Don Decker and the Devil | Documentary

The alleged demonic possession of the "Rainboy" Donald Decker is arguably one of the most well-recognised paranormal cases in recent decades. Said to have started in February 1983 in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, the events which gripped "Rain Man" Decker and those around him are remembered as some of the strangest - and wettest - manifestations of evil in modern history, with Don Decker claimed to have entered a bizarre trance, been levitated and scratched by unseen entities, and even responsible for the unexplained appearance of rain inside a family home - and a prison. Witnessed by several police officers and a Reverend, his paranormal story is widely considered to be compelling, with Decker today known as the infamous Rain Man. If you're interested in the paranormal, demonic possession, diabolical influence, or just looking to hear a creepy story, then you won't want to miss this documentary video. And so, join Laura Rowton as she tries to unravel the mystery of the Rainman mystery and understand the forces at play in this bizarre phenomenon...
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[@pencilquest]

Hey! This happened in my hometown. One of the police officers was a security guard at my school. Donald Decker even stole my uncle's bike as a kid!

[@bricewatkins2355metalhead]

😄 Stole your uncle's bike. 😄 Truly evil. 😲

[@DEATH-THE-GOAT]

A real criminal mastermind 😂

[@davidlancaster8152]

The new details in the 2011 version don't negate the veracity of the original version.The police officers and priest witnesses bare credibility for the initial report. The 2011 retelling may have been embellished intentionally by the creators for more attention. Insane tale no matter who spills it but I'll defer to Laura who's integrity is impeccable. Lvya all much

[@kalishiva18]

So he's doing ok

[@bricewatkins2355metalhead]

@@kalishiva18 😉😆

[@tremorsfan]

I remember this from Unsolved Mysteries. I'm usually a skeptic but this one of the few cases where it's hard to debunk unless everybody is lying.

[@vasiovasio]

"unless everybody is lying" it is really like a... this is impossible right?!? ;)

[@paullangton-rogers2390]

I agree. I always approach paranormal cases with a healthy dose of sceptism and look for all rational and logical scientific explanations first before leaping to the paranormal. When you have a case like this one though, involving so many credible witnesses, especially several police officers, who have nothing to gain from deception, and a lot to lose really in terms of their credibility and being laughed at etc, it makes these cases a lot more credible and plausible. To quote Sherlock Holmes: *When you have eliminated all which is impossible then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.* I've investigated MANY haunted places and paranormal things over 30 years, and have myself encountered things, as have family members I trust implicityly, that defy all rational explanations and so I'm left concluding something possibly paranormal occurred or at least beyond our scientific understanding.

[@tremorsfan]

@@paullangton-rogers2390 Another case is the San Pedro haunting where the walls dripped human blood plasma. The only possible non supernatural explanation is that they actually bought a bag of human blood plasma and just randomly put it on the walls. Of course I have no idea if the person was a nurse.

[@transmascdruid77]

I remember this case from "Paranormal Witness" and it blew my mind. All of the eyewitnesses makes it all the more chilling.

[@wyvern0m3g42]

What frustrates me the most about Robert Bartholomew's assessment of the case is that, like many hard sceptics, he used one example of what occurred and then called it a day. I could believe it was ice damming in one home and everyone involved assumed the worst if it weren't for the fact that the water was seen in the pizzeria and prison later on. So ice damming just so happened to occur in every building this man wound up in? And in his exact room or cell? It's just so frustrating that Robert would jump to conclusions like this. And worse, it makes him look like a hypocrite as well. He states that because of the religious background of all involved, everyone jumped to conclusions as well and assumed this was something demonic. And yet he's just as capable of making assumptions and running with them; such as taking one example of the story, debunking it, and then assuming the rest of this alleged demonic possession is false as well, despite certain eyewitness testimonials suggesting things could have been more complicated than they seem. What I'm trying to get at here is that if you're going to be a sceptic about something, please try to take the matter at hand more seriously and look at it from all angles. If you don't take something as outlandish as aliens, ghosts, demons, cryptids or what have you seriously while you try to debunk them, then how am I supposed to take you seriously in return?

