Yet Another Ghost App Ghost!

Hey, ya'll! Here we are, halfway through 2023 and fraudulent ghost app photos are still popping up on social media. Apps that have a database of ghostly images, which one can easily pop into any of their own photos, were popular ten years ago...and apparently are once again fooling paranormal enthusiasts. 

The image above was recently posted on the Facebook page, Disbelief Paranormal Official, noting that the source credit goes to the site, Ghosts of London. According to the caption: This photo was emailed to me by my son, who took this whilst standing in my living room. There is nothing in this corner other than the picture on the wall. I took some more pictures of that corner but I do not see anything in them at all. Now I’m a little freaked out! I truly do not understand this.

As soon as I saw this come across my scrolling, I recognized it immediately. This particular photo, including the living room background, goes back to at least 2017, but the 'ghost' is a bit older. It can be found prominently on display on the opening screen of one of the OG ghost hoax apps---Ghost Capture, by Ghosts Aren't Real. I've included a photo of the menu screen with the image in question circled in red. 

The closer we get to Halloween, the more and more these fraudulent ghost photos will appear on various social media platforms. Remember to stay vigilant, do your research, and when in doubt, seek it out! And, as a quick reminder, remember to be kind. Many people who post these types of photos are being fooled by friends/family, or see it posted, and share it without doing their due diligence. Be kind and TACTFULLY educate them. If they refuse to accept the truth, at least you tried. 

Happy Haunting, friends!

Wardensville Wildman

 The Wardensville Wild Man Hoax 

27 November 1873
The Weekly Register (Point Pleasant, WV)
Source: Chronicling America

Yes! This is the kind of Wild Man story I love to find and share for Wild Men Wednesdays! Wardensville is located in Hardy County, West Virginia, and in 1873 was home to a wild man who wasn't obviously a regular human man. This creature was entirely naked but covered in coarse yellow hair. He had the appearance of a very high forehead and was quite large. There's still a possibility that this was a misidentification of a feral human, but I think it's also a good contestant for actually being something non-human. 

UPDATE MARCH 2025:

And, it was too good to be true. While researching a totally different topic, I ran across a follow-up article, dated a month later. It seems that a local hunter known around the area as old "Uncle Billy" had some turkey traps set up that were disturbed by several youngins'. To dissuade them from further bothering his property, he waited until they came back, then stripped naked and ran out of the woods screaming gibberish at them. 

South Branch Intelligencer (Romney, WV)
26 December 1873

Paranormal Fraud

Whether your involvement in the paranormal research field involves intense, hands-on field research, armchair detective work, or anything in between, one thing's for sure: You've seen someone claiming something is paranormal when it obviously isn't. Paranormal fraud affects all areas of the paranormal field, from cryptozoology to ufology, to parapsychology. No one studying the unknown is immune to the occasional too-good-to-be-true photo, recording, or story. And although the ease of sharing information over the internet has definitely made paranormal fraud all the more prevalent, the concept is certainly not new---a point clearly illustrated by the fraudulent mediums/psychics during the heyday of the Spiritualist Movement. But why are people so apt at trying to pass off fraudulent claims as the real deal? Let's take a look at three fairly broad explanations:

*Ignorance: It's my opinion that the majority of false paranormal claims, especially photographic evidence, are not shared maliciously. Rather, people simply don't know that what they're claiming to be paranormal is, in fact, NOT paranormal. Over the years, you've probably seen hundreds of 'ghost' photos submitted online, featuring a strange vortex (camera straps/hair/cobwebs), glowing orbs (airborne particles, sunspots, bugs, dust, digital artifacts, etc.), and even full-bodied apparitions! It doesn't take a professional photographer to immediately spot most of the natural phenomenon that get misidentified as ghostly manifestations, and it's easy to see where someone who doesn't have a lot of experience in the paranormal could make a simple mistake. But what about these weird full-bodied apparitions, or spooky faces in the trees?

Again, we first need to look for simple natural phenomenon that can mimic perceived paranormal images. Maybe that full-bodied apparition is a real person that simply wasn't noticed when the photo was taken. Perhaps they appear translucent because of low light and show shutter speeds. Those creepy faces? Probably nothing more than pareidolia---our brain's natural tendency to take random patterns and make sense of them. However, once in awhile you'll come across a photo that is obviously manipulated in some way. Taking a look at the EXIF data, or even recognizing the ghostly image from either a popular movie or a database of ghost hoax apps can easily prove that the photo isn't what it appears to be, but that still doesn't mean the person sharing it is maliciously or purposefully trying to be deceptive.  In some cases, someone might be trying to fool them! When asked for details about the photo, they often state that they either found it online and thought it was a great capture, or that their son/nephew/brother/sister/niece/daughter/friend/friend of a friend/etc. took it in a place known to be haunted or where a tragedy occurred. Often, the person who shares the photo with them or who notices it the first time is someone they claim can be trusted or who would never do such a thing...until they do. 

Dealing with someone who truly believes their experience or piece of evidence is proof-positive can be a little frustrating. When presented with evidence contradicting their claims, some are open-minded and grateful for the education. The overwhelming majority I've found, however, are quite stubborn, no matter how much proof to the contrary is shown. Some of it has to do with confirmation bias. People who feel like their home may be haunted want the validation that they're not crazy. If they truly believe that they're haunted or perhaps have a psychic ability, any spooky experience or strange photo can be proof. Trying to tell them they may be mistaken can be interpreted as a personal attack. They may feel like you're downplaying their beliefs, their knowledge, and their very character, and as a result, can lash out. In rare cases, these people may actually be mentally ill and experiencing hallucinations and other disruptions of normal thought. What they're telling you is very real to them, and being told its not would be very confusing.

