COLUMBUS, Georgia, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The family of a Georgia fifth-grader found bones of a child under the floor of their home and the child believes the bones belong to her imaginary friend.
Stephanie Ogden said a friendly black girl in a white dress began visiting her room about five years ago.
"She told me that somebody put her in the floor," Ogden said. "She said he had a mask on, and that he chopped her up. She didn't know who the person was, because he had a mask on."
Marion Stewart, Ogden's great-grandmother, said her great-granddaughter used to tell her family about the friend, but the adults always dismissed the stories as being the product of a child's imagination.
Last weekend, while the family was remodeling, they discovered the bones of a child under the floor of the trailer covered with insulation and duct tape, the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer reported Tuesday.
"I'm not a psychic, and I don't believe in some of that stuff," Stewart said. "But I believe this is a soul who has not been put to rest."
That is the whole text of the article, to avoid pop-ups, etc.
I tried looking in Snopes to debunk it but couldn't find anything.
Posted by peterh (Member # 5208) on :
...creepy
Posted by CStroman (Member # 6872) on :
"I see dead people"
Posted by Frisco (Member # 3765) on :
Not included in the story was speculation as to why the child had a tail, a snout, and was living in a raccoon nest.
Posted by margarita (Member # 6856) on :
Wow. Either a huge coincidence or something supernatural, or something else entirely. Fascinating.
But I wonder how the girl is taking it? Did they tell her?
Posted by WishfulWiggin (Member # 6823) on :
Anyone see a big resemblance to Card's Lost Boys ?
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
Of course. As well as any number of other ghost stories.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
quote: Not included in the story was speculation as to why the child had a tail, a snout, and was living in a raccoon nest.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
The Columbus Ledger Enquirer is treating it as a straight news article.
[ October 06, 2004, 08:00 PM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
That is kind of creepy, but you would be hard pressed to convince me it was the girl's ghost.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
Any possibility the girl saw the body and developed an invisible friend after that?
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
I believe Satan and his demons can appear to us sometimes posing as the dead. But the Bible says the dead don't know anything.
What's really frightening to me is that an evil spirit is hanging around this little girl.
-Katarain
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
Is it necessarily evil? It hasn't done anything to hurt her.
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
According to my beliefs, yes, since I believe there is no way it could be a dead person, it must be lying. Good spirits don't lie.
I realize there are a lot of people who don't believe the way I do. I can live with that.
-Katarain
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
That's an interesting story. I'd love to know more about it.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Katarin, have you made cyrush's aquaintence? He's not around much anymore, but he has a belief system that sounds similar to yours. I'm curious--if you don't mind sharing, how would you categorize what you believe? Are your beliefs something that you've come to on your own, or are they something that you have come to through a church?
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
quote:"It's just one of those cases where there's just not a lot to go on," he said.
They should get the girl to ask her friend.
Hobbes Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
I'm open to any possibility - it's another "hmmm..." moment.
I certainly don't discredit the girl's story out of hand, but nor do I believe it as proof-positive.
-Trevor
Posted by Defenestraitor (Member # 6907) on :
I'm pretty skeptical. I mean, what are the chances that Stephanie's imaginary friend is the restless soul of the murdered girl? Just because she said a masked man murdered her doesn't mean she was telling the truth. For all we know she could have been lying to Stephanie. We just can't discount the possibility that Stephanie's imaginary friend was a prankster who saw those remains under the trailer and tried passing herself off as the murdered girl just for kicks. Frankly it upsets me how many imaginary friends exploit young children in this way.
Posted by larisse (Member # 2221) on :
That is interesting. It does make you wonder about unexplained phenomena.
Did any of you catch that new show on SciFi called Ghosthunters? I watched some of it. It was on at 9 pm EST tonight. There is a repeat at 12 midnight. (There was another show before hand having to do with paranormal phenomena, but I had enough trouble flipping between Smallville and Lost to watch it. Actually, the repeat is on as I post. I think I might try to catch that one, too.)
