P.R.I.S.M. - Paranormal Research & Investigative Studies Midwest - PRISM Investigations - Papillion Cemetery

History:
When John and Anna Sautter's son, Herman, died on 19 June 1872, there was no cemetery near their farm. They buried their son in a corner of their farm, a common practice in the mid to late 1800's. Two other children were buried there within the next few years. In the early 1880's they allowed other members of their church (then known as the German Lutheran Church, now First Lutheran Church) to bury their dead in the family cemetery. In 1884 they decided to give the cemetery to the church.

The deed for the Papillion Cemetery was signed 4 Dec 1884 and recorded on 6 Feb. 1886 in Book "Q", Page 147. The deed was from John and Anna Sautter to the German Lutheran Church; the consideration was $1.00.

When the size of the cemetery was doubled in 1925, the plat of the newly laid section refers to it as the First Lutheran Cemetery, but it was still commonly referred to as the "Sautter Cemetery". In 1913 the Papillion Times reported that Emil Grothe had purchased the "Schaab Cemetery" and that "it is to be called the Papillion Cemetery which was the original intention." Ten years later the Times reported in its 22 Mar 1923 edition that at a meeting of the Papillion Cemetery Association it was decided to change the name to "Cedar Dale Cemetery."

Thus the name "Papillion Cemetery" was no longer in use. Some time between 1923 and 1946 the name of "Sautter Cemetery" was changed to "Papillion Cemetery". When Hugo Cordes bought two lots in the cemetery on 26 Apr 1946, they were purchased from the "Papillion Cemetery Association", which retains close ties with First Lutheran Church in Papillion.

(Above history transcribed from: Gary Iske, Sarpy County Genealogical Society, 1995.)

Investigation #1

Date: 3/11/05
Time: 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Weather Outside: Partly cloudy & Windy
Outside Temperature: Low 30°F / High 56°F
Inside Temperature: N/A
Humidity: 24% (Dry)
Sunrise & Sunset: 6:42am & 6:26pm
Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent (17% Full)
Solar Activity: Normal
Geomagnetic Activity: Quiet

PRISM investigators present at the cemetery on this afternoon were David Rodriguez and Dan Christianson. No unusual EMF readings were recorded. Both photographs and audio recordings were taken. No unusual photos showed up, but a few EVP were recorded next to some of the newer grave sites.

Audio Evidence:

(Best listened to through headphones)

Note: Not everyone hears the same things being said while listening to an EVP. Let your own ears be the judge!

In this recording, David is standing over Donald's grave and asks, "Do you like us being here? Do you like talking to us?" After that, one on or two voices can be heard saying, "Yes." This is then followed by what appears to be a scream.

- EVP #1 (Original Stream)
- EVP #1 (EVP section - looped 3 times)
- EVP #1 (EVP section - looped 3 times w/ noise reduction added)

This EVP was recorded by PRISM investigator David Rodriguez on 3/11/05 on an Olympus W-10 digital recorder. In some of the clips, the EVP was "cleaned up" with noise reduction and looped by David Rodríguez using Adobe Audition software.

In this recording, Dan lays a flower on Larry's grave, and David asks, "Do you like the flower Robert?" This is followed by what appears to be a scream.

- EVP #2 (Original Stream)
- EVP #2 (EVP section - looped 3 times)
- EVP #2 (EVP section - looped 3 times w/ noise reduction added)

This EVP was recorded by PRISM investigator David Rodriguez on 3/11/05 on an Olympus W-10 digital recorder. In some of the clips, the EVP was "cleaned up" with noise reduction and looped by David Rodriguez using Adobe Audition software.

In this very strange recording, David is standing over the grave site of a recently deceased man named Robert, and asks the question, "Are you here Robert?" This is followed by a series of gasping sounds that sound like they were made by David, but in actuality, were not made by him. He then continues to ask Robert, "If you can talk to us, talk to us ...say something ...you've got to try really hard."

- EVP #3 (Original Stream)

This EVP was recorded by PRISM investigator David Rodriguez on 3/11/05 on an Olympus W-10 digital recorder.

In this recording, David is next to Larry's grave, and asks, "Can you talk to us Larry?" This is followed by a spirit voice replying "Yes." Immediately after that, another voice can be heard saying something unknown.

- EVP #4 (Original Stream)
- EVP #4 (EVP section of stream w/ sound amplified)

This EVP was recorded by PRISM investigator David Rodriguez on 3/11/05 on an Olympus W-10 digital recorder.

Investigation #2

Date: 3/19/05
Time: 7:07 pm to 7:42 pm
Weather Outside: Clear
Outside Temperature: 36°F - 40°F
Humidity Outside: 25%
Sunrise & Sunset: 6:27am & 6:36pm
Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous (70% Full)
Solar Activity: Active
Geomagnetic Activity: Quiet

On 3/19/05, PRISM investigators David Rodríguez and Dan Christianson once again visited the cemetery. The only really interesting photos were taken over Robert H.'s grave. Nothing out of the ordinary was noticed, until the investigators asked Robert to show himself. Once that happened, orbs began to appear in the photos in large numbers (on two separate cameras.) The orbs started to appear in the photos, and lasted for approximately seven minutes, and then, as soon as they appeared ...they disappeared.

PRISM Paranormal Investigations

(Above history transcribed from: Gary Iske, Sarpy County Genealogical Society, 1995.)