Paranormal Powerhouse: Haunted Old Lavaca County Jail

I have been a paranormal investigator now for 14 years. In that time I have been to a lot of locations that boast the moniker of " MOST HAUNTED" before their name. In those travels I have been sorely disappointed in what I would call a "misrepresentation" of the actual validity of their paranormal activity. Of all the locations and homes I have investigated the one location that truly is one of the "most haunted" does not even have the phrase in their name.

This place has earned a spot in Haunted Journeys list of the Most Haunted jails and prison in North America. Read that again!! Not Texas, Not the U.S.  ……..  BUT NORTH AMERICA!!

I am talking about Haunted Old Lavaca County Jail in Hallettsville, Texas.

Tucked away in a sleepy little town, this place is THE most active location that I have ever visited. There is not one room or square inch of this historic location that does not have paranormal activity running through it. So many have come before and after our visit that have documented so many paranormal encounters. From strange and unusual noises to seeing full-bodied shadow figures walking the hallways. Haunted Old Lavaca County Jail is one place that will either reaffirm your belief in the paranormal or turn you into a basket case from the overwhelming fear you experience from its ghosts.

With 120 years of service to the community as the county jail, this building has seen its fair share of horrific events. There are numerous documented inmate suicides that have occurred in the jail cells and countless cases of inmate upon inmate physical assaults. With this much pain and anguish in such a compact location, its not hard to image why there is so much paranormal activity here.

The silver lining in this spooky place are the property managers, Debra Fawcett and Lisa Mihalik Franks. These two wonderfully gracious ladies make everyone who visits feel like family. They go above and beyond to make the paranormal investigators who visit feel as comfortable as possible. Not only do they give you a tour of the facility, but they give you the entire 411 of this historic location. They are more than just the care takers of this property, they are its life line to the present. They are constantly cleaning the jail, constantly renovating, constantly preserving the history of this magnificent building.


I have had the pleasure of visiting HOLCJ twice as an investigator and once as a guest to the World's Largest Ghost Hunt. Each and every time I have been greeted with a smile and a hug!! This is just how they are, they are beautiful people with warm hearts. So if your not ready to be greeted as a life long friend, get ready to be!! Their straight forward no nonsense approach to the paranormal and their willingness to share their own experiences in the jail is why I LOVE coming here! Well, besides the fact that it truly is HAUNTED!!!

In closing, if you are ever out and about looking for some "Stay-cation" adventure, look up the Haunted Old Lavaca County Jail and see if you can catch one of their tours or even book your own overnight paranormal investigation. If you do, when you see Debra and Lisa , tell them I said hello!!

What are the dangers of being a ghost hunter?

When you are in the public representing your team you get asked a lot of different questions. There are the common ones such as: what's the scariest place you have been to or have you ever REALLY seen a ghost in person? Every now and then you get a question that levels the playing field. I was asked " Isn't it dangerous to go ghost hunting?" I thought about it for a second and thought " Hell yes it is!!" It is dangerous on so many different levels. 

First of all, you need to be educated on the field in which you endeavor. Just because you've seen every episode of your favorite paranormal reality show, that doesnt qualify you to be a ghost hunter.

You need to research the how, the why, and every possible aspect of paranormal investigations. You need to study the paranormal world itself and how it interacts with ours first. 

You see, there are so many different factors involved when dealing with ghosts. Ghost hunting or paranormal investigations has become the new thing to do. Everyone with an Amazon account is now a ghost hunter. They watch all the tv shows and think "Hey, I can do that!!" and run to Amazon and buy some gear and now they too are ghost hunters. They create Facebook accounts and claim to be investigators for the past 15 or so years because of that how long they have been watching the shows. 

If it were just about conquering the physical obstacles, the safety aspects and the fear factor, everyone would be a ghost hunter. But it's so much more than that, it's the paranormal or metaphysical realm it's self that is the danger. When you go out looking for the activity, even if you don't encounter it, it is there! If they do not know what they are doing they could invite something back to their home. The ghosts, spirits, entities and yes, even demons can attach themselves to you and follow you HOME! This is one of the very real dangers that these novice thrill seekers do not take into account. Most of these evil or demonic spirits like to trick you into thinking they are a child-like spirit and they have died a horrible death. This is their pathway to attach themselves to you. Once they have your trust, the hook is set. Then the long, hard and difficult road to remove them has begun. 

