Dominick Villella (Dom) Founder and Team Leader

Dominick began studying Parapsychology in 1998 in Brooklyn, New York where he lives with his lovely wife and two beautiful daughters ages 2 & 3. Since childhood, Dom has had a fascination with the paranormal and in 2003 founded Paranormal Investigation of New York City and The American Association of Paranormal Research. Dom is a certified Parapsychologist and Clinical Hypnotherapist as well as being a certified Paranormal Investigator and EVP Technician. Dom is also an Ordained Christian Minister and is currently working on a degree in Psychology, a member of the Parapsychology Foundation located in Greenpoint, New York, and is the New York Representative for the American Ghost Society. When he's not busy with his paranormal studies, Dom keeps busy as a stay-at-home Dad, raising his two children. He enjoys watching movies with his wife, playing piano and singing, reading, cooking and writing in his blog which can be found on the website at www.paranormal-nyc.com Dom's ultimate goal is to find undeniable proof of paranormal activity and to help others that might have questions regarding things they might not understand.

Dan Sturges (Big Dan) Team Leader & Paranormal Investigator

A member of the team since the end of 2004, Dan is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts where he received the Spencer Tracy Scholarship and Charles Jehlinger Award. As an actor, Dan has been seen in numerous commercials, both national and regional. His work in theatre has taken him all over the city and around the world with the obligatory Law & Order episode thrown in for kicks. A childhood interest in ghosts and an interest in Civil War history led Dan to researching haunted locations. After meeting Dom and being asked to join the group, Dan jumped into investigating head first and became an important member of the team. His research into investigative techniques and equipment and his research into hauntings and the many theories behind them has made Dan an asset to the team. A big skeptic, Dan keeps an open mind and is happy to be proven wrong when looking for non-paranormal explanations. Dan lives in New York City and, when not out with the team, he can be found power-lifting at the gym, walking his little yellow dog, or somewhere in Paris enjoying a drink at a tiny bistro. Dan's only wish is to have hair like Dom.

Tony Steele Paranormal Investigator & Dowser

Tony is an original member of Paranormal Investigation of NYC. He came to New York from northeast Ireland, growing up on a small dairy farm in County Monaghan. Tony is a graduate of St. Patrick's College, Maynooth with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, Anthropology and Geography. He earned a post graduate degree in Adult and Community Education from the same institution. A musician, Tony learned Irish Whistle and Flute with local, traditional musicians and began playing bass as a teenager. As a bass player, Tony has played with many rock and jazz musicians and many Broadway Orchestra's, most notably, sitting in the bass chair for the "Riverdance On Broadway" show. Tony began dowsing 10 years ago after studying earth energies and has been an Astrologer for 15 years with a high interest in traditional astrology. An avid Yoga practitioner has led Tony to an interest in energy healing and is currently a level 2 Usui Reiki practitioner on his way to becoming a Reiki Master. Living in New York City and being a bass player, Tony is the anchor of many groups, including Paranormal Investigation of NYC. He is a true gentleman with a heart of gold. He is the true "God Of Thunder." www.tonysteelebass.com

Dan Tisher (Tish aka Handsome Dan) Paranormal Investigator, Data Coordinator

Since joining the team in 2005, Tish has been one of the more active members. He studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan and Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. Dan worked as a Police Cadet for a community outside of Detroit for 5 years and, during this time, he accumulated experience in crime scene investigation and preservation techniques. Dan uses his analytical and scientific experience in conjunction with his extensive investigative skills and methodologies to collect data at paranormal investigations. His focus is on making sure all data collected at an investigation is collected with proper technique and reporting protocols to ensure its reliability. Dan has had interest in the paranormal since childhood and, although he is generally a skeptic, his goal is to collect data that is not only proof positive of spiritual entities, but also evidence that may allow scientists to postulate as to the origin of paranormal activity. Tish lives in New York City and works in the IT field. His sense of humor and diligent work ethic makes Dan someone who can be relied on to either catch something that otherwise might have been missed on an investigation or to pick up the next round at the pub.

Dee Angelys Psychic Medium/Spirit Intuitive, Latino Interpreter

Dee's interest in the scientific approach to explore, learn and seek answers to this subject matter is what drew her to participate with Paranormal Investigation of NYC. After just a few meetings, Dee was asked to be a member of the group and has proved invaluable. Dee has been reading for individuals and groups for over 20 years and conducts lectures on subjects such as the realities of psychic work and Parapsychology in an effort to enlighten and stimulate individuals to learn more on their own. She is a member of the Queens Psychic Club, the Eyes of Learning and the Parapsychology Foundation, and is a Reiki Master-Usui Method of Reiki Energy Healing. Dee has a BA in Psychology with a minor in art history and works as an enrollment coordinator for a manage care plan. She lives in Queens, New York and enjoys drawing, cycling, comic book collecting, and traveling around the world learning about different cultures and their spiritual beliefs. Maybe, most important, Dee has the best laugh of the entire group. We love Dee!

