We here at Spectral Review as you might imagine enjoy the “reality” based ghost and paranormal shows. These shows include Most Haunted, Ghost Hunters, Paranormal State and Ghost Hunters International. These shows in their own way each try to find answers to questions about the paranormal. One could argue about their methods or motivations but they do try to show how they search for ghosts.

These shows are just representations of real people who do paranormal research. Nearly 100% of these people do this paranormal research for free. That tells us that these researchers are not only dedicated to this research but passionate about it also.

We want to know more about these people. Why do they do this research? How did they start? What expertise do they have?

Our next article in the “People in Paranormal Research” series is from Katie Kintner. Katie is a member of Fox Valley Spirit Hunters located in Wisconsin. Katie is the founder of FVSH.

We hope you like this series. If you have any suggestions or want to participate in our series, use our contact form. And as always you can leave your comment here.

Onto the questions and Katie’s terrific answers.

How long have you been in paranormal research?

I have been involved with ghost investigating for about three years long before that I was reading everything I could get my hands on about ghosts and hauntings. Investigating gave me opportunities to actually go to haunted sites and try to experience a haunting for myself.

Where are you located, what area of the world do you do investigations? What is the farthest you have traveled to do an investigation?

We are located in east central Wisconsin. The farthest I have traveled personally is about two hours away to Peshtigo Wisconsin. Peshtigo is a fascinating town as it was the center of a huge fire that killed thousands of people on the exact same night as the Great Chicago Fire. That’s why few people have really heard of it–Chicago overshadowed it even though the loss of life was much greater. We were privileged to investigate a house that is located only a few feet from the site of a former boarding house where 100 people died in that fire. The house was active and I’ve gotten some of the most interesting EVPs and experiences there. Wisconsin has more than enough reportedly haunted locations to keep us busy but we would love to check out the famous locales such as Waverly Hills or Mansfield Reformatory.

Was there a particular reason or event that lead you to do this research?

Like many who do this, I got into it because I have always had a fascination with ghosts and hauntings. As a child, I was convinced that a dead uncle came to stand at the foot of my bed three nights running. However, it should be noted that I am nearsighted and didn’t have glasses yet. It could very well have been a full moon shining through venetian blinds and my eyes combining to make the “ghost”. My dad also had an experience of hearing two “women” talking when no one else was in the house (bear in mind our nearest neighbors were about three hundred yards away). We never figured that one out but after these events, I was still hooked from then on.

Why do you continue to do this work?

As I grow older, the idea of continuing on after death becomes more personal with each passing year. I am someone who likes to know what I’m getting into, including death, so I am increasingly curious and wish to know more.

What would be the most compelling evidence you have seen or heard?

I have yet to find “compelling” evidence but EVPs are the the most interesting to me. I’ve recorded literally hundreds of them and though most are too soft or garbled to be considered hard evidence, I have a few that really made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It’s finding this kind of evidence that keeps me going. As for visual evidence, I haven’t seen a lot but one night what seemed to be a shadow being zipped across a client’s living room window. I’ve never seen anything move that fast but that is one time when I was looking in the right place and saw it straight on. Was it a ghost? All I’ll say is it could be. Other than that, I’m still waiting for that “knock your socks off” visual evidence. The most fun evidence I’ve gotten was the sound of someone following me up the balcony steps at the Oshkosh Grand Opera House. I heard the steps, stopped to slowly look around and see that no one was behind me, then continued on upward to gleefully tell my fellow investigators what had happened. I got the entire episode on my recorder and it still makes me laugh. Someone watching me would have seen something that looked like an old Three Stooges clip. “Slowly I turned…step by step…inch by inch…”

What is your role in your group? Is that where you started? What other roles would you like to learn and do?

I am the founder of Fox Valley Spirit Hunters but I am your basic investigator when it comes to day to day activities. This is what I want to do but due to my founding the group, the task of running our monthly meetings has fallen to me. I would like to see that role diminish somewhat! LOL! I am a born “delegater” and if I can find someone else in the group to do things, I am more than happy to turn over responsibility for them. I am still in the learning mode however, and consider myself an “advanced beginner” when it comes to investigating. I learn by participating in online forums such as International Paranormal Investigators where I am an IPI representative for the state of Wisconsin. I also read everything I can get my hands on about ghost investigating techniques, pick the brains of those who are more experienced and would love to participate in related workshops and conferences if we ever get any close enough for us to go to.

Have you taken any formal training in your life that has enhanced your skill set for your paranormal work?

I was a library technician for 25 years and a research assistant for a writer for 7 years. This might not seem too related but a good part of ghost investigation is research. I am familiar with many different library tools that are very useful for investigators and of course, being in libraries gave me access to lots of related books.

What advice would you give someone who wanted to get into the paranormal field?

Read and learn as much as you can before you even think about trying to investigate. Participate in good online forums such as IPI and ask question after question. Try to get into an apprenticeship with an experienced investigative group. Be prepared to listen more than talk!

Is there some aspect or point of view about the paranormal field that you wished that everyone in the field followed?

With the advent of so many television shows about ghosts and ghost hunters these days, the field attracts a lot of “wannabes” who just want to see if they can see a ghost. There are also those who are capitalizing on this new fear of “ghosts” these programs create and actually charge to investigate or “cleanse” a site. I would like to see a more unified, organized stand against these people especially since their victims are often desperate to get help. Fox Valley Spirit Hunters does not do “cleansings” though we can make referrals if a client really wants one. The person we refer to does not charge for this service.

I would also love to see some people who are actively involved in the field become more open-minded when it comes to other ideas, other theories, other techniques. Unfortunately, the field also attracts a certain type of individual who uses the lack of organization in the field to expound on themselves as “experts” when they have no basis for it. In my opinion, there are no real experts except the ghosts themselves. We are all simply in different stages of learning and it is important that we learn and share with each other, not try to bring each other down.

What misconceptions do the public and/or media have about the paranormal field you wish you could dispel?

I would love to dispel the notion that paranormal investigators are just a bunch of crazy people living in a fantasy world of ghosts and UFOs. I am just a normal person with a normal curiosity about what lies next.