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West Chicago Paranormal - Investigations
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Archive for Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Hunting Midwest haunts
Derided by skeptics as pseudoscience, ghost hunting gains a group of Mid-westerners out to make contact with the dead

By Gerry Smith and Tribune Staff Reporter
June 20, 2007


Matthew Goetz wasn’t surprised when he saw a photo capturing a mysterious light at the Cobblestone Road Saloon.
 
After all, Goetz, owner of the 148-year-old tavern in West Chicago, claims to have witnessed shadowy figures there a dozen times.
“Maybe I’m nuts,” he said, “but I’ve seen some things I can’t explain.”
About a third of Americans say they believe in ghosts and haunted houses,according to a 2005 Gallup poll. Such findings underscore the spiritual attraction to probing the unknown, said Jeff Belanger, who maintains the Website Ghostvillage.com.

“When you go actively searching for a ghost, you’re trying to wrap yourself around a very big question: Is there life after death?” he said. “People want that experience. They want that magic. And they might not be getting that in their churches, synagogues and mosques.”
 
Enter Alex Felix, paranormal investigator. Felix, 35, of Glendale Heights leads a team of about 30 ghost-busters who chase reports of the supernatural around the western suburbs of Chicago. 
His preliminary investigation of the tavern found nothing amiss, but patience is a virtue in his field. “Sometimes you might get really lucky and catch a full-body apparition,” he said. “That’s the Holy Grail.” 
Ghost hunters credit a growing number of television programs on the supernatural for sparking greater interest in their pursuit. “The X-Files” has been replaced by the “Ghost Hunters” on the Sci Fi Channel, and at least 10other programs about the paranormal aired last season. At the same time, an army of skeptics questions how to explain the unexplainable.
 
Ghost hunters are giving credence to a “pseudoscience” that is “dividing the country between the scientifically literate and illiterate,” said Joe Nickell, a senior research fellow at the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal in Amherst, N.Y. He has spent the last 33 years discrediting claims of the supernatural. “These people have to come to terms with the fact that when someone dies,brain activity ceases,” Nickell said. “Science has never confirmed a single ghost. This is a fool’s errand.” Felix acknowledges the skepticism. “Because it’s not an exact science, it’s left open to criticism from non-believers,” he said. “But that’s the nature of the beast.”   His teammates at West Chicago Paranormal, which includes a nurse, an advertising executive, a police officer and a waitress, also describe themselves as a support group – the only people who don’t think they’re”crazy.” They receive one or two requests a month for their free services, and they scour Internet message boards for opportunities to verify anomalies in theaters, bars, homes and cemeteries. 
Felix, a former police officer, has opened a ghost-hunting school in Naperville complete with an instructional workbook and DVD. 

To weed out those looking for cheap thrills, participants are required to pass an interview and a written test, with basic questions such as: What is Rule No...1 of ghost hunting? 
“No whispering during an investigation,” said Kevin Frantz, a videographer who runs the school with Felix. “Someone could say, ‘Hey, after this, let’s go to Taco Bell,’ then play back the tape and say, ‘I think that ghost said something about hell.”
Felix said the vetting process is crucial to finding those who are serious versus those “just in it for the ‘wow’ factor.” “We want to put out the best trained ghost hunters in the Midwest,” Felix said.
 

Many ghost hunters have no training at all. To become a paranormal investigator, “all you have to do is wake up tomorrow and say you are one,”Belanger said. There are as many as 420 groups investigating paranormal activity across the country, he said. Some have only two members, while others have more than200, and new groups appear online almost every day.
 

Felix says all of his investigations use a series of controls. Electromagnetic frequency readings are taken with the power on and off to pinpoint variables like appliances. A psychic is dispatched to the location and the findings are recorded separately. All time-stamped equipment is synchronized. The trunk of Felix’s 1991 Buick Riviera is filled with ghost-hunting gear,including “The Ghost Meter,” which detects a frequency the ghost-hunters believe indicates paranormal activity – and an earpiece from a spy kit he bought at Toys “R” Us. What is Rule No.2 of ghost hunting?  “ Always bring extra batteries,” he said. “Ghosts drain them.” 
When the supernatural creeps too close, some people turn to the church for help, said Rev. Jeffrey Grob, an associate vicar for canonical services for the archdiocese of Chicago. 
“People will call and say they feel a presence, or a picture fell off the wall, or the water won’t stop dripping,” he said. Years ago, Grob said, newlyweds would routinely ask for their possessions to be blessed. “Now people call after watching one of those paranormal programs on TV,” he said. Nonetheless, “we see the rite of exorcism as an entree for them to reconnect to their local church and re-evaluate where they are in their own spiritual journey.”