If that were the only concern about danger, you still would be ok. It is not the only concern. Your mental well being is now about to be questioned and put to the test. Some folks can experience serious traumatic events and move forward without missed a step. While others, will collapse and crumble the first time. I know what you're thinking... Come on Roger.... is it THAT bad!!?!?! I am gonna have a mental breakdown or have PTSD?? Well, you could.. I have seen people RUN for the hills during an investigation. They seen, heard or experienced something so frightening, the ran away as fast as they could. Something that powerful can leave an impression on your mind. It can cause you to doubt your ability to continue in the field. Hell, Ive seen people walk away from ghost hunting all together just because of a whisper in their ear!

The immense fear you can experience can cause heart attacks or cause you to have a nervous breakdown. It will call into question everything you thought was possible. Why do you think some of the "victims" leave their homes, walk away from mortgages, or attempt to burn down their homes? The amount of mental stress is there! Imagine being on an investigation, be it you're a seasoned vet or a newbie in the field, and you seen this massive, full bodied apparition CHARGING AT YOU SCREAMING, just like in the movies.... IT. HAS. HAPPENED. You tell me you would NOT question everything you did that lead you to this moment? I would...

Then there is the obsessiveness aspect. Once you get a good taste of paranormal investigations or experience something so powerful you become obsessed. This is just another avenue of the mental aspect of it, it could consume you with the pursuit of evidence. Always wanting more. 

In closing, I can not express to you just how many dangers there are with paranormal investigations. If you are still set on becoming a paranormal investigators or ghost hunter, may I suggest you find an ESTABLISHED team and learn from them. Anyone can go to Amazon or Walmart and buy a digital recorder or EMF meter, but learn from an established and reputable team or group. You may have to travel or pay a monthly fee, but that is to seperate the thrill seekers from those who are genuinly sincere in the pursuit of paranormal evidence.

Stay safe, and please.. do not call your self an expert in the field of paranormal research.. NONE OF US ARE we are still learing...

Be safe, Be prepared and always remember.... YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!

What makes a successful team?

The focus of this blog is to bring insight to a few issues. One, success is measured by the person holding the measuring stick! Two, why are we comparing ourselves to each other? Thirdly. why do we care so much about what the other group or team is doing? Why not spend that energy and focus on our own efforts?! Stop worrying about if this team or that team is getting into the big name places and you are not. The big name places cost money to get into and the REAL difficult locations are the residential investigation.

 These are the investigations that truly matter anyway. I started this group to answer many questions that I myself had. How does this happen? What are these events? Can they be removed? What is it? and Can they be made to stop?

In the pursuit of these answers I have only found more questions. Is there a point where death is suspended from judgement? How can the spirit realm exist if Gods judgement is absolute and instantaneous? What are these entities if they are NOT angels or demons?

As you delve into paranormal investigations you will realize that, not everything is going to have an answer! There are things you can not explain, you must experience to believe!! There will always be skeptics.... ALWAYS!! So stop worrying about them and the nay-sayers. Stop worrying about the critics and their negative comments. Stay strong and head-fast. Stay the course. You are the measure of your success. If getting 5 residential investigations is your goal and you get 7, you my friend are a success!!

Start yourself out with reasonable and yet modest goals.. sounds very simple and mundane, yet it works!! With each year attempt to go one step further, one step higher, and one step closer to your end game, But be mindful, this field is either feast or famine!! Be ready to accept the set backs and the failures, We only learn from our experiences and our failures!

So what is a successful team? Its simple.. its the team that sticks together, the team that perseveres, the team that accomplishes its mission each and every night they investigate. The team that stay TRUE to its self and its clients. THAT is success to me. I feel that my team is successful due to my members. They are the ones who put in the hours along side me, they sacrifice their time and their efforts just as much as I do and that is where the real pay off comes from, everyone driving to the same goal. Being there and being ready to pick up the slack where one falls off and knowing they do the same for you!  Team work is success!!

Are you a ghost hunter or paranormal investigator?

