Charlotte Area Paranormal Society » Investigations

CAPS at Prospect Place – Trinway, OH

tina — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:32:32 +0000

The highlight of our investigation here was getting locked out of the building! Once we had gone outside to investigate the barn and the cellar (which could only be accessed from the outside) I guess the ghosties had had enough of us and locked us out! The door was very hard to shut in the first place, and the lock had been turned to the locked position. Quite the experience.

I have heard of this type of thing happening to others, I am glad to finally experience this phenomenon myself.

Of course, we'll post any evidence we captured at that, and the other locations we visited in Ohio over the Fourth of July holiday!

CAPS Investigates Private Property in Greensboro 4/17/11

tina — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 01:50:51 +0000

CAPS Core Team traveled to Greensboro, NC on Sunday – April 17th for a private investigation. Many of our private investigations remain just that, private. We will only release our findings when expressly permitted to do so by our clients in writing.

CAPS Investigation Held on Saturday night 4/2/11

tina — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:11:56 +0000

CAPS CORE Team members traveled to South Carolina on Saturday night for a private investigation. As is the case with many of our private investigations, the owners often do not want any evidence published due to concerns for their privacy, or fear of ridicule. We will only publish evidence when an owner gives specific permission

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Charlotte Today with Dayvee Sutton

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 01:51:53 +0000

CAPS investigates Historic Rosedale with Dayvee Sutton and Charlotte Today of WCNC News Channel 36.

Thank You!

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:19:06 +0000

CAPS would like to send out a special thank you to the many people who helped with the convention.

We would like to thank TAPS Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango of The SyFy Channel’s Ghost Hunters TV show for all their help this weekend on the Ghost Hunts for the Paranormal Investigator’s Convention held in Charlotte, NC.

We would like to thank Jonathan Watts for the use of his property for Saturday night’s Paranormal Investigator’s Convention Ghost Hunt.

We would like to thank owner Delaine and her son, Dustin Clubb for the use of the restaurant Lake Todd Fish Camp in Kannapolis, NC for the second ghost hunt of the evening.

And finally to everyone who helped with this event…..THANK YOU!

Group Ghost Hunts

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:06:58 +0000

The 3rd Saturday evening of each month CAPS hosts a group ghost hunt. The locations vary and occassionally a hunt is cancelled due to weather or other factors. In order to attend the group hunt you must meet one of the following critera:

Attended a CAPS Investigation class
Attended a CAPS sponsored Meet Up event
Be a personal acquaintance of a CAPS team member

If you meet these criteria and are interested in attending a group hunt please contact Tina for the location and directions.

Poinsett Bridge

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:43:25 +0000

Investigation

11/15/08
Greenville County, SC
CAPS – Charlotte Area Paranormal Society
Charlotte, North Carolina

Investigators present:
Tina McSwain
Nancy Weisberg
Frank Burns
Karyn Blue
Sandy Harrington

(We met some locals, Dawn and her friends, and they observed and assisted with the investigation.)

Equipment Used:
Raytek ST60 IR Temp Gun
KII EMF meter (3)
Gauss EMF Meter
FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera
Digital Voice Recorders (4)
35mm Cannon Sure Shot Owl
Digital Camera (5)

Base Readings:

Base EMF and temperature readings were taken after our arrival; approximately 8PM. Temperature at start of investigation was 39 – 37 degrees F. The temperature remained constant for the duration of our time there. It was somewhat windy. It was a clear night with clouds starting to roll in. There was a cold front coming through, making the overhead skies partially cloudy. EMF readings from one side of the bridge to the other were normal, showing nothing. We scanned the sides and top of the bridge as well. We also walked around the proximity of the ends of the bridge and underneath.

Location History:

For the history of this bridge, I am posting the photo below of the Stone Marker on site.