On a recent summer evening, Felix and Sarra Rohr, 34, a waitress in West Chicago, set out to investigate a former cemetery on which Channing Elementary School in Elgin was partially built. They stopped at the grave of William Hackman, a former factory worker at Elgin National Watch Co. who died in the mid-19th Century. His headstone is the only one remaining. “William, are you with us here tonight?” Felix asked, holding a voicerecorder above the grave. “If so, make yourself known.” The only sound was the chirp of crickets. Fireflies twinkled, but no orbs– balls of light found in photographs that some argue are signs of the paranormal – were captured on film. Camera experts theorize the translucent circles are a common sign of poor maintenance. Felix’s group has been around for six years. Its best indication of the paranormal occurred at Channing earlier this year, when it captured on video a grainy, unidentifiable cloud flashing across the screen. Felix said he hopes to conduct further investigations at the school and at the Cobblestone Road Saloon, where Goetz has come to accept the shadowy figures lurking around his bar.
 

“Live and let live,” Goetz said. “Or, I guess, let be dead.”
 

———–
gfsmith@tribune.com

Our team members:  This portion of the page is under construction!


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How an Investigation Works

Our typical investigation process is accomplished in six (6) phases any of which may be repeated to provide satisfaction to our clients.  These phases are:

Please note that at any point during the investigation the lead investigator, with the consent of the Founder,  may cancel the investigative process.  If this should occur, you will be notified as to the circumstances regarding the cessation of services.
 

Application Phase

This is the initial step of the investigative process.  You, the client, submits an Application for Investigation.  Our team will then review the application and if it is deemed that your particular situation warrants further investigation, we will set up an appointment with you to meet you personally to begin the process.

As a rule, we do not charge for our services for those who are genuinely distressed and in need of our help, and we are not a for-profit organization.

Preliminary Investigation Phase

Once your case has been selected for further study, a member(s) of our team will visit with you to perform an initial preliminary investigation of the location in question.  They may take photographs, video, audio recordings, and perform other research techniques during this phase.  Off-site research will also begin during this phase to discover as much external information about the location as possible.  Some initial documentation will also be prepared during this phase.

Investigation Phase

This is the phase where We-Go Paranormal will bring an entire team (between 6-10 members) into the location to perform a thorough investigation.  This may take place during the day or night depending upon your particular situation.

Our team will arrive on time and the lead investigator will meet with you prior to any set up of equipment.  During this meeting the  lead investigator will quickly review the case a second time, collect any additional information regarding the location, and ask you to sign a liability waiver giving our team permission to investigate your property.

Please note:  This is the most time consuming phase of the entire investigative process.  Please allow approximately 7-10 hours for this phase.  The client may be present on the premises during the investigation or they may leave.  Although we prefer a sterile environment, it's your property and we will respect any decision you make in this regard.

SETUP


After completing the permission to investigate form, the team will safely, quickly, and efficiently set up a variety of equipment in order to begin our investigation in a timely manner.  At no time will we put any of your personal belongings or property at risk of damage.

We do an inventory checklist of all equipment. We will test all equipment that runs on batteries to see if they work properly. Since we never want to leave equipment behind, the tech specialist will have a checklist of who has what devices before an investigation begins, and do a check after it is over, once again to make sure nothing is left behind.

The occupant/owner will walk us through, noting hot spots. At least one tech dept member will be present for the walk through.

We position stationary cameras in key locations throughout the area. One tech dept member will be positioning the cameras while another monitors angles and radios any adjustments.