*Fame, Money, Prestige and Attention: Although I really believe that most fraudulent claims are innocent, there are plenty of people willingly trying to deceive the paranormal community, and the public as a whole, in order to get what they want. Unfortunately, we've seen this time and time again in the paranormal field. Harry Houdini devoted his life to uncovering fraudulent spiritualist mediums, and there are dedicated groups and individuals even today that are dedicated to exposing paranormal trickery of all sorts. 

There are a variety of reasons that tend to fall under this category. Everyone wants to be the first to discover that Holy Grail of paranormal evidence, whether it be an actual Bigfoot body, proof of UFO's, or the perfect photograph of life after death. Some are willing to lie about it. There are still plenty of news outlets willing to buy stories and 'evidence,' and money CAN be made through video streaming, donations, podcasts, media appearances, and working the convention circuit. These are certainly ways to get attention and fame as well...if you don't get caught.

Another aspect of fraud we as investigators and researchers have to deal with is locations actually 'creating' stories and experiences. When you pay a great deal of money to attend an investigation or similar event at a popular haunted place, there's an expectation for that location to perform. As we all know, the paranormal field is an unpredictable one, and even the most haunted of locations may go through periods of complete inactivity. In order to keep the patrons happy and to keep the narrative alive, there have been locations that have fabricated stories, shared misinformation regarding historical research, and even have rigged up electronic devices to simulate a haunting!

Similarly, I think a lot of psychics, including our psychic mediums from the Spiritualism Movement, have fallen into a related trap. Perhaps they do have some inkling of ability that can be classified as ESP, but they aren't always correct in their information, or can't always perform to standards when asked. As a result, they turn to trickery to keep up their reputation. This extends beyond the world of commercial psychics, however. I won't mention names, but there once was a very popular ghost hunting television show that started off quite respectably, showing the truth behind paranormal investigations. But, in order to keep ratings up and keep the audience coming back for more, I think things evolved from just slight production tricks to outright falsified evidence. 

There's a fairly rare sub-category to this, and that's a phenomenon you see a lot in poltergeist cases. Often, a poltergeist case will begin with legitimate activity. However, this activity tends to disappear as quickly as it started, often with no warning. More than one young person, acting as an agent of a poltergeist haunting, has found that the attention given to them by the media and by researchers is something they like, and that they don't want to disappoint. So, when the activity ceases, they might resort to faking. 

*Trolling: Finally, there are a handful of people out there who do this for fun, or to make fun of someone, rather. Once again, those apps where you can insert a phony ghost image into your photos are a favorite way for some to scare the crap out of their friends and family. Usually, these pranks are fairly innocent, but sometimes they go a little too far. Then you have the hardcore non-believers who manufacture evidence in an attempt to fool paranormal researchers. If the researcher doesn't immediately spot it as a fake, then the hoaxer can claim just how uneducated or underqualified those in this field are, and how the paranormal is not a legitimate field of research. As malicious as these attacks can be, luckily I've found them to be few and far between. As an added note, I think this category sometimes overlaps with the previous one---I think some people may start out as faking evidence in order to gain money or fame, but when they get caught, they use the excuse that they were 'testing' the 'experts.' 

So how should you respond if you think you're being presented with falsified evidence or an outlandish story that's just too good to be true? My best advice is to remain objective, calm, and tactful. Listen to the claims and thoroughly analyze the evidence. Ask plenty of questions so that you're getting the whole story. In the case of alleged evidence, request original copies. Do your own research to see if you can locate any sort of proof or documentation that either backs up, or debunks the claims. Seek out other opinions, both from those in the field of paranormal research and those who have a specialty (such as photography/audio/zoology) outside of paranormal research that may be applicable. 

If you're convinced that you're being presented with an outright fake, again, just approach with tact. Don't just tell someone their evidence or story is fake. Rather, provide them with documentation and concrete examples as to why this is the most likely scenario. Don't be afraid to let them know your qualifications and any educational background that helped lead you to your conclusions. Don't assume they are necessarily trying to deceive you. As stated before, someone might have been trying to fool THEM, or they might just be making a simple misidentification. And don't get into a huge throw down! There are plenty of people out there who can be presented with all the factual information in the world and still desperately hold onto their own personal truths. If you've presented your argument, backed it up, and done so in a tactful and professional manner, there's not much more you can do. Nothing is going to change that person's mind. But, that does lead to a controversial next step...

Who should you share your findings with? 

As to who you should share your conclusions with and where to 'call out' the deception really depends on the situation. You don't want to embarrass someone who made an honest mistake, but at the same time, you want to educate them and hopefully educate others at the same time. And, if someone is being maliciously deceptive, you probably want EVERYONE to know, so that it doesn't happen again. Therefore, my advice is to just use your best judgement. Obviously, if someone is posting their 'evidence' or experience on social media, as long as you remember to be tactful and professional, I see no problem in commenting your opinion, especially if its a public forum; that's the point of social media. As a caveat, however, there are some instances that I tend to walk away from. If someone is obviously grieving the loss of a loved one and thinks their orb photo or butterfly sighting is proof that they've come to visit and everything is okay, I'm not going to say anything. I'm not going to take that away from them when for all I know, maybe that IS a sign from their loved one. If it brings them peace and its not necessarily hurting the field, I'm okay with keeping my mouth shut.

