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Unexplained Cases | Forever Home of the Abandoned and Forgotten: Forest Haven

Written by: Rick Garner
Case Filed: 10/1/21
Executive Producer: Rick Garner


 

When one hears the word “asylum” … especially when paired with “haunted” or “abandoned” … dreadful images come to mind of decaying buildings, sinister hallways, and forgotten lives. Forest Haven in Laurel, Maryland, has all of these and much more. Walking these grounds, Rick Garner felt a similar sadness...the kind he felt at Pennhurst but perhaps something more...something darker. The facility opened in 1925 as the District Training School for the Mentally Retarded. It was a farm-like institution designed to provide patients with useful skills. In 1928, the first of many on-ground burials occurred. In 1963, the property was named Forest Haven but during that decade, the property would begin its decline. Funding was cut, the population of residents grew to include people with epilepsy, but the worst happened in 1974 when a nearby orphanage called “Junior Village” closed and its 20 souls were moved into Forest Haven. Think about that for a moment....people with epilepsy - a brain disorder where nerve cell activity is disturbed causing seizures - and orphans - placed in an overcrowded, ill-equipped, and dysfunctional facility. Aspiration Pneumonia in patients was common. It was caused by patients being fed while lying down. Physical, mental, and sexual abuse were rampant. Patients were hit with belts, switches, and baseball bats. Teeth were knocked out. Even in death, patients could find no peace. 389 were buried in a mass grave on the property. Erosion eventually uncovered some of their remains. With all these accounts, it’s no surprise that Forest Haven is rumored to be extremely haunted and is frequently explored by urbexers. Mike from Charm City Paranormal has explored Forest Haven so many times, he refers to it as his second home. On Halloween 2020, Mike led the Unexplained Cases team through some of the decaying buildings of Forest Haven. The paranormal evidence we collected is compelling but we encourage you to be the judge.
ABOUT UNEXPLAINED CASES: The Unexplained Cases team is focused on preserving history while documenting the strange, paranormal and unexplained. What separates Unexplained Cases from other paranormal groups is that Darren Dedo and Rick Garner, who today are recognized as early pioneers of the “ghost hunting”genre, have over 35 years in broadcast radio and television news and have won a Southeast Regional Emmy and Associated Press awards. Over the past few years, the UC team has grown to add Michael Chinn as Lead Investigator and Researcher in addition to having the privilege to collaborate with several renowned paranormal investigators, including A&E’s Ghost Hunters Daryl Marston, Mustafa Gatollari, Brandon Alvis, Brian Murray, and Richel Stratton, as well as Malia Miglino from YouTube’s “Macabre Mondays” and “Grave Hunter”. SUPPORT US: Paypal | http://bit.ly/SupportUnexplainedCases Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedcases Channel Member | https://www.youtube.com/unexplainedcases/join GET MERCH: Teespring | https://teespring.com/stores/unexplainedcases GET EQUIPMENT: Spirit Box SB7 | https://www.ghoststop.com/spirit-box-sb7?rfsn=5846765.5c6eab SBox Ghost Box | https://www.ghoststop.com/sbox-ghost-box-recorder?rfsn=5846765.5c6eab K2 EMF Meter | https://www.ghoststop.com/k2-emf-meter?rfsn=5846765.5c6eab Mel Meter | https://www.ghoststop.com/mel-meter?rfsn=5846765.5c6eab REM Pod | https://www.ghoststop.com/rem-pod-with-temp?rfsn=5846765.5c6eab EDI+ Meter | https://www.ghoststop.com/edi-meter-1?rfsn=5846765.5c6eab Laser Grid and Tripod | https://www.ghoststop.com/laser-grid-and-tripod-package?rfsn=5846765.5c6eab CONNECT WITH US: Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/unexplainedcases TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@unexplainedcases Instagram | https://Instagram.com/unexplainedcases Facebook | https://Facebook.com/unexplainedcases Twitter | https://Twitter.com/unexplainedcase LinkedIn | https://LinkedIn.com/company/UnexplainedCases
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