Frank McCoy, one of the co-founders of PDAPS (Palo Duro Area Paranormal Society), sat down with the Prairie recently to discuss who they are and how their business is going. The following interview covers McCoy’s craft and the unexplained phenomenon that are brought to the group’s attention.

Prairie: “How long have you been in the business of paranormal activity?”

Frank McCoy: “I have been in this business for five years.”

Prairie: “When was your first experience?”

McCoy: “My first experience was when I was a kid. The house we lived in up in Nebraska had something there that would like to open and close cabinets and doors. You could hear it walking up and down stairs.”

Prairie: “What was your scariest experience?”

McCoy: “Probably … at the Nat Ballroom on Sixth and Georgia. I was standing at the T, walking toward the bookstore, and I am watching down the hallway and just listening and then something ran their hand up my arm. It didn’t take me long to get out of there and get with the rest of the group. And that is one of our rules is that nobody goes by themselves.”

Prairie: “What goes into an investigation?”

McCoy: “The investigation starts with the client calling us with reports of what’s going on in their house, then we do research on the house, the property. You know anything that might have happened there that could contribute to what’s going on.

Then we do base line readings and do our initial interview with the people before we do the investigation. And that’s to get baseline EMF (electromagnetic frequency) readings, any outside noises going on during the investigation. The investigation itself we set up all kinds of equipment like digital recorders, digital cameras, night vision cameras, K2 meters, EMF meters, full spectrum cameras, ovules, and a spirit box.

Prairie: “What made you get into the paranormal business?”

McCoy: “I have always into it. I am the skeptic, scientific one of the group. The scientific part of it trying to prove it is why I really got into. I am the type of person where I have to see it with my own to eyes to believe it. The scientific part of it and

using the equipment is why I got into it.”

Prairie: “What was the most interesting job?”

McCoy: “The most interesting one was a building in downtown Amarillo. That night we had a film crew with us and we had one guy holding the camera and another back behind him hold the laptop because we were streaming live over the internet. We were doing an EDP sessions with a flashlight where you turn the flashlight on and off. We managed to make a complete circle and I guess whatever it was did not like that we had surrounded him because it shoved the guy that was holding the laptop, about six feet back on his butt. Whatever that was did not like him and followed him home and we had to take precautions to make sure he was okay. We had one here about a month ago where we do not know exactly what it was. We called the preacher in and he cleansed the place but it was choking the lady. You could actually see her throat being squeezed on camera.  After an investigation we always try and keep in contact with the client to make sure everything is still okay.”

Prairie: “Do you stay in the area or do you travel to places?”

McCoy: “One of the group members Charles and I have traveled to Iowa and did an investigation. We will travel anywhere. Anybody who needs help, that’s what our group is about. We’re not in it for the fame and fortune. We have been contacted by

the networks but that is not why we are in this business, we’re in it to help people. If people have something in their house and they’re scared to live in their own house we try and make it safe for them to live in their own house. We do fun stuff like a fundraiser for SPCA or the AAYC Amarillo Activity Youth Center.”

Prairie: “How many members are on your team?”

McCoy: “Right now we have seven and we will being interviews for two more members on Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. at 1511 Wolflin Ave, the old Wolflin house.”

Prairie: “Are your members volunteers or are they paid?”

McCoy: “It’s strictly volunteer; we are nonprofit; we do not charge a dime for investigation, you can donate but we do not encourage it. “

Prairie: “What do you like about it?”

McCoy: “The adrenaline rush and debunking the claims, as well as explaining what it really is.”