INVESTIGATION #001 West Virginia Penitentiary Moundsville, Wv. Date Of Investigation: April 22, 2006 Time: 8:00pm - 6:00am Investigators on Scene: Marty Seibel, Lisa Rose, Martha Fox and Richard Bond Weather: Overcast, 63 degrees, 83% humidity, Wind: 7 mph Solar Activity: Active, Geomagnetic Activity: Quiet, Moon Phase: Waning Crescent; 8% visible Featured on MTVs FEAR, the West Virginia State Penitentiary is known as one of the most haunted locations in West Virginia.    The opportunity to investigate and explore this building with all of the history that goes with it was an incredible experience for our group. Background History Construction on the penitentiary began in 1866 and it was opened for full operation in 1876.   A total of 94 men have been executed in the prison since it opened.   From 1899-1949, eighty-five men were hung.    In 1951 the State began using an electric chair.   The state abolished the death penalty in 1959.   Prisoners were kept in 5' x 7' cells and when over-crowding became a concern, three prisoners were kept in a cell.   A interesting side-note, in 1983 Charles Manson wrote to the warden requesting a transfer to the West Virginia Penitentiary.   Claiming he had family in the area and also this was the only place that the guards had treated him well were his reasons. Conditions here were poor and with the over-crowding they became worse.   Violence certainly increased in the latter years of operation.   Many, many brutal killings and beatings took place here.   That combined with the number of horrible executions, it leaves a lasting impression of pain and suffering.   It is impossible to imagine what everyday life was like for these inmates. The doors on the penitentiary were finally closed in 1995. For complete photographs, history and information of the West Virginia State Penitentiary, please click on the link below.    West Virginia State Penitentiary Travel Guide    Investigation Data The investigation was set up where there were a number of other people and groups investigating as well as us.   This made many procedures very difficult to do if not completely immpossible.   Close to 70 people present through out the building through the course of the night.   Evps were impossible to record so that hindered us greatly.   We were able to try and do some in the Sugar Shack area but only for 20 minutes.   The cafeteria was another area where we were able to try and record.   However both of these areas produced no results. We did record moderate emf spikes in the 2.5 (mG) range in the Sugar Shack area.   This was about the only area where we did record emf spikes.   The area known as the hole, which is where we were told was extremely active, we captured nothing unusual.   One last area where we recorded low emf spikes was the hallway where a shadow man has been spotted from time to time. We were able to capture numerous orb photographs with both the hp digital camera and the cannon 35 mm.   None of these though were of the type where the orb is bright, seems to generate its own light.   So the speculation is, could they be dust particles?   As everyone knows, there is great debate about orbs, even within our group from time to time.   However, some not all, but some of these orbs photographed in the prison, did show some type of intelligence and responsed with questions through the emf meter, particularly in the Sugar Shack area.   Again, this all speculation when it comes to orbs.   Everyone has an opinion or theory. Photographs from the Sugar Shack area. Personal Experiences Lisa felt as though someone brushed up against her in the Sugar Shack area.   We had fully charged batteries drain in a number of areas, especially the Sugar Shack.   Lisa also did experience some minor feelings of sadness as well as experiencing some cold spots in the hole area.   The hole was known as a area used for solitary confinement and extreme punishment for inmates that continually caused problems for other inmates or guards Final Conclusion: Inconclusive With the amount of people present for the night in the penitentiary, it was in no way possbile to conduct an extensive and proper investigation.   Under these circumstances, a real risk is run in contaminating the data.   For what few things we were able to record and capture, we found absolutely nothing to say this place is haunted or not.   With its history and violent past, it certainly could be.   But we found no actualsolid proof at this time.   Definitely a great place to see and explore.   We would love to come back, perhaps when only our group could have access to the entire building. Of note, we knew going in this was not going to be a controlled enviroment and investigation.   We were hopeful, yet very skeptical and cautious to obtain some form of tangible evidence.   Unfortunately we were unable to do that.   We certainly were able to learn from this to reserve locations just for our group in the future. Copyright © Marty Seibel & SVPS