Beyond normal
Beyond normal
February 13, 2009
by Jeff Watson
The Cheraw Chronicle
HERAW — When things go bump in the night or voices are heard, is it just a creative imagination or is it something that can’t be explained?
A group of five people devote their time and energy to researching and tracking paranormal activity in an attempt to provide answers to those questions. Brent Freeman, Tori Starling, Tory Ferraro, Joey Starling and Hope Starling make up the Pee Dee Paranormal Research Society, which is based in Cheraw. By day, they all lead normal lives and work normal jobs. At night, the team is out investigating what is on the other side. All are experts in the field.
“Each member of the team is dedicated to the field of paranormal investigating," said Freeman, a co-founder of the team. "We love what we do and we love serving the community in any we can.”
PDPRS Is a non-profit group, meaning that there is no charge for their services.
After gaining the permission of property owners, the group conducts preliminary investigations which determine if there is a need to do full-scale research. Private or public property can be investigated and owners’ names and addresses aren’t disclosed to maintain privacy.
The team uses state-of-the-art equipment such as infrared cameras, digital voice recorders, several lights and much more to conduct investigations. The estimated cost of the equipment exceeds $10,000. Since services are free of charge, the team bares the costs of all expenses brought about by each investigation.
Freeman says that getting permission from clients is difficult due to vandalism by youngsters or others trying to find a ghost. He says that those who do not seek permission and vandalize properties should be subjected to the laws of the state.
All of the members of the group agree that it Is important to have a common goal each time they’re doing investigations. The group’s mission statement states that they investigate each case of paranormal activity by using scientific methods to establish proof of the paranormal or to debunk natural causes that are not paranormal.
The team tries to approach each case with an open mind. Before they declare that paranormal activity is indeed present, they try to recreate any sounds or events. If they find that they can not recreate the happenings, their investigation goes deeper.
“The paranormal field is based on theories,” said Ferraro, the team’s lead investigator. “Nothing has been proven. It’s not like we have a ghost or anything trapped that we can run tests on. About 90 percent of paranormal activity can be disproved. It’s that 10 percent that keeps us searching for answers.”
A recent boom in popularity has put the field in the public spotlight. With several television shows, movies and internet blogs; the phenomenon has continued to gain more exposure by the day.
Joey says that many of the television shows don’t give an accurate depiction of what goes into each investigation.
“Sometimes we sit out there for hours and nothing happens,” Joey said. “The shows don’t show that. A lot of times there’s nothing there. A lot of work goes into each investigation.”
Each member has had their own individual experiences that sparked their interest in the field. Through all of their experiences together, Tori says the team is more than just a group of investigators now.
“We’re like a family,” Tori said. “There is a very special friendship between the five of us. We share the same goals the work with the same passion and drive.”
Aside from conduct research and tracking paranormal activity, the PDPRS also host an internet radio show devoted to the field.
For more information on the Pee Dee Paranormal Research Society, go to www.carolinasparanormal.com.
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