Category Archives: Breaking the News

Amy Bruni Was NOT Fired From Ghost Hunters

09 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by in Breaking the News, Ghost Hunters, In the News, Slander in Paranormal Community, Social Media

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Amy Bruni

Amy Bruni

Amy Bruni Was NOT Fired from Ghost Hunters

Contrary to reports, Amy Bruni was not fired from Ghost Hunters. Amy took to her Facebook account this morning (July 9, 2015) to set the record straight. Again. Unfortunately, it seems to fall on some deaf ears.

I agree with Amy; seems the story of her quitting doesn’t earn enough clicks. The author writes for an Internet publication that pays the writer for each “click” an article receives. The more clicks, the more money. Sweet deal, unless story ideas dry up.

As an attorney, I’m floored by the number of slanderous articles, posts, and the like that I read. Professional journalists should still vet out sources. They should still seek the truth. Just because an article appears online, rather than in print, it must still be factual. If not, the journalist destroys his reputation and credibility.

Unfortunately, Amy is also correct in stating that it would take a lot of money to sue. She has already taken the first step in hiring an attorney to address earlier inaccurate reports. Although his vocabulary is highbrow, his message should be heeded: Cease this erroneous reporting.

Amy Bruni Facebook Post

Amy Bruni Facebook Post

Ghosts Don’t Appear When Intoxicated

17 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Breaking the News, In the News

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Tammy Gadd Mugshot

Tammy Gadd Mugshot

Ghosts Don’t Appear When Intoxicated

Tammy Gadd was arrested Monday, June 15, 2015, after calling 911 and admitting to smoking meth. The story and media buzz could end there…except Ms. Gadd claimed that she was seeing ghosts. According to the Laurel County (KY) Facebook page (below), Gadd and another woman, Linda Johnson, were arrested shortly before 5:00 AM after Gadd called 911. When police responded, Ms. Gadd ticked off items she ingested—admittedly an enormous illegal cocktail—that caused her to hallucinate and see ghosts. Unfortunately, thrill seekers may follow suit, hoping that the consumption of illegal narcotics will cause them to see real ghosts. This is simply not true. There is no need to consume any intoxicant to see an apparition. Do not attempt. If you do, expect to be arrested not enlightened.

Laurel Co. Sheriff Department

2 arrested off Creech Road:

Sheriff John Root is reporting that Deputy Shawn Jackson arrested two individuals on Creech Road, approximately 5 miles north of London early Monday morning June 15, 2015 at approximately 4:57 AM. The arrest occurred after a female subject called 911 stating that she had done some meth earlier and was now seeing ghosts. When Deputy Jackson along with EMS arrived at the scene they located 2 female subjects outside. Tammy Gadd, the female subject who had phoned 911, told Deputy Jackson that she had snorted two lines of meth and then smoked some meth off foil. In addition, she stated that she had taken muscle relaxers, and drank a half pint of vodka and three beers and that she had started seeing ghosts and hallucinations. This subject told Deputy Jackson that she was happy to be arrested. Deputy Jackson arrested Tammy Gadd age 42 of Wildwood apartments, London charging her with public intoxication – controlled substances. Also arrested was the other female subject there identified as Linda Johnson 49 of Old Salem Rd., London charged with public intoxication – controlled substances and resisting arrest. This subject also stated that she had been doing meth by snorting some and then smoked some off aluminum foil. When told that she was under arrest she stated – I am not going to jail and had to be escorted to the police cruiser. Both subjects were lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center. Photos attached are courtesy of the Laurel County Detention Center.

The views expressed in comments on the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page are those of the comment writers. The accuracy and politeness of comments are not guaranteed and do not represent the views or opinions of the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.

