Click on the images, for information.

 

Investigation:
Potentially haunted residence, shoreline Connecticut.

Dates:
Starts April 2007

Investigators: Jeffrey J. Messenger, Deb Rosiello, Mark Oneto, Linda Sileo, Cher Laluna, Chris Daddio, Cassandra Messenger                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Equipment Used:
3 Sony Hi-8 Camcorders, with peripheral Infrared Illumination
2 Digital still cameras
2 Digital Recorder, with boundary microphone peripheral
1 Electromagnetic Field Gauss Meter
 

SPI Investigation Case Ranking: C+

April, 2007.

A Connecticut Paranormal Group contacted Shekinah founder Jeff Messenger via e-mail, describing a case on the Connecticut shoreline. Due to the possible demonic and violent undertones of this case, this group decided to refer the situation elsewhere. With trepidation, Jeff decided to take on this mystery.

A 21 year old woman (who we'll call "Jill") contacted the previously mentioned group via e-mail, after she and her boyfriend witnessed a box of crackers fly from the kitchen pantry and transverse about five feet of the kitchen floor. For them, it was the last straw.

For several months, the family had been experiencing an escalation of would be haunting phenomena. Knocks and taps were frequently heard on the walls. Jill felt her ankles being grabbed as she slept, waking her with a fright. The mother of Jill (Who we'll call "Jane") of the house saw an apparition of her departed mother in the kitchen (She and her mother had unresolved conflicts, upon her mother's passing). After Jane yelled at the spirit one night, Jill awoke the next morning to several criss- cross scratches on her stomach (See photo 1). She had no history of scratching herself in her sleep.

Empty cans flew at Jane, from the kitchen garbage can. On another occasion, a cleaning brush flew at Jane in the bathroom. According to several witnesses, the front door of the house would frequently rattle or open on it's own. Photographs taken within the house frequently exhibited red light streaks. This happened with both film and digital photos, thus ruling out light leaks.

Jane was convinced that the spirit of her mother was to blame. Jane tried to counter the curse she believed was upon them. They burned Sage. Jane also tried to communicate with the spirit world, via an Ouija Board. None of these measures seemed to alleviate the haunting. The activity continued to escalate.

In early May, Shekinah Paranormal Investigations visited this household. Being the first to arrive, group founder and investigator Jeff Messenger sat down and talked with Jane. As they conversed, Jeff saw a small, dark form rush under the kitchen table in his peripheral vision. Expecting to see a cat, Jeff looked under the table and was surprised to see nothing there. Jeff was later informed that small, dark forms were routinely seen throughout the kitchen area.

The only cat in the household continually refused to come downstairs. This avoidance of the downstairs had been going on for several months. As a demonstration, Jane carried the cat down to the living room. The cat quickly turned around and immediately jogged through the kitchen and back up the stairs. At one point, before the severe haunting phenomena began, the cat both lived and slept in the downstairs living room.

Jeff promptly set up 3 hi-8 camcorders throughout the house. Each camcorder was set on night vision plus, and each were equipped with an Infrared illuminating peripheral.

As investigators Deb Rosiello, Linda Sileo, and Mark Oneto arrived to investigate, various other phenomena was witnessed. The living room lights dimmed without explanation. Two loud knocks sounded in the unoccupied kitchen.

On Jeff's video footage, a small anomaly filmed in the kitchen displayed a curious movement. Something that resembled a small thread floated to the left side of the scene, paused, then accelerated off to the right. While this anomaly flies by, a whisper was recorded that sounded like "...honey."

Upon later reviewing video footage filmed in the living room, a cookie container swivels and moves without anyone reaching for it. Unfortunately, the bottom of the container was not in the field of view. Ironically, the container was sitting on an Ouija Board that Jane showed the team (See our Videos page... also, SPI warns everyone not to experiement or play with Ouija Boards). 

Various orb anomalies were filmed in the kitchen and downstairs hallway. While most orbs are admittedly caused by dust and lint in the air, some of these anomalies pulsed, blinked, or flashed brightly. This increases the likelihood that these orbs were manifestations of energy.

SPI advised the family to avoid giving the activity any verbal recognition. Spirits draw energy off the recognition process. Of utmost importance was the need to discontinue all provocations, or attempts to communicate with the suspected spirit entities. Provocations only succeed in worsening any or all haunting activity.

Unfortunately, some activity did worsen after the first Shekinah visit. One day, Jane watched a white form roam the household stairwell for several minutes. She also felt a force preventing her from entering the area. Knocking sounds did escalate over the next several nights. Jill woke to a few new scratches, one on her wrist, and another on the back of her shoulder.

