Jamaican Boy's Haunting Caught on Tape?

This story was originally reported in 2010, but it is nevertheless, startling and intriguing. An 11 year old Jamaican boy was being tormented by ghost or a Duppy as it is called in Jamaica and some disturbances were caught on video. Unlike some videos claiming paranormal activity that typically appear on a television show, this video was actually reported by the area’s local news.

The boy is claiming that he is being tormented by a classmate who passed away. Some are claiming that it is an evil spirit or even djinn that may be responsible. Viewing the news footage, as you can see below, it is quite unsettling what is happening to the boy. In one portion of the video, the young man is sitting on a chair being interviewed by the news crew when the chair suddenly is pulled back. The open doorway behind the chair makes this event questionable. Is it possible that something was rigged behind him?

The Ghosts of Alcatraz

Just for a moment, reflect upon one day in your life and all of your freedoms. You wake up when you want, eat when you want, drive wherever you want, go see a movie, have a steak dinner, bathe as many times a day or week as you want, or just decide to watch a good movie until midnight then crawl into your nice soft bed.

Now, imagine that your life was controlled through a series of strict routines that are designed to break the hardest of criminals. A whistle blows to signal the beginning and end of every task throughout the day. Your told, when to get up, when to eat, when to stop eating, when to go to work, and every evening you are locked in a cell from 5pm until 6:30am the next morning with lights out at 9:30pm. This is your routine every night. You are not permitted to sing or talk loudly. You may quietly talk or play a game with a person in a neighboring cell, but that is it. You are entitled to food, clothes, shelter, and medical attention and anything else is a privilege you must earn. Punishment for rule breaking is severe. Now imagine, you are facing several years of this routine. Ahead of you are years of depression, and years inside a violent pressure cooker of dangerous criminals.

Now imagine that your life ends while in this despair, whether it was a failed escape attempt, suicide, or you were murdered by another inmate.  And now, either denying you are dead or afraid of judgment, you are trapped.  Each day, you are reliving the same routine you experienced when your life ended, always lingering between the physical plane and the other side. You are scared, untrusting, and confused and what was once the possibility of getting released has turned into an eternity of misery. This is the life of the ghosts of Alcatraz.

Researching the topic of the ghosts of Alcatraz, I found myself compelled to dig deeper into the daily routine of the prisoners and the history of the prison. The more information I uncovered the more claustrophobic I became envisioning the confinement and control that was placed on these men. I too may have become desperate to get out in any way possible. I do not condone the crimes these men, who still dwell in the cell blocks, have committed, but I find myself wondering when their debt to society is paid in full and they can move on from Alcatraz.

Some of the Claims of Paranormal Activity at Alcatraz

Cell 14D – This Cell on D block has been reported by many as one of the main areas of activity dating back to when the prison was still in operation. A story has been told by some of the guards that in the 1940’s an inmate who was kept in Cell 14D began screaming that something with glowing red eyes was in his cell. For hours, the inmate screamed and then abruptly stopped. The following morning, the inmate was found dead with hand marks on his throat. The cause of death was listed as "non-self-inflicted strangulation." The next day, when the guards did a head count, their tally kept coming up one extra. A former prison guard said that he saw the man who died the night before in line, but he then vanished.

The Utility Corridor – The Utility Corridor is the area where three inmates lost their life while trying to escape in the Battle of Alcatraz. Bernard Coy, Marvin Hubbard, and Joe Cretzer were shot to death in a standoff that also took the lives Guards William A. Miller and Harold Stites.

Many claim that the Utility Corridor is one of the areas with the most paranormal activity. There have been reports of an eerie clanging come from inside the area with no definite cause.

Cell blocks A, B, and C visitors claim to have heard crying and moaning. A psychic visiting the prison wrote that he allegedly came upon a disruptive spirit named Butcher. Prison records show that another inmate in block C murdered Abie Maldowitz, a mob hit man whose nickname was Butcher.

Al Capone on the Banjo – Al Capone spent several years at Alcatraz but was ultimately transferred when his health declined due to syphilis. It is reported that Capone took up playing the banjo with the prison band and practiced in the shower room rather than the yard. There have been several reports, many in recent years, that a banjo can be heard being played.

