My name is Robert and I am a paranormal investigator for RJA Ghost Tours. Today, I am prepared to tell you a story of an encounter I had years ago during a paranormal investigation. Preface to this story: before this investigation, I had never had anything affect me the way this entity affected me that night. During my career as a paranormal investigator, I have been on countless investigations and have visited some not just intimidating but actually scary locations. We have been to some pretty dark and scary locations and I have never had anything physically affect me the way I am about to describe to you.  

The following occurred during a paranormal investigation of what is known today as the haunted Sheraton Gunter Hotel located in downtown San Antonio, Texas USA. This hotel is well known for being a haunted hotel. One of the stories told about the hotel revolves around a murder that happened in 1965. The murder involved a man named Walter Emerick who is said to have killed an unknown blonde woman. A body was never recovered but room 636 was covered in blood. The blood and Emerick were discovered by a maid who entered the room after believing the "Do Not Disturb" sign had been left on the door by accident. As the maid walked in she encountered Emerick with blood-soaked sheets in his hands. She naturally screamed. Emrick placed his finger over his mouth in a motion to signal her to be quiet. Emrick then fled the room to evade capture. Emrick later committed suicide in a nearby hotel minutes before police found him. This is still an unsolved crime. 

Our visit to the hotel that night was in search of ghosts related to this murder story. To better understand all of the possible scenarios I started walking Emrick's escape route. Down the hall from the suspected murder room, I walked up to a window where a fire escape is located. My idea of where I thought our murder suspect could have chosen to escape. This is where I had my experience. The following things happened simultaneously. First, do you know that feeling you get when you sit on your foot for a long time, and then it gets numb and tingly? Well, that's what I felt starting from the bottom of my spine coming up to my shoulders down my arms and into my hands and fingers. Immediately after this occurred I got the feeling that someone was behind me. Now, remember, I am looking out a window thinking about where and how Emrick escaped. As I looked up in the reflection of the glass I saw behind me down the hall was a dark black mass moving towards me. I slowly turned to confront it but suddenly it dissipated right before my very eyes leaving my spine and fingers still tingling. I have never experienced anything that has affected me physically. I have heard things and seen things but I have never felt things. 

Was this a ghost or something darker? After this paranormal experience, I have given a lot of thought to whether I believe this was a human spirit or a dark entity of some kind. Although there is no typical way to see a ghost. All ghost encounters are different. This one was not a typical ghost sighting, for me anyway. I have seen black masses in photographs and even in video but never in person. It got me thinking if this was not ghost related to the murder or another story from the hotel's past then what was it? Is there a possibility that this property is haunted by something else? Maybe even something that influenced the 1965 murder? There are so many more questions that I have now about this haunted location.

If you are interested in learning more about this story or want to hear other ghost stories about haunted San Antonio, Texas we invite you to join us on a San Antonio Ghost Tour. RJA Ghost Tours operates nightly and it is our pleasure to share with you America's most haunted cities. To book a ghost tour with us click here or to learn more about what you can expect on a ghost tour click here.