Narrator: A MAN COMES ACROSS HIS FATHER'S WAR MEMORABILIA...
GET RID OF IT. I DON'T WANT THAT IN MY HOUSE!
...AND AWAKENS THE SPIRITS OF SOLDIERS
WITH UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
MY FATHER DIDN'T REALLY GET INTO
ANY OF THE BLOOD AND GORE OF WHAT HAPPENED.
Narrator: REVENGE IS IN THE AIR
IN THE ULTIMATE BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL.
[ CHOKING ]
YOU CAN'T BREATHE. YOU CAN'T GET AWAY.
[ SCREAMS ]
YOU JUST -- YOU DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO.
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: IN AMERICA, THERE IS REAL EVIL.
IT LURKS IN THE DARKEST SHADOWS AND IN OUR MOST ORDINARY TOWNS.
BETWEEN THE WORLDS WE SEE...
SOMEONE IS IN MY ROOM.
...AND THE THINGS WE FEAR...
[ SCREAMS ]
...THERE ARE DOORS.
WHEN THEY ARE OPENED...
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: ...NIGHTMARES BECOME REALITY.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
IN 2009, DEBBIE AND DENNIS PONGRATZ
MOVE INTO A HOME IN A SMALL TOWN.
WE JUST WANTED TO RETIRE TO A PLACE THAT WAS QUIET,
SOMEPLACE WHERE WE COULD JUST RELAX.
WE WANTED TO BE IN A PLACE THAT HAD A DIFFERENT FEEL
THAN THE BIG CITY IN OUR RETIREMENT YEARS,
EASYGOING, YOU KNOW, ATMOSPHERE.
Debbie: THE HOUSE LOOKED SMALL FROM THE OUTSIDE.
BUT WHEN YOU GOT INSIDE, IT LOOKED A LOT BIGGER.
HEY, DENNIS?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?
I'M TRYING TO GET THESE, UH, THESE SUPPLIES
BACK ONTO THE CRAFT TABLE IN THE HOUSE.
UM, HERE. -OH, OKAY.
THE HOUSE HAD SO MUCH ROOM.
SO DENNIS COULD HAVE HIS OWN SPACE,
AND I COULD HAVE MY OWN CRAFT ROOM
FOR WOODWORKING AND SEWING.
I LOVE REPURPOSING.
I DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.
-ALL RIGHT. -WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT YOU?
I'M SURE YOU'D FIND SOMEBODY TO HELP YOU CARRY THESE BOXES IN.
GOT IT? -YEAH.
[ CLATTERING ]
WHAT WAS THAT?
Narrator: THE SPILLED CONTENTS OF THE BOX
ONCE BELONGED TO DENNIS' DECEASED FATHER, JOHN,
WHO SERVED AS AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
DURING WORLD WAR II.
**
DENNIS HASN'T SEEN THE OLD MEMENTOS IN MANY YEARS.
DID YOU KNOW WE HAD ALL THIS STUFF?
HONESTLY, I FORGOT ALL ABOUT IT.
WHEN MOM DIED, THEY GAVE ME ALL THESE BOXES,
AND I JUST PUT THEM IN THE GARAGE.
I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO --
DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO DEAL WITH IT.
BUT NOW...
Dennis: I DIDN'T TAKE A VERY GOOD LOOK
AT THE THINGS THAT WERE IN THE BOX UNTIL,
YOU KNOW, WE MOVED DOWN TO CORNING.
AND I FOUND SEVERAL OF HIS MEDALS.
THERE WERE CAMPAIGN RIBBONS FOR BATTLES IN WESTERN EUROPE.
ALSO, HE HAD SOME THINGS
THAT HE BROUGHT BACK FROM THE WAR.
WHEN HE WENT THROUGH THE BOX,
IT'S LIKE IT JUST BROUGHT IT ALL ALIVE.
HE REMEMBERED EACH THING HE PICKED UP,
OF HIS DAD SPEAKING ABOUT THAT.
AND IT JUST KIND OF BROUGHT ALL OF IT BACK TO HIM.
LOOK AT ALL THESE MEDALS.
YOU NEVER TOLD ME YOUR DAD WAS SUCH A DECORATED SOLDIER.
HE'D TELL ME STORIES WHEN I WAS A KID.
I'D TRY TO ASK HIM FOR DETAILS
BUT HE WOULD -- HE WOULD JUST CLAM UP.
DIFFERENT TIMES, I GUESS.