Jeff Messenger visited the house two weeks later, and tried some simple experiments. He had the family spread a layer of flour on the kitchen table. He set up weighted helium balloons at the stairwell, in the kitchen, and in the living room. After setting up 3 camcorders, Jeff left the household for a few hours. Upon returning, neither the balloons nor the flour had been manipulated or moved in a definite manner. Yet while he was gone, Jill experienced something while falling asleep on the living room couch. As she dozed, a distinct knock sounded from behind the couch. Jill felt the couch vibrate. This couch is flush against a wall, which in turn leads to an enclosed porch. There is no naturalistic explanation for the incident.

During the next week, Jane took several pictures within the house, with her friend Cher. Orbs were caught in several photos. One photo featured a strange shadow. This shadow seems unaffected by a coutertop, and the dimensional depth of field in the background. This shadow photo can be seen at the top of the page. Also during this week, Jane started to note some foul smells invading the house. One was the smell of decay. The other "...resembled the smell of blood."

One week after this, Jeff Messenger returned once again to the household. Unfortunately, other Shekinah members were unable to join him (It is always best to have at least two investigators at such an investigation, at the minimum). But since Jeff drove two hours, he wasn't about to waste the trip. Various other friends of that household did join the night long vigil, however...including future team member, Cher Laluna.

As usual, Jeff again set up his hi-8 camcorders. Early in the night, as Jeff talked with Jane, the front door located in the living room made a cracking sound. Jeff aimed his hand held camcorder at the door, and kept talking. About one minute later, the door swung open about nine inches. It wasn't windy outside, and this door led to an unoccupied but enclosed porch area. Jane simply said "...there goes my door AGAIN." We suspect that the door was shut securely beforehand, but we are not sure of this.

As the evening progressed, Jane informed Jeff of her previous psychic experiences. She said that she was capable of reading objects. As a test, Jeff took a Catholic relic from his pocket and wrapped it within a paper towel. The relic was a fragment of a glove of Padre Pio... a famous Catholic monk, miracle worker, and stigmatist (person who suffers the wounds of crucifixion).

On the infrared video footage capturing this event, two distinct mist or vapor lines can be seen drifting off Jane, and floating to the left. This occurred as Jeff handed Jane the concealed relic. A low resolution video frame can be seen above...with the bluish mist anomaly situated vertically above Jeff's bald head.

During the hours between 3 and 5 AM, loud knocks in the walls occurred randomly, along with a prolonged series of tapping and rapping. None of these sounds resembled the normal house sounds we all are accustomed to. It didn't seem to be caused by temperature changes, heating vents, or plumbing.

After this visit, several strange phone calls plagued Jeff at his home. Dial tones or static would be heard upon picking up the receiver. At times, the caller ID would register the number "000-000-0000." This is a phenomena also experienced by lay religious demonologist David Considine, and other haunted houses under his care. (UPDATE: Jeff recently received a phone call from a political fundraiser, under the guise of this "000-0000" number. This proves that the phone number is NOT an unnatural phenomena, but rather caused by some caller ID blocking technology).

At this point, there was little doubt in Jeff's mind. This family was experiencing a pattern indicating a demonic infestation and oppression. this conclusion was based on certain facts:

Ill health and misery plagued the family.

The Daughter was being scratched.

Foul smells were involved.

A vaporous anomaly was filmed, as Jeff handed Jane a relic. This could be due to a process called "religious provocation."

The spirit was influencing Jane, by exploiting the conflict she had concerning her mother, with whom she has unresolved issues. This demonic pretense is usually labeled as a "Larvae" situation.

Jeff directed the family to possible resolution, by directing them to a group and medium with much experience with demonic infestations.



Update 7/6/07:
Jeff asked a famous researcher and light trance medium to take over this case. Upon visiting the house, this woman sensed that Jane's mother was indeed haunting her, and that other spirits had also intruded upon the scene...some of them demonic and negative. They were exploiting the alienation Jane has with her mother. One possible solution involves a Mass said in the memory of Jane's departed parents. Through investigator Cher Laluna, a traditional Catholic Priest will help. More to come...

Update 12/07: After the measures recommended were acted on, Jane's house received a month of peace, along with the common presence of a strong floral odor. Unfortunately, the phenomena came back. Scratches on Jill, phantom blows to Jane's body, banging through the house, all this and more started to occur again. Shekinah Investigators tried to contact Russian Orthodox clergy, believing that the denomination of Jane's family heritage may be able to provide a more lasting relief. Unfortunately, such clergy were uninterested in involving themselves in a situation experienced by people outside their congregation.

Other solutions are now sought by the household. Hopefully, more relief for this household is on it's way!

Update 12/10/09

Investigator Cher Laluna has informed Jeff that peace has finally come to this house. As a psychic, Cher reports that she was in communication with Jane's departed mother, and convinced the mother to pass on to her new destination. The house environment is less stressful, and there are no more reports of violent paranormal phenomena!