In Search of... The Loch Ness Monster

The Loch Ness monster, or "Nessie" as it is often referred to, may be the most well known cryptid in the world. From the first sighting of the Loch Ness Monster in 565 AD when missionary Saint Columba encountered the mysterious creature as he crossed the loch, people have been drawn to this strange land.Before we delve into the creature lets explore his dominion. Loch Ness is the largest lake in Great Britain, being 23 miles long, one mile wide, and almost 900 feet deep in places. It is so immense that it is estimated that every person on the planet earth could fit inside. The loch lies in one of the most stunning regions of Scotland, surrounded by lush green hills on all sides.

There have been scattered sightings of the creature throughout recorded history ever since Saint Columba's encounter, yet it was until the early 1900's that sighting reports took off. The Loch set secluded and undisturbed until the first roads were constructed in the 1930's, little did the builders know that these roads would open a pathway to the unknown.

Thousands of people have reported sightings of the Loch Ness Monster over the years, with most having the same rough description of the fiend. The creature is estimated to have a body around 30 feet long, with the height of the head and neck above the water being approximately 6 feet, and grey skin.

These people come from all backgrounds. There are gypsies, clergymen, researcher, tourists, and game wardens (water bailiffs in Europe), so the sightings do have some credibility behind them.

Incredibly, these sightings are not isolated to the inside the dark waters of the Loch, a fact that differentiates "Nessie" from many other lake monsters. Mr. and Mrs. George Spicer may have been the first to people to witness "Nessie" on the shores of the Loch in 1933. They were driving alongside the loch when Mrs. Spicer pointed out something crossing the road. It was a large-bodied creature with a long neck creeping across the road. They initially reported that the creature was roughly 6-feet long; it was not until later that they remembered that the creature was wider then the road, which made it, close to 30 feet long.

As in the case with Saint Columba on the waters of the Loch, the Spicer's were not the last to have an encounter with the creature on land.

Early in 2005 two American university students came across the remains of a 200-pound Highland red deer carcass, found in a boat-only accessible area known to local fishermen as a "Kill Zone." While looking at the deer carcass, the students discovered a strange shed animal tooth that was wedged between the deer's exposed ribcage. The tooth is barbed, well rooted, and measured nearly four inches in length.

Unfortunately, the water bailiffs prior to further identification supposedly confiscated the tooth. All that exists now is a small photograph of the tooth.

The photograph of the tooth was the last of many pictures of the strange inhabitant of the Loch. Contrary to popular beliefs the first known photograph of the monster was not taken by Robert K. Wilson, a local man named Hugh Gray as he was walking home from church took it.

Mr. Gray saw a disturbance in the water and took four photographs; three of which did not come out, but the fourth shows an unusual shape in the water, on the left side of which may be a tail or a flipper.

The validity of Mr. Wilson's photograph, which is often referred to as the "Surgeon's Photograph" by researchers, has been called into question due to a deathbed confession by Christian Spurling claiming the picture was a hoax. Although many experts are not convinced, it is a hoax (just like the Patterson footage in Bigfoot studies).

By studying these photographs, researchers claim that the angle was wrong for a one-foot high model out 100 feet in the water, but is more likely four-feet high and 400 feet out like the original account goes. The neck is also in a different position as well in the second photograph, which would not be the case if the fraud were manmade.

The best photographs of the monster may have been taken during the 1975 expedition at Loch Ness, led by Robert H. Rines. Two photographs show what looks like a flipper, perhaps 6 feet in length. Skeptics often dispel these photographs as well because they were not developed until months after the expedition.

Even though many of the photographs that exist resemble the description of the creature reported in eyewitness accounts, it is impossible to base a sound judgment on the existence of the monster on their weight alone. With known hoaxers, out there evidence that is more solid is still needed to make a firm evaluation of the evidence.

There are many theories to what this mysterious creature is. These theories while interesting, all have flaws. The most common theory is that the elusive creature is a prehistoric descendent of the dinosaurs, a plesiosaur. While this may be the most popular theory, many other equally plausible theories exist.

The Plesiosaur

Plesiosaur is actually a broad term for marine reptiles with long necks and flippers. Unfortunately, if it is a plesiosaur inhabiting the Loch, no one knows exactly what type the Loch Ness Monster is. The elasmosaur was the biggest and longest of the plesiosaurs and is the most likely candidate.

This theory has one huge flaw. The plesiosaur was supposed to have died out almost 70 million years ago. Even though scientists and researchers, who claim that, can challenge that, the meteorite theory cannot totally prove the destruction of this species. Being a sea dwelling animal, they would have had unlimited space to survive in and an unending food supply. If the Coelacanth survived extinction, could the same be true for a plesiosaur.

The Zeuglodon

The Zeuglodon, or the Basilosaurus, is another likely candidate for the Loch Ness Monster. It is a long, slender whale, which supposedly died out generations ago. Researchers argue that he monster of Okanogan, referred to as Ogopogo, has these same characteristics that could mean that the Zeuglodon escaped extinction as well.

One major flaw to this theory is that the Zeuglodon may be too large, often growing to over 70 feet in length. The largest reported sighting of the Loch Ness monster does not exceed 50 feet.

Undiscovered Species

Now back to the tooth that the two students on holiday discovered. Loch Ness investigator William McDonald claims that the tooth proves that all of the theories that exist are wrong. The Loch Ness Monster is not a plesiosaur or prehistoric reptile descendent, but a real, predatory species of water animal possessing the ability to hunt on land that remains unclassified.

Conclusion

Like many other researchers, I am not totally convinced of the existence of "Nessie." As technology improves and more research is conducted, information that is more reliable may come to light.

The plesiosaur theory may be the most popular, and its existence would turn the scientific world upside down, but it is not the most likely explanation. I will agree with Mr. McDonald. The Loch Ness Monster if it exists is most likely an undiscovered unclassified animal.