MY FATHER, HE DIDN'T REALLY GET INTO ANY OF THE HARDSHIPS
OR THE BLOOD AND GORE
OF WHAT HAPPENED AROUND HIM IN THE WAR.
**
DENNIS, WHY DO YOU HAVE THAT?
Narrator: THE SIGHT OF THE SWASTIKA MAKES DEBBIE UNEASY.
IT'S AWFUL. WHY WOULD YOUR DAD EVEN KEEP SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
IT'S JUST WHAT THEY DID BACK THEN.
IT'S LIKE -- LIKE A TROPHY, OR SOMETHING.
Dennis: MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT HE ACQUIRED THE ARMBAND
OFF OF A DEAD NAZI SOLDIER,
WHICH I GUESS THAT HAPPENED QUITE A BIT DURING THE WAR.
GET RID OF IT.
I -- I DON'T WANT THAT IN MY HOUSE!
DEBBIE, THESE ARE OLD. THEY'RE ANTIQUES.
THEY'RE PROBABLY WORTH SOMETHING.
I DON'T CARE.
I'M SERIOUS. IT CREEPS ME OUT.
Narrator: BURIED AMONG THE REMINDERS OF LOSS AND VALOR,
DENNIS FINDS A TOUCHING SURPRISE.
Dennis: I FOUND A DECORATIVE BOX,
AND IT HAD LETTERS IN IT THAT MY FATHER HAD SENT
TO MY MOTHER WHEN HE WAS STATIONED IN ICELAND.
THIS WAS BEFORE THEY WERE MARRIED.
MOST OF IT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW,
"HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU,"
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I'VE BEEN GONE FOR SIX MONTHS!
YES, YOU WERE GONE FOR SIX MONTHS!
IF I WANT TO GO OUT AND HAVE A DRINK, THEN I CAN!
Narrator: FOR DENNIS, THE LETTERS ARE A SHARP CONTRAST
TO HIS CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.
Dennis: WHEN I WAS GROWING UP,
MY PARENTS HAD A ROCKY RELATIONSHIP.
IT WAS PRETTY VOLATILE.
MY FATHER, HE HAD A TEMPER.
I REALLY THINK THAT HE SUFFERED FROM PTSD.
IT DOESN'T GIVE YOU A RIGHT TO SHIRK YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES HERE.
HE WENT THROUGH HELL OVER THERE.
BUT IF I WANT TO LEAVE, THEN I CAN LEAVE!
I WAS REALLY SURPRISED ABOUT THE LETTERS
THAT HE HAD SENT TO MY MOM WHEN HE WAS IN THE SERVICE.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME, YOU COULD SEE THAT
THEY BOTH REALLY LOVED EACH OTHER.
**
Narrator: AFTER REDISCOVERING A BOX OF WORLD WAR II RELICS,
DENNIS PONGRATZ HAS RENEWED APPRECIATION
FOR HIS FATHER'S MILITARY SERVICE.
Dennis: LOOKING AT MY FATHER'S ARMY MEMORABILIA,
I REALLY DID HAVE MORE OF A SENSE OF
PRIDE FOR MY FATHER AND WHAT HE DID.
HE WAS KIND OF A HERO, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT
UNTIL I BECAME A CERTAIN AGE TO, I GUESS, APPRECIATE THAT.
**
DEBBIE?
YEAH?
HAVE YOU SEEN THAT ARMBAND?
THE ONE WITH THE SWASTIKA ON IT?
NO. I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO PUT THAT AWAY.
WELL, I WAS GOING TO, BUT I HADN'T GOTTEN TO IT YET.
AND NOW I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND IT.
WELL, IT'S -- IT'S JUST AS WELL.
I REALLY DIDN'T WANT THAT IN THE HOUSE ANYWAY.
AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW,
I DISCOVERED THAT THE NAZI ARMBAND WAS MISSING.
AND I CHECKED THROUGH EVERY BOX IN THERE,
AND EVEN IN THE CLOSET WHERE THEY WERE
IN CASE IT FELL OUT.
AND IT'S A MYSTERY.
WE COULD NOT FIND THE ARMBAND.
IT WAS JUST GONE.
WELL, IT'S GOT TO BE AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE.
HONEY, DON'T WORRY. I'M SURE IT'S GONNA SHOW UP,
ALL RIGHT? DON'T WORRY.
I GOT TO GO GET READY.
OKAY.
