Ghost hunters are individuals or teams who investigate and research paranormal phenomena, specifically focusing on ghosts and hauntings. “The Ghost Hunters” is a paranormal and reality television series.
The Tap Team, also known as TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society)[1], is one such team that gained widespread popularity through its television show, “Ghost Hunters.” Founded in 1990 by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, TAPS is based in Warwick, Rhode Island, and comprises a group of paranormal investigators who use scientific methods to investigate reports of ghostly activity. The team consists of individuals with diverse backgrounds, including plumbing, electrical work, and law enforcement.
Founders (click/touch each person for info)
Jason Hawes
Jason Hawes was born on December 27, 1971, in Canandaigua, New York, USA. He is an American author, plumber, and paranormal investigator who is best known as the co-founder of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) and for his role in the television series “Ghost Hunters.”
Hawes became interested in the paranormal at a young age and, along with his friend and future TAPS co-founder Grant Wilson, began investigating ghostly activity. In addition to his work with TAPS, Hawes has authored several books on the paranormal and continues to be an active paranormal investigator.
Grant Wilson
Grant Wilson was born on July 3, 1974, in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. He is an American plumber and paranormal investigator who is best known as the co-founder of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) and for his role in the television series “Ghost Hunters.”
Wilson developed an interest in the paranormal at a young age and began investigating ghostly activity with his friend and future TAPS co-founder, Jason Hawes. In addition to his work with TAPS, Wilson has written books on the paranormal and continues to be an active paranormal investigator.
During their investigations, TAPS uses a variety of equipment, including digital cameras, audio recorders, thermal imaging cameras, and electromagnetic field (EMF) detectors to capture evidence of paranormal activity.
The team also employs various methods, such as EVP (electronic voice phenomena) sessions and spirit box sessions, to communicate with spirits and attempt to gain a better understanding of their experiences. Hawes and Wilson worked as plumbers for Roto-Rooter while moonlighting as paranormal investigators at night before starting TAPS.
Television Seasons
- Seasons 1-5 were on Sci Fi – October 6, 2004-December 16, 2009 – 102 episodes
- Seasons 6-11 were on SyFy (rebranded name) – March 3, 2010-October 26, 2016 – 128 episodes
- Seasons 12-13 were on A&E – August 21, 2019-May 27, 2020 – 20 episodes
- Season 14 is on Discovery+ – October 31, 2021-March 19, 2022 – 13 episodes
- Seasons 15-19 are on the Travel Channel – October 1, 2022 – now – 16 episodes as of this post pate
In the early shows, TAPS was headquartered in a trailer located behind Jason Hawes’ house, and they drove one white van to investigations. Within one season, they had moved the entire operation to a storefront in Warwick, Rhode Island, and acquired several new TAPS vehicles. The series, initially produced for 10 episodes as a docu-soap, had later episodes shift to a more documentary focus. Ghost Hunters episodes feature the team going to reportedly haunted locations across the United States, with some investigations in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Canada in earlier seasons.
Some of the early Ghost Hunters
Britt Griffith
Britt Griffith was born on December 13, 1980, in the United States. He is an American actor, musician, and former cast member of the television series “Ghost Hunters.” Griffith joined the show in 2008 as a member of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) and appeared in over 80 episodes before leaving the show in 2013. Prior to joining TAPS, Griffith worked as a professional wrestler, musician, and actor. He has also made appearances in other paranormal shows and documentaries, including “Ghost Hunters Academy” and “Paranormal Challenge.”
K.J. McCormick
K.J. McCormick was an investigator for Ghost Hunters from 2010 – 2016.
Brian Harnois
Brian Harnois was born on November 8, 1976, in Rhode Island, USA. He is an American paranormal investigator and former cast member of the television series “Ghost Hunters.” Harnois was a founding member of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) and appeared in the first six seasons of “Ghost Hunters.”
However, he left the show in 2007 after controversy surrounding his involvement with a different paranormal show. After leaving “Ghost Hunters,” Harnois made appearances in other paranormal shows and documentaries, including “Haunted Collector” and “Ghost Hunters Academy.”
Donna LaCroix
Donna LaCroix is an American television personality and a former cast member of the paranormal investigation series “Ghost Hunters.” She was born on February 7, 1972, in Rhode Island, USA. LaCroix joined The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) team in 2004 and appeared in the first two seasons of “Ghost Hunters.”
She was an important member of the team and often provided her psychic impressions during the investigations. After leaving the show, LaCroix remained involved in the paranormal field and gave lectures on psychic development.
Kristen Luman
Kristen Luman is an American paranormal investigator and a former cast member of the television series “Ghost Hunters.” She was born on May 23, 1981, in California, USA. Luman joined the show in 2013 as part of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) team and appeared in several episodes until 2016.
