Stephen Lancaster during an investigation. -Courteys Photo.
Stephen Lancaster and Ryan Lick look like normal enough guys - but how many normal guys hang out in allegedly haunted locations for a week at a time? That is exactly what Lancaster and Lick do. Not only for their own curiosities but they also host a show called MonsterVisionTV that they feed through YouTube and their own Web site, http://www.monstervisiontv.com, in an attempt to explain the sometimes inexplicable. They refer to themselves as The P.I.T. Crew, short for Paranormal Investigation Team. Stationed in North Myrtle Beach, The P.I.T. Crew goes where the weird is and their online investigative findings recently prompted NBC to request footage for program involving paranormal events, hosted by Maury Povich.
Despite their busy schedules, we were recently able to corner The P.I.T. Crew for a little Q-&-A session via e-mail.
QUESTION | How did you get into the ghost busting business?
ANSWER | We are not in the ghost busting business. Common misconception, we suppose. Our team simply attempts to either prove or disprove the existence of the paranormal on a case-by-case basis as professionally and scientifically possible.
Q. | Have you ever come face-to-face with an angry ghost? If so, how did you react?
A. | We have caught some rather extraordinary anomalies with our camera and audio equipment. However, we have yet to actually come face-to-face with an entity that can be validated through scientific means.
Q. | Where is the most-haunted place on the Grand Strand?
A. | This question is entirely too subjective. Although there are many stories and local legends throughout the Grand Strand, we have yet to actually find any concrete evidence to prove their legitimacy. From our perspective, a local business we investigated last year is the only place we can honestly claim legitimate paranormal activity is occurring.
Q. | What is the name of the business?
A. | Unfortunately we cannot release that information. The owner is insisting on anonymity. Being it is a place of business, the owner does not want that kind of attention, which is understandable.
Q. | Are there any physical characteristics that humans have when in the presence of a ghost?
A. | We can't say. That is a personal experience in which emotions differ from person to person. We will say that never under any circumstances will we use psychics, mediums or any other method based on spiritual or religious practices. Those are phenomena that cannot hold any credibility in this field, nor can they be scientifically supported. To be clear, we are not saying we believe or disbelieve this phenomena that so many claim to experience. We are simply saying that our methodology does not utilize those techniques.
There are, however, common experiences reported during paranormal activity. Cold spots or significant temperature changes in the atmosphere, exhaustion, nausea and the feeling of being touched are commonly and openly discussed amongst many paranormal groups and outside individuals experiencing alleged paranormal activity. Those were just to name a few.
Q. | What do you think ghosts are - i.e. trapped energy, etc?
A. | One of our philosophies, based on gathered data, leans more towards paranormal activity consisting of energy like you state. We believe in part that apparitions require a source of "power" in order to manifest themselves, communicate, or simply interact in general with what we consider to be everyday life. Although there are many theories as to the various types of apparitions, most data gathered has pointed towards some form of energy being required in order for this activity to occur. One of our best captures, on video, took place in a facilities electrical room with (the) electromagnetic field ranging in the hundreds.
Q. | What is your favorite ghost hunting show?
A. | We don't really watch those programs. Mainly because we work 60-70 hour work weeks and our nights are spent conducting paranormal investigations. We do, however, follow and support many other independent paranormal teams locally, nationally and internationally. Our team is constantly working with other groups during evidence review and discussions of scientific methods. Supporting one another is top on our priority list.
Q. | What would you say to non-believers?
A. | Thank you. The skeptics play a very important role in this field. They help even out the playing field within the paranormal community. It is a common misconception that paranormal investigation groups all believe in ghosts. This simply isn't true and if it was, (it) would really put a damper on presenting anything claimed to be credible evidence if one believes every little abnormal thing is a ghost. It is also a common misconception that the word "paranormal" always refers to the supernatural. The term "paranormal" simply refers to an event or events that are beyond a standard form of scientific measurement.
http://www.thesunnews.com/weeklysurge/cover-related-stories/story/1140538.html