I WENT IN THE BATHROOM TO TAKE A SHOWER.
**
[ CRACKLING ]
DENNIS, IS -- DENNIS, IS THAT YOU?
[ CRACKLING ]
THERE WAS A CROSS ON MY BATHROOM MIRROR,
AND IT LOOKED LIKE FROST.
I'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
IT WAS JUST VERY STRANGE.
MY IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS TO GET THE CAMERA
BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GOT THAT SHOT OF THAT CROSS.
HEY, DENNIS, COME HERE! DENNIS!
DEBBIE, YEAH? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT?
LOOK, LOOK!
IS THAT A CROSS?
HOW'D THAT GET THERE? -I -- I DON'T KNOW.
I WAS JUST GETTING OUT OF THE -- OUT OF THE SHOWER,
AND IT WAS RIGHT THERE, ON THE MIRROR.
Dennis: WHEN I SAW THE CROSS IN THE MIRROR,
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERYDAY.
IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE...
-LIKE WHAT? -IT LOOKS LIKE THE --
THE CROSS THE GERMAN SOLDIERS WORE IN WORLD WAR II.
THE CROSS REMINDED ME OF THE IRON CROSS OF THE NAZI REGIME.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS?
I -- I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S -- -I GOT SOME PICTURES.
-DID YOU GET PICTURES? -YEAH, I DID.
OKAY, GOOD.
IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I EASILY DISMISS
BECAUSE YOU GET A LITTLE UNNERVED.
YOU GOT TO WONDER WHERE IT IS COMING FROM.
Narrator: DESPITE FEELING UNSETTLED, DEBBIE TELLS HERSELF
THAT THE APPEARANCE OF THE CROSS IS A GOOD OMEN...
I'M TRYING TO MAKE MYSELF FEEL BETTER
ABOUT WHAT THAT CROSS MEANT.
I THOUGHT, "YOU COULD THINK IT WAS PROTECTION."
Narrator: ...WHILE DENNIS IS NOT CONVINCED IT MEANS ANYTHING.
I WAS A LITTLE FREAKED OUT ABOUT IT,
BUT NOT TO A POINT WHERE I WAS HYSTERICAL,
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE JUST THOUGHT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, STRANGE OR WEIRD.
WE KIND OF BRUSHED IT OFF AND JUST WENT ON FROM THERE.
Narrator: THAT WEEKEND, DEBBIE GETS AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.
[ VOCALIZING ]
MY GRANDDAUGHTER HAD CALLED AND ASKED ME
IF I COULD WATCH MY GREAT-GRANDSON.
AND I SAID, "SURE, BRING HIM OUT."
YOU DOING OKAY, JEFFREY?
HE LOVES COMING TO GRANDMA'S HOUSE.
HE'LL RUN FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER,
AND HE PLAYS.
HE'S LIKE A NORMAL CHILD.
CAN I HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT?
HOW'S PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SOUND?
YUMMY!
OKAY.
**
[ CREAKING ]
[ COUGHING ]
OUT OF THE BLUE, I STARTED GETTING CIGARETTE SMOKE
JUST LIKE SOMEONE WAS BLOWING IT IN MY FACE.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN A SMOKER.
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO CIGARETTE SMOKE.
I SNEEZE A LOT WHEN I'M AROUND SOMEONE THAT'S SMOKING.
[ COUGHING CONTINUES ]
IT WAS HORRIBLY STRONG.
I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT SMELL WAS COMING FROM.
IT WAS REALLY STRANGE.
[ VOCALIZING ]
TSK, TSK, TSK.
HEY, YOU LOOK LIKE ONE OF MY TOYS!
WANT TO PLAY WITH ME?
HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
THOSE ARE THE GOOD GUYS!
STOP!
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: WHEN JEFFREY COMES TO VISIT HIS GREAT-GRANDMOTHER,
A MYSTERIOUS STRANGER
CHALLENGES HIM TO A GAME OF WAR.
STOP!
[ SCREAMS ]
I WENT TO THE OTHER END OF THE HOUSE,
AND A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER THAT, HE JUST STARTED SCREAMING.
JEFFREY, WHAT'S WRONG?
**
ARE YOU OKAY? WHAT -- WHAT HAPPENED?
MY GRANDDAUGHTER CAME TO PICK HIM UP.
-WHAT'S GOING ON? -I-I-I DON'T KNOW.