[@paullangton-rogers2390]

Indeed. Hard-core non-believer sceptics tend to be like that. They're basically the opposite of people who attribute everything even remotely odd to the paranormal or a haunting...the hard-core sceptics will try to find ANY explanation other than paranormal (however unlikely and bizarre) and they often think because they've rationally explained one aspect of the case, that's the case solved and dismiss it as being paranormal. We have a famous TV-personality psycologist professor in UK who is an anti-paranormal sceptic like that. He debunks paranormal stories and has persistently denied even the best cases with tons of witnesses and solid evidence of paranormal activity. He comes up with the most unlikely bizarre explanations, such as mass-hallucinations, people 'mentally creating' scratch marks on themselves etc. There is one famous case he was asked to investigate two years ago, The Battersea Poltergiest, a well documented case here in England which happened in 1956. Well over 50 people witnessed poltergiest activity (including police officers, scientists, doctors, journalists, a tax officer, a jewellery shop owner, a whole factory of women, and many other credible people). The poltergeist activity would follow the girl it focused on around to multiple locations and buildings, even her workplace and a random high street jewellery shop. Yet the hard-core sceptic suggested that means it's more likely not paranormal! You can't win with these people! If it's all in one place like a home, it's the famiily faking it. If it's happening in multiple locations, it's the focus person faking it! The Battersea Poltergiest activity persisted over 12 years, almost daily. And sometimes, things would happen in multiple locations at the same time. Physical objects would fly through the air, often with tremendous force. Objects would materialise out of thin air that didn't belong in the house, and items from the house would disappear. Fires started on two occasions which the fire service couldn't explain. Inexplicable taps, bangs and loud thuds which shook the house would happen, frequently on request. Strange writing appeared on the walls and on pieces of paper. Sheets were pulled from a bed while the person in the bed had her hands visible, and two men (one a police officer) held the sheet being pulled off the bed and was unable to stop it being pulled off due to the force pulling it.The bed was shaken violently while the girl and a journalist were in it and people observed. The girl was seen levitating about 6 inches off the bed by several witnesses. A pair of sllippers (house shoes) was seen by several witnesses walking around the house by themselves. And if that isn't shocking and proof enough, there's four extaordinary features of the Battersea Poltergiest case which stand out as paranormal evidence: 1) The girl the poltergiest activity focused on was one day looking at an expensive diamond necklace in a jewellery shop, from outside the shop which she never entered. She was with a friend and said to her friend she'd love to have the necklace. That necklace disappeared from the shop window display and was reported stolen to the police. The necklace inexplicably appeared in the girls house on a table a short while later, before the girl arrived home. Neither the girl or her friend had set foot in the shop that day, nor had either returned to the home prior to the necklace's appearance on the table. The girls father returned the necklace to the jewellery shop, and he had to try and convince the shop owner their poltergiest had stolen it for his daughter. And the shop owner whilst not believing that explanation of course, was still at a complete loss to explain how the girl had managed to steal it. So no charges for theft could be brought against the girl or her family. There was no evidence the girl or anyone else acting on her behalf had entered the shop. And even if they did, it seems inexplicable for someone to successfully steal an expensive diamond necklace from the front display window and nobody in the shop notice that, as you'd need to go behind the counter and past the staff.. 2) A visit to a doctor resulted in the doctors room being trashed and everything thrown off of his desk, right in front of his own eyes. Clear knocking sounds and taps were heard by the doctor which seem to come from under his desk. Yet the girl was sitting far away from his desk and nobody else was near the desk. It should be noted here too, that during this visit to the doctor (or just prior to seeing the doctor) the girl had been stripped down to her underwear and examined closely for any concealed items or trickery she might have to produce tapping and knocking sounds and she was asked to remove her shoes. By then, the tapping and knocking sounds were a regular feature of the Poltergiest activity and occurred wherever the girl happened to be, even outside the home. The girl and others present could speak to Donald by asking questions. He responded with one tap or knock for no, and two for yes. These knocks and taps seem to come from different places, sometimes a table or desk, sometimes a wall. 3) Gradually the family and a paranormal researcher found a way to communicate with the Poltergiest spirit easier using letters of the alphabet by pointing to them and waiting for a knock sound to validate, a slow process but it worked. The family called the Poltergiest Donald, and it responded to that name. Eventually Donald (who claimed to be French and 10 years old) was able to actually write short notes. Nobody saw the writing happen. The notes would just appear in child-like handwriting in a notepad or on blank sheets of paper. One note told them that an actor in a popular TV drama at the time was going to have a serious accident shortly. Donald urged the family in the house to warn the actor by letter to be careful. They ignored the note thinking it might be a prank and not having a way to easily contact an actor in 1956 anyway. Within two weeks or so, they saw in the news that the actor had a serious car accident. His car had overturned. Over the space of 12 years, "Donald" had written over 3,000 notes. Some of the notes contained information about historic events in France centuries ago, unknown to anyone, which were later validated as being true. 4) The grandmother of the girl the Poltergiest was attracted to lived in the family home. She was an out-spoken staunch Irish Catholic religious lady. She condemned the poltergiest activity as being "the work of the devil" and would often speak very harshly and critically about it, and often directly to "Donald" the poltergiest spirit whenever activity was happening in the house. One day, the grandmother, along with several other witnesses heard a clear female voice speaking with an Irish accent that seem to come from the corner of a room. The grandmother was shocked, went very pale and said it was her deceased mother's voice. It so disturbed the grandmother, that she retreated to her bedroom and was never the same after. She stopped eating and socialising with the family. And a short while later had a stroke and was taken to hospital where she died soon after. She was in fairly good health before she heard her mother's voice but it so affected her that she refused to talk about it and wouldn't reveal what her mother's voice said. When she was being taken into hospital in the ambulance, she knew she was going to die very soon. She told the girl, her grand daughter, that she wouldn't be coming back and to look after herself and her mother. Whether the Poltergiest did that to spite the grandmother, or whether it somehow challened her mother's spirit into forewarning her she was going to die soon in a few days, or whether her mother's spirit just manifested completely independently of the Poltergiest activity is debatable but some events suggest the Poltergiest may have done it maliciously. The Poltergiest, Donald, was well known for pranking or punishing people who mocked it or doubted it. At times, it could become quite violent towards such people. One time, the girl brought a new boyfriend home whom she'd forewarned about the Poltergiest. He didn't believe in paranormal things and was very dismissive. When he visited the house for the first time, he challenged Donald whilst sitting at the family dinner table saying "Do your worst Donald!" Almost immediately, a large bowl of nuts in the kitchen flew through the air in front of everyone and emptied right above his head. He was so terrified, that he got up, ran from the house and never returned again. For someone to fake all that, and fool so many credible people and pull off paranormal effects in multiple locations, and over such a long period of time, they'd have to be a criminal mastermind or have astonishing mental powers. That to me is MORE scary than the paranormal Poltergiest explanation.

