Paranormal Rolling Hills Aylsum in Betnany NY ghost spirit haunted investigation by Long Island Paranormal Investigators - Ghost Haunted Demonic Investigation Ghost Hunter New York NY

Investigations by Long Island Paranormal Investigators:

Rolling Hills Asylum
Bethany, NY

Prolog: After our very successful investigation in August 2007 Long Island Paranormal Investigators reserved for another "We're Alone!" investigation at Rolling Hills. Armed with more cameras and recorders as well as several new pieces of equipment such as our Class 2M laser Long Island Paranormal Investigators were eager to return to this location!

Please note: As this was our second investigation at this location not all rooms and location are represented on this page. See our August 2007 investigation for a more complete photo essay of our paranormal investigations at Rolling Hills.

Paranormal history: Rolling Hills Asylum is very well known for shadows and EVPs as well as other unexplained phenomena in a number of locations. In addition to the events that LIPI was told about during our first investigation Lori told us that shadow activity has moved out of the East Wing into the rest of the building. While the East Wing continues to have shadow activity, Lori told us activity through out rolling hills has significantly increased.

The Investigation Team: Nine members and guests of Long Island Paranormal Investigators took part in this investigation. The investigation was lead by LIPI lead investigators Michael Cardinuto and Jaiem Fleischmann. Additional team members were investigators Michael Bainbridge, Craig Sordyl, Paul Guarino, Cheryl Wittmann, and Thelma D'Amico along with guests Mariela D'Amico and Amanda DeCarlo. Also, Rolling Hill owner Lori Carlson joined us for the night's investigation.

Investigation background: Due to the distant nature of Rolling Hills Asylum from our home base in Ronkonkoma, NY it was decided to take a 3-day weekend to both maximize our investigation time as well as be in the best physical and mental condition for paranormal investigation.

LIPI members fuel up with pizza at the home of Lead Investigator Jaiem Fleischmann
the night before leaving for the Rolling Hills Asylum investigation.

Dawn mist over a field along the New York State Thruway heading up to the Rolling Hills Asylum.
(not paranormal)

Long Island Paranormal Investigators stop for a break on the way to the Rolling Hills Asylum.

LIPI takes some daytime photographs of Rolling Hills.

Long Island Paranormal Investigators arrive during the day for some photos of the Rolling Hills Asylum.
(front entrance of the building)

Long Island Paranormal Investigators take some day time photos of the Rolling Hills Asylum.
(back of the building)

LIPI investigators at the back door of the East wing.

Long Island Paranormal Investigators' (left to right) Craig Sordyl, Mike Cardinuto, Mike Bainbridge and Peter Ferraro at one of the back doors to the East wing of the Rolling Hills Asylum.

Long Island Paranormal Investigators' and guests (left to right) Amanda DeCarlo, Mariela D'Amico, Thelma D'Amico and Cheryl Wittman at back of the the East wing of the Rolling Hills Asylum.

Equipment Setup: We placed one of our DVR cameras in the first and second floor hallways of the East Wing, a camera in the recreation room and one in the hallway outside the Christmas room looking down the hall past the original kitchen and meat lockers. Hi8 and digital video cameras were placed on tripods in the Christmas room, the smoking room, and in the cafe room (HQ). Our digital thermometers were placed in the first meat locker freezer and the smoking room while the temperature data logger was placed on top of the organ in the third floor (West wing) organ room.

The LIPI tech crew unloads equipment from our vehicles for the night's investigation.

The camera view from our DVR system.
Note the red laser lines on LIPI2 covering the entire second floor of the East Wing for shadow activity.

Tempurature data logger in the organ room

Temperature data logger in the organ room.
Note the coin trap, left by another group's investigation, was also used for our investigation.

Digital audio records we left running all night in the smoking room and HQ as well as at least one being carried by each LIPI investigation teams. Our wireless motion sensor was placed in the second floor solarium room and the doors where closed. The class 2M laser was placed on a tripod in the second floor of the East wing facing down the hallway to cover all the room doors.

Mike assigns equipment to investigators.

Lead investigator Mike Cardinuto (left) assigns and distributes equipment to LIPI investigators in the HQ room
at the start of the night's investigation.

Our TH-2A thermometer (left) and Trifield EMF meters.
Note the small light sticks taped to the displays to help read in the darkness.

The Investigation: Long Island Paranormal Investigators performed a 8 and a half hour investigation of the asylum. Our group was divided into 4 teams that took turns rotating throughout the building each hour. Teams remained in contact via Motorola-class walkie-talkie radios.

Mike Cardinuto goes over the investigation plan

LIPI Lead Investigator Mike Cardinuto reviews the investigation plan
before leaving our hotel for the night's investigation at the Rolling Hills Asylum.

LIPI talks with Lori
Lori Carlson (left), owner of Rolling Hills, discuss investigation options with
Long Island Paranormal Investigators before starting the night's investigation.

LIPI equipment
Long Island Paranormal Investigators equipment.