I'm not okay with keeping my mouth shut, however, when someone keeps knowingly spreading misinformation, doubly so if they are billing themselves as a professional paranormal investigator or expert. If commenting on social media doesn't seem to be doing the trick, I'll sometimes hop on over to my blog and do a more in-depth explanation of my analysis, especially with photos. I hate drama, so I tend to not mention groups or individual researchers by name, but instead provide an educational look at the situation and hopefully, someone will learn something new. Obviously, if a person comes to me or my group privately with falsified evidence, I won't share my findings publicly. Once in awhile, a situation will arise when I'm contacted by another group who has investigated the same location as me, or who has spoken with the same client about the same issue, and wants my opinion. This is why we have clients sign paperwork! We have a clause in our evidence release allowing the client to grant or deny us permission to share certain information with other investigators. I will not share personal details or things said in confidence, but I'll let others know whether I feel that certain claims need to be further researched or not. 

Final Thoughts:

Paranormal fraud isn't going away. No matter what we do, there is always going to be someone out there trying to trick someone, or someone who is simply grossly misinformed about a topic. I think the best thing we can do as paranormal enthusiasts is to keep educating ourselves, keep an open mind, and approach incidents of fraud with a professional manner. Stay smart, and stay spooky! 

*Want to know more about paranormal fraud? Check out the blog post, Desperately Deceptive, by Living Life in Full Spectrum (LLIFS)!*

Exorcism and Fried Chicken

 

Awhile back, this image was all over social media. A church near Bardstown, KY seemingly was advertising a public Satanic Exorcism, complete with all the fried chicken you can eat for 50 cents.  That sounds like a hell of a deal!  And let's be honest...at first glance, this image almost seems believable.  I can totally see this area hosting a large tent-revival type of church service, where faith healers smacked the demons out of the afflicted, and fried chicken was plentiful. 

But, sometimes things aren't as they seem. A quick reverse image search reveals the non-doctored, original version, which is from 1940 and can be found at the Library of Congress.

As you can see, the mundane phrase 'Church Picnic' was changed to the much more interesting 'Satanic Exorcism.' You can still get your unlimited fried chicken for 50 cents, though. The original photograph also gives us a slightly larger perspective. It appears that this advertisement for St. Thomas' church picnic was displayed at Hession Roofing Company, either on the actual store itself, or the owners' home.  In fact, in this ad from the early 1950's, the home featured looks almost exactly like the home in the photo!   One further thing to note, though.  St. Thomas in Bardstown, KY is a Catholic Church. I'm not a theologian, but I know enough about the Catholic religion to confidently say that church-sanctioned satanic exorcisms would not be a festive, public event. I can't, however, verify whether or not fried chicken would be an integral part of the process. 

I know it's been awhile since this photo originally started making its rounds, but I realized I never actually got around to blogging about it!  I still see it pop up every now and then, so it's a great reminder to not believe everything you see. There is a LOT of outright fakery, and a lot of misinformation being passed on as fact in the paranormal community. This photo probably started as a joke, without any malicious intent, but there are people who see this and automatically assume that it must be true. Always take a few minutes to verify information, especially if something seems too good to be true.  Happy Haunting! 

 

1952 Louisville Poltergeist

1952 started out as a heck of a spooky year for the Thackers, a rural family living near Fern Creek, Kentucky (about 16 miles from Louisville).  Henry, his wife, a 16 year old boarder named Walter Brown, and three sisters (Joyce, 11; Frances, 8; and Betty, 7) all made headlines when poltergeist activity broke out at their farmhouse, located at the corner of Thixton Lane and Oak Grove Road.

The activity actually started on Sunday, December 30th when the family noticed a variety of objects being thrown about the air, seemingly all on their own.  A 2 lb photo album, a knife, a conch shell doorstop, various bottles and caps, and assorted pieces of jewelry were just a small sampling of items targeted by the alleged poltergeist.

A neighbor, Mrs. Robert Covington, was hit quite hard in the back by a fingernail file located on a dresser about 15 feet away.  Walter Brown, the 16 year old boarder, claimed to actually SEE with his own eyes Mr. Thacker's spectacles lift off a radio and land in a chair three feet away.  

Despite dozens of neighbors and schoolmates witnessing the activity, there were several skeptics who came to inspect the ghostly goings-on at the Thacker home.  Two such skeptics were local patrolmen, Russell McDaniel and Jack Fisher.  Despite almost being hit in the head with a cardboard box himself, McDaniel still couldn't accept the idea of an otherworldly source for the activity.  He noticed that whenever objects began to move, one person was always nearby:  Joyce Sanders.

On Thursday, he and Fisher asked to speak privately with the girl.  After an hour, the trio emerged with a confession.  Joyce admitted that she was throwing the objects when no one was looking.  She did it for attention.  "It made a lot of people come see me," she is quoted as saying.  Joyce and her sisters had been wards of the Louisville and Jefferson County Children's Home.  They had been staying with the Thackers for about 13 months because their mother was terminally ill with cancer, and their father was not in the picture.  It was deemed that Joyce, a depressed and lonely young girl, made up the whole thing, and therefore, this is where the story ends for many.