Alcatraz Island was first used as a Civil War prison in 1861 and was closed as a Federal Penitentiary in 1963. Throughout its 102 years as a prison, Alcatraz Island has been surrounded by rumors of torture and severe, cruel punishment in addition to numerous murders, suicides, and deaths from natural causes. Clearly, from the current visitors to Alcatraz, some inmates are still serving time.

For More Information about Alcatraz and its Prisoners:

Alcatraz: The Warden Johnston Years

Alcatraz Island: Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Alcatraz History

Poltergeist Phenomena - Psychological or Paranormal

Poltergeist is a German word for noisy ghost. When I say noisy ghost I don’t mean a simple knock on the wall or a tap on a window. If it is a true poltergeist it would be more like banging on the wall, windows or doors slamming shut, objects tossed around the house, TV’s and radio’s turning on by themselves full volume.

So what causes these phenomena? No one really knows for sure. The old theory of poltergeist’s, it’s a ghost or a haunted home. The new theory of poltergeist’s, it’s a haunted person. 

Here are some symptoms that are always involved.

Toys "R" Us Toy Demonstrations by a Ghost

Many believe that only buildings can be haunted and that the likely cause is a person’s death on the premises. There are a great percentage of hauntings that can be categorized under these circumstances, but it is also possible that a person can be attached to the land. This leads us to the unfortunate and heartbreaking story of Johnny Johnson.

Johnny Johnson (or Yonny Yohanson) was a young Scandinavian immigrant who was studying for the ministry in the late 1800s. One summer he took a job working on the farm of wealthy landowner Martin Murphy, Jr. in Sunnyvale California. It is said that at some point during his employment with Murphy he contracted encephalitis, which caused brain damage. Johnson never completed his ministry study and stayed on as a hired hand due to his mental impairment.

On This Day: Mt. Vesuvius Erupts - The Ghosts of Pompeii

August 23 in AD 79, the citizens of Pompeii, which was one of four cities that flourished at the base of the volcano Mt. Vesuvius, were celebrating the Feast of Vulcan, the god of fire with a citywide festival. The city of Pompeii, at that time, was home to approximately 20,000 people, in addition to vacationing Romans who owned holiday villas in the city. Ironically, the volcano Mount Vesuvius began to stir which may have appeared to be a sign that the god Vulcan was pleased.

The next morning, on August 24, Mt. Vesuvius started to erupt and the city once full of frivolity was now set into a frenzy trying to evacuate. The entire event took approximately 19 hours with 6 of those hours being a steady rain of tephra. The total accumulation of the tephra was 25 meters deep. The town of Pompeii had been silenced.

1,700 years later archaeologists began to uncover Pompeii and discovered many buildings, tools, and even artwork preserved under the volcanic ash. One archaeologist noticed there were large holes in the ash and realized that the holes were actually the forms of the bodies before they had decomposed. Plaster was injected into the holes, which resulted in an eerie discovery. The ash and pumice that buried the people of Pompeii preserved forever their last moments on earth and their eternal death masks.

A wide spread belief was that the Pompeii citizens died of ash suffocation, but that is not the case. The true cause of death was Thermal Shock. The people were exposed to heat at 250 degree Celsius at a distance of 10 kilometers and their death was instantaneous. No manner of shelter could protect them.

What remains are the casts of men, women, children, and animals in their last poses and facial expressions as they perished. If you believe in reincarnation, as I do, it is quite possible a few of us may be looking upon ourselves in a former life.

Kerri L. Schultz

On This Day: Knock County Ireland's Divine Vision

On August 21, 1879 at approximately 8pm fifteen people witnessed a miraculous vision at the south gable of Knock Parish Church in Ireland. The vision was that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and St. John the Evangelist, as well as an altar with a lamb and cross.

The witnesses’ account of the vision was quite detailed.  The Blessed Virgin Mary wore a beautiful crown with crosses that sparkled and glittered. She wore a billowing white cloak, her hands held to her shoulders with palms facing each other with her eyes looking toward heaven “deep in prayer”.  St. Joseph, also wearing a white robe, stood on the Blessed Virgin Mary’s right, facing her with his head bend forward in respect. St. John the Evangelist stood to her left in a long robe and wore a mitre. Witnesses say he appeared to be preaching and he held open a large book in his left hand. An altar with a lamb and cross standing on it stood to St. John’s left. Angels also flanked the altar.

