The Paranormal Blog

In July 2003, Shawn Christopher Johnson, a 34-year-old lighting director from Atlanta, Georgia, was in New Orleans for a Microsoft convention. On the night of July 19, he visited The Dungeon, a gothic-themed bar in the French Quarter known for its dark ambiance and late-night hours. There, he befriended several individuals from the local goth community. In the early hours, Shawn invited four of them—two men and two women—back to his hotel room at the Marriott Courtyard. Surveillance footage captured the group entering the hotel around 6 a.m. Tragically, later that morning, Shawn was found dead in his room’s hot tub, having suffered blunt force trauma to the head before drowning. The crime scene was marked by unsettling details, including pages torn from a Bible and a peculiar rag doll left behind. The investigation led to the arrest of the…

Rod Ferrell is a former cult leader and convicted murderer who gained notoriety in the 1990s for his involvement in a brutal double homicide. His case became infamous due to its connections to a self-proclaimed vampire cult and the shocking nature of the crime. Early Life and Formation of the Vampire Clan Roderrick Justin “Rod” Ferrell was born on March 28, 1980, in Murray, Kentucky. He grew up in a troubled environment and developed an interest in the gothic subculture, particularly vampire mythology. He became involved in role-playing games such as Vampire: The Masquerade and eventually declared himself a 500-year-old vampire named “Vesago.” During his teenage years, Ferrell began attracting a group of followers who shared his fascination with vampires. This group, which called itself the “Vampire Clan,” consisted of other disaffected youths who engaged in rituals and blood-drinking ceremonies….

The Axeman of New Orleans was a serial killer who terrorized the city between 1918 and 1919. Known for breaking into homes and attacking victims with an axe, this unidentified murderer left a trail of fear and mystery. His brutal killings, eerie letters to the press, and supposed love for jazz music have made him one of the most infamous figures in true crime history. The Murders The first widely accepted attack attributed to the Axeman occurred on May 23, 1918, when Joseph and Catherine Maggio, Italian grocers, were found brutally assaulted in their home. Joseph’s throat had been slit, and Catherine was severely beaten. An axe, belonging to the Maggios, was left at the crime scene. Over the following months, a pattern emerged:    •   The Axeman primarily targeted Italian-American grocers and their families.    •   He would break into homes during the…

Introduction New Orleans, a city known for its vibrant culture and rich history, was once plagued by one of the most devastating diseases of the 19th century—yellow fever. The mosquito-borne virus repeatedly ravaged the city, killing thousands and shaping its social, economic, and public health landscape. The worst outbreaks occurred between the late 18th and 19th centuries, with the most notorious epidemic striking in 1853. Origins and Spread Yellow fever, also known as “Yellow Jack” or “the Saffron Scourge,” is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It is believed to have been brought to New Orleans through international trade, particularly from the Caribbean and West Africa. The city’s warm, humid climate and frequent standing water made it an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, facilitating the rapid spread of the disease. Symptoms and Mortality The disease had a…

Marie Laveau, the legendary “Voodoo Queen of New Orleans,” remains one of the most enigmatic and influential figures in American folklore. A powerful practitioner of Voodoo, a devout Catholic, and a shrewd businesswoman, she ruled the spiritual landscape of New Orleans in the 19th century. Her life and legacy continue to captivate historians, spiritualists, and tourists who visit her rumored final resting place in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Early Life and Background Marie Laveau was born around 1801 in New Orleans, Louisiana, to a Creole mother and a free man of color. As a mixed-race woman in antebellum Louisiana, she was part of a unique social class that had more freedom than enslaved African Americans but fewer rights than white citizens. Her lineage blended African, Native American, and French influences, which shaped her spiritual practices. Little is known about…

New Orleans is a city rich in history, mystery, and a unique blend of cultural influences that shape its distinct character. Among the many historic sites that once dotted the city, St. Peter Cemetery stands as one of the earliest burial grounds in New Orleans, playing a crucial role in the city’s colonial past. Although it no longer exists in its original form, its legacy continues to be a topic of intrigue among historians and those fascinated by the city’s storied past. The History of St. Peter Cemetery Established in the early 18th century, St. Peter Cemetery was New Orleans’ first official burial ground. Founded by the French during their colonial rule, the cemetery was located near what is now the French Quarter, reflecting the necessity for a designated burial site as the population of the fledgling settlement grew. During…