But...does it really end there?  Was the whole poltergeist act simply a hoax, perpetrated by an 11 year old to gain attention?  I'm not so sure that's the case.  Here's why:

Mrs. Thacker answering calls about the poltergeist

In newspaper articles from the time period, McDaniel admits that he never actually SAW Joyce pick up an object and throw it.  He just noticed that she was the one who constantly seemed to be nearby when activity occurred.  So, he said to her that all the people who came to witness the poltergeist would be disappointed if they didn't see anything move. "They just won't come back anymore," McDaniel is quoted as saying to the girl, to which she replied, "You mean they'll all go home?"  It was shortly thereafter, a brooch was seen moving. Thinking that his suspicions were confirmed, McDaniel and Fisher took the girl aside privately and assured her that she would not be in any trouble if she confessed to the poltergeist activity.So, we have no witnesses, not even the policemen, coming forward to say they actually saw Joyce faking the activity.  We do, however, have a witness (Walter Brown) saying that he saw an object actually being moving, unaided by any human hands.

We also have some elements of a classic poltergeist case.  Poltergeist activity is characterized by activity seemingly centered on a human agent. This human agent can be anyone, but historically tends to be a child on the cusp of, or going through puberty OR someone who has a lot of bottled up emotions that aren't able to be expressed in their ordinary lives.  Joyce fits both scenarios---she was a young girl, about the age of puberty's onset, and she was most likely very troubled by the situation of her mother being critically ill.

Many modern researchers agree that poltergeist activity is NOT caused by an outside ghost or entity, but is in fact recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis (RSPK) manifested unconsciously by a human agent. That's why she was nearby when these events occurred.

But why would she confess to a hoax she didn't take part in?  In the book, The Poltergeist Experience, by D. Scott Rogo, the author mentions that there are a number of reasons why poltergeist agents tend to confess to a hoax that they had no part in. Some will confess because they realize, either consciously or subconsciously that they ARE responsible for the turmoil and are compelled to take responsibility for it, which will often cause the activity to cease. Others may confess simply because they were pressured into it and are just trying to appease their accusers.

But, I think what REALLY happened is another scenario that is often seen in poltergeist cases.  I think the original activity was not a hoax.  Objects were moving around on their own, and nobody knew why.  Joyce discovered that her schoolmates were fascinated and would come to witness the activity.  Joyce and her sisters were heaped with attention, as reporters from radio, newspapers, and even television all wanted to hear and share their story.  To a lonely, troubled girl, being in the spotlight, surrounded by people, probably did offer respite from her sad circumstances.  

Either the activity had already started to wind down on its own, or Joyce was scared that it was going to, thanks to McDaniel's statement, prompting her to stage at least one object being thrown, as a way to keep people happy and coming to see her. Poltergeist activity seems to stop as abruptly as it starts and Joyce wasn't ready to let go of the benefits just yet.  To further support this theory, Joyce actually does state in one newspaper interview that she WASN'T responsible for all the objects moving, although she believes that people just imagined those things.

Obviously, it is possible that Joyce DID knowingly trick her friends and neighbors, possibly assisted by her sisters and even Brown.  Perhaps peoples' imaginations ran wild, causing a childhood prank to escalate into a nationally recognized poltergeist case that within a week would come crashing down as a not-so-elaborate childhood hoax. However, the case was long ago written off as trickery and to my knowledge, neither Joyce nor the case has ever been formally studied. I can only hope that the lonely little girl was able to live a happy life, post-poltergeist. 

Sources and Further Reading:

The Poltergeist Experience: Investigations Into Ghostly Phenomena, by D. Scott Rogo

Lonely Girl, 11, Was a "Spook" Just for Fun. The Courier-Journal. 04 January 1952

Objects Floating About Residence. Charleston Daily Mail. 03 January 1952

Haunter of House Fails C-J Reporter, by Phil Harsham. The Courier-Journal 03 January 1952

Wheeling UFO?

AAAAHHHH!!! Is that an....unidentified flying object?  Back in mid-September of this year, this photo was making its rounds on Facebook, particularly among groups dealing with West Virginia-related paranormal phenomena.  It seems as if it was uploaded by a user named 'Phil T. Rich,' and was allegedly taken in the Highlands area of Wheeling, WV by the father of Phil's unnamed friend.  It ended up being shared by another person to the WV Mutual UFO Network Facebook page.

The photo was shared to my personal Facebook page by a friend and before I even had a chance to SEE it, the mystery had been solved!  Unfortunately for those in the ufology community, this picture IS too good to be true. 

Les O'Dell of WV Cryptids and Strange Encounters shared the photo on his page and almost immediately a sharp-eyed fan named Rebecca Slaughter Boyer was able to debunk it!  As it turns out, there wasn't a mother ship flying over Wheeling, WV.  Instead, the image of the giant UFO comes from a smart phone app called Camera 360.  The image featured here goes by the title of 'End of the War--Starship.' 

Same UFO

The semi-cloaked appearing UFO has been showing up in photographs since at least 2015 (according to this article on Above Top Secret) and can trace its origins back to a composite art piece by Jukka Korhonen called "V for Victory."

As we enter into the spooky season, be prepared to see a LOT more of these phone app hoaxes featuring ghosts, UFOs and other creepy critters flooding social media.  It seems like each October, people try to scare the crud out of their friends and family members with these smart phone apps and many of those photos ended up being posted under the assumption that they are the real deal.  If you are presented with a paranormal photo that seems too good to be true and you suspect it may be a ghost app, there's a couple of great sites featuring a database of ghost app images and information.  Two of my favorites are:  1. There's a (ghost) App For That and 2. Ghost App Ghosts. 

Hope you're having a wonderfully spooky week so far! Keep checking back for new blogs every day throughout October, and don't be afraid to keep your eyes on the skies---just because this particular image isn't an actual UFO doesn't mean that they aren't out there....

