OHIO’S HAUNTED CRIMES – AN EXPLORATION OF TEN HAUNTED CRIME SCENES

Ohio’s Haunted Crimes – An Exploration of Ten Haunted Crime Scenes, Kat Klockow, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd, Atglen, PA, 2016, 160pp, $19.99.

Halloween is coming, and the curious will flock to allegedly haunted sites for a good scare.

        If you’re in or near Ohio, you might want to read Kat’s book and then visit the haunted sites. Take along a camera and recorder, and let us know what you experience!

        A lot of authors do great research and write about supposedly haunted locales. Kat actually visited each of the sites in her book, so we’re getting history as well as first-person accounts. She has seen shadow people, heard ghosts and felt the presence of spirits. She includes many color photos taken during visits to the sites; I was creeped out by the one with a strange pinkish glow and what could be an orb.

        Knowing its history can explain a lot about a site’s haunting. Ryan’s Tavern in Hamilton once housed several different businesses, and patrons and workers report many strange experiences. One couple left the bar after their basket of French fries hopped across the bar! 

        Ohio’s Haunted Crimes focuses on spirits left behind after crimes. Some of the ghosts have been hanging around for over a century. When explaining why many ghost tales researched and written about occurred in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, Kat explains, “This seems to be a comfortable zone for the community to start sharing tales of witnessing the victim’s ghost rising out of the darkness to haunt the curiosity seekers…” And the community is surely sharing!

        The most recent crime occurred in 1976. It’s a cold case from Hamilton County, and Kat includes it because of the urban legends surrounding it. If you can offer assistance in solving the crime, law enforcement would appreciate it.

        Kat begins the book with a glossary of terms for those unfamiliar with ghost hunting. She uses these terms throughout the book, so refer back if you need to. The terms include EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena), EMF (or Electromagnetic Field) Detector, Residual Haunt and Intelligent Haunt.

        Ghosts are fun to read about, but how did these spirits become earthbound? Why do they continue hanging around? Kat tells their story and fills in historic background that can help explain why the ghost is still here.

        Is the Lady in Black Imogene Remus, who was shot by her bootlegger husband at the Mirror Lake Gazebo in Eden Park? Is the ghost at Rider’s Inn the former hostess Suzanne? Is she still making guests comfortable; even opening locked doors to admit late-arriving couples?

        Jails, prisons and asylums always have their share of ghosts, and Kat includes more than a few. Old Licking County Jail opened in 1889, and since then many people have died within its walls. The photos are creepy enough—do you dare visit? Kat recounts the tales of infamous prisoners. Did any of them stick around after they died? Ghost Adventures featured the jail on a TV episode.

        You might recognize Ohio State Reformatory (OSR), which has been visited (and televised) by Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures. It was also featured in the movies Shawshank Redemption, Air Force One, and Tango and Cash. Godsmack used the site in its “Awake” music video, and rapper Lil Wayne painted a cell gold for his video “Go DJ”.

        OSR has ghost tours. Kat has been on her share and includes her experiences in the book.

        The locations of each site are included, so you can go on your own “Ghost Pilgrimage”.

        I picked up Ohio’s Haunted Crimes, intending to read a few chapters before bed. I ended up staying up all night to finish it. Or maybe I was just too scared to go to bed after reading about all the ghosts!

- Brent Davis