When the “Ghost Hunters” team set out to investigate the Peoria Asylum, they already knew that hundreds of people had reported seeing the apparition of Manuel Bookbinder in the old cemetery. What they didn’t know was how close they would come to witnessing him themselves.
This week’s episode of “Ghost Hunters”, which aired on January 30, took the team to Bartonville, Illinois to visit the Peoria Asylum, also known as Bartonville State Hospital or Illinois Asylum, which housed the incurably insane from 1902 to 1973.
Peoria Asylum History
At its height the Peoria Asylum held nearly 3000 patients under the care of Dr. Zeller. It is believed that 16,000 people died within the halls of the old Asylum, many as a result of violent acts from both patients and staff members, as well as from suicide and disease.
The new owners of the now closed asylum, Rich Weiss and his daughter Trisha, summoned “Ghost Hunters” because paranormal activity was interfering with renovations to the asylum and spooking the construction workers.
Reported Paranormal Activity
Reported activity included the apparition of Manuel Bookbinder, a former gravedigger at the asylum who is reported to have cried after every burial. In fact, rumor has it that when Manuel Bookbinder died his apparition was seen crying under the elm tree in the cemetery. His ghost was witnessed by over 300 people, which reportedly prompted checking the casket to make sure Manuel Bookbinder was actually dead.
Other stories include the “white lady ghost” who has been captured on film as she gazed out an upper story window. Three separate experts have examined the photo of the white lady ghost and determined that it is authentic.
Construction workers hired by Rich Weiss report hearing footsteps, hearing their name called and being pushed or scratched.
The “Ghost Hunters” team experienced a host of eerie events during the investigation – from phantom footsteps, voices and a doll suddenly falling for no known reason - but all that was caught on audiotape was two male and one female voice, that could not be deciphered, and a few phantom footsteps.
The Capture!
The biggest catch of the night came to them via the full spectrum camera set up in the graveyard. A dark human-like figure strolled across the back of the graveyard in full view of the camera. Attempts to debunk the image and rule out a human source produced perplexing results.
When the crew stepped into the view of the camera, the camera clearly detected movement as evidenced with “boxes” that appear around the area of movement. Although the figure on film clearly moved across the field of vision, the camera did not register movement.
Tune in to “Ghost Hunters” Wednesday nights at 9/8c on SyFy to follow the team as they investigate reportedly haunted locations.
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