Paranormal research team investigates Arcadia Academy
Extreme haunting led man to found paranormal research group
By CHRIS CLINE\Daily Journal Staff Writer
Sunday, October 29, 2006
A man who claims to have experienced an ‘extreme haunting' and his group, The Missouri Paranormal Research group, recently conducted an investigation of an alleged haunting at the Arcadia Academy.
The research group is from St. Louis and has members who live throughout the state. The group was founded by Steven LaChance of Union. LaChance said he experienced an extreme haunting first hand in a home he rented in Union. The experience was actually the subject of an episode of the Discovery Channel's ‘A Haunting.' LaChance's story aired nationwide on Sept. 28.
“In a regular haunting, people normally don't get hurt,” LaChance said. “In a demonic situation or an extreme haunting you come across things that you won't ever forget.”
According to LaChance, the haunting began after he rented a home in Union for his three children and himself.
“I was the last person in the world who would believe in haunting or the possibility of something or someone being demonic-controlled,” LaChance said. “However, I lived through it. It went after my children, me and the tenants who moved into the house after we left.”
LaChance said during his time in dealing with the Union house, he sought out advice from Lorraine Warren. Warren investigated the Amityville haunting after George and Kathy Lutz fled from the Long Island home.
“She advised me to get a priest to do a blessing of the house,” LaChance said. “Unfortunately I think the priest was a little disturbed by the house and did not get the job done in places that really needed the blessing done in.”
LaChance said whatever spirit or spirits were in the home liked to prey on the tenants' fears.
“A lot of the times, a haunting will start with just one person,” LaChance said. “Generally, spirits tend to go after children first because they don't have pre-conceived notions and are easily attached.”
LaChance and his family ended up fleeing from the home. LaChance went on to find the Missouri Paranormal Research group.
The group takes what LaChance defines as a humanistic approach in dealing with the supernatural.
Humanistic is defined as, “of or pertaining to a philosophy asserting human dignity and man's capacity for fulfillment through reason and scientific method,” LaChance wrote on the group's Web site.
He continued, “Keeping the above definition in mind, you can see what we mean by humanistic approach is really a three-step philosophy toward investigation. Dignity, Reason, and Science are the main key factors of this approach. We treat every investigation and client with dignity and respect while using reason and science to research and understand a paranormal event.”
Greg Myers is the co-administrator of the group. Myers is a lead investigator and Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) specialist. Myers' first encounters with the paranormal began when he was just a teenager.
“EVP basically is the capturing of unexplainable communication from the paranormal,” Myers said.
Myers said most of the group's investigations are private and come at the request of clients.
“We have several people who go to our Web site www.catchmyghost.com and ask for assistance,” Myers said. “People that ask for our help are usually having unexplainable incidents that include cold spots, doors opening and closing on their own, strange odors as well as various sounds and voices.”
Myers said in private investigations, the client is always the group's top priority.
“We usually meet with the client and hear what their story is,” Myers said. “We then analyze their story and the conditions in their home and then try to find explainable causes for what they have experienced. Once all the explainable causes are ruled out, you are left with the unexplainable.”
Myers said his group does not charge for their services.
“If a group wants to charge you, I would encourage you to look somewhere else,” Myers said.
Myers said the strangest thing that has happened to him during an investigation is when an incandescent light got thrown at him with no explainable cause.
“That occurred during our investigation at the Tri-County Restaurant,” Myers said.
Myers' wife Judy is the assistant administrator with the group. She is considered to be a “sensitive” investigator. Judy also believes in the humanistic approach to investigations.
In addition to LaChance and the Myers, the group has 15 other members. They have conducted several investigations, including the Tri-County Restaurant, the Lemp Mansion, Zombie road and Satan's Tunnel.
In Monday's edition of the Daily Journal, Reporter Chris Cline will explain the history of the Arcadia Academy and how the current proprietors came to own it.
Reader Comments (2)The comments below are from readers and do not represent the views of the Daily Journal
Leon posted on Monday, January 21st, 2008 at 7:43 pm
The photos are of Arlin when he was 17 years old.
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Karen B posted on Monday, April 9th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
That Mom is no crackpot. If it were my child, I would search for him for the rest of my days, relentlessly. After all, how would Shawn Hornbeck have felt if he knew his parents had given up? I can imagine that just seeing that webpage that his parents had gave him hope to keep on living.
My heart just goes out to that mother, who has lost her husband and both her children. I hope she is able to find peace, and that her son will eventually be restored to her or at least they will find the truth of what happened.
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