The West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville Investigation
May 31 – June 1, 2008
By Mark Stewart
The Paranormal Scientific Investigators were represented by co-founder and Director of Research &
Development Mark Stewart, on an investigation with other representatives from other paranormal groups
that included Southern Ohio Paranormal Research, who headed it up, along with CORRUPT, and
Southern New England Paranormal among others on Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1, 2008.
After investigating claims of paranormal activity in 2006, it was determined by the Southern Ohio
Paranormal Research that a full-scale investigation had to be performed in order to provide answers to
previously documented activity. In 2007 a team of fifteen investigators were dispatched to the West
Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia. This team was comprised of paranormal
investigators and members of the public who then set out to provide further documentation of the events
witnessed during the 2006 visit.
Approval was gained to send in a team for 2008 allowing for the paranormal investigators to further
document the phenomena reported to have taken place inside the walls of this gothic-style prison.
Some of the reported phenomena included shadow figures, electronic voice phenomena as well as other
audio phenomena, and electromagnetic field fluctuations.
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the validity of the reported phenomena using our
scientific instrumentation that included the use of digital and 35mm cameras, a 8mm infrared video
camera, a Cell sensor electromagnetic field detector, two digital voice recorders (Olympus &
Radioshack), a surface thermometer, a digital thermometer with a compass (Radioshack), a surface
thermometer, and an ambient thermohygrometer, as well as other devices.
Upon early arrival to the hotel we were to stay at, I found several investigators already there, and so
introduced ourselves to one another. As others arrived we greeted one another. When everyone
arrived, packets were handed out with further information, maps, our itinerary and a number determining
what group of five would be investigating together. The facility was divided into four quadrants and a
schedule set up so that each team would spend an equal amount of time in each area over a six our
period (12:00 AM to 6:00 AM). The areas to be investigated in the last two hours were to be voted on by
the group. Also handed out was a very cool orange prisoner t-shirt for everyone (so they could see we
were all a part of this team effort), a first aid kit, and for those who drove, a $25.00 gas voucher!
We were all to meet at the Prison just before 2:00 PM Saturday afternoon for a day tour of the facility,
which we did. Much of the history of this prison can be found at www.wvpentours.com . The West Virginia
Penitentiary is an imposing stone structure fashioned in the castellated Gothic architectural style
adorned with turrets and battlements, like a castle. Seven of the ten acres procured were enclosed. The
prison yard would be 682.5’ L x 352.5 W, enclosed by a stone wall 5’ in thickness at the bottom, 2.5’ at
the top, with the foundation 5’ below the surface, and the wall 25’’ thick. At each of the corners of this
wall would be large turrets for the use of the guards having inside staircases, with guardrooms above
and on a level with the top of the main. The superintendent’s house and cell buildings would be so
placed, that the rear wall of each will form part of the west wall.
Later a massive expansion to double the size of the penitentiary began and was completed in 1959. The
construction eased the overcrowding that had caused the need for triple bunking in the prison’s 5 x 7
foot cells.
The last execution by hanging in the state of West Virginia took place in 1949. In 1951 the state began
using an electric chair. Until the stat abolished the death penalty in 1959, nine men had been sent to
their death by electrocution. The original electric chair is now on display in the facility and is part of the
tour that we saw while at the prison.
The final years of the West Virginia Penitentiary were marked by many disturbances including escapes
and riots.
The “Sugar Shack” is arguably one of the most haunted areas of the penitentiary to some people. This
area was originally used as an indoor recreation space for the prisoners. Drug use, prisoner rape and
even murder have been reported. While no deaths can be confirmed the fact remains this area was
scene to some horrific acts by the prisoners, earning its name. This area is definitely a do not miss
section of the prison as it seems to yield paranormal activity of some degree to almost everyone who
visits, so they say.
After the tour we went back to our hotel rooms, and got something to eat. I shared a room with Mary
Myers and so got to know him better. We talked about many things, but mostly the paranormal. The time
frame from when we took the tour and when we were to head out to the prison, gave me time to fill out
the appropriate paperwork and get myself organized. At the time I took the atmospheric conditions, the
barometric reading was at 29.81 and holding steady, the temperature was at 74 degrees Fahrenheit,
the winds were from out of the southwest at 10 miles per hour, solar rays were normal, the geomagnetic
field was quiet, the moon phase was waning crescent (23% full), the dew point was comfortable but
becoming very humid at 58% and rising, and the ultraviolet index was at 7 (high visibility – 10 miles).
There had been a tornado watch out that afternoon for Mobile, Monroe, Belmont, Greene, Wetzel, Tyler,
and Marshall counties, but it was canceled later around 6:00 pm or so. All the weather conditions were
noted and logged into the appropriate forms.
