The Pucket Ghost Mess

This is a guest blog from Bryan Bonner of Rocky Mountain Paranormal and Warning Radio




The Ghouli Investigation (from their site)

5-2006- To date, with internet advances and easy access to video casts across the globe, the Pucketts Video continues to this day to get media attention. I continue to get emails about this footage and the questions are still lingering. To date: the footage has been put to the test on National TV, making appearances on shows such as "Fact or Fiction"... a team of special effects artist were able to provide a very nice example while attempting to re-create the image. But keep in mind, it took them several months to even come close to debunking it. What do you think?

ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION:

Puckett's Auto Body Shop was investigated by GHOULI after being contacted by the owners who captured the now infamous video tape of what appeared to be a full blown apparition on their security cameras.

This footage is known across the world as the Salvage Yard Apparition, Junk Yard Ghost, Junk Yard Apparition and so on.. it is nationwide.

Tonya Hacker, of GHOULI, was one of the first people on the scene as the story broke and has been in contact with the owners throughout all the supposed recreations of the video by skeptics who have tried to debunk the validity of the video. She has also been witness to other teams of investigators who have conducted their own investigations of the property.

THE INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

GHOULI has been tracking this video & the reports since it was introduced to the world on September 2002. As of this time we are unable report a "haunting" of any kind at Pucketts Auto Body. Our team and a few other teams we have worked with stand by our findings and decision. Without more substantial evidence of a continuous haunting, we have decided not to base our findings on "ghosts" at this time.

This will not be an extensive report, because we feel that everyone should make up their own mind, about this infamous video. Some of the opinions that will be posted are those shared by the GHOULI team, and are not to be taken as slander or any sort of bashing to anyone within the paranormal community. These are our findings, and we have worked really hard not to be influenced by any other team or what they have reported.

GHOULI was contacted in September 2002 to view a surveillance video of a possible "ghost" caught on film.

Tonya went to take a look at the video, and was introduced to the media world very quickly, along with the owners and staff of Pucketts Auto body.

GHOULI conducted & assisted a few investigations at this location, no evidence of a haunting was present at any of the many investigations we conducted or assisted in.

During the investigation GHOULI used various techniques to collect evidence to help them in make a final decision on this location. GHOULI used video recording equipment, photography, EMF meters, audio equipment and temperature meters to help them paint a larger picture of what is going on at Puckett's Auto & Body Shop

THE RESULTS OF THE EVIDENCE COLLECTED:

Photographs - We did capture a few orbs while at this location, but they were dismissed because of natural elements, such as dust, moisture, reflective objects within the yard, and did we say dust?

Video - We did obtain a few video images of orbs & other light anomalies, but these images were also ruled out because of outside contaminants & the many reflective objects within the yard. Images were easily re-created.

Audio - No EVP were captured at this location. Although numerous attempts were conducted.

Other - EMF readings were taken at this location, but there is not data to back up any EMF readings that were taken. Temperature readings are not valid, because this location is outdoors.

THE PUCKETT GHOST VIDEO:


PLEASE NOTE: You must obtain written permission to show this video on your website. This video is copywritten by © Pucketts Auto Body & Salvage CPuckett. Publishing this video without written consent from C. Puckett is illegal, and violators will be pursued. Feel free to analyze this version, but sharing files is prohibited.

THE STORY BEHIND THE NOW INFAMOUS VIDEO:

GHOULI is not making public the details of this story. The family members choose to believe that the image captured is the image of their loved one who died in a fatal car accident. The victim is believed to have "returned to her vehicle after she had passed away, and her image was caught on tape, while she searched for her truck or personal belongings". PLEASE NOTE: The resemblance of this woman is uncanny, and enough to make you think twice!

IS THE VIDEO REAL?:

The video has been sent many reputable sources within the community. As to date none of these sources have been able to explain the video, much less recreate it.

Is it a doll or mannequin? - GHOULI assisted well known investigator & author Richard Senate in a recreation experiment of the video. The rumor was that there was a doll like object dangled in front of the camera to create the image of the floating woman. To be honest, using the rumored method and actually witnessing this attempt, is rather amusing. There were no similarities between the actual image & the experiments that took place. GHOULI can report that the fishing line and "doll" theory is not a valid lead.

