year-old Ohio girl also attacked her mother with a knife. According to the mother, her daughter was waiting for her in the kitchen with the knife. She was wearing a white mask. During the incident, the mother thought her daughter was acting like a completely different person. Luckily, mom survived the attack with minor injuries. The girl obsessed over Slenderman and even created a whole world for him in the video game Minecraft. She was tried as a juvenile and confessed that she had attacked her mom in an attempt to please Slenderman.

Crime #3

In 2014, a fourteen-year-old girl was inspired to set her house on fire. Yep. Slenderman inspired her to burn her house down. While the home was destroyed, the family survived.

In Conclusion

Slenderman is nothing more than a creative entity created by the human mind. Had Eric Knudson lived centuries ago and came up with this idea, there’s a good chance that Slenderman would have become a mainstream legend. Considering he has inspired crimes and heinous acts, maybe it’s better that we’ve only all become acquainted with Slenderman today and not decades ago.

All it takes is for a seed of inspiration to be planted, and the story will grow by itself. Slenderman was truly a collaborative effort from thousands, if not millions of people.

Whether you believe Slenderman to be pure fiction, or if you believe in the possibility that he could manifest thanks to the power of the mind, let’s hope it stays in a fictional place. It seems that once Slenderman crosses over to the real world, that is when true chaos ensues.

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27776894

The Story Of Slenderman, The Internet’s Own Monster

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/06/03/the-complete-terrifying-history-of-slender-man-the-internet-meme-that-compelled-two-12-year-olds-to-stab-their-friend/