Interview with April Page Slaughter

Interview with April Page Slaughter, Paranormal Investigator, Author and Journalist.
Interviewed by Paul Dale Roberts, HPI General Manager, Ghostwriter & Paranormal Investigator www.hpiparanormal.net

Question: Tell us something about yourself. Your family life, schooling, etc.

I grew up in Utah, the youngest of four children in my family. We were the type to always be out fishing, boating, barbequing, four-wheeling, etc. At the age of twelve, I began writing and publishing poetry and fell in love with writing. I graduated from American Fork High School in 1997, and went on to attend classes at Utah Valley State College in Orem, Utah. I married my first husband in 1999 and spent the next several years moving around the country in support of his job with the United States Navy. In December of 2001, I gave birth to beautiful and healthy identical twin girls. I divorced a few years later and re-married my current husband Allen (also a paranormal investigator) in July of 2007 and we live just outside of Dallas, Texas. He and I founded The Paranormal Source, Inc. in 2008 which is a non-profit paranormal research and education corporation.

Question: How did you become a paranormal investigator.

Like so many others, I grew up in a haunted home. When I had first married and moved away, I was living in WA state when I saw a program on the Discovery Channel that featured the Utah Ghost Hunters Society (or UGHS) headed by Chris and Nancy Peterson. I was fascinated with their ability to capture EVP and wanted to officially investigate my parent’s home in UT. Over the course of two or three years, I kept in contact with Chris and he and I discussed everything about the paranormal I could think of. When I moved back home to Utah, I expressed an interest in learning more and thus began my mentoring for ‘ghost hunting’. When the UGHS was dissolved, I formed my own team (the first in UT to investigate ALL types of paranormal phenomena) called Utah’s Unexplained with my investigative partner, James Boley.

Question: I am also an author, journalist and paranormal investigator, we could become great friends...(smile)! Anyway, tell me where you have been published at.

For nearly three years, I wrote a recurring column for TAPS Paramagazine, published by The Atlantic Paranormal Society and the Sci-Fi Channel’s Ghost Hunters called Ghost Hunting State-by-State. I profiled different reportedly haunted locations in different states throughout the U.S., and also occasionally wrote feature articles. The most popular of these was a three-part series on Demonology and a two-part series on the Skinwalker. I am currently wrapping up my first paranormal book entitled Ghosthunting Texas, which is part of the America’s Haunted Road Trip series published by Clerisy Press. The book will be available beginning in September of this year.


Question: Tell me about your best investigations.

Wow, this is a loaded question! I could write a book about it…. But wait, I am! I have been all over the country and investigated some of the most intriguing places. My favorites would have to be the now demolished Lehi Hospital in Lehi, Utah, the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California – and so many others! The Lehi Hospital was where I spent the most time and gathered some of the best evidence I have ever captured. It was condemned by the city earlier this year and torn down. The activity there was always very interactive. Full body apparitions, Class A EVPs, and anomalous photography was often experienced. It will be greatly missed!

Question: Do you investigate all things paranormal, or just ghosts?

You name it, we’re after it. We’ve got an amazing team of field investigators, along with a top-notch Advisory Board of Directors with extensive backgrounds in all areas to assist us.

Question: What is your website address and how can someone contact you?

Our official website for The Paranormal Source, Inc. is www.paranormalsource.com , and you can contact us anytime via e-mail at info@paranormalsource.com or by using the form available under the ‘Contact’ link on our homepage.

Question: What areas do you investigate?

All over the United States, but most often in Texas as that is where we are based. Investigations abroad are currently being considered.

Question: What is the Paranormal Source, Inc?

(See answer above)

Question: What do you want to achieve as a paranormal investigator and author?

My personal goal is to gain more knowledge on all areas of the paranormal, to share that knowledge with others interested in learning, and to help people understand the paranormal rather than be afraid of it.

Question: What are some of your other hobbies, recreational activities?

I am a nerd. I love to watch documentaries, read, and write in many different formats. I have fallen in love with photography and graphic design, which I work on when I have spare time.

Question: What are your favorite cartoons, music, TV shows, movies?

Cartoons: Scooby-Doo (yes, really!), old school Transformers, The Misadventures of Flapjack, and Tiny Toons.
Music: Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tori Amos, RED, Depeche Mode, Erasure, Disturbed, Three Days Grace, Ray LaMontagne, Flyleaf, Patsy Cline, Audioslave, and so many more…
TV Shows: Carnivale, Deadwood, Six Feet Under (all no longer in production), True Blood, Dexter, The Tudors, Ghost Hunters, Most Haunted (yes, I like them both and for different reasons – don’t shoot me!), Ace of Cakes, and pretty much anything on the Food Network. I love to cook!
Movies: Monty Python & The Holy Grail, Kill Bill (both), The Legend of 1900, Heavy, The Neverending Story, Ghostbusters, Face/Off, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Seven Pounds, The Rock (Alcatraz, not the wrestler/actor), Transformers, Corpse Bride, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Question: If you had 6 dinner guests, 3 fictional and 3 historically real, who would they be and why?

Fictional –

1. “Brother Justin” from HBO’s Carnivale
There is just something innately interesting about a character that portrays himself as a man of God, but instead of propagating love and unity, he is all about self-destruction and chaos. He’s an intimidating character, and I am usually always attracted to things that scare me.

2. “Dexter Morgan” from Showtime’s Dexter
Simply put, he doesn’t wait around for things to set themselves right. He’s a vigilante, and while his view of the concept of right and wrong is extremely skewed, he satisfies that part in all of us that wants so much to rid the world of those who cause the most pain and suffering.

3. “Bumble Bee” from the movie Transformers
What could be more cool than a hot looking car that transforms into the world’s best bodyguard? He also had a lot of heart.



Factual –

1. Edgar Allan Poe
Because he was a literary genius, romantic, and troubled soul who wasn’t afraid to share himself with the world.

2. Edgar Cayce
He gave so much of himself to others, and was as accurate as any psychic could be, considering how flawed humans are in their interpretations of things. Overall, an amazing individual.

3. My Grandmother, Marilyn
Lost her too soon. The strongest and most beautiful woman I have ever known!




Question: This ends the interview, any last words of wisdom?



I would encourage anyone interested in learning more about the paranormal field to keep their minds open, and not subscribe 100% to any one way of thinking. Let your knowledge evolve as your experiences evolve, and know that just because some may disagree with your processes or opinions, it doesn’t mean you’re wrong. Go with your gut, be thorough, be honest, and you’ll be a fantastic asset to yourself and to others. Just be yourself.

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APRIL SLAUGHTER
Executive Director of The Paranormal Source, Inc.
Paranormal Investigator, Author & Journalist
Ph: (214) 918-6601
www.paranormalsource.com
www.americashauntedroadtrip.com
www.myspace.com/aprilrebuilt
www.twitter.com/April_Slaughter