Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files Episode 2.16 Pride House Specter/bluegrass Bigfoot

One of the spookiest locations in the U.S. is Pride House Bed and Breakfast in Jefferson, Texas. Decades ago, a young girl died of burn complications, and visitors ever since have felt a paranormal presence in the form of footsteps, strange knocks, and even physical contact. During an investigation, a man named Rick Moran snapped a photo of what appears to be a full-bodied apparition descending the stairs. Bill, Austin, and Devin head to the Lone Star State to check it out.

Their first theory is that Rick set the timer on the camera and accidentally took a picture of himself, blurred because he was moving quickly. Austin dresses in white and tests this idea, but his legs are clearly outlined where the original photo appears as more of a smoky cloud. Since the photo was taken around Christmas, the team wonders if a bit of cotton batting, used for decoration, might have fallen in the path of the camera, but after shooting such a photo, they see that the texture isn't right.

Finally, they entertain the possibility that someone set up a hoax. They snap a pic of Austin in a white outfit against a black background, then project it onto a transparent, multi-layered screen, but this is still missing the smoky feel of the original. They determine that their first guess was the most plausible, but considering the daily reports of paranormal experiences, they decide to do a nighttime investigation. Not only does their EVP catch whistling in response to a question, but a door opens of its own accord, and they catch a thermal image of a handprint on said door. Something paranormal is definitely afoot at Pride House.

Ben, Jael, and Lanisha, meanwhile, speak to a man in Kentucky whose field camera - a device that shoots a picture when it senses motion - caught an image of a black, hulking mass that many believe to be Bigfoot. Ben dons a furry robe and poses for the picture, but it's not a match. They call a bird specialist in to guide a bird of prey to the spot where the picture was taken, and with the right timing, are able to recreate the photo perfectly.

Accompanying this picture is a video of an apelike creature strolling through the nearby woods. Ben goes all Planet of the Apes in a bigfoot costume and goes for a walk while Lanisha and Jael operate the camera. During the side by side comparison, they realize figure in the original is too slim to be human, so they build a puppetry rig above the camera line. This time, the ladies play the creature while Ben rolls tape. It's impossible to get a smooth walk! This leaves one clear alternative: CGI. Using a readily available CG program, the team rebuilds a composite image of the beast in the woods, and it's an excellent match. They close the case, confident that it's possible to make such a movie in the quiet of your own home.