Was it created with computers? - Other people tried to recreate the video with video imaging / editing or special effects. This was attempted by many, and digitally recreating the image, without spending thousands of dollars has not been done. Attempts have not shared any similarities so until someone is willing to spend the mounds of money to recreate this effect, the implanted or digitally mastered theory still stands open. Where's Hollywood special effect pro's when you need them?

Was it a hoax by Puckett's Auto and Body Shop? - GHOULI feels that Puckett's had no reason to create this image, they are a established local and thriving business , the need for extra publicity is not desired. To create publicity for business has been ruled out by GHOULI, during the media whirlwind the owners stated "we are just ready to get back to normal, and get some work done".

What do video experts say about it? - The video has been sent off to many video editing groups across the nation. None of which can recreate or explain the video on a technical level, as of date the video still stand as "unexplainable". Video Surveillance specialists have been contacted, and were not able to explain the video. If you can offer an explanation of this video or a valid claim in recreating the video, please contact GHOULI ASAP

Is Pucketts Haunted?- NO not by this particular image

As to the "haunting" of Puckett's, We found no evidence of continuous haunting at this location. We feel that the image was a once in a lifetime glimpse of the possibility of ghostly phenomena. The video has raised a few eyebrows in the paranormal community, and within the general public.

We have obtained & witnessed many "psychic" reports that the woman in the video still resides at the salvage yard along with other "ghosts", we found no substantial evidence to back up this claim. There are no reports of any other paranormal activity from Pucketts staff in the past or the present, and the image has yet to return on the surveillance cameras, and the folks who monitor this equipment, are watching a little more carefully these days.

The video as of date, is one of the most compelling pieces of "ghost" activity that we have witnessed. Until the video is explained, we can only believe that the video is authentic, and truly unexplainable in this community.

GHOULI has developed a friendship with the owner of Pucketts, and we are updated as the video thrives to be explained. In closing, there have been many teams that have investigated this location, and there have been reports that the "lady in the video" is still there. Because the video was nationally publicized, and the personal story involved, any "psychic" impressions taken are difficult to accept as valid information to this case.


From the Rocky Mountain Paranormal Site:

We have worked to determine the credibility of the now famous "Ghost Video" Taken in the Puckett Auto storage lot.

The story is that on an evening in September 2002 the persons on duty at the Auto & Body Shop noticed a "ghost" on the surveillance camera in one of their lots. That evening (around 2:00a.m.) there were 2 people working and one went to check on the lot after seeing the image on the monitor and they did not see anyone in the area of the lot that they saw the image.

A local paper carried the story:
Employees at a Metro wrecker service claim they've been visited by a spirit from beyond.
What may be even more incredible is this ghost sighting was actually caught on surveillance video. And those who have seen the eerie image, say they know why their ghost has made an appearance. This story has a lot of folks talking. It certainly does. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, what was caught on tape in this wrecker yard certainly has people questioning whether spirits exist. Cathy, couldn't believe her eyes. What was that image she just saw? She sent one of her employees out to investigate, he found nothing, the image had vanished. But a video surveillance camera caught the mysterious object on tape.
Chris Puckett runs the family business, part of which stores vehicles involved in deadly traffic accidents. Others at Puckett’s theorize this image is that of a woman involved in a horrible wreck that took her life several weeks ago. Her insurance company moved the wreckage of her truck just hours before the image was caught on tape.
Folks here have tried to come up with explanations of what the image is. So far, nothing explains what Cathy saw and what was caught on tape.

KFOR, a local TV channel reported that a family came forward about the video claiming that it was their daughter:
OKLAHOMA CITY - Employees at a local wrecker service claim they've been visited by a ghost. Oklahoma’s News Channel Four first showed you the surveillance videotape on Wednesday.
Those who work at Puckett's in southwest Oklahoma City believe the image is that of a woman involved in a fatal accident.
Now, family members of that woman have come forward, convinced the sighting is their lost loved one sending them a message.
Tracy Martin died from her injuries June 30th. But, her family believes she came back 18 days later to let them know she's okay. They say that is exactly how Tracy did things, in grand style.
Tracy Martin's father, brother and husband are convinced the videotaped image is that of the 33-year-old mother of twins.
Tracy's truck was moved from Puckett's wrecker yard July 17 from the area the surveillance camera records. Overnight dispatcher Kathy Henley saw the image live on her monitors.
A family portrait shows Tracy in her favored overalls. Tracy's husband, Brent, now has the awesome task of rearing their twins alone.
A police investigation into Tracy Martin's car wreck revealed she was not wearing a seat belt. Had she been buckled in, in the investigating officer's opinion, her injuries would not have been fatal.