The Ghost of Curtis Johnston

When Corey Carlsonn uploaded a photo of himself to Instagram, he was shocked to see that there was an extra...person?...in the photo with him. Standing behind his right shoulder, it appears that there is a woman in a white nightgown with long, black hair. This transparent, ghostly image obviously wasn't noticed when the photo was being taken.

Corey, however, believed he recognized who the ghostly woman was. It seems that in 2001, a woman named Curtis Johnston went missing from the house in which the photo was taken. An added insert of the woman in question is provided for comparison, and sure enough, she is clad in white and does have similar long, black hair.

Unfortunately for the paranormal world, both the ghostly image and the mysterious back story can be completely debunked.

Often the old adage of 'if its too good to be true, it probably is,' applies to these types of full body apparition photos. A quick search of any number of the great ghost app databases (I used Ghost App Ghosts) showed that the ghostly image is a pretty popular image that can be found as a part of several of these hoax apps. Here's our culprit in the menu of one such app known as Ghost Cam by AlonsosSOFT for Android devices.

Now, to be fair, there are times when people believe they have a legitimate haunting. To try to 'prove' that haunting they might fake a ghost photo. Or, a friend or relative might try to prey on their gullibility, and try to trick them with a hoaxed ghost photo, building on the belief of a haunting, or a spooky past incident. But, as I've already mentioned, that just wasn't the case with this story.

The woman referred to as Curtis Johnston is actually named Girley Riley, and she didn't go missing. She simply passed away. The photo used of her to illustrate the similarities to the suspected ghost was taken from the Well Spring Ministries 'In Loving Memory' page. So where did the name Curtis come from? Apparently, someone named Curtis Johnston also passed away and was featured in the church's memorial section. However, since a photo wasn't available, only his named appeared beside the photo of Girley.

Mexican Airport Haunted by...a Ghost App

Last November, DailyMail.com ran a story about the hauntings at Mexico's International Airport. It seems that staff was being spooked by the apparition of a little girl, who appeared to be about seven years old, and was often spotted in what was described as Victorian clothing. She carries with her a small ball, and has perpetually untied shoelaces. Although the girl roamed the restricted areas of the airport at all hours, she was most often spotted at night in an area known as the 'graveyard of planes', a section where unneeded airplane parts were stored. A photo of the young girl was even captured, showing her through the window of an abandoned plane, dressed all in black and with long black hair.

But, its another photo that I'm more concerned with, because this photo has recently been posted in a couple of different Facebook paranormal group pages I belong to. This next photo shows a stark contrast to the girl in the first photo...and for good reason. The girl below, shown outside the terminal in a shot allegedly taken by a tourist, is nothing more than the product of a popular ghost photo app! I was easily able to track down the exact image, with the help of the handy index over at Ghost App Ghosts. Check out the photos below: the image is in the app menu in the right hand column, third down from the top. I can't stress this enough---if you are a paranormal investigator, researcher, or just someone who owns/operates a paranormal Facebook page for other para-enthusiasts, take some time to familiarize yourself with the photo albums over at Ghost App Ghosts. As long as people are still being tricked by these images, people will keep putting them out there.  And as for the photo above, depicting the little girl through the window of a plane...well, I'll just let you decide on what THAT is for yourselves!

Close up of Ghostly Little Girl

Original Image

App Menu

Facebook's NEW Ghost Girl

Move over, sweetie! There's a new ghost girl in town!

It's the Halloween season and that means everyone is in the mood to get scared! Luckily for some, there seems to be no shortage of people out there willing to do whatever it takes to scare others---even if it means employing tactics that aren't exactly....legit.

In the paranormal field, Halloween season is the peak of ghost app season! Social media and even mainstream media is filled with submissions of ghost photos that seem too good to be true, and in almost all cases, they are too good to be true! Instead of the Holy Grail of apparitional photography, the overwhelming majority of these photos are nothing more than ghost apps. Sometimes the photo is a complete and utter hoax, submitted with the full intention of fooling as many people as possible. Other times, it's a joke that's gone too far---someone uses the app to alter a photo, shows it to a gullible friend or loved one, and boom! It's now being posted EVERYWHERE. Whichever the scenario, its extremely frustrating, especially for paranormal investigators.

Axe Girl?

Several years ago I posted about what I believe to be the absolute most prolific ghost app image ever used. If you've been on Facebook, Reddit, Twitter or anywhere else on the internet in the last five years, you've probably seen the little girl in plaid. She has made her appearance on trail cams, in mirrors, and on staircases. And while her image is freely available in the Ghost Capture app, she's actually based on a REAL photograph of a real little girl. Whenever she pops up, I like to joke that her descendants should be receiving royalties for her image...but over the past few months it seems like another ghostly app girl is quickly moving to the front of the pack.

While she still is no where near the popularity level of our previous ghost girl, "axe girl" has popped up in at LEAST four different photographs in recent history, including one posted on a local paranormal page, claiming it to be from West Virginia. Once I showed the image in its app menu, it was quickly removed. However, she would make an appearance in ANOTHER photo shortly after. May I please introduce you to the little lady I call Axe Girl?

Axe Girl definitely has the potential to go far, as her image is available in at least TWO different app programs. I originally found her in the app, Ghost in Photo, by Next Generation Technology for Android, but another researcher found her in Ghost Camera-Photo Editor. She even receives top billing, being shown in the app's home screen, lol!

