Investigators Look for Paranormal Answers in the darK

By Joel Frady

Only a few beams of light from the streetlights outside made their way through the cracked windows of the

historic Lansing School late on Sunday, June 21, as a team from the Jefferson-based Into the darK paranormal investigation sat on the abandoned school's dusty floors. As with all old buildings, odd noises were everywhere - from creaks coming from the attic to occasional whisper of a breeze entering one of the building's many holes.

The investigators sat in the dark, cameras and tape recorders in hand, listening for any sign of something out of the ordinary. While it may sound like the set-up for a B-rate horror movie to some, it was just another evening on the job for into the dark founders Brandon and Christal Blackburn.

Formed in 2002, the group has examined approximately 150 sites in the region for signs of paranormal activity. Brandon Blackburn said that the group formed from a lifelong fascination with the supernatural and that he hopes "to solidify the belief that some people have that there is a life after death" and loves "the thrill of discovery.

"We go into the dark in search of answers, plain and simple," he said. "Most of the time we come back with more questions, but that just inspires us to turn around and go back again."

Much like any other investigator, Into the darK approaches each investigation methodically.

"With a crime scene, you've got a scenario that has allegedly taken place," he said. "Someone has called in a crime that has allegedly taken place. When crime scene investigators get there, they look for clues to support, or substantiate, those claims, or they look for clues that things are amiss.

"You have to take all of your surroundings and all of the available stimulus and categorize it into what's useful, what's not, what's relevant, what's not," he continued.

Blackburn said they have investigated a variety of sites, ranging from cemeteries to abandoned buildings to private residences, and each case handled with the appropriate level of confidentiality. Blackburn said people frequently contact the group to report potential paranormal activity - and these people are asked to fill out a Claims of Activity (COA) form that requests information about the location and the people involved.

"Any little thing that seems irrelevant to the client might be very relevant to us," said Blackburn, noting that factors such as medications a person is taking and proximity to a power station can create "false positives."
He later noted that some natural phenomenon and wild imaginations, compiled with such media as horror books and films, can cause someone to believe they've witnessed paranormal activity. Into the darK, he said, must differentiate "between paranormal activity and normal activity that can be construed as paranormal.

"The biggest thing I look for is what I call 'dead gives.' Blackburn continued. He said they attempt to "a person's naivety" or "how easily they believe. I've met with individuals who, the wind blows and makes a noise and they think it's something otherworldly." He added, "there are some people who will believe absolutely anything."

He noted that there are also "people who will try to fool you - just to see if they can outsmart you. We haven't run into any of that yet, but we've always been very cautious."

When entering a site, the investigators begin by checking for potential safety hazards and taking base readings of temperatures and the electromagnetic fields.

"As the night progresses, if there's anything changing we'll notice pretty quick," he said. As they gather this data, along with video and sound evidence, the goal is to gather collaborative evidence; if a shadow is seen on a video going into a room and an EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) is recorded in that room, for example, the evidence becomes harder to rationally explain.

Once evidence is gathered, investigators turn to a flow chart to help figure out what they might be dealing with. Although an investigation itself might feel "clean," with "evidence that you can't scrutinize away," the group still has to dissect the information and compare it to similar data.

Into the darK is a growing group, too, with six investigators - two brand new - helping with the Lansing School case. Jennifer Bumgarner said that she has been helping for a couple months and that is "always had an interest in the paranormal, in life after death - if there is anything like that." After recently finding out about Into the darK, Bumgarner contacted the group.

"We talked for a long time and Brandon felt that I was genuine in my interest," she said. "It's been a really nice experience working with them." She added that she is most interested in the EVPs caught on voice recorders.

"To me, it's almost proof, even though we have to chalk those EVPs up to 'We don't know where that's coming from,'" she said. "It gives something, or somebody, a voice, and that makes it very real to me.

"I'm very interested in what they have to say," she continued.

The investigators stayed at the Lansing School long into the night - they frequently work until dawn - and then began the long process of examining the data. While Brandon Blackburn said that they hope to get "the holy grail" of paranormal investigating - a full body apparition on video - the team will continue to scour through dark, dusty buildings for any and all clues, wherever the potential paranormal activity may be.

To find out more about Into the darK paranormal investigators, click to www.into-the-dark.com.