SVPS Founder/Director (Webmaster) Lead Investigator Marty Seibel Birthdate: September 26 Astrological Sign: Libra Location: Staunton, Virginia Strong Interests: Ghosts, Hauntings, Civil War History, Ancient Civilizations, US History Other Interests: Web Design, Reading, Writing, Table Tennis, Football, Basketball, Baseball, UFOs, Travel, The Beach, Swimming, Comedy Movies, Comedy Shows, Amusement Parks, Computer Games, Video Games, Chess, Music, Hiking, Dining Out, Stupid Humor, Research. I founded the Shenandoah Valley Paranormal Society in August of 2005.   I have always had an interest in the paranormal since childhood and began to explore more into the paranormal and hauntings in the year 2000.   As a growing hobby, I simply started out by staying at haunted inns and hotels.   Later, I was joined by my girlfriend Lisa Rose. Together, Lisa and I have stayed at such inns as The Farnsworth House and Cashtown Inn in Gettysburg, 17 Hundred 90 inn and The Forsyth Park Inn in Savannah, and Lizzie Borden House in Massachusetts.   My hope is to eventually write a book on our journeys and experiences. Wanting to expand upon this interest and hobby, Lisa and I joined a paranormal group in central Virginia.   It was here that we both gained valuable experience investigating and documenting hauntings across the state of Virginia.   After the group folded in early 2005, it was then that I decided to form the Shenandoah Valley Paranormal Society. Forming the group we have, investigating the unknown, meeting new and interesting people from all over is one of the greatest joys of my life.   I love to share and hear of haunting encounters from all people.   I am very proud to be a part of the Shenandoah Valley Paranormal Society and associated with such a great group of people. I am a rational thinker and will explore every theory and possible explanation concerning an experience.   I am very open minded to the possibility of life after death.   I seek to find the answers and understanding of what happens to us once we die.   To me, it is the greatest mystery in the universe.   My goal with our group and website is to present any tangible evidence that we discover upon our investigations and journeys. People can view and listen to our presentations and decide for themselves. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, I currently reside in Staunton, Virginia with my girlfriend Lisa Rose.   I have a beautiful 20 year old daughter named Rachel and a precious 27 month grandson named Ashton.   Without a doubt, Gettysburg Pa. is my favorite haunted and historical destination to visit! To learn more about Marty, please click on a link below. Meet Pumpkinhead Our Haunted Adventures

SVPS Co-Founder/Treasurer Lisa Rose Birthdate: November 18 Astrological Sign: Scorpio Location: Staunton, Virginia Strong Interests: Ghosts, Hauntings, Travelling, Architecture, Landscaping, Gardening, Decorating, Antiques, Music, Reading, Computer Games, Water Gardens, Shopping, Current Events, Marty Seibel As a kid, I surely wanted to believe in ghosts even though “sensible” people--AKA adults--poo pooed such a silly notion.   That, of course, did NOT stop me from entertaining the thought, however!   That being said, I did not actively search for proof--at least, not yet. Now let’s fast forward to 2002 whereupon Marty and I meet.   His very real passion and search for finding answers to the age-old questions of the possibility of true ghostly manifestations quickly re-awakened my long dormant, youthful curiosity of the same.   We began (and continue) our search together by staying at allegedly haunted inns and bed and breakfasts.   How fun--this man spoils me with such lovely weekends!    Aside from that, we began to acquire some pretty incredible evidence.   All the while I maintained a very high level of skepticism; my extreme need for over-the-top, mind-blowing proof would soon be fulfilled. Upon our first night of a two-night stay at the Farnsworth House in Gettysburg, Pa., I was extremely fortunate to witness something very few people experience.   I was awakened by somebody nudging my arm.   Upon feeling the third nudge, I rolled over on my back, opened my eyes, and there she was two feet in front of me, standing beside the bed.   We had a moment or two of “studying” each other’s face; she was looking at me as I was looking at her!   I had enough time to mentally record her hair, face, and clothing.   Then, I did the expected thing; I screamed.   Now , my friend, let me just say that night was only the beginning for me.   The complete and thorough “processing” in my mind of the night’s happenings would take many weeks.   I don’t know why she came to me although I do have a theory or two on that, but I am most grateful that she did.   It was a gift like no other. Believe it or not, I remain highly skeptical.   Please do not misunderstand me; I do believe in an afterlife, and I do believe that spirits/ghosts can and do visit and interact with our world; BUT, I am convinced that this happens on rarest of occasions.   We at SVPS will continue our search; and hopefully, when a spirit chooses to visit again on another day, we’ll be there to witness and capture that bit of evidence.

