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 Marie Peterson of Cincinnati Area Paranormal Existence Research (C.A.P.E.R.). Marie is the Case Manager for C.A.P.E.R.

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 Marie’s great answers.

How long have you been in paranormal research?

I have been in paranormal research for over a year now.

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

I am located in Cincinnati, Ohio. My group Cincinnati Area Paranormal Existence Research (C.A.P.E.R.) investigates the southwest corner of Ohio. The farthest I have traveled for an investigation is about 10 miles north of Dayton, Ohio.

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

I have had personal experiences that lead me to this field. I lived in a very old house about 6 years ago and we had paranormal events happen. I moved out of that house for personal reasons. Then about two years ago my husband and I purchased a home and paranormal events started to happen immediately after we got settled in.

I didn’t know what to do and did research and found a paranormal group to come and investigate my home. I wanted to learn more so they took me under their wing and have taught me a lot.

Why do you continue to do this work?

I continue to do this for a few reasons:

• I want to help other people in the same situation that I was in
• I want to find what happens in the next realm
• Why do some souls stay and others don’t?
• To further this field through research

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

I have had many events that I have seen and heard but the most compelling would be from one of our investigations that happened recently. I and another investigator were on the main floor of the property and we heard a man’s moan. It was so loud! He and I were standing right next to the camera and you can hardly hear us speaking to each other. But you can clearly hear this. Because of our groups confidentiality clause the owner of the property has not give us permission to publicize this evidence, so at this time we are not able to post it on our website.

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

My role in the group is Case Manager. I was recently given that position about a month ago. I really want to research the environmental factors of the properties that we investigation/research.

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

Not formal training just a lot of patience and personal experiences. One of my Directors has been teaching me a lot of techniques.

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

The advice that I would give to someone is never charge the client money for doing an investigation. They have been through enough and they just want someone to help them understand what is going on in their home.

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

I wished that the words “ghost hunt” would disappear from the vocabulary of paranormal groups. It’s not like you are going to go hunt for deer or rabbits. The spirits that are here used to be a human just like you and me. How would you feel if someone was “hunting” you? I do believe that there should be a basic set of standard rules that everyone follows. It would make it easier for the client to choose a paranormal group.

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

The biggest misconceptions that the public has of paranormal investigators are that we are weird. We are normal people that have normal daytime jobs, normal families, and normal friends. We just so happen to experience weird things and want to find out what is out there besides this realm.