I have been listening to and reading several issues dealing with the pursuit of ghosts. One being what is the proper title. Ghost Hunter or Paranormal Investigator.

My theory is BOTH! If you are looking for or seeking the existence of ghosts, you're a ghost hunter AND a paranormal investigator. BUT, if your sole purpose is just UFO's or cryptids or whatever, you are just a paranormal investigator.

There are those in the field that are offended by being called a "Ghost Hunter" they say I am MUCH more than that. Well, that is the core task isn't it??

Well, for me, I use both terminologies. Its in our group name and when asked, I say I am a paranormal investigator. Reason being is that ghosts are a paranormal anomaly. To me its a moot point to debate over what someone refers to themselves as or to belittle those who decide to use one term or the other.

The field is what is important. The research is important. But most importantly, the explanation and the reassurance to the client is the most important aspect of the venture. We are a collective owe it to those we help to give 110% of our effort to helping them become comfortable again in the home. After all, they are the reason we do this is, isn't it??

Is impersonation the highest form of flattery?

Ok, so I have been in the middle of a few of these debates and it ALWAYS gets ugly!! One team claiming to be the "first" to do this or say that.. To clear the air.. I THINK the FIRST was Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson to actually bring paranormal investigations to main stream popularity. I THINK. So with that being said, everyone else ( me included ) can not claim to be the "first" to do anything in the field. Oh sure we have our own phrases, but in the long run, we all owe origins to someone else.

From my knowledge, "Mysticism" is the origins of paranormal investigations and that began around 1620 during the Age of Enlightenment. You see paranormal investigations has been around for quiet some time now under one name or another. So all this "you are copying me" stuff is just drama!!

I always give credit where credit is due and I always tell folks if I got the idea from someone else or if I am just re-coining  the phrase. Example. T.A.P.S  calls an area of high electro-magnetic frequency that is focused on a specific location a "Fear Cage". I have always thought that a more simpler term has always been more appropriate to explain to the client. I call it "EMF Poisoning" In the simple term you understand that EMFs have done something bad to you. Even if you don't know what an EMF is or what it does, you know its bad.

So when teams "compete" and I hate to use the term but it fits, against each other for the right to say "I was first".. it does nothing but separate and already fragile alliance that we have with each other. I believe in TRUE unity and true partnership. I have on occasion sought out other teams and asked if they wanted to investigate one of my cases. Now, it hasn't always happened, but I try to reach out to others and extend the olive branch of unity. I mean, I cant force a client to allow another team investigate when they have already entrusted me, but I try!!! I have tried a few times.

I just hate the fact that so many teams are in COMPETETION with each other. Yes, we all want to protect our sandbox. For me, I am weary of trusting others with my teams reputation. We have worked hard to get where we are and to keep the drama and speculation away from our name. Its very hard to shake old opinions. Some folks are KNOWN to be controlling or possessive of investigations. Even to the point where they may feel so threatened by another successful group, that they fabricate stories or falsehoods about that group to steal their shine!

If you have ever been a victim of this, TRUST ME when I say this, it will be ok! Just remain true to who you are and your character. Others will see by your actions that the stories were nothing more than a lie! Then you will shine brighter and stronger than your accuser! Be who you are, and be true to your cause! My group is not out for thrills or glory or notoriety. We are out there seriously trying to help others and document the actual existence of the paranormal claims. To further the field of research and hopefully, provide one or two bricks in the road to creating an actual field of scientific study into paranormal events.

So, stop worrying about who said what term first or who made up what phrase first. Hell, I made up a paranormal glossary years ago and now someone else took the idea and made it their own. I'm not mad, hateful or have any resentment toward them. I should have published it first! LOL
We need to work together, truly work together as one team to push this field into an area that is more than social entertainment and more toward a field of scientific study.

In closing, to all of you out there struggling as a team.. keep pushing forward!! Its not over yet and if their is internal conflict, START OVER or START NEW!! There is too much to do than to fight amongst ourselves. To the teams that hate each other, why?? You were friends once, cant you be friends again? At least squash the issue and stop bashing each other, it doesn't look good on either side. For those who are the glory hound or always playing "victim" for support. GROW UP!! eventually everyone will see you for who you are and when it happens, it will be like a landslide has fallen upon you and you will be shunned by the very community you called home. Its not too late to change and actually do the good things you have claimed you are aspiring to do.