SVPS Co-Director/Researcher Lead Investigator Shea Willis Birthdate: January 15 Astrological Sign: Capricorn Location: Grottoes, Virginia Strong Interests: Ghost Hunting, forays into the extraordinary and paranormal at every opportunity, archery, medieval weaponry and period research, eclectic spiritual studies, open water diving, swordsmanship, good beer, eventually attaining enlightenment, horror movies, levitation, psychic skills, and discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary. I am married to Matt, with 4 children (Michael, 19, Candace, 16, Zack, 10, and Bowdyn, 6 months). We own a house in the mountains and operate our own business (Ravenwood) where we make candles, personal care products, rustic art and a slew of other things. We also teach classes at Massanutten resort full time. (And a totally selfish side note: ANYONE interested in joining Ravenwood's "Lab Rat" program should e-mail me thirteenth_archer@yahoo.com for details (the gist of the program is that you get to try all sorts of neat stuff for free or at a drastically reduced cost in exchange for feedback on the products). I also love to read just about anything I can get my hands on, Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I try to spend a portion of every single day in search of one type of paranormal evidence or another, whether it be audio recordings, taking stills, capturing video, reading up on a new technique, or visiting a site. My interest in the supernatural has been with me as long as I can remember - it just always seemed to be a natural appendage, like an arm or a leg. It has shifted and evolved over the years, taking me to places both in mind and body that I never dreamed possible, but it has never ebbed.

SVPS Co-Director/Historian Lead Investigator Robin Tapley Birthdate: March 12 Astrological Sign: Pisces Location: Staunton, Virginia Strong Interests: Ghost Hunting, forays into the extraordinary and paranormal at every opportunity, archery, medieval weaponry and period research, eclectic spiritual studies, open water diving, swordsmanship, good beer, eventually attaining enlightenment, horror movies, levitation, psychic skills, and discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary. I have been interested in ghosts since I was young.   Experiences I have encountered since childhood made me a believer.   Being an investigator has been one of the highlights of my life.   I currently manage a Dollar Tree store in Staunton.   I am an Adult Degree student at Mary Baldwin College currently working on my Bachelor's Degree in Business with a minor in Public History.   I currently reside in Staunton where I take care of my mother.

SVPS Case Manager Jennifer Hensely Birthdate: August 20 Astrological Sign: Leo Location: Grottoes, Virginia Strong interests: Qi (vital lifeforce energy AKA Chi), how to generate, cultivate and balance it with tai chi, qigong and meditation and pondering what happens to the qi when it leaves the physical body at death. Photography-especially paranormal and black bear photography. Also feng shui, reading, tai chi sword and fan, studying the ways of nature Seeing the paranormal more clearly with the third eye (or upper dantian) and feeling the paranormal stronger and instinctively with my spiritual center (middle dantian) are major goals for this lifetime (or, put simply, honing my psychic skills). I also like to investigate…get to the cause and effect of things and then write about it. Natural/holistic medicine healing techniques are also a strong interest (I do private qi-balancing sessions with clients). I am a tai chi and qigong sifu, a personal feng shui practioner, a writer since 1979, (outdoor columnist for 12 years, natural health columnist and writer since 2001) a certified herbalist, certified TFH practitioner, and teach many classes and workshops on regular schedule and also as special events.   I am married to Thurman, whose biggest claim to fame is his survival of a horrendous bear attack in Nov. 2006.   Shea Willis is our daughter and has graced us with four uniquely wonderful, psychically gifted grandchildren! I believe qi is what we are dealing with in paranormal investigations and that being able to recognize and understand the sensation and nature of qi from both the living and those who have passed on is essential to understanding not just life, but also death. I have been drawn to the supernatural since my first paranormal experience as a child and continue to marvel and find peace with the concept that we "go on."    Opening our heart and mind to natural mysteries without boundaries and accepting them as they are without fear is vital to us in this time and space.

