Determining Our Evidence
There are many techniques and ways for groups and investigators to gather their evidence. Some use techniques and traditions that have been around for ages, some use the latest scientific techniques and technologies... but all of us have different thresholds for what we consider evidence. This is how we define the difference between what is credible evidence and what is very much of the real world:
EVIDENCE: Our definition of that we consider to be evidence is very specific. It has to meet four thresholds.
If it doesn't meet all four of these thresholds, we do not consider it "evidence." That doesn't mean that it can't be beneficial in helping to find answers... if it something that we do not consider evidence, it will fall into the following categories.
DEBUNKED: In order to even begin to look for the paranormal, we must first eliminate real world possibilities. As such we must try to eliminate human interference, outside noises, drafts, plumbing/electrical issues and yes, even wildlife. Lights Flickering? Walls knocking? Check your wiring, plumbing and air conditioning… and don’t forget to check for signs of wildlife. Objects moving? Strange smells in the air? Check for drafts and dry sewer traps. Only after you have done your due diligence in removing "real world" explanations, can you move on to the paranormal.
AN EXPERIENCE: Many times, our team may experience something that is not caught on camera or audio recording (sudden chills, goose bumps, even auditory and/or visual stimuli)… although this can help lead us in a direction during an investigation, it is not something that we would consider evidence… although it makes for a heck of a good story.
A DOCUMENTED EXPERIENCE: On every investigation, we have multiple video and audio recorders going… there is a very good possibility that we actually have caught an experience on tape. These can actually be considered evidence if it meets our four prerequisites (actually capturing an unexplainable shadow or thermal image or EVP for example)… but usually, it just means that we have documented when someone may get goose bumps (which can certainly happen without paranormal influence or activity) or flashlight interaction... which is compelling, but not what we would consider "evidence."
CORROBORATION: We use a lot of equipment during investigations… flashlights, K2 meters, Gauze Meters, PSB-7 “Spirit” Boxes, Geophones, Motion Detectors, REM Pods, Shadow Detectors and many other items… but all of these are tools to HELP us in the investigation, because they could give off anomalous readings, we do not consider them evidence. However, they can definitely corroborate the experiences and histories of a location… if we are lucky, we will get evidence or a documented experience to back up the corroboration. That being said, it can be very compelling to receive direct answers to questions that are being asked.
Each of these categories are crucial to providing a clear and focused investigation.
EVIDENCE: Our definition of that we consider to be evidence is very specific. It has to meet four thresholds.
- Have we done our best to eliminate "real world" explanations ?
- Is it recorded either on video (Full Spectrum, IR, thermal imager, digital or film) or audio (magnetic or digital)?
- Was it captured without the use of any other technical assistance or man-made device other than the video or audio recorder?
- Is what has been recorded definitive? To determine this, we have multiple team members review the preliminary evidence... if a majority of the team agrees as for example, what an EVP says, then we will pass this threshold... if not well, as the saying goes… when in doubt, throw it out.
If it doesn't meet all four of these thresholds, we do not consider it "evidence." That doesn't mean that it can't be beneficial in helping to find answers... if it something that we do not consider evidence, it will fall into the following categories.
DEBUNKED: In order to even begin to look for the paranormal, we must first eliminate real world possibilities. As such we must try to eliminate human interference, outside noises, drafts, plumbing/electrical issues and yes, even wildlife. Lights Flickering? Walls knocking? Check your wiring, plumbing and air conditioning… and don’t forget to check for signs of wildlife. Objects moving? Strange smells in the air? Check for drafts and dry sewer traps. Only after you have done your due diligence in removing "real world" explanations, can you move on to the paranormal.
AN EXPERIENCE: Many times, our team may experience something that is not caught on camera or audio recording (sudden chills, goose bumps, even auditory and/or visual stimuli)… although this can help lead us in a direction during an investigation, it is not something that we would consider evidence… although it makes for a heck of a good story.
A DOCUMENTED EXPERIENCE: On every investigation, we have multiple video and audio recorders going… there is a very good possibility that we actually have caught an experience on tape. These can actually be considered evidence if it meets our four prerequisites (actually capturing an unexplainable shadow or thermal image or EVP for example)… but usually, it just means that we have documented when someone may get goose bumps (which can certainly happen without paranormal influence or activity) or flashlight interaction... which is compelling, but not what we would consider "evidence."
CORROBORATION: We use a lot of equipment during investigations… flashlights, K2 meters, Gauze Meters, PSB-7 “Spirit” Boxes, Geophones, Motion Detectors, REM Pods, Shadow Detectors and many other items… but all of these are tools to HELP us in the investigation, because they could give off anomalous readings, we do not consider them evidence. However, they can definitely corroborate the experiences and histories of a location… if we are lucky, we will get evidence or a documented experience to back up the corroboration. That being said, it can be very compelling to receive direct answers to questions that are being asked.