[@wyvern0m3g42]

@@paullangton-rogers2390 Well, *dang.* I had never heard of the Battersea Poltergeist before (perhaps because I live in the U.S., but with global internet communication being what it is today, that's not much of an excuse anymore,) so this story was quite an eye opener for me. As someone myself who does at least attempt to find a logical and somewhat healthy skeptical answer to such things before I choose to believe in them, I feel like I'm at a loss. You pointed it out so perfectly, and in such good detail. Perhaps also because I can be quite distrustful and cynical when I'm at my worst, but I find it extremely hard to understand what kind of motivation the family would have had to commit to something this sophisticated for 12 long, drawn out years, aside from the usual buzz words that are favored by the extremist skeptics, like "attention" or "money." And the idea of professionals being stumped as to what the source of a fire may be, or that they would willingly go along with a girl's hoax or game of pretend feels far more difficult to believe than the spirit of a French boy haunting a family for over a decade. The journalist, perhaps, but I couldn't pay a doctor or scientist enough money to have them go along with whatever delusion I wanted them to preach to the public. I would be asked to leave for bothering them and wasting their time. This is such an overwhelming case for me to take in all at once and so suddenly that I'm not sure what else I could say about it. In the case of this TV personality psychologist however, he truly sounds as every bit as infuriating as you've described him. It's no wonder you brough him up, as he's a clear example of what I was talking about earlier. He is too far gone in his own personal dogma and world view that he cannot, or simply *will* not attempt to see reality as a multi-faceted experience. There is more to life than we are willing to accept, no matter how uncomfortable the subject matter may be. To close your mind off to any potential possibilities on the grounds that it makes no sense to you, or seems silly, or even childish is one of the most unprofessional things someone of his education and background can do. And this of course applies to everyone with a similar teaching and skill set, and a similar behavior. I for one am someone who takes satisfaction in seeing bizarre cases like these from both perspectives: The believer and the skeptic. I am more than willing to play devil's advocate and try to see both sides of the argument before I make up my own mind. And in many instances, no matter how much I try to distrust a witness or logically break down an instance of the paranormal, there are still many happenings that defy my limited understanding of the world. And instead of digging my heels in deeper to try and pretend that I am always correct, I take some amusement and excitement out of the idea that the world may still have fascinating mysteries and great unknowns left to encounter. That we do not live in a dull age where everything has already been done by our forefathers. Or to put it another way, and quoting myself from high school: "The the world still has magic left in it." Take it from someone with jade colored glasses such as myself. It is better to see the world as half-full, rather than half-empty.