SVPS Case Manager Kelley Davis Birthdate: May 3 Astrological Sign: Taurus Location: Harrisonburg, Virginia Interests: ghosts & hauntings, paranormal investigations (especially jails/penitentiairies & asylums/hospitals), supporting the local SPCA, baseball...go Pirates & Yankees, swimming, the beach, reading, watching my 2 favorites shows Supernatural & Criminal Minds, Facebook, working on the computer, and promoting early childhood education I became a member of SVPS in March 2007.   Like most people these days, my life became hectic and I took a short time off but I am back again and ready to go!   I truly enjoy working with this group of amazing and professional people.   They are like one big happy (and crazy) family at SVPS.   They welcome everyone with open arms, regardless of their beliefs and experiences.   I have believed in the paranormal since I was in elementary school but unfortunately, I have never had a "real" experience. But I am very open-minded and still believe that there are things out there that cannot be proven or explained.   When I go on an investigation, I approach it with a scientific outlook.    If there is any real/physical explanation for an occurence, I will find it.   Whatever is left that cannot be proven by fact...must be supernatural. I have lived in Harrisonburg since 1995 when I graduated from James Madison University with a degree in English and Early Childhood Education.   I have worked as an elementary school teacher for the past 14 years and love every minute of it.   Children are very honest little creatures and will tell it like it is.   Sometimes I wish grown ups could be more like them :)   I have also worked part-time as a lifeguard for the past 9 years. I love being in or near the water...it is very relaxing.   At the moment, my home is in Harrisonburg but one day I hope to move some place closer to the beach...or I'll settle for a small pond :)   I am a huge supporter of the SPCA and have 2 loveable mutts of my own that were shelter pups.   Jazmine and Peep are the best "children" in the world!!!

SVPS Lead Investigator Cryptozoologist Ann MacLeod-Lambert Birthdate: March 31 Astrological Sign: Aries Location: Mt. Solon, Virginia Interests: Veterinary medicine, all animals, nature, science, biology, geology, cryptozoology, classical dressage, 3-day eventing, rugby, full-contact medieval jousting and tournaments, highland games, hunting, fishing, hiking, history, archaeology, paleontology, forensics, sailing, martial arts (medieval and ancient), anything paranormal, and the list goes on. I am married to the perfect man (one who puts up with my over-educated, genius behind and all of my outlandish adventures and eccentricities and that is what makes him perfect) and we have one son (who is exactly like me). When I am not working or off on one of my adventures I am on the farms with my family.    Homeschooling our son is one of my favorite things and the two of us have wonderful times together in the process.    My husband and my son often accompany me for field research so we can spend extra time together.    Animals are my passion, especially my horses.    I would be lost without them. My interest in the paranormal started from day one.    I was born with the gift of being a sensitive and being able to comprehend the ways of nature and animals as well as being able to interact with entities.    I still prefer the scientific approach when performing investigations and analyzing evidence.    It is just in my nature to apply the scientific method to any research I perform, even when it is paranormal.    Being with SVPS has allowed me to put my gift to good use and has given me the opportunity to work with a lot of other very talented investigators and researchers.    My search for and my final destination is the truth.