Joe Maplebeck, Audio Technician

Having had paranormal experiences since he was a child led Joe to become one of the original members of the group. For many years, Joe managed a music studio in Queens, New York. This line of work gave Joe an enormous amount of experience in recording and acoustics as well as microphone dynamics and sound analyzing. Joe lives in Queens, New York and has moved on to custom Audio/Video installation. In his spare time, Joe can be seen playing in bands around the city and enjoys writing and arranging music as well as performing as a comedy improv actor. Joe is married and has a baby daughter. If that's not enough, Joe is the first person ever to see the elusive, "Guinness Ghost". (See photo on picture page on group website)

Amara D. Certified Paranormal Investigator and Investigative Researcher

Amara's interest began at the age of 8 with the passing of her grandmother. Always intrigued by the cycle of life and death, Amara looked for people with similar interests and experiences which brought her to Paranormal Investigations in the fall of 2005. A background in private investigations, Amara quickly found a spot on the team researching locations and has since established herself as a solid investigator. When not working with the team, Amara splits her time between private investigations and working with kids. She enjoys Astrology, Tarot, cooking, traveling, singing and eating lobster. Amara is a great listener and will give an honest answer. She has a great sense of humor which comes in handy on those long rides homes.

Gilburto Maurtua, Jr. - Assistant Paranormal Investigator

A member of the team since 2005, Gilburto's interests in the paranormal began when he was just a boy growing up in a haunted house. Gilburto has a B.S. degree in Business Management and a Masters in Education. He is a certified teacher in California and New York State where he is a Fifth Grade Bilingual/Transitional school teacher in Manhattan. When not out with the group, Gilburto enjoys traveling, hanging with friends, movies and music. Gilburto also works as a background actor, so keep a sharp eye out and you may catch him lurking in the shadows on many shows. Not busy enough, he also tends to Linda, his plant, and plays a mean conga.

Jennifer W. - Assistant Investigator

Jennifer is the newest member of the team having joined in 2006. Since then, she has been a great asset to the team as an assistant investigator. Jennifer's enthusiastic and fresh approach have led to new ideas on how to conduct an investigation. She is currently working on compiling a list of basic and specific questions to be used during the EVP session of an investigation. Jennifer has been interested in the paranormal ever since grade school, specifically: ghosts and hauntings; the afterlife; prophetic dreams and synchronicity. She lives in New York City and works in the advertising industry. When Jennifer isn't out with the team, reviewing evidence or fighting off the men, she likes to act in and direct theatre and performance art, write fiction and bad poetry and surf the web.

Listen to member, Dan Tisher, of Paranormal Investigation of NYC, share stories of investigation experiences, the team's experience on David Letterman, and how their group works together as a team in investigating many different locations in New York City and surrounding areas.

LISTEN HERE

VIDEO CLIP

While investigating the master bedroom of a house, a coin dropped out of nowhere. Three of us were right outside the room and heard it drop. We had just been in the room and no coins were visible - not on the dressers or the bed. We picked up the coin, took pictures, checked EMF and Temp readings, but everything was normal. As we were walking out of the room, we heard something else fall. This time it was a small push pin in the shape of a frog and it had landed in EXACTLY the same spot as the coin. We set up our camera in this room. You will hear Dom talking as he is filming and seeing something pass the bed on the camera screen.

The first photo here shows a Grandmother sitting in her chair on Christmas eve. She lived with the family for about 25 years and was a huge part of their family unit. She passed away the summer after this photo was taken. The following Christmas, a picture was taken of the chair that she would have been sitting in had she been alive. You can see the streaks of light in the room, seeming to lead to the chair. Notice that the Christmas tree lights are not lit, no candles burning and no light in the ceiling of the room. It appears that Grandma planned to join in the Christmas festivities!

EVP#1

We caught this EVP a couple of weeks ago at Eastern State Penitentiary. We were shooting an episode for a Spike TV webcast. Dan S. set up a microphone with a direct line to his laptop and left it in a cell that is part of the original cell blocks. Everybody was accounted for and the cell block was sealed. We found about 2.5 minutes of voices and strange noises that did not fit with where the mic was placed. We found these EVP's that night so we were able to try and recreate somebody walking up to the cell. In the original recording, you can't hear anybody walk up to the cell. When we tried to recreate it, the mic picked us up walking up to the cell. We tried to sneak up as quiet as possible, but we couldn't do it without being picked up by the mic. This EVP was caught at 9:10 pm and seems to say "My house" twice.

EVP#2

To learn more about PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION OF NYC visit them at:

www.paranormal-nyc.com