Reported Activity

Nothing is known of the history of the area other than what is stated on the sign above, but we do know that other Ghost Hunting Groups have investigated this site. In addition to personal experiences, they have reported mists, strange lights, sightings of figures and anomalies in their pictures. We interviewed the locals we met and they told us they had been coming there since they were teens., some 20 years now. They said they had observed a great deal of paranormal activity over the years at this site. They told us they had heard voices, seen apparitions, and saw strange lights, and heard strange sounds. The also told us that the later it got, the more the activity occurred.

The Investigation:

Arrival at 8:10PM. Started investigation approximately 8:15PM. We begin to walk around the area and take readings. We took pictures and attempted EVP work. We would gather in an area, and all of a sudden, the KII EMF Meters would spike as if someone was walking between us. This happened several times throughout the night. Frank, Nancy, and I all got several spikes on our KIIs. We would be standing on opposite sides of the bridge, and the meters would go off as if something had walked between us. Other times, we would all be beside each other and the meters would go off in that fashion also, like someone was walking by. Below is a photo taken by Sandy when Frank’s EMF Meter was spiking. Karyn and Tina are in the background.

Karyn had a different type of EMF Meter, but was getting high activity as well. The EMF spikes occurred along the sides of the bridge, and at the different ends. Frank, Nancy and I all had KII’s and they all reacted to something. We have no explanation for these spikes as there is no electricity in the area. It is very remote, on a small mountain, extremely dark, and there are no power lines either.

All of us had digital cameras, and we all took hundreds of pictures. We did captured anomalies in our photographs. We conducted several EVP sessions. There was a great deal of EMF activity as evidenced by our KII meters. The EMF activity appeared to move about the area, because it was never in the same place. It seemed like something was walking between and around us for a good portion of the time we were standing still on the bridge. However, when we would go back in an effort to debunk the reading, the KII would now not spike in that area. We stayed in one area, grouped up for quite awhile, Then we would move from one end of the bridge to the other, stay still, and wait for more activity to start. Sandy and Karyn went to the vehicle at one point to warm up. They returned later and reported a personal experience that they had.

This site produced some of the highest levels of EMF activity I have seen in quite awhile. At one point, I saw a dark figure move across the far end of the bridge. Sandy thought at one point Frank was standing beside her, when she turned to look at “him”, she saw a white figure standing there. Sandy had stated earlier that she felt a presence here.

The Evidence:

The EMF Readings were random and of a very high level with no conventional explanation. EMF levels and spikes were confirmed by four separate meters. High EMF activity continued into the night. We also seemed to get interaction from the entity with the KII Meters. We performed question and answer sessions using manipulation of the KII’s lights by the entity.

Frank’s Observations

The following CAPS team members conducted an investigation on 11/15/08 from 2000 to 0100 hrs; Tina McSwain, Nancy Weisberg, Frank Burns, Karyn Blue and Sandy Harrington of a reputedly haunted bridge (Poinsett Bridge in Greenville County, SC.) With our K2 meters in use, the meters indicated levels of EMF. The fact that there were no electrical sources in the vicinity indicated paranormal activity. Poinsett bridge showed considerable more activity with several of the team members getting high K2 readings. I personally have never experienced such high spikes on previous investigations. It was as if the spirit was moving back and forth between us. Sandy and Karyn had some interesting personal experience that they may want to report. It certainly was a very eventful investigation and I would conclude that there is paranormal activity

at this site. Poinsett bridge is a fascinating structure built in 1820 with reportedly Indian slave labor. The bridge was well constructed as you can see on the photos that I took.

Sandy’s Observations

At approximately 9pm, Karyn Blue and I got chilled and hiked up to my car hoping to warm up. Once inside I decided to turn my SUV around so I would not be backing onto a rural highway when we decided to leave. As I was moving the car, I remarked to Karyn that I hoped we hadn’t driven all this distance for nothing. I backed the car up a sloped hill, making the rear higher elevated than the front end and turned off the motor. I immediately got the sensation I was still moving backwards. I continuously looked in my in the rear view mirror as I kept my foot on the brake hoping I wouldn’t hit the car behind me. At the same time, I felt like the earth was rolling from left to right. Catching my breath, I turned to Karyn and asked if she noticed anything strange. She immediately replied, “Yes, we’re moving. Pull up your emergency brake.” I did as she suggested but still had the sensation I was backing up at the same time I was rolling from left to right. Within moments, I became nauseated. Karyn complained of a severe headache. We got out of the car and returned to the group across the street to tell our weird story.

