Investigation March 2010
West Virginia Penitentiary
818 Jefferson Ave
Moundsville, West Virginia 26041
This gothic stone prison was in operation from 1876 to 1995. It
ranked in the United States Department of Justice’s top ten most violent
correctional facilities. At one point it was so overcrowded three men bunked in
a 5x7 foot cell. The recreation room known as the “sugar shack” was essentially
unsupervised and could contain up to 300 inmates at a time. At least 36
homicides occurred there. One of the most famous murders at the prison was that
of inmate R.D. Wahl. The“snitch” was butchered by three inmates with dull shives
in the boiler room where he lived. Other deaths were due to riots, TB, STDs and
executions. The exact number of non-execution deaths is unknown due to poor
record keeping. In 1986 an employee of the prison admitted to the use of torture
on prisoners. From 1899 to 1959, 94 men were executed, 85 were hanged and nine
were electrocuted in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky”.
The West Virginia Pen is said to
be one of the most haunted prisons in the United States, some ghost stories
originated as early as the 1930’s. Legends include the prison occupying native
burial ground. Paranormal activity includes: visualizing a shadow man; slamming
cell doors, talking and screaming, cold spots, being touched and sometimes
scratched or pushed.
818 Jefferson Ave
Moundsville, West Virginia 26041
This gothic stone prison was in operation from 1876 to 1995. It
ranked in the United States Department of Justice’s top ten most violent
correctional facilities. At one point it was so overcrowded three men bunked in
a 5x7 foot cell. The recreation room known as the “sugar shack” was essentially
unsupervised and could contain up to 300 inmates at a time. At least 36
homicides occurred there. One of the most famous murders at the prison was that
of inmate R.D. Wahl. The“snitch” was butchered by three inmates with dull shives
in the boiler room where he lived. Other deaths were due to riots, TB, STDs and
executions. The exact number of non-execution deaths is unknown due to poor
record keeping. In 1986 an employee of the prison admitted to the use of torture
on prisoners. From 1899 to 1959, 94 men were executed, 85 were hanged and nine
were electrocuted in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky”.
The West Virginia Pen is said to
be one of the most haunted prisons in the United States, some ghost stories
originated as early as the 1930’s. Legends include the prison occupying native
burial ground. Paranormal activity includes: visualizing a shadow man; slamming
cell doors, talking and screaming, cold spots, being touched and sometimes
scratched or pushed.
This picture was taken "in the hole", the boiler room. There is a white mist in the upper left corner. A snitch was murdered in this spot.
To access EVPs click the audio button
W Virginia Pen
A man asks "Can you move that dragon?". A voice answers "no" (8 sec)
NOPSS Team personal experiences: 3 investigators touched on the head, arm was pushed forcefully, footsteps following us, cold spots, chills, dowsing rods very active, dark shadow.