Blacktooth’s Interviews #2: Country Roads Paranormal Investigations

My interviews here at Horror Society has been lacking since my addition to the site back in January.  I personally get more enjoyment out of reviewing films and posting news.  However, I have noticed a lot of the other writers get a lot of attention for their interviews which forced me to get my ass into gear and start doing more of them.

Most people associate Horror Society with horror films but we are a site dedicated to horror in general and what is more horrifying than the thought of ghosts?  That brings me to this West Virginia based paranormal group, Country Roads Paranormal Investigations or C.R.P.I. for short.  I met the founder, Dave Spinks, one day while at work.  He visited the store I work at with problems with his cell phone.  While I was troubleshooting his device I noticed his wallpaper.  I asked him about it he revealed that he did in fact co-head a paranormal investigation group.  I hold the highest respect for anyone who is able to do what they truly love in the state.  People like C.R.P.I. and Razor Sharp Studios are real role models for any West Virginian and I respect them both.

When Dave left the store I felt like an idiot for not asking him if I could interview him and his team for the site.  It took me a little over two weeks to track him and his group down on Facebook in order to request an interview where they all graciously accepted.

This interview consists of Dave Spinks (co-founder and lead investigator), Billy Spinks (co-founder and lead investigator), and Devin Spinks (lead photographer and investigator) and was conducted over Facebook.

 So I will start this off with something simple so we can get to know you guys.  At what age did you become interested in paranormal research and what inspired you to do so?

Dave: “about 15 for me I had an experience when my grandpa died.  I was visiting my Dad and my grandpa who lived in another town was sick for years, I had a dream that my grandpa was standing there beside my bed , long story short I was concerned about him after having this dream so I called up there the next day and my uncle from out of town answered and I said what are you doing there and he said no one called you yet and i said no why? He then told me my grandpa died last night. So to me it was like he came to say goodbye to me.”

Billy: I’ve been interested for several years, but when I really became interested is when I had an experience back in 2000 while at an in-service class at Moundsville Prison. I saw an apparition that I didn’t realize was not a real person until I talked with some of the people who worked there. The guy I saw and followed was not there and was the same guy that had been seen by many other people. It was a ghost of an ex-inmate.

Devin: I really became interested at a young age, when all the paranormal shows were coming out. I could not wait to get started when my dad, Billy and cousin Dave decided to start this group.

You guys are based out of West Virginia, have you always lived in the mountain state?

Billy: Dave was born here, grew up in other states from time to time, but our entire family are from the Summersville area and Dave came in every summer. He came back to live permanently in 2001 when he got out of the military. I lived in Summersville for 36 yrs and for the past 4 yrs have lived in Lewisburg, WV. Devin still lives in Nicholas County where he grew up.

What are some of the challenges you face being a paranormal investigator? Are any of those challenges brought on by living in WV?

Billy: We haven’t run in to many challenges. Most everyone supports us in our endeavors. Our entire family loves what we are doing and supports us 100%. We have had a few clients who contacted us who were a little “crazy” acting. We screen every contact before we choose to investigate their location. The questionnaire we use is very in-depth and personal, so we are able to weed out the ones we feel are not factual. West Virginia holds a lot of history and we feel it is a perfect state for investigations.

Dave: we occasionally run into people who say we shouldn’t be messing with that sort of stuff and we are gonna go to hell.

That is actually my next question. I personally know how closed minded people are in this state and growing up I did catch some hell for my unhealthy horror obsession. Do you guys ever meet negativity for what you do by those WV natives? If you do, what do they normally say to you?