Debuting on WLOR LIFE Omni Radio Thursday, May 28th

24 Sunday May 2015

Posted by in Breaking the News, In the News, Radio Show

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API Banner

API Banner

WLOR Debut

Tune in this Thursday, May 28th at 8 PM EST for our first radio show with WLOR L.I.F.E. Omni Radio. Our inaugural guest is Nicholas “Nick” Sarlo, Director of the True Ghost Stories series coming in September. The API Gals are excited to play their new introductory theme song, as well.

www.wlor.net

Open Letter to Joseph Melendez, pseudonym Seph Lawless

23 Saturday May 2015

Posted by in Breaking the News, Fiction, In the News

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Black Friday

Black Friday

Open Letter to Joseph Melendez, pseudonym Seph Lawless

Dear Mr. Melendez:

I will not tolerate your harassment. I will not be subject to electronic bullying. If you are unhappy with the blogs I have written about your “book,” then maybe you should be more forthcoming in your claims. The book I reviewed was not based on real stories. Instead, you made up stories in hopes of selling more copies. This is unethical and amoral. Please refrain from complaining, again, about my writing.

Kind Regards,

Lesia Schnur

Last year I wrote several blogs discussing the amoral behavior of Joseph Melendez, who goes by the pseudonym Seph Lawless. Joseph self-published a book titled 13: An American Horror Story. I took exception to his claims that his stories were fictional—made up. Joseph purported to lots of media outlets that his photographs depicted abandoned houses where heinous crimes were committed. The media ate it up. None of them actually fact-checked the stories. If they had, they would have found out that every story was made up. A lie.

After posting my first blog, I received a couple of comments threatening lawsuits if I didn’t remove my blog. I did not waiver. A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by WordPress, the hosting site of my blog, that Joseph registered a complaint. This is what he wrote:

— BEGIN NOTICE — First name: SEPH Last name: LAWLESS Company name: Address: 8205 FRANKLIN BLVD. City: CLEVELAND State/Region/Province: OHIO ZIP: 44102 Country: United States (US) Phone number: [redacted for privacy] Email address: INFO@SEPHLAWLESS.COM Copyright holder: UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT OFFICE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Location of unauthorized material: https://thehauntedlibrarian.com/2014/11/15/missing-a-haunted-house-or-2-or-3-or/#comments Location of original materials: https://thehauntedlibrarian.com/2014/11/15/missing-a-haunted-house-or-2-or-3-or/#comments Description of original materials: THE IMAGE OF HOUSE IS MY COPYRIGHT IMAGE. THE BLOG USES NOT ONLY THE IMAGE BUT IS ABUSIVE, SLANDEROUS AND USES DEFAMATION IN BLOG AS WELL.

Note: I redacted his telephone number for privacy.

I take exception to this because the blogs are not abusive or slanderous. I wrote the truth. My blogs are covered under the Fair Use Exception of the U.S. Copyright Law, http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107. I criticized his work and he didn’t like it. Well, tough. Don’t tell lies.

Another Note: Interesting enough was the link Joseph provided. It was to another one of his books and not the one I blogged about. Oh my stars!

Morals of this blog: 1) WordPress rocks! They supported by blog. 2) Writers, bloggers, and photographers need to unite to end this type of behavior.

It’s Still Trespassing

22 Friday May 2015

Posted by in Breaking the News, Ghost Hunting, In the News

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Ghost Hunting Arrest

Four people arrested for breaking into a “haunted” church.

It’s Still Trespassing

News broke this week of four (4) people breaking into a Minnesota church searching for ghosts. In order to get in, the group broke windows and a sculpture. Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze admits that “alcohol played a role in their poor decision.” Alcohol, however, will not be a proper defense when they are arraigned for burglary and criminal damage to property. Let this be a lesson to all thrill seekers: Trespass is illegal.

Police officers responded to an alarm at 1:45 a.m. Sunday, May 17th at the Ness Church located in rural Litchfield, Minnesota. The thrill-seeking “ghost hunters” included Todd Suurmeyer, Joseph Porter, and Brittani Roberts, of Sioux Falls, and Kyle Huber, of Victoria, Minnesota. The three men appeared in court on Tuesday. The female, Brittani Roberts, was released pending an investigation. An investigation is on-going to determine whether anything was stolen.

