Miami Paranormal Research Society™

Are You a Ghost Surfing the Web?

2011-12-15T07:20:00.001-08:00

=========================================Are You a Ghost Surfing the Web Looking to contact a ghost on the internet. If you are DEAD and reading this, please respond! What is your name? How did you pass away? Why are you surfing the internet? Location: Nationwide Compensation:

Paranormal Activity 3 Merchandise

2011-10-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

Last night was the big advance screening of Paranormal Activity 3,in Miami at the AMC Sunset theater. The Miami Paranormal Research Society has official movie merchandise available. That’s right! They have T-shirts, caps and bumper stickers. The Miami Paranormal team is sporting theirs.

These same items can be yours for a donation to the Miami Paranormal Research Society. For a minimum $5.00 donation you will receive one of these great bumper stickers, while supplies last. You will also be entered into a drawing to win a t-shirt or hat. The shirts are all size large so please let us know which you would prefer to win, hat or shirt. Remember, every donation of $5.00 or more gets you an official bumper sticker so everybody walks away with something. Be sure to get yours today because these will be going fast.

You can either donate via PayPal or contact us at miamiparanormal@live.com for alternate payment options.

Thank you for supporting Love And Light Ministries and allowing the Miami Paranormal Research Society to continue it’s important work.

For more information and the link to donate click here.

Paranormal Activity 3 Merchandise

2011-10-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

Last night was the big advance screening of Paranormal Activity 3,in Miami at the AMC Sunset theater. The Miami Paranormal Research Society has official movie merchandise available. That’s right! They have T-shirts, caps and bumper stickers. The Miami Paranormal team is sporting theirs.

These same items can be yours for a donation to the Miami Paranormal Research Society. For a minimum $5.00 donation you will receive one of these great bumper stickers, while supplies last. You will also be entered into a drawing to win a t-shirt or hat. The shirts are all size large so please let us know which you would prefer to win, hat or shirt. Remember, every donation of $5.00 or more gets you an official bumper sticker so everybody walks away with something. Be sure to get yours today because these will be going fast.

You can either donate via PayPal or contact them at miamiparanormal@live.com for alternate payment options.

Thank you for supporting Love And Light Ministries and allowing the Miami Paranormal Research Society to continue it’s important work.

For more information and the link to donate click here.

Paranormal Activity 3 Screening Miami

2011-10-19T12:14:00.001-07:00

The Miami Paranormal Research Society has known for a few weeks now about the advanced screening of Paramount picture's Paranormal Activity 3. We were contacted about working with them to create some promotional flyers that will include our recommendations on what you should do if you think that you may be experiencing real life paranormal activity.

The big event was top secret but in case javascript:void(0)you're wondering, it's happening tonight at 9PM at AMC Sunset. The representative from Paramount tells me that it's going to be a huge crowd.

If you didn't score any passes, the movie officially opens on October 21, 2011.

Meanwhile, I am on my way to Paramount's office to pick up the promotional items they are giving to the Miami Paranormal Research Society.

Miami Paranormal is Hauntingly Stylish!

2011-10-10T15:44:00.000-07:00

Now there's a catchy slogan. The Miami Paranormal Research Society is busy creating new items for sale with our new logo. We are offering this Hauntingly Stylish line of items to raise funds for our new office space.

These new mugs are perfect for any paranormal enthusiast and make great gifts!

Click on the photograph for more information or to order your today.

Please visit our new website at MiamiParanormal.com!

Have You Written a Book About The Paranormal?

2011-10-10T08:12:00.001-07:00

Have you wriiten a book about the paranormal? The Miami Paranormal Research Society is accepting books about haunted locations, paranormal investigation and true personal accounts. Let your peers review your work! Reviews will be published in a national paranormal news column and on their website at MiamiParanormal.com. Your book will become a part of their ever growing library accessible by local paranormal scholars. The MPRS was founded in 2006 and recently has been contacted by producers, talk show hosts and even Paramount Pictures. Please inquire at MiamiParanormal@live.com.

Miami Paranormal Research Society Goes Hollywood

2011-10-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

The Miami Paranormal Research Society has been contacted by a representative of Paramount Pictures. Paramount is interested in organizing an event with us in connection with their new film, Paranormal Activity 3. Before it opens in theaters, they will be hosting a screening in Miami. We will post updates on the details of this event as soon as they are available.

Miami Paranormal Research Society :New Investigations

2011-10-03T17:44:00.001-07:00

The Miami Paranormal Research Society was just out at two locations that are legendary for their unexplainable activity. We first went out to Coral Castle in Homestead. At times our sensitives felt a very heavy, oppressive energy, mostly in the structure that served as living quarters of Ed Leedskalnin. Our photos revealed a mist that seems to be coming from inside the doorway and what looks like a person looking out the window on the top floor. There is also an odd image when we photographed Ed's quarry. We will be posting these photos and discussing them on our new website at MiamiParanormal.com.

The following week, we were out at the historic and haunted Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. Hundreds of people are known to have died in the building since it was built in 1926. We walked around the grounds, inside and out searching for lost souls who died under mysterious and even violent circumstances. We are pleased to say that none of our researchers died from shock while visiting the gift shop that sells Bermuda shorts for $240.00 a pair lol. Yikes.

If you would be interested in joining the MPRS or signing up for our upcoming paranormal seminars, please inquire at miamiparanormalresearch@yahoo.com.

Miami Paranormal's New website

2011-09-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

We are very proud to announce our new website located at miamiparanormal.com. We hope that you will sign up and join us for great paranormal discussion.

Miami Paranormal Research Society On Fernando

2011-09-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

The Miami Paranormal Research Society is set to make our guest appearance on the International Fernando Hidalgo show filmed here in Miami. We will be speaking with the producer tomorrow and from there we will know more about when and where we will be filming. This is such a big opportunity for us. While we aren't about fame and fortune, we are thankful to have this chance to bring our knowledge to an international audience. The producer has agreed to post our information on the screen for fund raising purposes and we desperately do need the funding to further our research and bring more people on board.

Special Notice From the Miami Paranormal Research Society

2011-09-06T18:28:00.001-07:00

The Miami Paranormal Research Society is currently planning paranormal discussion groups here at our office in Oakland Park. Rev. Sinthyia is resisting the use of the term "class" because the fact is there is no such thing as certification in the paranormal field. Our decision to hold these discussion groups comes as a result of many people contacting us, indicating that they would like to learn more about paranormal activity. We do not hold any "open investigations" for privacy reasons but yet it is still very important to us to reach out to those who quest for such knowledge.

This is a chance to learn from the founders of our group who are ordained ministers and members of the prestigious Parapsychological Association. We will be also talking
about fund raising and our planned investigations in Key West and the Biltmore. Please let us know if you are interested in participating or helping out.

For those of you who do not live in Florida or for that matter, the United States, please know that we are also working on a live internet conference feature that will enable you to participate in these activities.

We do not have a date yet, but we do need to hear from those who are interested so that we can plan accordingly.

Thank you,

Miami Paranormal Research Society
miamiparanormalresearch@gmail.com

New Paranormal Discussion Groups

2011-08-31T13:24:00.000-07:00

Are you in Miami or Fort Lauderdale? Would you you like to learn more about the paranormal and interact with like minded people? The Miami Paranormal Research Society will be offering weekly or bi-weekly meetups or discussion groups. Over the years people have asked the MPRS about open investigations so that they can learn more about the paranormal. For privacy reasons, we cannot allow non members to participate in investigations but our discussion groups would allow you to ask questions, share stories and learn about the paranormal. This program is in the planning stages. If you are interested in joining us, or helping out please inquire at loveandlightministries@yahoo.com.

The Value of Miami Paranormal Research

2011-08-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

We are aware that we provide a valuable service to those in need of help and guidance with spiritual issues. Like most reputable research groups, we never charge to do an investigation. We are part of a ministry and so we do ask for an are grateful for any donations whether a couple of dollars or any equipment that interested parties think we could use.

Out of sheer curiosity, we checked on the stats regarding this blog and were just blown away by it's estimated value. See for yourself:

Although we are aware that we do get a lot of page views, we would like to know just who is receiving this revenue from the ads. It sure isn't us. Nevertheless, I jut wanted to thank those who visit us on the web and those of you who express an interest in joining our research team.

Miami Paranormal Research Benefit Sale

2010-10-15T10:21:00.001-07:00

The sale to benefit the Miami Paranormal Research Society is going on
right now October 15, 16th and 17th 2010 at 511 E Commercial Blvd. In Ft. Lauderdale.

Thanks to our friends who are hosting the event for us! You guys are
awesome! There are clothes, games, oil paintings, books, Cds, movies
and other items. If you miss it today or have items to donate, the sale
will continue Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17. Thank you for
your support.

Miami Paranormal Research Benefit Sale

2010-10-15T10:18:00.001-07:00

On Fri Oct 15th, 2010 11:04 AM CDT Rev. Sinthyia Darkness wrote:

>The sale to benefit the Miami Paranormal Research Society is going on
>right now October 15 2010 at 511 E Commercial Blvd. In Ft. Lauderdale.
>Thanks to our friends who are hosting the event for us! You guys are
>awesome! There are clothes, games, oil paintings, books, Cds, movies
>and other items. If you miss it today or have items to donate, the sale
>will continue Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17. Thank you for
>your support.
>
>--
&

Our Blog's New Domain

2010-08-23T07:32:00.000-07:00

Change your bookmarks accordingly. The Miami Paranormal Research Society has a new website. Click here to visit us.

Paranormal Fraud Alert

2010-08-08T11:05:00.000-07:00

Paranormal investigation is a lot like journalism; credibility is everything. Every paranormal group wants to stand out from the crowd and noted for its uniqueness. Sometimes, paranormal investigators go overboard with gratuitous self promotion. Another new paranormal group or website is certainly not newsworthy and we at the Miami Paranormal Research Society have seen many come and go. But as a community as a whole, when any type of deception arises, it reflects negatively on all of us. In Journalism, just like paranormal investigation, information and ideas sometimes appear seemingly from out of nowhere.

This morning, I received a most curious email. The subject line read " Sinthyia: Examiner Editor shares a web site with you.." I have never known the Examiner editors to make any recommendations but when the supervisors do write, the wording sounds very much like this:

Examiner Editor editor@examiner1.com
to Sinthyia (email address redacted)

dateThu, Aug 5, 2010 at 2:44 AM
subjectSinthyia: Examiner Editor shares a web site with you
mailed-byhost.free-press-release.com

Hi Sinthyia,

The examiner.com editors saw this press release and we're hoping you could write an article on this for your area:

New Paranormal Website Mass Most Haunted To Feature Compelling Paranormal Evidence
http://www.free-press-release.com/news-new-paranormal-website-mass-most-haunted-to-feature-compelling-paranormal-evidence-1280999012.html

(Copy & paste the url to address bar if not clickable.)

We will check in with your examiner articles soon and hope to see your article on this for your area!

Thank you,
Examiner Editors

-----------------------------------------------------
http://www.Free-Press-Release.com/
Distribute your news to 100,000+ visitors every day!
Start press release marketing and
Register a free account right now!

I was curious about this letter. I did what any respectable reporter would do, I verified the source. I forwarded the letter to the real Examiner editors for an explanation.

" Could you please verify this email? I was sent this from free-press release.com from an un named "Examiner editor"." I am confused because a new paranormal website created by a name that nobody in the paranormal community has ever heard of is not newsworthy. Also, this is a Massachusetts website and would have nothing to do with a local story.

If someone is sending out spam in the name of the Examiner, I think you may want to know about it.

Kindly let me know.

Thank you,

Sinthyia

Well, my nose finely tuned to sniff out any hint of BS (that comes from 30 years of investigating reports of paranormal activity) was right on the money. I actually hadn't even considered writing any article about this website or its owner until the deception was confirmed.

My editor responded with this,

"Thanks for the heads up Sinthyia- we’re looking into this. It’s not from us so please ignore as spam."

If this were the end, this story would be strange enough. I did a bit of research and found out that Phillip Brunelle the owner of this new paranormal website, is also a writer for the Examiner! Only an Examiner would know how some of the letters are worded that sometimes come from our supervisors http://www.examiner.com/x-58809-Boston-City-Buzz-Examiner~y2010m7d31-Haunted-Accommodations-Inspires-New-Paranormal-Website. He apparently wrote a vanity article (outside the scope of his title) to promote this website and if you look at it, his article is in the exact same wording as his press release.

Considering that credibility is everything in the paranormal, if the owner resorts to such deceptive practices to trick reporters into doing news stories on the "launch" of this website, then it is not unreasonable to question the authenticity of any information you may read there and yes, Mr. Brunelle without having this website up and running is already asking for donations and selling advertising space.

"if ANYONE can ever help me with a donation, whether it's a few dollars or a few hundred, every dollar will help me to get more investigation equipment, to maintain the website, and to have the money needed to travel to, and stay at haunted places. Just click on the donation logo on any page of www.MassMostHaunted.com to help. I'm also looking for advertisers, IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO ADVERTISE ANYTHING AT ALL, EMAIL ME ON THE SITE. "

It is no coincidence that a reporter receives a notice impostering the editorial staff at the Examiner and the owner of the website writes for the Examiner. The honest thing to have done was send an email and say look, I have this new website and I'm trying to get it off the ground. Can you come check it out and maybe do a news story to promote it. Instead, I get the bogus letter demanding that I write a story on Mr. Brunelle and his new "most haunted" website. The matter is under investigation and I will post updates as they become available. Mr. Brunelle is a self-employed photographer and his photography is quite good. In my opinion, he should stick to photography and leave the ghosts in peace.

Encyclopedia Dramatica, are you reading this? They may want to give this some press too.

Update: The Examiner article referenced here has now been removed.

Further reading on Phil Brunelle

Phil Brunelle as Phiilip Daggett

The Taco Bell incident

Phillip Daggett's online feud with Chris Crocker

Previous comments:

Anonymous said...
Phil Brunell already has the image of being a fraud. There is a controversy over some lottery winnings and if he is this millionaire then it is really laughable that he is asking for donations to fund this website.

This was posted last year on walletpop.com by someone using the email address lawoffice@netbusiness.com. Supposedly this was written by his attorney but wouldn't that be a breach of attorney/client privilege? Anyway, the web page has since been removed. The post does not sound like it was written by a lawyer. You be the judge:

LawOffice@netbusiness.com
9:11PM Nov 26 2009

"It became world wide news (literally) when my client Phillip Brunelle had won two different lottery jackpots, two hours apart, making him into a millionaire instantly. Although bigger jackpots had been won in the past, what made his story good to the media was that Phillip Brunelle is in his 20's and that he won two jackpots two hours apart.

The media was all over him for this, and about five months later, they still are! The reason why is because he had not cashed in his winnings right away, so the news began digging things up from his past and since he would not speak to them or report to the news what he was doing with his money.... because he feels as though his finances are his own business.... the media turns around and begins to paint Brunelle in a negative light and making it look as if he lied about winning the lottery and now has the public under the impression that he is a fraud."

This poster suggests that more information can be gained by Googling his name "Phillip Brunelle," or "Phillip Brunelle Lottery."

Massachusetts State Lottery says it has not heard from Phil Brunelle, who formerly used the name of Phillip Daggett. Much has been written in the news media about this man- particularly of some questionable activities like claiming that he ate at McDonald's and became very ill. Two years later in 2006, he claimed that he got sick from eating a Taco at Taco Bell that was tainted by some sort of drug. That turned out to be a false accusation. There is more but you get the picture.

8/07/2010 11:54 PM

Anonymous said...
Mass Most Lottery?

