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When talking about the Deering Estate most of you will only think about the years that Charles Deering owned or lived on this property (from 1915-1927).
This is far from a complete picture.
The Deering Estate has a history that goes back far more than the last 10,000 years.
With such a rich history, we from the League of Paranormal Investigators were very curious to see if the haunted stories were true and if the Deering Estate was indeed a Haunted location.
It took us a year of preparation to find the correct contacts and we were happy that in the summer of 2009 we where allowed to perform a paranormal investigation on the Estate, which grew into a partnership between the Deering Estate and us.
This partnership, called "Voices of the Past," resulted in a successful monthly Ghost Tour every fourth Thursday of each month.
Colleen the Case Manager on this case did a terrific job to make this investigation a successful experience for all of us.
As part of the background research she also spent many hours in the Special Collections Department of the University of Miami ’s Otto Richter library, special collections served as members.
Also as part of the background research, we interviewed the Deering Estate staff.
We collected their personal experiences and background information.
This information helped us to understand what we might expect during this investigation and explain what we found in our evidence.
Due to the size of our research file and collected stories, we decided to split this investigation into several nights.
On August 15th we started with the natural areas where naturalists of the Deering Estate guided us to the important and historic sites.
We decided to split the team up in four smaller teams which went out to collect as much paranormal evidence as possible.
Despite the heavy rain we where still able to collect some cool evidence.
Also, a lot of investigators had some personal experiences during this nighttime nature hike.
The following day we investigated the Richmond Cottage, Stone House and Carriage House.
During these investigations, Ghost Lab and the IR cameras were set up in the Stone House in various locations.
Ghost Lab was set up on the third floor (offices closed to the public) where psychics and non-psychics experienced a heavy feeling.
Also, two IR cameras were set up in one of the closets and the hallway to the office where Ghost Lab was set up.
The other two IR cameras where located in Mr. Deering’s office and his bedroom.
This night we found some interesting evidence which can be reviewed on the evidence page of this case.
A week later in Richmond Cottage, we decided to go back and let Ghost Lab and IR cameras run the whole night at the Richmond Cottage without anybody in the building.
On the third floor we did set up Ghost Lab in the conference room which was also base camp for the IR camera recorder.
One of the IR cameras was set up to validate a story that a sink and shower turn on without anybody around.
To validate that, nobody entered the room unnoticed, and a motion detector was set up to detect any movement.
Another camera was set up in one of the administrative office's and this move turned out to be very interesting.
The other IR cameras were set up in different rooms.
Please see evidence page of this case.
We also brought a medium, which was a good friend of the LPI founders, two nights in a row to collect more physical impressions which cannot be captured by our equipment.
On August 26th we took the medium on tour throughout the Richmond Cottage where she pointed out the hotspots.
The following night we took the medium to the Stone House where we got more impressions and a better understanding of a negative entity visiting the Stone House and the Richmond Cottage.
After analyzing all evidence, we are proud to announce that we found a location that removes Villa Paula from the first place as Most Haunted house in Miami.
The most important evidence of this investigation was found in the historic houses and general access areas of the Estate that we "captured" two apparitions on digital camera.
One apparition was of a man and one of a woman which were taken close to the boat basin behind the Stone House.
We collected more positive evidence than we can show in this case file, and we would like to invite you for a Ghost Tour where you can experience the Voices of the Past.
Members of the League of Paranormal Investigators will be onsite and available to answer all your Paranormal questions.
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Before Mr. Deering bought the property, now called The Deering Estate, the land already had a rich history spanning far before the new settlers took over the land in the early 1800’s.
Fossils found at the Cutler Fossil site date back to the first non-human occupants of at least 100.000 years back.
Bones are found from now extinct animals such as Mammoths, Saber Tooth Tigers, and Sloths.
The Deering Estate also has proof on Native Indians, such as Paleo-Indians, Tequestas, and Seminoles living on those lands.
At the Midden area you still can find proof of their diet in the form of bleached Conch shells, smaller shells, and shark vertebrae.
Also on the Cutler property, a Native Indian burial mound can be found.
Cutler and Richmond might have shaped the Estate before Charles Deering purchased it, but Charles Deering is definitely the one who gave it the name and character as we know it today with his interest in botany he created an oasis that had many visitors, some that may have never left.
Over all those years, many people lived and died on the land now known as the Deering Estate.