Unfortunately, the group decided to break into the historic church because of an urban legend that the church was haunted. The location has historic significance; the first five (5) victims of the Dakota War of 1862 are buried on the property. Also known as the “Sioux Uprising,” the war pitted the U.S. Army against the Sioux Indian Tribe. It lasted from August 17, 1862 until the mass execution of thirty-eight (38) Dakota men on December 26, 1862. The war greatly impacted the state’s history.

Church officials deny that the church is haunted; however, the church is frequently targeted by vandals. Preservation of history should remain paramount over ghost hunting.

I’m Breaking the News at 8 pm EST

26 Sunday Apr 2015

Posted by in Breaking the News, Paranormal Filler

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Wes Forsythe

Wes Forsythe

Wes has invited me back on Paranormal Filler to dish the latest paranormal news. This week I’m chatting about TV shows–cancelled, premiering, and currently filming. Plus news of the weird from across the globe: Ghost photobombs in wedding pictures; Ghost hunters who stopped a real robbery; And more.

Tune in, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/liveparanormal/2015/02/23/paranormal-filler-with-host-wes-forsythe, at 8 PM EST. Guaranteed laughs, as well.

Hampton Court Palace “Ghost” Is Great Trickery

27 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by in Breaking the News, Castles, Ghost Stories, In the News, Photography, Urban Legends

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Hampton Court Ghost

Hampton Court “Ghost”

Hampton Court Palace “Ghost” Is Great Trickery

The Internet was abuzz this week and not just with renegade llamas. Twelve-year-old schoolgirl Holly Hampsheir was touring Hampton Court Palace with her cousin Brook McGee. With her smartphone, Holly snapped a picture of her cousin’s backside and low and behold a ghost appeared. The girls claim that they did not immediately notice the ghost until they reviewed the pictures. News of a possible image of the Dame Sybil Penn, a.k.a. The Grey Lady, quickly spread. Unfortunately, the picture is a fake.

Hampton Court Palace is plagued with sadness. Anne Boleyn resided at the palace before her beheading in 1536. Another wife of King Henry VIII Jane Seymour died weeks after childbirth at the palace in 1537. Another wife Catherine Howard was imprisoned at the palace prior to her beheading in 1542. All three supposedly haunt the palace. Hampton Court has a lot of reasons for activity.

The latest claim involves Dame Sybil Penn. Dame Sybil was a servant to four Tudor monarchs. She lived at Hampton Court. She died in the late 1500s from smallpox. Rumors of her haunting began shortly after her tomb was disturbed around 1829. However, no one has ever taken a picture of Dame Sybil, or any of King Henry VIII’s former wives, until now.

The image is a fake. Although a “photography expert” was consulted and claimed not to find tampering, the image has several tale-tell signs. First, the image is too colorful. The “ghost” appears in the center of the image. Noticeably, the spirit looks elongated. Further, the figure is either hovering or incredibly tall. Finally, there is simply too much hair. Never has a piece of evidence been so clear. Nor has there been any evidence of this type found at Hampton Court. This is just too good to be true.

See for yourself  and feel free to comment.

Update: Seems another true expert on photography Mick West debunked this image as a panorama glitch in the iPhone. Please read his incredibly interesting article Debunked: Hampton Court Ghost Photo [iPhone Panorama Glitch]. Huge thanks to Mick for clarifying!

Zaffis May Purchase Former Funeral Home for Museum

09 Monday Feb 2015

Posted by in Architecture, Breaking the News, Funeral Homes, In the News, Museums, Reality TV

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John Zaffis outside former McBride Funeral Home

John Zaffis outside former McBride Funeral Home (Scott Stafford)

Zaffis May Purchase Former Funeral Home for Museum

Last year at Scarefest, John Zaffis told me that he might purchase a former funeral home and relocate his museum of all things haunted. Seems Zaffis may have identified the perfect location: the former McBride Funeral Home. Zaffis claims the building has the proper “creepy edge” required to draw in visitors.

According to an article in The Berkshire Eagle Newspaper (Adams, Massachusetts), Zaffis toured the vacant building with an architect and the town building inspector. But don’t plan a visit anytime soon. If Zaffis does make an offer, it will be several months before the museum would be operational.