Luman was known for her approach to investigating the paranormal using metaphysical techniques, such as meditation and energy work. After leaving the show, Luman continued to work in the paranormal field and made appearances in other paranormal shows, including “Ghost Mine” and “Kindred Spirits.”
Daryl Marston
Daryl Marston is an American paranormal investigator and a current cast member of the television series “Ghost Hunters.” He was born on August 7, 1979, in California, USA. Marston joined the show in 2019 and is part of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) team.
He has been interested in the paranormal since he was a child and has been investigating the paranormal for over 20 years. Marston is known for his ability to connect with spirits and has worked on numerous cases involving hauntings and other paranormal phenomena.
Mustafa Gatollari
Mustafa Gatollari is an American paranormal investigator and a former cast member of the television series “Ghost Hunters.” He was born on June 25, 1986, in New York, USA. Gatollari joined the show in 2019 as part of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) team and appeared in several episodes until 2020.
He has been interested in the paranormal since he was a child and has been investigating the paranormal for over a decade. Gatollari is known for his analytical approach to paranormal investigations and his ability to debunk claims of paranormal activity. After leaving the show, Gatollari continued to work in the paranormal field and founded a paranormal research and investigation team called Lost Haunts.
Brandon Alvis
Brandon Alvis is an American paranormal investigator and a current cast member of the television series “Ghost Hunters.” He was born on August 4, 1981, in California, USA. Alvis joined the show in 2019 as part of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) team. He has been investigating the paranormal for over a decade and is known for his expertise in audio and visual analysis.
Alvis is often tasked with reviewing evidence collected during investigations to determine if there is any paranormal activity. He is also the founder of the American Paranormal Research Association (APRA), which provides scientific investigation of paranormal claims and promotes education and public awareness about the paranormal.
Current Ghost Hunters
Steve Gonsalves
Steve Gonsalves is an American paranormal investigator and television personality, best known for his work on the television series “Ghost Hunters.” He was born on October 23, 1975, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA. Gonsalves has been a member of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) since 1996 and has investigated hundreds of paranormal cases with the team.
He is known for his technical expertise in ghost-hunting equipment, and for his level-headed approach to paranormal investigations. In addition to his work on “Ghost Hunters,” Gonsalves has also appeared in other paranormal television series, including “Ghost Hunters Academy” and “Ghost Nation.” Steve released his debut book, A Life with Ghosts! Along with the compelling history of each location, Steve recounts his terrifying experiences with disembodied voices, haunting EVPS, mysterious dark masses, and other unexplained phenomena—in addition to what he learned about living through a life with ghosts.
Dave Tango
Dave Tango is an American paranormal investigator and television personality, best known for his work on the television series “Ghost Hunters.” He was born on March 20, 1985, in Linden, New Jersey, USA. Tango has been a member of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) since 2007 and has investigated hundreds of paranormal cases with the team. He is known for his technical expertise in ghost-hunting equipment and his ability to connect with spirits during investigations. In addition to his work on “Ghost Hunters,” Tango has also appeared in other paranormal television series, including “Ghost Hunters Academy” and “Ghost Nation.”
Shari DeBenedetti
Shari DeBenedetti was born on August 26, 1973, in Schenectady, New York, and became interested in the paranormal field at a very young age as she experienced many strange and unexplained things. But it wasn’t until her mid 20’s that she began to research and investigate the paranormal, because the house she lived in at the time was believed to be haunted.
Shari and her family had many frightening experiences there. That’s when she decided to start researching and investigating and then eventually formed a team. Shari wanted to help others who were also experiencing paranormal activity so that they would be comfortable living in their homes.
The show is popular among viewers for its scientific approach to investigating the paranormal and its emphasis on debunking possible natural explanations for reported ghostly activity. While some skeptics have criticized the methods and findings of ghost hunters, TAPS and other paranormal investigation teams continue to be popular among those who believe in the existence of ghosts and other supernatural phenomena.
Footnotes
- The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson. The group is dedicated to investigating claims of paranormal activity and conducting research into the field of ghost hunting. TAPS gained widespread recognition through their television series “Ghost Hunters,” which aired on the Syfy network from 2004 to 2016. The show documented the group’s investigations of purportedly haunted locations across the United States and often involved the use of specialized equipment and techniques to capture evidence of paranormal activity. While some have criticized TAPS for the lack of scientific rigor in their investigations, the group has maintained a strong following among paranormal enthusiasts and continues to operate today. [Back]
Further Reading
Sources
- Ghost Hunters (TV series) (2023) Wikipedia
- “Ghost Hunters” TV Show (SyFy Channel): https://www.syfy.com/ghost-hunters
- TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) Website: https://the-atlantic-paranormal-society.com/
- Skeptical Inquirer article on TAPS: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/taps-ghost-hunters-ghost-hunting-and-science-communication/