HE WAS PLAYING WITH HIS TOYS JUST FINE
WHEN I WENT TO GO MAKE HIM SOME LUNCH, AND --
AND THEN HE JUST STARTED SCREAMING.
HE SAID THAT HE'D SEEN A MAN IN OUR HOUSE.
**
YOU COULDN'T GET HIM TO MOVE.
WHEN YOU TALKED TO HIM, HE WOULDN'T BUDGE.
IT WAS LIKE HE WAS IN A DAZE.
LOOK, I --
I BETTER TAKE HIM HOME.
[ SIGHS ]
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
OUT OF THE BLUE,
I SEEN THIS DARK, SHADOWY FIGURE LOOKING OUT OUR WINDOW.
IT STARTLED ME.
WHAT THE...?
OH, COME ON!
[ CAMERA CLICKS ]
I ONLY SEEN IT FOR A SECOND, AND IT WAS GONE.
[ CAMERA CLICKS ]
[ MUMBLES ]
-WHAT -- WHAT HAPPENED? -OH, I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
WE HAVE TO TALK. -WHAT?
EARLIER TODAY, I WAS WATCHING JEFFREY, AND --
AND -- AND THEN I WENT TO GO MAKE HIM A SANDWICH,
AND -- AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE.
AND THEN HE STARTED SCREAMING. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE --
HE WENT RUNNING OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE.
-WHY? -THE POOR KID WAS TERRIFIED!
Dennis: SHE WAS PRETTY FREAKED OUT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT IT,
JUST NOT KNOWING THE SOURCE OR WHAT IT MEANT.
HE KEPT SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS --
THIS BAD MAN,
OR SOMETHING IN-- INSIDE THE HOUSE.
THE POOR LITTLE BOY... -HONEY...
HE -- HE WAS SO SCARED, HONEY!
CALM DOWN. CALM DOWN, CALM DOWN.
-NO! -TAKE A BREATH.
NO, NO.
SWEETHEART, WHAT?
THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON IN THIS HOUSE.
SWEETIE...
YOU DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO THINK, "OKAY, IT'S PARANORMAL."
BUT YOU REALLY CAN'T DISMISS IT AT THAT POINT.
WHAT?
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
THERE WAS ONE PICTURE OF THE FRONT OF OUR HOUSE
WITH A VERY LARGE MAN'S FACE LOOKING OUT OUR WINDOW.
FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SEE SOMETHING IN A PHOTO
THAT I TOOK, THAT WAS PROOF TO ME THAT WE WEREN'T CRAZY,
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE.
Dennis: I DEFINITELY SAW A SHADOWY FIGURE,
AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE,
I MEAN, THAT WAS SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
THAN KNOCKS OR BANGS OR SHADOWS.
'CAUSE NOW, WE'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT'S RIGHT THERE.
DENNIS REACTED THE SAME WAY I DID.
HE WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT COULD BE.
AND WE DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS SOMETHING
WE NEEDED TO BE AFRAID OF.
I KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT ABOUT THIS HOUSE,
AND IT WAS VERY SERIOUS TO HAVE SCARED MY GREAT-GRANDSON
THE WAY IT DID.
**
Narrator: BUT UNBEKNOWNST TO THE COUPLE,
A NEW GHOST HAS ENTERED THE HOME AND IS READY FOR BATTLE.
**
[ BANGING ]
-YOU HEAR THAT? -I DID.
ONE NIGHT, WE HEARD THIS LOUD BANGING.
IT WAS SO LOUD THAT IT, YOU KNOW, WOKE US UP,
LIKE SOMEONE WAS POUNDING THEIR FIST AGAINST THE WALL.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
STAY HERE.
[ CLATTERING ]
**
WHOEVER IS IN THERE, I'VE CALLED THE COPS!
IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE,
BUT THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE IN THE HOUSE.
[ BANGING ]
Narrator: IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT,
AN UNEXPLAINED COMMOTION...
-YOU HEAR THAT? -I DID.
...AWAKENS DENNIS AND DEBBIE PONGRATZ.
**
WHOEVER IS IN THERE, I'VE CALLED THE COPS!
WE JUST STARTED HEARING, LIKE, BANGING NOISES,
KIND OF LIKE IF SOMEBODY WAS
POUNDING ON A WALL WITH THEIR FISTS.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
**
Narrator: ALTHOUGH DENNIS DOES NOT SEE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
OF THE INTENSE STRUGGLE, HE CAN FEEL ITS AFTERMATH.
