For BIOS, click names:
I started experiencing death at an early age with many of my relatives passing away. For years I was afraid of the unknown. When I got older, I started to want answers which lead me in to ghost hunting. After graduating with a degree in audio/video production, I put my talents to work for several ghost groups. During this time I met who is now and always will be my inspiration for learning the truth -
Tom Hartman.
For several years after being a part of local and not so local ghost hunting groups; Tom, myself and a friend with sensitive abilities,Mitzi went out on our own to do our own thing for a while. After stumbling upon the television show Ghost Hunters and seeing that there are other groups out there with our same beliefs,we decided to form what is now known as Pennsylvania Paranormal Investigations. With our newly formed group and other local ghost hunting groups, we hope to serve the people of Pennsylvania and other areas with insight and the truth of what is really out there.
how did you get involved with ghost hunting ?
i would have to say that i have to blame Dave Rowland for this...and that i had my real first taste of ghost hunting at a local community theater in Camp Hill, Pa.
some of the members of our soon to be investigation team and i were helping out with a production at this theater and the subject of ghost hunting just happened to be brought up in one of our conversations.
My friend Dave had commented on a recent experience that he had during one of his investigations at Sach's Bridge in Gettysburg - i have always been fascinated and intrigued by the paranormal, but hearing about his experience made me want to know more. we then began talking about other interesting stories and happenings in the surrounding area that we have heard about and then the subject of the theater and it's "resident ghost" was brought up. i mentioned that i would love the opportunity to take part in a full investigation some time - we talked about it a little more and then we decided to see if it were possible to investigate the theater.
after getting permission; we, or should i say Dave conducted the investigation - i went along not knowing what to expect. Dave has done this countless times before and he guided me and the other "newbie" investigators in the right direction- what to look for and how to conduct a proper investigation.
after all was said and done, Dave reviewed the evidence that was captured on one of the recorders and found a very interesting EVP... hearing this " proof " of a possible entity sent shivers down my spine. i wanted more, and have been enjoying the thrill of the "hunt" ever since.
after this primary investigation at the theater, we - Pa Paranormal Investigations - have investigated the theater several times and have come up with i think is some pretty compelling evidence.
i need to thank Tom Hartman as well for putting up with me - both he and Dave have shown and taught me a lot of what i need to know. and i'm still learning...
how long have you been involved with ghost hunting ?
i've been involved with ghost hunting a little over a year now. ( June 5, 2007 )
what are some of the more memorable places that you have investigated ?
i would have to say that the most memorable place that i have ever investigated would be the on the battlefields of Gettysburg - and still do. although, our team has investigated some interesting places in the past that run a very close second.
how do you feel about the "profession / hobby" of ghost hunting ?
i would have to think of ghost hunting as more of a hobby... for now.
the reason i say this is because there is no real science or piece of equipment that i know of that can prove the actual existence of " ghosts" or "spirits".
i know that is what almost all paranormal investigation teams strive for on their investigations, that is what i strive for - the proof or hard core evidence of the existence of " ghosts" or "spirits".
what do you say to skeptics ?
what can you really say to the skeptic ?
there's a little bit of that in everyone...
everyone has their own beliefs and i respect that- i do not or will not ever push my belief of the paranormal on to anyone or try to change their mind.
i do however enjoy presenting the skeptic with some of the evidence that our team has captured and allow them to decide for themselves.
how do you feel about orbs ?
i really have mixed feelings about this subject.
i realize that some pictures of "orbs" can be dismissed as dust particles or bugs, but on the other hand there are the really fascinating pictures that you get with the brilliant multi-colored orbs, trails or streaks of light, or having the same orb in the same location in two consecutive photos.
I'd have to say that the jury is still out...
what are you trying to get out of ghost hunting ?
i think the thing i want most out of ghost hunting would be to have what almost all ghost hunters want - hard core, undeniable evidence of the existence of ghosts.
or even better yet, the "holy grail" of ghost hunting - the face to face encounter with an honest to goodness ghost or apparition.
what kind of personal experiences have you ever had ?
i can't really say that i have ever had a personal experience with a "ghost" or "spirit"... that i can remember.
there have been times when i thought i've seen shadows out of the corner of my eye or have had the feeling of being watched or heard the unexplained noise that makes you jump... is that a true experience ?
i guess the skeptic in me says " NO ! ".
i need more than that - i need that hard core evidence - or maybe being more of a skeptic that i admit to be is the reason why i haven't had that personal experience. guess that i'll really never know until it happens.
A native to South Central Pennsylvania, John began investigating the paranormal in 2007.
Altough new to the field, he has quickly developed skills and techniques in paranormal research.