Anyways, the ghosthunter show is about these two guys who are plumbers by day and hunt ghosts at night. They call their team "TAPS" or The Atlantic Paranormal Society. They've had crazier concepts than this on SciFi. Can anyone say Scare Tactics?
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
I thought Katarain was making fun if the Jack Chick thread. Ooops.
Which is not say that I wasn't raised to believe that same rigid view of the universe. I just don't think that making either God or demons responsible for everything really explains everything that happens in the world.
I've said it before. If there are demons, wouldn't they have better stuff to do than, say, impersonate Uncle Ned?
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
I glanced at the Jack Chick thread, but since I had NO idea what it was talking about, I moved on... How might I have been making fun of it?
I came to my beliefs through a church, Seventh-day Adventist. I've never met or heard of cyrush. I don't typically mention my beliefs... this really has to do with my belief regarding the state of the dead. I believe that when we die, the state we're in can be compared to a dreamless sleep. We simply cease to be. Closely related, is my belief that when Jesus comes back, we'll all be resurrected and either go to heaven or burn until gone in hell fire. (That's REALLY a simplification... I don't think it happens "just like that.") So, I don't believe in an eternal hell... but I do believe in an eternal heaven. Hmm... and since we're asleep in the ground, and the Bible says we don't know anything, we can't appear to anyone after death. That's a really simple summary... I've TRIED to keep it short....
I have no problem with people disagreeing with me... but if you get REALLY argumentative, I'll probably feel obligated to share Bible texts, and I really don't want to do that. (Although I also will if you just wanna know.) It also means I'd have to go to the trouble of looking them up..
-Katarain
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
If impersonating Uncle Ned causes you to in some way turn away from God or truth, then no, they've got nothing better to do. I believe demons want to take as many down with them as they can.
-Katarain
Posted by UofUlawguy (Member # 5492) on :
Seventh-Day Adventist, huh? I was going to guess Jehovah's Witness. I didn't realize the two had that particular belief in common.
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
Neither did I. Although I bet it differs in some points.
-Katarain
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote: But the Bible says the dead don't know anything.
What exactly does it say in the Bible that you intrepret in this way? Please share the verses. Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Job 14:10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
Psalm 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
Ecclesiastes 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
John 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. [emphasis added]
I can go on to include resurrection texts if you'd like...
-Katarain
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Katarain, what is your take on people who are clinically dead for some time, and then revived?
[Edited to remove typo]
[ October 07, 2004, 12:20 PM: Message edited by: Noemon ]
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
Jack Chick does these tracts that people hand out, basically ascribing everything supernatural to deamons. He also attacks Catholics, Muslims, Mormons, Harry Potter, D&D... Jehovah's Witnesses... Oh, he probably gets onto the Seventh Day Adventists, too, but I dunno.
We make fun of his stuff at Hatrack a lot, mostly because it's so hateful. And everyone who disagrees with him is drawn real ugly.
When I went to Christian School, one of my classmates was SDA. She was really cool. I think her dad was a coroner, which I thought was so cool. I never asked her a lot about her beliefs, though I think they were pretty much the same as mine at the time, except for the Saturday thing and the dietary restrictions.
My niece and her fiance are SDA. I didn't mean anything personal. On some level I'm probably jealous of those who still believe in a system of religion that provides a feeling of structure and safety. I miss that. So If I'm snarky or over the line when I disagree with you, please forgive me.
I have never seen a ghost or been influenced by anybody dead. At least, not influenced AFTER they were dead. However, I don't agree with the idea that people cease to exist in some way when they die. I just don't think the spirit is capable of becoming inert. I think the nature of spirit precludes it. Like a dry glass of water-- if it's a glass of water, it isn't dry.
But again, that's what I believe, and I believe it on a level that I don't think discussion can change. Since I'm sure you're probably as firm in your belief, I'm willing to drop it and say, "Let's hang out" and forget about it.
[ October 07, 2004, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: Olivetta ]
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
Olivetta, I can definitely agree to that. I am VERY much against beating someone over the head with what I believe. I'm not afraid to say I believe it--but I'll wait until someone asks to tell them more. And even then, I don't believe it is my job to convert ANYBODY--that's the Holy Spirit's job and He's MUCH better at it than I am. If he can use me, awesome, but I think most of the time he's worried about fixing me up when it comes to me...