While we were relating the activity we had just experienced, two EMF detectors Tina and Frank had brought with them started reacting to an unknown source, lighting up from yellow to red. They were so excited about the paranormal activity they paid little attention to our tale of woe. In time, at least two spirits present cooperated with our requests and lit the EMF lights in an effort to communicate.

While most of the investigative team was standing in a circle on the far right side of Poinsett Bridge watching the EMF detectors light up, I decided to take a picture. Thinking Frank was standing to my right, I stretched out my arm motioning for him to move out of camera range. Instantaneously, I turned my head to look in that direction. Much to my surprise, I discovered it wasn’t Frank standing beside me. It was actually a white ghostly figure several inches taller than Frank. I tried to focus on this unknown entity but it de-materialized before my eyes. It was at this point, I realized a ghost had been standing between Frank and me. When I gasped and brought attention to his presence, Nancy took a picture. I don’t know if she captured him on film. I got the distinct impression it was an Indian shaman.

When we got ready to leave, I pulled my car out on the pavement and parked on the side of the road, waiting for Tina to lead me out of the area. This time my car was heading uphill, making the front end higher than the rear. Again, I got the sensation of being pulled backwards. Before I became nauseated for a second time, Tina pulled out and I was able to follow her out of the area.

In all my years, I’ve never experienced such a weird and nauseating sensation. I’ve never had motion sickness. I sent an email sharing this experience to my friend, Brad Steiger, who is a noted paranormal author and investigator. I have included his comments.

Dear Sandy: Ah, you’ve hit one of those bizarre anitigravity spots. Often the story is about a busload of kids who died on the spot due to a car hitting the bus or a train or whatever and the moving of the car is reportedly due to their little hands. There are several of these vortex areas in nearly every state–probably every state if you really researched it. It is one of the most common accounts that people call in when I do radio programs. Everyone swears that they are not delusional, were not drunk or on drugs, and that it really happens. Often, before the program is over, someone else from the area will call in and confirm the account. Once I started to make a list of all the vortex areas where such phenomena occur. Lord knows where that list is now. It would make a good research project … Love and Light Brad

During our investigation on Saturday, 11-15-08, I witnessed Tina and Frank’s EMF detectors light up on numerous occasions. While at Poinsett Bridge, several people heard a loud yell but I didn’t hear it. I believe this bridge is a hotbed for paranormal activity. I hate that all the members of CAPS were not present to experience these events firsthand. I hope you all have the opportunity to go there in the near future.

Of Interest

On our initial “daytime recon” trip of Labor Day Weekend, Nancy Weisberg, Kathy Crowley and I located the site and completed a preliminary survey of the area. It was dark by the time we got there. While we were walking up, I saw a bluish ball of light shoot off the left side of the bridge. We got some EMF activity while we were there. Kathy said she felt like there was a presence there. We had only been there a short time when a carload of people drove up. They crossed the road and walked over to the bridge. They were another Paranormal Group, the Boo Crew, out of the local area. They told us they had been there on several occasions, and had seen strange lights out there and heard strange noises. They had also seen figures moving about. Due to the late hour, we were not able to stay any longer, but decided this was definitely a location we wanted to investigate.

Conclusion

Although “Orbs” are present in several of the photos above, CAPS does not consider an “Orb” as proof of paranormal activity. As a scientific based research group, we will consider all manner of evidence colleted, environmental factors, investigative discoveries, and personal experiences before deeming a place as having paranormal activity or as being “haunted” or not.

