Alamogordo Daily News
By Karl Anderson, Staff Writer
Paranormal investigators Greg Hiser and Chris Knaup set up an infrared night... (Photo provided)
For the three men who founded and head the research group called SPIRIT, the acronym for Southwest Paranormal Information Research and Investigation Team, adding technology to a series of studies into such matters, and with a local twist, this is a fitting time of year.
"People who work together long enough tend to learn a lot about their co-workers," said Warren McCrary, who, along with colleagues Greg Hiser and Chris Knaup, founded the group. "They tend to discover each other's likes, dislikes, hobbies and fears."
McCrary said he and his colleagues, all being in the military, ended up joining a second force simultaneously when a common interest was discovered during what he refers to as "water cooler talk."
"We found out that we were all interested in ghosts," he said. "Not just ghosts in general but the thought of capturing one on film. That's when we decided to form a ghost-hunting team."
McCrary said the group expects people will often view them as flakes.
"That's OK," he said. "We thought we were flakes, too. And perhaps we really are, but we are not alone. It seems that without exception, every person I have ever spoken with has had at least one unexplainable moment in their lives that has sent chills up their spines. It's just that most people don't pursue these abnormal experiences with film and voice recorders."
But McCrary said that rather than sitting around to wait for their own experiences, the grad decided to be proactive.
"We looked up a list of haunted places in New Mexico and started down the list, beginning with our part of the state first," he said. "Fortunately, there were a few local listings for the paranormal."
McCrary said the group did some initial research by making phone calls.
"Calling people on the phone and asking the obligatory questions, 'Do you currently have any ghosts haunting you?' 'Ever experienced any poltergeist activity in your living room, bedroom, or bathroom?' or 'Have you seen any long dead relatives in your TV, mirror, or refrigerator?' can be a daunting if not awkward task," he said.
McCrary called the water treatment facility in La Luz, one place on the list.
"I spoke with a lovely lady named Judy," he said. "It would be the first of many calls. I stumbled a bit as I spoke to Judy and tried to tactfully broach the subject of a haunted water treatment facility. She tactfully told me it was not haunted.
"I was a bit bummed, but then a strange thing happened. Judy took the time to explain that there was an Alamogordo facility in La Luz and it was supposed to be haunted. Not only did Judy help us but she seemed genuinely interested in our pursuits and told us to call her with our findings."
McCrary said that was the attitude of 99 percent of the people his group would contact over the following two months.
"New people would lead to new tips, and media coverage around the area about SPIRIT would turn that water cooler talk into an established and professional ghost-hunting team," he said.
McCrary credits the team's decision to visit some of these places to Brig. Gen. David Goldfein, commander of the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Base, where he and his colleagues are also assigned.
"When Brig. Gen. Goldfein established 'Explore the Friendliest Place on Earth Week,' our team decided to take advantage of the gratuitous time off time off to do what the general had intended: explore New Mexico," he said. "However, we did not go to Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands National Monument or Roswell. We instead chose to explore some really off the beaten path, paranormal 'tourist' spots, of which New Mexico is full of."
The SPIRIT team visited the Double Eagle Restaurant in Old Mesilla and a reportedly haunted hotel in the middle of the night in Grants.
"If you haven't been to Old Mesilla, you really should go," McCrary said. "It really gives you a sense of old New Mexico. It is only two miles from Las Cruces and 200 years in the past."
McCrary said the team was very fortunate to have been afforded access to the restaurant after hours.
"The staff and the current owner's grandson were more than cordial and very supportive of our investigation," he said. "A normal investigation includes digital film photography, infrared-illuminated video, and digital voice recording. We set up all our equipment and spent the next three hours in one of the nicest locations in southern New Mexico. They serve up the best rib eye steak in New Mexico, too."
The group then headed for Grants, specifically, the Economy Inn.
"It seems that Grants was by-passed by an interstate highway and left somewhere in the '60s," he said. "In fact, Grants is located just off historic Route 66, and is renowned for its uranium mining."
McCrary said the hotel is rumored to have a haunted third floor.
"Room 354 in particular is supposed to be haunted by the spirit of a murdered maid, and her screams can be heard at midnight on certain nights," he said. "Also, the lounge has been frequented by shadow people in the wee hours of the morning when the bar is closed."
The team set up their equipment and proceeded with the investigation, wrapping up about 4 a.m. and catching a few hours of sleep before heading back.
"The hotel was kind enough to let us sleep in at no extra charge so we could be fully rested for our trip back to Alamogordo," he said. "This was by far our largest investigation to date."
McCrary was asked what, if anything, the team found.
"That is a good question," he said. "While there were some personal experiences felt my members of the team, we only count proven, collected data. We did indeed get data at one of the locations and can certify that it is haunted. That is the Double Eagle Restaurant in Old Mesilla.
"The Economy Inn may be haunted but we just didn't get any data when we were there. It could be that the spirits were more afraid of us than we were supposed to be of them."
In addition to McCrary, Hiser and Knaup, all of whom are lead researchers for SPIRIT, the other team members include Natalie Liessmann, spiritual advisor; Elizabeth Saunders, researcher; Kenneth Volle, Web master; and Allan Calhoun, archivist. Several members of the team are also what is called "EVP" specialists.
EVP is an acronym for "electronic voice phenomenon," which is defined by McCrary as capturing disembodied voices on a recording device that cannot be heard with normal hearing abilities.
"Some people, including experts in the paranormal field, believe these voices are from persons deceased or people in another dimension or plane," he said.
The sounds are inaudible during recording but detected on electronic recording media during playback. They are typically brief, usually the length of a word of short phrase and are sometimes claimed to be in direct response to the questions of researchers.
The phenomena has been observed on diverse media, including radio, ham radio, television, tape recorders and video recordings.
The SPIRIT team will be guest speakers at the "Lunch and Learn" at First National Bank in Alamogordo on Tuesday, Oct. 23, from 11:30 to 1 p.m.
Anyone wishing to attend is encouraged to call First National Bank and make reservations. There is no charge for attending the presentation.
For more information on the SPIRIT team, visit their Web site at www.spiritnewmexico.com
"If anyone out there has experienced anything paranormal and would like it proven or debunked, don't hesitate to contact us," McCrary said. "And we will be glad to keep specific locations completely confidential, if that is the wish of the owner."
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