All other members will either tape down wires or take EMF readings. (Depending on the size of the team)

All members will carry reliable flashlights and small backups not to mention batteries for both.

SEARCH STRATEGIES

After setting up the equipment and before lights out, we will go through room by room in 2 man teams. Keep one voice recorder on as you enter and do a base reading with EMFs. Record the time, location (room) and members in the recorders verbally as well as write down any base readings or spikes. Each team will cover all rooms.

Anything that gives a spike will be checked to see if it's an electronic device. If so we will see if that device can be unplugged. We will ask the owner if we can unplug it to take another base reading.
If any high spikes from an electronic devise or location are found we will tag it with a post-it-note with the reading we get from the EMF meters.

If a high base reading appears on a hard-wired object tag it with a post-it-note also make a note of it on the recorder. After all base readings are taken; both teams will compare notes before lights out.

LIGHTS OUT

Once the investigation begins, the team will work in groups of two.  This ensures their safety as well as the safety of your property.  Through the use of special equipment, the team will use a variety of techniques to research your location thoroughly. One person will handle the voice recorder and/or EMF. The other will handle the camera or camcorder if available. Each team will have a walkie-talkie. Last but not least WE NEVER GO ANYWHERE ALONE! Just to corroborate any evidence.

Once the investigation is complete, the investigative team will break down the equipment and leave the premises in the same condition in which it was found. 
 
Research/Discovery Phase

 Once the site investigation is complete, the team will inspect and evaluate all the evidence collected up to this point in the investigation.  Collaboration with various colleagues and consultants may take place during this phase to obtain the best possible analysis of all the data collected.  We may also ask client if we can make a return visit to clarify any issue we may have (this would not involve the entire team).  This phase should take approximately 1-3 weeks depending upon the amount of data collected, collaboration necessary, and other circumstances that may arise.

Exceptions would be if we discovered toxic chemicals or extremely high EMF's. Basically anything above 100 mili gauss, mold or insect infestations, anything like that, the client needs to know for their health.

We will call the client or email every 2 days until all evidence is reviewed. This part of the process can become overwhelming to some clients; that is why a keep in touch policy is put in place where they are welcome to call us for questions they may have and try to give us at least 2 days to respond to client's calls. I know “we” would get highly anxious if the roles were reversed and we received no calls for a week. So WCP will keep in contact with the client.

Final Report Phase

In this final phase, We-Go Paranormal will assemble a final written report and portfolio of data collected during the investigation.  Although scientific data may be collected, we will make every attempt to ensure your report is readable in layman's terms.

The lead investigator and/or a designate will meet with the client to present and review the final report and data portfolio.  At this time, the client and lead investigator may discuss the information contained in the report.  After this final meeting takes place, your case may be suspended or closed.

Continued Support Phase

Just because your case has been suspended or closed does not mean you will never hear from We-Go Paranormal again.  By this stage in the process we have gotten to know you and your particular case quite well.  We will continue to support your needs in whatever form we can.  Whether it's a simple phone call, email, or an entire repeat of  the investigation,  we will do what it takes to ensure your total satisfaction.  Our clients become a part of our family during an investigation and your satisfaction is our guarantee.

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FAQ

I thought ghost investigations were free?

I am happy to explain. Yes, our local investigations are generally free if we approach you first or if we address the case as we get time (which is very little at this point).  As a rule, we do not charge for our services for those who are genuinely distressed and in need of our help, and we are not a for-profit organization. We gladly accept donations for our time, and for the general expenses that are not covered by the profits from our renowned ghost tours, but donations are in no way mandatory. We do answer most reasonable requests in a short period of time, but it is based on workload.

Many people need or ask for something closer to a "consultation" rather than a formal investigation. In order to cover the expenses our organization incurs for equipment, training, and for these kinds of services, we recommend a nominal donation in return for our time. We have found that a significant number of clients are willing to make this exchange, so we do not feel this is out of line at all.

Furthermore, we often contribute to charitable organizations and property owners of historical buildings that we approach first. In other words, we are sometimes the ones paying to investigate.

Isn't it against some code of ethics to charge for  investigations?