[@paullangton-rogers2390]

@@wyvern0m3g42Thanks your fascinating reply! I'm the same as you, I approach paranormal things with a skeptical but open mind. I look for any natural explanation or even explanations that may challenge our limited understanding of science and the world as you pointed out! Some things cases like the Battersea case just seem to defy a single explanation as there's so much activity going on over such a long period witnessed by so many. It does give you pause for thought! Whether it is deceased souls/spirits or some telekinesis type mental projection of the mind by the living, or maybe a parallel time line and overlap of different time realities, who knows! As you said, I think the world is more complex than our current science can fully explain.. quantum physics and how time and space may behave very different to our limited perception (for example around black holes in space) who knows! There could well be infinite time lines. If you're interested in the Battersea Poltergeist case it's available to listen or download free online from the BBC Sounds website as a podcast. In America, it's been turned into two separate TV drama series. One is available on Peacock an independent media production and streaming service via their website. I'm hoping the two American funded Battersea Poltergeist drama series are available here in UK at some point, as at the moment only American viewers can watch them. I guess I could use a VPN to get a US IP address and download!

[@lobodesade6780]

I'm a skeptic most of the time too, I understand the reasoning of wanting to find logic in everything, that way you have control, because to lose that control is the most terrifying thing, but at that, sometimes things cannot be explained by what is "rational", I live in a haunted house, most of the time I can explain things with logic, but there are them few times where I hear someone calling me, or knocking, or footsteps, that's when I'm like, "oh ok it's the ghost, I'll just let you do your thing and I'll do mine". What I'm saying is, when you're faced with evidence of this stuff, sometimes you just have to confront it and say "ok maybe there is something to this".

[@Weather_Nerd]

Agreed. Don’t buy his reasons for a second. Rain drops moving horizontally and all, I will take the word of numerous individuals over one random looking for a way to explain something unexplainable

[@ladyraidenreturns1275]

I first heard Don Decker's account in 1987, his story has remained the same with no changes or embellishments...

[@stoneylrobertson]

I lived in East Stroudsburg PA for 7 years. I MET HIM! At a local bar. I did not know who he was, and a few years later, I saw the Scifi episode of Paranormal Witness. I remember him being kind but a bit awkward. So strange.

[@jerm2011]

Awesome work from Laura and company. "The Paranormal Scholar" is one of my favorite channels and skillfully narrated, well researched episodes like this are the reason why. Thanks Laura.

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you so much! Wishing you and yours all the very best. - Laura 🌙

[@mariameere5807]

Well said! Blessings 🕯💫🔮💫🕯

[@jonnytheboy7338]

Agreed

[@jonnyprice2618]

I agree. Her channel is brilliant.

[@Nyctophora]

The most through and balanced telling of this story I have heard, thank you!

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed. Best wishes.

[@derekanderson5429]

Thorough. Sorry just caught that out of the corner of my eye 👁️.

[@seeingtheforest9529]

I like the fact that you're not afraid to debunk the stories you tell.

