By Joe Hadsall
jhadsall@joplinglobe.com
As Halloween nears, the interest in the spooky and spectral grows. For some, the interest never stops.
Count Christopher Moon and John Zaffis in the latter category.
Moon is co-founder and president of Haunted Times magazine and an experienced ghost hunter. Zaffis has studied the paranormal for more than 30 years, getting his start by working for his aunt and uncle.
The two have mountains of what they say is evidence of something outside the natural world, including pictures, recordings, testimony and research.
The two appeared at Missouri Southern State University to talk about their experiences. Their stories affected skeptics and believers alike.
Jesus Deleon, of Seneca, went to the presentation with his girlfriend, who “is really into” ghost-hunting. He said he was affected by pictures and sounds that Moon had collected.
“I came into this as a little bit of both,” Deleon said. “I’ve seen the shows on TV, but to see the evidence firsthand, that was pretty awesome.”
Others weren’t so sure.
“I’m still a little skeptical,” said Kate Glensky, of Crane. “It seems like you had to stretch to make out what he saw in the pictures.”
Others in the audience were there to pick up tips. Ernie Faris, founder of the Tri-County Paranormal Research Society, said he wanted to see what kind of equipment Moon uses.
“The field is getting very popular and high-tech,” Faris said. “We have $3,500 worth of equipment right now, and we’re still not done.”
As part of his presentation, Moon showed photographs taken at allegedly haunted places. He also played recorded examples of spirits communicating.
Moon said he uses scientific collection methods — he wants to produce evidence of the things he observes. But walking the fence between impressionable believers and diehard skeptics is difficult.
“When you get into this, you try to please everybody, but you find you have to please yourself,” Moon said. “Where we have been successful is that we don’t cater to either side of the debate. We walk our own path.”
Part of the job is learning how to explain phenomena, Moon said. A smoky apparition might be cigarette smoke, or breath during cold weather.
But some things can’t be explained, Moon said. Such as a photograph he took at the Lizzie Borden house. When enlarged, a small orb becomes the face of the murdered father, Andrew Borden, he said.
Interest in the paranormal is high around Halloween, said Carolyn White, chairwoman of the Campus Activities Board, the group which brought the two ghost hunters.
The two spoke at Taylor Performing Arts Center because of the demand, White said.
“We’ve had similar speakers here the last two years,” White said. “Both times, it was standing room only. We booked Taylor this year just to hold everyone.”