SVPS Equipment Manager Mychael Hottle Birthdate: June 16 Astrological Sign: Gemini Location: Edinburg, Virginia Strong Interests: Outside ghost hunting- customizing/building/fixing computers, pc gaming (fps), the internet, Facebook, web design, all the latest gadgets, technology, UFC, WWE, weight training, anything Hawai'i (my second home), politics, science, history, old west & Civil War history, mafia-related material, law enforcement, outdoor activities While I cannot say I'm someone who has been fascinated with the paranormal all my life, I have been intrigued by it any time the subject came up.   Prior to joining SVPS, I had never had a paranormal experience.   But I have always believed there is something supernatural above our level of understanding and existence.   To say there is no such thing as ghosts is to say we know everything about everything. My interest began as a casual viewer of the many paranormal shows on television.   Watching Ghost Hunters for five years certainly helped me establish the fundamentals of paranormal investigation.   I've jokingly compared that to getting a college degree in ghost hunting and now I'm actually doing it.   My involvement with SVPS began in May 2009 after my girlfriend told me about their Paranormal 101 workshop hosted by our local parks & rec department. After much I hesitation, I decided to go.   It was then I realized I really wanted to do this and that there was much more to ghost hunting than I had ever imagined.   Afterwards I spoke at length with the SVPS founder, Marty Seibel and the rest is history.   I was hooked after my first investigation. I consider myself to be a very grounded, logical person.   I am evidence driven in my approach and very critical of the evidence I present as paranormal.   My work in law enforcement has wired me this way.   I am also a tech-guru; always looking for the latest, greatest piece of equipment or seeing what I can build or hack.   My knowledge and view of the paranormal constantly evolves after every meeting and investigation I participate in.   Feel free to add me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mychael616

SVPS Audio/Video Tech Jesse Johnson Birthdate: September 24 Astrological Sign: Libra Location: Staunton, Virginia Interests: Learning more about and investigating paranormal activity especially EVPs and photography, hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing, spending time with my wife Jasmine and our dog Jersey, College football (GO HOKIES!) is a favorite fall activity I have a number of very strong interests in my life.   I enjoy learning more about and investigating paranormal activity especially EVPs and photography.   I love spending time with my wife Jasmine and our dog Jersey. College football (GO HOKIES!) is a favorite fall activity.   I really enjoy most outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing, camping, or anything else that gets me away from work and in the woods or on the water.   My Christian faith also plays a big part in my life and keeps me very grounded. My interest in the paranormal began as a kid.   One of my uncles had lived in Harpers Ferry West Virginia for a number of years and he experienced numerous paranormal events there while doing Civil War research.   These events included witnessing 2 entities dressed in confederate soldier uniforms on separate occasions while visiting lesser known historical sites.   Since he was a non-believer before that, it really made an impression on me.   After that I read every book I could find on paranormal happenings and watched everything I could factual or fictional. Today I am still trying to read and learn everything I can about paranormal happenings and the thoughts behind them.   I consider myself to be a big skeptic, going through every piece of evidence that I have multiple times before I submit it as “paranormal”.   I believe that in an average day ninty-five percent of the things people experience have a natural explanation if you just look hard enough to find it.   To me that’s what paranormal investigating is all about, eliminating the known possibilities so that only the unknown remain.

SVPS Audio/Video Tech Spurgeon Hudgins Birthdate: profile coming soon Astrological Sign: coming soon Location: Harrisonburg, Virginia Strong Interests: coming soon Coming Soon

SVPS Investigator/Public Relations Matt Willis Birthdate: November 11 Astrological Sign: Scorpio Location: Grottoes, Virginia Strong Interests: Karate- Yes, I really do take it. Puzzles, crosswords, brain exercise. The harder, the better. Model building when I can get the time and the space. Collecting submarines…The greatest submarine ever in a movie? The Proteus…Fantastic Voyage. I have 15 of them in all different sizes. How short-sighted is it to believe that this is all there is? It’s like thinking we are the only intelligent life in this enormous universe.    Get a grip.    I am fortunate enough to be married to Shea Willis, one of the head mucka- muckas in the SVPS.    My main job in our marriage is to go get her when she gets into trouble and she does that a lot.    I get to tag along on haunt jaunts on a regular basis.    I have always, even as a child, been more comfortable in the dark than in the light.    Creeping around in dark places is the best. Shea and I were fortunate enough to work with Marty and lead some of the Staunton Ghost tours, which hopefully will continue.    To sum it up, I enjoy learning and experiencing new things and with the paranormal…there is always something to find in the basement.