It causes a bit of a conflict in me, though, when someone mentions that if I believe it and I don't share it, then I could be responsible for their not being saved. I don't like that one bit. But I generally console myself with the fact that if I'm pushy, I might push them away forever--and that's not good at all.
I can't say my belief structure is completely solid. I get exposed to differing beliefs all the time--even from other members of my church that I respect a lot and what they say makes sense. I think sometimes the watered down version that we learn as kids glosses over some of the finer points we get to as adults... I'm 26 and just learning this. Go figure.
Oh, about people who are clinically dead and then are revived, basically---I don't know. I do doubt that the breath of life (spirit) ever leaves the body, but maybe it does. That part is a little beyond me. I can say that I would have a lot of difficulty with this if I believed that we went to heaven when we die.. it seems awfully cruel to show up to heaven (YAY!) and then be sucked back to your body by some electrical jolt (Dangit! Hey! Let me back in!). Like Lazurus...if he was in heaven for 3 days when Jesus called him back I can see him saying... uh.... no thanks! I'm good here!
-Katarain
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Katarin -- thanks for sharing those Bible verses. While I don't share your interpretation, I can certainly see how your interpretation could be taken from some of them.
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
No problem.
-Katarain
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
oh! I checked the Jack Chick site and didn't find anything about SDA. Though he is one of those who believe it's heaven or hell when you die (The people in heaven shine and look happy, but the people in hell scream and write bad poetry).
And here I thought the was an equal opportunity offender. Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Is it possible that he's a SDA?
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
I doubt it! He's probably busy writing it as we speak.
Posted by Sara Sasse (Member # 6804) on :
Katarain, your list really did help explain the source of your beliefs. Like mph, I don't share the beliefs, but I wanted to say thanks for clarifying them. Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
mph-- I don't think so, since he seems to believe people go immediately to heaven or hell when they die (which is why ghosts are really demons) but Katarain believes that they are basically in a dreamless sleep until the resurrection (which is why ghosts are really demons).
Similar conclusion, different belief systems.
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
Sadly, there are PLENTY of crazy people in my church... but most of them were FORMERLY in my church and hate us.
It wouldn't have surprised me if he were SDA or former SDA. It would have greatly saddened me, however.
-Katarain
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
There are crazy people in every church, every club, every race, every town, every....
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
MPH, you are correct again. Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
I think I am the unofficial crazy person at my church.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Again? I think this was the first time.
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
Maybe in THIS thread. Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
Do you know what the Branch Davidians branched off from?? Yup, that's right SDAs. Boy, did we hate being associated with that whole mess.
By the way... just because I dislike the association doesn't mean I am in favor of the horrible actions taken by our government in that instance.
-Katarain
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
I don't think anyone here would have assumed that, but I could be wrong.
I don't think most people would want to be too strongly identified with either side of that particular horror.
Posted by peterh (Member # 5208) on :
I know Olivetta doesn't mind, since she keeps posting, but the complete derialment of this thread has kept me laughing all day.
(Not that there's anything particularly funny about Waco, or religions in general, just the derailment)
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
I live for fun derailments! *cheesy grin*
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
I did notice that... But the title DID ask what we thought....
-Katarain
Posted by peterh (Member # 5208) on :
In an effort to derail the derailment, I found this.
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
quote: Cherokee County - Canton - Hell Church - is a place located in the old part of Canton. There is a long narrow road going back into the woods that is very difficult to get down. You then come upon a church, out in the middle of no where, that is very small (one room ) and white. Located directly across the road is a cemetery with graves dating back to the 18th century. Although there have been accounts of graves freshly dug. The story goes that back in the 80's a boy was found mutilated. Most say that it was a cult killing. But the church was shut down and the newspaper clipping of this horrible event still exists. The church has been re-opened but there are still accounts of hearing faint piano music coming from inside the church late at night.
I have GOT to find this place, if it exists. Sounds like a useable location for filming.
![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
...creepy
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
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