From Building a UFO Detector to Revisiting Kecksburg

This has been a fun week at the Institute as we are coming to the end of the quarter and have had some free time. During that time, my awesome class and I actually focused on and built a UFO Detector from some plans we discovered. Of course, we modified it some by adding a vintage AM radio in place of a bell, but the electromagnetic and electronic fundamentals are all in place. Working on this detector, we decided to watch some documentaries on local UFO sightings, including probably the most famous Pennsylvania incident, Kecksburg. Here is an article I wrote on the subject a few years ago, amazingly much of it is still relevant today.

On December 10, 2005, over two hundred experts, researchers, witnesses and visitors gathered in the rural town of Kecksburg, PA to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Kecksburg Incident. An incident that remains one of the most mysterious and controversial UFO related occurrences in United States history. Unfortunately, even after 40 years, questions remain on what exactly happened.

In fact, the only thing that is certain after all this time is something did crash in this small town, forever changing the make-up of this community, almost tearing it apart at the seams.

From the outset of the afternoon, it was clear that this amazing ensemble of people were here for more than a party, many interested bystanders were there in hopes of information and disclosure. The ceremony started with researcher Stan Gordon presenting a historical look at what exactly occurred on December 9, 1965. Gordon has been researching the Kecksburg Incident for three decades and is the pre-emanate expert on the subject.

As a researcher and Pennsylvania native (I grew up a mere 25 miles from Kecksburg), this topic has always intrigued me. As with everything that I research, I cannot find enough information.

“Regardless of what came down, we need to know the truth,” states Gordon “what was so important that our government still holds it secret after 40 years.” I do not think anyone could have said it better. What was so important? Especially when you consider the fact that the official US government stance on Kecksburg is “our searchers failed to find an object,” found in a small blurb in the unclassified Project Blue Book papers. This information isn’t even correct in those pages, listing the location of the incident in Acme, PA.

Eyewitness testimony and accounts totally contradict the government statements, it reveals that there were a lot more than three government officials in the area and something was found and recovered by the US military. The first reporter on the scene Bob Gatty, reported, “he was greeted by a group of military officials when he got to the scene,” in his initial newspaper reports.

The Kecksburg Incident almost disappeared from the map, until the television program Unsolved Mysteries returned it to the mainstream in 1990. The show brought out new evidence and witnesses. Witnesses that place this mysterious “acorn shaped” object first at Lockbourne AFB in Ohio, and then finally at Wright Patterson AFB, the actual home for Project Blue Book and ironically in the original flight path of the object on the afternoon of December 9th. Witnesses in Ohio have stated that they saw two plains take-off and follow the capsule after it passed over the base.

So what could be so important that our government would cover-up its recovery? For the longest time, one of the theories that had a large amount of backing was the recovery of a failed Russian Venus Probe, Cosmos 96. After all, Cosmos 96 did return to earth’s atmosphere on December 9th, 1965. If that was the case, a cover-up would be understandable at that time during the “Cold War.” Unfortunately, government data, including the orbital coordinates of the craft, and even the Russian Space Agency has ruled out this possibility. Besides, the size and shape of Cosmos 96 does not match that of the “acorn shaped” debris reportedly recovered by the government. Cosmos 96 was cylindrical shaped, but it measured only three feet in diameter, not the 15-plus feet documented in eyewitness reports in Kecksburg.

More importantly, it was discovered that no other man-made space debris entered the atmosphere on that date. Researchers know that pictures of the debris were taken prior to its removal from the wooded area, unfortunately, like the other documentation requested, none of these pictures can be found.

True to form, NASA released a statement on December 8th, 2005, stating that the debris was actually the Russian Craft, unfortunately, they claimed to have “misplaced the craft and all of the documentation,” making their statement useless.

The one thing that makes that statement is interesting though is that it was not provided to researchers previously, even after the organization was actually taken to court by the Coalition of Freedom of Information (CFI) and the Sci-Fi Channel in 2002. Both NASA and the Department of Defense were placed in the spotlight after these groups were denied information during the preparation of a 2002 documentary.

These stonewalling measures are still being practiced by these organizations, as I have witness by the denial of my own Freedom of Information Act requests. I provided the United States Army and Department of Defense with specific detachment information, location, date and time and have received only a “we no longer have records over 25 years old” answer, written almost 30 days after the case was opened by their offices. I don’t know about you, but two weeks to provide that specific answer doesn’t add up.

CFI received a boost in their fight against the government, when former President Clinton Chief of Staff John Podesta joined the fight. Podesta is one of the biggest advocates against government secrecy and has been responsible for the release of over 50,000 previously classified documents. While Podesta remains a skeptic on the existence of extra terrestrial beings, he pushes for disclosure if it exists.

During the press conference announcing the suit, Podesta states, “people should know the truth, can handle the truth and it is the law!” Podesta’s statement rings true for Kecksburg and the many hidden incidents that have occurred throughout history that have been washed away by our leaders.

While this case remains in the hands of our federal court system, with no apparent end in sight, new witnesses and information is still being discovered daily. These strides, while small, may eventually lead to the discovery of what exactly happened in this rural community.

 

Chupacabra: Mysterious Cryptid or Government Experiment?

During a talk with my mother over dinner the other night, she raised the possibility of me doing some paranormal investigations for the local historical society. As some readers may know, at one time I had a chance to spend a lot of time in the field researching the different facets of the Cryptozoological or Paranormal realms. Unfortunately, over the past few months I have been limited in getting out as I am becoming used to my new surroundings now that I am retired. This conversation though sparked me to look at some of my past research, like this article on the famed Chupacabra.

There is a mysterious creature roaming the wilderness throughout the vast reaches Spanish-speaking cultures. From Puerto Rico to Chile, and to an extent, every country in between, this hated creature of the night has come from nowhere, to prey on innocent farmers and their livestock. This creature is the Chupacabra.

The name Chupacabra, translates to goatsucker in Spanish, was named by farmers for the creature's source of quarry in their earliest attacks. The Chupacabra's earliest victims were goats and other types of livestock. These attacks would happen at night, with the owner discovering their animals drained of blood from small puncture wounds in the neck early in the morning after an attack.

