I used to live in Pensacola so the TAPS investigation sparked my interest. Sadly, I was once again disappointed by TAPS.

One part of the investigation centered on the story, and I do mean story, of the murdered lighthouse keeper. According to the story, the wife murdered her husband with a knife to the back. The problem with the story is that it is nothing but a story. However; it makes for a great tale to add the legend of the old lighthouse. Interestingly, the only good evidence taken was of an evp that said “no”. Perhaps that was a spectral commentary on the quality of the investigation.

Other than that, we had a few bumps and thumps that you might expect in any building. Of course, the sounds were given greater significance. I knew that the show was in trouble when Dustin began telling us of his St. Augustine Lighthouse investigation. Of course, Dustin didn’t bother to tell us that the light bulb in the motion detector was loosen so the upper floor would not light up while the mysterious shadowy figure peered over the stairs. Now that would have made for an interesting night. Sadly, … what should have been a 30 minute segment was stretched into a full hour.

One the plus side, I didn’t notice Dustin with his hat on backwards and Steve Gonsalves was not there. Had Steve been there all we would have heard was how Steve was afraid of heights. The show was long enough, as it was, without all of that added to the mix. Jason and Grant seemed to sleep-walk through most of the show.-

They paused from their slumberous promenade long enough to entertain us with stupid light tricks. One yes, Grant’s light on his camera would turn on and off by itself. I’m getting a little tired of the magic light trick. If it isn’t a flashlight … its a camera light. Let’s be honest, its nothing more than a switch not set fully to the on or off position.

In short, the best part of the show was the lighthouse itself. Another plus is that no matter how bad the show was … it is not Ghost Hunters Academy.

@gnostalgia: "Of course, Dustin didn’t bother to tell us that the light bulb in the motion detector was loosen so the upper floor would not light up while the mysterious shadowy figure peered over the stairs."

Do you have some evidence of this or is this purely speculation on your part?

As for the murdered lighthouse keeper, or lack thereof. They DID say they could find no evidence of that story being true and DURING the investigation there was mention that people around town thought that the blood may have been from a childbirth.

Notice also when Kris is giving the intro about the case. There appears to be a slight edit (something removed) when she says: "I followed up on that case you brought to us with fruh Blue Angels and it's down in Pensacola…."

Listen between "fruh" (friend?) and "Blue Angels" Something really appears to have been clipped out at that point.

I found it amusing when Grant says he goes to the base of the lighthouse and calls out "hello" a couple of times and gets no answer.
He dosen't think to use his radio to check where other cast members might be and knows that crew members will never answer him.
So who was he calling to ? Did he suspect that some outsider could have snuck in and would respond to his hello ?

Yes, it was amusing but, as a self-proclaimed musician on the side, I think he was checking out the acoustics. It's either that or he likes the sound of his own voice. Either way, he's not too worried about other cast members is he? A problem we all know which has reared its ugly head in a number of past episodes. Honestly don't think he was really interested in getting a response but the odds of him getting a paranormal response…. priceless.

I do that sometimes in situations like that, interesting to hear how the sound reverberates. Hard to resist actually LOL

The second time the light on Grant's camara turned off, my first thought was-"Hey, why not set the camara on the mantle (the one right in front of you) then see if it still turns on and off by itself?" Wouldn't that have gone a lot further to "cover all the bases" than jiggling the light? Turning on or off could be the switch not being fully one way or the other (or possibly a loose wire being jiggled when the camara moves). If it was stationary on the mantle and turned it turned on and off by itself without being touched would be fairly compelling, well as much as anything from Grant could be compelling.

Not only that but when they do the flashlight trick, they tell the ghostie "turn the light on, turn the light off and turn yourself about." Why didn't they do that with the camara light. Apparantly the ghostie was interested in it?

The other thing I noticed is at one point J&G were sitting on some stairs (in the basement, I think) and J was fiddling around with his walkie or something. The k2 in his hand was going crazy, but he didn't mention it and didn't seem to think some ghost was trying to talk to them. So what was setting off the meter? (sorry I don't remeber the details of the scene any better than that)

@ hobart –

"Not only that but when they do the flashlight trick, they tell the ghostie "turn the light on, turn the light off and turn yourself about." Why didn't they do that with the camara light. Apparantly the ghostie was interested in it?"

Excellent point !

Until Dustin or one of the other team members steps forward and tells us what was done at the lighthouse, I have to say that the loosen lightbulb theory is just that .. a theory. However; I believe that is how the simple illusion was performed.

As for the murdered lighthouse keeper, I learned within a few days after moving there that the story is not true and I wasn't interested in the paranormal at that time. It would seem to me that TAPS (a professional paranormal group)would have discovered that long before traveling to Pensacola.

@gnostalgia: "Until Dustin or one of the other team members steps forward and tells us what was done at the lighthouse, I have to say that the loosen lightbulb theory is just that .. a theory. However; I believe that is how the simple illusion was performed."

So without any evidence you are condemning this as a fraud?

What was with that women that said she saw a shadow figure that resembled an African American slave…How does one differentiate between a shadow figure and an African American slave…I WOULD HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS FOR HER

@Nosfer: Yes, I believe that it is a fraud, an entertaining fraud but a fraud none the less. As for evidence, I think that there is enough circumstantial evidence out there to lead me to believe that I am correct. Just as I believe that Grant used a string in his collar during last years Halloween event and used a string on other occasions (chair, picture frame, bed covers) and don't get me started on Meat Loaf's water bottle …

To me, the shows are nothing more than entertainment. Some shows do the job and others disappoint.

Thats how I see it, please show me how I'm wrong.

@gnostalgia: "Thats how I see it, please show me how I'm wrong. "

I'm not even going to try, it would be pointless. In fact, you _may_ be right. But you don't know, yourself. The rabid TAPS fans believe because it's on the show, you don't appear to be much different, only you're the opposite extreme, you WON'T even consider it just because it's on the show. You have condemned based on hearsay, not exactly the actions of a skeptic.

The footsteps sounded like a clock ticking to me – it was very soft and rhythmic.

@Nosfer Hearsay? No, my opinion is based on what I have observed not on what someone has told me. Sadly, TAPS has tainted the show with far too many shenanigans. If you can remain totally objective after all of the shenanigans that you must have seen, I have to take my hat off to you. I, for one, can't do it.

I believe it was Jason who once said something like, "if in doubt throw it out" or something along those lines. I've thrown a lot out …

The "lighthouse visitor" knew the shadow figure was a slave because she is International Psychic Medium Ericka Boussarhane "The Oprah of the Paranormal World" http://www.coldcasepsychic.com/

@ Hobart "The k2 in his hand was going crazy, but he didn't mention it and didn't seem to think some ghost was trying to talk to them. So what was setting off the meter?"

As happens so many times with the K-II meter, we will never know. It is curious though that they didn't try to "talk" to it with an unknown blip like that. Yet at other times they do.

Nice catch RealDeal -

One has to wonder now if this woman, who ran in the same paranormal circles as Jason and Grant, was SENT to the Lighthouse in advance.

I had to email to find out how a shadow figure could look like an African American slave and this was her reply

He appeared as a shadow. I could see him because I am clairvoyant. Most importantly I spoke with him and Samuel!

POST EDITED.
REASON: NO COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENTS OR SPAM.

as for the k2 going off when he had the walkie and fiddling with it. The walkies and cellphones ringing or dialing will set a k2 off like crazy. always watch their hands when they do a k2 session. usually someone has their hand in a pocket probably either keying a walkie or having a round of pocket golf