Ghosts and demons are two different things. Demons are generally spirits that have never been human, and they are characterized as evil… perhaps pure evil, if there is such a thing.

They are very rare at hauntings. In over 20 years of research, I’d never encountered one before.

However, as I paused at what seemed to be an invisible force field at haunted Vale End Cemetery in Wilton, NH, I knew that I was right next to something profoundly evil and wholly without a conscience. This was an entity that had never been human, and he viewed me as prey.

The Grover guys–I could now see what seemed like dozens of them–worked for this entity. They weren’t evil themselves, but had a, “Sure, why not?” kind of attitude.

But, this experience was so foreign to me, I can remember thinking, “Okay, I’m going to take a few photos and then get out of here.” I’m not someone who runs away from ghosts, and I didn’t plan to abandon this vigil without a couple of more photos.

Demons, caught on film?

As I raised my camera and looked through the viewfinder, the red Grover guys seemed to multiply. When my camera clicked, I saw three of them clearly outlined by the flash. They were emerging from behind Mary Ritter Spaulding’s headstone, and I swear they looked like they were doing the “walk like an Egyptian” dance.

Yes, my sense of humor kicks in at the weirdest times, and this was one of them. I said to my friends, who were far behind me in the cemetery, “Good. I’m sure that I’ve got them on film.”

At moment, I realized that I was in danger. I ran for my car and didn’t even put on my seatbelt until I reached the gate. I simply floored it, to get away from there. My friends followed suit.

I was about ten miles away before I felt that whatever-it-was had stopped following me. And, I was terrified, because I didn’t want to die. I may never know if this is what my friend experienced, but this remains the only time I’ve been truly frightened during hundreds of ghost hunts.

Obviously, I survived this experience. But, the story doesn’t end there.

When my film was developed, every frame but one was black. On the one with an image, there was a vivid red shape, the same color as the Grover guys. Another researcher who’d been with me that night, pointed out that it looked like the classic image of Satan. I thought that was a stretch, but after a series of odd events connected with the film and the photos, I gave the negatives and prints to someone who wanted them. I wanted them to stay far away from my family and me.

The evil lingers

On subsequent trips near Wilton, I could feel that same evil presence nearby, menacing. This feeling continued for two years and then–for no particular reason–stopped.

Other researchers heard about my experience, and confirmed their similar encounter with whatever’s at Vale End.

And, oddly enough, at a ghost conference, I heard that there’s a spirit at a haunted prison (in Ohio?) that’s described as a Grover-type figure.

But, what really alarmed me was when I met demonologist John Zaffis, and saw some of his startling photos. One of them contained the exact same red, satanic image as I’d seen in my own photo from Vale End.

I have no idea what to think of all this. I don’t really believe in demons in the traditional sense. I’ve never seen anything like the little Grover guys since then, either. Were they “demons,” too? That’s outside my field of study.

Obviously, I’m still ghost hunting. And, I did return to Vale End once more, but only during daytime hours to show some other researchers where different events had happened. They did not have a similar encounter, and their investigation was inconclusive.

However, ghost hunting is supposed to be fun or at least interesting. When it starts being scary, it’s time for a new hobby.

I’m glad that the police patrol Vale End Cemetery steadily after dark, to prevent others from visiting it. And, I most firmly recommend that no one go there for a ghost hunt.

Yes, there are ghosts in that cemetery, including the alluring Blue Lady.

However, in my opinion, the risks aren’t worth it. Look for ghosts elsewhere. Something at Vale End is not a ghost, and it could be lethally dangerous.

Note: I spoke about Vale End at Dragon*Con 2007. Other than that, I don’t discuss this subject, I don’t answer questions about it, and I don’t reply to emails about Wilton, Vale End or demons. Everything that I’m willing to discuss about it is in these pages.

You may also be interested in my notes about Vale End and Pukwudgies.