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Casey Goodwin: Paranormal Investigator
Once Skeptical, He Leads Oregon Researchers
According to most recent polls, just
under half of Americans believe
in ghosts. Nearly 20% lay claim to
ghostly encounters. Given these
statistics, it is no wonder we have a
plethora of people and organizations
receptive and ready to lend a hand in
light of such encounters.
We’re all familiar with the
lore surrounding paranormal
investigators, but how often do we
get to hear what the trade is like,
a life lived deliberately “haunted.”
Casey Goodwin, director of Oregon
Paranormal, a non-profit organization
based in Clackamas and funded by
annual membership dues, debunks
some of the common misconceptions
that, thanks to Hollywood and
popular television, surround and
shroud the business of paranormal
investigation.
As a southern-born Californian,
Goodwin accredits his initial interest
in the paranormal to programs
such as Unsolved Mysteries with
Robert Stack. Though he had never
encountered anything paranormal
himself, Goodwin was curious enough
to pair up with friend and co-founder
Scott Reidel in 2009 to create Oregon
Paranormal, offering their completely
free-of-charge investigative
service to homeowners experiencing
6 | Corvallis Advocate
By Stevie Beisswanger
strange phenomena.
His own validation came
during the team’s most
active investigation, a
100-and-something-yearold
Victorian house the
occupants believed they
might be sharing with
the presence of both a
male and young girl. The
team was won over when
they captured EVPs of two voices,
one manly, one girlish. There were
unexplainable sounds and movement
throughout the house, an experience
Goodwin describes as “some kind
of perfect storm,” given the great
number of rookies on board.
Take it from Goodwin, they are no
“ghostbusters.” They can provide
references but won’t attempt any
cleansing rituals themselves.
However, they do act as a kind of
mop-up crew in cases where previous
teams attempted to rid of spirits but
instead agitated the activity.
OP’s first initiative is to make
their clients feel safe, especially
within their own homes. Their goal
is to provide a “safety net,” hard
conclusive evidence and answers to
the problem. Goodwin’s team doesn’t
seek some spirit-induced high during
their time spent on-site. There is no
By Kiki Genoa
Halloween Horror for Shut-ins
Let’s be realistic. If you’re reading
this, you probably have no plans
for Halloween. And neither do I.
This year, instead of slutting it up in
a revealing costume and doing keg
stands, I plan to watch movies and
hand out candy. I do miss my college
days, but I think the experience
of staying home and avoiding a
hangover will be rewarding. To
make the transition from cool kid to
loser easier for all of us in our early
30s, I’ve compiled a list of five of my
favorite scary movies, guaranteed to
take your mind off of the loneliness of
not going to a party. The best part is
that they’re all available for instant
viewing on Netflix, so there’s no need
to do illegal stuff on the Internet.
Watch them in the following order:
1. ZomBeavers (2014)
In this campy spoof (seemingly tailormade
for Corvallisites) a gang of
horny, idiot coeds take a weekend in
the backwoods of Indiana. Sarcastic
violence ensues when local rodents,
mutated by way of radioactive waste,
invade the students’ cabin and
attack. Not scary, but very funny,
and there’s toplessness.
2. The Nightmare (2015)
This documentary—which feels
more like a psychological thriller—
explores the mysterious phenomenon
of sleep paralysis. Real-life victims
of this strange condition describe
the monsters they encounter in their
dreams, and it’s absolutely chilling.
3. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Polanski’s creepy classic follows a
pregnant and paranoid Mia Farrow
as she attempts to solve the mystery
behind a satanic cult while they
threaten to steal her unborn child.
Farrow’s tour-de-force performance
going bump in the night,
another misconception
Goodwin cleared up,
the trend of showing
investigators around
in the dark. Because
believe or not, “humans
are terrible observers
when they can’t see with
their eyes.” What tube
viewers rarely see are
the distressed homeowners. We often
“don’t realize these people are at wit’s
end… They just want to know they’re
not crazy.” Goodwin prides himself
on his team’s initiative to provide
support and calm the nerves.
Nine out of ten times the source of
the problem under investigation
by OP is natural phenomena, manmade
anomalies picked up by the
crew’s high-tech equipment. And
these technologies aren’t toys. OP
uses equipment such as EMF, MEL,
and Tri-field meters to measure
electromagnetic fields. Goodwin notes
the dependability of such devices
in more legitimized industries,
commonly utilized by contractors
and electricians. The devices provide
measurements and analysis of what
goes unseen by the naked eye and can
thus faster track down a culprit, such
as a cold spot caused “not by Aunt
Martha, but by faulty insulation.”
The only times Goodwin has felt
threatened on the job were due to
the poor conditions of the facilities
under investigation, by leaky pipes
and the like, not by any otherworldly,
hellbent being, another staple
in paranormal pop culture. The
industry just loves “to sensationalize
the demonic stuff.” Conversely,
an average day on the job seems
much more about facts than frights.
Goodwin seems more concerned with
the contentment of his clients than
any ghostly agenda.
Anyone can request an investigation
on OP’s website. If deemed in need of
further investigation, the team may
take up to three months collecting
data, conducting extensive historical
research, or even reaching out to
local law enforcement. Sometimes
a site may require more than one
visit. Goodwin takes pleasure in his
continued clientele relations, keeping
current with their comfort and status.
Whether or not any ghouls or
goosebumps rise up, OP is sure
to provide a source of assistance.
They’re just one of many
organizations, just a touch away,
willing to settle the minds of those
experiencing suspicious activity.
To contact Oregon Paranormal, visit
www.oregonparanormal.com.
Night of Netflix for Post-Party Adulthood
is matched by that of the late John
Cassavetes, who is hilarious as her
self-absorbed, actor husband. If you
only have time for one of the films in
this list, watch this one.
4. The Taking of Deborah Logan
(2014)
An elderly woman suffering from
Alzheimer’s lies at the center of
this ominous story, filmed in foundfootage
style. Spoiler alert: It’s not
Alzheimer’s, but something far more
sinister. Be prepared for exorcisms,
screaming, and falling off of your
couch.
5. V/H/S (2012)
Determined to steal a mysterious
videotape, a gang of Canadian
criminals accidentally stumbles
upon a deceased homeless man
who apparently died of fright after
watching a series of videos. Another
found-footage gorefest, this startling
and disturbing movie goes above and
beyond the genre to feature several
short films in one, in the vein of 80’s
“collections” like Creepshow.
Happy watching!