Madame Delphine LaLaurie is one of the most infamous figures in New Orleans history, remembered for her life of wealth, social prominence, and the horrifying crimes that led to her downfall. Her tale is a haunting mix of historical fact, folklore, and sensationalized storytelling that continues to capture the public imagination. Early Life and Social Status Born Marie Delphine Macarty on March 19, 1787, in New Orleans, she was part of a wealthy and influential Creole family. Her parents were prominent figures in the city, and her lineage was steeped in privilege. Over her lifetime, she was married three times, her final husband being Dr. Leonard Louis Nicolas LaLaurie, a much younger physician. By the 1830s, Delphine LaLaurie had established herself as a respected socialite, known for hosting extravagant parties in her lavish three-story mansion at 1140 Royal Street in…

It is one of the most magnificent homes in the entire Garden District.  The Greek Revival mansion was built in 1857 by James Calrow and owned by Alexander Harris, a very prominent Sephardic Jew that lived in New Orleans.  It was in this period of our history that religions outside of Catholicism and Protestant began to thrive in the city.  He had the house built for his wife Lizzie. In 1869, a massive yellow fever epidemic hit the city of New Orleans. Yellow fever was a very mysterious disease.  Doctors of the time still had no knowledge of tropical medicine nor had realized that mosquitoes breeding in the water supplies were the cause.     The fever is a volatile disease attacking the liver.  Victims of the fever become jaundiced and run high temperatures. Eventually, the victim begins to vomit up blood and…

Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America, died at this double gallery Greek rival house.   Davis fell ill while traveling and was taken here, the home of his friend Judge Charles Fenner (son-in-law of owner Jacob Payne). A stone marker in front of the house bears the date of Davis’s death, December 6, 1889. (Davis was buried in magnificent Metairie Cemetery for 2 years and then was disinterred and moved to Virginia.) This house is a classic antebellum Greek Revival home. Note the sky-blue ceiling of the gallery — the color is believed to keep winged insects from nesting there and to ward off evil spirits.    During and after the War for Southern Independence, Jefferson Davis was accused of a wide variety of offences. Northerners made the most extensive and lasting attacks upon Davis. In one of these insults…

One of the most popular and beloved ghosts in the Garden District is the ghost of Josephine, here at the Buckner Mansion.  The mansion was built in the late 1850’s for Henry Buckner by architect, Lewis Reynolds. The 24,000 square foot house has 48 fluted columns and 16 foot ceilings throughout the first floor and 14 foot ceilings on the second floor.    Although the Buckners had several slaves, Josephine a paid servant in the home, was a free woman of color.  She had remained with the family after slavery was abolished.  She acted as midwife and herbal healer in the community giving way to rumors of her being a witch.  Josephine lived to the ripe old age at that time, of 60 years old.  Her love of the property and the Buckners has provoked Josephine to continue to reside in…

New Orleanians have a very unique way of burying the dead; above the ground.  These above ground actually work as natural cremation.  The tombs become unfathomably hot especially in the hot, humid New Orleans’ summers. It takes about a year after which all soft tissue has decomposed. There will of course be bone. It takes much longer to decompose but not there is nothing left but bones and dust. This can be removed from the coffin and dumped into a chamber in the back of the tomb. The burial space can then be used for another coffin. This type of burial was very efficient particularly during the yellow fever epidemics when people died by the thousands. :Yellow fever at the time was very mysterious. European and American doctors had no knowledge of tropical medicine. It was not until much later…

The area of New Orleans between St. Charles and Magazine Streets, bordered by Jackson Avenue and Louisiana Avenue, is called the Garden District.  By 1803, Louisiana had gone from being French to Spanish, then back to French. Napoleon was the ruler of France at this time.  Although he vowed to the king of Spain never to give Louisiana to any other country except to give it back to Spain, he never said he wouldn’t sell it.  For it was this same year that he orchestrated the largest land for cash deal in history, the Louisiana Purchase.  Although Spain had ruled for forty years, New Orleans had remained French, and Catholic.  French New Orleanians had no desire to become American.  Most Americans at the time were Protestant which didn’t settle well with these staunch Catholics.  Additionally, New Orleanians had even less…