So what is the Chupacabra? As most cryptids studied in Cryptozoology, there have been no specimens recovered, leading to a wide variety of descriptions and theories to its existence. In most accounts, there are some similarities, so we will start there with our description.

In most cases, the Chupacabra is a bipedal creature roughly four to five feet tall. Most reports describe this fascinating creature as a cross between a "Grey" alien hybrid and a small erect bipedal dinosaur. The creature's humanoid appearance comes mostly from the size and shape of the head and eyes. The long oval-shaped head houses large alien-like red, or in some case black eyes. The creature is also said to have some vampire-like qualities, having four large fang-like teeth that aid it during its attacks. In most cases, this cryptid has two small arms with a three-fingered clawed hand, two strong hind reptilian-like legs. It also is said to have spinal quills line its back. Quills that some witnesses claim are used for flight.

One of the mot interesting facets of the legend of the Chupacabra is its ability to change colors at will. Most descriptions report that this creature is covered in thick black hair. In the dark, it will change to black or a deep brown color, while during the day; it will change to green, green-gray, light brown or beige, depending on its location and surroundings.

So where did this creature come from? The modern story of the Chupacabra originated in the small Puerto Rican township of Canóvanas, where numerous sightings sprouted up in the mid 1990's. However, in many ways, El Chupacabras was preceded by a Puerto Rican monster known as the Moca Vampire, which came to being during a UFO flap in 1975.

The sightings of the Moca Vampire are eerily familiar to those of the modern Chupacabra, where farmers discovered a large number of small animals and livestock murdered after a rash of UFO sightings. When these small animals were discovered, investigators discovered that they had been totally drained of blood. The only sign of this tragedy were small puncture wounds on the animals and strangely, they did not discover any signs of struggle.

These encounters started again in March 1995 and the legend of the Chupacabra was born. From that day until today, this legend continues to grow with the creature migrating as far north as the United States.

Estimates and reports have the Chupacabra being responsible for the deaths of over 2000 animals ranging from other livestock to household pets. These animals are discovered with the same pattern of circular holes about 1/4" - 1/2" in diameter arranged in either pairs of a triangular fashion. The locations of these wounds vary as well, with reports finding them in the neck, chest, belly, and anal areas of the victim. In some cases, there are also reports of missing organs, with no visible means of extraction. In most cases, these organs dealt with the reproductive or sexual organs, and the eyes.

One of the more interesting facts discovered by researchers, is that the majority of attacks lead to instantaneous death to the prey, with an almost euthanasia technique, that limits the amount of suffering felt by the prey.

While there are many theories to what the Chupacabra is, I personally feel that it is a government experiment gone awry. It is a known fact that many large pharmaceutical companies are housed throughout Spanish-speaking locations and often fly under the radar when it comes to oversight, especially in the realm of genetics.

In some reports, even the United States government has dabbled into the area of genetic mutation. Could the Chupacabra be a genetic mutation of individuals exposed to a dioxin-based chemical agent and gamma radiation? Until one is captured we will never know.

Another popular theory has the Chupacabra being of Alien origin. In many cases, large triangular shapes and unexplained lights are seen in conjunction with sightings. Researchers have found that these cases have been documented throughout Puerto Rico. To me, while interesting, the UFOs or triangular lights do not take the government off of the hook.

Throughout the years, some experts have claimed that the Chupacabra is nothing more then attacks from stray animals such as dogs or illegal exotic animals. Unfortunately, with the way the prey is euphemized. If wild animals were responsible, wouldn't there be more of a struggle and wouldn't the prey struggle to survive? Throughout my years of research, I have never found a wild animal had the ability to instantly kill its prey.

While I have yet been able to arrange a trip to Puerto Rico or South America in search of the Chupacabra, I maintain that something exists. Although, from a Cryptozoological aspect, I feel it is more of an out-of-control government experiment, with a sinister background.

Did We Go to the Moon?

As I prepare to write a review of Apollo 18, I decided to enter into my archives of material and pull out an article I did a while ago on the overall lunar conspiracy. Did we go to the Moon? That is a great question. One that sparks different answers from millions of Americans, in fact, 20 percent of all Americans do not believe we did. I guess you could count me into that 20 percent.

To me, the quote "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," is one of the greatest scripted catch phrases of the generations. True Americans should not fret; the government's choice to fabricate this endeavor was just. At that particular point in time, beating the Russians was all that mattered. It did not matter if it was to the moon or to the grocery store; we had to out-do the evil red machine.

The reasons why we had to win this race led to the small overlooked details, which in the end is a fate-full flaw in the story that changed history. The space agency and government apparently overlooked small items like sound-stage wind, film protection and most importantly a severe lack of technology when coming up with this charade.

As we progress through the technological age, it is easy to look back and say no way! However, the appearance of modern looking technology in that day and age was enough to fool millions. Let us look at some of the evidence. We can start with one of my favorites, the film used to take those great pictures of the lunar surface and the earth. That film is actually the same film used by our Space Shuttle astronauts today. Interesting enough, these astronauts have to keep this film encased in a radiation proof container until use, something that the original astronauts did not do. Anyone that has ever been to the Smithsonian Institutes Air and Space Museum can vouch for this as well, although they may not realize it. Look at the landing capsule on display, the real thing, it is what, three maybe four inches thick at the thickest point. In addition, there was barely enough room for the astronauts to sit and control the unit, let alone carry a load of lined anti-radiation boxes.

One more thing on the film, before I move on, those cameras must have had the best auto-focus feature ever made. The pictures taken are flawless, clear as any picture I have ever seen. I wish I had that camera, I have a thousand dollar digital SLR and I cannot keep my hands steady here on earth. It is amazing the there are no signs of shaking going on in those pictures. I would think that walk around on a desolate rock; thousands of miles above the earth would be a little scary. Maybe I am wrong, but let me see, no oxygen, no gravity, no chance of survival if something goes wrong would put some fear in me. How about you?

The flag planting, a great moment in history, that is until starts fluttering in the wind. In zero gravity, the flag should have stayed flat. I could buy it if the astronauts were shaking it, but it did not flutter like that when they were walking with it, if you can believe the video footage, we have been fed.