The East Wing, First Floor

East wing first floor walkway
View of walkway down to the East Wing, first floor.
Note the DVR camera at the end of the walkway.
This is where one of our investigators last year saw a shadow walk past him during equipment setup.
The orbs are just dust.
(brightness enhanced photograph)

East wing first floor hallway
View of hallway down to the East Wing, first floor.
(brightness enhanced photograph)

The East Wing, Second Floor

Investigator and empathic specialist Peter Ferraro in the second floor of the East Wing of Rolling Hills.

View of the second floor of the East Wing looking towards the back atrium doors at the end of the hall.
(brightness enhanced photo)

View of the second floor of the East Wing looking towards the stairs.
Note laser projector at the entrance of the hallway.
(brightness enhanced photo)

The organ in the West Wing 3rd floor organ room.
Note the temperature data logger on top of the organ.
(brightness enhanced photo)

One of the original electric shock therapy rooms in the basement West wing directly below HQ.

LIPI investigator Paul Guarino and Lori Carlson in the basement electric shock therapy room.

The original patient laundry room in the basement.
(brightness enhanced photograph)

Hallway into East Wing outside Christmas room

The hallway outside the Christmas Room in the basement East wing looking towards the recreation room.
(brightness enhanced photograph)

Lead Investigator Mike Cardinuto examines one of the doors in the boiler room.
This is area where a door nearly closed on Grant Wilson when TAPS investigated Rolling Hills.
(brightness enhanced photograph)

Morning after the investigation:

Dawn over Rolling Hills
Sunrise over Rolling Hills.

A morning mist hangs over the trees near Rolling Hills. (not paranormal)

Discussing the nights investigation
Long Island Paranormal Investigators discuss the night's investigation
with Rolling Hills owner Lori Carlson before leaving for some much needed sleep.

Findings: This investigation revealed the following evidence and experiences:

Audio and Video Evidence: No paranormal activity was recorded on our DVR or video cameras. No EVPs were collected on any of our audio records. Only a strange banging sound as detailed below.

LIPI investigators document their equipment readings and personal experiences after each section of the investigation.

Photograph Evidence

Possible Shadow #1

Location: This photograph was taken by LIPI Lead Investigator Jaiem Fleischman at approximately 11pm. He is in the East wing hallway directly outside the Christmas room (to the right). Behind him is the East wing basement hallway the leads past the kitchen and meat freezers ending the recreation room. To his right is the Christmas room, to the left is a small alcove used for storage and an emergency exit. The walkway in front of him goes up to a landing. At the top of this landing is a doorway that leads to the West wing basement. The walkway itself makes a hard left turn to another walkway that ends at a landing on the East wing first floor. During our 2007 investigation investigator Thelma D'Amico reported seeing a shadow figure standing in the hallway outside the Christmas room.

Equipment: The camera is a Sony Cybershot DSC-T7 running at 5.1 mega pixels. ISO is set to 400. Normal flash and exposure levels. All other settings are on standard. The picture was enhanced using Photoshop 7.0 tools.

Supporting background: This image appears to follow many of the classic characteristics for a shadow being. It appears to be very tall, 6-7 feet which is typical for a shadow. It is standing at the extreme end of photographic range (shadows are rarely seen close up). And it appears to be peering at the investigator from around a corner. This is classic for a "lurker" classification of a shadow (click here to read more about shadow classifications).

The following set of photographs are the original photo and variation of enhancements.

Picture #1 - This is the raw/unenhanced photograph.

Original photo
Original/raw unedited photograph.

Picture #2 - This is the same photograph with brightness and contrast levels enhanced.

Brightness enhanced photo
Brightness and contrast enhanced photo.

Picture #3 - This is a close up of the shadow with a noise reduction filter applied.

Closeup and noise reduced
Close up of photo with noise reduction filter applied.

Picture #4 - This is the close up of the shadow with a negative/reverse filter applied to help enhance the contrast.

Closeup and reversed/negative enhanced
Close up of photo with negative/reverse enhancement to amplify the contrast.

Picture #5 - This is the close up of the shadow with an embossing filter applied to help enhance edges and 3D depth.

Closeup and embossed
Close up of photo with emboss filter to amplify edges and depth.

Picture #6 - This is the close up of the shadow with a gray scale filter applied to help enhance the contrast.

Closeup and gray scale filter
Close up of photo with gray scale filter to amplify contrast.

Picture #7 - For comparison, this is the view of the hallway and walkway from the opposite angle as picture #1. This picture is taken just inside the doorway at the top of the walkway. The Christmas room is at the bottom of the walkway on the left. The shadow appears to have been standing right here in this location. This picture has been brightness enhanced.

Opposite view of hallway
View of hallway/walkway from opposite end.

