Michael Worden Paranormal Researcher and Author

Ghost Detective, Paranormal Researcher and Author Micheal Worden takes some time out to speak with us about this paranormal experiences and how he went from police detective to ghost detective.

Ghost hunting has become quite popular due to the plethora of “haunted” and “ghost hunting” series on TV. I think you are unique in the fact that you are a police officer that believes in paranormal science. What made you go from police detective to ghost detective?

I have always had a fascination with the paranormal. I grew up reading books by Hans Holzer and having my own paranormal experiences at my grandparent’s home in Port Jervis. These experiences fueled my passion for the paranormal and ghosts.

I never really made a conscious decision about becoming a paranormal investigator. I began working with my good friend Linda Zimmermann and before I knew it I was accumulating equipment and on the way to being a ghost hunter. My background in science blended well with my police skills and investigative know how to help make me a good investigator.

What do other fellow officers think of your second career?

I don’t know that it is much of a career – more of an interest gone wild. Most cops have seen unusual things that could be paranormal in nature. When I first began ghost hunting it was viewed by some as a novelty. A few had genuine interest in the paranormal and were interested in the investigative aspects. Now that it is popular most find it pretty interesting.

You had a very moving experience involving the ghost of a child in the Iron Island Museum in Buffalo, NY. Why do you think it affected you so? Had you had similar experiences elsewhere?

I believe that the child was connecting with me on a very personal, intimate level, and I believe he was drawn to me as I represented a father figure to him. I have twin sons and knowing that this child was around their age and lost and reaching out to me was heartbreaking. I have never felt so personally connected to a spirit. I really believe that for a few brief moments I brought comfort to this poor soul and I hope he finds peace on the other side.

What is your most memorable ghost investigative experience? Was there ever a time when you were exceptionally nervous or afraid?

I always go back to the Iron Island Experience as being one of the most memorable. Another was at my grandparent’s home. During one of the investigations both Linda (Linda Zimmermann) and I experienced an overwhelming sense of grief and sadness. It was so powerful that we both described it as a grief that could only accompany the loss of a child. Later research into the home revealed that a former Orange County judge had owned it and had lost a son at age 7. The judge died 17 years later and in his obituary it says that, and I paraphrase, his only son who was named in honor of the distinguished family ancestor died at an early age and the father never fully recovered from the blow. Wow!! This was a year or so later that we discovered this information. A subsequent visit to the family plot even showed more the grief that this man must have felt, for it says that his son ‘fell asleep’. We used this information to have a very personal and intimate investigation where we encouraged the judge to move on and that his son was waiting for him. Happily for him, I think he has found his son.

I have been frightened on investigations and have been pushed, shoved and felt personally threatened by something that could not be seen, but could be felt. One of the most terrifying was in a cell at Eastern State Penitentiary. I had wandered down a cell block and into a cell. I was recording with my camcorder and there was a banging sound in the cell. I could then feel a presence in there with me and it was not a welcoming one. I got out of there quickly. This was early in my career and long before Eastern State became the haunt du jour for ghost hunters.

You have partnered with author and ghost investigator Linda Zimmerman on occasion. What is your favorite investigation as a team?

Linda is the only investigator that I work with – she and I are the team and we keep it that way because we work well together and we trust one another. There is no question as to either of our integrity and we can rely upon one another to be honest and open during an investigation. We do have a few other trusted friends who go on certain investigations with us, but generally it is just Linda and I. We also find that this maintains control of the investigation and helps us in evaluating evidence.

Have you ever thought of having your own TV show?

Well I can not provide a lot of specific information at this time, but Linda and I are filming a short demo video with a major production company out of New York City. We are under a six month contract with them to develop a television program and market it to the cable networks. So this maybe a reality!

Quite often people who want to get started in investigation don’t know where to start or how to find a location to investigate. What tips do you have for beginning ghost investigators?