Dennis: WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED UP TO THAT POINT,
THE ONLY CONCLUSION THAT I COULD COME TO
WAS PARANORMAL ACTIVITY IN THE HOUSE.
-DENNIS, IS EVERYTHING OKAY? -I DON'T KNOW.
-ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? -I DON'T KNOW. I --
I JUST HEARD THIS BANGING, AND IT WAS LIKE --
IT WAS LIKE IT WAS RIGHT NEXT TO MY HEAD.
IT'S...
SWEETHEART, THIS --
THIS IS JUST CRAZY.
Debbie: YOUR MIND GOES IN ALL DIRECTIONS.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.
YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU SHOULD TRY TO GET HELP.
YOU'RE AFRAID OF WHO TO EVEN ASK.
Dennis: IT WAS A CONCERN AT THAT POINT THAT --
HOW FAR IS IT GONNA GO?
WE JUST HOPED THAT THE ACTIVITY
DIDN'T BECOME DANGEROUS OR DESTRUCTIVE,
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
**
WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP AS CALM AS WE POSSIBLY CAN,
YOU KNOW, WHEN ALL OF THIS IS GOING ON BECAUSE
WHEN YOU'RE LIVING WITH THIS MUCH CONFUSION IN YOUR HOUSE,
YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.
Narrator: BUT EVEN IN THE LIGHT OF DAY,
DEBBIE CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL ON EDGE.
Debbie: IN YOUR OWN HOME, A PLACE WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SERENE,
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO FEEL COMFORTABLE THERE
BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR SPACE.
AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR SPACE IS BEING INVADED
BY SOMETHING YOU CAN'T SEE.
AND YOU WONDER
IF YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM THAT.
**
[ HISSES ]
AH!
ALL OF A SUDDEN, I FELT MY HAIR BEING PULLED.
IT FELT LIKE SOMEBODY WAS STANDING BEHIND ME.
THE ONLY THING THAT CAME INTO MY MIND WAS,
"JUST RUN THE OTHER WAY."
NO! [ CRYING ]
COME ON!
I HAVE A CLAUSTROPHOBIA ISSUE,
SO I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AN EXIT.
COME ON!
COME ON! [ GRUNTS ]
[ ROAR, DOORKNOB RATTLES ]
NO! NO!
THE DOOR HANDLE WAS JUST
VIOLENTLY SHAKING BACK AND FORTH,
LIKE SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO GET IN.
NO, NO!
I DIDN'T WANT TO GET ANY CLOSER TO THAT DOOR,
NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
NO!
OH, NO!
NO!
[ COUGHING ]
NO!
STOP!
DENNIS!
DENNIS, DENNIS!
DENNIS!
[ Muffled ] DENNIS, DENNIS!
DENNIS! DENNIS! DENNIS!
NO!
DENNIS, NO!
[ CHOKING ]
JUST WHATEVER IT WAS, WAS ENGULFING ME.
LIKE, IT WAS JUST SUCKING THE AIR OUT OF ME.
YOU CAN'T BREATHE. YOU CAN'T GET AWAY.
YOU JUST -- YOU DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO.
IT JUST FEELS LIKE EVERYTHING'S CLOSING IN.
[ SCREAMS ]
OH, NO!
Narrator: FOR MONTHS, DEBBIE PONGRATZ
HAS LIVED WITH PARANORMAL ACTIVITY IN HER HOME.
ONE DAY, EVENTS ESCALATE OUT OF CONTROL.
[ CHOKING ]
[ SCREAMING ]
DEBBIE!
[ Muffled ] DEBBIE, THE DOOR'S LOCKED!
[ COUGHING ]
DEBBIE, OH, MY GOD! ARE YOU OKAY?
WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT'S WRONG?
ARE YOU OKAY?
OH, MY LORD!
IT'S FRIGHTENING BECAUSE YOU JUST DIDN'T FEEL SAFE.
YOU JUST FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS EVERYWHERE,
JUST ALL AROUND YOU.
AND YOU WONDER
IF YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM THAT.
IT WAS CHOKING ME! I -- I --
I -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WANTED TO DO,
BUT IT WAS TRYING TO KILL ME!
WHAT? WHAT?
SOMETHING WAS, YOU KNOW, SUFFOCATING HER.
I WAS CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY.
HOW FAR IS IT GONNA GO?
OH, MY GOD. -WHAT ARE --
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? -I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE'LL FIGURE THIS OUT.
