Trackers hunt reported ghosts in secret location

At a top-secret, undisclosed location Saturday night, Indiana Ghost Trackers’ Southeast Central chapter members followed their monthly meeting by ghost hunting at a reportedly haunted location.

A tour guide showed the members around the building and described one closet as “the evil heart of the building.”

The last reported paranormal activity at this location occurred Feb. 3, when night employees heard banging doors in the women’s restroom.

The ghost trackers pulled out their tools and attempted to conduct a paranormal
conversation.

“Is there anyone here who would like to speak with us?” Chapter Treasurer Lisa
Bradley asked.

“What is your name?” Chapter Trainer Rick Schmelz asked.

“Why are you here?” Chapter Director Angela Sanders asked.

No response.

The members waited, their ghost hunting tools sitting in front of them. Several electromagnetic field detectors waited to measure any disturbances. Voice recorders were on to capture any audible or inaudible paranormal sounds. After several more members asked questions, the reported ghost still hadn’t responded.

“Sometimes this can be some of the most boring things we do until you listen to your recorders later and you’re like, ‘I want to do this again,’” Sanders said.

IGT is a statewide ghost tracking organization that provides recreational ghost hunts and professional paranormal investigation services for businesses and private
residences.

The Bloomington chapter has been in existence for eight years and recently expanded to the Southeast Central chapter in order to have a wider ghost hunting base.

The group discussed two upcoming investigations at its Saturday meeting.

“It’s far and between that we have any investigations that members can do,” Sanders said, mentioning that many investigations fell through in the past. “This is definitely going to happen.”

IGT operates like any other hierarchical organization. All official actions in meetings must be seconded, a secretary keeps monthly meeting minutes, the group votes on how to spend funds, and members share duties for setting up hunt locations.

After “watching paint dry,” which is how Bradley refers to hunts with no paranormal activity, the group switched tactics and launched into casual chitchat.

“The best responses we’ve gotten are from informal conversation,” Bradley said.

Because the recorders were on, group members could not whisper to one another so as to not mistake their own voices for paranormal activity while listening to the recordings later. Any noises, such as stomach gurgles, creaking joints or moving in a chair had to be reported.

“If you burp, fart, whatever, be honest,” Bradley reminded the trackers earlier in the evening.

Sanders added humor to relax some of the newer members about ghost tracking.
“There’s no such thing as a paranormal fart,” Sanders said.

In order to protect themselves from possible evil forces, members develop ritualized protections in order to remain calm while tracking.

“If you’ve got something mean-spirited, they say it (a ghost) may feed off fear or anxiety,” Schmelz said.

One thing trackers don’t want is a hitchhiker — a paranormal spirit that follows them home from a hunt. Sanders shared her protection ritual with the group as an example.

“I’m a happy Baptist, and I wear my cross and you better believe I say my prayers,” Sanders said.