Fort Thomas ghostbusters

Fort Thomas ghostbusters
November 30, 2009
by Ryan Clark
cincinnati.com

FORT THOMAS - Rich Scanlon bought a home in 1999, and when things started to go bump in the night, he wondered what was going on. For five years he dealt with a slew of events that convinced him he was experiencing something paranormal.

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A decade later, Scanlon - along with friend Jake Cunningham - has founded Everyday Paranormal Ky., an investigative group that tries to find the truth in supposed paranormal situations.

"We have all encountered the unexplained," said Scanlon, 36, of Fort Thomas. "We are non-profit and our service is free of charge. We are here to help those who need to understand what is going on - and honestly, 90 percent of claims are not paranormal, and some feel relieved and others get disappointed that it's not."

The group of five is made up of bartenders and shop owners, and recently they were given an honor - they learned they will be representing the state as part of the national Everyday Paranormal group based out of Texas. That group produces the television program "Ghost Lab," which airs on the Discovery Channel, and now Scanlon and his group could be called on to help with that show.

"As far as filming with them, well that would take place only if they had a worthy case here in Kentucky and the Discovery channel approves it," Scanlon said. "Which really could happen since Kentucky is so rich in history and claims of activity."

But the group will not be sitting and waiting for the call. They will be investigating. They have found some creepy evidence in the past, like the time they heard a child's scream in Franklin, Ky., or the time someone - or something - locked Scanlon in a room in Napanoch, N.Y.

"At first I thought it was the guys screwing around, and I finally had to kick open the door," he said. "The owner of the hotel and I (realized) nobody alive locked me in there."

On average, the group investigates twice a month, but hopes to increase its output with help from some new members.

"We all (have) different goals - some are just thrill seekers or hobbyists, but in all I believe we all just want to document proof that (ghosts) do exist," Scanlon said. "Our group personally would like to accomplish a better understanding to what's really going on. There are a lot of questions still unanswered and as our technology progresses, I feel we will some day understand this more."

Learn more about Everyday Paranormal Ky. at their Web site, which should be up and running in a few weeks: www.everydayparanormalky.com.