8/08/2010 12:15 AM

Moderators Note:

The Sinthyia Darkness blog was also flooded with comments from "Gerald Sousa-Murphy" and " Darlene Henderson" finally "Phillip Brunelle". Gerald Sousa-Murphy claimed to be an attorney and posted that lawoffice@netbusiness.com email address that one annonymous commenter wrote us about, the quotes from the walletpop.com website. First of all, I know of no attorney that would use a free email service. Interestingly enough our moderators are pretty good and have to be...all of them are investigators with the MPRS after all. The visitor log shows that all comments including the one from this attorney threatening to sue for "slander" and "defamation." and called it "unethical," originated from the SAME IP address of 98.229.91.155! Traces back to New Bedford, MA 02745 internet service Comcast.

The Ghosts of Stull Cemetery

2010-07-31T09:41:00.001-07:00

Promotional photo for Rev. Sinthyia Darkness lecture on Stull Cemetery

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Stull Cemetery sits abandoned and eerily silent. Many who have been here say this cemetery is anything but silent and this activity has earned the cemetery nicknames such as the Devil's Graveyard and the Cemetery of the Damned.

I have reported on several haunted cemeteries around the world. However, Stull Cemetery in Kansas is regarded by many, as one of the seven gateways to hell itself. This is said to be a place so evil, that Satan himself takes part in rituals with his followers. Kansas would not be the first place that would come to anyone's mind at the mention of Satan, and certainly not in mine. Nonetheless, some say, true evil is alive and well in the small town of Stull, which was founded in 1862. The cemetery is located on the edge of the town.
(read full story)

Stull Cememtery

2010-07-21T15:13:00.001-07:00

Stull Cemetery

Stull Cemetery

Stull Cemetery, Stull Kansas

The last time that I spoke with Sheri Young (the activities director for Parks and Recreation from the village of Stickney Illinois), she had asked if I had any additional information about the hauntings of Stull Cemetery. Of course I do! We now travel to a small town in Kansas known as Stull to an abandoned cemetery called Stull Cemetery, but also known as The Devil's Graveyard and the cemetery of the Damned.

I have reported on many haunted cemeteries around the world. However, what sets this one apart from all the others, is that this location is regarded as one of the seven gateways to hell itself.
This place is said to be so evil, that Satan himself takes part in rituals here...

Kansas would not be the first place that would come to anyone's mind when mentioning Satan and certainly not mine.
Nonetheless, some say true evil is alive and well here in Stull, a town founded in 1862. This cemetery is located on the edge of the town.

Stull, initially appears unremarkable. Nothing but about a hundred tombstones and a pile of rubble that was where the church once stood-and the church has its own haunted legends. Somewhere near the church, is supposed to be a stairway that leads into hell. Legends says that many people have stumbled upon this stairway and have never been seen again. Other people have reported encounters with this stairway and have come back up a few weeks later, when it only felt like a few seconds had past to them. Yeah right, try explaining that one to your boss. Although I have to admit, there are a couple of people that I would love to push down that stairway.

It is said that the founders of this town, were practitioners of black magic and that the town's original name was Devil's Lane. The townspeople repented for their deeds and the town was renamed Stull in 1905.

While no official list of the 7 gates of hell is recognized by the Roman Catholic church, Pope John Paul II refused to fly over what he called "the unholy ground" on his way to a speaking engagement in 1995.
This cemetery is named as one of the few places on the planet where Satan will manifest himself in full form.

Once a year, at midnight on Halloween, one of the 7 gateways to hell opens and Satan enters our world. It is here, inside this cemetery, that Satan gathers the evil souls of those who died during the previous year, to allow their souls to roam the earth at midnight.

You may be wondering what is it that draws Satan to this particular spot. I know I certainly was. It is said that Satan chooses this cemetery, because his son, who was only a few days old, is buried somewhere in these grounds. His ghostly figure has been spotted within the cemetery.

The burned out and now demolished church is reputed to be the site of the gateway. On march 29th 2002, the church was demolished. Some people believe that when you destroy a structure, you also destroy the evil. From the research that I have done, this is not always the case. Sometimes the energy can be so strong that a haunting continues regardless of what is destroyed or rebuilt upon the land. This is particularly so when we are talking about a gateway or a portal.

While the chuch was still standing with its roof severely destroyed from a fire, no rain would fall inside of the church.
If this were the end of the tales from this cemetery, Stull would still be considered a very terrifying place. But it doesn't stop there and there are many stories that the locals don't want anyone to know about.

Witches were hung by the townspeople from the giant pine tree inside the graveyard. While other witches would visit at the spring equinox to hold a black mass and pay tribute to the tree that they considered sacred.
The apparitions of the hung witches have been seen swinging from the branches.
The management of the cemetery cut the pine tree down in 1998, stating that the tree had died. However, photographs exist that disprove that the tree had died.

Of course, you will never see this advertised on any tourism brochure, "come to Stull and you may catch a glimpse of our most famous resident lurking in our cemetery." That is, if this is even the correct cemetery. All gateways to hell are protected by a pentagram. A recent story out of Stull claims that 5 cedar trees were planted in "old Stull Cemetery." that mark the five points of a pentagram. But only two of the 5 trees are said to remain there today.
Old stull cemetery." is supposedly located a couple of miles away from the well known Stull cemetery.
the author obtained information from the douglas county genealogical society who said that there are only four cemeteries in Kanwaka township in kansas: Barker lyons mack (which no longer exists), Bidinger, Mound View and of course, Stull. No mention of a former or "old Stull cemetery" though. Makes you wonder just what the heck they're trying to cover up out there.

Rarely will you find anyone willing to comment on this cemetery and this community does not take kindly to outsiders, especially, those snooping for demons

PublishAmerica: an undercover investigative special report

2010-07-15T05:19:00.001-07:00

PublishAmerica has been known by several other names

Sinthyia Darkness

By Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

and Thomas Myers

Part one: A Dream Come True or the Beginning of a Nightmare?

If you Google the words "PublishAmerica scam," your search will return a plethora of results regarding PublishAmerica LLLP. You will hear from some very unhappy authors. The accusations range from poor book quality, formatting issues, lack of editing, books not sold in brick in mortar book stores, books only being sold to the author and their friends and family, royalties not paid for books sold, nasty and unprofessional emails sent to authors who raised any issues about this company, police being sent to their homes, breach of contract and on and on. There have been numerous complaints filed with RipOff Report.com the Better Business Bureau and the Maryland Attorney General. Even the Washington Post did a story about the questionable practices of this (click here to read the full article)

The Fashionable Paranormal

2010-07-10T06:03:00.001-07:00

The paranormal research field just became more fashionable. Our resident fashionista Sinthyia Darkness is now a high fashion columnist in Miami. She has always been on the fashion forefront and now she has an exciting and glamorous job that many of the rest of us wish we had. She has been busy covering fashion week in Paris.

In truth Sinthyia worked as a model from the time she was a little girl and she was successful in fashion just like she is successful in the paranormal research field.

You can check out her new column at the Examiner.

Is Jim Morrison's Ghost Haunting This Mexican Restaurant?

2010-07-09T10:24:00.001-07:00

Is Jim Morrison's ghost haunting this Mexican restaurant?

Is the ghost of Jim Morrison haunting this Mexican restaurant?

AOL

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By Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

July 3rd 2010, marked the 39th anniversary of Jim Morrison's death. Now that we have determined that Jim Morrison is not haunting his Paris grave (at least not in the famous ghost photograph), another sighting of the long dead Doors frontman has been reported. The Mexico Restaurant located at 8512 Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood, has been open for business for about a year. From the 1960s up until Morrison's death in a Paris bathtub, this vibrantly painted pink and red building was known as "The Doors Workshop." The band had their office here, they slept here and recorded here.

read full article

Jim Morrison ghost photo debunked by Miami group

2010-07-08T06:49:00.001-07:00

By Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

original link

The Famous Jim Morrison ghost photograph. Is this Morrison's ghost, or Pepper's Ghost?

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By Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

Has the ghost of the Lizard King been caught on film? The now famous ghostly photograph taken by Tom Petty has made the news again. Apparently some "experts" have declared the photo authentic, meaning that it does not appear that the photograph has been altered in any sort of way. Interestingly, I tried to find a comment of some sort to back up the claim that Tom Petty took this photograph. Tom Petty has never made any such statement that I or anyone else has been able to find. Secondly, Mr. Meisner (the man who has racked up all the publicity over the photo) does not come across as a credible witness. He seems to have too great a motive for having faked this photograph.

There is issue with the photograph itself. The magnified image reveals this so-called ghost. Notice the breaks in the "arms" of this ghost. If you study it closely, you will see that this looks like the revenge Pepper's Ghost. It is clearly a projected image and not one that would have been accomplished by any graphics software or technique. With that in mind, of course the negatives would show no signs of alteration.

On his website, Meisner claims that he first came to Hollywood in 2002. Yet the photo he claims was snapped in 1997. Mr. Meisner claims to have been a famed music journalist and critic and yet prior to going public about this photo, there is very little information on him and I have been unable to locate a single article published in Rolling Stone, Spin, or the long list of credentials he claims to have.

As a result of this photo being taken, Meisner claims his life has been cursed and he was offered the chance to film a reality show called "24 Hours In Hell" in room 32 of the Alta Cienega Motel on the 35th anniversary of Morrison's death. On Brett's Website, he makes this statement: "Jim Morrison's ghost finally defeated by Brett Meisner. Rare footage from Alta Cienega Motel, Room 32 . Rock Critic Brett Meisner had the balls to spend 24 hours in Jim Morrison's former motel room on the 35th anniversary of Jim's death. FOX television was there to document the whole event for an upcoming TV special: Watch the promo clips now... "

Three videos uploaded to Mr. Meisner's YouTube channel, are presented for your viewing pleasure. The first has had its audio disabled. Viewers have posted negative comments and in response, to part 3 of this fiasco, he fires back with " You people are just jealous cause none of you have the balls? to spend a minute alone in that room. Especially the girls-Brett"

Yes, do watch these videos, because it appears that Meisner left his "Balls" elsewhere on the day of this filming. He wouldn't last a minute on my team. I would go out to the Alta Cienega Motel with the members of the Miami Paranormal Research Society. I would stay there an entire week nobody runs out of there. Especially not the girls!

Two minutes into the filming, Meisner flees the hotel room leaving behind a bewildered film crew and producer.

Regarding this photograph which Meisner has attributed to bad luck, he has this to say:

"Meisner is currently trying to find a private and reputable organization to donate the photos and negative. So far he has no takers."

The Miami Paranormal Research Society is more than reputable. They have sent Meisner a letter last year pertaining to this picture. The ghost team expressed desire to examine the negatives as they have photography experts in this organization. Furthermore, it is believed that since Jim Morrison was a Florida native, this photograph should rightfully call Florida its home.

I have worked as a professional model and photographer for more years than I care to say. Photographer Judi Schira is also available to review this evidence. The negatives need to be examined by a film expert, as a few photos taken by the Miami Paranormal Research Society have been. They should be examined by a third party who has nothing to do with the paranormal, no psychics, book writers, show producers, nobody who may have a vested interest in extending the truth. Too many of Jim Morrison's friends and fans have been harmed by this story. The Miami Paranormal Research Society has never received any response from Mr. Meisner and in the letters, it was clearly stated that the research team is willing to take this photograph, if he wanted to give it away because of this supposed curse. Despite this, Meisner continues to claim that he hasn't had any " takers."

"That's a load of bunk," said Rev. Thomas Myers, on of the founders of the research group. "We have sent him two letters expressing our interest in this photograph."

What is haunting this North Miami Residence?

2010-07-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

By Rev. Sinthyia Darkness
original link

12201 NW 21st Court Miami (Unincorporated) is a one family residence in North West Miami. There is
nothing at all remarkable about this house from the outside. It is your typical Miami ranch style house with an iron gate surrounding the property, built in the 1930's. This is a four bedroom, two bathroom residence. However, appearances can be and often are very deceptive in the paranormal world. The Miami Paranormal Research Society investigated this unsettling residence beginning in July of 2008. Immediately, a very negative presence was sensed in this house. You could just feel that something dreadful had happened in the house.

Each night, at about one thirty am, the dogs who were out in the backyard would bark. Many nights the residents would go out to check on them, suspecting a stray animal had entered the yard, but there was nothing was there. Gradually, the story began to unfold and the strange activity began to manifest.

A neighbor was asked questions about the previous residents. He had after all, lived here for the past twenty years.

"There was a older couple," he explained with a distinct Jamaican accent. "They both died in the house. Took a while before anybody came looking for them. Then somebody showed up and took the bodies out."

Members of the Miami Paranormal Research Society also interviewed some of the neighbors. Another neighbor understood that this couple died of some type of an illness. First the husband (who was said to be a very large man) died and then his wife died sometime later. Finding this version suspicious, as the other neighbor stated that more than one body was removed from the property the same day, the investigation continued. What are the chances of a husband and wife dying in the same house from an illness within a short period of time?

I was personally brought in on this case as a sensitive and in the video at the end of this article, it is my voice that you hear describing some of the activity going on. It was during this time that I was going through religious training in preparation for my ordination. This case, much like my work on the Woodlawn Cemetery case, challenged everything that I previously believed about spirits and my religious path. I was able to connect with several misguided souls lingering on this property. The energy in this house was the strongest I had ever encountered in my thirty years of experience. I knew from previous cases that we were not dealing with spirits of those who met their demise by illness. They died a horrible and brutal death.

Meanwhile, some early activity here began with lost objects. A set of keys went missing, only to turn up in a place the residents had looked several times. Tools would also disappear and reappear in different places. Finally, a discussion with another neighbor yielded some answers and confirmed my suspicions; the couple did in fact die in this house. However not by illness but instead by murder.

The mail carrier also spoke of the fact that this house can never stay rented. Nobody stays here more than three or four months. Now some of the pieces were starting to come together. Meanwhile, the paranormal activity was intensifying.

There were several nights when all three resident of this home were awakened by strange noises in the middle of the night. But don't be fooled! Ghost aren't only on the prowl at night. Many unexplainable sounds of objects falling, pounding on the front door, arguing, screams, putrid smells and mysterious shadows have been reported during the daylight hours. Another frequently heard sound was that of objects flying across the room and hitting a wall.

The unexplainable activity wasn't limited to inside the building. The residents reported seeing a shadowy figure carrying a lantern light from one end of the backyard to the other. Thomas Myers of the Miami Paranormal Research Society witnessed the lantern toting specter first-hand. We set up for an all night investigation. I placed the camera on a tri-pod in front of the bedroom window through which this light had been frequently seen. The three minute video clip is what I recorded. You will hear me despite an illness, talk about some of the reported activity. However, all I saw was a pitch black yard. I did not see any lights until after the video was reviewed.

A mysterious orange to red light was recorded in the backyard that seems to have an intelligence about it. At first you can see the light bouncing from the right to left side of the lens and at the end, you see it move slowly from left to right and it disappears from view.

Thomas Myers parked his truck on the concrete patio about five to six feet outside that window. Therefore, the view of this light should have been obstructed but instead, the light passed directly through his truck as if it weren't even there!

The most active part of the house were the two bedrooms on the furthest end of the house. Interestingly, the residents chose the other two bedrooms on the other side of the house to sleep in and the opposite two for storage. The two rooms used as storage were the original bedrooms of the house, while the other two rooms including the second bathroom were later additions. In the room where it is believed the crimes occurred is always very cold or has a cold chill that passes through it. A transient foul odor manifests regardless of how much disinfectant is used.

About a week later, the owner was confronted about the violence that occurred in this residence. She acted like she knew nothing about it. However, further investigating shows that these murders did take place in the house within the last three years and the owners (who have sold the property in 2009) did own this property at the time.

