“Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!” Almost everyone is familiar with that song, more specifically that exact verse. Many songs, TV shows, movies, websites, etc. have been created about ghosts being real and other paranormal activities. Some people strongly believe in ghosts and say they have experienced some sort of interaction with one or more. There have been many stories going around about ghosts and haunted places for years. Most would assume all of the stories are make-believe or created just to spook people, but are they? People who believe in ghosts have strong arguments and questions that make you really wonder. What else could explain sudden cold spots or the sensation that someone is touching your shoulder when no one is there? If ghosts weren't real it's unlikely that so many ghost hunters and paranormal experts would even exist not to mention all of the websites, attractions and shows dedicated to ghosts and various paranormal activity.
Recent surveys have shown that a significant portion of the population believes in ghosts. A Harris poll from last year found that 42 percent of Americans say they believe in ghosts.
That number is probably much higher once you take into consideration the people who either weren't surveyed or didn't want to admit they believed. The reality is many folks have had experiences they just can't explain or have witnessed mysterious sights sounds and Sensations that could only be a paranormal encounter. The percentage is similar in the U.K., where 52 percent of respondents said that they believed in ghosts in a recent poll. Though it’s tough to estimate how large the paranormal tourism industry is, there are 10,000 haunted locations in the U.K. according to the country’s tourist board. Sites like HauntedRooms.co.uk list dozens of allegedly haunted hotels where curious visitors can stay. In the U.S., residents of places like Long Island, pride themselves on their haunted heritage. The cultural history of the area has led to the many haunted houses, places, and ghosts galore.
The story that stuck out to me the most when researching was the Amityville Horror House story. The village of Amityville is tiny town located on the southern edge of Long Island, New York along the Great South Bay. The DeFeo family murder was the biggest thing ever to hit the small village. On November 13, 1974 the estate at 112 Ocean avenue was the scene of a mass murder. Ronald J. DeFeo Jr. walked into Henry’s Bar in Amityville, Long Island frantically shouting, “You gotta help me! I think my mother and father are shot!” When Ronald arrived at 112 Ocean Avenue with a small group from the bar, they found both his mother and father lying in bed. Both had been fatally shot. As they searched the house further, they found the dead bodies of Ronald’s four siblings in their beds, the cause of death being gunshot wounds. Ronald initially placed the blame on a mob hit man. However, as the police continued to question him, the real killer bec...