[@mountainman4859]

Like The Why Files….

[@Weather_Nerd]

Nothing was debunked here.

[@hbombstatic]

Your hairband makes you look like the paintings of Catholic saints! You know, how they have a circular band around their heads. It also looks very nice on you with that gorgeous hair of yours! :) Thanks for all these fantastic stories! Your channel is one of my favorites! Always well researched and you present it in a way that lets the viewer decide what to believe. Keep up the excellent work!!

[@barneyronnie]

She is a Saint😇

[@Tsotha]

Laura's fashion sense is quite remarkable, I always thought she looked like a 19th century Victorian occultist

[@hbombstatic]

@@Tsotha You're right! She does! :)

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you so much, Heather. You are very kind! I am glad you enjoyed this episode, and my channel more generally. Wishing you and yours all the very best. - Laura 🌙

[@hbombstatic]

@@TheParanormalScholar You replied! Thanks for taking the time out of your schedule. I really appreciate it! When I leave comments I always hope the person sees it, but I never actually expect a response. I know you must be really busy so thank you! This made my day!! :)

[@WAYSOFLOVINGDARKNESS]

This one was actually so well done.. I appreciate that you share these and try too look at it objectively and with an open mind as well. This is definitely my favourite channel to get my spooky boi quota met.

[@blukhat]

I like listening to you tell the stories that no one else want to tell. Thank you.

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you very much! You are most welcome!

[@dougaldouglas8842]

Well balanced out, very fair summary. People can imagine things that are not there, and genuine in their sight. As a child I lived in a house that rained water, water ran down the walls. Now I said water ran down the walls and the first thing people will imagine is a torrent. What we had is a small stream of condensation from a property that had no passage of air flowing through it. The house was built of special concrete, a substance that made the building rock hard. It was built this way to withstand a direct hit from a bomber, the munitions factory had these properties built to keep workers safe. You had to be careful walking down the concrete stairs as they were wet. Another thing, the house was permanently cold, bitterly cold.

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you for watching. And for sharing your experience! Indeed, a natural explanation does appear to have played at a least a small part in this. Perhaps there were paranormal elements also, but, ultimately, who knows! Best wishes, Laura 🌙

[@dougaldouglas8842]

@@TheParanormalScholar Many thanks for kind reply. We are dealing with the human aspect of things, and we know what that means, stories taking on a life all of their own. I happen to be a rationalist, straight thinking, examining things, knowing that my fellow human being can imagine things that are not there, and are susceptible to seeing things because impressed upon. As a retired business Counsellor, one thing you never did was to ask the company what was wrong, as you needed a clean sheet. You just take a look around a place and, with a clear mind, you can see what is wrong. If the management told you beforehand, you would be corrupted in viewing things.

[@annie_xo]

I love the way you tell these stories, you objectively present the case and allow us come to our own conclusions about whether it’s true or not.

[@MrJaycrow30]

I love everything about this channel!! I'd love to go on a ghost hunting with Laura & Co. !!! Cheers from Vancouver Island, Canada!!

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you so much, Jason! Best wishes! - Laura🌙

[@alexanderulv3886]

Been waiting so long for another possession story 😍

[@cushingpushing]

This is great, thank you for doing a video about this bizarre paranormal story.

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you very much. 🌙

[@nachgeben]

It should be noted that Rain Man is thought to be a potential pseudonym in demonic music. I say this not because I'm a 'rock'n'roll is the devil' sort, but I love this stuff, and love tie-ins. Several rap songs reference Rain Main, and you'll see the repeated presence/reference of rain with potentially demonic symbology found in music videos by the big pop stars that people believe have contracted to "the devil" for their fame. A really good reference point is if you research conspiracies regarding Rihanna's Umbrella music video. While iirc there's no direct reference in her lyrics to this Rain Man, obviously it has to do with rain, and features a segment of her in a triangle. She bows forward at one point, and puts her arms up and out. There's something incredibly uncanny about it, and people show in videos why it feels that way when you see it. Now, whether the term Rain Man is in reference to this man, the movie character played by Dustin Hoffman, or this supposed music industry demon, that ultimately has to be up to people to discern. It is really weird that two of those three are tied to demonology, however.