This house has many things going on, including a residual haunting or restligeists. In residual hauntings, events replay over and over. These types of apparitions do not interact with the living because they are not true spirits. Instead these are energy imprints made in time and it replays like a movie that never stops. This residual haunting goes like this: a angry pounding at the front door at about four am. This is followed by conversation. Two men's voices and a woman's voice. These voices were loud enough that we should have been able to hear the words, but couldn't. This is followed by sounds of a fight-the sounds of objects being thrown or knocked down. One witness heard a woman scream. I have felt intuitively that the homicides were the result of the woman's extramarital affair and it was the
boyfriend who showed up here, murdering her and her husband with a pistol.

Residents in this house have also seen the face of an African American male in a bedroom window. He appears for a second, then vanishes. It is not known what connection this apparition has to
this incident if any.

Crime scenes can attract negative energies and malevolent spirits or in worst case scenario demonic presence. Five weeks into this investigation, it became quite obvious that we were dealing with a demonic presence. About midnight, during another all night investigation of the property, an old woman's voice was heard in the hallway near the bathroom "Get ooooouuuuut!" Cameras were quickly pointed in that direction and captured what looks like a face in the window. I did see the face manifest as the cameras rolled and all that stood between it and me was the bathtub. The video reviewed by other members of the Miami Paranormal Research Society and concurred that this is the face of a demon.

A few days later, we returned and although not disclosed to any of the investigators who arrived, one of the residents in response to the face in the window, decided to confront the entity on his own and also sprinkled Holy Water around the house. This of course, did not exorcise the entity but instead only infuriated it and put all of us in serious danger. As a minister, I now do exorcisms and it involves more than forming a sign of the cross on windows or doors with Holy Water. In extreme cases, a proper exorcism is not successful. Regardless of what happens while facing a demonic entity, one must show no fear, for they feed off of it and grow stronger.

I was physically attacked twice while working on this case. Once while I was inside the room where it is believed the people died and the second while inside the laundry room. Once inside the room, the boxes and objects in storage were literally being pushed over on top of me by unseen forces. I could feel what felt like ice cold claws on my neck right before the tug. I heard metal hit the concrete floor. I picked up my cross and got out of there. Neither the black silk cord was still tied around my neck nor the solid silver ring from which the cross was suspended were damaged in any way. Therefore one had passed right through the other an incident which defies scientific explanation. Several witnesses were present and can attest to this fact.

New look for Miami Paranormal Research Society

2010-07-06T04:57:00.000-07:00

We know that you have noticed some big changes in the Miami Paranormal Research Society. We have recently given our website a facelift and as we speak, our HTML is being written for our new website at miamiparanormalresearchsociety.org. Even our founder Sinthyia Darkness has gotten a makeover. She is working on some major projects lately which includes designing her own line of shirts, mugs, mousepads and the like featuring her artwork and photography. She is also writing two columns about the paranormal. One of her columns has been nationally syndicated. In addition to this she is the CEO of her own corporation. What does this mean? It means that the Miami Paranormal Research Society is growing. It means that we will be doing our own radio show soon as well and it means that we are now looking for talented and serious people to join and help us out. Want to join a professional paranormal research organization? Drop us a line. You must be at least 21 years of age. You must have reliable transportation. You do not necesarily need experience working in the paranormal field, just a willingness to learn. Serious inquiries only!

Thank you for your consideration, Mr. Jefferson

2010-07-03T15:11:00.001-07:00

By Thomas Myers

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A Librarian of Congress named James Billington is reflected in a computer screen.

AP Photo

Last year, the Declaration of Indepence was temporarily removed from its display case for the first time in fifteen years for a brief analysis. Scientist Fenella France, while examining the document noticed a smudge beneath the word 'citizens'. It was an apparent revision and France wondered exactly what had been revised. She had been using a new tool called a hyperspectral image analysis.
(full article)

The Biltmore Hotel: ghosts on the American Riviera

2010-07-02T15:51:00.001-07:00

The majestic Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables

Alex Feldstein/GNU Free Documentation License

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By Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

Of all the cities that I have had the privilege of visiting while investigating reports of paranormal activity, my personal favorite is Coral Gables, also known as The City Beautiful. George Merrick developed this area during the 1920's. Coral Gables sparkles with its splendid Mediterranean style.

One of its jewels is the legendary Biltmore Hotel. This is just a magnificent resort, everywhere you look, its opulence at it's finest. It even boasts a 22,000 square foot swimming pool; the largest pool in the country.

Upon its opening on January 1926, the hotel was originally called Bowman Miami Biltmore, in honor of its builder John McEntee Bowman. The grandeur of the Biltmore has drawn the world's elite, including United States Presidents and dignitaries, British royalty to such legendary entertainers as Esther Williams, Judy Garland and Bing Crosby. Infamous guests have also stayed here including Al Capone. I can certainly understand why. This hotel is a place that I would never want to leave and some say that there are spirits of former guests who haven't wanted to leave either.

During World War II, the War Department converted the building for use as the Air Force Regional Hospital and there is documentation that several hundred people died within these walls. During this period, the beautiful marble flooring was covered with plain government issued linoleum.

At the end of the war, the Biltmore was the early home of the University of Miami's medical school. The lower floors were used as a morgue where the cadavers were kept. These were said to be the remains of those who died tragic and even violent deaths. The Biltmore continued to be used by the University of Miami until 1968.

The building sat vacant for a decade (1973-1983) , while the city of Coral Gables decide what to do with it. It was during this time that reports of strange activity began. Passersby and those out on the golf course told of windows opening and closing, lights being seen in the windows, and the sound of music emanating from the once grand building.

In 1983, the Biltmore underwent a 55 million dollar renovation and took four years to complete. On New Years Eve 1987, the Biltmore was welcomed back to its former glory in grand style with a black tie gala. The Biltmore was officially designated as an historic landmark on June 19, 1996. The hotel went on to become the backdrop for popular television shows such as Miami Vice and CSI: Miami . The Biltmore today is renowned as much for its elegance and luxury as it is for its hauntings. There are in fact several ghosts associated with the building.

Of these ghosts, perhaps the most famous are the ones said to haunt the 13th floor and room 702. The ghost of room 702 has been reportedly captured on film. The historians at the Dade Heritage Trust give a weekly tour of the Biltmore and also speak of the ghost of 702. I have inquired about this notorious room 702 with a staff member only to be assured that the Biltmore does not have a room by that number. This is fact. The 7th floor is the location of the Biltmore Hotel's wonderful spa. The Biltmore spa is 12,000 sq. Ft. of sheer luxury and boasts ten treatment rooms. At one time, before the Spa was located here in 2007, there was a room 702.

There have been many credible reports of unexplained noises coming from the 13th floor apparitions of soldiers who died here during the time when it served as the military hospital and sightings of a girl's ghost out on the golf course. There are reports of a ghostly bride, (the so-called Bridal suite is also reportedly closed to the public) objects moving around by themselves, elevators going to floors of which are not currently in use and lights and electrical appliances turning on and off on their own.

The 13th floor is said to be haunted by the restless spirit of gangster Thomas "Fats " Walsh, who was an old friend of Al Capone. Back when the Biltmore first opened the 13th floor was a speakeasy, casino and a suite where Capone and his cronies stayed. Walsh was brutally murdered on the 13th floor and its been reported that strange misty images appear in a mirror in a bathroom of the suite. Walsh' ghost is also said to cause the elevator to stop at the 13th floor for no reason and especially so, if you are a young woman. Walsh was in life quite the ladies man and remains so in death. In fact, he usually shows himself to the ladies at the Biltmore and invites them up to his 13th floor casino.

I was given an eyewitness account of ghost sightings by a source who wishes their identity to remain anonymous. This source had a now former brother in law who was employed at the Biltmore. One day, he got in the elevator and reports that there was another man inside. He got in and stood beside this man. Inside the elevator was a mirror and when he looked in it, he noticed that the other occupant did not cast a reflection. He looked over at the man who was in the elevator with him, only to find that he had vanished. Another day, this employee was in one of the rooms when the phone rang, When he picked it up, no one was there. The really odd thing is that he noticed that the phone was not connected to the wall. During his employment, he knew of a guest's complaint. A lady complained that she was awakened by a man who was wearing a black hat floating at the foot of her bed and then disappeared before her eyes. This happened in the notorious room 702.

There are also the legends of a distraught bride who ended her life at the Biltmore by jumping from a fourth floor balcony.

What happened during my visit to the hotel? Would I also see the ghost of Mr. Walsh? Not exactly, but what really happened was very compelling. I visited with the Miami Paranormal Research Society. At in the lounge area on the ground floor, although the light was quite dim and therefore, unable to capture any clear images of the historical photographs on the walls, we did manage to record a strange EVP. In the recording, you can hear the distinct sound of piano music that was not heard while walking through that area. I did not recognize the melody, but it was an old ragtime tune.

Out into a brightly lit corridor, there was a large print of an aerial view of the Biltmore circa 1930. Thomas Myers of the Miami Paranormal Research Society, took a still photo and when reviewing the footage, it was discovered that he captured no image of the aerial view of the Biltmore, but instead what looks like a bride covered by a sheer white veil. Was this the ghostly bride who haunts the halls of the Biltmore? Its possible.

The staff members I contacted did not want to discuss any hauntings- at least not on record. The only one who would confirm the ghostly hotel guests wishes to remain anonymous. While this hotel apparently, does not want any potential visitors scared away, many other local businesses, hotels and historic buildings have capitalized on their ghosts. The paranormal is big business now and is sure to draw a crowd. Despite this secrecy, the Biltmore's ghostly legends is the topic of discussion here every Thursday night.

Arrests Made in Miami Beach Resort Homicide

2010-07-02T15:47:00.001-07:00

Duran Reed

Miami-Dade Corrections

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Breaking News: Homicide at Miami Beach Resort

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By Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

Miami Beach police have just released more information on the homicide that took place at the Miami Beach Resort and Spa on Collins Avenue this past Saturday night. The Russian tourist who was the victim in this shooting has been identified as Roman Gubanov, age 38. Gubanov and a friend had hired a couple of prostitutes for the evening and it was previously reported that a pimp showed up and shot Mr. Gubanov in the torso. The pimp and the prostitutes fled the scene before police arrived.

Duran Reed and Turaine Burges have been arrested in connection with this crime. In fact, Miami Beach Police Chief Carlos Noriega states that there have been several arrests made in connection with this crime but refuses to disclose their identities to the news media at this time.

Police say the homicide was over a drug deal gone wrong. Mr. Reed was attempting to rob the two men in their hotel room, spraying them with pepper spray during the altercation that took place right before the shooting. Turaine Burges, is currently hospitalized after accidentally shooting himself during the incident.

Miami MetroZoo gets new name today

2010-07-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

The old MetroZoo sign

Sinthyia Darkness

By Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

The history of the Miami Zoo dates back to 1948, when two bears, three monkeys and a goat were purchased for $270 and was known as the Crandon Park Zoo. Hurricane Betsy hit the area in 1965, leaving most of the zoo standing in three feet of water and causing the deaths of 250 animals. At that time, there were plans to purchase land to expand the Miami Zoo. By the year 1967, the zoo had grown to a collection of over 1,200 animals. Even then, it ranked within the top twenty-five zoos in the United States. In December of 1970, Dade County purchased the 600 acres of land that had formerly served as the Richmond Naval Air Station. Construction began in 1975 and the Miami MetroZoo opened 30 years ago on July 4th, 1980.

Today the Miami Zoo is the largest and oldest zoo in the state of Florida and is the only sub-tropical zoo within the continental United States.

The Miami Metrozoo is celebrating its anniversary with a name change and some special treats for zoo goers who join in the celebration. Although not all Miami residents are happy about the name change.

At 10 am on Friday, the zoo will officially announce that Metrozoo is now called the Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens or Zoo Miami.

There will be 80's style entertainment at the zoo throughout the weekend. Time to pull out those lace leggings and jelly bracelets. On July 3rd and 4th, there will be an 80's costume judging contests.

Promotional merchandise commemorating the special event will be handed out to first 1,000 visitors on July 3rd to the 5th.

Our zoo has been constantly rated as one of the best zoos in the United States and with good reason. I was there for the grand opening of the spectacular Amazon and Beyond exhibit back in December 2008. The exhibit is enormous, spanning 27 acres which is larger than most zoological parks in the country. The name is being changed because of its world-class status.

"Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens is more consistent with that of other leading world-class zoos and it better encompasses the variety of flora and fauna found there, " says the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department, the Zoological Society of Florida and the MetroZoo Oversight Board.

What do you think about the zoo's name change?

Facebook's Name Game

2010-06-30T18:27:00.001-07:00

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Screenshot of Facebook rejection.

Thomas Myers

Facebook is currently the largest networking site on the net. With over 350 million members worldwide, Facebook has the largest networking pool in the world. I'm sure all of you have received those unsolicited messages saying "John Smith has invited you to log into Facebook." All in all, Facebook is the most important pieces of internet technology today. It has helped industries move forward, nobodies become celebrities, struggling writers become literary giants, and governments to reach the masses. (read full article)

Fiendish BP disposing of evidence to limit their liability

2010-06-28T09:49:00.001-07:00

A nesting Kemp's Ridley sea turtle

nps.gov

By Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

Just when I thought that no news coming from the BP oil spill disaster could shock me; just when I think I have heard the worst possible scenario, something else is revealed that shakes me to my core. In a ghoulish plan to reduce their liability, British Petroleum is disposing of the evidence. The Endangered Species Act found here provides that fines and criminal prosecution be brought against those harming endangered wildlife. The only words that come close to describing this horror are fiendish, ghoulish and despicable.

Five species of extremely rare sea turtles are found in the Gulf of Mexico and there is a large population of them within seven miles of the blown Macondo well. Since the BP oil disaster began in April, over three hundred sea turtles have been rescued from the oil polluted waters.

Kemp's Ridley sea turtles are the rarest of these species affected. The Endangered Species act does designated them as endangered and thus protected under federal law. The government is saving the bodies of the wildlife recovered as they tally how much BP inevitable must pay in restitution. However, it has been disclosed that BP is now burning these rare turtles and other wildlife in what appears to be a despicable attempt to dodge additional fines. Penalties include possible prison sentence and fines ranging from $25,000-$50,000. No bodies no evidence, right? It is impossible to say just how many of these majestic creatures have been burned alive. I am an animal lover and a turtle lover and I am appalled as I am sure most of you reading this are as well, by the blatant level of cruelty and disregard for our precious Eco-system demonstrated by BP and the United States government who are allowing this to continue.

If you or I caused this damage which in my opinion is criminal, we would already be behind bars. However, since it is the oil barons at issue, who donate obscene amounts to politicians election campaigns, BP remains in charge. BP has already proven they cannot be trusted and that they are not competent to get a grip on this runaway oil well. BP has lied to the government and to the public about the amount of oil leaking from the well, from day one. The United States government needs to ban BP from this crime scene and take the initiative to fix it. Clearly, BP's agenda is in recovering as much oil as they can, at the expense to our wildlife and ultimately to humans. A fact that most people are overlooking is the domino affect this disaster is going to have.

Captain Mike Ellis, is involved in what was to be a three-week turtle rescue operation, told conservation biologist Catherine Craig in an interview that BP ran the rescue workers out of the area. They shut down the boats, preventing them from going in to rescue the turtles.
"They ran us out of there and then they shut us down, they would not let us get back in there," Ellis explained.

During these controlled burns, oil is corralled by booms and pulled out to sea and burned. Endangered turtles and whatever else is in that vicinity gets swept up along with the oil and set on fire.
"Once the turtles get in there they can't get out," Ellis said.

The way God's creatures are treated is surely the measure of a man (or woman) and right now, the officials at BP and the United States government have never been lower.
____________________________________________________________________________

The Miami Paranormal Research Society has created some merchandise that is being sold to benefit animal rescue organizations involved in the Gulf of Mexico disaster.

