Within the valley lies the presence of the heard but unseen. Paranormal investigators Paul Dale Roberts and his partner Deanna Jaxine Stinson are constantly on the hunt for the unexplained phenomena.
Most commonly, the two are on the search for evidence for active ghosts through varied tools and techniques.
“To say a ghost does not exist, how do we exist?” said Roberts.
Penryn Quarry
Griffith Quarry Park & Museum
By Midori Morita
The first investigation with Paul Dale Roberts occurred at the Griffith Rock Quarry and Museum in Penryn, near Sonora.
The quarry is allegedly known to have seen many deaths, since mining was and continues to be a dangerous profession. Roberts said there might be residual energy lurking throughout the area.
The reporters met up with Roberts along with his wife Deanna Stinson and local investigator Kris Hansen.
Roberts suggested the group go to three different locations around the quarry to do “quick and dirty” EVPs, or electronic voice phenomena.
“These types of EVP sessions are helpful in some investigations because evidence can be played back instantly,” said Roberts.
The first stop was at an area that overlooked an abyss of trees and rocks.
Roberts took out his digital voice recorder and started asking questions.
The group remained silent as he asked different questions to see if he could receive any intelligent responses.
After a few minutes of questions, Roberts played back the recordings. No responses, unfortunately. He tried two more times and still no response.
The group moved to a different location in the shade on the 105-degree day.
Roberts then asks Stinson to explain her metaphysical tools that she uses for investigations.
She pulls out an orange skull made of crystals and amber.
“Amber is used to communicate with innocent entities and extraterrestrials,” said Stinson.
Stinson mentioned that she is a ‘sensitive,’ meaning that she is able to feel the energy of spirits. “I’m not a psychic so I can’t say what the spirit is wearing or anything, I can only feel their presence,” stated Stinson.
During her explanation, Stinson stopped and said she cold feel a presence.
After her explanation, Roberts conducted another three EVP sessions. Upon review of the recordings, the investigation team said agreed they heard a faint “okay” in the second recording.
During each walk to the next location, Roberts continuously shot photos to see if he could capture “orbs.” Orbs are made of the energy that spirits can manifest to make themselves visible, he said.
At the back of the quarry, another location, Roberts took out his recorder and was ready to go.
Then Stinson said she felt another presence around her, but it soon moved away. She said it was going down the hill, so Stinson and the group followed.
Roberts conducted three more EVP sessions in this final location.
Once the group reviewed the recordings they headed back to the museum building in the front and talked to the docent, Pam Stevens. She informed everyone about the history of Griffith Rock Quarry.
Roberts, Stinson and Hansen showed off their investigation equipment. Ranging from night vision goggles to a cross and holy water, these investigators had it all.
Museum Entrance
Face of museum upon entering.
Small slice of history
Brief history of Griffith Quarry written on granite in front of the museum building. The quarry was known for its large amount of quality granite.
Speaking with the unseen
Paranormal investigator, Paul Dale Roberts, conducts an EVP session to try and communicate with residual spirits.
Metaphysical energy
Deanna Jaxine Stinson talks about her amber crystal skull. Which is a metaphysical tool used to draw in any innocent spirits.
Heading down
Stinson and Roberts get ready to head down a hill to conduct more EVP sessions.
Getting answers
Museum docent, Pam Stevens, gives an in-depth history of Griffith Quarry and the owner Griffith Griffith.
Always on patrol
Roberts advertises his paranormal services with a car magnet that includes his information.Stockton House Blessing
House Blessing
By Kody Bowerman
In addition to investigating sites, Paul Dale Roberts also provides house blessings when “paranormal activities” may be happening. He performed one in North Stockton in mid June.
The house’s occupant moved to the new location after being bothered by different occurrences at her former residence.
“At my old house, the plant that’s right there, I’ve seen the whole thing just move on its own. There was no fan going, no ceiling fan, there was nothing,” said Armida Hernandez, the owner of the house.
Hernandez said the occurrences included being awakened by growling noises over her ear and claw marks on her ceiling, pictures being slammed in the middle of the night and even the Xbox Kinect infrared camera picking up on people that weren’t there.
Hernandez first met Roberts at the older house, and after moving and experiencing just a few incidents, the two met up to conduct a Roman Catholic house blessing to rid the house of alleged spirits and demons.
“I actually learned that from my priest. You start from the exit and you do a four winds prayer,” said Roberts.
While going through the house, Roberts would say this “four winds prayer” at every doorway and in every room while sprinkling Holy water and placing a cross above both both sides of the doorways.
Roberts blessed the back of the house, which included bedrooms, bathrooms and the garage, before an unexplained incident happened.
“Whatever portal might be in this house must be closed,” said Roberts.
Immediately after saying this, the dog that was in the backyard started to whine and a door that was in the back area of the house slammed shut.
Everybody in the house was in the living room. There were no doors leading to the outside that were open.
Hernandez’s youngest daughter discounted it as the wind, but it didn’t seem possible due to the circumstances.
House entrance
The front portion of the allegedly haunted house.
Living Room
This was where the door was heard being slammed down the hallway.
The Fern
The owner of the house described this plant being moved right in front of her.
Beginning the blessing
Roberts starting at the rear entrance to push the alleged entities through the house and out the front.