WE JUST THOUGHT, "WHO'S GONNA BE NEXT?"
WE HAD TO GET SOMEBODY IN THERE TO HELP US WITH THIS.
Narrator: DEBBIE AND DENNIS REACH OUT TO EXPERTS
AT PARAVISIONS PARANORMAL.
THIS IS MY WIFE, DEBBIE.
THE PONGRATZ'S ACTUALLY WERE EXPERIENCING A LOT OF THINGS.
THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON IN THEIR HOME
THAT THEY HAD NO CONTROL OF.
AND I KNEW IN MY HEART THAT I HAD THE TOOLS
AND THE ABILITIES TO HELP THEM OUT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
IT'S OKAY.
WHEN WE ARRIVED, I SAW DEBBIE.
AND SHE JUST BROKE DOWN CRYING,
AND WAS SHAKING SO BAD
THAT SHE REACHED OVER AND HUGGED ME AND SAID,
"LEE, I'M SO GLAD YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE HERE."
CAN I LOOK AROUND?
Debbie: MM-HMM.
WHEN THE TEAM CAME,
IT WAS LIKE A WEIGHT LIFTED OFF OF OUR SHOULDERS.
WE KNEW THAT THEY COULD GET RID OF WHATEVER WAS IN THE HOUSE.
[ INSTRUMENT BEEPS ]
Narrator: JIM WILSON IS THE TECH EXPERT ON THE TEAM.
HEY, LEE. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
Jim: I IMMEDIATELY WAS TRYING TO COLLECT EVIDENCE,
AND THE K-II METER WAS GOING ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.
I LOOKED OVER AT LEE TO BE LIKE, "WE HAVE SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.
LET'S GET IT GOING."
Narrator: DEB LANTZ, A MEDIUM, SENSES A PRESENCE IN THE ROOM.
DEB BRINGS THAT ABILITY
TO SENSE THE SPIRIT A LOT STRONGER.
SHE'S LIKE OUR CENTER EYE.
AND THIS SPIRIT WAS TRYING TO MAKE CONNECTION WITH DEB,
AS HER DEMEANOR STARTED TO CHANGE.
Deb: I FELT EYES ON ME.
AND THE ENERGY WAS VERY OVERWHELMING.
I IMMEDIATELY SAW A MAN IN SPIRIT FORM
IN MILITARY UNIFORM.
THE GENTLEMAN TOLD ME HE WAS DENNIS' FATHER, JOHN.
Narrator: AND HE APPEARS TO HAVE SOMETHING URGENT TO COMMUNICATE.
DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOUR FAMILY?
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TELL US?
WHY ARE YOU HERE?
WHY DON'T YOU GO HAVE A SEAT IN THE OTHER ROOM?
**
Deb: I BEGAN TO CHANNEL JOHN'S ENERGY
SO I COULD ACCURATELY CONVEY THE MESSAGE.
AND HIS MESSAGE WAS A WARNING.
BUT HE WAS COMING FROM A PLACE OF PROTECTING THE FAMILY,
NOT TRYING TO HARM THEM.
I DID NOT ANTICIPATE HIM JUMPING INTO MY PHYSICAL BODY.
IT'S AS IF I'M WATCHING A MOVIE.
DEB?
AND I'M THE STAR OF THE MOVIE,
BUT SOMEONE ELSE IS USING MY BODY.
THIS SPIRIT WAS TRYING TO USE HER
AS A VESSEL TO COMMUNICATE.
THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN HER.
SHE BECAME VERY ANGRY, VERY AGITATED,
VERY STRONG-WILLED.
IT WAS NOT THE DEB THAT WE KNOW.
SHE BECAME A WHOLE DIFFERENT PERSON.
DEB, ARE YOU OKAY?
ARE YOU STILL WITH US?
Deb: WHEN I WAS CHANNELING JOHN,
I FELT IMMENSE EMOTIONS, INTENSE, INTENSE ANGER.
I FELT AMPED UP.
I FELT VERY PROTECTIVE. I FELT ANGRY.
I FELT EVERYTHING ALL COMBINED IN ONE, BIG EMOTION.
Narrator: SUDDENLY, LEE, A PSYCHIC EMPATH HIMSELF,
CAN ALSO SENSE THE SPIRIT OF JOHN.
Lee: I COULD SENSE THE ENERGY CHANGE.
THERE WAS A PRESENCE OF A MALE
THAT WAS TRYING TO GET MY ATTENTION.
