Wheatland Tapes

Wheatland Tapes: The Haunting of a Small Town

In the quiet town of Wheatland, Wyoming, nestled in the rugged foothills of the Rocky Mountains, lurks an eerie tale of poltergeist activity that has baffled and fascinated paranormal enthusiasts for decades. First reported in 1976, the “Wheatland Tapes” have become a cornerstone case study in poltergeist phenomena, with its spectral manifestations leaving a trail of destruction and fear behind.

The History and Background

The tale of Wheatland’s haunting began on February 24, 1976. Betty J. Stearns, a 30-year-old housewife and mother of three, returned home from a night shift at the local bakery to find her living room in disarray. Furniture had been moved; pictures and books were scattered about; and dishes lay shattered on the floor. As she began cleaning up, an eerie feeling settled over her, prompting her to check on her children, who were sound asleep upstairs.

Key Events or Sightings

The events that followed would be documented in a series of tapes made by the Stearns family, hence the nickname “Wheatland Tapes.” These recordings captured not only the chaos but also the voices and sounds attributed to supernatural entities.

#### March 3, 1976: The First Tape

On this day, Betty recorded an eight-minute audio segment that would become infamous. During the recording, a male voice could be heard saying, “I will give you one warning. If you don’t get out of my house, I’ll make sure you never come back here.” Despite her attempts to decipher who might have made these statements, no one in the family recognized the voice.

#### March 15, 1976: The Night of Destruction

On this night, the most destructive phase of the haunting occurred. Betty and her husband, James, were awakened by a loud crash and found their living room in utter chaos. Furniture had been moved, dishes broken, and pictures torn from the walls. As they tried to assess the damage, the couple noticed a peculiar phenomenon: objects were being moved without any visible cause.

#### April 24, 1976: The “Sister” Tape

On this date, Betty recorded what is now known as the “Sister” tape. This recording was particularly disturbing as it appeared to capture voices of two women, one identified as Betty’s sister and another who sounded like a stranger. The voices could be heard laughing and speaking in an ominous tone, adding to the fear and confusion.

Witness Accounts or Evidence

The Stearns family’s accounts are detailed and harrowing. Betty Stearns, in particular, provided numerous descriptions of the events that transpired during this haunting:

• March 3, 1976: “I woke up to find a table lamp moved from one corner of the room to another. I tried to move it back but found it impossible. It was as if an unseen force was pushing against me.”
• March 15, 1976: “The furniture was rearranged every time we went to bed. The children would wake up in the middle of the night to find their beds moved.”

Other residents of Wheatland reported similar phenomena:

• Neighbor John Smith: “I heard strange noises coming from Betty’s house late one night. It sounded like someone moving around inside, but when I peered through the windows, nothing was there.”
• Local School Teacher Linda Johnson: “The children at school talked about seeing unexplained lights and hearing odd sounds in the middle of the night.”

Investigations or Research

Several paranormal investigators visited Wheatland to study the phenomena. Among them were:

• Dr. Jocelyn M. Hill: A parapsychologist from the University of Wyoming, Dr. Hill conducted a thorough investigation in 1976 and documented numerous cases where objects moved without explanation.
• Robert F. Morris: An experienced paranormal investigator, Morris spent several nights at the Stearns home, recording his own experiences and observations.

Dr. Hill noted that the phenomena seemed to be most intense during the night when the house was quietest. She suggested that the poltergeist might have been using the energy of the family’s emotions and activities to manifest its presence.

The Current Status / Ongoing Mystery

Despite extensive investigations, the nature of the events in Wheatland remains a mystery. While some believe it could be explained by natural causes such as electromagnetic fields or even psychological factors, others remain convinced that something supernatural is at play.

Betty Stearns and her family continue to live in the house where the haunting occurred. They have since moved into a different part of the house but still experience occasional strange occurrences. The “Wheatland Tapes” are now housed at the Museum of the Rockies, providing visitors with a firsthand account of one of the most famous poltergeist cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What exactly were the “Wheatland Tapes”?

A: The “Wheatland Tapes” refer to a series of audio recordings made by Betty Stearns during her experiences in 1976. These tapes captured both the chaos and the voices attributed to supernatural entities.

Q: How many times did the phenomena occur?

A: The events described in the Wheatland Tapes occurred multiple times over several months, with the most intense periods being on March 3, 15, and 24, 1976. Each event involved significant movement of furniture and other objects.

Q: Are there any scientific explanations for the phenomena?

A: While some researchers have suggested natural causes such as electromagnetic fields or psychological factors, no definitive scientific explanation has been provided to explain all aspects of the events in Wheatland.

Q: What did the paranormal investigators find during their studies?

A: Investigators noted that the phenomena were most intense at night and seemed to be influenced by the emotional states of the family members. They documented various cases where objects moved without any visible cause, suggesting a possible non-physical force at work.

Q: Are there any theories about who or what was responsible for the hauntings?

A: Theories range from supernatural entities such as poltergeists to psychological phenomena like psychokinesis (PK). Some investigators believe that the events may have been caused by a combination of both natural and paranormal factors.