Captain Mike Ellis discussed turtle rescue efforts

The haunted legend of Henry Flagler and the Ponce de León Hotel, St. Augustine

2010-06-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

Ponce de Leon Hotel, now Flagler College

placesaroundfl/placesaroundflorida.com

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by Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

Henry Flagler was born in 1830 and was a partner and friend of John Rockefeller who both made their fortunes with the Standard Oil Company. In 1853, he married the daughter of his step-uncle, Ms. Mary Harkness. The couple had three children, Jennie Louise, Carrie and Harry Harkness Flagler. Carrie was only three years old when she died on December 7, 1861. In about 1878, Flagler retired from Standard Oil and he visited Florida with his wife Mary who was suffering from tuberculosis. Their visit to Florida was per her physician's advice who felt that the mild weather would be beneficial to her health. Despite the mild climate, Mary's health continued to decline and she passed away in on May 18, 1881 at the age of 48.

Mary Harkness was initially buried with an extravagant and costly monument placed over her grave. Her monument there was forty feet fall, measured twenty-six feet in diameter and carried a fifty thousand dollar pricetag. Tragedy would befall this family again in 1889, when Flagler's infant grand-daughter Margery died nine hours after her birth February 9, 1889 . She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, in New York alongside her grandmother Mary. Jennie Louise Flagler Benedict would soon follow her daughter in death on March 25, 1889, dying of complications resulting from childbirth at age 34. Daughter Jennie was buried at Memorial Presbyterian Church, Florida's first Presbyterian church which was established by Henry Flagler in memory of his daughter. Flagler instructed the undertaker to bury Jennie and her baby Margery together. On November 12, 1906, a request was submitted to have the body of Mary Flagler exhumed from Woodlawn Cemetery and transported to St. Augustine, where she was reinterred in the family masoleum beside her daughter and grand daughter.

By this time Flagler had already to remarried to Ida Alice Shourds in 1883 and there is evidence that Flagler actually developed the Florida legislation that allowed him to marry a second wife. Ida Alice had been Mary Flagler's nurse. The couple had visited St. Augustine and it was there that Henry saw the potential to turn Florida into a tourist trap. Unfortunately, it was his marriage to Ida that strained his relationship with his son Harry.

In St. Augustine, Flagler built two new hotels; the Alcazar and the Ponce de Leon. He also acquired a third hotel and renamed it the Cordova. Construction on Hotel Ponce de Leon began in 1885. Flagler purchased and developed several railroads and he would continue to improve railroad travel through eastern Florida for the next few decades.

The Ponce De Leon Hotel was designed by New York architect Thomas Hastings. It is built in Spanish Renaissance Revival style, modeled after a Moorish castle and is one of the grandest hotels ever built within the state of Florida. The interior is adorned with Tiffany stained glass, mosaics and terra-cotta relief.

Like the Biltmore in Coral Gables, it has hosted it's share of the rich and famous, from Teddy Roosevelt to Mark Twain and baseball legend Babe Ruth. The hotel was one of the few of Henry Flagler's hotels that were not casualties of the Great Depression.

Throughout most of its history, the Ponce De Leon was a segregated hotel. Of course, St. Augustine itself was a racially divided city. Dr. Martin Luther King called St. Augustine "the most lawless city in America." The Ponce de Leon Hotel was open exclusively to whites up until the year 1963. That was the year that vice President Lyndon Johnson had been invited to attend a banquet in honor of the city of St. Augustine's 400- year anniversary. St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States. Civil Rights activists protested the exclusion of blacks from this event and as a result, two dining tables were reserved for colored attendees. This incident prompted Martin Luther King to lead demonstrations in St. Augustine the following year in 1964.

On March 1, 1964, the opulent Ponce De Leon hotel's dining room was the location of a sit in lead by King and many other activists. The events that transpired in St. Augustine were directly responsible for the passage of the Civil Rights Act. The hotel was sold in 1967 and re-opened as Flagler College in 1968.

This building is said to be haunted by several spirits; one of them, Flagler's insane second wife Ida Alice. There are three conflicting stories as to just who died on the fourth floor and whose restless spirit still lingers. One story says that Henry Flagler Had his wife locked up in one of the rooms on the fourth floor and then after Ida tried to commit suicide, he had her committed. Some say he did so to remarry his daughter's friend. At this time in history, insanity was not ground for divorce either in the state of Florida or Flagler's home state of New York. Henry Flagler proposed and passed Florida law making insanity legal grounds for divorce- a law later repealed. However Flagler went on to marry his third wife Mary Lily Kenan.

The second version of the mysterious events of the fourth floor, tells that Ida succeeded in committing suicide by hanging herself in that room. Yet another story is much different and tells that Henry Flagler had a mistress and that one day his wife Ida showed up unexpectedly at the hotel. Henry Flagler is said to have hidden his mistress in the fourth floor room and that it was his mistress who hung herself from a chandelier. I believe, the latter version is most likely to be true. Whomever killed themselves on the fourth floor, it was not Ida Alice, although I can see how people might think so.

Allow me to share with you a bit of the interesting history that I discovered about Ida Alice that may clear up some of the confusion. She was born the daughter of an Episcopalian minister in 1848. Her father died when she was quite young and so for most of her life lived in poverty. Because of her low social class, she was not accepted by the well to do, with whom Flagler surrounded himself. This was especially so in New York. Ida worked briefly as an actress before deciding upon being a nurse.

There are some historical accounts of Ida Alice's mental instability. Ida Alice began interacting with a Ouija Board and began communication with the Czar of Russia. The use of the Ouija board itself is not unusual when you consider that this was the Victorian period during which time, interest in the paranormal was almost as great as it is today. However, it was at this point that she did have a break from reality, truly believing that the Czar was her husband.

Ida would display sudden outbursts of anger and there were rumors of opiate dependence. Ida was aggrieved because she could not bear any children. Ida Alice was sent away briefly for treatment and while she was gone, the Ouija board disposed of. Upon her return, someone had given her yet another Ouija board and the little progress her psychiatric treatment had been undone. Her doctor came to see her and it was then that she attempted to stab him to death with a pair of scissors. Shortly after, in the year 1899 she was legally declared insane and committed to a sanitarium in Central Valley New York.

Flagler's divorce from Ida was finalized in August 1901. Within three days, Henry Flagler did marry Mary Lily whom he had known for the past eight years. `

Henry Flagler had set up a fund of one million dollars, to provide for his ex wife's care. Ida passed away on July 13, 1930 in the sanitarium. I think the saddest part of Ida's history, is the legal battle over the money that Henry Flagler set aside for her. The one million dollars accrued interest and when Ida passed away, she had over twelve million dollars. She had aunts, Uncles, cousins and grand-nieces all coming forward to claim their share, filing petitions as to why they were deserving of the money.

Despite the fact that she did not meet her end in this building, her spirit had returned and never left. Many witnesses who have seen her apparition were later able to identify her from photographs. That is not at all unusual for spirits to linger at locations to which they have strong emotional connections.

As previously stated, this building is now a Flagler college and the door to this particular suicide room reportedly is the only locked door- off limits to students and faculty. This area is now known as Ponce Hall and used as the girl's dorm. It has been reported that phantom music that is heard on the third floor and reportedly is coming from upstairs on the 4th floor. Although the floor is now empty, it once served as the ballroom and does explain the music of a bygone era.

Perhaps the most famous ghost of this building is the Lady In Blue. The Lady In Blue was a guest of the hotel, who has never left. During her earthly stay, she met and had an affair with a married man. The affair resulted in a pregnancy. The woman wanted her lover to divorce his wife and marry her. There was an emotional scene at the hotel where the lady, her lover and his wife met at the hotel and discussed the possibility of their divorce. The Lady In Blue stood up and ran upstairs, heading for her room. On her way up the steps she tripped over her skirt and tumbled down the stairs to her death. Her ghost is one of the most frequently reported. She has been seen and heard crying in the hallways in the middle of the night and sitting in the dining room.

Another ghostly resident is a little boy who fell to his death in the hotel. Many people have reported having a little boy tugging at them, asking them to play with him. Others have reported seeing a ball bouncing or rolling down the hallways.

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. In 2009, Flagler College refused to allow a Freedom Trail marker to be placed on the property. This marker was intended to commemorate its part in the civil rights movement.

The Ghostly and Ghoulish Legends of Key West Cemetery

2010-06-28T08:02:00.001-07:00

The tomb of Elena Milagro De Hoyos, Key West Cemetery

Florida State Archives

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Located at 701 Passover Lane, Key West Cemetery was established in 1847 and declared an historical landmark, this 20- acre cemetery, located on Solares Hill. The original Key West Cemetery, was established long before this and was located on Whitehead Pointe. A hurricane on October 11,1846 had washed the bodies from the sand dunes and were re-interred here. Old Key West cemetery is the final resting place of the twenty-seven sailors killed on the USS Maine when it sank in 1898. The ship's mast was used as a most unusual grave marker. An iron fence surrounds the burial plot of the fallen soldiers. Many of the soldier's markers do not have named inscribed upon them, as their remains could not be identified. This plot is also the burial place of one hundred thirty Civil War soldiers. Perhaps the oddest of the burials within this soldier's plot, is the body of a nine- month old little girl, who passed away in 1918. No one has ever figured out why she was buried here. There is an estimated 60,000-100,000 burials in Key West Cemetery. No one can say exactly how many people are buried here because of the lack of records and many unmarked graves.

What is remarkable about this old graveyard is the overwhelming energy that you feel when you enter. Some of the older crypts are rising from the ground or sinking. Sometimes you hear an eerie cracking sound, as the ground settles and crypts crack open exposing the remains. In this cemetery, bodies are literally stacked upon each other sometimes three or four bodies high. The locals speak of hearing disembodied voices and apparitions floating thru the cemetery. It is no wonder that this cemetery has so much unrest considering all of the desecration and even body snatching. Key West Cemetery is also the final resting place of unidentified bodies of those who have been found dead by homicide or suicide in the Keys.

Key West Cemetery is also the final resting place of several members of the Otto Family, including Gene Otto, owner of the world famour Robert the haunted doll.

One of the eeriest tales from this cemetery involves a man whose love for a young woman, of Cuban descent drove him to one of the oddest cases of body snatching. Doctor Carl Tanzler was born in Germany Feb 8, 1877 and he was employed at the United States Marine Hospital in Key West. During his work at the hospital, he had met a young tuberculosis patient named Elena Milagro De Hoyos. She had married Luis Mesa in 1926. When Elena miscarried their child, Luis left her.

Doctor Tanzler was quite an eccentric man who dubbed himself Count and boasted about being an inventor, and a sea captain who had acquired nine college degrees; none of which were true. Tanzler, who was a German immigrant told people that he was born in a Dresden castle that was very haunted. In 1931, when this bizarre tale begins, Elena was twenty -one and the doctor, well into his fifties.

Doctor Tanzler used his medical knowledge to try to find a treatment for Elena and from there his strange obsession with her grew. He treated his patient with an X-ray machine and a concoction he made from h2o and gold. He came to her home with his medical inventions and he also showered her with jewelry. Despite his treatment, his beloved patient died on October 25, 1931. Doctor Tanzler even paid for her funeral and had an elaborate mausoleum constructed at the Key West Cemetery. He visited her body every evening after work. At the time of her death, she was still married to Luis Mesa and the doctor was separated from his wife with whom he had two daughters.

Tanzler would visit Elena's grave every evening. Initially, Elena's family buried her in a modest grave. Doctor Tanzler was finally able to gain her parent's permission to have her body exhumed and re-interned in an elaborate mausoleum that the doctor bought for her. Doctor Tanzler was appalled when he learned that his beloved had not been embalmed. It was most likely this knowledge from which his bizarre obsession to preserve her began.

During the nights when he visited Elena inside the mausoleum, he believed that she was singing to him. Doctor Tanzler was convinced that one's spirit does not die, but rather lies in a dormant state within the body. The Doctor also believed that his great love asked him to remove her from the mausoleum and that is exactly what he did.

Two years after her death, Doctor Tanzler hauled her remains to his house, where he altered the corpse to preserve it and deter decomposition. He attached the bones with piano wire, filled the chest cavity with pillow stuffing, her decomposed skin was replaced by a wax and silk combination. He dressed the body in a wedding dress and kept her beside him in his bed. There is also evidence that he participated in necrophilia.

Elena 's sister Florinda had heard all the rumors about the doctor's nights in the mausoleum and she tried unsuccessfully to get the police to search his home. In 1940, Florinda went to Doctor Tanzler's house to confront him. There, she saw the ghoulish sight of the body of her sister Maria who had been dead for nine years.

A week later, the police showed up to arrest the doctor. Tanzler was arrested and he stood trial for "wantonly and maliciously destroying a grave and removing a body without authorization." This gruesome story made national and international news. This story of undying devotion had been romanticized and as if the grave robbing was not strange enough, the public's reaction added to the spectacle. A well- respected attorney volunteered to defend the doctor at his trial. A stranger posted his bond. Songs were written about the doctor's love for Maria. Understandably, the De Hoyos family were repulsed by the doctor's conduct.

Tanzler was freed, because the statute of limitations on grave robbing had expired. When he could not be convicted, Tanzler had asked that the body be returned to him. The judge denied his request.

Maria's body was recovered and examined by medical professionals. Undertakers of the day had actually praised the doctor's techniques. Her remains were put on display at the Dean-Lopez funeral home located at 418 Simonton Street, where several thousand people viewed it. .She was re-interred in Key West cemetery in an unmarked grave. After the incident the notorious count profited from all the media attention. He turned his laboratory that was involved in his ghoulish caper, into an attraction to which he charged the admission price of a quarter. When the novelty wore off, the count skipped town. No one knows what became of doctor Tanzler, the life- sized effigy he created in Maria's likeness or the death mask he made of her.

The true story of Carl Tanzler

The legend Of Madame Delphine Lalaurie

2010-06-28T07:58:00.001-07:00

© Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

A La Nouvelle Orleans

"Orleans , Gentilly, Pontalba, Marigny, Bourbon! Bourbon!"

These are the words that come to me (The haunting turn of an old refrain)

From the Siren City beside the sea, Child of the valour of France and Spain,

She sits there weaving her olden spells.

The years through her lissom fingers run To form but a chaplet whereon she tells,

The names of her lovers, one by one! Gayoso, Galves, Bougligny, Caso, Calvo, Derbigny!

Don Almonaster's bells intone: For Bienville and for Serigny,

For D'Iberville, for Assigny, They make incessant moan.

Orleans , Gentilly, Pontalba, Marigny, Bourbon! Bourbon!

- William McLennan

Most paranormal enthusiasts have heard of the notorious Madame Delphine Lalaurie who lived in New Orleans. The legendary Lalaurie mansion, is considered the Holy Grail of the Paranormal world. This is one of those truly rare cases where the history is haunting to the researcher. I have heard many shocking things in my line of work but I have to say that the LaLaurie case is just one that is just so far beyond imagination.

The details and accusations can only be compared to driving past a train wreck or a plane crash. You tell yourself that you really don't want to look; yet you can't look away. As a human being, you do not want to believe that another human is capable of the horrors that Madame Delphine has been accused of inflicting. All the more horrific is the realization that you are a descendant of such an infamous and controversial figure.

Marie Delphine Macarty was born in 1775 into an upper class, Creole family and although her first name was Marie, she preferred to be called Delphine as she felt it sounded more distinguished. Her parents were Barthelemy Louis Chevalier de Maccarthy and Marie Jean Lecomte Maccarthy. Their last name was later shortened to McCarty. Barthelemy's parents were Chevalier Macarty and Françoise Helene Pellerin, prominent land owners in Louisiana and established the family plantation in New Orleans. Barthelemy was their second son. He married the widow Marie Jean Lecomte. Barthelemy had an older brother named Augustin Guilllaume de Mccarty who was born on May 5th, 1745 in New Orleans. He also had an older sister named Mademoiselle Jeanne de Macarty. Mademoiselle Jean owned so much property that her entire estate later became the suburb Carollton. Delphine was also one of five siblings.

Her parents were brutally murdered by their slaves during a revolt on their Louisiana property. Delphine was a very young girl at the time and she was witness to the crimes. I think that had very much to do with her actions, her obvious hatred towards her servants. Not to explain away her crimes, but can you imagine as a child, being witness to something so gruesome? How can that not stay forever etched upon you psyche? In my opinion, I believe that this experience made her so contemptuous toward slaves that she felt justified in treating them the way she did. Take that, along with the attitudes of the time period; when slaves were seen as less than human, lower than animals and there you have it. I am not trying to explain away her actions but perhaps I can shed a bit of light on why she did these things.

Back then, there was no real treatment for trauma like this. You would just be locked away in an attic or a sanitarium, where the "treatment" was far worse than the affliction. If you weren't completely insane when you arrived, you would soon be.

However, I have absolutely no clue as to why Dr. LaLaurie went right along with her behavior and did in fact take part in these acts. That surely is one of the blanks that I cannot fill in. In her writings, Delphine comes across as an intelligent, sophisticated and kind woman. The same has been said about her by those who were guests at her house.

Barthelemy Macarty's nephew was Augustin Francois de Maccarty. He was born to Augustin Gullaume de Maccarty and Jeanne Chauvin de Lery on January 10, 1774. Augustin had a younger brother Jean Baptiste who was born in 1776. Augustin served as the 6th mayor of New Orleans from 1815 to 1820. He won his first term in office in 1815 because he was the only candidate. After 1820, Augustin retired and did not seek re-election. There are conflicting stories about Augustin's private life. Some sources say that he had married, others say that he never married Either way Augustin had close ties to a free woman of color named Celeste Perrault for over half a century. There is evidence that they did have a child together. Augustin Macarty owned a large tract of land in New Orleans and in fact, his plantation neighbored the plantation owned by Andrew Jackson. Jackson's plantation served as the headquarters during the battle of New Orleans. Augustin did so many wonderful things for the people of this city, such as establishing public services including the Board of Health. The establishment of the Board of Health, arose from a Yellow Fever epidemic that killed about over a thousand people in Louisiana within a five month time period in the year 1817. Mayor Augustin de Macarty had the city's first shipment of ice dumped into the river because he feared that consuming the frozen commodity would cause consumption (an early term for Tuberculosis). Augustin died in 1844 at the age of 70.

Delphine's first husband was Don Ramon de Lopez y Angulo whom she married on March 26,1800. Their ceremony took place at the St. Louis Cathedral by the first bishop of the Diocese in Louisiana, Luis de Penalver y Cardenas. Don was a high-ranking officer in the Spanish Army. He was the son of Lord Don Jose Antonio de Lopez y Angula and Dona Ana Fernande de Angule. Great Grandmother was his second wife. There is a very interesting story about their marriage. As it turns out, they married without consent from the King of Spain. This had very serious repercussions on his military career and his social standing in New Orleans when this fact was uncovered. For this deed, Don Ramon was forced to appear before the Spanish Court and was exiled to San Sebastian. In March of 1804, Spain gave Louisiana to the United States and Ramon de Lopez y Angulo received a pardon. He died of heart failure on the USS Ulysses on his way back to Louisiana. He was buried in his homeland Havana. Grandmother traveled there to bury her husband. While she was there, she gave birth to her first child, Marie Françoise Borja Lopez y Angula de Candelaria. She was named after Don Ramon's grandmother, Dona Francisca Borja Enecis. Marie was known as Borquita to the family.

Delphine remarried on June 16, 1808 to a man named Jean Pierre Palin Blanque who was an attorney, a banker, a lawmaker and a slave trader. Jean Blanque had come to New Orleans in 1803. Considering his prominent role in commerce, there is substantial historical documentation about him. They had four children together whom were born at their residence known as at 409 Royal Street. The eldest was daughter Marie Louise Jeanne who was born in 1815. Their other three children's names were, Jean Louis Leonard LaLaurie, Louise Marie Laure Blanque, and Marie Louise Pauline Blanque. Jean Blanque died in February 1816.

There are some people who have written articles, professing to know the family's history whom have written erroneously that Don Ramon de Lopez and Borquita had also been murdered by slaves. Her children, managed to live long and prosperous lives. Delphine had a total of six children, fathered by her three husbands. She had one child with her first husband Don Ramon. Four children with her second husband Jean Blanque and one with her third husband Dr. LaLaurie. Borquita grew up and married Placide Forstall. The Forstall's were a notable family in Louisina. Jeanne Blanque married Charles Auguste de Lassus who was the son of Don Carle de Lassus, governor twice elected. Her daughter, "Borquita" died in New Orleans in 1884. Jeanne Pierre Paulin Blanque also died in New Orleans in the year 1868. Jean Louis Leonard LaLaurie died in New Orleans in 1883. Her other three daughters, Louise Marie Laure Blanque, Marie Louise Pauline Blanque and Marie Louise Jeanne Blanque died in Paris.

Delphine remarried a third and final time to a prominent physician named Dr. Leonard Louis Nicolas Lalaurie on June 12, 1824. Dr. LaLaurie was originally from Villeneuse-sur-Lot France who immigrated here to start a successful medical practice. In 1828, Delphine sold the family plantation to Martin Duralde. Delphine LaLaurie, purchased lots for the construction of a new house on September 12, 1831. Upon this land, Edmond Soniet de Fossat constructed a magnificent mansion in the French Quarter at 1140 Royal Street.

This address was quite appropriate for the LaLauries as they reigned as social elite. No other building stood here before its construction. The house that sits there today is not the original structure. The building as we see today is a much larger version of the original and that brings us to the dark side of Madame Lalaurie.

I was hesitant about authoring this true account of what happened as I thought many in the paranormal community may be "disappointed." After all, the Lalaurie mansion is the Holy Grail of the paranormal world. However, I am not one to embellish a story or a history just for the sake of making it "scarier." The reason people buy my books is because of all the research I do and sometimes that research dispels the myths surrounding these locations. Delphine Lalurie was no Saint but she is not guilty of some of the atrocities that she has been accused of.

It is true that Madame Lalaurie was abusive to her slaves. There is considerable documentation to back that up. In fact, around 1832, she had emancipated several slaves. She was abusive to those slaves who displeased her. On April 10, 1834, a was fire set in the kitchen by a slave. Now the modern stories circulating on the internet tell us that the house itself was ablaze. However, local newspaper articles dated between April 10 to 15 1834 indicated that the fire was not in the residence itself but instead in the back service wing. The kitchen was on the ground floor and the slave quarters were on the floor above.

A legal deposition given by a Judge who was on the scene described seven starved and abused slaves who were removed to safety and none of them died. There is documentation that a slave was in fact chained up in the kitchen, but the articles do not specify where i.e., the stove.

Upon the discovery of the condition of the slaves, a riot did break out. The angry mob literally tore down the original Lalaurie house. In the aftermath, only two walls were left intact.

The story about the attic and the supposed chamber of horrors and has been embellished to say the least. It is 100% fiction. There were no medical experiments, jars of body parts and all the ghoulish stomach turning details.

The angry mob had nonetheless come for the Doctor and Mrs. Lalaurie. The couple managed to escape, with the help of one of their slaves who drove the coach. The man who saved their lives from the lynch mob was never emancipated. It is my belief that they fled to Paris. They left New Orleans on April 10, 1834. Before leaving New Orleans, Delphine gave her some in law Placide Forstall power of attorney. Dr. Lalaurie signed over power of attorney to another of Delphine's sons in law, Auguste de Lassus.

There are articles online that point to Madame Lalaurie possibly being one of the first victims of yellow journalism due to the conflicting news articles. I wondered about this myself. However, the notion that these accusations were the result of jealousy, on the part of Monsier Montreuil who was a neighbor, was started in the 1920's by Delphine's decendents. These relatives were able to convince several local journalists and authors to write articles in her defense.

Just how did the gruesome tales of the little girl jumping off the roof to her death and the medical experiments and body parts get started? I have been corresponding with historian and upcoming author Carolyn Long about the specifics of the Lalaurie case. Ms. Long has written a much anticipated academic historical account of Madame Lalaurie. Her book is due out in the spring of 2011. Carolyn Long , who has been researching the Lalaurie family for several years, is an expert on the history of Madame Lalaurie. She did shed light on many of the points of this case that just did not add up.

As for the story about the little girl jumping off the roof and into the courtyard to her death, A visitor to New Orleans in 1836 was told the Lalaurie story about the little girl falling off of the roof by some of the locals. This person told people, who told others and the story is still going strong on the internet. The newspaper articles of 1834 newspapers do say that a child's skeleton was found at the bottom of an old well in the courtyard. It is a fact that Delphine Lalaurie did own a female slave who died in 1831. There was a formal funeral for this child however, with service performed by a priest. Considering this, I have to agree with Carolyn Long that it is highly doubtful that her body was discarded in a well after the funeral. This solves one mystery but opens the door to another; just who was the little girl found at the bottom of the well?

As for the story about the grotesque medical experiments, that started in a book written by Jeanne Delavigne, titled "Ghost Stories of Old New Orleans" published in 1946. The Lalaurie story was embellished in the chapter "The haunted House of Rue Royale." Since then, the tales have been reprinted and many paranormal websites continue to embellish (and relish) these disgusting tales.

The most recent development, is the claim that while undergoing a recent renovation, seventy five bodies were discovered underneath a wooden floor in the kitchen and that these remains date back to Delphine's era. Furthermore, the victims are said to have been buried alive. That story as it turns out, is again 100% fiction and does not even match historical fact. Both the fire and the riot destroyed that house and a new foundation was laid before it could be rebuilt. If there were any bodies to be found, surely they would have been found then. In fact, that was the very reason why the original Lalaurie house was destroyed by the mob; they were searching for possible victims.

More paranormal writers and groups should do their historical research instead of propelling fiction. After all, the goal of paranormal research is to find truth. The paranormal community anxiously awaits the release of M s. Long's book. She is a very nice lady and it was a pleasure to speak with her. I will be one of the first in line to purchase a copy of her book.

There is historical evidence to support the beliefs that Madame Delphine Lalaurie had in fact abused and multilated her slaves. There is also this newspaper article about her dated April 12, 1834

The narrative in this video is the story about Delphine Lalaurie that has been widely accepted as fac

As NASA discontinues its shuttle program, we're left to wonder what happens next

2010-06-27T16:13:00.001-07:00

As NASA discontinues its shuttle program we're left to wonder what happens next

It has become common knowledge that that NASA intends to discontinue its shuttle program later this year. This brings our current space program to an impasse. Due to what many speculate are financial woes, the development of the replacement...read more

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Ocean Energy a viable alternative?

2010-06-27T16:11:00.001-07:00

Ocean energy a viable alternative?

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Christopher the Haunted Bear in Miami

2010-06-27T15:00:00.001-07:00

Christopher the bear

Miami Paranormal Research Society

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The Miami Paranormal Research Society specializes in haunted dolls and other items. They have quite a collection of dolls given to them by individuals who did not understand them or who were afraid of having a spirit attached to them. Is it possible for a doll to truly possess a soul? I believe it is.

Thoughts like these conjure up thoughts of the killer doll named Chucky featured in a few movies. What makes this all the more terrifying is that there are real cases of possessed dolls. Back in the 1970's there was a famous case of a demon possessed Raggedy Ann doll named Annabelle. Key west is home to Robert the doll, whom although enclosed in glass is still very active then there is another famous haunted doll named Mandy.

It may seem like a haunted doll, is a bit strange, but it is not at all uncommon. Bears and toys spend a lot of time with their owners, especially children. These are very treasured objects and strong bonds are created with them. These objects absorb both positive and negative energies. Over the years I have encountered countless haunted objects, furniture, jewelry, cars, dolls and bears. Of these, dolls and teddy bears are the objects that are most likely to be haunted.

Teddy bears have always been most prized possessions which are brought on car trips, vacations, off to grandma's house. Cherished bears serve as protection during stormy nights, provide comfort during times of crisis and have even accompanied deceased children on their journey to the afterworld. Being the focus of all of this energy, its only natural for a toy to absorb the energies that are focused on it, both positive and negative.

The focus of this article is an adorable brown bear named Christopher who somehow never made the final journey with his deceased child owner and yet the bond remains unbroken.

Christopher was found in a thrift store in Illinois that benefits victims of domestic violence. Christopher sat on a shelf beside many other abandoned childhood treasures. This particular bear was much different from the others because he had an energy about him. His energy is described as a magnet. It is not difficult to connect with Christopher or the spirit connected to him. In fact, his first night in his new home yielded the name of Christopher. What is still unknown is if the spirit of the little boy attached to the bear was named Christopher or if that was the boy's name for the bear.

Christopher soon came into contact with a sensitive- a high Priestess of Witchcraft who also heard the name of "Chris," without having been told anything about the bear. The Priestess was also able to sense the spirit of the lost little boy of about three or four years old, wearing a baseball cap.

Children are able to sense remarkable things about Christopher. He was first residing in a home with a young girl. Within a few days after Christopher's arrival, the girl was awakened one stormy October night. She told me that she saw a little boy looking at her from outside her mother's bedroom window. She described him as liking sports.
"How do you know this?" I asked. "Did you talk to him?"
"Because he's wearing a baseball hat," she replied.

This poor girl was understandably frightened by the site of something she did not think she should have. In recounting this event, the girl's mother believed that a spirit followed them home from a recent visit to Bachelor's Grove Cemetery. First of all, there are no records of a boy of his approximate age buried at Bachelor's Grove. Christopher was also dressed in modern clothing. Spirits to not usually follow anybody from one place to another. The spirits of Chicago's Bachelor's Grove are attached to that cemetery for a reason, just like Christopher's spirit is attached to this teddy bear. Spirits aren't about to leave a place that they have such a strong connection to. Of course, the exception to the rule is a haunted object. The spirit attached to it, moves when and where it does.

From further study of Christopher the bear, it is believed that this little boy had died a very tragic death; he was murdered. It is still unclear exactly how he died or who the perpetrator was.

The activity that has been reported with this teddy bear is amazing. It is said that other toys in the room are found in other locations. What is most amazing is that Christopher the bear moves into different positions on his own and even changes facial expressions. I interviewed Thomas Myers one of the founders of the Miami Paranormal Research Society that has possession of the bear. He describes the his first encounter with Christopher and the first time he noted that the bear's expression changed.

"I was driving and we were taking Christopher on an investigation out at Evergreen Cemetery to see if he reacted. He never reacted in the cemetery but while we were on our way, I was joking about him and when I looked at him I noticed that he was making a very unpleasant facial expression. I was shocked! My reaction was one of surprise and after a few minutes, I think my surprised mollified him because his expression became cheerful after a few minutes. I was so shocked that I grabbed him underneath his chin and began examining him. "

Christopher is by no means a malevolent spirit; on the contrary, he is a playful and even helpful spirit. There has always been a sadness about Christopher. He seems to be searching for a loving family and hopefully, the lost spirit of little Christopher experiences the joy of childhood, which in this life he did not.

Robert the haunted doll, Key West Florida

2010-06-27T14:54:00.001-07:00

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Robert the doll at the East Martello Museum, Key West Florida

Miami Paranormal Research Society

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By Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

Haunted playthings are more common than you think. Children (and adults!) form strong bonds with them. Beloved objects can become an important part of a person's life and it is believed that this energy of which these objects are the focus of, can cause them to become charged. There are other ways for a toy to become haunted, such as the death of a person who was attached to it in life. This article is not suggesting that the haunted dolls sold on the Internet as such are truly haunted. Rather, there have been well documented cases of inanimate objects having spirits attached to them, or even becoming possessed by demons as is the case of Annabelle

The Miami Paranormal Research Society specializes in the study of "spirit dolls." The group has a collection of dolls and bears that were given to them by terrified owners.

