THE POSSESSED DVD OCTOBER 2008

BOOTH BROS TO ATTEND TO MID SOUTH PARANORMAL CON SEPT 27

Tags: Booth Brothers Possessed Exorcist Demon Ghost Paranormal Lghs Ptf

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Helping the Paranormally Affected Client

I personally entered the field of paranormal investigation to help others in need but I’m also passionately interested in the historical and scientific research involved.  Having had personal encounters since childhood, I had no need for self-validation of the existence of the paranormal and my past had provided enough thrills. 

If an individual or group is currently in the field or contemplating entrance, it is a good idea to seriously assess the reasons for doing so. The sober assessment of your reasons, motives, and intent is the first step in becoming a productive member of the paranormal community. It is not my place to negatively judge others but I am concerned that a lack of consistency exists in the field regarding proper protocols and conduct in dealing with investigative casework.

An important point to address concerning casework is the area of client assistance or a “client-based situation” as I call it. I believe many investigative groups push such assistance aside carelessly or, at the very least, do not make it a priority.  When dealing personally with a client who is seeking help with what they, their family or their friends may be experiencing, a number of considerations must be taken into account and it must be recognized the client has specific needs to be addressed. 

Honesty is the best virtue.  Never mislead the client or agree to help with their situation if you do not have the resources or ability to do so.  Never make false promises such as a guarantee that alleged paranormal activity can be fully eliminated or even mitigated. Making empty or unfulfilled promises can lead to further emotional distress on part of the client, damages your credibility, and can reflect negatively on the entire paranormal community.

Some clients may just be seeking validation of potential paranormal activity or looking for an explainable cause of what they are experiencing.  As simple as it seems, this is a very important request from a client and may have a positive effect on their psychological state.  Providing either resolution can bring a peace of mind to a client who may be in distress or even questioning their own sanity.  Help is offered through sound investigative techniques, logical reasoning, and the adherence to proper protocols that address issues such as the need for privacy and other concerns. 

At the extreme end of the paranormal spectrum, the client may be experiencing negative activity that is affecting their health and livelihood.  Examples of this may be what some term “demonic” or “evil”. The definition of “extreme” can however be any activity that creates a profoundly negative experience for the client. This type of situation is a most delicate one requiring careful planning and strategy with the intent of providing successful closure or resolution. It cannot be stressed enough that an individual or team must never rush into extreme situations without first acquiring necessary research and resources to complete the job. 

Paranormal Task Force, the team which I belong to, utilizes what we consider a “client-centered” strategy or approach that results in individualized client “empowerment” through proper guidance and alignment of resources. When accepting cases, it is important to realize that an investigative unit may provide a kind of “first responder” social service to the client. In many cases, a client may call you or your team for assistance before contacting medical practitioners, clergy or other professional sources.  As such, the investigative unit is assuming a lot of responsibility and this is a huge task not to be taken lightly. If mishandled, it can bring danger to all parties involved.  In any investigation, there is no room for the unprofessional or unprepared and this is especially so in extreme cases. The need for careful assessment and the desire and ability to help the client while adhering to very strict protocols and conduct is always of utmost importance.

As a paranormal investigator, it may be good practice to approach client-based situations in a manner that emulates the methodical techniques of law enforcement. It is imperative to have good interpersonal skills, patience, logical reasoning, and the ability to remain objective at all times. Prior to any investigation, facts have to be gathered through research, questionnaires and interviews.  The purported location of events must be inspected for environmental conditions, possible explainable causes, and to ensure the safety of others.  All of the collected information must be logically analyzed and assessed before any assistance or investigation can occur.

It is important to remember that client’s issues may not necessarily be caused by something paranormal or unexplainable. Having both internal and external resources with experience in sociological, psychological and medical backgrounds is a must to assist in the proper analysis of these situations. 

In many cases, the client may need psychological and/or faith and belief based reinforcement.  Reinforcing a positive psychological and/or faith and belief system helps the individual to better help themselves and their family.  This is part of the “alignment” of resources sought for the client and others affected.  It is very important to align the client with resources that accommodate the client’s faith or belief system.  You would not want to provide a Wiccan client with help from a fundamental Christian or a Catholic client with help from an Islamic Priest unless it was a last resort or emergent effort and the client was fully open to this without hesitation. 

