While intelligent haunts are often the most interesting for investigators , the activity Southern Ghost Hunters found at Vito ’ s was what they called “ residual .”
“ Residual activity happens on a daily basis . What ’ s there doesn ’ t really know anything is around ,” Brault said .
Residual activity often means a spirit is following a routine , allowing multiple people to experience the same sounds or feelings , she said .
In the residual Electronic Voice Phenomenons ( EVPs ) that Brault captured upstairs in the house , the same voices were captured more than once saying the same things , she said .
“ They don ’ t communicate with anyone ; they just do what they do ,” Brault said .
During investigations , Brault said it can take hours to get one piece of evidence , or just minutes . She also emphasized that not every house with strange noises is haunted .
“ Just because your house creaks , doesn ’ t mean your house is haunted ,” she said . “ Just because you see a shadow , doesn ’ t mean there is a ghost .”
Orbs in photos are reported as a common experience for amateur ghost hunters and people looking to prove legends of a haunting . Brault said orbs are also the biggest mis-perceived phenomenon .
“ It helps when you have photos , but if you ’ re outside taking a picture on a dirt road ,” she said , “ is it really an orb or just dirt ?”
Brault said an important part of investigating is to “ de-bunk ” activity . If a strange occurrence can be explained by something not so strange , it puts homeowners at ease to know their paranormal activity is actually quite normal .
A home in Ray City
Also in Miles ’ book , he includes an account for Berrien County that was a residential home in Ray City .
“ The activity in the Ray City house was poltergeist-like ,” Miles said .
As it turns out , Brault ’ s sister lived there for a short period of time .
“ We investigated for six months — every weekend . It was serious activity ,” Brault said .
“ The EVPs are off the charts in that place ,” she continued .
The former paranormal team recorded many instances of the words “ Get out ” being said , as well as “ Get the hammer ,” followed by “ kill her .”
After hearing a name in an EVP , a professor who was part of the team did some research into the home ’ s history . The same name was found to be a former resident who had died in the home .
During one investigation , a member of the team made a funny comment . In response to the comment , a soda bottle was thrown and hit her , she said .
Another unexplained experience in the home came from the radio . Turning off and on throughout the night , the team took the batteries out of the remote control . The radio continued to turn off and on , so it was unplugged .
“ About 10 minutes later , it was back on and had been plugged back in ,” Brault said .
Brault ’ s sister eventually moved from the home because she couldn ’ t take the activity anymore .
Since the disbanding of Southern Ghost Hunters , Brault has investigated for friends on her own but isn ’ t actively seeking investigations . The paranormal is always something she has been interested in and she has experienced activity everywhere from Alaska to Georgia , but she said her sister ’ s house was one of the most active locations she had experienced .
Houses aren ’ t the only buildings that seem to keep their tenants around longer than expected . Brault also had an experience while investigating the Tifton Agrirama . “ It has good hot spots ,” she said . At one point while investigating , her leg was yanked while she was sitting at a table . Upon looking at her leg , she discovered a bruise and what appeared to be finger imprints where she had felt being grabbed .
Hickory Springs Primitive Baptist Church
There are other locations that have more legend behind them in Tift County . One is Hickory Springs Primitive Baptist Church .
Stories surrounding the church have been around for decades . No one knows the origins of the legends but everyone knows about the ghost lights and the immovable Bible .
16 Valdosta Scene | October 2024