But, did everyone leave after dying, or are they still wandering around the estate?
The League of Paranormal Investigators researched and investigated the estate and concluded that there are many entities trapped and still wandering the grounds, and some are not happy about it.
If you are curious to know what we found, please check out some of our evidence through the link below:
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1838 - Second Seminole War |
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The Cutler area was a scene of a battle during the Second Seminole War.
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July 31, 1852 - Charles Deering was born |
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Charles Deering was born the son of William and Abbey Reed (Barbour) Deering in South Paris, Maine.
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1876 - Charles William Deering is born |
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Charles William Deering is born.
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1876 - Charles Deering became a widower |
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Charles Deering became a widower after his first wife died of complication after giving birth to his eldest son Charles William.
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1883 - Dr. William Cutler |
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Dr. William Cutler purchased 600 acres in this South Dade area.
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1884 - William Fuzzard |
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Dr. William Cutler brought in William Fuzzard (a settler) to cut a pass way leading from the town up to Coconut Grove.
This original road was opened in 1890 but is not in use anymore.
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1884 - First post office |
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The first post office was establishes by the end of this year.
William Fuzzard became the first post master.
According different sources the population had grown between 75 to 200 people.
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1894 - Roger Deering |
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Roger Deering is born.
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1896 - Cutler school |
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The Cutler school was opened.
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1886 - Marion Deering was born. |
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Marion Deering was born.
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1888 - Barbara Deering was born. |
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Barbara Deering was born.
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1896 - Samuel H. Richmond |
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Samuel H. Richmond and his family first settled the land now known as the Deering Estate.
Richmond was working for Henry Flagler as a surveyor and to bring his family down to this area he purchased some land in the Cutler area.
He extended the original Cutler house into the building now to be known as Richmond Cottage.
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1900 - First hotel |
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Samuel H. Richmond opened the first hotel in the area between Coconut Grove and Key West.
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1903 - Florida East Coast Railroad |
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Cutler was bypassed by the Florida East Coast Railroad causing the town to die.
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1915 - Purchase of the Richmond property |
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Charles Deering purchased the Richmond property and processed it into a private winter residence.
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1915 - The end of Culter |
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All buildings where torn down with the exception of the Richmond Cottage that was incorporated into the Deering Estate.
The post office closed.
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1915-1916 - Deering's winter home. |
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Charles Deering decides to locate his family’s winter home in the Cutler area by acquiring the Richmond Cottage.
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Novemver 28, 1916 - Dynamite Explosion |
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Four Bahamian workers where killed and five were wounded as a result of a dynamite explosion on a barge.
One of the five wounded died in the hospital the next day.
The dynamite was used to dredge the channel to create a passage way for boats.
Deering compensated each man’s widow with some land near Perrine.
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1916-1918 - Carriage House |
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Charles Deering added the Carriage House, Power House and Pump House to the Deering Estate property.
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1922 - Stone House |
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Charles Deering builds his 14,000-square-foor Stone House that was designed to protect his intensive art collection against fire and forceful storms.
The Stone House is constructed with a minimum of flammable materials such as wood and with massive concrete walls.
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1922-1927 - Mr. Deerings Health |
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A not that well known fact is that when Charles Deering lived in the Stone House most of the time he was depressed.
His health was also dwindling and before he died he was depending on transportation in a wheelchair.
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1927 - Charles Deering dies |
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Charles Deering dies.
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1933 - Charles Deering Library |
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The Charles Deering Library at Northwestern Library was built.
Deering's heirs made substantancial donations to build the library.
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1965 - Marion Deering McCormick dies |
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Marion Deering McCormick dies.
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1982 - Barbara Deering Danielson dies |
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Barbara Deering Danielson dies.
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1985 - Deering Estate for sale |
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After Barbara Deering Danielson death the Deering Estate was put op for sale.
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August 9, 1985 - New Management |
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The State of Florida , through its Conservation and Recreation Lands Acquisition Program, and Miami-Dade County purchased the Deering Estate at Cutler for $22.5 million. Miami-Dade County 's Park and Recreation Department was designated to manage the sensitive natural, historical and archeological resources found on the Estate.
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March 16, 1986 - National Register of Historic Places |
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The Deering Estate at Cutler was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For the first time, one of the most significant, a unique and private site of South Florida was opened to the public.