If the situation is handled properly, closure may come in a few weeks, or a few months, but it must be noted that, in more difficult cases, closure may never fully be realized. Many times, no matter what assistance you may provide, closure only comes to those that are willing to help themselves. The old cliché about “leading a horse to water but can’t make it drink” unfortunately applies in some cases. As long as you maintain a positive attitude, practice proper protocols and conduct, utilize all resources to their maximum and do the best you can, you have handled the client-based situation properly.

There is a bona fide need for valid research and equipment to document events during an investigation. To obtain assistance from a credible faith practitioner during rare or extreme situations, it may be required to provide proper documentation of events or possibly even captured evidence. Do not let anyone convince you that a proper investigation can be conducted without research and equipment. It can’t!

Proper client assistance is one of the key issues of paranormal investigation. A thorough, well-prepared individual or team following proper protocols and addressing client needs in a professional, caring and respectful manner may be of great help to those who may be affected by paranormal issues.

© 2008 - Gregory Myers, Paranormal Task Force, Inc.

www.catchmyghost.com

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I know that myself along with other members of PTF have been quiet for some time.  I apologize for the lack of updates to our website and about our investigations, events, etc.  The truth of the matter is that we were taking a bit of a winter break and only assisting clients from our current case load while also involved with research for some exciting upcoming projects.

I know in the past few months that I have been saddened to see a spike in negativism within our paranormal community with much of a "he said - she said" situation.  I along with other members of PTF have also been victim to these events.  However, we have just ignored such and focused ourselves and our resources on things that are positive in nature.

It has been pointed out that with such negative ongoing events that many individuals and/or groups may have been emailed, messaged or told things that were very inaccurate and frankly lies in hopes of allowing this negativism to spread like a disease through our community. 

As such, I would like to remind everyone that such is just "heresay" and that they need to contact the source that they were told supposedly said or did various things in order to get the truth vs. relying on input from third parties who may be operating with special interest, agendas, etc. in mind.

Our special community is frail enough and under the observation and scrutiny of many others.  With all the infighting and other negative events coming to light, this will just make us ALL look that much worse to eyes within and outside our field.

When our own within the field publically attack others within it, it only shows how divided we are when we should be united and proudly show solidarity.  We need to just ignore such actions of those individuals, as I am sure others will see their negativity and mark that within their minds for future reference.   Shining a spotlight on such will only bring more inside and outside attention to something causing it to spread like a wild fire when it would normally just dry up and go away without such attention brought to it.

Now if you were told that I or someone from PTF said things about you from someone else, then please contact me or the person you were told said such for clarification.  I am personally tierd of seeing such "heresay" having such a negative impact within our community.  Lets bring unity and solidarity back.

Greg Myers - greg@paranormaltaskforce.com

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Help “I Am Haunted” – http://www.iamhaunted.com/ Grow and Thrive

I Am Haunted (IAH) is an online community for those interested in the paranormal.  I like to say that it is the MySpace for the paranormal community, but in a friendly setting without the headaches of spammers, trolls, “in your face” ads, etc.  With much growth over the past several months, IAH is now able to host your videos, pictures, blogs, and messages with other IAH members and more.
IAH is also an invaluable resource as it can:

• Easily put you in touch with other paranormal like people in your area.


• Help you to find a local paranormal investigative and research teams to join.


• Help you to find a local paranormal investigative and research teams to investigate your residence or business.


• Find other like people to discuss your experiences, ideas and theories involving the paranormal.


• Provide a place to share your potential evidence (pictures, video and experiences) for intelligent feedback and discussion vs. harassment and ridicule that is received elsewhere.

This is an elite community with special interest and as such this is “your community”.  I know many Urban Legends tell of how fairies, elves and cryptoids magically keep IAH running, and as much as we would like to believe that these legends are wrong.   Actually IAH was the brain storm of Paranormal Investigator and Researcher Alan Rupnick.  With his love for the Paranormal and determination to provide a community free of harassment, ridicule, slander, libel, etc. and where other para-minded individuals could share ideas, evidence, stories in hope of bringing unity to a very “dog eat dog” community, Alan through sweat and devotion turned that dream into a reality.

