Investigation Procedure

 

 

Once a case has been identified the first step would be setting up a face to face interview with anyone who witnessed paranormal activity at the property whenever possible.  If the investigation site is a half hour or more away from Milwaukee then an interview over the phone is acceptable.  If an over the phone interview does occur, than more time will be needed during the actual investigation so the other steps taken during a face to face interview can be completed.

 

1.  Interview – During the telephone call to set up the interview a brief history of activity should be taken over the phone.  This allows for more specific interview questions to be prepared which will allow for a smoother interview.  Make sure to bring a Client Waiver form so it can be filled out during the interview.  Also, for taking base readings, make sure to bring an EMF detector, something to get a temperature reading, a camera, and a digital voice recorder (for use during the interview) The interview should be conducted in the following order:

            a. Tour:  If the interview is going to be held at the investigation site then the first thing to do is to request a tour of the property. (if the interview is not held at the investigation site continue to part b.  A tour will have to be given the night of the investigation instead) Be sure to ask to be shown any specific areas where activity has occurred.  This will not only allow for a feel for the size and layout of the property but it will make it easier to visualize what the witness is talking about when they are recounting their experiences.  During the tour make sure to take note of where mirrors, windows, and heating vents/ducts etc. are located as these may become important clues to figuring out logical explanations to certain phenomena.

            b. Interview:  Once the tour is over, find a comfortable place to conduct the interview.  Begin by having the witness describe their experiences one at a time, making sure to ask specific questions for each experience.  If there is more than one witness at an interview try and interview each witness separately if possible.  This will ensure that each witness will describe what happened according to what they remember and not by what the other witness is saying or has said.  This will allow for a more accurate recounting of the event.  It is better that witnesses not remember something and to have less evidence than to have a witness THINK they remember something just because someone else said it.  Once all of the personal experiences have been recorded for all witnesses ask them if they have any questions or any other things they would like to share with you.

            c. Baseline Readings:  After the interview is completed, take some base readings of the property. (as long as it is ok with the owners/tenants) EMF and temperature readings should be taken as well as pictures of each area. If the property is small, take readings in every room, moving diagonally from one corner and moving to the other.  Try to take 4 readings for each room and then average them.  Also take at least one picture of each room.  Not only could some evidence be captured but at the very least these reference shots can be used if photo evidence is gathered during the investigation.  For a larger property focus on the areas that have had reported activity.  Take the baseline readings the same way and make sure to take pictures as well.  This will allow for a faster baseline measurement and there is no reason to take baseline readings in areas that have had no activity and thus will most likely not be part of the investigation.

 

Once this is completed make sure to leave contact information with the owners/tenants and either let them know when they will be contacted to set up an investigation date or determine the investigation date before leaving.  Make sure to thank the owner/tenant for being invited into their home and for taking the time to be interviewed.  Also ensure that the owner/tenant has signed the Client Waiver Form so that everything will be in order for the investigation.

 

2.  Research – Research is the most tedious and least interesting part of any investigation.  It is also the most integral.  Research allows us as investigators to separate fact from fiction.  There will be many stories of people who have supposedly died at a property or things that purportedly occurred at a property.  Determining whether all of the things that may be said about a property are true or not will be nearly impossible but some things can be determined definitively simply by visiting the library. 

Any names given during an interview should be researched as to if they ever owned or lived on the property and any record of death should be located as well.  Also a property may be rumored to have been a hotel or a bar at one point.  This should also be determined by using the city directories.  These list each address and what was there and who ran the business for each year going back decades. 

Overall, research may be fruitless sometimes but it is necessary to do.  Many times you will only come up with a chronological list of who owned the property but this may be of interest to the owner/tenant.  Overall any research done on a property will only be another piece to the puzzle.  Once the research is complete then the investigation can be planned.