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1989 - Deering Estate Foundation, Inc |
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Established in 1989, The Deering Estate Foundation, Inc., is a private nonprofit member based 501(c)3 Florida Corporation and the philanthropic arm of the Deering Estate at Cutler.
Our Board of Directors, members and volunteers are made up of a diverse group of business and community leaders who are dedicated advocates of the Estate and active supporters of education, research, cultural arts, restoration and preservation.
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August 24, 1992 - Hurricane Andrew |
Hurricane Andrew slammed into South Florida, devastating Homestead, Florida City and parts of Miami, then continued northwest across the Gulf of Mexico to strike the Louisiana coastline.
The Richmond Cottage was almost demolished with the exception of the original build part in 1896.
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1999 - Restoration |
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After more than six year of restoration, the historic property is reopened to the public.
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August 15, 2009 - Investigation day 1 |
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The League of Paranormal Investigators investigated the natural areas of the Deering Estate at Cutler property.
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August 16, 2009 - Investigation day 2 |
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The League of Paranormal Investigators investigated the Stone House, Richmond Cottage and Carriage House at the Deering Estate at Cutler property.
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August 26, 2009 - Investigation day 3 |
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The League of Paranormal Investigators performed an overnight investigation with all equipment in the Richmond Cottage.
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Our findings are mainly based on the scientific evidence, and we did find enough evidence to declare the property haunted.
Our investigation did show high levels of paranormal activity.
Our conclusion is based on the following category of findings as collected before and during the investigation:
Photography:
We found multiple photographs with orbs in them that do not seem to be any kind of dust, insect or moisture, as most orbs in photos tend to be.
Many of the most notable orbs were seen out by the boat basin, in the servant stairwell in the Carriage House, the Ballroom and a third floor office in the Stone House.
The evidence examples we have selected show orbs that seem to create their own light and orbs that seem to be in motion.
The most compelling of our photographic evidence are the two photos taken of apparitions.
One photo shows what seems to be a full body apparition, or a mist- like form of a male figure taken on the path just outside of the boat basin.
There is one other photo of this apparition that shows the figure even further away but clearer.
Another apparition photo shows the mist like figure of a female in white clothing wearing a hat, also out by the boat basin path.
Investigators went back to the area later in the week to try to debunk the photo, but couldn’t.
Video/Infrared Video:
At the burial mound on Saturday evening, a camera was left to record for one hour.
Throughout the first 20 minutes, there are investigators present, but once everyone leaves, there is activity recorded through the camera’s audio.
There are several sounds of something hitting the camera very hard.
It sounds like rocks and rain is ruled out due to the loudness.
Also, there are footsteps heard at one point and what may be a breathing sound.
At one point, the sound of flapping is heard as well.
Nothing shows up in frame to view, though.
All evidence from this camera is audio.
Our infrared video cameras were set up static in the Stone House throughout Sunday on the second evening of the investigation.
Camera #1 was set up in Mr. Deering’s study (with the desk) and several light anomalies were caught moving about the frame.
Camera #2 was set up in Mr. Deering's bedroom but did not capture anything paranormal.
One was bright red light moving from outside the south windows into the inside and lighting up part of the room at one point.
Camera #3 was set up in the hallway of the 3rd floor and a mist is seen blocking the entire camera.
No one was in the building at the time, so flashlights were ruled out.
In the Richmon Cottage, we set up one Mini-DVD camera in the room on the second floor of the house, that contained the archeological displays it (west), pointing out down the hallway.
A few light anomalies were found moving along the ground and right wall.
No one was in the building at the time, so flashlights were ruled out.
There is one video clip that was taken with a digital camera on Sunday evening that shows the conference room door in the third floor Carriage house rattling.
We ruled out any fans or A/C units being on or windows open that may have caused the door to move, and at one point, the investigators are heard asking the door to stop and start again and the door stops, then starts moving again at their request.
Upon returning to the Estate on Wednesday night/Thursday morning (08/26-08/27), we had captured an impressive light anomaly on the infrared camera that was set up in the far west office on the third floor of the Richmond Cottage.
The light at one point seems to represent a figurative form and moves directly in front of the camera for about nine seconds.
Voice Recording:
Our voice recorders found dozens of EVP clips, or what is termed electronic voice phenomena, where disembodied voices are captured that are not heard by the investigators ears.
The majority of the EVP clips found were walking in the natural areas Saturday evening along the Mangrove Boardwalk.
