Founder of Unveiled Paranormal Research Society, Amanda Schneider, speaks to students at the Grand Forks Public Library on Thursday night. Photo by Jennifer Friese/The Dakota Student.

For most people, the idea of ghosts and hauntings only crosses their minds during the Halloween season.

However, the investigators of Unveiled Paranormal Research Society are not like most people. Based in Grand Forks, the group handles calls year round from homeowners concerned that their residences may be haunted.

An enthusiastic crowd gathered Thursday night at the Grand Forks Public Library to listen to the society explain their supernatural line of work.

“All of us have had paranormal experiences in our lives,” founder Amanda Schneider said after being asked why the group had been formed. “When we (originally) experienced them, we had no one to go to.”

Schneider said the group is faith based and feels it is best to charge nothing for their services.

“Our purpose is to find the truth and to give our clients validation, answers and peace of mind,” Schneider said. “We are here to provide advice and resources.”

Unveiled Paranormal Research Society has been around for almost a year, and averages two to three calls per month.

“Nothing surprises us anymore,” Schneider said. “We have heard the craziest things, and many of them are legitimate.”

Though the group is always eager to gather proof of a haunting, it always takes any recovered evidence with a grain of salt.

“We always go in as skeptics first,” Schneider said. “If we hear a noise, we try really hard to debunk it.”

Hauntings

The team has experienced several different types of hauntings during its first year in business.

“We believe there is a difference between spirits and ghosts,” Schneider said. “Spirits have come back from a higher place, while ghosts stay around for unfinished business.”

There is also a third haunting the team claims to have only had limited experience with.

“We have had two cases that involved demonic entities,” Schneider said. “We decided we are not capable or comfortable in these situations, so we keep in contact with a demonologist and an exorcist.”

The team knew right away in both cases it was not in store for a normal haunting.

“In one of the demonic cases we had, we felt the demon was using scare tactics,” co-founder Ben Heit said.

Heit also reported the feeling of being watched and an overwhelming sense of dread during the entirety of the case.

Schneider reported that because they were a faith based group, prayers are frequently used during investigations.

“We all wear Saint Benedict medals,” said Heit. “They have an exorcist prayer inscribed on the back.”

Equipment

The team uses a multitude of high tech tools to capture evidence during their investigations. The gadgets have exactly the type of names you would expect for ghost hunting equipment, including REM-POD, K2 meter and Echovox 2.0.

“The Echovox 2.0 is used for spirit communication,” Schneider said. “We have gotten some incredible responses on it.”

A large stereo system was set up in the library, and several of the best responses the team had received were played to the captivated crowd. Among these was a twisted, demonic voice saying, “Get out.”

“We also have photo and video evidence, but it’s a lot more rare,” Schneider said.

There are several indicators of a haunting — including hearing disembodied voices, frequent waves of cold and the constant feeling of being watched. If you fear you may be the victim of a haunting, the team can be reached at [email protected].

“The most important thing you can do is give us a call,” Schneider said. “We never condone the use of ouija boards to talk to the dead. It’s best not to use provocation when trying to get a response.”

Brendan McCabe is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected].