The following Q&A is part of our "Faces of the Paranormal" series, profiling local paranormal investigators and ghost hunters. For more Haunted Tri-State coverage, click here.
How long have you been ghost hunting?
I've been doing paranormal investigations for about six years -- the past four years have been as co-founder of the Cornerstone Paranormal team. Co-founder Dave Howard and I met and later fell in love because of our mutual interest in the paranormal.
How many cases have you done?
I personally have been on about 120 investigations.
How many times do you believe your experienced something truly paranormal?
I would say that probably 20 percent of the investigations I've been on have given us some evidence of paranormal activity. Although, that may be a bit generous.
How often are you called to investigate a home or business?
We investigated more homes when we first started. Now we investigate more businesses and historically known locations. The reasons for that are numerous: Some people's homes are usually not haunted, and sometimes the homeowner is just seeking attention, and may have psychological or emotional needs.
How do people find out about you?
People have found us through word of mouth, but I would say that most find us through Internet searches.
What made you want to do this?
I consider myself a psychic/medium. I have had paranormal experiences for most of my life. That sparked my interest into the research side of the paranormal.
Is this a side-gig for you?
Yes. I am an art teacher/nanny/caregiver during the day.
Do people ever mock you for doing this and believing in the paranormal?
Very few people ridicule our work as paranormal researchers. TV is most likely the reason. It educates and stimulates the interest in the unknown. Those who may have doubts usually have never had an experience, are fearful of the idea or are just not open to discovery. I have been around skeptics when they realized that this stuff is real! It takes a lot of hard evidence to persuade anyone, including me that something is paranormal in nature.
I know for a fact that there is intelligent energy that can respond to our questions and movements. The multiple sources of information from equipment and my personal experiences cannot be explained away.
What was your scariest experience working in this business?
The scariest experience I have ever had was in a private home in Hamilton, Ohio. I was not prepared to encounter a very negative energy that the family said was terrifying a boy who lived there. I experienced things that drained me and caused a painful physical reaction that left me ill for several days as well as caused our equipment to respond to the movements of the energy through the home. I now know how to protect myself from such things.
Have you ever needed to use a demonologist or an exorcist?
We did have an ordained Catholic priest bless a building in Cincinnati because of the owner's fears.
In your opinion, what's the single most haunted place in the Tri-State region?
Because of the amount of time I've spent in the Sharon Woods Heritage Village, I would say that it is one of the most haunted public places in Cincinnati.