My first tip is one that Linda and I share: your best tool is your senses. Sometimes at a haunted location, just sitting still and being quiet can be a revealing technique. Start out with the basics in terms of equipment, an EMF meter, a good camcorder and a good digital camera and digital audio recorder are sufficient. You do not need to show up with a van load of equipment and 10 investigators to do good work. There are a lot of public places open to ghosts, including the Shanley Hotel in Napanoch, NY. Go, bring some equipment, and immerse yourself. You do not need to spend months as an ‘investigator in training’. Your senses and basic equipment are all you need to get out there and get started. Find your own style (too many groups seem to copy what is popularized on some of the reality show) and always be honest. I can not stress that enough. There is no room for faking evidence or misinterpreting evidence. Be honest and evaluate your evidence with a critical eye. I spend a lot of time in my book, Ghost Detective, talking about this. It is actually a great book for beginners, as well as seasoned hunters.

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Q.  You have very impressive credentials.  What drew you into ghost investigations? What do you like the most about doing these investigations? What do you like the least?

A. I loved Hans Holzer’s books when I was a kid, and was fascinated by all things paranormal. About 15 years ago I was lecturing about local history (of Rockland County, NY) and people started asking about ghost stories in the area. I thought it would be fun to collect a few stories, and somehow word spread and out of the blue I started getting calls inviting me to investigate people’s homes. They were offers I couldn’t refuse! It was a learning process, but over the years I developed a method of a scientific approach to ghost hunting, coupled with historical research of each location.

What I like most about these investigations is that every one is different and you never know what to expect, and believe me, there have been some big surprises over the years! There’s something of an adrenaline rush on a good investigation and I find that I miss that if I haven’t had a case in a while.

What drives me crazy are the people who don’t rigorously examine their evidence and think that everything is a ghost or a demon. For example, people are always showing me their “ghost photos” of their camera flash reflecting off windows or mirrors, and they often get upset when I explain it’s just a reflection. I also hear a lot of “evidence” of supposed EVPs, and come to find that there were a dozen people in a 2-bedroom house at the time of the investigation, so how can you claim any sound is paranormal? I guess what I’m ranting about is wishing that everyone who has a desire to do this maintains certain levels of standards.

Q.  You have obviously researched many haunts over the years. Which is your most memorable? Were you ever afraid and if so, how did you handle it?

A. I have been afraid plenty of times. How can you not be startled when you hear a crashing sound or get touched at murder scenes, morgues, death row in a prison, etc.? I simply decided in the beginning that if I started running from these things I would never get any evidence. I am proud to say that I have never run from anything. Although, I have walked rather quickly on occasion.

There are so many memorable cases, but I think one recently may top the charts. I was at The Columns museum in Milford, PA and as clear as day I kept seeing and hearing (in my head) a woman dressed in old-fashioned clothing with upswept hair. This experience was very personal, I felt she could read me like a book and knew everything about me. At one point I felt that she wanted me to follow her because she wanted me to find proof that she knew who I was. I followed the swishing sound of a long dress into a back room that had several large file cabinets containing thousands of articles and newspaper clippings. I thought, I need ten years to go through these.

Well, as it turned out, in less than ten minutes I found an article with my name in it, describing me as someone who hunts ghosts! I mean, come on, what are the chances? This was one clever entity who knew who I was and was able to prove it! And by the way, I know who she is, too, but that’s another story.

Q. I absolutely loved Hudson Valley Haunts. I read it in one sitting!  You are very clear that the Shanley Hotel is very haunted.  What is the most haunted location you have ever researched?

A. The Shanley is definitely in the top ten. For sheer size and number I would have to say some of the large asylums or prisons like Rolling Hills Asylum, Rockland State Hospital, and Eastern State Penitentiary. And for the record, I find mental institutions to be the most disturbing of all sites.

Q.  What advice would you give future ghost hunters and what would they need to get started?

A. Again, be your own strongest skeptic and carefully examine all your evidence. I know everyone wants to form a ghost hunting group, but I always say the quality of the evidence is inversely proportional to the number of ghost hunters. In other words, the fewer the people the less distractions and noise. And you don’t need to run out and buy thousands of dollars in equipment. The best way to conduct an investigation is to stand still and be quiet, and have at least one recorder running at all times. If you feel the need and have the resources, and you’re sure it’s something you want to keep doing, then you can start adding equipment.

Q.  Do you feel that you have gathered enough evidence through your investigations to state that without a doubt you feel that spirits live among us?

A. There’s absolutely no question in my mind that there are spirits, but I always encourage everyone to examine the evidence and make up their own minds. Perhaps I’m biased about my work, but I think that anyone reading my Ghost Investigator books would at least come to the conclusion that something lingers after death.

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