SVPS Audio/Video Tech Randall Paugh Birthdate: August 31 Astrological Sign: Virgo Location: Waynesboro, Virginia Strong Interests: Paranormal Investigating , Paranormal Sightings (UFO’s), computer repair, computer operations, programming, helping others, helping others be happy, just being happy my self. I have a strong Electronics background from the US Navy and presently hold an Associates Degree in Information Technology Engineering (computer networking). Other Interests: Working on automobiles of all type (new or old), watching movies, comedy, listening to music with no words, hiking, traveling to Far and Distant Lands - finding new or old exotic tropical diseases - and catching them, cooking for friends and family, camping outdoors. When I signed up for the Paranormal 101 at the Verona Government Center, I realized after the class, this group of people were willing to take the time to teach me, allowing me to take my interest in the paranormal to a whole new level.    So I became a very active member and now share an interest with other like minded people.    It is absolutely great group of people to be with. I have had the opportunity to travel to many different countries like: Africa and Germany - with my family at an early age.    Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong (my personal favorite place to visit), Australia, Hawaii (visited for 11 yrs), Philippines, Thailand, Middle East (Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Iraq) while serving my country in the US Navy for over 20 Years.    This has allowed me to view different cultures and customs of other country and to take on the customs of other countries I like and make them mine.    I have seen a great deal of sprightliness during my many travels, especially in Hawaii, where there is a great deal of spiritual places to experience anywhere on the island. I really like the group of people who are a part of Valley Ghost Hunters, as they become very excited about capturing some type of data (Voice, Photo’s, Movies) from their hard work.    Then the hard work begins, when we sit down and go through the data to determine what can and what can not be rationally explained away. Once data is identified and can not be explained, the data is shared with other outside groups to provide any type of rationally explained (scientific or not), that the captured data can or cannot not be rationally explained. Then it is shared with other like groups and people to help identify.    This is where all our hard work and investigating pays off, “when we capture something nobody can debunk or explain”.    This is the thrill that I search for each time the group goes out to help other people and investigate other places of known and unknown paranormal activity, to test and evaluate our processes, equipment, team work.

SVPS Investigator Gidget Jeppesen Birthdate: May 18 Astrological Sign: Taurus Location: Staunton, Virginia Interests: Ghost Hunting, Traveling, My Daughter, Dog's and Cat's.    I have a strong passion for visiting Gettysburg Pa. every chance that I get. I feel that I have been there before in another place and time, Civil War History, evps, photography, research I also like to do just about anything that deals with the Civil War.    I love visiting South Carolina where I have brothers and sisters.    Charleston is such a mystical place. I Have always known that their was something else "out there" and that's why I'm drawn to do this sort of thing.    As a child, in Scotland I was visited by a Lady on a frequent basis that only I saw and adults then reacted much in the same way as they do know "it's just an imaginary friend."    I think that if everybody could hold onto their inner child then it's very feasible that Ghost and Spirits do exist!    So for me I need no explanation!

SVPS Investigator Kelly Hoynoski Birthdate: May 12 Astrological Sign: Pisces Location: Front Royal, Virginia Interests: Family Oriented entertainment and travels, Organic gardening, cooking, fine dining, horse riding and husbandry, watching movies, reading, solving puzzles and, of course investigating paranormal phenomena intellectually and physically. I grew up in Upstate New York and had numerous paranormal activities in many of the homes we lived in.   Personal experiences have continued since living in Virginia.    Recent media attention in popular shows sparked my interest in finding a group that is professional, respectful of the living and the deceased, and scientific in their approach to ghost hunting.   I feel privileged to be a part of Shenandoah Valley Paranormal Society family.

