Several historic prisons and jails across the United States are reported to be haunted locations, including Alcatraz Penitentiary, Eastern State Penitentiary, Charleston's Old City Jail, and St. John's County Jail. At these locations, visitors and staff have experienced unexplained noises, apparitions, cold spots, and feelings of unease, which have been attributed to former inmates and staff who experienced trauma during the sites' operation as prisons. Haunted areas and active spirits often correspond to locations where violent deaths or suicides occurred. Paranormal investigations at these historic sites continue in attempts to understand and document otherworldly phenomena.

1. PARANORMAL PENITENTIARIES
Oct. 30, 2014
Brandy Stark, PhD

2. Why are there haunted jails?
 Powerful personalities
 Strong emotions
 Life changing events
 Altered lifestyle
 Aspects of
contemplation, change

3. Alcatraz
 http://www.nps.gov/alca/index.htm

4. Alcatraz
 History: Started in the 1850s – 1868: military prison
 Early prisoners put to work building the prison
 Used by army until 1933
 1933 – 1963: Federal prison
 Designed to get rebellious prisoners in line by creating
structured regimen until time was up. Prisoners allowed
four things: food, clothes, shelter, health care. Anything
else had to be earned.
 Best known prisoners included Al Capone, Arthur “Doc”
Barker, Alvin Karpis, George “Machine-Gun” Kelly
 1972: National Recreation Area
 1986: National Historic Landmark
 Does include haunted tours by ferry

5. Alcatraz Haunted Areas
:
 The Utility Corridor: Three inmates (Cox, Cretter
and Hubbard) were shot in an attempted escape.
This area holds unexplained clanging sounds
reported by night security.
 Cell 14D: One of the cells used in extreme
solitary confinement. Reports of unusual activity
possibly relating to the story of Rufe McCain who
went insane while in the cell. One night, the
prisoner claimed that a dark creature with
glowing red eyes was in the cell with him. The
next day he was found strangled to death. After
his body was discovered, his ghost was seen in
the prison morning line up and vanished seconds
after the shocked guards identified him. Reports
include sensations of unusual cold and intense
emotions felt in the area. Some say that they still
see glowing red eyes peering out from the cell.
 Laundry room: The site of a murder -- former
mob hit man, Abie “The Butcher” Maldowitz, was
killed by a fellow prisoner here. Reports of
moaning and weeping come from the area.
(Sylvia Brown allegedly identified his spirit here).
 Robert “Birdman” Stroud (aka, The Birdman of
Alcatraz) is said to be seen and felt around the
prison, still calling to his birds.
http://kathrynvercillo.hubpages.com/hub/5-Famous-Prisoners-Who-Haunt-Alcatraz

6. Alcatraz
 Al Capone: Spent most of his last years
with a case of untreated syphilis. During his
time there he started to work with the
prison band playing the banjo, which he
also played with permission in the shower
room during his recreational time. In recent
years, a park ranger, employees, and
visitors report hearing banjo music coming
from the shower room and the prison walls.
 NOTE: Al Capone stayed in several Florida
hotels, including the Vinoy and the Biltmore
(Coral Gables). He had an estate in
Pinecrest, Florida. He allegedly haunts
areas in Tarpon Springs and Downtown St.
Petersburg. The SPIRITS investigated one
of his alleged former properties.

7. Alcatraz: Word of Mouth
 Warden Johnston: "The
Golden Rule Warden," was
showing a group through the
prison when they heard
sobbing from the prison walls
accompanied by an
unexplained cold wind.
 British couple claim to capture
an image of a woman’s spirit in
waiting area (June 2014)
 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2660086/Ghostly-figure-appears-
Alcatraz-Tourists-spooked-photograph-young-woman-waiting-notorious-prison-visitation-
block.html

8. Eastern State Penitentiary
(ESP)
http://www.easternstate.org/
"It's a lot harder to find a believer than it is to find a
skeptic here. We at Eastern State do not claim that
the prison is haunted. We run a haunted attraction”
-- Ben Bookman, tour guide, via NPR
One of top 10 Haunts in Time Magazine, October
2008.
http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1855221_1855285_185527
2,00.html

9. Eastern State Penitentiary
 Operated from 1829 to 1971. in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.
 Initially designed to hold 253 prisoners in solitary
confinement, a measure meant to help criminals find
penance, remorse and salvation; once most expensive
public structure; wagon wheel design unique; became a
model for 300 prisons worldwide
 Emphasized principles of reform over punishment;
separated most violent prisoners for solitary
confinement rather than have a unified area where
criminals of various levels were in contact with one
another. (Radical new idea and opposite the Auburn
model).
 Initially, ESP featured cells with vaulted ceilings and
skylights to let in “God’s Light”; cells were equipped
with a toilet, running water, heat and a Bible. Prisoners
were completely isolated. When they could work with
others they were forced to wear heavy masks to keep up
the isolation. (Eventually reversed; punishments
initiated)