There are other small things. The lack of moon dust movement when the ship is landing and taking off, the lack of stars in those brilliant photo's, the lack of audible noise in any of the audio tapes (a great one, that Lander had to be loud) and disparities of light contrasts throughout the video clips and pictures. However, the largest question is how did they do it with out the technology? The computer systems in the entire rocket, the entire rocket including the landing craft, guidance systems, everything had less computing power than the Timex watch I am wearing right now. It is a known fact that there are light bulbs that we can go buy at Wal-Mart right now that could compute more stuff then anything on that mission. Yet, the American Government (and people think Republican Presidents lie) want us to believe that we not only left the atmosphere, made it through the radiation belt AND flawlessly landed on the moon with this technology. I think not!

Do not get me wrong, those astronauts were great pilots. They surely could fly anything on earth. However, landing on the moon is a very different dynamic; there was absolutely no way to prepare. Of course, as we sit here today, today's government has the technology to prove without any doubt whether we actually went to the moon. All they would have to do would be point the Hubble Space Telescope or one of the other spy satellites in the sky toward the landing zone one the moon. ALL of the rovers, carts, materials, and such we supposedly left behind. Even after all of these years something had to survive. Right?

However, as with any controversy, they shy away. This is not the first time and it will not be the last. Look at the original Mars Pathfinder. Is not it ironic that it fell off the known world when it entered the Cydonnia Region of our great Red (or maybe brown and green) neighbor. Once again, the truth is out there, we just have to look to see it. Unless, soundstage 21 is actually the landing zone, then we could be searching forever.

Collecting Haunted Items

In many ways, the paranormal boom of recent years has been a blessing. Not only has it brought a fringe science into the forefront of the adult collective, it has opened the eyes of many skeptics that once overlooked the spirit world that surrounded them. Research in the paranormal has also opened up a new hobby - paranormal collecting. Ironically, to many people, this pastime is nothing new. Collecting items of interest is something many people do to show off their personality. Personally, I have an affinity for hats, especially older hats that I find at estate sales and such. These sales now receive a boost in business from collectors looking to find the next addition to their collection.

Finding these collectibles is the fun part; for many of us, it is like a treasure hunt or a race, hoping to beat someone to that believed one-of-a-kind artifact that can set you apart. However, if you are a paranormal enthusiast, collecting paranormal items can be more challenging than collecting old hats; yet, it too can be a fun and rewarding experience. The biggest endeavor you must undertake if you are interested in this new arena is to understand the gravity of what you are doing.

People must look within themselves and determine whether they can properly care for an item, or if they would be a doorway for a malevolent spirit to manifest itself into. There are good points and bad points to starting a collection; every aspect must be dissected before any item is handled or purchased. Spirits can often become attached to objects through various rituals associated with witchcraft, or be attached to an object that is familiar to the spirit and may have been important to the spirit when the spirit was in human form. With that said, haunted artifacts can have negative energy attached to them, and they must be treated with the utmost care and respect.

In talking with my friend, Demonologist John Zaffis, who takes care of the Museum of the Paranormal in his home state of Connecticut, it is clear that the primary goal is not to be a collector, but to help those innocent victims that have dealt with the strange world that exists outside of the normal train of thought. After 20 years in the field, John has seen everything imaginable in the hundreds of cases he has been involved with as a paranormal researcher. During those years, he has collected hundreds of artifacts from cases of violent hauntings. Inside his museum there are hundreds of supposed haunted items, many of which had to be removed from homes following many unexplained and often negative phenomenon occurring. Fortunately, he is experienced in dealing with the energies that can exist, unlike many of the new collectors that are building their own personal museums today.

In researching this new phenomenon, I was amazed at how many different avenues can exist for budding collectors. A quick eBay search for the word “haunted” brought out over 5,000 auctions for supposedly haunted items. There was everything from jewelry to dolls to everyday household items. Incredibly, an internet search for “paranormal collecting” garners an amazing 2.5 million pages of information. With that in mind, I needed to take a deeper look at this and see what the fascination is.

I rapidly discovered three areas that people focused on. Those are collecting ghosts, haunted items, or paranormal souvenirs from their different ventures. Many of these collectors are paranormal enthusiasts that have taken refuge in this as way to be closer to something they enjoy doing. I also realized when I ventured into my research that many people might be paranormal collectors without even realizing it, and I will use myself as a perfect example of this. As many may know, I have been researching the legend of the Jersey Devil for some time and recently was able to venture into the Pinelands in search of this mythological creature. While conducting my first venture into the Leeds Point area, I discovered that there were hundreds, if not thousands, of discarded bottles littering this area. At first, I was amazed because of the diverse ages in the bottles that we found. Not thinking about the paranormal aspects that could be involved, I picked up a couple of them. At the time, I thought I was doing a public service by cleaning up the salt marsh, and I actually still feel that way. However, my approach to those bottles has changed after I viewed the pictures from my latest investigation into that area. In those pictures, there were numerous strange shadows, orbs and what appeared to be small vortexes appearing in multiple pictures. Of these, one shadow figure is a bit troubling because of the smell that we encountered in the area right before discovering a tree formation that looked like something out of the Blair Witch Project. Those pictures got me thinking, did those bottles have some kind of connection to them? Are they from the generations of interested bystanders that came to Leeds Point to find Mother Leeds’s son? So far, nothing strange has happened to me in the house, but then again, they are still in the backpack because I have not had a chance to do anything with them.

The idea of these bottles potentially having an energy attachment also brought out another interesting twist. It demonstrated how close the many of the fields of unexplained research are intertwined. My search for the Jersey Devil is more of a cryptozoological hunt and not a paranormal research outing. Yet, it demonstrates how unseen paranormal entities surround us at all times. Therefore, all of these precautions should be followed, regardless of the type of investigation a person is working on.