Alan has devoted uncountable hours and other resources into bringing his vision to the paranormal community.  However, Alan also has to support himself in the process and can not keep dumping his hard earned resources from his full time job into maintaining IAH.  IAH is now used by hundreds upon hundreds of paranormal individuals, investigative and research teams, authors, radio show host, icons and as such it should our responsibility to keep it going or at least for us to help in some way to keep it going and growing since we, the paranormal community, are the ones who benefit most from Alan’s vision turning into reality.

How can we each as an individual do this?

1. Promotion – you as an individual can easily promote IAH to other like para-minded people through sharing the link in your email signature, on other forums and message boards, placing an IAH banner on your website, purchasing an IAH t-shirt from Alan to wear around, word of mouth, etc.
 


2. Membership – if you really enjoy IAH and use it frequently then please consider upgrading your membership to the VIP, Silver or Gold levels.  You can click on the “subscribe” link on the bottom of the pages when on the IAH site to do this.   If you can not afford to upgrade then remember that the few ads on the site do help add some funds to keep IAH online.  So when you get the chance click on some of those once in awhile and see what they are about.



3. Sponsorship/Advertisements – IAH has some really inexpensive ad rates for the system. If you are trying to sell a paranormal related book, DVD, event, etc. then where else better to buy ad space as the IAH community is full of potential customers for such.  Even if you just want to promote your team, services etc. then this would be a great way.  Also, if you know of others that are selling and trying to reach out to the paranormal community such as haunted locations like Bed and Breakfasts’, hotels, theatres, etc. then be sure to let them know that IAH would be a great place to advertise their location.



4. Brainstorming (Idea Sharing) – if you have an idea that may help IAH independently sustain and grow then please share them with Alan or others at IAH.  Such ideas would be things like possible membership drive ideas, sponsorship thoughts, fundraising events, contest, IAH merchandise, etc. 



5. Participation - if you are a paranormal "icon" or radio show host, etc. then participate mor on IAH and visit peoples pages, leave comments, post blogs and share experiences and information to those seeking it from you.
    

Remember, this is our community … lets give it a helping hand.

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I just wanted to take a moment to thank Lori and the rest of the NWA Ghost Connection Crew for hosting an awesome convention this year! A big THANK YOU to all of them and also to all of the speakers in the spetacular line up!

Also, a big pat on the back to my other evil half, Steven LaChance, who took the stage at the last minute to help fill a spot that two other speakers did not show for. This was Steven's first time telling the Union Haunting Story before an audience and all I can say is "WOW"! He followed Tim Yancy, a personal friend of George Lutz who also did a awesome job at well!

On another note, Keith Age of LGHS and Spooked Productions delivered an exceptional speech as well and he also officially announced that Spooked Productions (The Booth Brothers & Keith) were working with Missouri Paranormal Research on the filming of the new documentary "Children of the Grave" which will air on the Sci-Fi Channel sometime soon!

So far this has been an exausting and fun experience! We are back home in Missouri now and completely wore out. An official release of this will come soon. The Booths and Keith are awesome and we are proud to have them as friends! All I can say is that "Children of the Grave" will keep you on the edge of your seat then knock you to the floor! I can not wait to see it!

Greg

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The Humanistic Approach
By Steven LaChance, Missouri Paranormal Research Founder

The team at Missouri Paranormal Research takes a humanistic approach when investigating paranormal phenomena.

What do we mean by humanistic? We use human dignity, reason, and scientific methods to discover underlying causes for events that appear to be paranormal. When there are no normal, logical explanations, what we have left is paranormal phenomena which needs to be further investigated. We treat every investigation and client with dignity and respect while using reason and science to research and understand a paranormal event.

My personal background has given me the opportunity to see this topic from both sides of the fence. I have seen how difficult it is to be the client asking for help, and I have seen how difficult it can to be offer help to clients. I would like to be able to say that finding a respectable investigative group is an easy thing to do, however, in reality, it is completely the opposite. There are many groups in existence with whom any one of us would be ashamed to be associated. Their tactics are rude. They treat their clients like lab rats than humans. Their assessments often lack logical reason and sometimes border on the absurd. And, the use of "science" in their findings either can be completely lacking or to the other side of the spectrum using science as their only means of research. They completely ignore the human factors of dignity and reason.