Beginning with some skepticisim, John has had his own personal experience with the paranormal since his membership with the group. He is interested foremost in capturing EVPs.
John looks forward to contributing to the group as a supportive member of PaPI.
INVESTIGATOR / SENSITIVE
I've been interested and somewhat involved with the paranormal for the majority of my life. My mother is also what is considered a "sensitive", along with my maternal grandfather. So, I have been told amazing stories for many years. After hearing these stories from my mother and at one time living in a home with, what i would consider substantial paranormal activity, my curiosity only grew more. I began reading books and, like most, began watching television shows about the paranormal.
I joined the PA Paranormal Investigators team late summer/early fall of 2007. I have been fortunate to have been taken under the wings of the outstanding members of this team. They are all helping me become a better invesitgator as well as building up my skills as a sensitive.
Now, don't get me wrong, even with things that I have been told by my mother and things that I may have experienced, i'm still an over all skeptic. No matter what the happenings, evidence is the key.
how did you get involved in Ghost Hunting?
As far back as I can remember I have always been fascinated with ghostsand the unexplained. Have always tried to maintain an open mind.
Never really reacted on it other than some reading. A few members of this group were talking about ghost hunting and I relayed some of the experiences I had been having of late. I was asked to participate...and have now become invlolved.
how long have you been involved in Ghost Hunting?
I am a bit of a newbie. Just got involved in the last couple of years, but have had some personal experiences for many years now.
what are some of the more memorable places you have investigated?
For me, Oyster Mill Playhouse has been one of the most rewarding. But I have also enjoyed investigating the Harrisburg Cemetery as well.
how do you feel about the “profession/hobby” of Ghost Hunting?
I think it is great that people can, and want, to do this professionally, as long as they are earnest and honest. I am a bit concerned that there are charlatans out there looking to cash in on people with an avid interest.
As long as these are not the ones folks are looking to as
professionals, I say it is a good thing. Probably best to view this as a hobby until people are truly recognized as professionals.
what do you say to skeptics?
People will believe what they want to, and not believe what they choosenot to believe. I tend to be skeptical myself.
I was having experiences I could not explain, and was hesitant to ask anyone about it because of my own skepticism. I have always tried to have an open mind
about things. Yet, I found myself closing myself off.
So, basically, I just ask people to try and keep an open mind and believe what you like!
how do you feel about orbs?
I have very little experience with orbs so far. I have heard pros and cons. I understand that a lot of them can just be dust and other explainable things. But some....well they are just hard to explain!
have you ever investigated with any other groups?
No, not yet. But I welcome the experience.
have you ever been hurt while Ghost Hunting?
No, but I have been choked and knocked down in 2 separate experiences.
what kind of personal experiences have you had?
Lots of activity at Oyster Mill Playhouse, some at Harrisburg Cemetery, and a bit of things happening at home off and on.
Seems like there are folks who want to contact and communicate with us. Would really rather not delve into specifics here. But it sure seems a bit overwhelming!
what are you trying to get out of Ghost Hunting?
A better understanding of who and/or what is out there. And also a way to truly explain feelings and experiences I have had, and probably will have in the future.
where do you think Ghost Hunting is going from here?
It can really go anywhere. It is only limited by the people doing the hunting and the people reviewing the results.
how did you get involved with ghost hunting ?
I have been interested in ghost hunting for many years. A few years ago, I started hearing ghost stories and watching ghost hunting shows on television. Thanks to those stories and shows, my interest in ghost hunting began.
how long have you been ghost hunting ?
I’ve only been ghost hunting for about two years. I found some friends that were interested in the paranormal, and we did a few investigations. I did a few things around my house, too. The investigations were nothing major. They were at small locations, and we used basic equipment.
what are some of the more memorable places that you have investigated ?
I went to Fort Mifflin with some friends to get the basic tour. It ended up being a ghost hunt. After we got the main tour, we were able to go around the fort on our own, and we went to each building trying to find something paranormal. Fort Mifflin is a surreal place. While it isn’t too big, it is weird to be at a place that people like George Washington were at one point. Even though we possibly caught one thing in a picture, it was a great place to investigate.
how do you feel about the "profession / hobby" of ghost hunting ?
I think that if you’re involved with ghost hunting, you have to be able to open your mind. Any evidence that might have been caught at an investigation has to try to be debunked. If something is caught and it is not thoroughly looked into then it might hurt the field. I feel this way because anyone can catch something and say that it is paranormal but it could end up being nothing paranormal at all.
