Image by Joshua Leeman. CC BY 3.0.
A line of more than thirty people snakes up the steps of the St. Landry Parish Courthouse, where its occupants settle into the courtroom benches, signing release waivers and sipping coffee and energy drinks despite the sun setting through the windows. Centuries-old judges leer from their disordered portraits on the walls, while, behind the pulpit, eight people in matching black T-shirts hand out raffle tickets. "Get out your raffle tickets," one announces. "We’re giving away a K2 electromagnetic energy reader." A gasp ripples through the crowd. This is no ordinary trip to the courthouse—it’s Ghost Hunting Class 101 with Louisiana Spirits Paranormal Investigations, and the participants range from all walks of life, even the afterlife.
With K2s in hand, the group spent the evening investigating four of downtown Opelousas’s most “spiritually active” locations: The Courthouse, The Delta Grand Theatre, The Shutes building, the St. Landry Bank Annex, and the Black Pot Bookshop. The group prefers the term “active” to “haunted,” because of its negative connotations. Marci Lee, State Director of Louisiana Spirits Paranormal Investigators, believes that the entire area of downtown Opelousas is the most active area she has ever encountered.
In 2005, Brad Duplechien embarked on a journey to uncover the mysteries that linger just beyond the veil, founding the group, Louisiana Spirits. What began as a personal quest has evolved into a statewide endeavor, with five chapters spread across Louisiana, each guided by a case manager.
Now, with thirty-three members, Louisiana Spirits has become a beacon for those seeking answers in a field that fascinates many, but is often misunderstood—offering not just investigations, but education and support for the curious and the cynical.
Photo courtesy of the State Library of Louisiana.
Historic downtown Opelousas, including the Delta Theater, which was recently investigated by Louisiana Spirits. Marci Lee, State Director of Louisiana Spirits Paranormal Investigators, believes the entire area of downtown Opelousas is the most spiritually active area she has ever encountered.
One of the first questions the Louisiana Spirits team asks participants is, "Are there any skeptics here tonight?" At the Opelousas event, four hands shot up, followed by a few knowing laughs of the more seasoned participants in the room. According to Lee, "We have many skeptics that attend our events and classes, many of whom leave less skeptical." She recalled one such case at the Shutes building: "A gentleman came in as a skeptic and left as a believer. During the investigation, he had his arm grabbed in one of the rooms. He left abruptly and was hesitant to finish the night. We love when skeptics have personal experiences because it validates the owners' claims and our evidence from these locations."
It doesn’t take long for everyone to begin embracing the eerie. In a back dressing room at The Delta Grand Theatre, the first group stood in complete darkness, each person taking turns letting the spirits know whether they were comfortable being touched. All but one were open to the experience. When it came time to speak to the spirits, it was a self-described skeptic who broke the silence, asking into the pitch-black, "Are you happy where you are?"
Watching the team prepare for an investigation can feel like being a member of a live studio audience for a paranormal-themed sitcom. Some members are meticulously checking the equipment, ensuring cameras and sound systems are ready. Others are busy counting and charging the ghost-hunting gear, while a few more are elbow-deep in historical documents, piecing together the storied past of the location. Every person has their part, and each one brings a unique skill to the table.
Photo courtesy of the State Library of Louisiana.
The Opelousas courthouse, photographed in 1950, which was recently investigated by Louisiana Spirits.
“We have investigators, lead investigators, case managers, and equipment managers—everyone has a role,” said Lee. “Case managers contact clients, set up investigations, gather information and claims, and then write reports with evidence for our website. Equipment managers make sure each piece has fresh batteries and is functioning properly. They also set up equipment and cameras in locations. Lead investigators and their teams do walkthroughs to get baseline readings and assist with setting up equipment.”
