Convention offers ghostly secrets

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Convention offers ghostly secrets
By Jane Bokun
March 1, 2009
Shreveport Times

Even the most hardened afterlife nonbelievers had to admit there was a spooky chill in the air Saturday at Louisiana's first paranormal convention held at Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport.
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And certainly, some ghostly things were on the minds of the hundreds of attendees.

"You more hear ghosts than see them," said Crystal Vines, the co-director of Louisiana Spirits Paranormal Investigations, the group that put on the event.
"You can sometimes hear words and answers maybe 'yes' and 'no.'"

Le Festival D'Esprits, an all-day event, included some of the nation's biggest experts on supernatural activity.

It was followed by an overnight paranormal investigation of the Municipal Auditorium.

The convention, which was sponsored by Louisiana Spirits Paranormal Investigations, also included Director Brad Duplechien, author of the new book "Paranormal Uncensored: A Raw Look at Louisiana Ghost Hunting," and a founder of Louisiana Spirits.

What's the spookiest ghostbusting event he'd ever encountered?

"I'd say it was the shadow people we saw in Louisville, Ky.," Duplechien said.

He said he saw the complete shadow of a person crossing from room to room.

Duplechien was at the convention with director, Jennifer Broussard, and co-director Vines.

Others offering seminars throughout the day included Bob Hunnicutt, director of the Georgia Ghost Society, Dan Mewhinney, founder of SoCal Paranormal, and Kristyn Gartland, a case manager for the Atlantic Paranormal Society and featured in the popular Sci-Fi Channel show "Ghost Hunters," talking on "Ghost Hunting 101."

Outside the seminars, the latest electrical and video ghostbusting accoutrements were offered for sale. They included thermal cameras, Triple-Axis Tri-Field EMF Meters, infrared cameras and more.

Hunting for ghosts can be time consuming and maybe expensive, but it's definitely fun, said Jason Mansfield who met his wife Amy Mansfield while with a ghostbusting group.

"I saw an apparition of a young child in front of a building in Arkansas," Mansfield said.

"I had no prior knowledge that there was any type of paranormal activity going on near the building."

Jason said he was hooked on investigating paranormal activity — and his wife Amy.

"We've been married for two weeks," Amy said. She and Jason made the trip to the paranormal Convention in Shreveport all the way from Yellville, Ark.

Next up for the Louisiana Spirits Paranormal Investigating group is a trip to Minden to check out some ghostly activity for the weekend.