Many different sounding voices can be heard that are not attributed to the investigators.
Some EVP’s were also found at the site over by the gazebo area.
On Sunday evening, the majority of the EVP's found that night were on the third floor of the Stone House.
None of the offices were open to the investigators, so the EVP's were picked up in the hallway.
Also, the third floor of the Stone House and the South East office had a few EVP's found in it as well as the second floor North bedrooms.
Ghost Lab:
Ghost Lab is a unique computer program to assist the investigation and is dedicated to detect poltergeist activity in particular.
Ghost Lab uses motion detection, temperature, and electro magnetic field sensors to detect paranormal occurrences.
This program also contains a special algorithm to detect movement in the pictures it took.
During this investigation Ghost Lab did detect paranormal activity.
On Wednesday night/Thursday morning (08/25-08/26) a smaller team of investigators came back and set up ghost lab in the 3rd floor conference room of the Cottage.
We had one incident in which the vibration sensor produced a significant spike at around 4:00 AM.
Also approximately around this time the motion sensor also showed a slight movement of the door to the conference room.
Psychic Impressions:
On Saturday evening, we had two psychics assigned to separate teams.
One psychic described the Mangrove walkway to have many spirits.
She also felt a presence near the gazebo area.
She felt as if someone had died there and the feeling was sadness.
Another psychic described multiple presences in the midden and surrounding woods.
She describes a young man with a dog and two other male presences, one of them a visitor to the house perhaps with the name "Joshua" or "Jason."
She also felt a female presence at the boat basin, possibly with the name "Rose" or "Ruth."
There was an impression that this female presence could not find help and is worried "the boy will drown" because he is not familiar with the ocean.
No one knows he is out there.
The boy she called "Robert" or "Roger."
She was not sure if the boy actually drowned out there or if she is reenacting a traumatic event.
The same psychic felt a presence of Native American spirit/spirits that had protected them from darker presences in the woods, particularly near the Burial Mound and in particular protecting a more frightened investigator that evening.
She sensed shadow figures in the pine rock land area and something trailing along the left side of the trail near the poisonwood that was animal in presence.
She left the Estate with a headache that night.
On Sunday evening, we had four psychics present touring the historic houses and boat basin.
One psychic claimed to sense a spirit of a dark skinned man working in the Carriage House.
He also sensed the presence of a boy in the servant stairs in the Richmond Cottage.
He felt the presence of a couple courting in the love seat on the 2nd floor.
He also felt a dark feeling in the dining room of the Richmond Cottage.
In the gazebo area, he felt a Native American presence.
He also felt that there is a strong energy flow of the water that is blocked by the pathway in the Mangrove Boardwalk.
In the Stone House, he felt a strong presence in all of the rooms.
He felt as if someone had died in the house in one of the bedrooms.
He also sensed a lot of nature spirits, and sensed that they do not like modernity.
Another psychic felt many presences in the Mangrove Boardwalk area.
In the Stone House, she felt a presence on the 2nd floor and in the ballroom.
She said the ballroom presence seemed to live in the painting and seemed to dance about the room close to the ceiling, pulling her to dance with it.
She returned to the 3rd floor later in the evening and felt an angry or frustrated presence on the 3rd floor that seemed annoyed by the investigators presence and lack of acknowledgement of "him."
He seemed to come form the marketing directors office at the end of the hall and walked around a bit.
In the Richmond Cottage, she also felt the presence of a young boy, 8 or 9 y/o, blonde and dressed as if in "WWII British school boy attire."
She also felt a presence of a woman in the 2nd floor. This presence felt very proper and properly dressed with parasol and a hat.
She was sensed to be a visitor of the house and an art patron.
On the 3rd floor, there was a sense of sadness and perhaps of a person dying of drowning or loss of breath, as that is what the psychic was feeling.
Another psychic sensed a presence in the Carriage House of a dark skinned worker, possibly Mexican or Peruvian.
She sensed he was one of the help.
He was not unhappy to her, but she sensed that he was not treated well by his superior.
This presence followed her throughout the investigation.
She also sensed a heaviness and uncomfortable presence in the area by the gazebo.
In the clearing before the Mangrove Boardwalk, she felt a sense of dread, as if there was a burial site there and felt as if she was being watched. In the Stone House Ballroom, she felt a draining feeling, particularly by the painting and a pressure on her head when she sat under it.