It is unethical to TAKE ADVANTAGE of someone in distress and we never do this. However like any other service that people perform or have to invest in to be effective (the countless hours and thousands of dollars in equipment) it is completely ethical to ask for a donation or compensation in order to reimburse for time and expenses. In our opinion, the current rates are more than reasonable.

When you add up gas, vehicle maintenance, tapes, software, hard drive space, web hosting, administrative time, office supplies, equipment and other sundries, an investigation can cost a team more money than you think. I don't see this as any different than asking a computer technician or counselor to make a house call, and you won't see many of them doing that for free. We also need to value ourselves before anyone else will take us seriously, plus I have seen time and again that people are far more appreciative of something they pay for as opposed to getting it for free.

We think the concept of "free investigations" came from the earliest days of Internet ghost hunting. It was so new that people were willing to completely volunteer their time in exchange for the opportunity. But then somewhere along the line, this philosophy seemed to harden from opinion into gospel. We are fine with other groups offering completely free service; We only have an issue with people who believe that if they don't charge, then no one else should either and if someone else does charge, then they must be greedy, evil, etc.

To be honest, some people do seem reluctant to pay for something of this nature, and taking into account some of the groups running around taking pictures and readings with no organization or clue, I can understand how you would have trouble finding value in such chaos. I only hope professionalism and word of mouth will eventually weed out those who give the field a bad name.

How do I know I will get the service?

It is in our best interests for referrals and good karma. Furthermore, you have the option of complaining to PayPal and they are very good about resolving disputes fairly.

How soon will I get the service?

We will respond within 24 hours as long as you leave your contact information when you email us at info@wegoparanormal.com

What do I get with your service?

The benefit of personally speaking with highly experienced investigators with backgrounds in psychology, counseling, engineering, electronics, photography &, mythology, history, and spirituality. We have done numerous consultations and investigations across the country and we have an excellent success rate with our clients. While we can't guarantee any particular result, virtually everyone who has dealt with us has told us the same thing: " I am really glad we called you in."

I can call some other group for free, can't I?

Certainly, but none to my knowledge offer this kind of unique service and few organizations can match our combined experience, ability or professionalism. Many ghost groups are new in this field and may not be trained to deal with your particular situation; some may do more harm than good. Finally, many organizations simply want to prove that ghosts exist, and some thrill seekers may wish for the haunting to continue so that they can experience something paranormal.

We care about helping YOU. Finally, we can provide phone consultations for areas nationwide or even worldwide where no professional groups currently exist.

 

Request an Investigation


To request an investigation, please complete the form below as truthfully and completely as possible.  This information will be held in the strictest confidence.  We will review your request and a member of our team will call you to speak with you. Please Copy And paste this form , once its completed and Email to: Info@wegoparanormal.com

Full Name:
Email Address:
Street Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Primary Telephone Number:
Cell Phone Number:
Other Phone Number:
Do you believe there to be paranormal activity at this location?
How long has this activity been occuring?
About how large is the Building/Property in square feet?
If building in question is a home, how many people reside in the home?
Please provide a brief description of the activity being experienced:
Is there anyone else that has experienced this activity? If so, please provide their name and contact information if different from yours:
Are there any pets at this location? Please indicate number and type: (exclude bird, fish, and other caged animals)
Do you have any historical information or records regarding the location? i.e historical documents, personal accounts, family history, etc.
Are you or anyone involved in this case currently taking any medications which may affect their perception? If so, please list the medication so our team may research the possible effects of this medication.
Do you or anyone in your family who is currently residing in the home, have a history of mental illness?
Has any documentation or evidence been collected? Examples may include photos, video, or recorded audio. (If possible, please submit copies of evidence to ( info@wegoparanormal.com)
Keeping a written journal of events may help our team identify a pattern of activity and other factors relating to the events you are experiencing. Do you have any written log or journal of the events happening?
Our current command center requires at least an 8 x 10 area inside the building. Is this space available and is their an electrical outlet(s) nearby?
Please enter your full name. This will constitute an electronic signature. By electronically signing this form, you are certifying that the information you have provided is true to the best of my knowledge.
Please verify your electronic signature by entering today's date:

 

 

 

 

 

 



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