Investigator Spotlight

regularly on its own, the sound of footsteps in various locations around the theater, and of apparitions WPRS Strives to Better witnessed on the stage and up in the second balcony. We were hoping to either prove or disprove some of Understand the these claims. Sherrie: The theater was in outstand- ing condition, and the employees were great. Derek was able to take some great pictures of the location. By Michelle M. Pillow During the investigation, I personally saw two questionable t a Borders’ book signing shadows. One was when I was up last September, I had the in the catwalk above the stage and Apleasure of meeting several saw a shadow walk into an electrical members of the Wichita, Kansas- room and heard questionable female based Wichita Paranormal Research voices from that location. Society (WPRS). Their passion for And once while on the stage, I the paranormal and the professional- saw a dark shadow up in the balcony ism in which they talked about their chairs. I thought it was one of us; WPRS is 100% non-profit, and their services are free of charge. As paranormal craft were evident. however, I found out later it was not. investigators, the group is committed to authenticating evidence and document- With new TAPS family member ing the existence of any paranormal activity via audio, video, and other electronic means of equipment. cards fresh from the printers and Q: What other locations has WPRS an assorted display of paranormal- investigated? themed WPRS t-shirts, they were Bob: There are so many . . . The about to leave for an investigation at one word very loud right after I was recorded on video items moving on best one to me was a house just the Brown Grand Theater in Con- touched. She had said, “Peace.” their own. We also have on video north of town. I got touched and had cordia, Kansas. While investigating the Or- a strange occurrence with multiple a conversation with something via WPRS includes: pheum, we always get several un- lights in one location being turned the K-II Meter. • Founder Shane Elliot known EVPs. off and on in separate rooms, at • Case Manager-Public Relations Sherrie: Well there are so many The Old Cowtown Museum, on separate times from one another. Manager & Investigator Sherrie Curry great places — a few I can’t mention the other hand, we have investigated We have had several investiga- • Photographer & Investigator due to privacy issues. I’ll just men- multiple times throughout the year. tors witness a shadow person, or Derek Pinkston tion a couple. Several locations are very active with persons, around the location, and • Investigator/Tech Bob Gilmer WPRS members include (from left to right): Donna Chaffin, Lori DeWinkler, The Orpheum Theater is a paranormal activity. The Murdock have heard claims from employees • Tech Manager Shaun Reeves Sherrie Curry, Shaun Reeves, Shane Elliot, Bob Gilmer, Jeremy Webster, Derek great place. We have investigated house is always interesting: seeing and guests of the museum that have • Investigator Ted Thomason Pinkston, and Ted Thomason. there several times. During a tour, a shadow people, mists, voices, bangs, witnessed the same thing. • Historian Lori DeWinkler (All photos: Copyright 2009, WPRS and Derek Pinkston of ICT Photography.) guest investigator felt something tug and footsteps. These seem to happen The Orpheum Theater. We • Software Tech Manager Jer- on her pant leg. We dismissed this inside the house and outside the house. have investigated several times, and emy Webster occurrence thinking it was possibly We have also had footsteps we have recorded what could be Q: Tell us a little about the investi- investigate because of the acoustic • Investigator Donna Chaffin her pant being caught on a chair from the Devore Farm, enclosed paranormal activity. But at the same gation at Brown Grand Theater. qualities. So, we started off with just • Investigator Charles Harding while she walked by; however, later wind chimes moving five times time we have debunked a lot of a couple of investigators at a time Three WPRS members took a Shane: This was a beautiful location in the night we were in the same spot within a 30-minute period, voices, claims there as well. actually investigating the theater. We moment out of their busy schedules to investigate. With original seating sitting down taking pictures, and I and camera movement. This is just The Beaumont Hotel. Over the had plenty of room to cover with all to talk with me about their recent in- in the balcony boxes and many of felt a finger run down the back of my to mention a couple of hot spots at years, this has been an interesting the seating area on the main floor, vestigation and their group in general. the original theatrical posters framed left leg, from the knee down to my Cowtown; there are several others. location to investigate. One of the the balcony, the stage, the catwalk, A big thank you to Sherrie Curry, around the theater, you couldn’t ankle. I heard nothing. claims is of a cowboy, named Zeke, and the basement with boiler room. Shane: The Old Cowtown Mu- Shane Elliot, and Bob Gilmer. help but feel like you were being Later while going over the audio who roams the halls of the hotel. Some of the claims where of seum. We have recorded close to pulled back into the early 1900s. recordings and coming to that spot, During one of our first investiga- * * * * * a door that opened and closed 100 EVPs from that location and Theaters can be very tough to there was a female voice that spoke tions there, most of our EVP ques-