The equipment used to convene with the dead range from cat toys that light up and roll when touched, to more technical tools, like Rem Pods, which detect fluctuations in electromagnetic fields and K2 meters, which measure electromagnetic activity. And then there’s the spirit box—a small radio that sounds like scrambled static until a voice or unexplained noise cuts through, like a police scanner for the paranormal. Lee’s favorite device is a traditional voice recorder. “This is where you capture voices, screams or noises you may not hear audibly,” she explained. “The best part is if you get an answer to a question you’ve asked, like ‘can you tell me your name?’”
Once the equipment is in place, investigators begin instructing the spirits on how to use them. “If you touch this, it’ll light up. Can you do that for us?” one of them says in a near whisper, pointing to the Rem Pod. “We’re not here to hurt you,” they assured gently. “We just want to visit, get to know you, ask you some questions.” It’s like trying to coax a feral cat into your home, thinking that maybe there’s a chance, but knowing you truly have no control, and that they could vanish as quickly as they appeared.
Paranormal Encounters 101
No running! Not even if you are touched.
No alcohol.
No provoking the spirits.
Do not be rude to the spirits.
Never investigate alone.
It’s “active,” not “haunted.”
You are “visiting” the spirits, not “hunting” them.
Make sure your phone is on airplane mode.
Oftentimes investigations are as much about debunking experiences as they are validating them. “We debunk a lot of claims, which puts the client’s mind at ease,” Lee said. “If we do find actual evidence, we reassure the client that these spirits are just people like you and me. They are just no longer living. If we believe the spirit has no malicious intent, there’s no reason they can’t coexist. However, if the client prefers they move on, we reach out to people to help them with that.” Spectators attending Louisiana Spirits events are welcome to bring their own investigation tools and use any paranormal apps on their phones, but the team will attempt to debunk any findings in pursuit of genuine activity.
“I think the paranormal fascinates people because either they’ve had their own experience or they want to know what’s out there,” Lee reasoned. “I think that’s why so many people go on Bigfoot excursions, UFO exploring, and ghost investigations.”
[Read this: "Stories from the Hidden Cemetery of Point Blue"]
Taking part in the Louisiana Spirits event in Opelousas, I felt a particular what-was-that giddiness, a nostalgic feeling of playing hide and seek, as though I wanted to simultaneously stay hidden and jump out from my hiding spot. Like playing truth or dare and secretly hoping for a dare. But there was also a stillness, a singular focus in which I felt myself hoping to encounter the paranormal, the unexplained. It was almost meditative.
“It’s a lot of work and dedication,” Lee admitted. “It takes compassion not only to the clients, but also the spirits that inhabit these locations.”
Before leaving the Delta Grand, one of the investigators leaned into the spirit box and asked, “If we give you a secret word, will you relay it to the next group? Then, we’ll know you’re here."
detect paranormal activity in a room. Photo by the Batanagar Paranormal Society, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The group mulled over what their secret code should be; someone blurted out, “bacon.” Between bouts of laughter, we agreed—“bacon” was the perfect choice.
As we strolled across downtown Opelousas, discussing mundane topics like Netflix shows, we arrived at The Black Pot Bookshop. Inside, M.L. Bullock, author of paranormal novels, was set up with books and all manner of spooky acoutrements. As you’d expect from a self-proclaimed "author, adventurer, and paranormal investigator," Bullock had several EVP apps on her phone. While the group wandered the shop, she activated the Necrophonic app.
Suddenly, a disembodied, strangled voice gasped, “Bacon.”
Members of the group froze, wide-eyed and mouths gaping, before scrambling to fire up their own paranormal apps. Kinetic ones showed neon-green stick figures materializing and dissolving into scattered points of light, while EVPs spat out names and random words in rapid succession. True to form, the Louisiana Spirits team gathered at the end of the night to sift through the evidence, beginning the meticulous process of debunking or validating each sight and sound.
This fall, Louisiana Spirits has a lineup of supernatural events, including appearances from paranormal celebrities. You can keep up with them on Facebook at Louisiana Spirits and Cajun Country Paracon, visit their website at laspirits.com, or check out their investigation footage on YouTube at youtube.com/@laspirits.
