On Dark Ground: Investigating the Haunted Monroe House
On Dark Grounds: Investigating The Haunted Monroe House (Investigating the Haunted)
By Richard Estep
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
Photo from Monroe House Facebook page
Click pic to visit
We start another journey with Richard Estep at the Monroe House in Indiana. We start off not with his teams investigation but a re-accounting of the team from “Paranormal Lockdown”, Nick Groff and Katrina Weidman, experience. Then there is an interview with Katrina. Very interesting accounts. There was one thing that she told Richard (I’ve read so much I feel that first name basis is acceptable at this point) that made me angry (see I told you Ghoulies, the anger/passion is never very far away, you know for those of you that have missed it). When they found the bones in the crawl space and alerted the authorities they essentially did nothing. Told the owner, Eddie, that there was no evidence of foul play and that he did not want to open that can of worms…really police…really! There are human bones in a crawl space and the police say there is no evidence of foul play? I can’t police…I just can’t! (I’m usually a big supporter of the police but this just screams lazy policing and I can’t stand that shit! Excavating the remains was probably not in the budget.) Turns out that “Paranormal Lockdown” had a forensic anthropologist take a look at the bones and they determined that they were older and that they were most likely the remains of an older teenager or young adult. That alone makes it worth looking into. What if they are a missing person? This person deserves peace. Just leaving him there is a grave injustice and is probably contributing to the atmosphere in the house. Had to say my piece on that. (A side note: Groff pretty much blew off Richard when he tried to connect with him about his experiences. Seems like a bit of a spoiled dandy. While I can appreciate innovation in all fields I feel that a deprivation tank is not much more than a publicity stunt. I think he kinda thinks his shit doesn’t smell, could be wrong but honestly there is no regular paranormal investigator that is going to have the resources to bring a deprivation tank into a Midwestern haunted house. Motivation screams TV shock value. Rubs me the wrong way. Katrina seems okay though.)
Monroe House
Photo - "Paranormal Lockdown IMDB page
Nick Groff and Katrina Weidman
Photo: hauntedmonroehouse.com
Next we move on to the history of the place which records back to 1838. There have been several owners who have had bad luck and their stories are told here. Ultimately though the history does not explain why this location seems to be a hotbed of paranormal activity. It’s a mystery for sure!
Photo: Funk's House of Geekery
Richard’s team is set to spend four nights at the Monroe House. It’s a relatively small team, five people in all. Two fellow investigators (Linda and Jason) come with Richard from Colorado and two of them meet them in Indiana (Erin is from Colorado but came separately and this is her bachelorette party, which I think is great!). The Indiana investigator (Lisa) joining the team is very familiar with the Monroe House which is a positive to the group. The groups investigation spans seven chapters (4-10). Love the shout out to Bill Paxton. (We miss you Bill!)
Basement Stairs
Photo: hauntedmonroehouse.com
The remainder of the book are interviews that Richard conducted to get an idea of what multiple individuals had experienced at the Monroe House. It’s a great idea considering that the history is so benign. When you have a house that is as old as this one of course you are going to have deaths on the property but from extensive research that has been done there is nothing to say that there was anything violent or horrific enough to explain the activity. Interviewees include: Sheri Stewart (Richard interviewed her during the investigation and wanted more details) who put together the research material that is provided at the house and a recovering Monroe House obsessive (got it’s hooks into her), Sheri is also Pam Norris’s sister (Pam and Eddie Norris own the house, if you read the book you know that by now). Sensitive Michelle Belanger of “Paranormal State”, Paranormal investigator and Monroe House obsessive Steve Fisher, Amy Swinford, funeral director and fledgling Monroe House obsessive, Joe Vitale who stayed solo in the Monroe House, Jo Keohane (blogger) and her sister Meghan, Jo had written her experience at the house in the book provided at the house (kinda like a guest book at a B&B but not), lover of all things strange Matthew Jackson who is a resident of Indiana, and last Michael Ditty of Doorway Investigation Group, who was one of the very first individuals to investigate the Monroe House. His group was called in by Eddie and Pam as they were having a hard time keeping renovation workers on the site. They kept running away.
Photo: American Hauntings Ghost Hunts - bumpinthegnight.net
Closing thoughts:
I find it fascinating that the history of this house is not one of tragedy and violence (at least none that anyone can find). There have been several owners, many who never experienced anything. Of course we all know entities can remain dormant for decades, in some cases so this may not be such an abnormal thing. Then of course there is the gentleman that actually performed ritual magic in the house which, if the Warren’s are correct, is a likely reason for the activity. I’m not particularly happy about the Ouija room either as I feel they do nothing but invite trouble. However, it seems that (at least Richards team) have the intelligence and common sense to sign off appropriately on their sessions and on their investigations overall. While I love the Haunted Mansion I do not want any hitchhiking ghosts. Overall a mixed bag of results but an interesting location in that it is rather unremarkable historically and physically but has a vibe like no other (Well unremarkable other than the crawlspace but I find that most crawlspaces are creepy by their very nature). Some interesting musings about what is going on with the house is discussed in the interviews that Richard did. Honestly I think that they all have a piece of the puzzle correct. We define life in a very one dimensional way. But what if life is simply energy, inertia, interaction? Is it possible that the house itself is “alive”? Have the people who have visited and helped create the stories surrounding the house manipulated the energy within into believing those stories and therefore manifesting phenomena to support them? People manipulate other people after all. Is the House a people pleaser at its core and does not want to disappoint its guests? Is this something far beyond ghosts, apparitions and demons, something new attempting to make contact? This location is an interesting one to contemplate.
The more I read Richard’s work the more I like him. In fact, his respect for the dead gives me all the feels. It’s an integral and important part of being a paranormal investigator. He does mention treating those entities that are bullies with a hint of contempt as a personal thing. I can understand as I’m sure many of us can being the victims of bullying as young’uns. I myself loath bullies (cowards) with a passion so Richard and I are on the same page there. It would be a definite honor to work with Richard, to have the ability to get to know him as a person and to call him friend. (Plus he would totally understand my 80’s and 90’s movie references and I need that in my life lol.)
Thought I would end this post with a picture of Bill Paxton in "Aliens". There are so many rolls that I love him in. A class act and a wonderful man! He is and always will be missed! RIP Bill Paxton!
Photo: thedailybeast.com - "Game Over, Man: ‘Aliens’ Cast Remembers the ‘Irreplaceable’ Bill Paxton on Alien Day" by Melissa Leon
Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen keeping out of the sun on set of "Near Dark" (1987)
Photo: Reddit
(The quote really opened a can of worms that ended in a rabbit hole…lol! Thank you Richard for inducing good memories!)
Happy Devouring!
The Sexton