14 Paranormal Underground November 2009 November 2009 Paranormal Underground 15 Investigator Spotlight

Q: Have you ever been disappoint- loose screen door, I made my way way of the paranormal, but in May say, “It’s okay.” I immediately felt ed by a location? downstairs to check things out. As of 2005 that all changed. calm, and my son fell back to sleep. the investigator was explaining what My son was two weeks old and The next evening my wife was Sherrie: Every location is interest- was going on, it happened again. sleeping soundly in his crib. My watching an episode of Hunt- ing in its own way. We have been This noise was definitely inside and wife and I were sound asleep in our ers. Up until this point I had never disappointed with the lack of activity not an outdoor screen door, but room when suddenly my son awoke watched this program or any of the during investigations many times. obviously something slamming shut. crying. This woke me up, and I laid various paranormal shows for longer Then we go over the evidence and than a few minutes. It just wasn’t some- find great things. thing that interested me. But due to We were investigating a school “I had More than 50 EVP’s during what had happened the night before I with great history and tons of stories thought I would watch this show. from past students who saw ghost, that investigation. It was crazy What impressed me was that mists, etc. We investigated and found all the way around.” the TAPS team didn’t come in and nothing. Once we went over our find a bunch of paranormal things recordings, we found a lot of EVPs. So we looked around and found there for a minute to see if he would going on. Instead, they went into Shane: We have had a few people a cooler in the back with a sliding go back to sleep, or if I needed to the families’ homes with a list of lie to us just to get us to come out door that stored drinks. The door go check on him. Suddenly, I heard claims and actually found normal to their home or business. That had a spring on it, and if you opened a humming come over the baby reasons that could cause all the By using current high-tech equipment, WPRS is able to conduct extensive scien- is always disappointing, but those it and let it go, the door would slam monitor, and I immediately thought, paranormal claims. tific investigations, interpret the evidence collected, and present evidence to the instances are few and far between. shut, sounding very similar to what “Okay, we are picking up a radio or I realized I wanted to start client in the hope of creating a better understanding of the current activity and we had heard. By this time all the maybe a commercial truck.” researching this myself and began possible options to be taken. Q: Any funny/unexpected stories? investigators where down in the But then it changed to a woman looking online for local teams. At

Sherrie: Well, with Shaun around kitchen standing around this cooler, singing a lullaby. I immediately real- the time there really wasn’t anything tions were directed toward Zeke. At Shane: The Old Cowtown Muse- you can always expect the unex- and I was asking something to the ized my wife was lying next to me here in Wichita. After spending the end of the night, one of the EVPs um. And the most interesting piece pected. He’s the clown of the group, effect of, “If you opened this door and someone must have broken into months looking for a team, some of we captured said, “What’s Zeke?” of evidence so far would have to be whether he is trying on random hats could you please do it again?” our house. I went to jump up, and the people I met during my search the EVP screaming at two investiga- to make us laugh or just being him- About that time, we all heard the that’s when I felt a hand just below suggested that I start a team myself. Q: To date, what is the most tors to “Get out! I warn you!” That self, he’s always a riot! noise again, and everyone jumped my right knee. It wasn’t holding me So that’s how the Wichita Paranor- interesting location your team has is still one of the loudest EVPs I’ve I guess if you want to know about a foot out of their skin. It was down, but just patting my leg as if to mal Research Society came to be. investigated? ever heard. about funny things during investiga- the hotels ice machine behind us dropping ice. Sherrie: I’m sure we all have our Having said that, we have had tions, I have to say if one of us gets a lot of personal experiences that if startled, Donna grabs all of her favorites. I guess mine has to be my Q: What first interested you in first investigation in a local Wichita only we had moved the camera a few equipment and won’t leave my side. feet, or even a few inches, we prob- paranormal investigation? business. I had more than 50 EVPs She doesn’t run and she doesn’t during that investigation, saw my first ably would have caught on video. scream, she just calmly, in a hur- Sherrie: I have had several personal shadow person, heard a voice of a But because we didn’t, they are just ried fashion, gathers her things and experiences that led me to this field. person I couldn’t see, and heard foot- personal experiences now. becomes glue. We kind of tease her I wanted some answers. One day a steps. It was crazy all the way around. about it. friend brought a recording of a voice Q: What criteria do you look for from her home to work and told me The only thing captured to Shane: when deciding a location? The Beaumont Hotel. The this fantastic story. This led me to provide as evidence were the EVPs. first time we investigated I was on the Several were very clear and very Sherrie: WPRS in the first place. Activity, stories, and history. second floor when an investigator that loud. What was interesting was the Also, if a place looks interesting, we was watching the monitors called me Bob: The first time I saw Ghost- disembodied voice I heard, along will approach the owner to see if on the radio saying that the screen busters when I was a kid, I said, with three other females. The voice they have any reported claims. door just slammed in the kitchen. “This is what I want to do when I was male, and no one caught that on Shane: He was new to the team, so I grow up.” If children are involved, their audio recorder. there is no question we are going to just told him to calm down and listen Shane: Before 2005 I really had no get in there and try to help the family for anything else unusual. A few Bob: It’s got to be Cowtown. We get interest in the paranormal. Nothing as quick as possible. Other than that minutes passed and he called again, WPRS does not attempt to ‘prove’ . The group looks at all aspects of so much from that place. It’s hard to had really happened to me, and I it just depends on the claims and/or “The door just slammed again!” reported activity, client observations, and gathered evidence to come up with the just pick one out. had not heard any stories to make most reasonable explanations for the paranormal activity. the history. Thinking it was the wind or a me believe much was going on in the

16 Paranormal Underground November 2009 November 2009 Paranormal Underground 17 Investigator Spotlight

Q: Why do you think people are so is a really great guy, and I really ap- normal activity. We go over all the Sherrie: The city is quiet at night. If tion from background interested in the paranormal and preciate all his help and input. claims and try to find normal causes you have lights on, it can cause our noise, such as dogs, bugs,