But where did this girl originally come from? That's a question I'm not entirely sure I can answer. Obviously, the image was pulled from this photo below. You can even see the light coming in from the window, as it wasn't properly cropped out of the app image! But where did this photo come from? When I conducted a reverse-image search, I found TONS of hits. Many websites are using this image, especially websites for Halloween haunted house attractions! The earliest use of the image that I could find was for one such place in Wisconsin from 2011---but I still haven't been able to track down exactly why this photo was taken and by whom. If you have an answer, hop on over to Facebook and let us know!

Madam Violet, Vampire Queen

Welcome, October! It's the start of a new month and a new beginning---another chance to play catch-up on this poor, neglected blog, lol. It's been a crazy few days with my son having surgery AND a birthday party in the same week, plus all sorts of other stuff, like t-ball, swim lessons, etc. I promise that I will be cranking out Day 2 and Day 3 of the Mothman Festival blogs soon, but I thought I'd go ahead and share this creepy photo I found floating around on Facebook!

Whenever this frightening lady makes an appearance on social media, she's usually accompanied by the caption of "Madam Violet, the queen of the notoriously dark Edinburgh vampire hive. Voted twice as the scariest woman in England."

I can't attest to whether there really ever was an Edinburgh vampire hive or not, but even if there was...this photo does NOT show its queen. Instead, what looks like a late Victorian era photograph of a human woman is actually...

...a piece of art! As part of the 2008 series, Storydress II, this unique image was created by Christine Elfman. The photos in the series, including this one of 'Madam Violet,' are albumen prints pasted to antique cabinet cards for a very realistic touch.  But who is 'Madam Violet,'??? In this case, Madam Violet is none other than a paper mache and plaster sculpture!

For more info on this photograph and how it was made, please see Christine Elfman's WEBSITE.

Minnesota Exorcism Church

You might have seen this image before.  It's a favorite on Pinterest as well as on many different Facebook pages.  A creepy, dilapidated church out in the middle of nowhere just HAS to have a suitably creepy back story, and this seems to do the trick.  Furthermore...unlike many of these images with accompanying outrageous text, this story sounds like it COULD be true.

It's no secret that throughout history, not much was known about mental illness. A favorite scapegoat was obviously that people suffering from such things as schizophrenia and other mental illnesses were, in fact, under demonic possession. And, its no secret that historically, the treatment for the mentally ill were sometimes worse than just living with the affliction itself! Many families, for a variety of reason, chose to keep mentally ill loved ones out of asylums.  However, if they were a risk to themselves or others, they sometimes had to be restrained or locked away.  Sometimes they were simply locked away from the outside world out of shame and embarrassment. In any event, its not too far of a stretch to believe that mentally ill persons who were assumed to have been possessed by demons would fail to be 'cured' from an exorcism, and thus locked away for safety's sake. I don't necessarily think it happened at this church, though...

From the Church's FB page

After an attempt to verify the information presented in this graphic, I learned that the church in question wasn't even IN Minnesota. This church is actually the Estonian Ev. Martin Luther in Lincoln County, Wisconsin! It was built in 1914 as the first Estonian church in the United States. The actual congregation dates back to 1897, however and by 1903 there were enough members to start looking to move church services from private homes into a new church.  Money for the project began to be collected in 1907, and the graveyard (which would only ever hold about 14 people) was established in 1909.

The church wouldn't be used all that much.  By the 1950s, the small Estonian population was moving into the cities, and 1964 marked a 50 year reunion celebration that effectively ended regular church services as the small church in the woods.  In 2011, the current owner, Bill Rebane, claimed that a group of about 20 still worshiped at the site, weather permitting, yet the small building was in an obvious state of disrepair.

However, recent posts to the church's Facebook page show that care is being taken not only to preserve the church, but to restore it to its former glory!  There Facebook page, along with a blog called Shunpiking to Heaven, have some awesome photos and history---just no mention of any failed exorcisms on the site!  Please check them out for more information.

Church Facebook Page

Shunpiking to Heavens Backroads Blog

The Polish Wedding Chairs

THE LEGEND:

 "These chairs were laid out for a wedding in 1939 in Poland. The wedding was abandoned, and so were the chairs due to the German invasion. They were found again after the war with the trees growing through them. Every year they are repainted."

THE FACTS: 

You might have seen this viral image floating around the web, and its definitely an interesting image to say the least. It really plays on our emotions of how sudden and tragic the Nazi invasion of Poland and other countries was, and how it so deeply affected so many families' way of life. Lives were put on hold and other lives were lost.  However, like so many other viral images, this one joins the ranks of The Last House Standing, The Buckley Family Murder, and The Death Rose as very real images...but with very made-up back stories!

This image does not portray a testament to what is left behind after the people are gone, but rather is a statement of the artistic juxtaposition of trees (who are always standing) and seating. It is one of several similar art installations by Patrick Demazeau.  This particular work from 2001 is entitled "The Four Seasons of Vivaldi" and can be found in Belgium. 

More information:

Snopes Article

Patrick Demazeau's Official Site

Facts About Polish Weddings

Leeds General Infirmary Ghost Hoax

It isn't even Halloween season, yet there seems to be an explosion of people trying to pass off photos that have been digitally altered with the help of any number of ghost cam applications as the real deal.  Several times a day I find myself posting screen shots of different app menus trying to show people that the 'ghost' is nothing more than a prank.

One of the more prolific photos being shared all over social media was featured recently on a British news website, The Mirror.  The article claims that Andrew Milburn, a 21 year old employee of Leeds General Infirmary sent a Snapchat photo to his girlfriend.  The photo was taken at the hospital's Clarendon wing, which is the children's ward, and Milburn claims that he didn't realize the photo contained what appears to be the ghostly image of a young girl until later.