Personal Experiences on Site

Date: Friday July 11, 2008
Location: West wing, second floor electric shock therapy room
Description: Lead Investigator Jaiem Fleischmann reported feeling chilled immediately upon entering this room. Later, as empathic specialist Peter Ferraro reported contact with something Jaiem reported feeling very cold, getting goose bumps on his back and legs, and strong feelings of uneasiness. This occurred on two occasions in this room, both with in a few minutes of each other.
Date: Friday July 11, 2008
Location: West Wing, 3rd floor
Description: Investigator Thelma D'Amico reported that when she was going to the 3rd floor to place the temperature data logger something stopped her at the top of the stairs. It felt like something didn't want her up there. She felt dizzy and disoriented.
Date: Friday July 11, 2008
Location: East Wing, 1st floor in the smoking room
Description: Investigator Thelma D'Amico reported that when she was sitting in the smoking room on the first floor she saw what looked like a pair of legs walk by the door. She then also saw a strange light in the hallway that was unexplainable. Also she reported hearing music when sitting in that room.
Date: Friday July 11, 2008
Location: East Wing, 1st floor in the smoking room
Description: Lead Investigator Mike Cardinuto reported that while he, Cheryl Wittmann and Amanda DeCarlo were in the smoking room we heard what sounded like a dog bark very softly a few rooms down. When Cheryl started to call the dog they heard what sounded like something mimic her. Digital audio that was reviewed later did not record any sound or EVP. When they went down the hall and into one of the other rooms they saw a sign on the inside door way that said something about animal spirits. Thought that was very odd.
Date: Friday July 11, 2008
Location: East Wing, 2nd floor
Description: Lead Investigator Mike Cardinuto reported that while he, Cheryl Wittmann and Amanda DeCarlo were on the second floor and sitting down by the double doors they saw a break in the laser ligth on the floor. It went from left to right twice, both times breaking the light. They also heard some baging that went along with our questions.
Date: Saturday July 12, 2008
Location: Christmas Room, basement
Description: Empathic specialist Peter Ferraro reported feeling something grab his leg while he was conducting an EVP questioning session.
Date: Saturday July 12, 2008
Location: Tunnel, West wing basement
Description: Investigator Thelma D'Amico reported that when she was walking through the tunnel the K2 meter started blinking erratically. She tried to debunk it but there was nothing in the area that could have cause the K2 to react in that manner.
Date: Saturday July 12, 2008
Location: West wing basement, boiler room
Description: Lead Investigator Michael Cardinuto reported both the standard Geiger counter and IM-179 Geiger counter showed high erratic movement, jumping from 0 to 2 and back again several times. Both were flat on a table in the boiler room. They were unable to debunk a cause.

Empathic Reports

From empathic specialist Paul Guarino: When I got to Rolling hills I was rather under whelmed (having been to Kings Park so many times and it being like 6 times the size of R.H's), but as I approached the back area near Laurie's house I became dizzy and sick feeling. Later I was told the dead are buried right around that area.

On the second floor by where we set up the laser light, I saw shadow's beyond the door where we had the motion sensor, and heard a lot of banging coming from the end of that hall way, some of the banging seemed to be responding to our EVP questions (but that was inconclusive). At one point I walked down to the end of the hall to investigate the noises and went to enter the last door on the left before the area with the motion sensor, and as I entered the room I was overwhelmed with fear; it hit me like a slap in the face and I almost turned around and ran. I only know this feeling because I've had it once before at the Lynbrook house, The only way to describe the feeling is incredible trepidation, which I have now come to link to a death in that area. Later Peter Ferrarro told me he had a similar experience (though more intense) and neither of us knew what the other had experienced; also Laurie told us a young Girl died of T.B in that room (I forgot the girl's name) and Lori said she had experienced a similar thing as Peter and I.

Lastly inside the boiler room Laurie appeared to be having responses on her dowsing rods to questions and the room did have a sinister feeling to it. With further investigation I found two high EMF sources within 10 feet of each other, one well over 200mg! Rolling Hill's is a great sight, and hopefully someday we'll have the proof to definitively call it haunted... but until then watch out for the bats!
From empathic specialist Peter Ferraro: On the second floor during EVP questions I sensed contact with a spirit that appeared to be male. As EVP questions were being done I felt an over whelming sense of emotion which I could not explain. I had to be assisted and removed from the area.

On the second wave during EVP questions I requested of the possible contact to please go easy on me. This repeated itself with prowess. I got again an over whelming feeling of so much emotion that I tried to hold on to seek evidence. My body became numb from the legs and through the whole body. I felt unable to move and a physical cold. All the years I have been doing this, i never felt anything like it in my life. Its my opinion that there was a contact with an unknown spirit energy.

Paul (Guarino), the other sensitive in LIPI, felt the same thing but at a different level of energy. We spoke to each other not giving either one information at the time. The info was very similar in nature. Once I was removed from the area the emotional vibration left me.

EVPs Recorded at Site
(Note: May require headphones to properly hear and review)

EVP 1 (full recording - 767kb)

Date: July 2008
Description: This sound of what appears to be metal banging was recorded in the smoking room on the first floor of the East Wing. A digital record had been left to run alone in the room. No other sound of metal banging had been heard or recorded anywhere else in the Asylum during our investigation that night.

Conclusion: Despite the personal experiences of Long Island Paranormal Investigators on this investigation we are unable to conclude with certainty any documented paranormal activity at this location during this investigation. A follow up investigation will be planned.

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