Skip to main content

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
Professional Inquiries: rick@unexplainedcases.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hidden Secrets

Written by: Jeff Rent Case Filed: 5/16/03 - Edwards, Mississippi Executive Producer: Rick Garner Tucked behind 200-year-old magnolia trees lies the Yeiser House. Built in 1832, it's a house full of history going back to the Civil War. The story and events at this house actually started several hundred yards down the road on May 16, 1863, during the Battle for Champion's Hill and a little known Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman who was shot. Historian DeAnna Thompson-Blailock says, "If it was a sniper, (he was wounded) in the throat. And due to the blood pattern where he bled to death in the Yeiser house, it would seem like a sniper shot because of the blood pattern on the floor." After being shot, General Tilghman was taken to the Yeiser, which was being used as a field hospital. There, in one corner of a front bedroom, Tilghman bled to death.
16 comments
Read more

Unexplained Cases | Baltimore Street Murder House

Written by:  Darren Dedo Case Filed:  06 /20/19 - Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Executive Producer:  Rick Garner Battlefields, homes, pubs, and restaurants. Almost anywhere you go in Gettysburg you will come across a place that is supposedly haunted. It is very easy to understand why. Tens of thousands of men lost their lives here in this small Pennsylvania town in July of 1863. We visited one unassuming and haunted location that was here during the Battle of Gettysburg and was a casualty collection point just like many buildings were used for back then. It would make sense that the spirit who sets off ghost hunting gadgets in this Baltimore Street home fought and died in the Civil War. But, this resident spirit has no connection to the Battle of Gettysburg. Our guide for the evening, P aranormal Investigator Robert "Night Monkey" Simmons  with Gettysburg Paranormal Association / Gettysburg Ghost  Tours . He  shares with everyone the details.  “The morning of August 31, 198
3 comments
Read more

Faith and the Paranormal

Written by:  Rick Garner Case Filed: 4/9/23 Executive Producer:  Rick Garner   Decades spent documenting and exploring unexplained cases, Rick Garner has often experienced resistance, concern and judgement from those who share his faith in God. Often he encountered the belief that no human spirits roam the earth and that there are only "familiar spirits" - demons masquerading as loved ones. However, in his discernment, Rick knew that not only was he not encountering demons but neither were multiple people who were sharing with him their unexplained activity. He began to make connections with many who shared his faith and an interest in the paranormal. Rick collected 14 hours of video footage with guests answering the same questions and edited that into "Faith and the Paranormal." This special documentary attempts to go deep into finding an answer to the question: can faith and the paranormal coexist? We thank our special guests: Brandon Kramer, Angela Boley,
Post a Comment
Read more