In the above case, based on the EMF activity, noises heard, sightings of figures by separate people, photographs and personal experiences, all of which we have no explanation for, I would say this site has definite paranormal activity.

Tina R. McSwain,

Founder & President

CAPS – Charlotte Area Paranormal Society

Photos From the Investigation. Although “orbs” are present, CAPS does not consider them valid unless they are accompanied by additional evidence.

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Ohio State Reformatory

admin — Sat, 03 May 2008 19:16:47 +0000

CAPS Investigation by:

Tina, President/Lead Investigator
Kathy, Case Manager/Lead Investigator
Saturday/Sunday May 3-4, 2008

We left Charlotte around 9AM on Saturday and drove to Lexington, NC where we met the rest of our group, and then rode all the way to Ohio. After traveling through Amish country, we arrived at the prison around 5PM. We went into town first, and ate dinner. We returned to the prison around 7:30PM. We had to check in by 8PM. It was windy, and clouds were moving in. The temperature was around 45-48 degrees. At one point later in the night, it drizzled slightly but this was the only occurrence of rain. For the most part, it was very windy and chilly as the building could be very drafty in places. To our dismay, a crowd of approximately 100 people was seen milling about the grounds when we entered the driveway. (We later discovered that 110 people had been present for the investigation.)

We entered the building at 8PM, and were given a tour by the guides. We were shown the East Wing, with cells, including solitary confinement. We were also shown the West wing cells, as well as the Warden’s and Assistant Warden’s living quarters, the chapel, the tuberculosis ward, and the morgue, which was in the basement. Kathy and I first attempted EVP work in the chapel. We were by ourselves for several minutes, and took advantage of the opportunity. We took pictures too. She had a digital camera and I had a 35mm Cannon SureShot Owl using 800-speed Kodak color film. We were lead on a full tour, and given specifics on the areas. They showed us the cell that Grant and Jason marked as the one they saw a dark figure run into on the Ghosthunters episode that was shot at this location. For those movie buffs out there, this is the location used to shoot the movie, The Shawshank Redemption. We saw the room where the scenes were filmed.

The prison was in a state of disrepair. Many of the cell doors were missing because they had been taken and sold for scrap metal, until the Historical Society stepped in and put a stop to it. There were many areas marked off by caution tape that you dared not enter. Glass was missing from some of the windows, and large sheets of black plastic covered many of these. That was one reason why it was so cold inside. In addition, there was no heat or electricity in the building. The floor was broken in several places; it was definitely a place to watch your step. The paint on the walls was peeling, and the ceiling was literally falling down in places. Every now and then, some plaster was subject to fall.

At the end of our tour, Kathy and I returned to the gift shop to purchase souvenirs. We then stopped by the gathering room for a hot cup of coffee. From there we left and entered the Solitary Confinement wing to our right. We walked around both sides, and settled on one cell that we choose in which to conduct our investigation. We entered the cell, sat on the old cot mattress in the lower bunk, and attempted EVP work. We had set up a K-II meter as a sensor. We were able to sit in this location for approximately 35-40 minutes without anyone interrupting our efforts. Soon, this area became crowded, so we left and headed to the left side cellblocks. We walked around there for quite awhile, but there were so many people, we decided to vacate due to the noise and movement. Neither one would be conducive to EVP attempts or picture taking. We went back to the gathering room for midnight pizza. While there, we asked the head guide for his suggestions as to where to go for possible paranormal activity. He told us to go to a spot in the warden’s quarters.

After we ate, we headed to the warden’s area. We found many others there, so we went to the other side of the building, which was the assistant warden’s area. We stayed here for 45 minutes or more. Just walking around or staying stationery when we found a place to sit. Taking pictures and attempting EVP work.