All of us met at the prison. Everyone seemed excited as the time drew near to enter the building and
begin the investigation. This report will of course be from my perspective. I was paired off with Mike
Steward, Chris V., Greg F., all I believe with Southern Ohio Paranormal Research, and Clair, a co-
founder of CORUPT. Our investigation began at midnight and was to end at 6:00 AM. Once inside
everyone paired off and the first area our group began investigating was the gymnasium. I immediately
began recording with my Sony 8mm infrared videotape camcorder. I left it running the whole night. I took
many pictures with a 35mm camera and a Kodak Easy Share Digital camera. I also started recording
audio with my Olympus Digital Voice Recorder. Thermohygrometer readings were taken and written into
our data logs. The entire place was infested with bats. I have many of them recorded on video.
Questions were asked during this period as well.
At 12:45 we departed to the prison cells in the general population area and took pictures, video and
took further readings with my instruments. One of the things I noted after reviewing all the evidence that
I thought was of interest was that the relative humidity level slowly increased throughout the night.
Pictures were taken and questions were asked in this area. Another investigator thought they heard
footsteps at this time, but I don’t believe that would be unusual. No out of the ordinary footsteps were
heard on either my digital voice recorder or on my video tape recorder. Nothing unusual was noted at
this time.
After our first break and after 2:00 AM we proceeded to the Sugar Shack, and eventually to the north
hall and Administrative area. More readings were taken. As soon as we entered the Sugar Shack I
immediately heard a buzzing sound. I went toward the sound and eventually found the source. It was in
the far corner and I believe it was to some motor or something. We checked out the infirmary and the
post office and took pictures. One investigator noted a white mist or glare on a picture taken, but
another investigator was able to rule it out as the camera was too close to the bars and picked up the
flash reflection from the bars. Good job! Video was taken as well during this period of course. We then
proceeded to the maximum-security area. More bats were noticed and recorded on my video. The upper
tiers were blocked off due to safety reasons. Two members of our group, Greg and Clair heard a door
slam. The rest of us did not. When we met with the others, some of the others also said they thought
they heard the sound of a door slam. Upon reviewing my video evidence, I found where one investigator
was checking out a doorway between the jail cells and when the door was shut it made a loud slam. This
was also heard on my digital voice recorder.
We eventually made our way to the psych ward around 3:30 AM. I took more readings at 3:45 AM.
Nothing noteworthy was seen or heard here at this time other than, guess what? More bats! Around 4:
25 AM our group went to “the hole” and solitary confinement. I took more readings. All of these readings
were entered into my logs. This information will be used for quantitative research data collection and will
hopefully eventually yield some fruitful avenues of further investigation and experimentation as well as
possible interpretation of what may constitute as being paranormal and what may not. Through out the
entire night I had no electromagnetic field fluctuations until I was in the “hole”. It startled me at first, but
being persistent I eventually found the cause of these fluctuations. They turned out to be some wiring
that was above my head. This explained why I had these fluctuations. Two other things to note at this
time that was at 4:35 AM and that was I heard some whispering (we have to be careful that these are not
picked up by our digital voice recorders and interpreted as evps). At 4:38 AM I heard the sound or noise
of something being dropped, but really could have been anything.
At the last break it was decided by vote that two groups of the twenty investigators would go to the area
they deemed most likely to have paranormal activity. I went with the group of investigators who opted to
go to the psych ward at 4:45 AM. I took further readings and did an EMF sweep of the area. Nothing was
noted. An EVP session was done during this time and again I noted someone whispering. Soon
thereafter an investigator noticed an incandescent bulb that had power, but was obviously struggling to
light (probably needed replaced). The lead investigator was told or was led to believe that there was no
power on in this area, but after talking to one of the people staying there, we found out that there was
power on in that area, at least after 5:00 AM or so.
Two of the biggest things of interest to me after reviewing all of my evidence was that out of all the
pictures I took, only one, the last one, in the psych ward, had a mist in the picture. This was with my
digital camera. However, I believe, like the bars earlier, the camera was near a counter and was picking
up a reflection from the counter to cause this mist. The creepiest thing I found and which I believe to be
an optical illusion was when we were in the Sugar Shack. I set up my infrared video camera on top of a
table or barrel so that it was stationary. It just so happened that where it was set up at, there appears to
be a huge skull staring at the camera. When someone’s lights got in front of video camera lens, it would
cause the camera to refocus itself. This refocusing made this “skull” at times look very clear, but mostly
it was blurry. I attribute this to the circumstances. There is a good 30 minutes of this “skull” on video, be
that as it may. It was a great ghost hunt and investigation. It was well organized and I would especially
like to thank Brian Klein for all of his hard work and time putting this all together. Thanks Brian and all of
the rest of the investigators for a great ghost hunt.