The witnesses prayed the rosary for two hours in the pouring rain while observing the apparition. They reported that at first, when the vision appeared, the light of the day had been good, but even as the sky darkened with the incoming storm, the vision remained clear. The apparition did not move or flicker and although the ground was wet, the witnesses claim that the ground beneath the vision remained dry. One witness, Bridget Trench “went in immediately to kiss, as I thought, the feed of the Blessed Virgin; but I felt nothing in the embrace but the wall, and I wondered why I could not feel with my hands the figures which I had so plainly and so distinctly seen.”

The Archbishop of Tuam, Most Rev. Dr. John McHale established an ecclesiastical Commission of inquiry to determine the authenticity of the witnesses’ claims. The final verdict was that the testimony of all witnesses was deemed “trustworthy and satisfactory”. A second inquest was done with the surviving witnesses in 1936 who confirmed the evidence they testified to in the first inquiry. Based on both inquiries, the Catholic Church deemed this event authentic. A shrine dedicated to the vision was established and in 1979 Pope John Paul II visited the site and presented a Golden Rose which is a rarely bestowed symbol of papal honor and recognition. Mother Theresa of Calcutta visited the Shrine in 1993.

The National Marian Shrine, dedicated to the vision, was built on the site is now a popular pilgrimage destination for Catholics around the world.  Pope John Paul II visited the site in 1979 and presented a Golden Rose which is a rarely bestowed symbol of papal honor and recognition. Mother Theresa of Calcutta visited the Shrine in 1993. Based on the official site of the shrine, the site receives one and a half million pilgrims annually.

For more information visit the Ireland’s National Marian Shrine Website.

A Catholic and Psychic’s Perspective: I believe in miracles. I believe even more in the appearance of our Blessed Virgin Mary, and other saints, to people on the earth plane to not only give us hope, but to prove the existence of the divine.  While I have a strong faith, I also have a strong sense of discernment. That said, when I began reading about this vision, there were some blatant contradictions in the witnesses’ testimony that I couldn’t ignore.

·         The Apparition didn’t move or flicker – The Blessed Virgin Mary bestows messages on those she appears to, such as the three children of Fatima. The description of the vision appears more to be a picture than an actual apparition.

·         The Blessed Virgin Mary’s Eyes looking to Heaven – I have seen numerous pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary portrayed in the same pose and with her eyes looking toward heaven.

·         The ground was dry under the figures although it was raining – This statement by witnesses leads one to believe that the figures were solid, however, one witness who tried to kiss the feet of the Blessed Virgin Mary admitted she fell right through. Why would a woman be able to go through an apparition and not rain? Was the ground really dry or did the woman simply fall?

      I am not saying that the vision was fake, but I am saying that some facts are questionable. Still we may never know the truth because of the passing of the witnesses and the passage of time. Yet, anything that restores faith and hope to people is always a blessing.

     

      Kerri. L. Schultz

The Difference Between Spirits and Ghosts - A Psychic's Perspective

Is a spirit the same as a ghost? I am sure you have heard the names Spirit and Ghost used interchangeably throughout the media, but is it accurate? Based on my knowledge and experience as a spiritual psychic, the meanings are similar but very different.

Similarly, a ghost and spirit are the soul of a person whose physical body has died and who now lives on another plane of existence. The difference in meaning is the soul’s progression after it leaves the physical body. There are several planes of existence, and the faster a soul’s vibration, the higher the plane they reach. Keeping this in mind, a soul within a physical body vibrates very slowly. Imagine looking at a fan blowing at the lowest possible speed. When you look at the fan you can see the different blades easily. This is the physical plane.

Ghost’s vibrations are a little faster than ours, which is why we can’t see them. Although, their vibrations aren’t fast enough that we can’t catch a glimpse of them from time to time. Ghosts are able to consciously manifest by drawing energy from humans and the environment and match more closely our vibrations in order to manipulate objects, take form, and even communicate.

Souls who are ghosts are bound to that plane of existence for a variety of reasons.

·         Sudden Deaths or Accidents – Some people have been separated from their physical body so suddenly that they do not know they are dead.

