Paranormal investigators spend night in 'hanging jail'
BY SHAWN MARTIN
(Lake Charles) American Press
A few dusty bare bulbs did little to dispel the eerie shadows of the
92-year-old Beauregard Parish jail for a group of paranormal
investigators.

The building, known as the "hanging jail" because two men were executed
there in March 1928, was closed in 1984. The years have not been kind.
The walks are crumbling, the paint is peeling, and the iron bars and
doors are covered with a thick coat of rust.
Despite the less-than-perfect conditions, members of LA Spirits, a group
of paranormal investigators, set up their cameras in the jail, running
hundreds of feet of video and power cables from the basement to the
third floor.
"This is so great to be here," said Brad Duplechien, founder and
director of the group. "We are ready to get to work and see what we can
find."
In October, the group was given permission by the Police Jury to look
for paranormal activity in the old jail.

Shelly Mills, an investigator with the group, said they considered
access to the old jail "an honor." She said her personal experiences
there this month included an electromagnetic field spike and an infrared
camera that "jiggled" and then fell over.
Also, one bedded-down member reported smelling pipe smoke and hearing
footsteps and what sounded like a running shower.
"We cannot post this as evidence," Mills said. "Only personal
experiences."
Originally, the investigation was to last five hours, but the group
opted to spend the night monitoring their surroundings.

To collect evidence, the group uses an assortment of high-tech gear -
infrared cameras, hand-held video cameras, digital cameras, digital
voice recorders, infrared thermometers and electromagnetic field meters.
Members generally take three to four weeks to review their findings and
issue a report. The group and parish officials believe the investigation
will boost publicity for the old jail and increase tourism - especially
if the group reports paranormal activity.
Among the other famous Louisiana landmarks investigated by the group are
Shreveport's Municipal Auditorium, home of the Louisiana Hayride, and
the Oak Alley Plantation, Restaurant & Inn in Vacherie.

Mills said the group's goal is the scientific study of paranormal
activity, including attempts to debunk positive findings.

On March 9, 1928, Joe Genna and Molton Brasseaux were hanged for the
Aug. 28, 1926, robbery and slaying of 45-year-old DeRidder taxi driver
J.J. Brevelle.