Robert the doll, is internationally known by paranormal enthusiasts and investigators alike. The more details I learned about Robert, the more compelled I was to get a close up look at him. Norman Aberle, curator the East Martello Museum in Key West invited me to meet Robert and interview the museum staff, but he made it very clear that I would have to negotiate with Robert directly for any photographs of him. You see, Robert is well known for causing cameras to malfunction, draining camera batteries and even blacking out his own image on film.

The story of Robert the Doll begins at the Artist house located at 534 Eaton Street in Key West. The house is a colonial Queen Anne style built in 1890- 1898. Along with the Hemingway house, the Artist house is one of the most frequently photographed houses in Key West.

The home was built for Dr. Thomas Otto and his wife. The couple had three sons and Robert Eugene Otto, the youngest son, preferred to be called Gene and so to avoid confusion between the young man and the doll, he will hereinafter be called Gene Otto.

Gene was given a life- sized doll whom he named Robert when he was about five years old. Dr. Otto, reportedly made many trips to the Bahamas and brought back people whom he enslaved. One of them created the doll that would become known as Robert and presented it to Dr. Otto's son, Gene as a gift. Gene gave the doll his first name of Robert and thereafter, insisted to be called Eugene or Gene. Gene Otto was a well- known artist and was his wife Annette was a concert pianist. He received formal training as an artist at the Academy of Fine Arts in Chicago Illinois and the Academy Julienne in Paris. It was during his studies at the latter, where he met Annette Parker, whom he married in 1930.

After marriage, they returned to Key West and resided at the family home. It was here that Annette or Ann as she was called, had her first encounter with Robert. She saw that Gene had created an entire scaled down child size room, especially for his beloved doll.

Before meeting Robert, I imagined him much smaller than he actually is. Robert is a rather large doll, about the size of a child. He is made with real human hair. It is widely accepted that Robert the Doll is Voodoo. There were the rumors that Robert moved about his room and the house when nobody was home.

Ann didn't share Gene's fondness for Robert and over the years Gene became increasingly aggressive and abusive toward his wife. He would fly into rages and upon regaining his composure; he would blame his actions on entirely on Robert. This is a behavior that began in Gene's childhood. Whenever he lost his temper or exhibited some type of misbehavior , he would always blame Robert for his actions.

There came a point where Gene's behavior had deteriorated to where he had locked himself in a room along with Robert. It was in this room that Gene died in 1974 preceding his wife in death by two years. The couple is buried in Key West Cemetery along with several other family members.

After Gene's death, Ann moved out of the residence. She maintained ownership of the house but rented it out with the strict agreement that Robert, whom she locked in the attic would remain there and the door unopened.

An evil presence can still be felt up in the attic. Ann's spirit is believed to be trapped in the Turret room where Robert was kept. The house does experience all types of unexplainable activity including a poltergeist; objects fall off the walls, doors open and close on their own, and doors refuse to open.

Robert has certainly become quite the celebrity. He has his own website , he made a special news report on CBS4 news and even making a guest appearance at the Atlantic Paranormal Society Convention in Clearwater in 2008. It was the first time that Robert had ever left his island home.

Robert is now enclosed in a glass case after an incident at the museum. Mr. Aberle told me that the museum staff had some strange things happen with Robert over the years. The lights in his case flicker, staff members have heard giggling and Robert reportedly changes positions and facial expressions. He has his own room at the East Martello Museum and the walls are covered with letters and photos. Some visitors have even brought him gifts.

If you are planning a trip to the Keys, be sure to add this paranormal treasure to your itinerary.

Robert the haunted doll

Homicide at Miami Beach Resort

2010-06-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

The Miami Beach Resort and Spa at 4833 Collins Ave surrounds you in that type of luxury and glamour of a bygone era from the time when the likes of Jackie Gleason and Frank Sinatra were Miami royalty. Miami has always been about high-rollers, glamour, luxurious living and myeterious deaths.

Last night, the Miami Beach Resort and Spa was evacuated after police recieved a call around 10 p.m reporting that a man was shot to death on the 11th floor. The emergency evaculation interrupted a speech by Dean Barrow, the prime minister of Belize and a wedding reception.

A man who wore blood stained clothing told the Miami Beach police department that he had witnessed his friend being murdered. When the officers arrived at the 11th floor to investigate, they were met with a foul stench. It was at that point that the resort was evacuated. Guests were allowed back in around 3am when it was determined that although the police could not locate the source of the odor, it was not believed to pose a health threat.

Miami Beach Police did find the body of a caucasian male whose name is not being released at this time. This is an ongoing investigation. No arrests have been made, but detectives are questionioning hotel guests.

The Famous Jim Morrison Ghost Photograph

2010-06-27T08:52:00.001-07:00

Has the ghost of the Lizard King been caught on film? The now famous ghostly photograph taken by Tom Petty has made the news again. Apparently some "experts" have declared the photo authentic, meaning that it does not appear that the photograph has been altered in any sort of way. Interestingly, I tried to find a comment of some sort to back up the claim that Tom Petty took this photograph. Tom Petty has never made any such statement that I could find. Secondly, I do not find Mr. Meisner (them man who has racked up all the publicity over the photo) a credible witness. He seems to have too much of a motive for having faked this photograph.

On his website, Meisner claims that he first came to Hollywood in 2002. Yet the photo he claims was snapped in 1997. Meisner claims to have been a famed music journalist and critic and yet prior to going public about this photo, there is very little information on him and I have been unable to locate a single article published in Rolling Stone, Spin, or the long list of credentials he claims to have.

As a result of this photo being taken, Meisner claims his life has been cursed and he was offered the chance to film a reality show called "24 Hours In Hell" in room 32 of the Alta Cienega Motel on the 35th anniversary of Morrison's death. On Brett's Website, he makes this statement: "Jim Morrison's ghost finally defeated by Brett Meisner. Rare footage from Alta Cienega Motel, Room 32 . Rock Critic Brett Meisner had the balls to spend 24 hours in Jim Morrison's former motel room on the 35th anniversary of Jim's death. FOX television was there to document the whole event for an upcoming TV special: Watch the promo clips now...

Yes, do watch these videos, because it appears that Meisner left his "Balls" elsewhere on the day of this filming. He wouldn't last a minute on my team. I would go out to the Alta Cienega Motel with the members of the Miami Paranormal Research Society. I would stay there an entire week. Two minutes into the filming, Meisner runs like a girlie man. On part 3 of this fiasco, people are commenting on Meisner's youtube page...He fires back with " You people are just jealous cause none of you have the balls to spend a minute alone in that room. Especially the girls. Brett"

What a funny man you are Brett! You spent all of what? TWO minutes?! Like I said, my team would stay there for a week and none of us would run out of there. .. especially not the girls!

Part one:

Part Two:

Part Three:

This is a magnified image of the so-called ghost. Notice the breaks in the "arms" of this ghost.

Looks like the revenge Pepper's Ghost.

Looong time ago, back in 1996, I visited the grave of Jim Morrison at the Père Lachaise Cemetery.

The remainder of this post comes from our forum..

Hey there Sinthyia and Erin. I found this quote in an article about Brett Meisner and this ghostly photo of Jim Morrison

"Meisner is currently trying to find a private and reputable organization to donate the photos and negative. So far he has no takers."

The Miami Paranormal Research Society is more than reputable. We sent Meisner a letter last year pertaining to this picture. We expressed our desire to examine the negatives and the photograph because we have photography experts in this organization. Sinthyia, how many years had you worked as a model and photographer? Then we have Judi who still is a pro photographer. You two sent that one photo we were dealing with to a real expert from Fuji Film-thats where these negs need to go. Not to anybody having anything to do with the paranormal, no psychics, book writers, show producers, nobody who may have a vested interest in extedning the truth. Too many of Jim Morrison's friends and fans have been harmed by this man and this story.

Let me say that the Miami Paranormal Research Society has NEVER gotten any response from Mr. Meisner and we clearly stated that we were willing to take this photograph, if he wanted to give it away. So to read that "he hasn't had any takers," is an outright lie!

The ghostly residents of Miami's most haunted Villa Paula

2010-06-27T08:28:00.001-07:00

Villa Paula Mansion in Miami's "Little Haiti"

Miami Paranormal Research Society

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By Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

This mansion is located at 5811 North Miami avenue, in Miami's little Haiti. Dubbed the most haunted house in Miami, Villa Paula, was built in 1926, designed by Havana architect C. Freira. It boasts six bedrooms, three baths and has 2,893 square feet of living space. The mansion has had several owners since. Not every owner however has reported paranormal activity. There have been many reports nonetheless. Among the many reports, the ghost of a Cuban official's deceased wife has been seen. There is the phantom smell of Cuban coffee brewing, and phantom piano music is frequently heard playing the tune of "Carmen."

The first Cuban consulate Domingo Milord built Villa Paula in 1925. The gracious estate was named for his wife, Paula. The couple lived here for a few years until Paula died from an infection as a result of a leg amputation. Paula loved to play the piano and thus many of the reported activity within Villa Paula is attributed to her. An investigation in 1974, confirmed that Paula Milford was haunting this beautiful building. She is not alone! There are said to be at least five other spirits here.

One apparition is described as a tall man wearing a top hat. Another is a lady in a red dress and yet another a very sad woman crying in the garden looking for a lost medal. Another restless spirit is that of a tormented lady searching for the grave of her baby. There are also unexplained activity such as repeated knocking at the front door, doors open and slam, dishes fly off the shelves.

Villa Paula also has poltergeist activity, such as objects flying and moving on their own. One incident of which involves an iron gate that slams shut on its own and has crushed many cats. The investigations that have been conducted here to explain the gate's movements, have concluded that it is not being moved by the wind or any other physical force.

Villa Paula was made famous by Cliff Ensor who purchased the property in May 1974 from the Department of Housing and urban Development for $33,000, saving this masterpiece from the wrecking ball. Ensor went to work on an extensive restoration project-such restoration is well known to stir up paranormal activity. It was during his ownership that séances were conducted here every other week. He brought in a variety of psychics, paranormal investigators, ministers and even a Satanist who reportedly was nearly choked to death by one of the spirits that haunts the historic house.

Ensor made this house so infamous that it proved to be his downfall when he attempted to sell it. He auctioned it off in 1985, but the winner of the auction backed out of the deal after learning of the strange activity. In 1987, Ensor successfully sold Villa Paula to Dr. Lucien Albert, who was a skeptic. The doctor denies anything out of the ordinary happening. Dr. Albert sold the property in 2003 to its currently owner, Villa Paula Restoration Group LLC. The restoration group is owned by real estate investor Marc Swedroe who purchased the property for $275,000.

The Value of the Miami Paranormal Research Society Website

2010-06-27T08:14:00.001-07:00

Everybody take a look at this. Pretty incredible. I also looked up my other blog at Blogger.com and that one is only worth $770.88(Sinthyiadarkness.blogspot.com) !Its odd because the visitor stats are off with these two websites. Our average daily page views here are about 352 but SinthyiaDarkness.blogspot.com is the one with the massive traffic. I'm speechless.

Want to have a look for yourself? You can find our stats here

The Corrupt Found To Be Incorruptible

2010-06-27T08:08:00.001-07:00

The mummified remains of Christian Friedrich von Kahlbutz

selbst fotografiert

By Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

In corruptibility, that is the body remaining in a decomposed state, is considered a sign of Sainthood. In my paranormal group, we have covered the topic of incorruptibility. For example, Saint Bernadette, whose remains are still displayed in Nevers France, has never showed any signs of decomposition since her death in 1879. As we also know the Ancient Egyptians were able to create an embalming process called Mummification which would also produce an incorruptible corpse. However incorruptibility as it applies to holy figures were never preserved by Mummification and thus defies any scientific explanation. This story however, is the story of one man who could never be considered a Saint even though his body was never mummified and has never decomposed.

Count Christian Friedrich Von Kahlbutz was born in 1651. The count who held this esteemed position, would use it to take newlywed women as his mistresses and is said to have fathered over fifty illegitimate children.

In 1690, he murdered a young Shepard from a local village after his new bride had refused to become his mistress. Count Von Kahlbutz stood trial for this murder, as the Shepard's widow had accused him before a Neustadt court. Again, the count's position ensured he was not convicted for the murder. The count did make an oath before the court ;an oath that he literally took to the grave. The count declared, "If I am the murderer, then may the Lord never let my body decompose!"

The transcripts of the court proceedings exist today. The accusation of the murder of the young Shepard by his widow and the trial can be verified but unfortunately the oath cannot. The words of the count have been handed down from generation to generation and may be strictly legend… or was it?

Count Christian Friedrich Von Kahlbutz died in 1702 and was buried in a crypt inside a church in Kampehl Germany. The church was sold in 1794 and the new owner decided to renovate the structure. The bodies were exhumed and re-buried outside on the church grounds. Church records exist to confirm the exact burial place of the count before his remains were exhumed. Upon inspection, as recently as 1983, the count's remains were found to be free of any signs of decomposition.

It has been determined that Count Von Kahlbutz was never embalmed and that there is no evidence of any chemicals which may have been used to preserve his corpse in such a pristine state.

Of course a man who lead a life such as the count did, would be the focus of folklore and legend. The evil and vengeful spirit of Count Von Kahlbutz has been blamed for a murder that took place in 1806. Prior to 1806, there had been many reported sightings of his ghost. There have been no further ghostly visits and no other posthumous murders for the last two hundred years.

Mr. Peabody's Tomb

2010-06-27T08:05:00.001-07:00

Rev. Sinthyia Darkness' great Uncle William at a retreat at Peabody mansion

Sinthyia Darkness

By Sinthyia Darkness

Jack Stuyvesant Peabody was an acclaimed photographer. The prestigious Stuyvesant Peabody award in recognition of photographic excellence is given in his honor.

Mr. Peabody's father was a well respected Chicago attorney. Francis, was educated at Yale University and had intended to practice law like his father. However, Francis Peabody founded the Peabody Coal company in 1880. As the owner of the Peabody Coal company in Illinois, he and his family accumulated a vast fortune. Peabody Coal was the largest producer of coal in the United States.

In 1919, Mr. Peabody had acquired eight hundred acres of land in Oakbrook Illinois, Dupage county and began construction of his enormous thirty-nine room Tudor Gothic style mansion. The Peabody estate is located at 1717 W 31st street.

The Peabody family lived an extravagant lifestyle; throwing lavish galas for their guests at the estate. The day of August 27, 1922, marked the completion of the Peabody mansion or Mayslake Estate as it was officially named. To celebrate this accomplishment, Mr. Peabody held a fox hunt for his guest. Sadly, this celebration turned into tragedy, as Mr. Peabody suffered a fatal heart attack during the event. Mr. Peabody was dead at age sixty-three. At the time of his death, he possessed a fortune of over seventy-five million dollars.

The horse farm on the estate boasted a sixty building complex, there were also seven houses which were occupied by Peabody's employees, several conservatories, an outdoor theater and a gatehouse. During the construction of the mansion, it is said that Peabody resided in the gatehouse with his wife and two children.

It is Mr. Peabody's tomb that is at the center of the legends. Mr. Peabody was buried somewhere on the grounds of Mayslake estate. There are also the legends that Peabody was buried in a glass casket filled with formaldehyde or oil to prevent his remains from decomposing.

The exact location has been subject of great speculation. No one has ever managed to locate his tomb. I have theorized that Mr. Peabody was buried beneath the Portiuncula Chapel alter. The chapel is a replica of the Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi, Italy. The chapel is still operational and weddings are still conducted there. My theory as to the original burial place of Mr. Peabody was confirmed by a member of the staff who wishes to remain anonymous.