As I mentioned earlier, antique stores, estate sales and thrift stores often become battlegrounds for collectors of all types of items. It is quite possible that items purchased in these stores could have a spirit attachment that can be energized by the buyer. These often come as impulse buys where the purchaser is drawn to an item for some unknown reason. Maybe that was the case when I had to buy that antique wooden wheelchair at the Dusty Attic last year. Did I need it? No! Nevertheless, I had to have it (although, it did work really well as I used it to scare trick or treater’s on Halloween, so it served a purpose).

This happens because the spirit attached to an item may feel a kinship to the buyer, needing that relationship to stay alive. Items can sit for decades before coming to life if the right relationship is not present. People say that not all of these relationships are bad, and that items can actually lead to luck. Energies manifest in many ways, often providing feedback, guidance, wisdom, companionship, powers and even assistance to owners. However, people should be very careful when strange occurrences begin after bringing something into their house.

One of the most readily item available to people and one of the most collected haunted items are dolls. Sure, the appeal is easy to understand, as dolls take people back to their childhood. To me, I still remember the scene with the clown in Poltergeist and cannot fathom purchasing a haunted doll on purpose, but to many, they view these echoes from their childhood as families and children. Many of the dolls available come from owners who are frightened by the doll. Many people panic when paranormal phenomena is experienced near an item and just want to rid themselves of the burden. Ironically, many collectors search for active items, hoping that it was just a spirit trying to communicate with them. Their view is that the doll is a child, acting up or throwing a tantrum to gain attention.

Haunted jewelry may be even more popular than haunted dolls, as many people claim that one can experience everything from love to financial gain just by purchasing and wearing an item. These items supposedly contain energies, djinns, genies or demons and are powerful tools that can help in any facet the imagination can conceive. More importantly for collectors, both males and females can find these items just for them with warlock rings and or goddess pendants all available for the right price.

These are just some of the more popular items available on the internet, and realistically many of them are not haunted by any means. People collect the items during their hunts and those are the ones that can be the most troublesome and require the most care. There are over 5 million pages on the internet referencing some paranormal research organization. People form many of these organizations have limited or no experience in the field, or are just diving into a curiosity spawned by something they saw on television. These are also the ones who are in danger when they collect an item from a haunted area without understanding what can happen in some instances. For many investigators, the idea of gathering or collecting an item from a location is the furthest thing from their mind. They are focused on the scientific aspect of what they are doing and the only collecting that is taken place comes in the form of pictures and EVPs collected as evidence. However, this is not always the case. Items such as furniture, paintings, dolls, soil and even books are discovered at the center of a haunting or strange occurrence and gathered form the foundation of their new collection. Examples of this can be seen in movies such as The Exorcist, where the idol found during the excavation opened the door for the demon to walk in. Television shows have also shown the dark possibilities that exist with energy attachment with popular shows like The Twilight Zone or Friday the 13th the Series, raising the possibility of items possessing the ability to alter reality. Amazingly, many of the people who swear off items such as OUIJA Boards are the same ones who open their hands for a chance to own that strange painting of a castle.

Collecting items such as photographs and EVPs are a perfect way to be a paranormal collector. After all, the best collection a person can have is one that they made themselves. To do this, become a member of a paranormal research team and, after some training, go out and investigate. The evidence that you collect can make for some interesting conversation pieces and create a great atmosphere as decorations. There is nothing better to impress your friends than explaining your evening and then breaking out the evidence to back up your claims. Not only is this a fun way to collect the stuff you enjoy, it is also much safer than purchasing a haunted item that may introduce you to something more dangerous than you were looking for.

Many of the famed locations offer souvenirs that can let you remember the investigation and location. In these cases, go out and investigate, then pick-up a piece of history about the location. Places such as Gettysburg have extensive collections of items available that may hold a larger appreciation than a vial of dirt or a rock from a battlefield. Most importantly, they would be a great addition to any collection.

Paranormal memorabilia is also another great way of collecting paranormal related items. Many of today’s television shows or movies have items available such as pictures, hats, and other interesting finds that can become nice centerpieces to a collection. In addition, with the rise of investigation teams, many items can be found that are made available to help fund research. Purchasing this merchandise is a great way to build a collection while helping other people who are interested in discovering the truth that exists in the shadows.

These options provide great alternatives for creating a remarkable paranormal-related collection. In addition, with our economy in turmoil, they may also offer cheaper options as well. However, as history has shown, not everyone is willing to look at an alternative and many would rather push the limits with the spirit world. In these cases, these collectors need to realize the dangers involved. Like the old adage says, “be careful what you wish for, it may actually come true!”

A Big Cat in Connecticut (From 2005)

I was watching the news last night here in New Jersey and to my surprise a story came on about a Mountain Lion sighting in Connecticut in the New York City suburbs. Ironically, roughly six years ago when I was working with my friends at the Smoking Gun Research Agency and doubling as Editorial Director for Haunted Times Magazine, I was called into that same area to research some big cat sightings. In talking with the state park agency, me and my teammates were basically told that we were insane, that it was impossible for any type of Mountain Lion to be alive in this area. I guess, that maybe they should have paid attention to our group and the citizens that originally reported the sightings. The following is the article that was originally published in the Premier Issue of Haunted Times Magazine in August 2005.

Big Cat in Connecticut,

Connecticut based paranormal research group search for answers.

By Mark A. Mihalko

Right now researchers from around the world are searching the far ends of the earth for new, previously undiscovered animals. Most people have heard of the expeditions searching for Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, or the Yeti. But, while these researchers are off searching for these famous cryptids, others are having success rediscovering animals that were once thought to be extinct. Recently, wildlife scientists rediscovered North America's largest woodpecker in central Arkansas in April 2005. The discovery of the Ivory-Billed Woodpeckerwas the culmination of an intensive year-long effort focusing in on an area of the Cache River and White River national wildlife refuges. It involved more than 50 experts and field biologists working together as part of the Big Woods Partnership. In the end it was a year well spent, with the group capturing a male ivory-billed woodpecker on video, providing proof to the skeptics that doubted the cryptids existence.