Often the clients are not only left feeling more confused and frustrated, but also abused and neglected by the wrong type of investigative group. What is hard for most so-called investigative groups to wrap their minds around is that the clients are the experts on their particular event. The investigative group should go in with an open mind and understand that one of the biggest resources they have at hand the clients. In most cases, clients are pushed to the side, and their input is ignored because the group is not able to set aside their own preconceptions, baggage, and egos to take the time to listen to and learn from the clients and, possibly earn the clients' trust and respect.

I have personally been subjected to some nightmare situations involving investigative groups, but please understand that there are some very good groups. However, as the client, you need to sift through the bad groups to find the good.

Here are examples of some of the comments and/or bad behavior I have seen or heard about involving the wrong type of investigative groups. These are direct quotes from different clients of MISSOURI PARANORMAL RESEARCH.

"The woman wasn't in my house for more than two minutes before she took off shoes and began rubbing her feet on my carpeting and furniture. And to make things worse her feet smelled."

"The investigator after about twenty minutes sat me down and told me that I needed to institutionalize my 15 year old daughter. I don't know why. My daughter wasn't even present. The investigator went as far as to give me a list of institution names."

"My investigator told me that they would not be coming back to my house because they were angry when they saw some photos of my house online."

"Shortly after arriving at my house, one of the investigators was thrown against a wall by something unseen. The investigation lasted about ten minutes longer and then they left. That was three weeks ago and I still haven't heard back from them."

"My investigator would call me at 4am every night to discuss the situation with me. They would wake my family up with their calls even though I requested that a more normal business hour would be better for discussions."

"They told me my house was possessed by a demon. And then they left."

"When I tried to tell them what was going on in my house, they told me to please sit quietly on the couch and let them make up their own minds."

"The investigator went through my dresser drawers, leaving my bedroom a complete mess."

"The investigation team seemed more concerned about where they were going to eat than the actual investigation at hand."

"The investigation team arrived with over twenty people. They told me they were only bringing two."

"Two of the investigators were sitting across the street in their car smoking pot during the investigation."

"The team arrived and with them two cases of beer and various bottles of hard liquor."

"They told me my house was being haunted by six different ghosts which they gave me names for. The next group to come in told me that my house was haunted by five different ghosts and then they gave me a set of different names. The next investigation group said my house was haunted by seven different ghosts and then gave seven completely different names from the others. Must have been a haunting party at my house."

"The dowsing rods told them a great place to eat for barbecue?"

"The investigator gave my child a set of dowsing rods and told them to use these to talk with the ghost?"

"Two of the investigators ganged up on my daughter and told her that she was practicing witchcraft. When I asked them how they knew this, I was told they had a psychic impression."

What is wrong with the paranormal research field when one sees and hears of this type of behavior happening over and over again?

Not only do I feel that too many researchers treat their clients poorly, there is the territorial issue which needs to be address. The MPR team believes in sharing information gathered during investigations. This is the best way for all paranormal researchers to understand the paranormal world around us. MPR has actually seen an investigator give a client a "guest list" of who would be present during the investigation. This list did not include the client's teenage daughter. Who was this investigator to actually tell a client who could and could not be present in that house? The child was not welcome in his/her own home? Was this respectful?

There are also stories of investigative groups that completely dismiss clients because they have approached another group for advice. What is this all about? Are these "investigators" so uncertain of their abilities that they don't welcome input from other groups? Why do stories like these keep coming up over and over? How much damage is done to the respectability of the field for the rest of us?

One of the biggest hurdles facing paranormal investigators is convincing ourselves that we offer a service to our clients. Our pay for this service is the experience and knowledge that we gain. We must remember that we are part of a service industry. We should offer clients the same level of service they would expect from any other service industry. We need to develop and adhere to a code of conduct that serves the best interest of our clients and assures them that they are working with paranormal investigators whose professionalism is beyond reproach.

