Ryan wrote a book about some details about the formation of the PRS and some of the season one episodes of Paranormal State.

First published: 20 September 2010
Last update: 26 October 2010

Written by: Ernie Marsh

I haven’t had time to organize and present everything yet, but will update this book review.  Please check back.

Ryan’s book only covered some of the season one episodes on the TV show, Paranormal State. None of the equipment (such as motion detectors or infrared thermal imaging cameras) or methods (psychics, mediums) used in the paranormal investigations has ever produced scientifically verifiable evidence of paranormal activity. Ryan doesn’t mention this in his book.

MISSPELLED NAMES
Two names are misspelled. One person was the client in the pilot episode.

INACCURATE REFERENCE
On page 21, Ryan wrote “... a neighbor found Timothy’s body, dead from a .22 caliber bullet wound.” Ryan has a journalism degree, so he should have known the correct term to use is skeletal remains. In the book Ryan mentions a “neighbor” found Timothy’s body (fact: scattered skeletal remains were found by a woman out walking her dog), but in the Paranormal State episode “The Sixth Sense,” there is a screen caption showing “JAMES TESTA DISCOVERED TIMMY’S BODY.”

DEFINING A “DOCUMENTARY SHOW”
Ryan makes repeated mention that Paranormal State is a “documentary show.” I ask Ryan, or anyone related to the show in an official capacity to provide their definition of what constitutes a “documentary show.” I will include their definition on this website. If a documentary is supposed to be factual, accurate, objective and honest, then Paranormal State is not a documentary. Paranormal State is rife with examples of falsifications, fabrications, misinformation, and withholding information as a means to make things appear is if there is a paranormal causation. Paranormal State episodes have included: non-synchronous editing, incorporated scenes (‘borrowed’) from one episode and edited into another episode, voice-overs, sound effects, falsifications, fabrications, misleading information, inaccurate information, and have withheld pertinent information. I will provide a list of each category at some time in the future, but examples are already on this website.

“HONEST MISTAKES?” PARANORMAL STATE CONTAINS FAKE SITUATIONS
On page 178 as to whether Paranormal State is faked, Ryan writes, “I can’t speak for the other shows, but other than some honest mistakes, and time-crunched editing, which I discuss in this book, it’s not true, so in our case, no one’s able to back up that accusation.” That is incorrect. Look through this website. Also, Ryan mentioned an employee of James Randi said they couldn’t debunk the show. I ask Ryan to provide evidence to support his statement. And, in Ryan’s book, he mentioned a connection to Helen Isenberg, but made no mention of a door that was in Helen Isenberg’s home in the “Dark Man” episode that was creatively edited into “The Name” to make it appear to move by a paranormal causation (complete with creaky-door sound effect).

THE TRUTH QUASHED (SO FAR) BY CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS
It is not apparent in the book that many people who appear on the show sign a confidentiality agreement. If they talk about certain things, they could face a potential lawsuit. If found guilty, they could have to pay a lot of money. I would hope if Ryan really wants to present the truth, that the confidentiality agreements would become null and void. If there were no restrictions as to what people can say truthfully about the show, then open disclosure of facts could be presented without people fearing being sued. If the Paranormal Research Society wants to scientifically investigate purported paranormal claims, why don’t/can’t they present all of their findings? Wouldn’t this help advance science, and, wouldn’t the public be one step closer to understanding the truth? Where are all the documented scientific paranormal investigative facts? The Paranormal Research Society does not conduct proper scientific paranormal investigations following proven scientific methodologies. Instead, the PRS takes a pseudoscientific approach towards ‘investigating’ paranormal claims. As seen on Paranormal State, the PRS has failed to scientifically document and prove even one occurrence of any kind of paranormal phenomena.

“FOUNDED” VS. RECOGNIZED
In chapter one, page one of Ryan’s book, Ryan says “On September 16, 2001, I founded the Paranormal Research Society (PRS) out of a club room in State College.”

Through documents I’ve obtained, below are some details not mentioned in Ryan’s book. I believe a distinction should be made between the word “founded,” and when the PRS actually became a Penn State University-recognized club.