May 31 – June 1, 2008
By Mark Stewart
The Paranormal Scientific Investigators were represented by co-founder and Director of Research &
Development Mark Stewart, on an investigation with other representatives from other paranormal groups
that included Southern Ohio Paranormal Research, who headed it up, along with CORRUPT, and
Southern New England Paranormal among others on Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1, 2008.
After investigating claims of paranormal activity in 2006, it was determined by the Southern Ohio
Paranormal Research that a full-scale investigation had to be performed in order to provide answers to
previously documented activity. In 2007 a team of fifteen investigators were dispatched to the West
Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia. This team was comprised of paranormal
investigators and members of the public who then set out to provide further documentation of the events
witnessed during the 2006 visit.
Approval was gained to send in a team for 2008 allowing for the paranormal investigators to further
document the phenomena reported to have taken place inside the walls of this gothic-style prison.
Some of the reported phenomena included shadow figures, electronic voice phenomena as well as other
audio phenomena, and electromagnetic field fluctuations.
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the validity of the reported phenomena using our
scientific instrumentation that included the use of digital and 35mm cameras, a 8mm infrared video
camera, a Cell sensor electromagnetic field detector, two digital voice recorders (Olympus &
Radioshack), a surface thermometer, a digital thermometer with a compass (Radioshack), a surface
thermometer, and an ambient thermohygrometer, as well as other devices.
Upon early arrival to the hotel we were to stay at, I found several investigators already there, and so
introduced ourselves to one another. As others arrived we greeted one another. When everyone
arrived, packets were handed out with further information, maps, our itinerary and a number determining
what group of five would be investigating together. The facility was divided into four quadrants and a
schedule set up so that each team would spend an equal amount of time in each area over a six our
period (12:00 AM to 6:00 AM). The areas to be investigated in the last two hours were to be voted on by
the group. Also handed out was a very cool orange prisoner t-shirt for everyone (so they could see we
were all a part of this team effort), a first aid kit, and for those who drove, a $25.00 gas voucher!
We were all to meet at the Prison just before 2:00 PM Saturday afternoon for a day tour of the facility,
which we did. Much of the history of this prison can be found at www.wvpentours.com . The West Virginia
Penitentiary is an imposing stone structure fashioned in the castellated Gothic architectural style
adorned with turrets and battlements, like a castle. Seven of the ten acres procured were enclosed. The
prison yard would be 682.5’ L x 352.5 W, enclosed by a stone wall 5’ in thickness at the bottom, 2.5’ at
the top, with the foundation 5’ below the surface, and the wall 25’’ thick. At each of the corners of this
wall would be large turrets for the use of the guards having inside staircases, with guardrooms above
and on a level with the top of the main. The superintendent’s house and cell buildings would be so
placed, that the rear wall of each will form part of the west wall.
Later a massive expansion to double the size of the penitentiary began and was completed in 1959. The
construction eased the overcrowding that had caused the need for triple bunking in the prison’s 5 x 7
foot cells.
The last execution by hanging in the state of West Virginia took place in 1949. In 1951 the state began
using an electric chair. Until the stat abolished the death penalty in 1959, nine men had been sent to
their death by electrocution. The original electric chair is now on display in the facility and is part of the
tour that we saw while at the prison.
The final years of the West Virginia Penitentiary were marked by many disturbances including escapes
and riots.
The “Sugar Shack” is arguably one of the most haunted areas of the penitentiary to some people. This
area was originally used as an indoor recreation space for the prisoners. Drug use, prisoner rape and
even murder have been reported. While no deaths can be confirmed the fact remains this area was
scene to some horrific acts by the prisoners, earning its name. This area is definitely a do not miss
section of the prison as it seems to yield paranormal activity of some degree to almost everyone who
visits, so they say.
After the tour we went back to our hotel rooms, and got something to eat. I shared a room with Mary
Myers and so got to know him better. We talked about many things, but mostly the paranormal. The time
frame from when we took the tour and when we were to head out to the prison, gave me time to fill out
the appropriate paperwork and get myself organized. At the time I took the atmospheric conditions, the
barometric reading was at 29.81 and holding steady, the temperature was at 74 degrees Fahrenheit,
the winds were from out of the southwest at 10 miles per hour, solar rays were normal, the geomagnetic
field was quiet, the moon phase was waning crescent (23% full), the dew point was comfortable but
becoming very humid at 58% and rising, and the ultraviolet index was at 7 (high visibility – 10 miles).
There had been a tornado watch out that afternoon for Mobile, Monroe, Belmont, Greene, Wetzel, Tyler,
and Marshall counties, but it was canceled later around 6:00 pm or so. All the weather conditions were
noted and logged into the appropriate forms.