SVPS Investigator Kelli Jones Birthdate: August 9 Astrological Sign: Leo Location: Birmingham, Alabama Strong Interests: Ghosts, Hauntings, After-life Communication, Paranormal Research, Quantum Physics, Eastern Religions & Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Social Issues, Music, Research and Reading. Other Interests: Travel, going to concerts, movies, theater, coaching my daughters cheerleading squad, watching my kids play sports. I have always had an interest in ghosts and all things paranormal.   This continued into adulthood, but it was more or less entertainment for me.   I was a skeptic, but I was an open-minded skeptic.   There had been enough unexplainable events in my life that I knew there was more to the big picture than science could tell us about.   Even though I was open-minded, the continuation of any form of life after physical death was the issue I was most skeptical about. That changed in a big way in the late summer of 2005.   My family and I began to experience a haunting in our home that changed everything I believed about the survival of consciousness after physical death.    It was scary, stressful, and at times almost unbearable.    At the same time it was exciting and exhilarating for me.   I had found a new path in life.   That path was to try to find the answers and understanding about what had occurred in my home that no one else could give me.   Instead of receiving support and understanding from family and friends, we found ourselves completely alone, ridiculed and shunned. My husband, Curtis, is also interested in paranormal research and is a new member of the group.   I have two children, Caitlin age 10 and Cole age 4.   They are great kids and also have a better than average interest in all things paranormal.   Caitlin is very spiritual and wise beyond her young years.   Cole is also very bright and seems to be very sensitive to things and people that most of us cannot see or hear.   He gave us a lot of helpful and useful information about “who” was in our home and what they were doing from day to day! After leaving our haunted home, I began reading everything I could get my hands on about ghosts, hauntings and everything paranormal.   It became my mission and my passion to explain what had happened to us.   It was very comforting to know that I was not alone, and that there were actually groups out there that investigated hauntings.   I am thrilled to be a part of such a great team, and look forward to contributing in any way that I can in the very important field of paranormal research.

SVPS Investigator Curtis Jones Birthdate: September 10 Astrological Sign: Virgo Location: Birmingham, Alabama Strong Interests: I enjoy traveling, movies, going to rock concerts and music festivals with my wife, and watching my kids play sports.   I like all sports, but especially college football (Roll Tide!),mathematics and science (especially Astronomy), photography, World War II and Vietnam War history. Spending time with my wife, Kelli, and our two children Caitlin age 10, and Cole age 4.   Most of my time is spent on my job in sales which requires me to travel quite extensively.   It is most enjoyable during the summer when my family can travel with me. My interest in the paranormal came about after experiencing it first-hand.   It was not something I ever thought about, because I did not believe in anything that I could not see for myself.   I consider myself to be a very pragmatic and logical person and never even pondered the "big" questions such as life beyond death.   All of that changed during the summer of 2005, and I was forced to re-examine my entire belief system and accept the fact that some form of consciousness does indeed survive our physical death.   This startling realization came as a result of a "group" of ghosts that decided to take up residence in our home in Birmingham, Alabama. After many weeks of trying to find a logical and natural explanation for all of the strange events happening in our home my wife obtained undisputable evidence of the entities in our home.   She captured an EVP where multiple voices can be heard responding to my wife's questions and requests to make themselves known.   I always said, "I have to see it to believe it" and in this case "hearing it" was proof enough.   As months went by the paranormal activity continued and even increased in frequency.   Then I also saw it. One night my wife and I heard a very strange noise.   My wife describes it as a sound like a grunt, growl, sneeze, cough, hiccup and burp all at the same time.   I immediately sat up in bed and looked toward the doorway where the noise had come from.   There in my bedroom doorway was a black shadow with the general outline of a human form, however, it was not well-defined and sort of like a blob.   It was about 3 ½ to 4 feet tall and just as I got a good look at it, it left and proceeded to make its way down the hallway.   I had gotten all of the proof that I needed to accept the existence ghosts. Although, I cannot deny the existence of ghosts I still remain a fierce skeptic.   I still look for a logical and natural explanation first.   When all other possibilities are exhausted, then I will concede to the possibility of paranormal activity.   Then further, tangible proof is still required.    I believe that the majority of reports of paranormal activity can likely be explained through naturally occurring phenomena.   I hope to bring this philosophy to the group as the "debunker".   I feel rigorous scientific testing and methodology will eventually prove the existence of life after death.   This will be one of the most important discoveries ever made, and will have a profound effect on humanity.   I am here to contribute in any small (or large) way I can to the exciting and very important field of paranormal research.