Ghost hunting also gives people the opportunity to use a lot of cool equipment that they might not be able to use elsewhere. Before I started ghost hunting, I had always wanted to use an E.M.F. Detector and K2 Meter. I would not have been able to use those, and other cool tools, had I not gotten involved with ghost hunting.
what do you say to skeptics ?
I have nothing against skeptics. Skeptics are just people who don’t believe in the paranormal. I have many friends who are skeptics. If they don’t believe in the paranormal then that is there choice.
how do you feel about orbs ?
I feel that orbs are nothing but dust. I used to believe that orbs were spirits but then I learned that orbs are dust. However, I also learned that orbs could rarely be something paranormal. In the past when an orb would show up in a picture or video, I would blow it off as dust. It is very hard to distinguish between dust and something truly paranormal. If there is any doubt in any of the evidence about it being paranormal or not then I feel that it has to be thrown out.
have you ever investigated with any other groups?
Yes. A few friends and I created the Middletown Area Paranormal Society for a while. However, due to schedule conflicts with everyone, we had to disband.
have you ever been hurt while Ghost Hunting ?
I have not been hurt while ghost hunting. However, even though I don’t want to be hurt, part of me wants to get hit to know what other people have gone through and know how it feels.
what are you trying to get out of ghost hunting ?
I’m trying to learn about the paranormal. Even though I know a good amount about the paranormal, I know that there is more that I can learn. I want to learn anything and everything I can about this field.
what kind of personal experiences have you ever had ?
I have seen shadows and heard footsteps in my house. I have also been touched by something. On an investigation last year, I found a cold spot and shortly after I found it, a wind was going around my hands and part of my hand started to get very cold. As far as I know, that is a sign of getting touched. It wasn’t until I called my friend over that the feeling went away.
where do you think Ghost Hunting is going from here ?
As long as people stay honest, the sky is the limit for this field. Ghost Hunting continues to grow each day because people are coming up with new equipment or new ways on how to use the current equipment. It is exciting to hear and use new equipment.
how did I get involved with ghost hunting?
I actually got involved with ghost hunting the 1st time when i went with Tom Hartman, my son and other team members when i was invited to do some investigating at the Gettsyburg Battlefield.
how long have i been involved with Ghost Hunting?
I haven't been involved with Ghost Hunting that long, but i am ready to do my part as a team member.
what are some memorable places that I have investigated?
The two places that I have investigated were Spangler's Spring and Devil's Den at Gettysburg.
how do I feel about "professional/Hobby of Ghost Hunting?
That's a hard question to answer. 1st "professional".There are some groups out there that claim to do this kind of work and charge people for their service's and give the rest of us a bad rap. While the rest of the Paranormal groups work hard to justify what they lay ruin to.
"Hobby" some may consider this a hobby,but i take this very serious.
what do I say to skeptics?
We as a paranormal group are always trying to prove to those out there that such thing's can and do happen.
where do I think ghost hunting is going from here?
The field of paranormal research has come a long way with the advances with newer and better equipment.
Future? It's hard to say,but I feel with time,who know's how far.
have I investigated with any other groups?
NO, this the 1st time that i have investigated with Pa Paranomal Investigations.
have I been hurt while Ghost Hunting?
As of yet, no. But you can never know what can happen.
how do I feel about orb's?
My 1st encounter with orb's was mind blowing to actually catch these with a digital camera.
what am I trying to get out of Ghost hunting?
I'm trying to prove to myself that I can and will be able to do this as a another step foward for my own peace of mind and actually work towards a better understanding of this field.
what kind of personal experience have I had?
My two experiences,"cold spots" and "phantom smells".
Investigator
How did you get involved in Ghost Hunting?
I had several experiences when I was young and as the years went by and fear subsided. I had questions that I need answered.
How long have you been involved in Ghost Hunting?
Nineteen years.
What are some of the more memorable places you have investigated?
Gettysburg Battlefield, Little York Theater, Oyster Mill Theater.
How do you feel about the "profession/hobby" of Ghost Hunting?
It is not either one to me it is a passion and a thirst for knowledge.
What do you say to skeptics?
Skeptics have a right to believe what they want. Anything can be explained away by logic. But when all the logic is gone and they can’t explain any more then maybe they will say “I need to Know more!”
How do you feel about orbs?
99 % are dust, moisture, and bugs! There is that 1% that is seen with the naked eye that can truly be called an orb.
Have you ever investigated with any other groups?
I had a partner and good friend for seventeen years that we investigated together. After he passed on I found this group with all their talents has made me feel as if it was seventeen with them. If it wasn’t for Tommy and the rest I think I would be wondering aimlessly looking for something I had lost.
Have you ever been hurt while Ghost Hunting?