After about an hour of moving about this side, down long hallways, in and out of every room we could find (and there were a lot), we went back to the other side and found it empty. This was where the guide had told us to go. There was a room at the top of the stairs that went straight back. There was a small stage at the end of this room, and a couple of rooms that inter-connected off to the left and right sides of this stage. We sat on the stage and set up the K-II as a sensor. We both sat there, taking pictures and attempting EVP work. We had been sitting there awhile when we noticed movement or shadows in the very back of the room. We both took pictures. We shined our lights and there was no one there. There was no one in any of the rooms around us. We were sitting in pitch-black darkness, as there was no power in this part of the structure. Suddenly, we saw blue lights start to flicker on the ceiling. They flickered and flashed and were a brilliant blue color. There was no plausible explanation for this phenomenon. The K-II did not react at all. We were on the fifth floor, so there were no car lights reflecting off something, or shinning in the window. I climbed up to take a look out the window. I looked outside anyway and there was no light source at all outside. We were five stories above the ground. There were no lights in the room or other people’s lights because there was no one else there. Just Kathy and I, and we were both seeing the same lights. While attempting EVP, I started a line of questioning that centered around the warden’s family. I asked him what he thought about his family living here. Was he ever scared something would happen to them? It was at this time that we heard footsteps coming from the room to our left. They were loud and very distinct. They sounded as if someone had crossed the length of the room next to us. No one was in there. During our investigation here, Kathy captured an “orb” in this room. The blue flashing lights appeared for a second time. There was no pattern or specific time in between. Each time it lasted for several seconds, just flickering on the ceiling to our left. We had been there for quite some time before we saw the first occurrence, and we had been there a short time when we saw them the second time. Approximately 15 minutes apart. We remained here for a long time, since this was the most activity we had encountered all night. After 2 hours, we had no more encounters, no more lights, so we headed back down to the gathering room for a break and something hot to drink. It was nearly 4AM by this time. We told the guide of our experience with the blue lights and he told us that they had received reports of this happening before. We made another sweep around the first floor, and then decided to wait in the gathering room for the rest of our group. We had to leave at 6AM. We pushed it to the limit too. We were the very last people to leave. Most of the guides left before we did. Everyone in our group had personal experiences. We captured some photos with anomalies, as well as EVP. I personally feel the place is haunted.

Tina McSwain

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CAPS on WCNC TV

admin — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:40:28 +0000

A CAPS investigation of “Cemetery Bravo” with WCNC in tow!

Please click the image to view the video on WCNC’s website.

Old Stone

admin — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:11:48 +0000

Old Stone Cemetery, an undisclosed Location

August 4, 2007
Time started: 10:30 PM
Conditions: clear, no wind

Present for this investigation were: Elicia, Frank, Kimberly, Kurtis, Laura, Lauren and Leah (Elicia’s guests), Maggie (Pam’s guest), Nancy, Nikki, Pam, and myself. It was a warm, clear night with no wind. It was very dark there, and in a rural SC setting.

We entered the cemetery at approximately 10:30 PM and broke up into smaller groups. Our sensitives had already picked up on the presences here. This cemetery is a favorite of CAPS and a most familiar place. A strong, rather nasty male spirit is here. Also, a strong female spirit. In addition, the spirits of a preacher, a couple of kids, and a soldier are also felt here. Lastly, there is a woman’s ghost seen mourning beside a grave, presumably that of her child.

We spread out and proceeded to take pictures, recordings for EVP, and I searched with an EMF detector (K-II). I got a couple of spikes in many different areas. There are no electrical sources in the area that would account for this. I also heard someone breathing behind me. There was no one behind me, but I distinctly heard heavy or labored breathing on 4 separate occasions. I got no spikes when I pointed the K-II meter behind me. Although I have no evidence to support this, I do feel I was being followed by the soldier. Frank did get a heat image on his thermal camera. Coincidence or not, it was in the direction of where the sensitive said the children were playing at the time. In that same direction, a member caught a light anomaly on digital.

Many of our members captured orbs on their digital cameras. Pictures from this investigation have been or will be posted to the site. We concluded this investigation and left around 12:15 AM for the meeting spot to regroup for Cry Baby Bridge.

Thank you to everyone who attended this investigation.