·         Murder – Some people choose not to move on or completely cross over because their lives were taken so brutally. Also, they may choose to stay behind until their murder is solved.

·         Suicide – Those who commit suicide also may not have crossed completely over due to the emotions experienced and the act itself. Many religions say that suicides are damned or that those who commit this act are to suffer in limbo for eternity. A person believing this may not wish to cross over and be punished.

·         Broken Hearts – People choose to stay close to loved ones or family members where they feel they have unfinished business.

·         Fear of Judgment – As mentioned under Suicide, there are people who are afraid of being judged after they pass on and sent to hell.

·         Lack of Proper Burial – It is also said that some people do not fully cross over if they did not receive a proper burial or their remains have been desecrated.

A Spirit is a soul who has crossed over to the other side or higher plane of existence. Using the analogy of the fan, imagine the blades turning so fast you can’t see them. This is what a higher vibrational frequency is like in relation to our vibration. These souls know they have passed and move on to have a life review and meet up with their loved ones who have passed before them. It is a belief that the more evolved a soul becomes, the higher the plane of existence. Angels, for example, have a very high vibration, but they are able to effortlessly transcend vibrational frequencies to communicate with us and appear to us whenever they want. Spirits can also do this.

The Spirits of our loved ones communicate with us all the time. They, like ghosts, can manipulate our environment. Spirits can put pennies in our path, maybe manifest a feather, or take the form of a bird to let us know they are still around. A Spirit visits and leaves signs to let you know they are still around you and can see what is happening in your life.

The purpose of the physical manipulation is different for a ghost. A ghost is trying to get your attention for a reason. The ghost may want help or they may want you to leave. If a ghost doesn’t know they have passed on, the phenomena you see may just be the ghost living their life as they would if they were still in the physical body. I have heard stories of dishes and silverware being placed on a table by a ghost preparing to eat or some people seeing someone cooking.

It is true that the definition of ghost and spirit is similar, but overall they are very different. A good rule of thumb that I use when paranormal investigating ghosts is, always speak to them as if they were alive. Assume that you are invading their home. Apologize, tell them your name, and explain that you want to ask them some questions. When asking questions, imagine you are meeting them for the first time and want to know all about them. When conducting and EVP session, ask them their name, their occupation, are they married, do they have children etc.

We have had success using this technique when working with a flashlight, and have made the observation that those who don’t know they are dead stop communicating when asked about their death. These ghosts completely ignore any questions involving death, but they do not believe they are dead. Remember, ghosts are just people without physical bodies!

Happy Ghost Hunting!

Kerri L. Schultz

Haunting at the Moonshine Church Cemetary

Join us as we explore the Moonshine Church cemetary, the final resting place of John Raber, the murder victim of the blue eyed six.

Harry Houdini - Beyond the Grave

Almost everyone has heard of the incredible magician and escape artist Harry Houdini. His most famous death defying feats were the Chinese Water Torture Cell and the Suspended Straitjacket escape. A facet of Houdini’s life that you may not be aware of is the pain of his mother’s passing and his longing to connect with her from beyond the grave.

Spiritualism spread rapidly following the claims from the Fox Sisters that they were communicating with a ghost named Mr. Splitfoot in their home in Hydesville, New York. From this new fascination with connecting with spirits, numerous mediums began appearing across the United States and Europe. Each one hoping to cash in on societies longing for proof their loved ones lived on in the spirit world.

Houdini was hopeful that one of these self-proclaimed mediums could connect with his deceased mother and offer proof of her existence after death. He soon became disconcerted at the fakery which he encountered during séances. Houdini, being a master of illusion, had a unique ability to identify the methods many mediums were using to produce proof that they have made a connection with the spirit world. He uncovered several scams of table tipping, hands being produced, levitation, and ectoplasm to name a few. His primary goal was to expose the frauds but at the same time find an authentic medium.

Harry Houdini’s search for the truth undoubtedly left him the enemy of many fake mediums, but also cost him his friendship with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes, was a prominent supporter and believer in Spiritualism. It was also known that Doyle would use tactics to embellish the séances for the sake of the audiences. This ultimately ended their friendship.