Sep 16, 2001 Ryan + four other people met to talk about the purpose of the paranormal organization.
     Nov 2001 First hearing with The Undergraduate Student Government (USG).
                       Applied for Provisional Status, but denied. Membership issues and PRS policies in question.
Feb 19, 2002 In a USG letter to Mr. Buell, PRS was granted Provisional Status.
Mar 28, 2008 PRS placed on Inactive Status.

Penn State University clubs were governed by the USG when the PRS was formed. Typically, a minimum of 20 members was required to be recognized as a club. I have not seen any indication that the Penn State Paranormal Research Society (club) ever achieved 20 members. I have been informed from a knowledgeable source that two membership lists exist from 2000-2001. One list showed 14 members, another showed 16.

Page 38 Ryan mentions the PRS club hierarchy and the different positions such as a candidate, to an investigator. Ryan “...wanted PRS to be as professional as possible...” I’ll delve into this at a later date. But Ryan never mentioned in the “Penn State University Paranormal Research Society Handbook” that I’ve obtained a copy of, that (Ryan or whoever wrote it) didn’t know the singular form of the word ‘phenomenon,’ versus the plural form, ‘phenomena.‘ For example, in the About NGHS & Mission Statement, “PSUPRS is a society dedicated in providing new information and research regarding paranormal phenomenon.” And, “We hope to educate those who are experiencing phenomenon...” Those examples should have used the plural form, ‘phenomena.‘ Those aren’t the only times where ‘phenomenon‘ and ‘phenomena‘ are misused.

WHAT THE *BLEEP* (This isn’t covered in Ryan’s book)
Some episodes in Paranormal State have one or more *bleeped* out words, which most likely mask a swear word. Perhaps swearing might show surprise, as if someone is startled or scared. But on page one in the PRS Handbook, under the Code of conduct: on the last line it says, “No obscene, foul, or abusive language.” So if the PRS Handbook stipulates what should not be said, how come possible inappropriate words are apparently used-but-bleeped out on TV?

‘“PSYCHIC” CARLA BARON RUBBISH
Ryan mentions in chapter one that he involved the use of a psychic, Carla Baron, in an effort to solve the disappearance of Cindy Song, and how she was a “... a psychic who later became involved in the nationally covered Elizabeth Smart kidnapping investigation.” This might sound impressive, but Ms. Baron did not solve Cindy Song’s disappearance or Elizabeth’s kidnapping. Ms. Baron is a self-promoter. Independent Investigations Group (IIG) investigated fourteen cases where Ms. Baron claimed involvement. Fact: Ms. Baron did not solve any of those cases using psychic abilities. Please read the IIG’s investigative report, “Carla Baron, Psychic Detective?” also read “Some Interesting Details” by James “The Amazing” Randi.

Ms. Baron has not returned e-mail I sent her asking to contact me. Also, working through what I’ll refer to as a diplomatic channel at Carnegie Mellon University (where Ms. Baron graduated as a music/voice major), e-mail was sent to Ms. Baron in which I identified myself as Webmaster of ParanormalStateIllustrated.com, and mentioned I too graduated from Carnegie Mellon University- although my degree was a BFA in Industrial Design. So far, Ms. Baron has not spoken with me about her purported “psychic” abilities. I get the impression that even if you go to the same school as somebody, they don’t necessarily care to talk with you.

I’LL BE ADDING MORE DETAILS FOR THIS BOOK REVIEW, SO PLEASE CHECK BACK.

TOPIC

SYNOPSIS

Ryan is improperly wearing a dust mask.

Creative use of the word documentary. I don’t see how Paranormal State can be considered a documentary.

There are misspelled names in Ryan’s book. One of them was the client’s first name from the pilot episode, “The Sixth Sense.”

I will be adding additional Topics. Anticipated update on 31 October 2010 . Please click either the “Topic” or “Synopsis” shown below for details of how certain events have been portrayed in Ryan’s book.

What defines a

“documentary”
               show?

Ryan mentioned an employee of James Randi couldn’t debunk the show. I asked Ryan for evidence to support that statement. Seems Ryan made that up.

Ryan, tell us the name of the James Randi employee you mentioned

Note: This site is not owned by, or affiliated with Penn State, the Paranormal Research Society, A&E Television Networks, Go Go Luckey Productions, or Four Seasons Productions International, nor is it maintained or endorsed by them. Copyright © 2008-2012 Ernie Marsh.