Blessing tools
Roberts tossed holy water throughout the house and touched the cross to both sides of each doorway.
Tools in use
Roberts ridding the rooms of any alleged spirits with the cross.
Ending the blessing
Roberts pushed the alleged ghosts through the house and out the front entrance.Lodi Bridge
Peltier Bridge
By Robert Juarez
After blessing the house of Armida Hernandez, with the sun beginning to set, Paul Dale Roberts was willing to take a drive out to Peltier Bridge near Lodi.
The Bridge has become an urban legend with stories of ghosts and UFO sightings in the area.
Roberts was unable to conduct a proper investigation due to cars driving by at a fast speed. Instead, he offered to tell two specific ghost stories.
One story was of a woman who committed suicide in the 1970s and another woman that was murdered in the late 1980s.
Stories have been told of a lady in green roaming the lonely road and she is believed to be the spirit of a woman that hung herself from the bridge long ago.
“People were seeing a women, she looked like she was distraught, walking along the side of the road wearing a green dress. As people approached her in a car she would just kind of vanish, dissipate,” said Roberts.
In 1981, a woman was sexually assaulted and murdered by Michael Morales due to the jealousy of her boyfriend’s lover, Ricky Ortega, who was driving the car at the time and also the cousin of Morales.
Even though the ones at fault were put to justice, the horrific scene that took place at Peltier remains along with the victim’s spirit.
“Some of the ghost hunting groups claim that they’ve actually gotten an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) of a woman yelling help,” said Roberts.
Peltier Bridge
The bridge is located in Lodi, CA going towards Interstate 5.
Facelift
Peltier Bridge was built in 1948 and rehabilitated in 1973.
Fast & Furious
The bridge serves as a shortcut to most commuters. Peltier Road connects Highway 99 to Interstate 5, and many cars are in a hurry to get to their location.
Thriving
From alleged suicide to murder, the bridge has seen many tragedies since being built. Today, the land surrounding is thriving with trees and vineyards.
No Crossing
Peltier Bridge has no sidewalk, which makes it difficult for anyone to cross.Our Experiences
At Griffith Quarry, I had a weird experience. It was 105-degrees and I hadn’t eaten all day. We were in the middle of an EVP session and I started feeling dizzy. My vision went fuzzy, I was shaking and all the voices around me were muffled. I sat down had some water and chips. Paul told me that it could be paranormal, but I brushed it off thinking it was from not eating. We continued the investigation and I had two more dizzy spells. After we parted ways with H.P.I., Kody, Robert and I went across the street to get food. But once we got our food, I couldn’t even eat! Kody offered to drive back home, but I insisted that we drive to the gas station first. We got to the gas station and I felt better immediately. I though it was strange how I felt better after we left the area.
The house blessing was very interesting for everyone, but I was able to experience just a bit more. The blessing was underway and we had already gone through the back areas of the house. While finishing up with the living room, Paul said “whatever portal might be in this house must be closed.” Immediately after saying this, the dog whined a little bit and a door slammed in the back area of the house. This occurrence was one that we all witnessed and caught in the audio. But for the next occurrence, just a few minutes later, I was the only one in the house to witness. Robert and Midori went outside with the resident and Paul when he blessed the front of the house. I stayed inside by the hall where we heard the door slam. While they were all out there, a sound coming from the same place down the hall caught my attention. The sound was the rattling of a door handle! It was definitely a noteworthy occurrence.
At Peltier Bridge, my two group partners began taking photos of the area once our interview with Roberts was over. As they were taking photos I began hearing footsteps on the gravel from the other side of the road. I turned around to see if anyone was there, but to no avail as we were the only ones around. I shied away from speaking up as I just figured I was hearing things, until I brought it up to Kody and he admitted to also hearing the footsteps. When I heard the footsteps was the only time the streets were clear of traffic. Once the cars came back, the footsteps were never heard again. The lady in green supposedly would walk the road and disappear once cars would drive by. It’s possible that the lady in green was there with us that night. Any sure fire evidence of the paranormal on that bridge is yet to be found, however the possibility grew with each footstep.
Ghost Hunting Equipment
EVP Recorder
The main reason for having an audio recorder on hand during an investigation is to record potential EVPs. The Olympus VN-7200 Digital Voice Recorder, shown above, is priced at $31.45 on Amazon.com.
Flashlight
It's smart to have a flashlight on hand, especially if you are investigating in the dark. Basic flashlights are usually priced under $10.
Walkie Talkies
It's important to keep in touch with the investigation group if they decide to split up. Comparable walkie talkies are priced anywhere between $20 to $100
Ovilus IV
The Ovilus converts environmental readings into words. It is priced at $325 on GhostShop.com.
Night Vision
It's important for investigators to have night vision goggles, if they do a majority of their investigations in the dark. Comparable goggles range from $200 to $2,000.
Spirit Box P-SB7 & Portable Speaker
The P-SB7 utilizes a milli-second adjustable Forward or Reverse frequency "sweep" technique coupled with a proprietary high frequency synthetic noise or "white noise" distributed between frequency steps. The spirit box is priced at $159.90 and the Altec Lansing iM227 Orbit MP3 Speaker attached to it is priced at $25.25, both on Amazon.com