Let me end on a positive note. There are many excellent groups working in the field of paranormal investigation. Some of the best investigators are those who have personally experienced and lived through an unexplained paranormal event themselves; those that do find it easier to understand the client/investigator relationship.

The Ghost Stalkers of West Tennessee are an excellent investigative group with a heart complemented with a certain southern charm. Another excellent group is S.I.G.H.T. Although they travel in large numbers, the compassion and respect they show their clients puts a big feather in their cap. I have also found The Mesa project is an excellent resource for investigators who need answers to their questions on the science of investigation.

I could continue this list, however, until all groups understand the simple precepts of dignity, reason, and science, until all groups understand that it is in the best interest of their field to operate under a code of service, there will be groups that continue to damage the reputations of ALL paranormal investigators by their behavior.

The hope for the future of this field is that all groups will come to this understanding and open their minds to work together with others without territorial issues and bias. In the end, we are all searching for the same thing: The Truth.

Thank you to Laura Helbig for final editing!
© 2007 by Steven LaChance – Missouri Paranormal Research

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UNION HAUNTING - My Personal Tribulation

by Gregory Myers, Co-Administrator Missouri Paranormal Research

"After having early life experiences with the paranormal up until my early teen years, I somehow shut it completely off for about a two decade period. During this period, my skepticism of the paranormal also grew as my earlier experiences became long faded memories. Eventually I married a wonderful woman and moved into a home where my sensitive wife kept trying to convince me that our lovely adobe was haunted by the spirits which use to reside in an early 1900's farm house which we later found out sat close to where our current home does now. As a good skeptic, I would just tell her that she was crazy and there were no ghosts in our home.

Well after about five years of hearing her rants and updates on the ghostly activity my senses went into another awakening. While sitting on the porcelain throne in our second floor bathroom one night about 1 a.m., I was looking out the door and saw a man on our stairs just standing there with his face between the rails watching me do my personal business. I suddenly jumped off of the throne and ran into the bedroom yelling at my wife to call 9-1-1 while I grabbed a nearby shotgun. In the midst of these actions my wife began to laugh and told me that I would not find anyone in the house. After about an hour of searching every room & closet, under things, in pantries, etc. I finally gave up on the search and destroy mission while she explained that I saw one of the regular spirits that she sees all of the time. I was a bit confused and baffled with an elevated blood pressure and a heart racing one hundred miles per hour.

I then started to get mild sensitive abilities where I could sense the presence of our visitors from beyond the veil with sometimes a casual catch of a figure from the reflection of a mirror or my computer screen along with a renewed interest & curiosity into the realms of the unknown. While adjusting to my awakened paranormal senses and environment I began to research the unknown realms further via the Internet. Eventually I came across a local paranormal message board in which Steven LaChance and other paranormal investigators and enthusiast were sharing their experiences and stories. This is where I finally learned of the infamous House on North Christina in Union, MO. A house which drew me in like a moth to the flame.

It was August of 2005 when I went to a paranormal open house of sorts with my wife and her cousin. I was just intending to get a quick glimpse of what an extreme haunting was so I could further evaluate the conditions within my own home. When we arrived we were greeted by Steven LaChance and Linda Marsh (the current occupant of this infamous place).

We were eventually taken inside where I was greeted by the most horrid nausea and headache one could be plagued with. My first trip inside was a very short one which lasted about a whole two minutes before retreating to the outside to recover and get back my senses. After about a 30 minute recovery period, I then forged bravely back in and was given a tour of the entire home from top to bottom with a narrated overview of the non-human occupants and the areas they liked to play the most.

Vivid memories remain from that night when we did a break out session with individual investigators dividing into groups to stake out various playground areas of the invisible dwellers. I was with the group lead by Steven and we were lucky enough to get the basement for our first assignment. During this period we tired to communicate with the spirits in hopes to capture unexplainable voices on some of our audio recorders. This is where I experienced my first "Hot Spot" where the temperature actually rose about 30 degrees above the ambient temperature in a small moving area. Being use to the cold spot experiences in my own home I found this very unique and was blind to the more negative causes for the reverse of what I was use to. I remember we also saw very notable shadow movement during the flash of various cameras and even a door partially opening then closing fully again. After the session and most people in attendance headed back up the stairway, I then stayed down there for some extra time with the cousin of my wife. When it was just the two of us we both experienced a very heavy dense atmosphere which slowly became so thick that our breathing became harder. It then seemed like an invisible 20 foot boa constrictor was wrapping around us causing tightness in our chest and pain to our back. It eventually subsided and we headed back up to socialize with others in attendance.

Later that night myself, my wife and her cousin made our way up to the famous breezeway area where we were told that the entity nicknamed "Bob" liked to play. After a short time we began to notice a foul odor similar to sulphur and sewage mixed which traveled around us causing our paranormal alarms to ring. I immediately summoned for Steven to come upstairs. As he made his way up, I felt the presence of whatever was there go out the window onto the overhang roof for the back part of the first floor. We told Steven what we smelled and experienced then I further added that I may be crazy, but I think it went onto the roof and asked to ghost do rooftops. Steven and I stuck our heads out the window at the same time when we both smelled that foul odor and heard a very low pitched growl tossed our way. Steven immediately said "Bob, you better be good" and went back downstairs. I then stuck my head back out with my recorder in hand and attempted to capture some audio in hopes of finding unexplainable voices or EVP after returning home.

Other notable experiences were handed to us and eventually we finally made the one hour journey back to our own corner of the paranormal world where myself and my family resided. The next day I decided to download my audio and to start listening. After reading many articles on EVP and seeing things on television concerning it, I though it was going to be like finding a needle in the haystack where I would need to really amplify the segments in order to hopefully hear voices from the other side. What I did not expect was to find the unexplainable voices with a volume that was heard as easily as if another human was present. I diligently worked hours on listening and extracting the unexplainable for further analysis. Then out of curiosity on how well my captures were, I sent some off to Todd Bates of Haunted Voices - http://www.hauntedvoices.com/) for further input. It was not too long afterwards I had replies from Todd stating how amazing many of them were including his analysis of the Hz ranges and classification levels. He even found many which played clearly and perfectly both forward and reverse and further explained how he theorized those types of EVP came from areas with possible portals or vortexes.

After sharing my finds with Steven, Linda and others which were in attendance the same night we were, I couldn't wait to return back to this house of horrors to see what else I could experience and capture. I did not realize this was the beginning of an addiction that I now wish I never had. Myself, my wife and her cousin were invited back out the following weekend for a private visit to investigate and attempt more EVP sessions. The experiences were just as spectacular as the first night and the EVP captures extracted afterwards were also equally notable. Like a junkie addicted to their drug, I could not wait to get back to get my para-fix. Several more visits were made during subsequent weekends with the addiction growing to new heightened levels as well as my sensitivities.

Eventually that addiction was brought to a halt as Linda finally left due to the negative influences that were brought upon her by that place of what I now consider evil. After her suicidal and homicidal ideation along with a lengthy stay in a mental health facility to receive treatment and eventual further visits by a Catholic Priest to help her spiritually she finally moved to escape the wrath and curse from the House of Demons. Besides the addiction, which is now an alarming sign for myself in which I take heed to even if the place becomes an EVP candy store of sorts, this house on Christina brought me much closer to a faith that I also drifted apart from over the years.

After being cut from my fix, Linda suffering from possible possession of sorts, this open gateway to other realms also must have became addicted to all of the attention and visitors it was receiving. It too became deprived of its fix of the human energizer batteries that were feeding it weekend after weekend. Though we could not go back there, it found ways to come visit many of us in our own homes. For a period of time, my own home became a battleground of good vs. evil. The normal activity of our regular paranormal inhabitants was replaced with the infestation and attempted oppression of the inhuman entities of the Union house. Myself and my family began to witness things like our wood clock in the kitchen flying from the wall and crashing into our sink 10 feet away, our children's toys launching from our kitchen table 8 feet down the hallway at our canines, pictures dropping unexplainably from our walls all of the time, our dogs tucking their tails with their hair standing up fleeing from rooms within our home, our autistic son seeing something frequently that he called a bad man while our one canine would defend him from the unseen by growling and snapping at whatever was there and invisible to our own eyes, light bulbs were burning out 5 times more than normal and the list goes all the way to me actually being pushed down hard in my own home when I stood up to it. Finally with spiritual advice and a renewed strength into our faith we were able to return to our normal routine and the unwelcome visitors from Union also either returned home or paid visits to others who were involved with the Union Home at one time or another.