All of us met at the prison. Everyone seemed excited as the time drew near to enter the building and
begin the investigation. This report will of course be from my perspective. I was paired off with Mike
Steward, Chris V., Greg F., all I believe with Southern Ohio Paranormal Research, and Clair, a co-
founder of CORUPT. Our investigation began at midnight and was to end at 6:00 AM. Once inside
everyone paired off and the first area our group began investigating was the gymnasium. I immediately
began recording with my Sony 8mm infrared videotape camcorder. I left it running the whole night. I took
many pictures with a 35mm camera and a Kodak Easy Share Digital camera. I also started recording
audio with my Olympus Digital Voice Recorder. Thermohygrometer readings were taken and written into
our data logs. The entire place was infested with bats. I have many of them recorded on video.
Questions were asked during this period as well.
At 12:45 we departed to the prison cells in the general population area and took pictures, video and
took further readings with my instruments. One of the things I noted after reviewing all the evidence that
I thought was of interest was that the relative humidity level slowly increased throughout the night.
Pictures were taken and questions were asked in this area. Another investigator thought they heard
footsteps at this time, but I don’t believe that would be unusual. No out of the ordinary footsteps were
heard on either my digital voice recorder or on my video tape recorder. Nothing unusual was noted at
this time.
After our first break and after 2:00 AM we proceeded to the Sugar Shack, and eventually to the north
hall and Administrative area. More readings were taken. As soon as we entered the Sugar Shack I
immediately heard a buzzing sound. I went toward the sound and eventually found the source. It was in
the far corner and I believe it was to some motor or something. We checked out the infirmary and the
post office and took pictures. One investigator noted a white mist or glare on a picture taken, but
another investigator was able to rule it out as the camera was too close to the bars and picked up the
flash reflection from the bars. Good job! Video was taken as well during this period of course. We then
proceeded to the maximum-security area. More bats were noticed and recorded on my video. The upper
tiers were blocked off due to safety reasons. Two members of our group, Greg and Clair heard a door
slam. The rest of us did not. When we met with the others, some of the others also said they thought
they heard the sound of a door slam. Upon reviewing my video evidence, I found where one investigator
was checking out a doorway between the jail cells and when the door was shut it made a loud slam. This
was also heard on my digital voice recorder.
We eventually made our way to the psych ward around 3:30 AM. I took more readings at 3:45 AM.
Nothing noteworthy was seen or heard here at this time other than, guess what? More bats! Around 4:
25 AM our group went to “the hole” and solitary confinement. I took more readings. All of these readings
were entered into my logs. This information will be used for quantitative research data collection and will
hopefully eventually yield some fruitful avenues of further investigation and experimentation as well as
possible interpretation of what may constitute as being paranormal and what may not. Through out the
entire night I had no electromagnetic field fluctuations until I was in the “hole”. It startled me at first, but
being persistent I eventually found the cause of these fluctuations. They turned out to be some wiring
that was above my head. This explained why I had these fluctuations. Two other things to note at this
time that was at 4:35 AM and that was I heard some whispering (we have to be careful that these are not
picked up by our digital voice recorders and interpreted as evps). At 4:38 AM I heard the sound or noise
of something being dropped, but really could have been anything.
At the last break it was decided by vote that two groups of the twenty investigators would go to the area
they deemed most likely to have paranormal activity. I went with the group of investigators who opted to
go to the psych ward at 4:45 AM. I took further readings and did an EMF sweep of the area. Nothing was
noted. An EVP session was done during this time and again I noted someone whispering. Soon
thereafter an investigator noticed an incandescent bulb that had power, but was obviously struggling to
light (probably needed replaced). The lead investigator was told or was led to believe that there was no
power on in this area, but after talking to one of the people staying there, we found out that there was
power on in that area, at least after 5:00 AM or so.
Two of the biggest things of interest to me after reviewing all of my evidence was that out of all the
pictures I took, only one, the last one, in the psych ward, had a mist in the picture. This was with my
digital camera. However, I believe, like the bars earlier, the camera was near a counter and was picking
up a reflection from the counter to cause this mist. The creepiest thing I found and which I believe to be
an optical illusion was when we were in the Sugar Shack. I set up my infrared video camera on top of a
table or barrel so that it was stationary. It just so happened that where it was set up at, there appears to
be a huge skull staring at the camera. When someone’s lights got in front of video camera lens, it would
cause the camera to refocus itself. This refocusing made this “skull” at times look very clear, but mostly
it was blurry. I attribute this to the circumstances. There is a good 30 minutes of this “skull” on video, be
that as it may. It was a great ghost hunt and investigation. It was well organized and I would especially
like to thank Brian Klein for all of his hard work and time putting this all together. Thanks Brian and all of
the rest of the investigators for a great ghost hunt.
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