Our fourth psychic also felt the presence of a boy in the Carriage House around the stairs and kitchen area.
She got the name "Phillip."
On the second floor, she felt a foreboding presence of a teen girl and it was stronger in the Tequesta display room.
She is sensed as blonde, slight of build, and prefers blue clothing.
She also received the dates 1906 and 1916 and felt the girl was "sullen."
This psychic also felt ill after leaving the property that night.
Two other investigators training as psychics also felt the presence of the boy in the Carriage House and Native Americans around the Boat Basin.
One felt the presence of the sadness in the 2nd floor of the Carriage House.
While bringing a very powerful medium consultant to the property approximately one week later.
She reported feeling the following:
Stone House:
- Library - Two older ladies, art patrons, dignified. A dog.
- Ballroom - A man with a "G" name. He is in love with one of two girls. Also a woman in love with two men; 1913 era. Also the presence of the painter (Casas). She sensed that the wife or woman of the house called the shots when decorating it.
- Wine Cellar Basement - Three male servants bound to the tunnels. One liked to steal sips of sherry and port. Felt the presence of a brother of the owner (James), and he liked to spend time there.
- 2nd floor middle bedroom with bed- the presence of Marion. (from her portrait).
- Mr. Deerings Bedroom and Study - She pointed to Marion Deering and said "She ‘owned’ this house an cared for it more than anyone else, but it wasn’t given to her...you must put her portrait in a place of prominence." Her presence is still here and strong. Also, music was played in there. She pointed to Ana Rogers Case and said, "She is still here too. She died in childbirth and is here."
- Carriage House/Naturalist Office - Another heavy presence. A strong heart connection. Unrequited or forbidden love.
Personal Experiences:
On Saturday evening, many investigators had personal experiences worth noting.
On the Mangrove Boardwalk, all three investigators on one team felt as if they were being watched and possibly followed, which correlates to the high number of EVP’s found from that evening.
The same group also had two investigators that had their hair pulled, and another had her fanny pack opened and the contents spilled (while walking along the pine rockland path.)
They also felt and heard sounds as if there was an animal trailing them on the left side of the path while nearing the Burial Mound.
Around the same location another investigator from another team was pushed and her flashlight flew out of her hand as she fell to the ground.
Others had witnessed this.
Concurrently, at the Burial Mound, another group had a large branch fall very close to them, brushing against one of the investigators.
The same team also had felt and heard that they were being followed there along the left side of the path.
On Sunday evening, one team had experienced a great deal of energy at the Boat Basin area and the Mangrove Boardwalk.
They also explored the houses and one team member felt ill after leaving the Wine Cellar.
In the Richmond Cottage, one investigator got touched and had her hair pulled on the 3rd floor.
They had experienced a door rattling on the 3rd floor (Conference Room door.)
They were able to interact with it and ask it to stop and go, and it complied.
Another team had also had two members that felt ill after going into the Wine Cellar and Butler’s Pantry of the Stone House.
Later on the third floor of the Richmon Cottage, another investigator and our guide felt ill and had to leave the house quickly as if psychically attacked.
Concurrently, in the Stone House one investigator was alone watching the equipment and videos, when he was seemingly psychically attacked by something.
Altogether, five investigators felt ill at one point after leaving the Stone House and two people were "psychically attacked."
Also later on the following Thursday, we brought a Medium to the property and while in the Stone House 3rd floor, everyone got headaches, two people felt injured on the right knee and the medium got pinched in the arm inside one of the office bathrooms.
At the same time, Ed’s necklace was pulled off of him and broke.
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Select the evidence type you want to see, or hear, from the following list:
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Near the Burial Mound one of the investigators asked how many people where there and a couple of seconds later we will here a faint answer stating "four".
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At the boardwalk we got a lot of faint EVP's.
This EVP you can hear a female voice saying what sounds like: "send me I'll go".
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Another EVP from the Mangrove Boardwalk area.
This EVP you can hear a female voice saying what sounds like: "Go".
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Another EVP from the Mangrove Boardwalk area.
This is an interesting EVP because at least two different voices can be heard.
First you will hear a low pitch sound, then a loud bark, then an- exhale sound, then an indiscernible female whisper.
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During the investigation of the Stone House one of the investigators says "mmm-hmm" after that a woman's voice saying "I'll choose mine...".
The final sound is the noise from the recorder being moved.
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