About Oddbob's Paranormal Research
History of Oddbob's Paranormal Research (O.P.R.)
Rock Paranormal investigated claims of paranormal activity in Southern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and surrounding areas. They investigated several confidential cases, several historical legends, as well as many reports of local haunted sites and/or locations of "high strangeness". (You may read about these past investigations in our Archives).
Rock Paranormal underwent several changes over the first few years of operations, including various member and organiz ational changes that helped streamline the research and team processes. Team Founder Robert Markin developed the "Rock Paranormal Investigator Training Program" to help train new investigators and team members on now standardized practices and procedures. (A modified version of this manual is still used by O.P.R. today).
Rock Paranormal began publishing a free online e-magazine titled "The Paranormal Informant", which showcases it's research, investigations, other cases and team activities. (Past issues are available for download through our Archives) The magazine features a wide range of topics and articles, ranging from Herbology to Pagan/Wiccan practices, ghostly encounters and UFO abductions to murderers and famous cases.
After team founder Robert "Odd Bob" Markin moved from Wisconsin to the Windy City, the team took a short break, which ended up turning into a long hiatus. It was announced in November 2016 that Rock Paranormal would close it's door for an indefinite amount of time. Thankfully, that period of time has ended, but in the process, Rock Paranormal has undergone some big changes...
In Fall of 2017, Robert "Odd Bob" Markin began work to rebrand the organization under the name "Oddbob Paranormal Research" (O.P.R.), to reflect the changes in the organization and as an homage to one of his previous groups, O.P.I.A.R. (pronounced "Oh-pee-are"). Robert now works as a solo investigator, taking full responsibility for every aspect of the operation of the 'group'. With renewed sense of identity, history, and vigor, he boldly goes where few dare to tread: in the unknown, the unexplained, and sometimes, the unimaginable... O.P.R. officially opened it's doors again in January 2018.
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Our Research Methods
O.P.R. utilizes an "eclectic" approach to their studies, employing a range of old-school and new-school methodologies and instruments into their investigations. This means we utilize a combination of modern technology and gadgetry with traditional methods of spirit detection in order to attempt to gather evidence.The goal of the team is to study each case with an open mind while pursuing the truth.
We will utilize photographic, video- and audio-recording equipment as well as other sensitive measuring equipment to gather data about the environment and the phenomenon. We will also apply the principles of the scientific method to our research and investigations, but may also employ "other unproven methods" (such as mediums/psychics, era cues, and the like) in order to attempt to solicit evidenciary proof.
These activities may manifest during our research and investigations, for example, as using both traditional film-style and digital cameras and recorders, using mediums/seances, using EMF/ELF and other sensitive equipment, hanging chimes to detect breezes, throwing flour on the floor to look for foot-prints, and conducting an "era cues" session, among others. (Era Cues are using costumes, props, music, and events from previous time periods to try and get a response from potential entities.)
We will also conduct extensive research into the background of any locations and witnesses utilizing multiple resources such as the internet, libraries, historical societies/archives, and the like. This part of our research is one of the most important, especially when it comes to "Historical Haunts" or apparitions. This stage might help you discover who or what is haunting a location, and potentially even why. We will interview witnesses multiple times to check for accuracy and to see if any additional information is revealed that might be helpful.
We also subject all of our photographic, audio and video evidence to intense scrutiny before presenting it as "evidence". We utilize software to enhance these 'artifacts', and may also attempt to recreate the phenomenon using controlled experiments. Our goal is to pursue the truth, and one of our biggest ways of pursuing the truth is through the harsh examination of all of our evidence before assuming it has a paranormal nature.
Once we've critiqued our evidence and finished our research, we compile what is known as a "Spirit/Entity/Event Profile" (depends on the specific case, but it's pretty much the same thing). It's basically a summation of the reported events/phenomenon, a summary of the research and evidence, and what the conclusions based on the evidence and research suggest. This is basically a report all about the phenomenon, how it occurs/what happens and when/to whom it has previously occured, why it possible occurs, and what evidence you have to support those conclusions as well as any other documentation.
