The Mon Valley Ghost Research Society consists of Rene' Kruse, Dave Ross, Edgar Harris, Linda Davis, and Bob & Nellie Mammarella. Following is an introduction to our little group. We each have our specific jobs we do when on an investigation and various little pet names for each other because of what we do. We're a close-knit little "family", and therefore, we protect, help, and respect each other, and what they do.
Rene' Kruse is a Professor in Applied Engineering. The mother of four, and grandmother of one, spends as much free time as she possibly can in search of the unknown and unexplained. Rene' has had an interest in ghosts since she was a teen. Rene' is our spokesperson, explaining things when questions come up, persuing the questions we have ourselves. She always makes sure that there is definitely no concrete evidence for something we have seen or heard. She makes sure that we check every angle and aspect of everything we do. Rene's motto is "When in doubt, throw it out!" Every little doubt is checked, over and over again. And just to be sure, checked again.
Rene' also does our interviews, on film. People are comfortable with her, and open up to her. You always know when Rene' gets something on camera because you hear her, no matter where you are. She gets very excited, her words coming very quickly and loud. She attempts to draw people in with her, to try and share the experience with them. Rene' will pretty much drag the rest of us along with her anywhere, to abandoned mines, old family cemeteries hid deep in the woods, sites of long-ago train wrecks or explosions... just about anywhere there's a possibility of researching the unknown. She also has a resident ghost, "Ernie" that likes to wander the stairs, watch over her grandaughter, and open and close the kitchen cabinets all hours of the night.
Rene' has been on "ABC's World's Scariest Ghosts Caught On Tape", "FOX's Ghosts Caught On Tape: Fact Or Fiction", "FOX's Real Scary Stories", and The Travel Channel, for her footage of the McPike Mansion in Alton, Illinois. She will be one of the featured speakers at the "2003 American Ghost Society Conference" in June in Alton, IL.
Dave Ross is a Supervisor, and happily married to his wife, Mary. He is our "sound expert" and skeptic. Dave is the one who checks out noises we have heard on video or audio tapes. He also solved an ongoing mystery of a voice we heard on tape, that, sorry to say, wasn't supernatural. He helps to set up our electrical equipment, and goes through the buildings checking for different readings on the emf meters. He's very calm about any experiences he's had. There have only been a few, but they were memorable, as he felt extreme cold in certain areas.
Dave is also the one who introduces new equipment to us that's on the market that may aide in our research. He delves into the uses this equipment has, and searches for different prices and options that are included on each one. If there is a possibility, we try the equipment before we buy it to see if its something we can use for our research.
Edgar Harris is our oldest member, our historian, and the one the women run to when scared. Past President of the local historical society, he brings the history of places into our group. When we go on an investigation, Edgar usually knows more of the history of the house than the owners do. He has captured several interesting forms on video of what we believe are spirits. One of these ghostly anomalies, we believe to be the spirit of Edgar's mother, still watching over her house. Edgar's oldest grandson, John, lives there with his wife and two sons.
This anomaly has been seen, along with Edgar, on "ABC's World's Scariest Ghosts Caught On Tape", and "FOX's Ghosts Caught On Tape: Fact Or Fiction". Edgar also captured several EVP's on video, including that of an Indian flute. Edgar also uses dowsing to contact the spirits.
Linda Davis, who is Edgar's daughter, is married, has 2 grown sons, a daughter-in-law, and 3 beautiful grandsons and 1 grandaughter. She has been experiencing paranormal events since she was a child, including sightings of several apparitions, and things that she still prefers not to talk about. She has seen a full body apparition in her home outside of her grandson's bedroom, the sounds of footsteps by several different spirits in the hallway, and the newest resident who likes to touch people in the dining room, and also, likes to sit on the sink in the bathroom and wave at you when you shower.
Linda believes she has the spirits of her grandmother, great-grandmother, grandfather, step-grandfather, mother and daughter who were good friends of her grandmother, and a civil war soldier in her house. The newest resident appeared after a fatal crash just over the hill from her house... a stone's throw, so to speak. Things that occur are wind chimes that tinkle when there's no discernible air, loud knocks on the outside of windows, the sounds of dishes clattering in the kitchen when no one is there, the smell of baking bread, coffee, and cinnamon rolls, and the sounds of footsteps in the hallway. Also, and this has occurred just recently, 2-3-02 to be exact, the feeling of someone standing behind you and blowing on your neck. Two people experienced this, simultaneously. Linda and her husband also experienced a tall shadow man in the dining room on 4-16-02.
Linda has also been on "ABC's World's Scariest Ghosts Caught On Tape", and "FOX's Ghosts Caught On Tape: Fact Or Fiction". She and her husband, James, recently bought and are now residing in the "Little house" that was featured on both television shows. She has seen 7 of the 28 spirits that like to "visit" her house.
Bob and Nellie Mammarella are our newest members. Bob is a police officer, and Nellie is a mail carrier. They both enjoy going to Gettysburg as much as possible, and participate in the re-enactments there. Nellie and Bob have had numerous experiences with ghosts at Nemacolin Castle, and have had similar experiences at Gettysburg. Bob has the ability to sense spirits and has had numerous sightings of them. Welcome to our group, Bob and Nellie!
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