Even today those demons still haunt my dreams and sometimes come for an occasional visit just to remind me that they do indeed exist and to let me know that they can come at anytime they desire. Even with the bad that was experienced from this location, there was still much good. This is how I became involved with MISSOURI PARANORMAL RESEARCH and made many new personal friends which I consider like a family now. If I had to do it all over again, I think I would because I love my new para-family and wouldn't trade them for the world!"

Greg Myers, Co-Administrator
Missouri Paranormal Research

© Copy 2006 Missouri Paranormal Research – All Rights Reserved

More on the Union, Missouri Haunting can be found online at http://www.unionhaunting.com/

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Corpsewood Manor
~ A Pandora's Box Waiting to be Opened~
by Gregory Myers
Co-Administrator of Missouri Paranormal Research

Recently MPR was contacted by an individual in Missouri who was excited about their soon to arrive package. This was no normal package, but that of artifacts from the ruins of an estate called "Corpsewood Manor" near Trion, Georgia which is also called "Devil Worship Mountain" by some of the locals in the area. Only a higher power would know why a person would want such artifacts and furthermore why they would want a Paranormal Research and investigative Group to "investigate" or study them for potential "negative" residual energies.

This story begins long ago when Dr. Charles Scudder was an associate professor at a college in the Chicago area. Not only was he an associate professor, but it was believed that he was involved in LSD 25 experimentation and Satanic Worship as well. It is further rumored that Dr. Scudder was also in close contact with Anton LaVey, the icon of the Church of Satan in the United States, and other such icons as well in Europe. It is believed there still exist written correspondence which supports his relationships with such individuals.

The person contacting MPR actually met this Dr. Scudder many years ago while in the Chicago area through association with his Dr. Scudder's son. The mansion in which the Scudder's lived in at that time was clad with decor from a darker side of faith which included elegant stained glass windows with demonic representation, a library containing ancient books with some possibly bound with human skin, rooms with red velvet lined walls, a bed encrusted with carved satanic faces and emblems made during the renaissance era in Italy, a very valuable golden harp along with a variety of other ritualistic items representing a faith and belief into the darker realms.

Life went on after the few visits to the Scudder home for this individual, but for Dr. Scudder it was coming to a tragic end. During the 1970's Dr. Scudder and his devoted servant, friend and rumored lover decided to part from the interferences of society and civilization. They sold and gave away all material possessions which had no personal or symbolic value to them and moved to an isolated mountain where they purchased about 40 acres of property to start a self proclaimed kingdom on the outskirts of the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia near a small fundamental bible belt town called Trion.

Arriving upon just a woodland covered area, Dr. Scudder and his long time companion Joseph Odom became one with nature and the old ways. They cleared and excavated the land by hand then brick by brick started building their dream "Castle" which they named Corpsewood Manor. After two years of hard labor they completed their dream home and lived a basic life of solitude. Without the corruption of modern day conveniences such as electricity, phones, and other utilities they harvested from their planted gardens and raised chickens.

It is further rumored that they did become involved in various small social circles of the community in which they shared their wine and sometimes unknown to their recipients some of their life time supply of LSD 25. Whether this was done to engage in strange sexual fetishes or as a means to physically and psychologically torture the bodies and
souls of their infrequent visitors for ritualistic purposes is still very unclear, but the potential can not be ruled out. It has been said that various torture and items of restraint were found on this estate in an area called the "pink room".

On Sunday, December 12, 1982, Dr. Scudder and Joseph Odom were unexpectedly visited by Kenneth Avery Brock, a friend of their small local circle, who brought a friend of his, Tony West, along with two other people. Weeks before, Kenneth told his friend Tony of Dr. Scudder and Odom further emphasizing how they lived like Kings at Corpsewood Manor. Tony, after hearing this, already premeditated a plan to rob Corpsewood Manor of its rumored riches prior to the date of his visit. After he arrived at the Manor some force flipped that switch inside his head which resulted in the cold blooded brutal slaying of Dr. Scudder, his companion Odom and even his two Mastiff canines. These murders were later known as the "Corpsewood Murders" in a book written about them.