AND I SAW A YOUNG SOLDIER IN A WORLD WAR II UNIFORM.
NO!
I'M GONNA KILL YOU, YOU BASTARD!
HE WAS COMING TO ME VERY ANGRY,
SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS,
BEING VERY DEMANDING.
TAKE IT EASY! -GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!
LEAVE MY FAMILY ALONE! -WAIT!
Narrator: FOR MORE "A HAUNTING," VISIT destinationamerica.com.
Narrator: WHILE CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION
IN THE PONGRATZ'S HOME,
THE BODY OF PSYCHIC DEB LANTZ
IS OVERTAKEN BY A SPIRIT.
DEB, ARE YOU OKAY?
ARE YOU STILL WITH US?
NO!
I'M GONNA KILL YOU, YOU BASTARD!
-TAKE IT EASY! -GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!
LEAVE MY FAMILY ALONE! -WAIT!
LEE, ALSO A PSYCHIC EMPATH,
SUDDENLY BECOMES AWARE OF A SECOND SPIRIT IN THE HOUSE.
HE WAS LOOKING STRAIGHT THROUGH ME
AT SOMETHING ELSE BEHIND ME.
AND I REALIZED IT WAS A NAZI SOLDIER,
AND THAT IS WHAT THE OTHER WORLD WAR II SOLDIER
WAS ADDRESSING HIS AGGRESSION TO.
THE ENERGY BETWEEN THESE TWO SPIRITS WAS A HATE.
YOU'VE GOT A WORLD WAR II U.S. ARMY SOLDIER.
YOU'VE GOT A NAZI SOLDIER.
AND THEY WERE TARGETING EACH OTHER.
Narrator: THEN, IN AN INSTANT, THE GHOST OF THE NAZI SOLDIER DISAPPEARS.
THAT DARK ENERGY, I FELT IT SLOWLY JUST,
YOU KNOW, DISINTEGRATE.
AND AS THAT WAS DISINTEGRATING,
I COULD FEEL THAT THE WORLD WAR II SOLDIER'S
ENERGY WAS MORE RELAXED, MORE CALM.
WHEN I WAS DONE CHANNELING JOHN,
WHEN HE LEFT MY PHYSICAL BODY,
EVERYTHING WAS AT PEACE. JOHN WAS AT PEACE.
FOR ME, IT WAS LIKE I WOKE UP FROM A DREAM.
**
WE KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN --
IT'S BEEN CONFUSING FOR BOTH OF YOU.
YEAH.
BUT WE'VE MADE CONTACT WITH --
WITH TWO SPIRITS HERE TODAY WHO HAVE TAKEN UP
RESIDENCE IN YOUR HOME,
ONE OF WHOM WAS SENT HERE TO PROTECT YOU --
A SOLDIER, YOUR FATHER.
Narrator: LEE CONFIRMS THAT HE, TOO,
EXPERIENCED THE SPIRIT OF JOHN PONGRATZ.
I WAS LIKE, "RIGHT HERE. THIS IS THE GUY
THAT'S HERE IN THIS HOME."
THIS IS HIM, YOUR FATHER. IS THAT RIGHT?
LEE HAD POINTED OUT MY FATHER IN THE PICTURE.
AND I WAS REALLY SURPRISED AT THAT.
I MEAN, I DIDN'T THINK
THAT'S MY WILDEST DREAMS, THAT MY FATHER WOULD BE THERE.
YES, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S MY FATHER, JOHN.
HE WAS A GOOD MAN.
BUT I JUST -- I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.
YOUR FATHER'S PRESENCE
WASN'T HERE TO HURT OR SCARE YOU.
THERE'S ANOTHER GHOST IN THE HOUSE,
GHOST OF A NAZI SOLDIER.
IT WAS THAT ENTITY THAT WAS TORMENTING YOU BOTH.
Narrator: LEE EXPLAINS WHY THE SPIRIT OF DENNIS' FATHER HAD RETURNED.
Lee: DURING WORLD WAR II,
JOHN HAD SHOT A NAZI SOLDIER.
AND HE TOOK A COUPLE OF HIS ITEMS,
AND DENNIS PULLED THESE OUT.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT TRIGGERED THAT ENERGY,
THAT DARK, NAZI ENERGY TO COME BACK,
IS HE WANTED HIS THINGS BACK.
JOHN WAS THERE TO PROTECT THE FAMILY.
