More Than a Good Ghost Story: P.I.G.s Presents Findings on Haunting of Historic Cresco Theatre and Opera House

Know what's happening in your hometown. Help us keep you informed. CRESCO — Are unexplained noises, strange occurrences and reports of ghostly encounters enough to establish that a place is haunted? For paranormal investigator Dave Smutzler, the answer requires more than a good ghost story. It takes investigation, evidence and, more often than not, an open mind. Smutzler brought that approach to the Cresco Theatre and Opera House on Thursday, Oct. 29, sharing nearly 25 years of paranormal investigation experiences and findings from an investigation of the reportedly haunted historic theater. The event, presented in partnership with the Cresco Public Library, invited attendees to hear about Smutzler's work with his paranormal investigation group, P.I.G.s (Police Investigating Ghosts), and learn about the equipment, techniques and experiences behind investigating reportedly haunted locations. Smutzler described himself as a "skeptical believer," emphasizing that he does not consider himself an expert on ghosts and has never personally seen one. "I've never seen a ghost. I can't stand up here and tell you what a ghost is," he told attendees. Instead, his interest centers on investigating unusual occurrences and determining what might be behind them. His curiosity began during childhood after watching a television movie based on the reported paranormal events surrounding Eastern Airlines Flight 401. The story involved parts from the crashed aircraft being salvaged and reused in other planes, with subsequent reports of sightings of deceased crew members. The story captured his attention and sparked a curiosity that eventually developed into a long-term interest in paranormal investigation. Smutzler, a former police chief, said his background in law enforcement also influenced his approach. After college, he became a police officer and frequently worked night shifts. During his career, he encountered people reporting unexplained activity in their homes. At the time, he said, paranormal claims were not openly discussed in the same way they are today. People who contacted law enforcement about unusual experiences were often reluctant to have anyone know about the calls. Smutzler eventually began investigating those reports alongside other officers and individuals interested in the paranormal. Over time, the group expanded to include people without law enforcement backgrounds, providing different perspectives during investigations. He compared paranormal investigation to police work, describing both as processes of gathering information, examining evidence and trying to understand what happened. "It's an interview. It's an investigation. It's digging," he said during a subsequent interview. Over approximately 25 years, Smutzler and his team have investigated residences, businesses, museums, historic buildings and other locations where people have reported unusual activity. He said the group does not investigate every request it receives. In its earlier years, the team frequently accepted calls, sometimes spending an entire night at a location only to find little or no activity. The group eventually began evaluating reports more carefully to determine which situations appeared to warrant an investigation. Smutzler said some people are genuinely distressed by what they experience, and the team wants to help when it can. The investigations also require considerable time after the team leaves a location. Reviewing hours of video, audio recordings and other collected evidence can take days or weeks. Investigating the unexplained During his presentation, Smutzler explained the equipment P.I.G.s uses to document unusual activity and attempt to establish whether something is happening beyond ordinary environmental causes. Among the equipment discussed was the K2 meter, which detects electromagnetic field (EMF) activity. Smutzler explained that electromagnetic fields are present in everyday environments and can be produced by electrical equipment and other sources. Before beginning an investigation, the team checks a location for existing EMF readings. Establishing those baseline readings helps investigators distinguish ordinary environmental activity from unusual readings recorded later. Other equipment includes digital audio recorders, infrared lighting, digital cameras, spirit boxes, motion detectors, REM pods and specialized cameras. Digital audio recorders are used to capture possible electronic voice phenomena, commonly called EVPs. These are recordings in which investigators believe they hear voices or sounds that were not apparent during the original recording. Smutzler played examples from previous investigations, including a recording made at the Porter House Museum in Decorah. During that investigation, the team recorded a whisper that appeared to say, "Answer the phone," immediately following the regular beeping of an answering machine. He also described using spirit boxes, which scan radio frequencies and produce static and snippets of audio. Investigators ask questions and listen for responses they believe may be meaningful. Another device discussed was the SLS camera, which uses motion-mapping technology to identify human-shaped figures in its field of view. Smutzler shared footage from previous investigations in which the device appeared to map figures in locations where investigators reported seeing no person. He cautioned attendees about relying too heavily on paranormal applications available for smartphones. Some applications may use GPS information or other programmed features to generate words and readings that users could mistake for paranormal communication. Smutzler stressed that investigators must consider ordinary explanations and carefully review their evidence rather than immediately labeling an unexplained occurrence paranormal. What the team found at the Cresco Theatre A significant portion of the presentation focused on P.I.G.s' investigation of the Cresco Theatre, which Smutzler said had a history of reported unusual activity. Before the investigation, he had heard accounts of children's laughter, objects being moved or hidden, unexplained voices, temperature changes, a reported bone-thin entity that sits in the theater nicknamed "Bonsey" and reports of a female presence identified by some as "Dolores." He said he had previously visited the theater when a spirit medium presented a program there and heard stories from people about their experiences in the building. That prompted his interest in returning with investigation equipment. The team arrived at approximately 8 p.m. and began setting up its equipment. Investigators established a command center in the basement and installed stationary night-vision cameras throughout the building. The cameras were positioned to monitor several areas, including the stage, auditorium, green room and balcony. One of the first unusual occurrences involved a camera positioned toward the stage. While investigators were working elsewhere in the building, the camera stopped transmitting video. When a team member went to examine it, the camera had been unplugged. Smutzler said nobody had been working near the camera or its cables at the time. The camera also appeared to have been repositioned when it was plugged back in. Smutzler described the incident as "unusual," although the presentation did not establish what caused it. The team also used K2 meters and a device known as a "dead bell" to look for possible responses during question-and-answer sessions. During one session, investigators asked whether the reported activity in the theater involved children who had been heard laughing in the building. They attempted to obtain responses through the equipment. Smutzler showed attendees selected portions of the recordings, explaining that the clips represented only a small portion of the investigation. Much of the recorded material contained no apparent activity. The team also used an SLS camera in the balcony. Footage appeared to show a small figure near a member of the investigation team who was seated with the dead bell. Smutzler said the combination of the apparent figure and the equipment activity made the footage interesting, but he stopped short of presenting it as definitive proof of a haunting. Another area of interest was the theater's green room, which Smutzler described as one of the more active locations during the investigation. A REM pod, a device designed to detect changes in its surrounding electromagnetic field, reportedly activated multiple times. Investigators also documented activity involving cat toys, small devices that light up when movement or other triggering conditions are detected. Smutzler recalled an especially unusual sensation while investigating near the REM pod. As he approached the area, he said the hair on one side of his arm and hand stood up, accompanied by an intense feeling of cold in that particular spot. He described the sensation as something he had not experienced before. The team also used a device called a ParaScript, which produces words that investigators attempt to interpret in the context of their surroundings. During the theater investigation, the device produced words including "ashes," "short" and "trade" during one session. In another area, it displayed "parked," "sky" and "highway." Smutzler said he could not determine what the words meant or whether they had any connection to the theater's history. Despite the unusual occurrences, he characterized the overall investigation as relatively typical. By approximately 3:30 a.m., the team had collected several items of interest but had not captured an unmistakable apparition or seen a spirit walking through the building. "We had a lot of things to go on, but not a whole lot of 'activity,'" he said, describing the investigation. He also discussed the importance of being respectful during paranormal investigations. The group does not intentionally provoke or antagonize entities, and members perform a closing prayer that "invokes the name of Jesus Christ" before leaving a location to ward against malevolent possession. Smutzler said the team wants to document experiences without potentially making a situation worse for the people who live or work at the property. A careful approach to paranormal claims During the question-and-answer portion of the event, Smutzler discussed some of the more memorable investigations from his career. One involved a residence in Minnesota where a family had moved out because of reported activity. During the investigation, Smutzler described hearing unexplained noises, experiencing what sounded like a person walking toward him and observing a door move without anyone physically pushing it. He said the experience stood out because the activity was "more aggressive" than what the group typically encounters. In a separate investigation, he recalled a cat toy flying several feet from a bar stool and striking a railing while he was teaching a group in a fully lit room in Duluth. Although Smutzler has experienced incidents he considers difficult to explain, he reiterated that he has never seen a ghost. He also discussed the importance of distinguishing between different types of paranormal claims and not assuming that every unusual photograph, sound or movement represents a spirit. Dust, insects, reflections and other ordinary causes can create images that people might interpret as paranormal. In an interview following the presentation, Smutzler said approximately 90% of the team's investigations do not produce dramatic experiences, such as seeing an apparition or feeling someone touch them. The group continues to receive requests for investigations, often through word of mouth. Smutzler said a museum curator in central Iowa recently contacted him after hearing about the team's reputation. P.I.G.s does not charge for its investigations. Smutzler said team members donate their time and energy, and any free-will donations received go toward purchasing equipment. The Cresco event offered attendees an opportunity to hear about the team's work firsthand, examine examples of its recorded evidence and consider the questions that continue to surround reportedly haunted locations. For Smutzler, the goal remains much the same as when he first became interested in the subject: finding answers to experiences that people cannot easily explain and helping those in need. Whether the Cresco Theatre is haunted remains an open question. Smutzler's presentation offered attendees a closer look at the process of investigating the unexplained and the challenges of separating unusual experiences from verifiable evidence. Start your day with what's happening locally. Sign up for our free newsletter.