Offered at $79,000, the funeral home consists of two separate buildings connected by a common entryway. Both buildings feature a large meeting room on the first floor. An apartment is on the second floor of one building. Zoning has already been changed from residential to commercial. Zaffis doesn’t anticipate a large-scale renovation. In fact, he states that the buildings are almost ideal for what he has envisioned.

Zaffis’ plans include utilizing one meeting room for paranormal lectures. The other large meeting room would house 20 of his largest items with a rotating exhibit of smaller pieces. He would stay in the apartment while in town. The additional upstairs space would be used for storage.

Zaffis started the Paranormal and Demonology Research Society of New England in 1998. He starred in the paranormal hit TV show The Haunted Collector. In addition, Zaffis appears at paranormal conferences throughout the year.

Zaffis spotted the abandoned funeral home and felt it was creepy enough to house a paranormal collection. If realized, the museum would be open on Fridays and Saturdays by appointment only. Zaffis’ collection is extensive and large. A collection fit for a funeral home!

Ouija Board “Predicts” Fire: Arson Charges Filed

04 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Breaking the News, Crimes, In the News, Ouija Boards

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Katrina Livingston

Katrina Livingston

Ouija Board “Predicts” Fire: Arson Charges Filed

Ouija boards are not toys. Here’s another glowing example.

Dateline Leadgate, Consett, County Durham, England where Margaret Carroll (age 60) and Katrina Livingston (age 37) are suspected of setting fire to their home stemming from a Ouija board session. The mother and daughter were attempting to communicate with their dead Bedlington terrier. The dog was savagely killed and dismembered on Christmas Eve by Margaret’s current husband, Paul Carroll (age 51), after a similar Ouija board session.

Paul Carroll dog killer

Paul Carroll dog killer

Paul Carroll asserts that the December 24th session was spurned by black magic. Paul admits to playing with the Ouija board. He further stated that the dog became possessed. Afterward he killed and dismembered the innocent dog. Foolishly, Paul attempted to flush the parts down the sewer drain. The resulting clog alerted local police to the crime. Paul was arrest for the unnecessary suffering of an animal; he awaits sentencing.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, RSPCA, removed the remaining dogs from the residence. The family has lived there for less than a year. However, they appear to be frequent Ouija board enthusiasts.

Margaret Carroll

Margaret Carroll

Last weekend, Margaret and Katrina toyed with the Ouija board. Katrina told a neighbor that the board predicted their imminent deaths. The following day, Saturday, January 31st, the attached bungalow was engulfed in flames; mother and daughter were found unconscious in the garden.

Neighbors are mad. The bungalow destroyed. Police skeptical.

According to the Northern Echo newspaper, Margaret and Katrina were hospitalized following the fire. Katrina was arrested shortly after her release and charged with suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. She was remanded into police custody and will appear in court on February 18th. Presumably, Margaret will face similar charges once released.

Destroyed Bungalow

Destroyed Bungalow

Credits: Images from the Northern Echo newspaper.

The Stanley Hotel Hedge Maze Winner Announced Tomorrow

02 Monday Feb 2015

Posted by in Architecture, Books, Breaking the News, Horror Movies, In the News, Movies

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The Shining (1980) movie poster

The Shining (1980) movie poster

The Stanley Hotel Hedge Maze Winner Announced Tomorrow

In celebration of 20 years of ownership of the Stanley Hotel, Stephen King’s inspiration for his spine chilling novel The Shining, the Grand Heritage Hotel Group held a contest: design a hedge maze. Tomorrow at 5:30 MST the winner will be announced.

A hedge maze was a key feature in The Shining (1980) movie directed by Stanley Kubrick. However, a hedge maze did not exist at the hotel. The movie was not filmed at the hotel but instead in England. Hedge mazes are incredibly popular. This maze will be constructed with 1,600-2,000 Alpine Currant bushes. It will be installed on the front lawn and will remain a permanent fixture on the grounds.

The contest generated nearly 400 entries from 40 odd countries. Originally set to unveil the winner today, the panel had to postpone the vote due to inclement weather. Stay tuned for an announcement.