Typical Investigation Process
Generally, our investigations follow a pretty typical process:
- FIRST REPORT / INTERVIEWING WITNESSES- At this stage, we will gather information about the sighting/phenomenon, the witnesses, the location and use this information to decide how to proceed with the next steps in the investigation. Some cases may require investigation, some may not. Others may require extensive equipment and activities, some may not. This first stage determines the rest of the process.
- INITIAL SITE / LOCATION VISIT - At our first visit, we will map out the site, and use our equipment and tools to search for any clues to potential "real world" sources for phenomenon before the vigil itself. We will also plan the Investigation/Vigil activities at this point (i.e. deciding where to put cameras, where to try EVP, etc.). At this time, we will also re-interview our witnesses to see if they can remember any additional information or details that might be pertinant to the investigation.
- THE INVESTIGATION / VIGIL - This is the part you always see on TV. We will conduct on-location investigation vigils to search for activity in an attempt to document the phenomenon encountered by the witness(es). This may be a single vigil, or it may consist of several vigils over an extended period of time, depending on the case. We will continue to interview witnesses and gather information about the case.
- RESEARCH & EVIDENCE REVIEW - After our vigils, we will review and analyze all of our gathered "evidence". We will also continue our historical/background research at this point. The goal is to compare the historical research with the evidence to determine if there are any collaborations. We will present our findings to our clients in the form of a "Spirit/Entity/Encounter Profile", and work with the client towards an amicable resolution.
- CONTINUED CONTACT - Once our initial investigation is over, we will maintain continued contact with our clients. We will continue to document any continued activity, and may undertake additional investigation vigils to attempt to gather more "evidence" for the case file. In either event, we're always here to help our clients even AFTER the investigation is "over"...
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Contact Odd Bob/OPR:
Message Phone: 608-718-0375
I am also available selectively on skype, facebook/windows messenger, and other services. to make an appointment, please contact using the methods above.
MEET THE TEAM:
FOUNDER & LEAD INVESTIGATORRobert "Odd Bob" Markin
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Robert "Odd Bob" Markin has had a healthy interest in the paranormal, occult, and supernatural since he was just a toddler playing with his Ghostbuster toys and reading scary stories.
While attending a haunted middle school, Robert's studies took a more serious tone, and he began to research anything and everything about the paranormal. He formed a small, informal group of people who studied famous cases and checked out alleged "haunted" locations (dubbed "Ghost Hunters", long before the show of the same title actually existed).
After high school, Robert opened the "Office of Paranormal Investigation And Research (OPIAR)" to study and investigate claims of the paranormal. Shortly thereafter, he also joined "WISP" or the "Wisconsin Investigators of Supernatural Phenomenon", which was began by a friend of his who wanted to go on legend trips. After closing OPIAR to spend more time at WISP, WISP ended up closing it's doors after the other founding members left abruptly (They were more interested in the legend tripping and being scared than actually investigating claims).
That's when Robert opened Rock Paranormal (2011). He has been working as the Team Manager, Chief Investigator and Lead Researcher since the team was founded. However, after dealing with several team members who only again wanted to do the "fun parts" (i.e. investigating), instead of helping with background research, evidence review, and other administrative aspects of the organization, it was decided that Rock Paranormal would go on hiatus, and then eventually closed it's doors.
After over a year of this hiatus, Robert decided it was time to start a new group, this time, going solo and taking full responsibility and control of every aspect of the group. In 2017, Rock Paranormal was rebranded as "Oddbob Paranormal Research" (O.P.R.), which is an homage to the original group O.P.I.A.R. (Pronounced Oh-pee-are) that he had founded and ran successfully for many years before WISP and Rock Paranormal existed.
With renewed vigor, a new sense of identity, purpose and history, Robert "Odd Bob" Markin delves deep into the mysteries of the unknown, the unexplored, and the unexplainable...
O.P.R. Investigation & Research Assistants
These folks help me during investigations and research processes by operating various equipment, participating in activities/seances and era cue activities, as well as reviewing and analyzing evidence and conducting historical research.