10. Eastern State Penitentiary
 1920s – 1930s: Warden Herbert
"Hardboiled" Smith; incredibly
strict reformer. Held prisoners
such as bank robber Willie
Sutton and Al Capone
 1940s: Reports of visions and
eerie sensations from officers
and inmates
 1970s – 1980s: 1970, ended use
as jail, abandoned in 1971; wild
plants grew in it
 1994: Reopened as a historical
museum and park

11. Eastern State Penitentiary
 Cellblock 4: Sightings of ghostly faces. One staff member
reported opening the lock of Cellblock 4 when he felt something
grip him tightly. He couldn’t move and felt a terrible energy all
around him, and then saw the faces of former prisoners.
 Cellblock 6: Shadow figures are seen along the walls
 Cellblock 12: Visitors report hearing voices and mad laughter
 Towers: A mysterious guard is still present

12. Eastern State Penitentiary:
Word of Mouth
 Al Capone served 8 months
there for carrying a concealed,
deadly weapon. His cell was the
nicest there, with extra comforts
(desk, lamp, paintings, cabinet
radio) he complained that he was
haunted by the ghost of James
Clark, one of the victims of the
St. Valentine's Day Massacre in
Chicago in which Capone
participated.
 Youtube video

13. Charleston’s Old City Jail
http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/charleston/old.htm

14. Charleston’s Old City Jail
 History:
 Pre-jail: Land was used for a hospital, a poor house, and a
workhouse.
 Jail was built in 1802, closed in 1939 (211 year history).
 Notable prisoners: Lavinia Fisher (first female serial killer)
and her husband John
 Jacque Alexander Tardy, a pirate accused of poisoning
others
 Denmark Vesey, leader of a foiled slave rebellion
 Also used for prisoners of war, Civil War (includes survivors
of the 54th Mass. Infantry; see: Glory)
 Now: Owned by American College of the Building Arts
(only accessible through haunted jail tour)

15. Charleston’s Old City Jail
 Reports: Doors slam closed, heavy objects move and/or
vanish, voices in empty rooms, chains dragging across
floors
 Most popular ghost:
 In the early 1800s, Lavinia and John Fisher owned a hotel
called the Six Mile Wayfarer House, 6 miles north of
Charleston. Two men were assaulted at the hotel and
escaped. The Fishers were arrested, tried, and found
guilty of highway robbery. Stories surfaced that they may
have murdered other wealthy patrons by poisoned tea, or
that they headed a gang of murderous robbers. No one is
really quite sure what happened at the home, but the
two were still sentenced to death. Moments before her
hanging, Lavinia screamed at the crowd ‘If any of you has
a message for the devil, tell me now– for I will be seeing
him in a moment.’
 One TV show reported an EVP with “the devil” in answer
to a question, while other amateur investigators believe
they have captured EVPs, photos, and videos of Lavinia.

16. Charleston’s Old City Jail
 Word of mouth:
 Mary and I were in Charleston a few years ago
& one of the tours we took was the Old City
Jail. We had just started the tour and was in
the courtyard. I held my camera shoulder
height and was ready to start just shooting
pictures and in front of me appeared this huge
big blue orb. I saw this with my eyes & I was
not looking at a picture on the camera. When
we got inside the jail you could feel the energy.
--Evie

17. Old St. John’s County Jail
 http://www.staugustineattractions.net/attractions.php?id=10768782855460

18. Old St. John’s County Jail
 Located in St. Augustine, Florida
 Built by Henry Flagler, Florida
pioneer and business rival to Henry
Plant (University of Tampa) in 1891.
 Served as the jail until 1953
 Opened as a historic museum in 1987
 Designed to house 72 prisoners;
sectioned out to house general
population, maximum security (with
one Death Row cell), and a women’s
section; the two story southern wing
of the Jail consists of an Office for the
Sheriff and living quarters for his
family.
 Poor diet (grits, beans), sanitation
caused issues (bucket for toilet, beds
of Spanish moss, no heat, running
water

19. Old St. John’s County Jail
 Reported phenomena:
 Smells: Stench of sewage and a sickly sweet odor
appear at random (perhaps relating to the poor
sanitation conditions that the prisoners experienced)
 A man has been seen sitting on a chair; another has
shown up in one of the cells; possibly that of a scam
artist nicknamed “Dexter” who died in his sleep at the
jail; a second guess is that of Sherriff Perry who
served as the first sheriff from 1891 to 1919
 Residents in the area report hearing ghostly hounds
baying, believed to be those that belonged to Sherriff
Perry
 People report sensations of being touched, blown on,
hearing footsteps, whistles, and being tripped by an
unseen force

20. And Now…
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you at the Allstate Campus….it may be something
that is out of this world…