THIS OTHER GHOST, THE NAZI SOLDIER, WHERE IS HE?
I ASSURED THEM THAT THE NAZI SOLDIER HAS GONE.
HE'S BEEN EXPELLED.
HE'S NEVER COMING BACK.
IT'S OVER.
DENNIS, YOUR FATHER, JOHN, HE SAVED YOU.
WAIT.
IT'S -- IT'S NOT OVER.
I'M SENSING JOHN'S PRESENCE HERE WITH US NOW.
HE'S SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT LETTERS.
JOHN GAVE ME THE MESSAGE THAT HE NEEDED THESE LETTERS FOUND.
HE WANTED TO KNOW WHERE THESE LETTERS WERE.
DENNIS, HE SAYS YOU KNOW.
LETTERS, YES. I --
I KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
I THOUGHT ABOUT THE LETTERS THAT WE HAD IN THIS DECORATIVE BOX,
LETTERS THAT HE HAD SENT TO MY MOM
WHEN HE WAS IN THE SERVICE.
HERE. THERE ARE, UH...
THIS IS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT, THE, UH, THE LETTERS
THAT HE WROTE MY MOTHER DURING WORLD WAR II.
THEY WERE VERY, VERY DEEPLY PERSONAL LETTERS
THAT JOHN HAD WRITTEN TO HIS WIFE.
HE WAS REALLY TIED TO THESE LETTERS,
AND HE TRULY DID LOVE HIS WIFE.
Lee: AS WE STARTED TO OPEN UP THIS BOX OF LETTERS,
I FELT THIS LIGHTNESS IN THE AIR.
JOHN WAS GOING TOWARDS THE LIGHT.
I KNEW THAT THIS WAS THE CLOSURE THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR,
THAT THIS IS WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT,
SO HE COULD ACTUALLY CROSS OVER.
THAT'S WHAT JOHN WANTED,
WAS TO BE BACK WITH HIS WIFE.
I FELT REALLY RELIEVED THAT MY FATHER WAS AT PEACE.
AND I DO BELIEVE
THAT MY FATHER REALLY DID LOVE MY MOTHER,
AND MY MOTHER REALLY DID LOVE MY FATHER.
THEY DID HAVE A ROUGH, ROCKY MARRIAGE,
BUT, YOU KNOW, IN THE END, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HIM
TO BE WITH MY MOTHER.
I FEEL REALLY GOOD THAT THEY WERE,
YOU KNOW, BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.
IT'S GIVEN ME A SENSE OF CLOSURE,
AND I HAVE MORE RESPECT AND LOVE FOR HIM NOW,
YOU KNOW, THAN I DID.
Lee: LOOKING BACK AT THIS CASE,
WHAT STICKS OUT TO ME IS IT STARTED OUT BAD.
IT STARTED OUT AS THIS WORLD WAR II SOLDIER
WAS GOING AFTER THIS NAZI.
AND IT ENDED IN, LIKE, A LOVE STORY.
Narrator: THE COUPLE HAVE SURVIVED
THEIR BRUSH WITH THE SUPERNATURAL.
NOW, MONTHS LATER, THEIR LIVES HAVE FINALLY RETURNED TO NORMAL.
Debbie: THIS EXPERIENCE FOR ME, MYSELF, WAS LIFE-CHANGING.
THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT I HAD HAPPEN TO ME
THAT REALLY FRIGHTENED ME, THINGS I COULDN'T EXPLAIN.
THIS GAVE ME A SENSE OF THERE IS AN EXPLANATION
FOR MOST THINGS THAT HAPPEN.
BUT IT'S ALSO GIVEN ME INSIGHT TO THE OTHER SIDE.
Dennis: I WOULD SAY TO PEOPLE THAT DON'T BELIEVE IN THE PARANORMAL,
THERE'S ANOTHER WORLD THERE AROUND US.
THEY JUST NEED TO OPEN UP A LITTLE BIT TO POSSIBILITIES.
Narrator: FOR DENNIS, THIS EXPERIENCE
HAS GIVEN HIM INSIGHT INTO THE PARANORMAL WORLD,
THAT THE BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL CONTINUES,
EVEN AFTER WE'RE GONE.
Dennis: I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBTS
THAT THERE ARE THINGS OUT THERE THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT,
JUST BECAUSE OF MY EXPERIENCES
WITH PARANORMAL ACTIVITY IN OUR HOUSE.
THEY'RE THERE.