Screenshot 3, Paranormal State, “The Anniversary”
Appears at approximately 10 minutes 6 seconds.

Screenshot 4, Paranormal State, “The Anniversary”
Appears at approximately 10 minutes 24 seconds.

Nannie Womack was brutally raped and murdered on 08 December 1908. According to the 1900 United States Federal Census, which was not shown in this Paranormal State episode, Nannie was born in April of 1898. That means she was 10-years-old at the time of her death. But, most notable is the fact that her date of birth is on her gravestone, which Ryan visited twice; but for some reason, we were not shown the entire text- just the year “1908”. I was able to locate someone gracious enough to provide a photo of Nannie’s gravestone, which I have respectfully included near the bottom of this page.

For reasons unknown, “The Anniversary” presented three wrong accounts of Nannie Womack’s age when she was brutally raped and murdered. She was inaccurately portrayed as being either eight-, nine-, or 13-years-old, when in fact, she was 10-years old.

First published: 11 May 2009
Last update: 01 March 2010

Written by: Ernie Marsh

Screenshot 1, from Paranormal State “The Anniversary”
Nannie Womack is the girl on the right.

Nannie Womack was 10-years-old when she was brutally raped and murdered. The list below shows the variety of ages attributed to which source given in the episode. I’ve included screenshots to provide a visual reference for the incorrect mentions of Nannie’s age. Underlined items are my emphasis.

Nannie P. Womack was born on 07 April 1898, and was 10-years-old when murdered on 08 December 1908. 

Nannie’s birthdate appears on her gravestone, which Ryan visited twice; with Betty and Sharon, and Jeff and Sierra. And, Nannie’s birth month and year are listed in the 1900 U.S. Federal Census which could have been researched via the Internet. Yet, someone withheld Nannie’s correct age, and instead, chose three sources in which to give viewers three incorrect ages; eight-, nine-, and 13-years old, when Nannie was murdered.

Since Ryan and the PRS must have known Nannie’s correct age, but apparently chose to wrongly portray it differently, why should we believe or trust the accuracy of anything investigated by the Paranormal Research Society (PRS) and shown on Paranormal State?

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
I wish to thank librarian “Laurie” Schultz and the Mt. Lebanon Public Library, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “Laurie” searched an Internet subscription database at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library to locate the U.S. 1900 Federal Census which enabled me to verify Nannie Womack’s age.

I graciously thank the person who sent me the photograph of Nannie P. Womack’s gravestone.

Clicking a link will open a new browser window in which to view the linked page.

Although this website provides links to third party sites, Ernie Marsh is not responsible for the content of any such site. Links are provided as a convenience to viewers, and they shall not be interpreted as an endorsement, sponsorship, or association of any kind.

AncestryLibrary.com. 1900 United States Federal Census. Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Lucas Mill, Russell, Kentucky; Roll: T623_550 Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 163

Johnson, Wayne. Russell County, Kentucky: History & Families. “Brutal Slaying of Nannie Womack,” Russell County Historical Society, KY. Turner Publishing, 1996, accessed 15 May 2009.

Sources from “The Anniversary”

Betty, Womack family descendant
Topher reading from book [Internet]
Article read by Ryan [Internet]

Sources I found by independent research
Photograph of Nannie’s gravestone
1900 United States Federal Census

Screenshot 2, Paranormal State, “The Anniversary”
Appears at approximately 16 minutes 23 seconds.
Betty, introduced as a Womack-family descendant, tells Ryan that Nannie was killed at eight-years-old.

See screenshot below

Screenshot 2
Screenshot 3
Screenshot 4

Not shown in episode
Photo, near page bottom
Screenshot not available

NANNIE WAS MURDERED WHEN SHE WAS 10-YEARS-OLD (CORRECT AGE)

Nannie P. Womack was born on 07 April of 1898, as shown on her gravestone. This confirms that she was ten-years-old when brutally murdered.

Nannie’s birth month and year are also listed in the 1900 United States Federal Census. The Census should have been accessible via the Internet at the Adair County Public Library, which Topher visited.

So, for some reason, the Penn State Paranormal Research Society (PRS), and Paranormal State did not disclose Nannie Womack’s birthdate in “The Anniversary.” If they did, we would have known Nannie’s correct age.

Ryan visited Nannie Womack’s gravesite twice; with Betty and Sharon (Womack family descendants), and Jeff and Sierra. So Ryan and the film crew must have seen Nannie’s birthdate.

Photograph of Nannie P. Womack’s gravestone used with permission. Attribution withheld.

NANNIE MURDERED AT EIGHT-YEARS-OLD (INCORRECT AGE, EXAMPLE ONE)

NANNIE MURDERED AT NINE-YEARS-OLD (INCORRECT AGE, EXAMPLE TWO)

The quote below was from the book, Russell County, Kentucky: History & Families. It was taken from page 41, first sentence under the section, “Brutal Slaying of Nannie Womack.”

NANNIE MURDERED AT 13-YEARS-OLD (INCORRECT AGE, EXAMPLE THREE)

On the same day of the investigation in the scene right after Topher read the quote above, Ryan reads from what appears to be an Internet article which states Nannie’s age as being 13-years-old when murdered.

Wrong age

Wrong age
Wrong age
Wrong age

Right age
Right age
Right age

Nannie’s age

8
9
13

Nannie’s age
10
10

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.