Across the Great Divide
Investigation Procedures: Doing the Research (Part 2 of 5)
Just visiting a place that has reported claims of the paranormal and snapping a few pictures or recording some audio doesn’t mean you’ve investigated it thoroughly. Once you’ve landed a big investigation you’ll want to research the location as much as possible. Background and historical research is a big part of any valid investigation of the paranormal, especially one with a long history of reported activity. It involves conducting a lot of pre-investigation interviews of witnesses, tedious historical research, looking up prior media coverage, and contacting other investigation groups who may have been there before.
Take organized and concise notes of the names, places, and events you find in your research. Make sure you also site exactly where you found your information and site your sources.
The historical data of the land itself must be looked into including any geological and environmental factors; the architectural history of any buildings that currently or previously existed on the land needs to be looked into as well as the people who occupied the land.
Google might be easily accessible and convenient but despite its claims, you can’t find everything on Google- or accurate information for that matter. Many historical documents aren’t on the internet at all. It takes deeper insight and work to find the answers you seek, often resulting in a need to actually GO somewhere and looking over hardcopy yourself. Look through historic documents and manuscripts such as a photographs, maps, newspaper clippings, and artifacts by visiting local libraries and historical societies; tell them what you’re looking for and ask for their help; they’ll be more than happy to assist you in your search and they’ll likely know exactly where you need to look or who to talk to.
Visit the county or city’s Registrar of Deeds office and do a background on the history of the building and the land it resides on. Look up the current landowner under Warranty Deeds and trace the ownership of the land backwards. Take note of the various uses of the land itself as it may not have always had a business or home on it. The names you encounter can also help to cross reference with local news about and events connected with the area like epidemics, murders, and other newsworthy events. Often a spirit isn’t attached to the home as much as it is to the land itself. We’ve all heard stories of homes being built near or directly on Native American burial grounds. There could have been a natural disaster that wiped out early settlers to an area, famine, war, the possibilities are endless so extensive research of the area is crucial. A massacre could provide the emotional fuel for a haunting.
Look for any mineral deposits or environmental factors which could explain the reported occurrences. Theories suggest that water lines, quartz, and limestone deposits amplify paranormal activity so if a home lies on a property rich in certain elements take it into account when examining the paranormal activity. Look into known or reported environmental phenomenon specific to the area and consumer energy depots. Consider factories and plants that could be producing byproducts that affect health and mental states under prolonged exposure. I should note that electromagnetic fields are unavoidable in residential areas and despite the theory surrounding so-called “fear cages” there is no significant scientific data to support the claims that it causes hallucinations or nausea.
Research the previous owners. Often families will write or pass down stories of unexplainable events that occur in their homes. Talk with former owners to see if they had any odd or paranormal events occur during their occupancy. See if there are any consistencies in stories from family to family. Sometimes a cause can be found to debunk or explain claims, or further support the claims.
You’ll want detailed information from the client about the types, frequency, and level of paranormal activity. Are the events specific to a day, date or time? Do they recur at specific anniversaries as is the case with residual hauntings or do they interact at random? Do they occur only in specific rooms or do events occur in every room except a certain one? Do they occur only when certain people are in the home? This could even be the result of a friend or someone else who visits the location. There could be something positive or negative about the person that is causing psychic turbulence or giving unrest to the spirit. Also make it clear from the stat what the client’s desires are. If a haunting is confirmed are they comfortable with it or do they want it removed? They may have a lot of needs and wants before, during, and long after the investigation. These will all be covered later.
It might be uncomfortable for some people to ask or discuss, but it is also important to find out about the emotional, psychological, and physical status of each resident as well. You don’t want to claim a place is haunted if it turns out the daughter was hallucinating due to high fever from the flu or the father has a history of paranoid schizophrenia. During an investigation of claims of apparitions you find a stash of marijuana or anti-psychotic meds in the bathroom. Obviously that makes any paranormal activity suspect.
My own group was all excited when I got a call to investigate a residential home. The home owner had the most fantastic claims including apparitions, moving objects, voices, you name it. He was adamant we come over ASAP and investigate. Three of us went over for a pre-investigation interview. The house had no working lights, no clothes or food, and Spartan décor. Chalking it up to eccentrics we continued. In the next few days I had received no fewer than 64 phone calls. He had claimed that 17 other groups had investigated within the past 2 years. I contacted some of these groups and was provided a wealth of information regarding the individual and the case. It turns out he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the past and is under no treatment whatsoever. He continues to harass myself and any group spanning five different states that will listen.
This brings up a good point. Never, ever meet with a potential client alone, especially if it’s a residence. You can never know what a person’s motives are. Even groups like TAPS have had these situations. They were investigating a house that turned out to all be a ruse because the woman wanted to seduce Jason Hawes in the basement! Always have someone with you and at least one person off site that knows who you’re with and where you are. These things can happen, and there are numerous situations that you’ll encounter that just have to be experienced. I try to cover as many as I can through this column.
If you’re pressed for time you can always do more research afterward to gain a better understanding and clarification of events or to finish up documentation. You’ll have a better and more detailed report to give your client in the end. Do some follow up research after the initial investigation if something comes up like a name on an EVP or an interesting bit of info or eerie personal experience.
Assuming claims have panned out and your background research was fruitful. Next month we’ll get into the hands-on, real-time investigation procedures to make the most of your research experience. Until next time then, happy hunting.