unexplained? to those claims. EMF detectors to provide false read- traffic, wind, etc. Sherrie: This may say corny, but it After an investigation, when we ings. When the lights are off, we don’t Sherrie: People are becoming more has to be the WPRS team. These are Shane: Practice safety. have gone over all the video, au- have to worry as much about that. open to the idea. Also there are people you can count on for anything. Your best tool is your dio, and photographs, if we do find more and more TV shows about You have to trust who you are walking brain. Use common anything we can’t explain we go back Shane: Obviously for television it the paranormal, which brings more around in the dark and trust they will sense; not everything is and try to recreate it. After that, if we adds an effect for the viewers. But attention to the subject. defend you and help you if some- paranormal. Matter ofa still can’t explain it, then we might since most of the claims are at night, thing threatens you. They are my best fact, most of it is not. Shane: Something is going on out consider it as possibly paranormal. I believe that’s why most investiga- friends, and I love all of them. Each there, and it’s just human nature to tions take place then. and every one of them is special. Q: How do you feel be curious and want to learn more Q: Do you have any unbreakable The reason we investigate in the Outside of WPRS I have to say about the paranormal about it. rules when it comes to investigat- dark is because most of the claims WPRS hopes to investigate internationally the TAPS Family. It’s great to have shows currently on TV? ing? happen when the lights were turned within the next year. backup and have someone to go to Any must-watch? Q: Who are your heroes in the field? out, people are sleeping, and the loca- with questions and ideas. Sherrie: No drugs or alcohol al- tion is at its quietest. However, if I ever Sherrie: I only watch Bob: John Zaffis. lowed, and respect the deceased. get a claim that someone was making Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters Q: Any dream locations you’d like Q: What philosophies do you Shane: and Grant Shane: Safety comes first. All pancakes in the morning, and Elvis International. They investigate the to investigate? adhere to while investigating? Do Wilson from TAPS. investigators work in a team of two. walks through a wall and through their same way we do. you approach the work as a skep- Sherrie: One would be a castle in And someone I have met who The idea is if something paranormal kitchen, I’ll investigate that place dur- tic or a believer? Shane: Ghost Hunters is the only Ireland. Locally, the Winfield State has been a true mentor to me over happens to someone there will be ing the day, and hopefully someone one I watch. I’m not saying that Prison. the years is Danny Carthy of Lein- Sherrie: Well for me it’s a little of another person there to hopefully will be making pancakes. because I’m biased and part of the ster Paranormal in Ireland. He has both. I do approach each investiga- help document it. But the most TAPS Family. I’ve tried to watch all Bob: The Stanley hotel. more than 20 years of experience tion as a skeptic. important reason is for safety. Q: Do you feel there are things of them for a short period of time, and has always found the time to talk We are not there to prove a presented by evidence that are Shane: Anything over the pond in but most of them are going for that to me via the Internet or phone. He haunting. We are there to show Bob: Never do a ‘dude run.’ Heck, I explainable in other ways? Ireland or . We are work- ‘wow’ factor now and will stoop to people there are run after the . ing on doing some of that in the next Sherrie: Ninety-nine percent of orbs any level to get it. other explanations year or two. Q: What equipment does your are a reflection of a flash from the of why things could camera, dust, bugs, humidity, or Q: You recently became TAPS Fam- be happening. We team use? What, in your experi- Q: Any new projects in the works? items in the room. ily members, congrats! What does help them with the ences, picks up the best evidence? Shane: Shane: Definitely. We don’t con- this mean for your group? We do have a book we are explainable, and if Shane: We use infrared (IR) video working on. We also are getting sider any orbs as possible evidence. Shane: Thanks! That’s a real honor we find something cameras, full-spectrum video camer- ready to film a few local shows. Lo- we can’t explain, as, hand-held video cameras, digital cal magazines and news broadcasts we leave them with cameras, digital voice recorders, and “It wasn’t holding me down, but have been really good to us, and we the possibility of various EMF meters. Digital voice do those on a regular basis. paranormal activity recorders probably provide us with just patting my leg as if to say, going on in their most of our evidence . . . EVPs. ‘It’s okay.’” Q: Any future plans or projects for home or business. the group? Sherrie: My favorite is my digital Bob: Go in with an recorder. They are just too easy to reproduce; for us. I’m sure there were groups Sherrie: We are always investigat- open mind. I try to even the slightest bit of dust, mois- before TAPS that took a real ing. We are getting ready to head debunk everything, Q: There seems to be a lot of talk ture, or tiniest bug can create them. skeptical approach to paranormal to Branson, Missouri, to investigate and when I can’t lately about why many ghost hunt- research, but TAPS is the team that the Titanic exhibit and film with a come up with an ing shows investigate in the dark Q: What advice do you have for brought it to the mainstream. I’m local show, called Heavy Pork, a late answer, then maybe rather than the day. What is your beginners? just honored to represent the TAPS Saturday night Fox program.

it’s paranormal. opinion? name. And they are keeping us busy Sherrie: Understand there are lots * * * * * with our already-busy case files. WPRS utilizes an array of equipment during investiga- Shane: I’m more of Bob: It’s easier to see the ghosts of theories out there and yours may Thank you Sherrie, Shane, Bob, and tions, including infrared video cameras, full-spectrum a skeptic. We never at night. That sounds strange, but not be the only one. Do not trespass. Sherrie: If someone needs help in the members of WPRS! You can video cameras, hand-held video cameras, digital cam- walk into a location they are darker than the dark, so it’s Don’t investigate outside. There is and around Kansas, they can find us learn more about WPRS by visiting eras, digital voice recorders, and EMF meters. assuming it has para- easier to me to see them. too much distortion and contamina- on the TAPS Website. www.wichitaparanormal.com.

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