Even after numerous people wrote in, proving that the image is from a ghost app, Milburn maintains that he did not alter his photo or is otherwise trying to hoax anyone.  However, it is clear to MOST people that the image is indeed a ghost app.  As you can see from the photo below, the image used is in the first small box.  It has been transposed in the photo, but is clearly the same image of a young girl in a white dress posed at an angle.  I say MOST people realize this because unfortunately, even when presented with the evidence, there have been numerous instances of people still claiming that this photo is indeed proof of an afterlife.

It seems that even complete strangers cannot accept the fact that these types of photographs aren't 'real' because admitting that they are hoaxed somehow invalidates their own experiences.  I really hope that more people start realizing that just because a particular photo (or video, or EVP, etc.) isn't proof of life after death, it doesn't mean that what they experienced wasn't real.  In fact, its my opinion that blindly believing in and accepting shoddy evidence is a drastic insult to more unexplained claims.

I also hope that by continuing to share these ghost app photos and informational resources that more people will become familiar with them and stop being so easily fooled!  Anyone claiming to be a paranormal investigator or researcher needs to study these ghost apps and become familiar with the many images...many of which are used over and over again.  There are some great resources and databases, which I've listed below:

Ghost App Ghosts
There's a (Ghost) App For That
Bust That Ghost

Weird Art Wednesday: Patricia Piccinini

If you've been anywhere on the internet in the past ten years, chances are you've seen this photo (or a version of it) used to illustrate any number of hoaxes, including those about Russian/Nazi animal-human hybrid experiments, a new form of cryptozoological creature, and my favorite---the result of a Muslim girl choosing to listen to pop music over reading her Qur'an and being transformed by an angry Allah. You can even choose this image from the menu of one of the many ghost app programs to insert into your own photographs. 

So, most sane people realize that there is nothing 'paranormal' about this creature, although it will still pop up from time to time on paranormal Facebook pages, with someone gullible enough to try passing it off as 'real' and plenty of opinions backing it up.  But, if its not really the product of a vengeful God or even of bestiality...what the heck IS IT?

It's a sculpture by artist Patricia Piccinini!  It is part of a larger installation known as The Leather Landscape (2003), which was exhibited in "We Are Family" at the Venice Biennal. Piccinini is known for her strange, often almost grotesque-looking humanoid sculptures that represent a simple, yet at the same time, complex relationship between humans, animals, and the ethical questions of medical technology.  Made from silicon, polyurethane, human hair, etc., these creatures aren't meant to represent something ugly, nor despised...which is unfortunately what many of her creations have been used to illustrate in so many different hoaxes.

Links:
The Multi-Species Salon
Biennale 2003
Piccinini's Website

Following the Deer

One of the latest trends in 'paranormal photography' is the trail-cam capture photo and if you've been on any type of paranormal-related social media in the last year, you've probably come across this photo of a little girl, barefoot and in a nightgown, wandering through the forest while one deer cautiously glances at her, and another stares directly into the camera.  Why don't the deer run off? What is this child even doing out there in the first place? And, why does everything look so darn creepy?

Many have tried to say that the answer to those questions is simply that this little girl is a ghost! And hey, why not?  With all the other creepy trail-cam shots featuring 'ghosts,' including the one below of another ghostly little girl, that's a plausible explanation, right?

Well, like the other trail-cam shots I've analyzed on this blog, this one also falls into the non-paranormal category.  But, unlike those others, this one isn't a flat-out hoax, either!  It's actually a work of art!  The name of this particular shot is "runaway surveillance still 6" and is part of a 2012 photography series by Chicago-area artist, William Harper! This series features several different shots of the little girl among the deer, but the entire series, collectively known as following the deer feature a wide variety of somewhat strange woodland scenarios, including several adults frolicking in the forest nude. More information on William Harper and this series of photos, partially sponsored by the Illinois Art Council, can be found at the following link. *William Harper Photography*

Still the reigning ghost girl champ!

Trail Cam Craziness
Skinwalker Hoax (Still from the movie, Xtro)
Jersey Devil/Demon Chases Deer
Ghost App Girl Hoax

Demon Chases Deer Hoax

This photo has been around since at least 2005, but it continues to pop up every few years, each time with a new 'location' and a new back story.  It has morphed from the Jersey Devil to a chupacabra, to a regular ol' demon...most recently being caught on a trail camera in Canada. But, as you can see, this is another one of those photos that is simply too good to be true.  The bottom photo is the original as it was posted on a hunting forum.  The 'demon' version was cropped and edited to give an appearance of night-vision.

Debunked.

 

 

Cthulhu Rising!

Source: Deviant Art by DaShadeE

H.P. Lovecraft would be proud; his iconic horror creation, Cthuhlu, is still as relevant today as it was in 1928!  One example is a beautiful digitally altered photographic art piece that happens to be fooling quite a few people...

This photo is making its rounds on social media.  I saw it shared on a popular Facebook group with the description that it was taken on Interstate 40 (in Tennessee) heading toward Pigeon Forge.  It managed to fool even a staff member of an education based, scientifically-minded Facebook group, who suggested that the image was simple pareidolia.

In reality, this work was created by DeviantArt user, DaShadeE.  It is entitled Cthulhu Rising and is a digital alteration of a normal digital photograph.  In fact, the artist admits finding the original photo on Google Images and believes its from an area near Sophia, Bulgaria.

