Mark and Lauren, co-founders and directors of the Pennsylvania Paranormal Association, talk ghost hunting, paranormal tech and the premiere of “The Haunted” on Animal Planet.
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Mark, can you give us some details about the paranormal experiences you had as a teenager and what specifically stands out as the most prominent experience?
As a teenager I started hearing my name called out when no one was around. I also had a few flashes of [insight] that I would now say may have been psychic in nature but so infrequent that I could hardly say I was psychic. This continued sporadically for years. The most profound experience occurred one day on my way to work when I was driving in my vehicle. The thought of a car accident involving a horse trailer came to mind and I wondered what would happen to the horses in a trailer if that were to occur. A few hours later, while working as a county 911 dispatcher, I received an emergency call for a vehicle accident. Upon the arrival of emergency responders, they radioed to me to dispatch a local veterinarian to the scene because the accident involved two horses in a horse trailer that were injured. I must say I was a bit shocked to learn this.
Lauren, along those same lines, can you tell us a little about the personal life experiences you mention in your bio on the PPA web page, and is there one particular experience that sticks out in your mind?
My oldest daughter passed away and I have since heard her call my name a few times. Other than that, I have seen and heard random things that lead me to believe in the paranormal.
Can you give us a little teaser about the haunting investigation you did that is the subject of the show “The Haunted” that will be shown on Animal Planet this coming Sunday, November 22?
This Sunday will feature two of our investigations, one a former insane asylum where human and animal experiments took place for medical research. The second is a candle shop in the Poconos where a medical doctor killed hundreds of monkeys also in the name of research. Both locations reported witnessing paranormal activity that they believed were human as well as animal spirits.
The basement of the asylum.
The candle shop.
Mark, you use some very sophisticated equipment in your investigations such as EMF (Electro-Magnetic Field) Detector/Thermometers, motion detectors, and various camcorders with infrared and night vision capabilities. How did you initially learn about this equipment and know exactly what equipment you would need to do your investigations?
From years of interest in the paranormal and years of reading about psychics, ghosts, spirits, hauntings, you name it, I learned a great deal about the paranormal world. What I thought was a huge bundle of knowledge was so small when I explored more. At one point in time I joined a local research group and learned more about the equipment used and their purpose. Not taking anybody’s word for things, I tested all the equipment for myself to see how it reacted in certain situations and by trial and error picked the equipment for our group I liked the best.
A recorder placed by the PPA at the candle shop.
Aside from the camcorders and tape recorders that are pretty standard video and audio recording equipment, where does one purchase an EMF detector or the new laser line projector?
EMF detectors can be purchased at various online stores. Usually a search of EMF detector or meter or electromagnetic field detector or meter will get you to the right place. Laser lines can be purchased just about anywhere hardware is sold.
How do you learn to use the equipment? Does it come with instructions or is it by trial and error?
Both! I find the best way to learn to use the equipment is to first read the instructions so you know how the device operates and then take it out in the field and practice with it until you have a general understanding of how it works in most settings. Only by trial and error and practice can one really know how the equipment will react with unique situations. We are still finding new information on how equipment reacts to different things even after years of use.
Lauren, what is the scariest moment you had while on an investigation?
Mark and I were sitting in an attic when the floor literally moved under us. It was not your typically settling of a floor or anything like that. The floor felt like it pulled away from us and bounced back up. Definitely weird. I do not scare easily on investigations.
Mark, according to your website, you do not charge your clients for conducting your investigations. Since you cover a tri-state area consisting of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, where do the resources come from to cover your travel and equipment expenses?
Our group is much like a volunteer fire or ambulance company. Our members expect nothing in return for their services and are more than happy to chip in money for equipment and travel.
Lauren, after your show airs on Animal Planet’s “The Haunting,” are there any other plans in the works to air more of your investigations on television?
We have been offered the opportunity to do our own show, but things are still up in the air. There is a lot of planning and work that goes into putting a possible show together.
Besides the featured investigation you recently conducted in Lebanon City, can you tell me what other investigations you have scheduled and a little about what they involve?
We are slated to do a few private residences and two local business and a municipal building. Most of our cases involve families who are looking for help to get rid of the activity. The local business location is just interested in what they have going on and want more evidence of whatever is lingering there.
Do you have any advice for the novice paranormal investigator out there?
Do not swear at, yell at, or belittle a spirit to try to get them to respond. It could be someone’s grandma or child. Be respectful. Keep in mind that information you provide to a client may have an enormous impact on that person that could negatively effect them. Be truthful and don’t try to push something that isn’t true.
Thanks so much for your time Mark and Lauren! Best of luck to you both. We will be sure the check out the PPA’s investigations tomorrow night on the premiere of Animal Planet’s “The Haunted”!