Never really hurt but touched, pushed, emotionally drained and things of that nature but not hurt.
What kind of personal experiences have you had?
My experiences are many and I don’t have the time right here and now to tell all. Most of them are quit memorable.
What are you trying to get out of Ghost Hunting?
Knowledge and an understanding of the unknown. I want to know and understand “Why”. Maybe we can scientifically find the answers to many questions. Maybe actually get documented proof.
Where do you think Ghost Hunting is going from here?
It is growing every day.
Investigator
I started ghost hunting with my mother when I was about 12 years old, that was 13 years ago. The most memorable places I have been to was the battlefield cemetery in Antitum Maryland and a civil war hospital in Gettysburg. I enjoy ghost hunting very much, it gives me a chance to experience things that not everyone has a chance to experience in their lifetime.
I would say to skeptics try to be a little more open minded and not to be fear the unknown. Orbs are mysterious things, some will say its just dust or bugs and a majority of the time they are right, but every once in awhile you get one that can't be explained and its a lot of fun to try and figure out if it really is a speck of dust or a bug or maybe the unknown. I have not investigated with any other groups but the experience would be interesting, to see how they run an investigation and to see how they use their equipment. I have had no personal injuries while ghost hunting, but I have heard strange things and my name called out of no where with no one around, I also have smelled things, felt things and on rare occasions seen things.
My goal in ghost hunting is to find prove that life after death is real, that there are people clinging to this world as we know it and are trying to make contact to let us know they are in fact still here. It is a lot of fun and sometimes a little scary but it is all for the understanding that things aren't always as they seem.
Hopefully Ghost hunting will become a real study and people will start taking it a little more seriously.
Treasurer/Lead Investigator
The reason I got in to ghost hunting was because my entire life I have had experiences that couldn't be explained and when the opportunity to join a ghost hunting group was presented to me I jumped at the chance to understand what I was experiencing. I have been involved for close to 20 years. The most memorable places I have been to are a fraternity house and a hospital in upstate New York, A house in Carlisle, the battle fields of Gettysburg, and the house I grew up in.
I believe that ghost hunting is an up and coming science that needs to be explored more thoroughly. In this day and age people are looking for answers as to what goes on in the after life of if there is indeed an afterlife.
There are a lot of skeptics who say that when you die thats the end. I would say to them they are skeptics because they have not had the experiences that myself and countless others have had.
People say that orbs are spirit energy, or bugs, or dust or smoke, I say I'm not sure and that I believe more investigating needs to be done to prove or disprove this theory.
I have not investigated with another group however if the chance ever came my way I would be more then willing to experience what they have to offer.
I have never been physically injured while ghost hunting although I have had a bed pan thrown in my direction and I have been pushed up a flight of stairs.
What I want to get out of ghost hunting is to understand everything that has happened to me in my life and to have proof that the after life is real and here with us at all times.
I believe that people's interest in the paranormal will grow as they too search for answers to what happens to family friends and yourself after you pass away.
Tech 3 / Investigator in Training
How did you get involved in Ghost Hunting?
I grew up seeing and feeling things I couldn't explain and my mother and sister were always big on ghost hunting and they captured my interest with it by taking me along when they would do investigations.
How long have you been involved in Ghost hunting?
As far back as I can remember. I always did a lot of reading about it when I was a kid.
What are some of the more memorable places you have investigated?
Me and my family would go to Gettysburg for trips to look and walk around. My sister and mother would take me to their favorite places and would explain to me what they were doing and why it was special to them.
How do you feel about the “ profession/hobby” of Ghost Hunting?
I feel it is an interesting and educational hobby and at times unbelievable when you can prove that you have found something. Having the physical evidence to prove something is there among us that we may not realize is there.
What do you feel about skeptics?
Everyone's in titled to their own opinion. The only way that will change is for us as investigators to prove to them that there is something out there.
How do u feel about orbs?
I've never seen one that I couldn't explain.
Have you ever investigated with any other groups?
No I haven't investigated with another group. I don't thing even being invited I would leave because everyone in my group is a very good friend to me and I have known my who life.
Have you ever been hurt while Ghost Hunting?
No
What kind of personal experiences have you had?
The first experience I ever had was when I was about 4 I remember having a bad dream and waking up to my great grandparents standing next to my bed. They spoke and told me nothing will harm me and that I was safe. Like a week later I told my mom about it and she questioned if I was fibbing until I pointed them out in a picture sitting on the wall in the house.
What are you trying to get out of ghost Hunting?
Knowledge and understanding of the paranormal.
Where do you think Ghost hunting is going from here?
Who knows the possibility of where ghost hunting could end up. All I know is I wanna be along for the ride
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