By sharing this image and mentioning the incident with the Facebook group staff member, I don't mean to put down anyone or poke fun at them. Rather, I hope to use that information as an educational springboard.  I instantly recognized this photo as a digital manipulation, not because of any technical analysis but simply because of my familiarization with the Cthulhu story and H.P. Lovecraft.  Arguably, such Lovecraftian works aren't everyone's cup of tea, but the Cthulhu mythos is a pretty widespread part of pop culture, or so I thought.  That's why I personally think that a working knowledge of pop culture, as well as history, art, literature, film, etc. is almost as important to a paranormal researcher as the basic stuff, such as scientific theory and knowledge of paranormal concepts.  To illustrate this point, I previously wrote a blog about the importance of cinematic research...and even though it sounds sort of facetious (and it is, lol) its also interesting to note that it was someone with a strong familiarization of horror movies that debunked the popular Skin Walker photo that was all over the place awhile back!

This photo also offers an example of a little research trick that anyone analyzing potentially paranormal photos needs to understand.  The reverse-image search from Google is an absolute life-safer!  You can actually take any photo that you find on the web, including those on Facebook, and either upload it, drag and drop it, or put in its url into Google Images and find other pages that have posted that photo.  This is a great tool to find out where an image came from and whether or not the story posted with it is true.  I've provided a couple of tutorial links on how to use this tool, but a little practice and patience is needed to really make the most of it.

Google Reverse-Image Links:
Wiki-How
Google Support Page
5 Ways to Use Reverse Image Search

Video: Spirit Leaving Car Accident Victim's Body?

Another video has taken the paranormal social media scene by storm.  The video allegedly shows First Responders working the scene of a horrific head-on collision.  As a news commentator makes note of the lack of information to the extent of the injuries suffered, a shadowy figure can be seen ascending from the red vehicle, raising its arms, and shooting up towards the heavens.  The overwhelming consensus on so many of Facebook's notorious paranormal groups is that this is either the soul of the deceased leaving the body....or perhaps something supernatural coming to collect that soul.  Watch the video below:

Did you see it?

This horrific accident took place in late April of 2012 near Brattleboro, VT.  32 year old Dustin North was driving his black Audi with a passenger.  Before the crash, witnesses had reported seeing North swerving back and forth at high speeds along Route 30.  Richard Kenyon (58), was heading in the opposite direction when he swerved into the opposite lane to avoid North's car, which was in the wrong lane at the time.  North swerved back into the correct lane and hit Kenyon's red Jetta head on.  The accident happened north of Grafton Village Cheese, near the I-91 overpass.

Fortunately, North and his passenger walked away with only minor injuries.  Richard Kenyon also walked away with only minor injuries.  However, his passenger, 65 year old Joseph Chagnon, had to be cut out of the vehicle and airlifted to UMass Medical Center with a host of severe injuries.  He spent four days in ICU in critical condition, suffering from a broken back, broken ribs, a broken clavicle, broken neck, broken leg, and internal bleeding from lacerations of the liver and kidney.  Fortunately, Chagnon survived and was released from the hospital to continue his healing at home.  The following November, North was sentenced to 3.5 to 7 years prison for the accident.  At the time, he had been under the influence of pain killers, Xanax, and methadone.

Okay...so no one died from this accident.  Does that mean the video is necessarily a fake?  Perhaps it was a Guardian Angel or spirit guide, watching over and keeping all four men involved in the crash relatively safe.  I'd like to believe that...as I'm sure many others would like, as well.

But...that is not the case with this video.  If the cartoonish appearance of the apparition didn't alert you to its lack of authenticity, then perhaps this video will convince you.  This is the original video footage; notably absent is the black apparition:

Sources:
Man Sentenced For Causing Near-Fatal Crash While High on Prescription Drugs, by Susan Smallheer.  From Vermont Today (November 15, 2012)

Brattleboro News Youtube Channel, Info from the Brattleboro Informer

Haunted Halls of Hofstra

Serendipity--a "happy accident" or "a pleasant surprise."  That's what I got early this afternoon!

I wasn't planning on doing a Friday Night Funny for today, but when my Facebook feed started blowing up with today's picture, I thought I'd better look into things, lol.

This sign was found in a stairwell at the Hofstra University Law School, in New York.  According to school officials via their FaceBook page, the sign is a student prank.  I, for one, am disappointed, lol.

Above the Law has a nice write-up with more info!

Zombies in Michigan? Montana?

 

People watching television this evening in Michigan's Upper Peninsula were in for a shock.  Around 8:45pm, a message came over the Emergency Alert System alerting viewers that the bodies of the dead were rising from their graves and attacking the living!

TV6 was one of the stations reporting on this issue, and according to their Facebook page, this alert was the work of hackers, hacking into the EAS. At 4:30pm, another local station, ABC 10, made similar claims.  Also according to their Facebook page, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and the police are looking into this matter.

However, Michigan wasn't the only state to receive these zombie warnings today.  A similar event happened in Montana as well.  I'll continue to bring you updates as this story develops...but I want to hear YOUR opinion!

Are there any conspiracy theorists out there thinking that this may be the "real deal" that is quickly being hushed up and covered up?  Luckily, I found the Facebook page of a group called the

Upper Michigan (UP) Zombie Survival and Eradication Task Force,  "a community organization dedicated to the preparedness, survival, and elimination of all zombies in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and all throughout the Midwest.  Perhaps they are already on the case!

Anyway, it's the opinion of most people I've seen that this hoax is quite entertaining...but a good point was brought up:  If hackers can take over our emergency alert system (which many are saying happened, as opposed to just the stations being hacked), surely a terrorist with more malicious intentions could do the same?

Montana Article

Check out this YouTube Video to hear the message yourself!