I believe in unity or partnership in this field. I believe it so much that I try to assist others as much as I can. I think my willingness to help or eagerness to believe in others is both my strength and weakness. I sometimes trust too easily and it bites me in the butt from time to time. Stop worrying about what other teams do or say, especially about you if you have done nothing but grind and hustle to get your team to a level that inspires others. Be proud of your accomplishments, its not bragging or showboating if you're proud  of your accomplishments. But be humble as well, cause some may take it as arrogance and vanity. To those who feel inferior: stop it... we all started from ground zero!! We all have a beginning! Just stay the course and stay true to your heart. Everything else will work itself out.

I seriously believe that this community is unlike any other, and that we will support each other and help each other succeed. Be good to one another cause your actions speak louder than words and when you trash talk someone or purposely make a team look bad, it comes back to you.

Until my next rant!! Stay true, stay dedicated and most of all stay you!!

You are ruining the reputation of REAL paranormal investigators!!

A few days ago I seen a video post from a person who says they are a paranormal investigator and she was saying how she is "rebuilding" her team and asking folks to tell her of places to hunt. Seems legit so far , right? Well, most of us are constantly revamping our team and methodology to make our group better anyway. We are also self publicizing ourselves to get more awareness and publicity, which in turn hopefully garners more investigations. Ok, so pretty normal thus far. 

But, when you get on social media and post a video or yourself asking for tips or explaining why your team has no equipment or no hunts in the last 16 months... make sure your not drunk or high!! 
You don't think EVERYONE can tell your intoxicated?? Your slurred speech, your glazed eyes, and the fact you loose track of your train of thought mid-sentence is all the red flags needed.

You have no team.. its you and your child.... you have NO GEAR!! You have no TEAM. Its you and your son! You just have a Facebook page, that's it!! You portray yourself as a paranormal investigator or ghost hunter, which ever you prefer, but you are damaging the legitimate teams out there by posting videos of yourself drunk or high!! This is why no one comes to you for help. This is why you have NO MEMBERS. You tried to scam people out of money in order to pay for YOUR tickets to a tour, NOT a hunt! 

Its people like you that ruin this field for everyone who has a legitimate team or group. For those of us who are working on their group 24/7, we disown you!! You are NOT a part of our family. Is that harsh? Yes, just a bit but, you cant allow cancer to stay in you body if you want to stay healthy. 

As a member of a much larger association of paranormal teams, I am the FIRST to promote para-unity! But I will not sit back silently and allow this type of ignorance to be portrayed upon this community. This type of behavior is TOXIC to our community and the growth of this field. You have a drinking or drug problem. GO GET HELP!!! Get sober then reenter the arena of paranormal investigations. 

You are ruining the reputation of REAL INVESTIGATORS.. and you are ruining the credibility of real teams. Stop, please just stop. Get help, beat this addiction and come back to the paranormal family and help us establish a credible field of research. 

Cause if you continue on this path, all you are doing is destroying everything you hoped to accomplish.

Haunted Dolls

The other day I was contacted by a woman on a Facebook group that was oriented toward the paranormal. She made a post about these two dolls that she bought and was looking to give them away. She stated that "weird things" had been occurring in the home since she brought them back. So... I asked .. "How much do you want for them" She replied they are FREE!! So of course I said ' I'll take them" 

2 weeks later they arrived in the mail and last night was the first night they stated here in our home. We placed them on an old steamer trunk in the living room. Getting home late from work that night, I wanted to watch some tv and relax a bit before going to bed. So I cleaned up, and began to watch one of my favorite shows. I began to get sleepy and thought... " Hey!! Ill just sleep here and see what happens!!"

Well after a few moments of hearing the cats run around and a few faux heart attacks,,,, I realized nothing was going to happen. So I fell asleep, lightly I might add, but never the less, I think my apprehension of the dolls was more than the actual activity. But hey, it was the first night!! 

They look rather peaceful and content on the trunk and we do have several pets. None of the dogs or cats have had an irregular reaction to them. But again, its the first 24 hours in the home. So we shall see what occurs or doesn't occur.