Rediscovery of thought to be extinct animals plays a huge part in the world of Cryptozoology. Sure, in some ways it is less exhilarating then searching for Bigfoot, but in the end it can be more satisfying. Everyone has heard of the mountain lion, or Felis Concolor, it is a large, tawny, long-tailed cat also known as a cougar, puma, or panther. These animals are believed to have been forced to extinction in the Eastern United States and Eastern Canada since the early 1900's. However, increased environmental protection and improved habitat has led to a rise in mountain lion populations in the Western United States, which has caused speculation that the species has migrated to the East.

These large cats can grow to 5 to 7 feet in length, 2 to 3 feet in height, and weight between 70 and 150 pounds. They are solitary, extremely elusive and difficult to track; mountain lions are predators of deer, birds and smaller animals and would not be a friendly visitor on an afternoon hike. Sightings and stories of these large predators have been reported throughout Massachusetts and along the Appalachian Trail which winds through this region.

We started our ongoing investigation after receiving multiple sighting reports documenting the potential existence in the Burlington region of the Blue Trail.

"The first was a dead on sighting and the critter was about 5 feet long, tan, and very smooth looking with a long tail about 25% the length of its body. It was carrying a bloody lump of dead animal in its mouth. Not sure what it was chewing on but it was not looking very healthy. This was definitely not a Bobcat which I have encountered many times in those woods."

The second sighting was a little less distinct, "characterized by a shrill growl and a glimpse of a long body with a long tail running across a ridge and into the tree line."

Even though the vague descriptions provided in these reports have the characteristics of a Mountain Lion, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) remains skeptical. In fact, the DEP runs multiple programs looking for new animals in the forests. Every year they investigate possible sightings by taking photos, analyzing prints and scat, or animal feces and in each case, they have come up empty. After concluding an initial fact finding mission on the habitat and tendencies of a Mountain Lion, members of the Smoking Gun Research Agency (SGRA) hit the field for a detailed field investigation. Over the next 12 hours the team would make some interesting discoveries.

The group centered their investigation on an area of the Tunxis Blue Trail between Burlington and Bristol Connecticut. The terrain in the area seems ripe for Mountain Lion habitat, having large rocky outcrops surrounded by lush wetlands. During their hike the group noticed quite a few tracks that were the general size and shape of a Mountain Lion (3 inches by 4 inches). Unfortunately, none of the tracks were cast-able. Casting tracks in that area will be extremely difficult due to the amount of leaves on the ground.

In one area roughly 3/4 mile behind the Lampson Corner Cemetery (which in itself is a noted haunted cemetery in Connecticut), the group discovered an interesting set of tracks intermixed with deer and dog tracks. These tracks had the same characteristics as the above mentioned track with a stride measurement of 39 inches. This stride is also on par with a mountain lion.

Right outside of a marsh area in the same area of one of the sightings, the group stumbled across the remnants of a large bird. These remains were on a pathway that ran between the marsh and a hill full of rocky outcrops.

While the group found no definitive proof during their first field investigation, they did uncover enough evidence to warrant a return. The 12 hours the team has invested is a far cry from the year spent to uncover the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker. But, with any luck their search will be just as successful.

The Bell Witch Legend (2008)

Filmmaker Zac Adams ventured into the eerie depths of the famed Bell Witch for his project the Bell Witch Legend, and what he came up with was a tremendous effort into this classic tale. From the first scene, to the last interview, this documentary does a great job bringing the legend to life.

With a nice mixture of reenactments, historical profiles and interviews with historians, researchers, residents and even descendants, the film carries a sense of darkness that remains true to the horrific events that tortured John Bell all those years ago. It also provides some very interesting facts about the haunting and the area of Adams, TN, which are not readily known. One such fact surrounds items taken from the Bell Witch Cave and the negative effects they have on those who mistakenly take a chance claiming such artifacts.

Make no mistake, at the heart of the story is the fabled tale of the Bell family and the spirit or energy that created so much turmoil. This bizarre account of pain, disembodied voices and possibly murder, remains at the forefront of haunted American lore, and is as engrained in the fabric of the land as apple pie. More importantly than solving the case, Adams does a great job at staying true to Robertson County and the familiar roots of the story, ensuring that the integrity of this land and legend are not disturbed.

Having researched the Bell Witch and written a couple of articles on the subject, I was blown away by the content and documentary as a whole. I truly recommend it to anyone interesting in history, the paranormal or Bell Witch. This film will not disappoint and is a great example of how documentaries should be put together. Anyone interested can pick-up a copy at http://www.bellwitchlegendmovie.com/.

And now the story of The Bell Witch (my article from Haunted Times Magazine Issue #1)

The legend of the Bell Witch is one of the most interesting tales passed on by our forefathers from early American folklore and for good reason. What happened to John Bell and his family was both frightening and tragic, yet the eerie nature of the occurrences still goes unexplained. To this day when people speak of the “Bell Witch” an unnerving chill runs down their spines. Was it a curse? Or was it an unsettled poltergeist from long before John Bell’s arrival near the Red River?

Like most historical accounts of the supernatural, the legend itself has varying origins which must be weighed when talking about the occurrences. Luckily some historical documents remain and you can easily trace the historical timeline involved in John Bell’s life. John Bell was born in 1750 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. A barrel maker turned farmer, he would prosper in the Carolina foothills until he would eventually find solitude in a small farming community in Adams, Tennessee in 1804. Bell and his wife Lucy made the treacherous trek to the Red River area known as the “Barron Plains” with their family of six children Jesse, Benjamin, Drewry, John Jr., Esther and Zadock. The Bells’ solitude would last some 13 years before the unexplained would destroy their sanity, testing the far reaching boundaries of their faith.

In Tennessee, Bell became a respected business man and farmer and would again prosper in his new surroundings. He added three more children to his loving circle, daughter Elizabeth and sons Richard and Joel before he passed. He was also a deeply religious man and served on the Elder Council and as a Deacon at the Red River Baptist Church. This was until his excommunication from the church in January 1818. The cause of his excommunication was officially documented as committing the sin “usury” against a neighbor, but this too is up for debate. Many believers place the supernatural at the heart of this travesty.