After the murders, the estate was looted and stripped of many of the ritualistic and other items then burned to the ground. The whereabouts of many of these items are still unknown today. Both Dr. Scudder and Odom were cremated and Odom's ashes were spread at the Corpsewood Estate while Dr. Scudder's were taken far away from his companion and rumored lover. A large legal battle developed over the inheritance of the estate due to Dr. Scudder writing his ex-wife and two children out of his will and making Joseph Odom his sole heir. The legal battle was focused upon the time of deaths. If Joseph Odom died first then the Estate would go to Dr. Scudder's family . If Dr. Scudder passed away first then the estate would go to the family of Joseph Odom. After a long battle It was finally determined that Dr. Scudder passed away first and the Corpsewood Manor Estate went to the family of Joseph Odom.

Now coming back to the present, I have to wonder once again why someone would want artifacts from the ruins of this place? Just the potential of what dark satanic ceremonies and other dark ritualistic presence at this site could create would be enough for me to "advance straight to go and collect $200". Then adding the double cold blooded murders makes me loose any spark of curiosity for wanting any items from this location within 100 miles of my presence.

So now back to this individual who contacted us concerning these items. I will actually admit that at first I had a curiosity and paranormal interest in if these items would emit erratic EMF or temperature readings, produce anomalies under IR Photography and etc.. After rethinking the story of where these items came from along with the potential of being some key to connect ones soul to a darker element and while further talking to this individual about these objects there is the fact they still remained sealed in the box in which they were sent in and not brought into their home being left stored at another location made me realize that these were items that did not have a need to be studied or handled by anyone. Also being told that "power" could be felt radiating from the box they were sealed in made me remember that evil can arrive at your doorstep in many forms and many times it is that human curiosity which opens that Pandora's Box and allows it to escape and infest others.

The further potential that Dr. Scudder had ties to Anton LaVey, the head of the Church of Satan in the United States, and other such icons in the European realms allows this specific Pandora's Box to be filled with a negativity or evil beyond our imagination and control. After reading some of Dr. Scudder's articles and other writings that I could find, I came to feel that he was going beyond the powers which stem from such negativity or possibly Satan himself and to those that could create such negativity or a Satan-like entities. The only such ability or power which could accomplish such would be those of God or the creator and I truly believe that Dr. Scudder was on some ritualistic and darker path that in his mind could make him a dark sided equal in an infinite existence. The darker aspects involved in this situation makes me further realize that this may actually be one of the largest Pandora Boxes in existence today.

As such, in closing, I recommended to this person who contacted us that the items they have should be left in the box they came in and bound with a cross then dropped in the middle of a very deep river or body of flowing water. This was the same advise that a prominent demonoligist and paranormal researcher initially gave when I sought advice on this odd situation. Being the over sized Pandora's Box that I believe this situation consist of, I would further recommend that an actual rite of exorcism and/or other blessings and rituals of a positive or good nature be performed upon the entire property and ruins where Corpsewood Manor stood. Like this case, this box also needs to be locked and sealed forever in hopes that human curiosity does not unlock and open it in the future.

To those that have such objects and relics from this site or the people involved, I would highly suggest that they be disposed of in the same manner or at a minimum taken to a practitioner of a good or positive energy based faith and have them blessed or exorcised. To keep such items in your possession opens a big question concerning your purpose and intent. Curiosity is one thing, but to keep such a possible Pandora's Box in your possession may lead to a very negative impact upon yourself, your family, your friends and even possibly society as a whole.
For those with the curiosity to visit the Corpsewood Manor location, I highly advise that you do not step foot on that ground.

You may believe what you wish, but remember the Devil, Evil, or whatever you may consider the great negative entity or energy is actually more powerful when you do not believe in its existence.

The French poet Charles Baudelaire said, "The devil's deepest wile is to persuade us that he does not exist."

Mark Twain also said, ''Satan hasn't a single salaried helper; the Opposition employs millions.''

Greg Myers, Co-Administrator
Missouri Paranormal Research
© Copy 2006 Missouri Paranormal Research – All Rights Reserved

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