Despite their estrangement, Doyle was convinced that Harry Houdini was a powerful spiritualist medium who possessed a paranormal ability to defy death. He refused to believe any of Houdini’s exposés and claimed that Houdini was blocking the mediums he was trying to debunk with his own abilities. The extent of how far Doyle would go to fabricate evidence would soon reveal that not even he had a reverence for the deceased.

Harry Houdini died on October 31, 1926 at the age of 52 of peritonitis from a ruptured appendix. Prior to his death, he and his wife Bess agreed on a phrase that he would say if his spirit ever came back to earth. Bess carried out séances every year with the hopes of making contact with her husband, but no medium was able to give her the secret phrase. Séances are still performed today in an attempt to communicate with the spirit of Harry Houdini, but has anyone ever made contact?

This past March, I attended the 2011 Paranormal Conference in Gettysburg, PA and had the privilege of seeing Aron Houdini perform. Aron is the great nephew of Harry Houdini and is also an accomplished illusionist and escape artist in his own right. Aron performed some magic and illusions and ended his performance with the straight jacket escape. It was an excellent performance, especially when he dislocated his shoulder to free himself! Following his performance, he opened the floor for questions and the first question that was asked was "Has Harry Houdini ever made contact after death?"

Aron Houdini Facebook

Above is a poster of Aron Houdini. Below is Aron Houdini performing the straight jacket escape.

  

How cool is this I thought. A relative of THE Harry Houdini answering the question everyone wanted to know. Aron Houdini confirmed that to date, no one has made contact with Harry Houdini from the spirit world, but offered an additional story. It was speculated that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle went as far as using Houdini’s death to further his spiritualist cause. Doyle felt that the most believable piece of evidence he could obtain was the code word that Houdini told his wife Bess that would prove life after death.

Harry and Bess Houdini

Allegedly, Doyle hired a man to romance the widowed Bess and gain her trust. Once this was established, the man was to ask Bess the Houdini code word, which she revealed. The phrase was "Rosabelle believe" which was a phrase and song Bess sang in a musical she was performing in when she and Houdini first met. The man reported the name back to Doyle who set up a séance to contact the spirit of Harry Houdini. The medium was given the code word by Doyle and was able to convince the public and Bess that Houdini communicated from beyond the grave.

Fortunately, a relative of Houdini was doubtful that the séance was authentic and sought to expose the hoax. He soon was able to extract the truth from Bess’ suitor and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s trickery was revealed. The fraud that Doyle executed not only brought to light the scams within the spiritualist circles but also destroyed any future hope that a legitimate séance could be performed to contact Houdini.

Communication with spirits is once again extremely popular. The internet has exploded with psychics, paranormal investigation groups, and people reporting paranormal experiences. Unfortunately, many of these people are seeking the spotlight and participating in the fabrication of abilities and evidence for their few minutes of fame and fortune. These types of acts are entertaining but cast a shadow on those who are authentic and genuine.

Always use your COMMON SENSE and INTUITION when dealing with anyone or anything paranormal. Remember, you are your own best guide, if something doesn’t feel right, then it usually isn’t.

Kerri L. Schultz

The Hatman

Imagine, your sound asleep and wake up and see a tall man in a hat in the corner of your bedroom staring at you.You rub your eyes, thinking you are seeing things, you take another look and now he is next to your bed. Your scared and don't know what to do, then he just disappears.

Was your eyes playing tricks on you, or did you just see the Hatman?

 So who is the Hatman?

He is a tall man totally black and looks solid, unlike other shadow people. He is around 6ft. tall. He wears a broad rimmed hat and what looks to be an overcoat. There are some reports that his eyes are a very deep black if you can see them.

Some believe he is the devil himself, I'm not sure I want to call him the devil. I have had encounters with him when I was a child nothing bad had happened, during or after my encounter with him. I like to call him the observer, because that's what it seems he does. There aren't many reports of him moving, though there are some and I wonder if it is another entity.

He can be seen anywhere but it is usually in the bedroom where he likes to show up. Sometimes in the corner of the room, and other times in the doorway. He does like to come closer, it seems like when you blink he is next to your bed looking down at you. Then just as mysteriously as he appeared he disappears.

If you have had an encounter with the Hatman please contact us.

Mike