Ironically, it was this neighbor, Katie Batts who takes center stage as the cause of John Bell’s afflictions in most accounts. This is where most people stray from the truth. The Bell Witch, in fact, was never a witch at all. Documented accounts of the ordeal provide descriptions more inline with poltergeist or demon manifestations. Although, it is easy to see why these misconceptions exist. Many residents of Adams still refer to the Bell Witch as “Ol’ Kate” in homage to Katie Batts, unfortunately no one will ever know for sure. It is well documented that Katie and John did, in fact, have a mixed history. Katie accused John of taking advantage of her in a business deal after her husband Frederick was tragically injured in a farming accident. While cleared of wrong-doing, this business deal gone awry was the basis used by the Elders for his excommunication from the church. The excommunication wasn’t enough for Katie though and she publicly declared that she would get even with him, even if she had to come back from the grave to so.

From what little information has survived the generations, Batts’ appears to be an interesting woman on every level. She was a robust woman with an eccentric and sensitive personality. To most people in the Red River region she was a good neighbor always showing a great deal of consideration. But, to others she was at the heart of the torment suffered by the Bell family. While no evidence exist to prove or disprove these accusations, Batts did have a grudge to bear and people claimed that she dabbled into the “black arts.” One of her tendencies was to always trade her tidbits of gossip for free pins and needles. An old wives tale exist that witches liked to accumulate free pins and needles for power, if used properly they can cause pain and discomfort to unbeknownst victims.

Was Kate indeed a witch and did she have enough power to pain the Bell family for generations? According to the spirit contacted during the ordeal she was. In Richard William Bell’s 1847 account of the tragedy, The Bell Witch or Our Family Trouble, he immortalizes Kate as the culprit stating that the spirit is no other then “Old Kate Batts’s witch,” determined to torment “Old Jack Bell” out of his life.

Unfortunately, the spirit also provided differing identities to others involved with the Bell family, thus providing a mystery which still stands today. On one occasion the spirit claimed to be a child buried in North Carolina while on another occasion the sprit claimed to be that of an early immigrant to the new world. Whatever the case, the amount of power and phenomena inflicted upon the Bell family, especially John Bell and his daughter Elizabeth, was horrific.

The question is did Betsy (Elizabeth) bring this upon herself? One of the theories that was bounced around during the ordeal was that it was all a hoax being perpetrated by Betsy. Although this claim was always rebuked by the spirit, it still remains a tangible option today. Scientists have discovered that some young children can possess high amounts of telekinetic energy without ever knowing about it. Even worse, the children cannot control it, making it a very dangerous power. Could she have unknowingly destroyed her family?

Their ordeal began simply enough in 1817 when John was tending to one of his many cornfields. During his inspection he came across a bird-like creature eerily staring at him. This creature had the body features of a bird but a human-like face. Startled, John fired at the spawn but missed. After the incident in the cornfield, John's life would never be the same.

After this initial sighting of the bird-like creature activity increased throughout his farm. All nine of his children started encountering strange dog-like animals, all disfigured like the bird and even a wondering old woman that would wind her way through their property. It wasn't until these unexplained sightings migrated into their loving home that they started to get alarmed.

At first, the activity inside the house was just a nuisance. Sounds of scratching at the bed posts and doors, cold spots and moving objects, however, the activity would gradually increase until it would eventually increase to painful acts of torture and possibly even murder! That is the claim by the state of Tennessee, who recognizes the Bell Witch as the only entity ever to commit this heinous crime.

As the frequency and ferocity of these displays increased, so did the price paid by John and Betsy Bell. The spirit it seemed was very fond of these two. Especially Betsy, who was often subjected to violent displays of torment and ridicule which kept her in a constant state of terror.

Soon enough, the Bell's became more and more convinced they were dealing with an attack of the supernatural. Being a very religious family, they decided to rely on their faith to provide salvation during these dismal times. Unfortunately, even the good book couldn't provide deliverance and they eventually turned to friends and neighbors for help.

In 1818, John Bell decided to confide in his closest friend, James Johnston, about the terrible ordeal that has over taken his family. Disturbed by the confession, Johnston and his wife decided to spend a night at the Bell's homestead in an attempt to witness this phenomenon. The Bell Witch did not disappoint, treating the Johnston's to typical display of its presence. It is said that Mr. Johnston even confronted the spirit, " In the name of the Lord, what or who are you? What do you want? Why are you here," he cried out. This outburst reportedly silenced the spirit for the moment, although in some ways it appears to have become a catalyst in the continued manifestations which plagued the Bell's over the next few years.

Another visitor to the Bells' homestead was Professor Richard Powell, the local scholar and school teacher. Professor Powell was interested in the activity on many different levels. As a trained academic he was well versed in the event only decades earlier in Salem, Massachusetts as was intrigued by the happenings. He was also very fond of Betsy and eventually became her husband, although that did not take place until years later. At first Professor Powell monitored the activity from afar, fearing his love of John Bell's daughter would show through. Betsy was involved with another, younger suitor Joshua Gardner almost throughout her ordeal and Professor Powell did not want to interfere. Or did he? Legend has it the Professor Powell dabbled into the occult. Could his love for Betsy have conjured the spirit plaguing the Bell's?

As the stories of the Bell's haunting traveled throughout the valley, the amount of visitors visiting the farm increased. Each time a visitor shows up, they are treated to an interesting display of the spirits trickery and intelligence. Legend has it that one of the visitors to the Bell's farm was none other then General Andrew Jackson, the future president of the United States. Jackson was familiar with the Bell's because Jesse and John Jr. served under his command during the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. While visiting Nashville in 1819, Jackson heard the wild tales coming from Red River and decided to confront Ol' Kate himself. He definitely got his chance. During his stay, both Jackson and his men were tormented in their sleep. It is said that one of his men even suffered a beating at the hands of the spirit when he pulled a gun out. Unable to determine the reasoning behind the haunting or help cast out the mysterious visitor, a disappointed Jackson departed saying, "I'd rather fight the British at New Orleans than deal with the Bell Witch."

