Researching A Deadly Haunting - Part 2

My Paranormal Cold Case By Todd Hendrickson

One particular phenomena caught my attention among the myriad strangeness that happened to the Moffitt family. Apportation is one of the rarest and most inexplicable events in the paranormal field. When apportations are reported, often the objects manifested are from a great distance in origin or from a time long past. Some even match the definition of out of place artifacts (OOPArts.) In this particular case the most interesting object apported to the Moffitt family was an iron spear head. Deborah claims to have taken it to the LA Museum of Natural History to have it authenticated. From her reporting it was dated to approximately 200 years ago and from the Belgian Congo in origin. I had the opportunity to see and hold the spear myself. I don't claim to be an anthropologist, but being a reasonably intelligent and observant person I went to the work of examining it myself. It was in fact made of handworked iron, albeit by an apparently skilled craftsman. It had a sharp point, but the edges were blunt, signifying it had ceremonial uses opposed to being a hunting tool or weapon. Upon further research I found several museum pieces from the Belgian Congo that matched the materials and markings. Some examples can be found here and here. In all, the evidence supports the claims in this case.

The last aspect of the case I researched in detail involved the nature of the entity itself and its connection to the most prevalent symbol left. A broad scope of phenomena were reported along with messages that ranged from mundane and almost familial to homicidal. Some of the activities appeared to be for its own amusement while others were potentially deadly practical jokes. Some showed clarity of intent and others were just bizarre. My first conclusions as to the nature of the entity were that it was capricious, intelligent, and in need of acknowledgment. Upon further examination, though, my research and conversations with various experts and those that had knowledge of this case have led me to the belief that there wasn't a singular entity involved in the activity. In fact, there may have been several. Several factors have led to this belief. The handwriting manifested on the mirror and walls of the home changes constantly. Some messages even appear to be written left-handed and others right-handed. Some are feminine and others masculine. While this may be due simply to vacillations in desire of methods of communication, it is potential evidence that there may have been several entities communicating without divulging their individuality. Another piece of evidence in support of this theory is the extremely broad nature of activities themselves. In some cases the experiencer felt completely safe from harm from the entity (entities.) At anther points she felt terrified. Some of the messages were somewhat friendly and informative. Others expressed hatred and rage. One clue may be mined from the hundreds of pictures left. A name was given at the bottom of the mirror in one that I found very familiar: Baal.

Baal is an ancient name that has many roots. Some of the earliest Canaanite texts make reference to Baal as the chief deity of Canaan. It even had a pluralized form in the word baalim. While this is a possibility, I first began looking to the Goetia. There is a spirit named Baal (Bael) in the Goetia. It is considered very powerful and is often equated to the Demon Baal mentioned in various 17^th century texts that is purported to be one of the seven princes of Hell. With legions of demons under its command, the multivarious expressions and manifestations would be explained. Still, other Goetic spirits matched the description of the entity through its actions. It appeared to have a strong tie to water, which would make it more likely that if it were a Goetic spirit, it would be Gäap. I researched dozens of books looking for spirits that a) had the power to manifest the phenomena reported and b) had natures corresponding to the attributes noted from its activities. It was a long list, with some far more likely than others.

I believed that examination of the symbols given would lend some clarity to the identity (at least in a broad scope) of the entity (entities.) I began with the most pervasive one, which was the “triangle with a tail.” The upright triangle itself has literally thousands of meanings. The holy trinity and the alchemical symbol for sulfur are two of the most common in metaphysics. There are references to a somewhat similar symbol that date back as far as the 15^th century in Germany and France. Still, I could not locate any that were a complete match. In the end I decided that it was a personal symbol for the entity (entities.) It served much the same way a signature does for a person, but instead an expression in its native written language.

After having communication with David Weatherly, my research took yet another turn. At the time he was researching cases for a book on the Djinn. I contacted both he and Rosemary Ellen Guiley in regard to this case and their answers were very similar. They both believed that there was a strong possibility that the activity was perpetrated by either a single Djinn or several. This resonated with me in a strong way once I stepped back and examined the phenomena from a distance. Capricious nature. Attachment to an individual or family. Capable of causing strong displays of paranormal phenomena. Djinn have been reported to cause all of the manifestations exhibited in this case. Looking at the symbols associated with various Djinn I found that stylistically they are similar to the “triangle with a tail” found all over the Moffitt home (even though I have still been unable to find an exact match.) With the dozens of possibilities on my list, this theory has risen to the top.



The main issue with researching a case in which the phenomena are no longer occurring is that you must rely on accounts that you cannot personally verify. In this case in particular, though, I much prefer to have some distance between myself and the events. I imagine my curiosity would be deadlocked with my sense of self-preservation.

When I read A Deadly Haunting I was at first taken aback by its fictionalization. In places it gave descriptions of events no one could have recounted. In others there were obvious embellishments to events. A few events were added in for dramatic effect that I found detracted from the core story. Still, it was entertaining and very readable. It took a casual pace and painted a picture that may have been easier to grasp for someone not intimately acquainted with the field of the paranormal. The truth at the core of the story is definitely in there.

Personally I found the actual events given to me mouth-to-ear far more interesting. It also gave me the opportunity to get to know Deborah personally. I have found her to be one of the most genuine, caring, and charming people I've had the pleasure of meeting. I hope from the bottom of my heart that neither she nor her family will have to endure anything like the events in A Deadly Haunting again. While I find it disheartening that I couldn't give a definitive answer as to exactly what caused this family's misery, I'm certainly glad that the phenomena have not been experienced in over twenty years. Perhaps the identity of “Mr. Entity” is better left in the past along with the alternately amazing and terrifying events that once plagued a kind, unsuspecting family.

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