 

3.  Investigation – Each investigation will be different.  Each property will have its own little nuances that will need to be addressed during the investigation.  Thus this procedure is merely a guide.  Each property will have an investigation plan made up specifically for it that will include most, if not all, of the guidelines listed below and may include some extra guidelines not listed below.  Careful planning of the investigation will result in a smooth investigation.  There will be a lead investigator appointed for investigation.  This person will make judgment calls regarding where and what should be done during an investigation.  The lead investigator will follow the investigation plan set up earlier.  There will not be set teams as people will be paired or grouped differently each time.  Also before any investigation can be conducted a Client Waiver Form must be signed and returned.  There are a few things that you need to make sure you do before doing any investigation.  First, make sure that someone else knows where you are planning on being and always travel in pairs.  We have more to fear from the living than the dead.  Make sure to bring some legal form of identification with you in case something does occur.  Ensure that someone has a working cell phone with them in case of emergencies.  These are a few guidelines that will help make the investigation safe as well as fun.

 

 

            a. Investigation Setup

I. Once arriving at an investigation site the first thing to do is to ask the owner/tenant if any activity has occurred on the property since the last time they had spoken.  If so, take down the information in the same manner it was done during the initial interview and if the area where this activity has occurred was not included in the investigation plan make sure to view the location of the activity and add it to the investigation plan if needed. 

II. Next determine where base camp will be.  If cords need to be run and cameras set up it is important to know where to run everything to.  Now if cord lengths are limited the cameras may need to be set up first to determine the best place for base camp. 

III. Once base camp is set up, then a sweep of all of the pertinent areas should be done to ensure no one is present.  Baseline readings and pictures should also be taken at this time in each pertinent area. 

IV. Once all the baseline readings and pictures have been collected, the equipment can be set up.  Make sure to securely attach cameras and ensure that cords are tucked out of the way whenever possible to limit the danger or tripping on them in the dark.  Test each piece of equipment to make sure it is working properly.

V. Once the equipment has been set up and tested, it is time to go dark.  Any light source should be blocked out or turned off whenever possible.  The less light contamination that is present during the investigation the cleaner the evidence will be.  Once the property is dark the investigation can begin.

            b. Actual Investigation

I. Depending on the investigation plan, break into the teams that have been assigned and move to the assigned areas.  Each team should have an EMF detector, voice recorder, camera, two-way radio, and some sort of temperature reading device with them.  Each person within the team will be responsible for some of the equipment and for using that equipment to take readings. 

II. Begin by taking readings using the EMF and the thermometer.  Also snap pictures during this time.

III. Next simply pick a spot in the area that the team is in and just sit and listen.  If unknown sounds are detected investigate them.  Take pictures in the area that the sound occurred in.  Stay calm and always stay together. 

IV. After sitting for a while try and do some EVP work.  If a name of someone who is known to have died on the property is known use it.  If there are rumored names those may be used as well.  Simply ask questions regarding why a spirit is still here, how they died, why they do certain things (this can be specific if certain activity is known for the location) etc.  Make sure to wait at least 10 seconds after each question in total silence to allow ample time to pick up an answer that may be given.

V. If any activity is encountered, from the slightest noise to a full body apparition, always remain calm.  Try and look for logical explanations for what is occurring and always try to duplicate what is experienced.  Panicking, screaming, running, etc. are not conducive to the investigation and look unprofessional to the owner/tenant.  If there is a need to leave an area for whatever reason simply let the other team member(s) know and calmly leave the area.

IV. Once the allotted time is up for the area that the team is investigating continue on to the next area and repeat the above steps.  Make sure to share any experiences that have occurred in the area with the next team that will investigate it so that they can try and have the same experiences.  The more people that experience a phenomena the more validity that phenomena will have in the paranormal community.  Remember that any experience that does not have physical proof is only a personal experience and can only be presented as such.  Once all of the areas have been investigated meet back at base camp and begin to break down. (Note:  This is only a guideline for an investigation.  Some may like to do these in a different order, add things, or subtract things.  Again this will change for each investigation and depending on what equipment we have available.)

            c. Clean up and Leaving

                        I. Make sure that all equipment is safely repacked and stored.  Make sure that anything from the owner’s/tenant’s home that was moved during the investigation is replaced and that any trash is properly disposed of.  It is important that the property be left as we found it and that we don’t leave a mess behind. 

                        II. Thank the owner/tenant for allowing us to investigate their property.  Let them know that the evidence will be analyzed and they will be contacted with the results in the few weeks.