The original group investigating was G.H.O.U.L.I. who determined that the video might be a "Once in a lifetime glimpse of the possibility of ghostly phenomena" but that the video could not be created without a large budget and digital F/X.

Many Paranormal researchers including Richard Senate have viewed the recording and many are convinced that the tape is an authentic ghost video.

We contacted Pucketts to see if we could get a copy of the recording.
We received the video and started the investigative work.
It was determined that the video camera that recorded the image was a low resolution camera and was located outside of the lot on a light pole.
The video itself lasts for 29 seconds and when the image appears in the frame it seems to drop down into the image and the again move off camera rather than just disappear.
While viewing the video we noticed that in one frame, what appears to be a support line is visible holding up the ghost.
While trying to determine what the support line could be, we came up with the idea of the image being created by an old stage illusion called Peppers Ghost

Definition: Peppers Ghost
Peppers Ghost was created in the 1862 by John Pepper. The illusion is caused by reflecting a brightly light object into a piece of glass that is placed at a 45 degrees to the plane of the viewer. This can be a stage audience or a camera. The reflection of the object will appear as a transparent object.

The most famous use of the Peppers Ghost effect is in the Disneyland Haunted Mansion Ballroom set. The viewers of this illusion are able to see an entire ballroom that has animated transparent ghostly figures.

We recreated the Junkyard video by using the Peppers Ghost effect. We used a Radio Shack low light camera with roughly the same resolution, a G.I. Joe 5 inch action figure, some black string, a flashlight to recreate the light at the top of the pole and a 2x3 piece of Plexiglas. The result was almost an exact match, the only noticeable difference was the shape of the character.
After looking at our recreation we decided that the illusion would have been just as easy to create by just dangling a figure in front of the camera. This would cause the same effect because of the figure being out of focus because of its proximity to the camera as well.


Our latest comments:
She does not mention that the Pen and Teller's television show Bullshit (season one DVD extras) was the team that they work with Richard Senate on and the conclusion from that show was that it was a fake and that Richard Senate was a complete freak show. He claims to have the "most sensitive E.M.F. meter ever made" and he made it. His Psychic that accompanied him was an absolute comic, she was crying and claiming that the ghost was too strong and she could not continue with the communication. A quote from Mr. Senate... "I think we have a ghost here".

In the report they keep mentioning "orbs" but then state that they were dismissed because of natural elements. why mention orbs in the first place? does that mean that they think that some orbs are paranormal?

They claim that the "resemblance of this woman is uncanny, and enough to make you think twice".... This statement is about a family who came forward and claimed that their daughter who had been killed in a car accident who's car was in the lot at the time of the video. This is sad because of two things. The family who came forward was featured on the local news and instead of getting their grieving process started because of the need for the media to pursue this ridiculous claim.
If you look at the video you can not make out any details of the "ghost" other than it is a human like shape.

They state that "The video has been sent to many reputable sources within the community. As to date none of these sources have been able to explain the video, much less recreate it." This is an outright lie. Penn and Teller showed how it was done and so did we.

There statement that the doll video that Mr. Senate attempted was amusing is accurate, but the video itself was proof itself in the way that the video was made.

They state that "many psychic reports that the woman in the video still resides at the salvage yard along with the other ghosts, we found no substantial evidence to back up the claim" Does that mean that they have been able to back up the claims of "psychics" on other cases?

We were give a copy of the original tape by the owner of the Junkyard and after analyzing it we produced a DVD that showed that it was not a ghost and was in fact a fake. We also told them that we were not saying that it was faked by them but it was a fake.
The owner of the Junkyard contacted us and said that we were wrong and that he was going to get the truth, so he forwarded our DVD to National Geographic. They looked at our analysis and decided that it completely explained the video, so they flew us to Washington to the National Geographic studios and we spent a day recreating it for them. This show aired on the National Geographic Channels show "Is it real".
A link to a copy of our segment of the show: http://www.youtube.com/user/saxonrox#p/u/12/L-drSq9n5zg

We had Tonya H on WARNING: Radio at the end of last year and she claimed that just after the first of the year they had "breaking news" about what the video really was.
We then asked what she had thought about our explanation of the video and the NatGeo show, and she said that she had never heard our analysis or seen the show. We explained it to her and she said that we were not right in our analysis.

We are now six months later we have still not heard anything about the "real facts" behind the video.