In 1974, the chapel was relocated along with the remains of Mr Peabody. He was reinterred between the chapel and the Stations of the Cross wall that was built by the Franciscans. There Mr. Peabody rested until 1992 when the estate was sold to the DuPage Forest Preserve District. In fact, Mr. Peabody had plenty of company on the Peabody estate grounds. Just where is Mr. Peabody today? In 1992, the remains of Jack and Francis Peabody were moved, along with the bodies of the friars to Queen of Heaven Cemetery, located in Hillside Illinois.

Wherever his final resting place, the plethora of ghostly tales arising from this mansion, are centered upon the true location of the Peabody Tomb.

In March 1924, Peabody's heirs sold the estate to Franciscan monks for around 450,000. The monks have had their hands full trying to keep trespassers from the property, who had come in search of Peabody's tomb. No one has ever been able to find it and legends tell that the casket is guarded by ghostly monks. If you are caught they will make you kneel in prayer and some are convinced that many would be tomb raiders have never made it back from Peabody Mansion.

Jackie Gleason's Paranormal Legacy

2010-06-27T06:43:00.000-07:00

Jackie Gleason artwork by Sinthyia darkness

Sinthyia Darkness/zazzle.com/lady_darkness

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By. Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

Jackie Gleason, born Herbert Walton Gleason, Jr., was born on February 26, 1916. He was born into a poor family in Brooklyn New York, his father having abandoned him at age nine. However, it was his father who had first introduced him to Vaudeville and silent films when he was just six years old. It was from that early influence of theater that Jackie Gleason knew he wanted to be an entertainer.

Gleason was always ambitious and was supporting himself as a professional boxer, a pool shark, and carnival barker before establishing himself as the world famous comedic genius who entertained millions. His most famous role was that of Ralph Kramden on the highly successful Honeymooners television series. Jackie Gleason has a special connection to Miami because it was at the Fillmore theater, located at 1700 Washington Avenue in Miami Beach, now known as the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater that he filmed "The Jackie Gleason Show." He ended every show with, "the Miami Beach audience is the greatest audience in the world."

Gleason loved Miami. He didn't just film or vacation here. He also called Miami his home. Mr. Gleason owned luxurious homes in Hialeah, Miami Beach and Inverrary. It was at the Inverrary home that he died of cancer.

A fact that most people are unaware of is that Jackie Gleason was extremely interested in all things paranormal. Gleason even claimed to have viewed evidence of aliens out at the Homestead Florida Air Force Base by way of his personal friend President Richard Nixon, a story which his second wife Beverly Gleason McKittrick corroborated in an interview with Esquire Magazine. Once inside the high security area, Gleason observed a pile of wreckage on the floor. Unsure of just what this wreckage was, an officer explained to him that this matter was recovered from Roswell. He also viewed the bodies of the alien life that were discovered in the wreckage. Gleason was reportedly very traumatized by what he saw during his visit to the Air Force base. He suffered from insomnia and spent his nights reading from his massive library.

Mr. Gleason was not considered a Ufologist but like his golfing buddy President Nixon, was a person who had a more than avid interest in extraterrestrials. Unlike some of the more questionable people who have come forward with stories of sightings of aliens and Unidentified Flying Objects, Jackie Gleason was and still is, a household name. The story gains credibility over the fact that Gleason's motives were surely not to garner publicity or headlines. Gleason already had that. He had attained fame, fortune and respect prior to this information being leaked to the news media. In fact, someone of Gleason's stature stood to lose his respect and credibility by association of such a controversial subject. While I believe that Mr. Gleason did have a deep interest in this field of study, it was necessary for the iconic comedian to downplay his knowledge and interest in UFO's and the paranormal. Speaking publicly about such things has always been very risky.

Aside from his interest in UFOs, Jackie Gleason also had a life long interest in the paranormal and the occult. In his book, " The Life and Legend of Jackie Gleason" William A. Henry III wrote " Jackie Gleason had a lifelong fascination with the supernatural. . .He would spend small fortunes on everything from financing psychic research to buying a sealed box said to contain actual ectoplasm, the spirit of life itself. He would contact everyone from back-alley charlatans to serious researchers like J.B. Rhine of Duke University and, disdaining the elitism of the scholarly apparatus, would treat them all much the same way."

Jackie Gleason made a significant contribution to the paranormal research field with his impressive library that he amassed. The library contains over 1700 books, magazines, journals and other printed matter on all areas of parapsychology, paranormal research, the occult, and UFOs. Gleason amassed one of the largest private library collections in the United States. In 1987, Jackie Gleason died at age 71 of cancer and is buried in a beautiful mausoleum in Our Lady Of Mercy Cemetery in Miami.

Following the comedian's death, his widow Marilyn Gleason, donated his entire library collection to the University of Miami in 1988.

Miami Paranormal Research Society in Need of Items

2010-06-23T16:35:00.000-07:00

Hi there everyone. The Miami Paranormal Research Society is building a library (that we hope to open to the public) pertaining to all things paranormal, spiritual, UfO's etc. We are also looking for Halloween type items decorations, fabrics, or anything that looks like it could be used as decorative material or props. We are working on our annual benefit show and our talk show that will be available on the internet. Basicaly, for our talk show, we are building a small set and since we are a nonprofit organization, we do this through donations from the public. Nobody makes any money. We do what we do because it is our passion to share our knowledge and ideas with others. We could really use these items. If you have anything that you think we could use, please contact us at MiamiParanormalResearch (at) Yahoo dot com .

Thank you,

Miami Paranormal Research Society

The New website for the Miami Paranormal Research Society

2010-06-18T17:17:00.001-07:00

Looking for paranormal groups in Miami? Do you want to become involved with a professional paranormal research group? Do you need help with what you think could be paranormal activity? Then look no further. Founded in 2005, the Miami Paranormal Research Society is one of the oldest in the area. Please visit our new website

Shout out to Marc Schneider!!!!

2010-06-18T15:43:00.000-07:00

Hey marcshneider@mplw.net Stop Spamming us!!!! He apparently is such a well known scammer that he made the Asshole of the Month! Congrats Marc!

We have been doing out research on this guy and he is a notorious spammer and scammer who floods your email boxes with this crap:

I am Dr. Marc Schneider and I work for Multilingual Search Engine
Optimization Inc. in Washington DC ( Tel: 1-202-558-2504) - I would
like to speak with the person in charge of your international
clientele. Who is my contact? Who should I speak to??
In fact, after visiting
http://miamiparanormalresearchsociety.blogspot.com , I have noticed
that your website cannot be found on foreign search engines (I tested
it on Hispanic search engines, German search engines, Asian search
engines, etc.) Our company is specialized in multilingual search
engine promotions in 28 languages . From the Japanese Google to the
German Yahoo, from the AOL in Spanish to the MSN in Chinese, we can
show you how to develop a true international online presence by
promoting your website on foreign search engines.
Let us show you how to develop a presence on the multilingual web
without having to translate your website: It is not necessary to
translate your website in order to submit to foreign search engines,
however, you need to have at least 1 page in Japanese optimized with
Japanese keywords and meta tags in order to submit to Japanese search
engines, at least 1 page in Spanish optimized with Spanish keywords
in order to submit to Hispanic search engines and so on...
I strongly suggest that you watch our online presentation which will
explains clearly how to get top rankings on foreign search engines
with only 1 entry page per language (click on the following link or
copy-paste it into your web browser): http://www.mplw.net/demo
From the Japanese Google to the German Yahoo, from the AOL in Spanish
to the MSN in Chinese, get users to find your website when searching
with YOUR KEYWORDS in their Native language.
Please call me at +1 (202) 558-2504 or email me and let's work on
giving your website the true international exposure which it deserves
to have with foreign native online users!!
Regards,
Marc Schneider, Ph.D.
Marcs@mplw.net
Multilingual Search Engine Optimization Inc.
1250 Connecticut Ave N.W. Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036 USA
TEL: +1 (202) 558-2504 - FAX: 1 (202)-318-2453
http://www.mplw.net
Multilingual Search Engine Promotion Services since 1999.

We wrote him and told him to stop spamming. He wrote us again today with:

Did you receive the e-mail which I sent to you recently (copied here-below)?
Please confirm since I have had problems lately with emails intercepted by spam-filters set too high.
Cordially,
Marc Shneider, Ph.D.
marcshneider@mplw.net

Would you trust anybody who can't figure out their email spam filter settings to be able to affectively give your website international exposure? Didn't think so.

Miami Paranormal Research Society Members Forum

2009-11-28T10:51:00.001-08:00

Th Miami Paranormal Research Society hosts a Yahoo forum for our members and those who are serious about paranormal research. You can view our forum's home page here

Haunted Watseka

2009-11-09T08:47:00.001-08:00

For immediate release November 9, 2009 Miami Florida
It is official! Our founder, famed author and paranormal
researcher Sinthyia Darkness has completed her latest book titled
Haunted Watseka. Her book discusses Watseka history as well as both
famous and obscure haunted legends. Ms. Darkness who is the founder
of the Miami Paranormal Research Society, is an Illinois native.
Despite the fact that a book release date has not yet been announced,
a book to movie deal is being negotiated. please
visit us at miamiparanormalresearchsociety.org

Attention web designers

2009-10-26T18:20:00.001-07:00

We are in need of a website template for our nonprofit paranormal
research group. You can contact us at miamiparanormalresearch at
gmail. Our website is at http://miamiparanormalresearchsociety.org

Our New Is Almost Ready For Unveiling

2009-10-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. Thank you for your patience. The official website of the Miami Paranormal Research Society is almost ready for viewing. Please keep checking back for updates. We have received a very generous technology grant from Host Gator who have provided us with outstanding service.

Miami Paranormal Research Society

Technology Grant

2009-10-20T18:58:00.001-07:00

The Miami Center For Paranormal Research and the Miami Paranormal
Research Society proudly announce that we have just received a
generous technology grant from Host Gator! Our organization has been
approved for complementary services so that we can continue our
important research and continue to serve the public. Thank you Host
Gator. Blessings to you.

Wanted Paranormal Media

2009-10-19T09:53:00.001-07:00

The MPRS does not charge to investigate cases of alleged paranormal activity, nor does the MPRS solicit monetary donations. The organization is amassing an extensive library of paranormal literature, books, films and evidence from their investigations and is currently housed at the Miami Center For Paranormal Research which is accessible to members only at this time. The materials are used by researchers as reference to further our knowledge and understanding of the paranormal. The MPRS’ goal is to open the center to the public in the future. If you have any media you would like to donate, please contact the MPRS. Thank you for your continued support.

Historic Pinewood Cemetery Coral Gables Slideshow

2009-10-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

Turn up your speakers! Music by Dale Tippett and Dark Ritual

Miami Paranormal Research Society is NOT hiring

2009-10-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

When you begin to make a name for yourself, as many other successful paranormal groups will tell you, copycat groups begin to sprout up. Take TAPS for example. How many groups around the country formed group names around acronyms? And sometimes, the copycat groups are a bit more obvious than that. The Miami Paranormal Research Society is the focus of a copycat group. We are still looking into this matter, but if you do a search under our name, you will find that there are online “help wanted” ads posted allegedly by the “founder” of this organization. None of those help wanted ads were posted by the real MPRS. We feel it was necessary to put this information out into the public. These ads were posted on MySpace, simplyhired and many others. The real Miami Paranormal Research Society became quite disturbed upon finding one of these help wanted ads on a website called actorsandcrew.com with the tags actors, filmmakers, downloads etc… What we do are not Hollywood theatrics. We do not solicit actors. What you see in our video footage is real and unedited. Furthermore, we do feel that the actions of this copycat group is damaging to our reputation. The person who is running this copycat group does not even share our core beliefs from what we can see. We will have much more to say about this later. However, if you do come across these help wanted ads, please know that by responding to them, you will not be joining the real MPRS group.

The real MPRS was founded in March of 2006. This person who claims to have founded the MPRS in June 2009 is only 19 years old! Case closed. It’s not the real group. Ms. Rivard is not the real founder. The real founder of MPRS, Sinthyia Darkness (without revealing her age) has more years of experience with ghosts than this copycat founder has been on the planet!

First of all, to be a bona-fide member of our research group, you must be at least 21 years old. Why? Because we simply want people who have more education and experience. Not necessarily paranormal experience, but also life experience. We want older, mature individuals who take things more seriously. We want members who know who they are and why they are here. We want you to be here for the right reasons and not just because the paranormal is so popular right now. Yes, this group is the search for proof of the afterlife, but this experience of the search causes you to look deep within yourself. It takes a lot of courage to do that. Not everybody is comfortable with it. We want serious researchers, not those who just want a cool experience to gossip about to their friends at the mall. The MPRS does not want to train individuals at our time and expense who aren’t in this for the long haul and leave after the realization that real paranormal investigation is not like the Ghost Hunter’s television show. Secondly, this incident has scam written all over it because the phone number listed in the ads, has a 978 area code which is the code for Worchester Massachusetts. What person from Massachusetts is going to come down here and really give a rat’s patootie about what goes on in the state of Florida? If you are from MA, then you would name your group accordingly.

Miami Paranormal Research Society Now On Twitter

2009-10-08T14:20:00.001-07:00

You can find us on Twitter @miamiparanormal.

Join Us On MySpace!

2009-10-08T14:11:00.000-07:00

Our organization has just joined MySpace to network with other paranormal groups and researchers. You can find us here!

Madame Delphine LaLaurie

2009-10-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

Madame Delphine Lalaurie
© 2009 Sinthyia Darkness and the Miami Paranormal Research Society.

A La Nouvelle Orleans
“Orleans , Gentilly,
Pontalba, Marigny,
Bourbon! Bourbon!”
These are the words that come to me
(The haunting turn of an old refrain)
From the Siren City beside the sea,
Child of the valour of France and Spain,
She sits there weaving her olden spells.
The years through her lissom fingers run
To form but a chaplet whereon she tells,
The names of her lovers, one by one!
Gayoso, Galves, Bougligny,
Caso[Calvo, Derbigny!
Don Almonaster’s bells intone:
For Bienville and for Serigny,
For D’Iberville, for Assigny,
They make incessant moan.
Orleans , Gentilly,
Pontalba, Marigny,
Bourbon! Bourbon!
- William McLennan

Most paranormal enthusiasts have heard of the notorious Madame Delphine Lalaurie who lived in New Orleans. It is considered the Holy Grail of the Paranormal world. This is one of those truly rare cases where the history is haunting to the researcher. I have heard many shocking things in my line of work but I have to say that the LaLaurie case is just one that is just so far beyond imagination. The details and accusations can only be compared to driving past a train wreck or a plane crash. You tell yourself that you really don’t want to look; yet you can’t look away. As a human being, you do not want to believe that another human is capable of the horrors that Madame Delphine has been accused of inflicting. All the more horrific is the realization that you are a descendant of such an infamous and controversial figure.

Marie Delphine Macarty was born in 1775 into an upper class, Creole family and although her first name was Marie, she preferred to be called Delphine as she felt it sounded more distinguished. Her parents were Barthelemy Louis Chevalier de Maccarthy and Marie Jean Lecomte Maccarthy. Their last name was later shortened to McCarty. Barthelemy’s parents were Chevalier Macarty and Françoise Helene Pellerin, prominent land owners in Louisiana and established the family plantation in New Orleans. Barthelemy was their second son. He married the widow Marie Jean Lecomte.