One of the things that make the Bell Witch such an interesting study is its intelligence. The spirit would communicate with the Bell's and their visitors on a regular basis, displaying a great deal of knowledge of all of the happenings near the Red River and even their futures. On more then one occasion the spirit described events before they happened with tremendous accuracy, even when the events would transpire many miles away from the farm.

The spirit also had a unique ability to change personalities in the middle of conversations with the Bells' or their many visitors. The spirit it seemed had four distinct personalities (five if you count Ol' Kate). These personalities all had different voices and traits which made it easy for the family to separate the perpetrator of the moment. These spirits were named Black dog, Mathematics, Cypocryphy and Jerusalem. Once they appeared, the amount of interaction with the Bell family increased ten fold. Not a night went by that the spirits didn't hold a revival in the Bell's parlor. These events weren't always targeted at tormenting John and Betsy Bell, often times the spirits would just accompany the family in the singing of hymns or re-telling lost tales of folklore.

Actually Lucy Bell, John's wife had a very good relationship with Ol' Kate and here spirit family. While John and Betsy were being tortured by the spirits, they would actually comfort Mrs. Bell. On one occasion in 1819 when Lucy became ill, the spirits went out their way to ensure she recovered fully, praying with her and even providing her with hazelnuts to help speed her recovery. Was the caring displayed by the Bell Witch an act or was it taking care of her lifeline?

As the years progressed, the spirits attacks on Betsy started to subside but the attacks on her father increased. During the ladder part of his life John Bell suffered though a strange condition which caused his mouth and tongue to swell, at times preventing him from swallowing. As the ailment grew worse he would suffer through violent seizures and started growing weaker and weaker. Ironically his condition matches that of people suffering from Bell's palsy, a condition named for Sir Charles Bell which attacks the facial muscles causing them to weaken or become paralyzed. Eventually these afflictions were too much and John Bell succumbed on the morning of December 20th, 1820.

After his death, the family noticed that the vial of medicine left by the family doctor had been almost completely emptied. This was strange because no one in the family had delivered any to their patriarch. It is stated that John Bell, Jr. gave some of the liquid to the family's cat after the discovery and the substance instantaneously killed the pet. When Dr. Hopson arrived, he could not identify the substance in the vial. When he attempted to take the vial for some analysis, none other then Professor Powell stood in his way, taking the vial and smashing it into the fireplace where it is said to have exploded into a bright, blue flame and then shot up the chimney. Another interesting facet to Professor Powell's involvement in the haunting, isn't it?

Soon after John Bell's funeral, Ol' Kate made her presence felt serenading the guests of one of the largest funerals in Robertson County history with songs of laughter, joy and of all tings a bottle of brandy. It seems that now she had accomplished her primary mission, the witch again turned her sights on young Betsy. Proclaiming that Betsy would never marry her suitor, Joshua Gardner. Why such hatred for the young loving couple?

Over time, the couple with their parent's blessings decided to become engaged, ignoring the spirits warnings. This decision kept them in the minds eye of the spirit, subjecting them to various degrees of torment and ridicule from the entity. Their relationship managed to stay afloat through all of the obstacles until Easter Monday in 1821, where in an intimate moment along the Red River the torment became too much for young Betsy and she begged Joshua to release her from her proposed bond of matrimony. Terrified by her look of fear, he obliged, fulfilling yet another prophesy of the Bell Witch. After a bout of depression, Betsy became involved with Professor Powell and the two eventually married on March 23rd, 1824.

Like mentioned earlier in the article, Professor Powell had been interested in Betsy for some time. Powell led an interesting life becoming a Justice of the Peace, the sheriff of Robertson County, and eventually a successful lawmaker in the Tennessee State Legislature. He did have some skeletons in his closet though. Professor Powell had a secret wife, Esther Scott Powell, near Nashville during the same time he was lusting after Betsy. Powell never mentioned his wife to anyone in Robertson County and of course she died mysteriously prior to his marriage to Elizabeth.

The Bells' ordeal did not end there. During mid-1821 the spirit made another appearance to Lucy, declaring she would return for a tree-week visit in seven years then another visit in 107 years (1935). True to her word, she did return but without the vengeance of her first bout with the family. During these visits with John Jr. Ol' Kate outlined future events which he would meticulously transcribe in detail. Amazingly enough legend has it that she predicted the Civil War, World War I, the Great Depression, and even World War II. There are no accounts of her return in 1935 but then again no Bell's live on the old homestead.

Throughout this article I have pointed out the logical candidates who could have been involved with conjuring this malevolent spirit. Kate Batts, Professor Richard Powell, Lucy Bell and even Betsy herself have been vilified throughout the years as the culprit. The truth on the conjurer will never be known for sure.

Regardless on who conjured the spirit the real evidence of the haunting lies at the location. With the amount of power and intelligence displayed by the Bell Witch, it seems very unlikely that one person would have enough power to summon an entity of such veracity. That is unless the land has a high level of residual psychic energy or is an earth's vortex. Many metaphysical scholars acknowledge an earth's vortex as a location with varying amounts of psychic energy complete with unbelievable healing powers. With this in mind, let's examine the area.

Prior to colonial settlements much of Robertson County belonged to a tribe of mound building Indians up until the mid-seventeenth century. In fact in one of the legends John Jr. and a friend actually disturbed one of the overgrown mounds prior to the start of the family's ordeal, uncovering some of the bones buried in the area. From the mid-seventieth century on, Indians fought over this land but never settled there due to the sacred nature of the burial site. In my research of another site, I discovered the fact that Native Americans believe that their sacred sites possess high residual energy. This residual energy could provide the spirit world with enough power and vigor to overpower the unexpected conjurer, unleashing it on an unsuspecting victim.

After almost 200 years of heated debate the identity of the Bell Witch remains shrouded in mystery. I am positive the debates will continue to rage on, regardless on your beliefs. The presence of Ol' Kate will remain etched in our minds and folklore for generations and who knows maybe she is still out there waiting to be awakened from her century long slumber