Each of these categories are crucial to providing a clear and focused investigation.
SOME OF OUR EVIDENCE
The Boo Hag
|
Type:
FLIR ONE Thermal Image (Coldest to Warmest) Black-Purple-Blue-Green-Yellow-Red-White Where it was Captured: During a Tour in Savannah, GA The Lead Up: A lesson to always be prepared to investigate! While on vacation, we decided to take in a Ghost Tour from one of the local tour companies. The guide stopped in one of Savannah's many Squares and began talking about the area from the discovery of a slave graveyard under it to Savannah's connection to Voodoo and how many people that lived around the square were seeing a dark hooded cloaked figure or the presence of an old cloaked woman... what the locals called "The Boo Hag." Filming with a night vision cameras in one hand and taking thermal pictures with the other... we looked down at the FLIR, saw this image on the screen and took this photo. Where a "dark hooded cloaked figure" can clearly be seen manifesting by the guide. We immediately presented the image to the guide, who's face went pale and quickly moved us on "to a less creepy part of the tour"... the Colonial Cemetery. |
|
"The Old Clay County Jail"
|
Type:
Full Spectrum Camera Where it was Captured: Old Clay County Jail- Green Cove Springs, FL The Lead Up: Our Team had the honor of investigating the Old Clay County Jail and Courthouse in Green Cove Springs, Florida, and it did not disappoint! We had many experiences from phantom footsteps rushing toward our team in Maximum Security to capturing what could have been a disembodied scream of a disgruntled male prisoner. But one of the most compelling pieces of evidence came from the Women's Section of the prison when one of our investigators took a series of Full Spectrum photographs caught something unexpected. |
|
"I'm Doing It"
|
Type:
Electronic Voice Phenomenon (Sony Digital Audio Recorder) Where it was Captured: May-Stringer House in Brooksville, FL The Lead Up: This museum is a jewel of the Victorian Era and one of the most haunted locations in Florida. While doing a flashlight session in Jessie's Room on the second floor, this EVP was captured... one of our investigators asks for whoever is lighting the flashlight to back away from it to make it go out... the flashlight slowing begins to dim but then pops back on. We had multiple other recorders in the room, but this was only picked up by the Digital Audio Recorder right next to the flashlight. The Top video taken from just a few feet away using the audio recorded on the handheld camera... you can hear the female investigator's subdued laugh... but nothing that sounds like the man's voice. In the bottom video, at 14 seconds in, just before the investigator exclaims "You were almost there!" you can hear a man's voice say... "I'm Doing It!" There are have been claims to multiple entities residing in the May-Stringer House... this one seems to be an intelligent haunt, trying to communicate the best that it can. |
|
"That's a Big Dude" in Kissimmee
|
Type:
Thermal Video (FLIR ONE) & IR Video Documentation (Sony SR-42 Digital Video Recorder) Where was it Captured? Upstairs Loft Area of a Home in Kissimmee, FL The Lead Up: While investigating the upstairs area of a private residence. We decided to start using the Thermal Camera (FLIR ONE). After going around the room, we noticed that there was a large cold shape around one of our investigators (Kelly) in a chair. We did our best to figure out why the thermal cold spot appeared but we were unable to debunk it... Here is what we found. |
|
"A Surprise in James' Room"
|
Type:
Electronic Voice Phenomenon (Sony SR-42 Digital Video Recorder) Where was it Captured? James' Room in the May-Stringer House The Lead Up: The Investigators were getting ready for an EVP / Flashlight Q&A Session. Fortunately the cameras were rolling while they were getting into position. Otherwise, we may never have caught this Class A EVP. The Investigators (Jolyn & Kelly) have no idea what they have just recorded... but it is right in between them. Is this the voice of little Jessie May? Or one of her Step Sisters? Or could it be some other entity? One thing is certain, none of the other recording devices captured this voice and Jolyn & Kelly didn't hear it at the time. |
|
"She said it was... Frannie"
|
Type:
Electronic Voice Phenomenon (with Flashlight Interaction) (Sony SR-42 Digital Video Recorder) Where was it Captured? Brooksville Train Depot Museum (Brooksville, FL) The Lead Up: Jolyn and I are set up on the Cook's Car at the Brooksville Train Depot Museum. We are doing a flashlight session and getting multiple hits, when I start asking if the entity that we think we are interacting with is named Francis or Fran or Frannie... I couldn't remember. This is when we get the EVP. You will hear Jolyn and I both during the video... but we did not hear this at all at the time and it is clearly not us speaking. |
|