Barthelemy had an older brother named Augustin Guilllaume de Mccarty who was born on May 5th, 1745 in New Orleans. He also had an older sister named Mademoiselle Jeanne de Macarty. Mademoiselle Jean owned so much property that her entire estate later became the suburb Carollton.
Delphine was also one of five siblings. Her parents were brutally murdered by their slaves during a revolt on their Louisiana property. Delphine was a very young girl at the time and she was witness to the crimes. I think that had very much to do with her actions, her obvious hatred towards her servants. Not to explain away her crimes, but can you imagine as a child, being witness to something so gruesome? How can that not stay forever etched upon you psyche? In my opinion, I believe that that experience made her so contemptuous toward slaves that she felt justified in treating them the way she did. Take that, along with the attitudes of the time period; when slaves were seen as less than human, lower than animals and there you have it. I am not trying to explain away her actions but perhaps I can shed a bit of light on why she did these things. Back then, there was no real treatment for trauma like this. They would just lock you away in an attic or a sanitarium, where the “treatment” was far worse than the affliction. If you weren’t completely insane when you arrived, you would soon be. However, I have absolutely no clue as to why Dr. LaLaurie went right along with her behavior and did in fact take part in these acts. That surely is one of the blanks that I cannot fill in. In her writings, Delphine comes across as an intelligent, sophisticated and kind woman. The same has been said about her by those who were guests at her house.

Barthelemy Macarty’s nephew was Augustin Francois de Maccarty. He was born to Augustin Gullaume de Maccarty and Jeanne Chauvin de Lery on January 10, 1774. Augustin had a younger brother Jean Baptiste who was born in 1776. Augustin served as the 6th mayor of New Orleans from 1815 to 1820. He won his first term in office in 1815 because he was the only candidate. After 1820, Augustin retired and did not seek re-election. There are conflicting stories about Augustin’s private life. Some sources say that he had married, others say that he never married Either way Augustin had close ties to a free woman of color named Celeste Perrault for over half a century. There is evidence that they did have a child together.
Augustin Macarty owned a large tract of land in New Orleans and in fact, his plantation neighbored the plantation owned by Andrew Jackson. Jackson’s plantation served as the headquarters during the battle of New Orleans. Augustin did so many wonderful things for the people of this city, such as establishing public services including the Board of Health. The establishment of the Board of Health, arose from a Yellow Fever epidemic that killed about over a thousand people in Louisiana within a five month time period in the year 1817. Mayor Augustin de Macarty had the city’s first shipment of ice dumped into the river because he feared that consuming the frozen commodity would cause consumption (an early term for Tuberculosis). Augustin died in 1844 at the age of 70.

Delphine’s first husband was Don Ramon de Lopez y Angulo whom she married on March 26,1800. Their ceremony took place at the St. Louis Cathedral by the first bishop of the Diocese in Louisiana, Luis de Penalver y Cardenas. Don was a high-ranking officer in the Spanish Army. He was the son of Lord Don Jose Antonio de Lopez y Angula and Dona Ana Fernande de Angule. Great Grandmother was his second wife. There is a very interesting story about their marriage. As it turns out, they married without consent from the King of Spain. This had very serious repercussions on his military career and his social standing in New Orleans when this fact was uncovered. For this deed, Don Ramon was forced to appear before the Spanish Court and was exiled to San Sebastian.

In March of 1804, Spain gave Louisiana to the United States and Ramon de Lopez y Angulo received a pardon. He died of heart failure on the USS Ulysses on his way back to Louisiana. He was buried in his homeland Havana. Grandmother traveled there to bury her husband. While she was there, she gave birth to her first child, Marie Françoise Borja Lopez y Angula de Candelaria. She was named after Don Ramon’s grandmother, Dona Francisca Borja Enecis. Marie was known as Borquita to the family.
Delphine remarried on June 16, 1808 to a man named Jean Pierre Palin Blanque who was an attorney, a banker, a lawmaker and a slave trader. Jean Blanque had come to New Orleans in 1803. Considering his prominent role in commerce, there is substantial historical documentation about him. They had four children together whom were born at their residence known as at 409 Royal Street. The eldest was daughter Marie Louise Jeanne who was born in 1815. Their other three children’s names were, Jean Louis Leonard LaLaurie, Louise Marie Laure Blanque, and Marie Louise Pauline Blanque. Jean Blanque died in February 1816.

There are some people who have written articles on the Internet, professing to know the family’s history whom have written erroneously that Don Ramon de Lopez and Borquita had also been murdered by slaves. Her children, managed to live long and prosperous lives. Delphine had a total of six children, fathered by her three husbands. She had one child with her first husband Don Ramon. Four children with her second husband Jean Blanque and one with her third husband Dr. LaLaurie.
Borquita grew up and married Placide Forstall. The Forstall’s were a notable family in Louisina.

Jeanne Blanque married Charles Auguste de Lassus who was the son of Don Carle de Lassus, governor twice elected.

Her daughter, “Borquita” died in New Orleans in 1884. Jeanne Pierre Paulin Blanque also died in New Orleans in the year 1868. Jean Louis Leonard LaLaurie died in New Orleans in 1883. Her other three daughters, Louise Marie Laure Blanque, Marie Louise Pauline Blanque and Marie Louise Jeanne Blanque died in Paris.

Delphine remarried a third and final time to a prominent physician named Dr. Leonard Louis Nicolas Lalaurie on June 12, 1824. Dr. LaLaurie was originally from Villeneuse-sur-Lot France who immigrated here to start a successful medical practice.

In 1828, Delphine sold the family plantation to Martin Duralde. Delphine LaLaurie, purchased lots for the construction of a new house on September 12, 1831. Upon this land, Edmond Soniet de Fossat constructed a magnificent mansion in the French Quarter at 1140 Royal Street. This address was quite appropriate for the LaLaurie’s as they reigned as social elite. No other building stood here before its construction. The house that sits there today is not the original structure. The building as we see today is a much larger version of the original and that brings us to the dark side of Madame Lalaurie. I was hesitant about writing the true account of what happened as I thought many in the paranormal community may be “disappointed.” After all, the Lalaurie mansion is the Holy Grail of the paranormal world. However, I am not one to embellish a story or a history just for the sake of making it “scarier.” The reason people buy my books is because of all the research I do and sometimes that research dispels the myths surrounding these locations.

It is true that Madame Lalaurie was abusive to her slaves. There is considerable documentation to back that up. In fact, around 1832, she had emancipated several slaves. She was abusive to those slaves who displeased her.

On April 10, 1834, a fire was set in the kitchen by a slave. Now the modern stories circulating on the internet tell us that the house itself was ablaze. However, local newspaper articles dated between April 10 to 15 1834 indicated that the fire was not in the residence itself but instead in the back service wing. The kitchen was on the ground floor and the slave quarters were on the floor above.

A legal deposition given by a Judge who was on the scene described seven starved and abused slaves who were removed to safety and none of them died. There is documentation that a slave was in fact chained up in the kitchen, but the articles do not specify where ie: the stove.

Upon the discovery of the condition of the slaves, a riot did break out. The angry mob literally tore down the original Lalaurie house. In the aftermath, only two walls were left intact. Okay, so the story about the attic and the chamber of horrors has been embellished to say the least. There were no medical experiments, jars of body parts and all the ghoulish stomach turning details.

Madame Lalaurie was no Saint but she was not the Devil either. The angry mob had nonetheless come for the Doctor and Mrs. Lalaurie. They managed to escape and it is my belief that they fled to Paris. They left New Orleans on April 10, 1834. Before they left, Delphine gave her some in law Placide Forstall power of attorney. Dr. Lalaurie signed over power of attorney to another of Delphine’s sons in law, Auguste de Lassus. They were able to escape with the help of one of their slaves who drove the stage coach. The driver who saved her life from the lynch mob was never emancipated.

There are articles online that point to Madame Lalaurie possibly being one of the first victims of yellow journalism due to the conflicting news articles. I wondered about this myself. However, the notion that these accusations were the result of jealousy, on the part of Monsier Montreuil who was a neighbor, was started in the 1920’s by Delphine’s decendents. These relatives were able to convince several local journalists and authors to write articles in her defense.

Just how did the gruesome tales of the little girl jumping off the roof to her death and the medical experiments and body parts get started?

I have been corresponding with historian and upcoming author Carolyn Long about the specifics of the Lalaurie case. Ms. Long by the way, has written an academic historical account of Madame Lalaurie. Her book is due out in the spring of 2011. I will keep you posted about it. Carolyn Long is an expert on the history of Madame Lalaurie. She did shed light on many of the points of this case that just did not add up.

As for the story about the little girl jumping off the roof and into the courtyard to her death, A visitor to New Orleans in 1836 was told the Lalaurie story about the little girl falling off of the roof by some of the locals. This person told people, who told others and the story is still going strong on the internet. The newspaper articles of 1834 newspapers do say that a child’s skeleton was found at the bottom of an old well in the courtyard. It is a fact that Delphine Lalaurie did own a female slave who died in 1831. There was a formal funeral for this child however, with service performed by a priest. Considering this, I have to agree with Carolyn Long that it is highly doubtful that her body was discarded in a well after the funeral. This solves one mystery but opens the door to another; just who was the little girl found at the bottom of the well?

As for the story about the medical experiments, those tales were started The stories about the grotesque medical experiments started in a book written by Jeanne Delavigne, “Ghost Stories of Old New Orleans” published in 1946. The Lalaurie story was embellished in the chapter “The haunted House of Rue Royale.”

Since then, the tales have been reprinted and many paranormal websites continue to embellish (and relish) these disgusting tales. The most recent development, is the claim that while undergoing a recent renovation, seventy five bodies were discovered underneath a wooden floor in the kitchen and that these remains date back to Delphine’s era. Furthermore, the victims are said to have been buried alive. That story as it turns out, is 100% fiction and does not even match historical fact. Both the fire and the riot destroyed that house. A new foundation was laid. If there were any bodies to be found, they would have been found then. In fact, that was the very reason why the original Lalaurie house was destroyed by the mob. I just wish that more paranormal writers and groups would do their historical research instead of propelling fiction but then, that’s why people like to read my books. I am quite sure that the paranormal community anxiously awaits the release of Ms. Long’s book. She is a very nice lady and it was a pleasure to speak with her. I will be one of the first in line to purchase a copy of her book and I will write a review!

About the Miami Paranormal Research Society

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The Miami Paranormal Research Society is non-profit group located in the Miami Florida area. Our group has recently applied for 501 {c} status. Ours is a group that was officially established in March of 2006 by Rev. Sinthyia. Sinthyia had been professionally investigating reports of unexplained phenomena on her own since her mother’s death in January 2002. However, she has had personal experience with spirits and demons since childhood. Sinthyia holds degrees in psychology and journalism in addition to being an ordained minister. Please be aware that there are no legitimate degrees or certifications available in paranormal investigation. Anyone who actually boasts about holding such certification Example: “I know more than the next guy because I am CERTIFIED!” should be a red flag.

Some groups do offer classes and “degrees” upon the completion of their classes and most are up front about the fact that these certificates do not equate to any professional accreditation, the way that a College does. However, the certificates are symbolic and does not make one a professional or any more knowledgeable about ghosts or paranormal investigation methods. This is not to say that classes are not worthwhile, because they certainly are. Just know that there is no such thing as an official license or certification in paranormal investigation. At this time, we are not offering any paranormal workshops, but are certainly open to conducting them in the future.

Rev. Sinthyia decided to network on the internet to find like-minded people who might like to join her on investigations and share information. She created a Yahoo group bearing the name of the MPRS in 2006 and is still going strong. The MPRS got its name while Sinthyia was still residing in Illinois and was so named for Miami, a place her mother spoke fondly about and as such is a lasting tribute to her. After her mother’s death, Sinthyia moved to the Miami area. There she met Thomas Myers who is an expert in Runes and the Tarot.

Initially, Sinthyia's goals were researching the histories of locations reputed to be haunted. Sinthyia has compiled extensive histories and documentation on haunted locales such as Bachelors Grove Cemetery in Midlothian Illinois and other locations {and objects!) that we have investigated. Miami Paranormal, is not open to the public. Some have asked this question on various message boards. Our headquarters is a spiritual place that contains files, research materials and equipment. It is not a tourist attraction. It is available only to bona-fide members. All members of the Miami Paranormal Research Society must prior to acceptance, sign an agreement of confidentiality. What you see as a member of our group, our methods, group administration, memos, training material, client’s names, photos, evidence, addresses etc, must never be disclosed to the public without written consent.

During the field investigations, Sinthyia learned to build and to trust her intuition. She has gained a reputation as a sensitive and has been able to recount incidences at some locations from long ago with startling accuracy. Most recently, during her initial walk thru the Stranahan House in Fort Lauderdale, Sinthyia was able to describe people and events within various rooms of the house to a curator of the museum. It was verified by the curator and local historian that these people did exist and events did happen! Our group has also gained a reputation for our honest reviews of cemeteries.

The scientific community concerns itself with what we can prove, not with what we know and can feel. Therefore, the Miami Paranormal Research Society does employ the use of a combination of both the scientific and the “psychic.” The ability to feel energies and Sinthyia and other members of the society can provides an excellent starting point for an investigation.

The Miami Paranormal Research Society is always growing both in membership and member’s spirituality. Our members come from diverse ethnic, religious and educational backgrounds. Just to set the record straight; Sinthyia Darkness is our founder’s real name and it is a reflection of her proud American Indian heritage and not “goth” as has been erroneously reported on the Internet.

When you contact the Miami Paranormal Research Society, you can be assured, that your information will remain private if that is what you want. We are not a thrill- seeking group who will plaster your name and photos all over the internet, to further our group name. We have no need to further our name as our group has already earned an esteemed reputation. When you contact us, you will be in the hands of the most thorough and professional research groups available. From your initial contact and the information you provide, we will assemble just the right investigators for you and your specific needs.

There is never any charge for us to come out and do an assessment or investigation. Not charging clients is pretty much standard practice as it weeds out most of the fraud and those just looking to make a quick buck. Our services are free to anyone who feels they are experiencing unexplained phenomena in their home or business. We do not solicit donations in the form of money or equipment either. We operate completely on our own finances and receive no outside assistance. We are however, working on promotional items as a way that people can show their support and spread the word about us. If you are happy with our service, the best payment is to spread the word about us! Get involved in some of our charitable activities like our toy drives for orphaned children.

You should also know that we do not nor have never operated any ghost tours. We feel that ghost tours can open the door to the untrained deciding, “hey we can do that!” and going out vandalizing cemeteries and other properties. More and more, we are seeing the emergence of copycat groups. Those who watch Ghost Hunters {TAPS} and decide to come up with a “cool sounding” acronym with the actual name of their group not sounding very good at all. We at the Miami Paranormal Research Society have steered clear of any acronym and have established a solid identity and reputation. Be a leader, not a follower. As a potential client, you need to be aware of groups that do sound a little too much like the actors on the Ghost Hunters Show. Usage of the term “ the reveal” should be a sign unto us all that a group has been watching too much television.

Our research society also does not charge members of the general public fees “for the privilege” of accompanying us out on a field investigation. Bottom line, if you are not a bona-fide member of the Miami Paranormal Research Society, you will not be invited and you cannot buy your way in. You will also notice that we never publicly announce exactly where our upcoming investigations will be. That ensures our right to privacy. We take the paranormal very seriously. Our investigations are not any sort of tourist attraction.

Media coverage about our founder Sinthyia Darkness have appeared in the Miami New Times, MSNBC, the Today Show ,channel 6 local news, The Reporter {Palos Hills Illinois} and the Coconut Grove Grapevine. She has been called an expert in paranormal activity by the news media. Sinthyia will be releasing a new book about spirit possession soon.

Please be advised that we do not involve ourselves in cases where people feel there is the presence of “monsters” like werewolves, bigfoot, vampires etc. Nor do we investigate reports of U.F.O’s. Our focus is on spirits, poltergeists and demons.

To contact the MPRS, please click on the "contact Us" link to the right. We look forward to hearing from you.

Welcome to The Miami Paranormal Research Society

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We regret that at this time, The Miami Paranormal Research Society ™
is experiencing technical difficulties with our domain. In the meantime we have created this blog to keep you informed of our upcoming investigations.