[@melodyvalentine8779]

Actually, in Jay-Z's opening verse on Umbrella he says "Rain Man is back, with Little Miss Sunshine Rihanna where you at?" I've watched loads of conspiracy theory videos about stuff like that and the Umbrella video is one of the most mentioned for subliminal messages and occult symbology etc.

[@stuppittyhed]

seek help

[@Penrose707]

Your B-roll has gotten much better Laura, love the new editing style

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Glad you approve - thank you!

[@phantif4621]

I love your channel, so fascinating! Also, I noticed the copy of “Hostage to the Devil” on your end table. One of my favorite books on the topic!

[@williamsusang.oroland3515]

We are always so glad to see your video pop up.

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you so much. It is always lovely to see a comment from you both! 🌙

[@Motorhead_England]

Easily the best channel on KZbin and one of the main reasons I check my emails each day, for the next episode! Always unique stories, and meticulously presented, I would love to see this have a regular terrestrial TV slot, say half eleven on a Friday evening, something to look forward to on a cold winters night with a mug of cocoa. Best wishes Laura and crew.

[@lemmymilkister1862]

Cool handle 🤘🏻

[@Motorhead_England]

@@lemmymilkister1862 Likewise 👍

[@markandrew8461]

It's a very interesting story, Laura. The melted snow leaking through the roof would seem like a logical explanation. I have read that some people believe that extreme stress can cause poltergeist activities. Who knows. Thank you for another great story, Laura. Beautifully read as always.

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you, as ever, Mark. The case is certainly one which makes you think in terms of an explanation. Lots of food for thought! Wishing you and yours all the very best. - Laura 🌙

[@toddaulner5393]

But how did it go up from the ground then?

[@chimekeawutacoker5739]

A poltergeist is a demon...or else it would continue even after praying...the activity stops after a blessing or real prayer

[@chimekeawutacoker5739]

Have read this before .. The water drops defied the laws of gravity..its unscientific.. Its demonic

[@warrenknox9688]

some of the liquid was coming sideways melting snow doesnt really explain drenched cops in raincoats

[@shanelorrison5224]

This is a crazy wild account. I look forward to your presentation of this scary and creepy event.

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thanks, Shane, I hope you enjoyed!

[@hanzwind]

I LOVE the way you narrate!!! I feel like I’m listening to someone pod casting from their state room on the Titanic on their way to America to meet Laura Ingles on Little House on the Prairie.

[@1tarawho]

I absolutely love this channel 💓. The narrator with her English accent makes for an amazing story teller!! I also love how the narrator takes the content seriously and tells it in a serious manner ❤.

[@polishpat95]

Yeah. And don't forget great stories like "Deca" (decker) 😂

[@Tsotha]

great video as usual, I am continually impressed at Laura's knack for digging up Fortean incidents so weird and disturbing most other Forteans run away screaming - and for that matter her fashion sense, she truly looks like a 19th century Victorian British spiritualist who fell into a time warp to the 21st century

[@betty_boop_jd705]

Ah you LITERALLY just reminded me of Fortean Times - good god I miss that program lol thanks great times 😂

[@samanthab1923]

I remember seeing this on Unsolved when it first aired. Grew up in NJ but we all went to Basketball camp in Stroudsburg. It was weird after that show heard nothing else. It was cool he showed up on Paranormal Witness. I live in PA now 👻

[@johnytwotimes4072]

I miss Paranormal Witness

[@barneyronnie]

Where at? I'm in Pittsburgh!

[@Sometimesitsabitch]

Mr.Ballen covered this too and I have to say you definitely did it justice. Good work .I really enjoyed it!

[@barneyronnie]

Mr. Ballen is a remarkable specimen of the human male!

[@markmeadows7093]

I was always skeptical of this. Loved the video.

[@karencamp741]

This is one story I do believe. I believe the original story told in 93 is true. The 2011 version was made extra to get attention and most likely money. The moisture in the house theory is nothing like rain falling up

[@jamesfaircloth8588]

Brilliant video as always nice hearing it told again by a second person laura i remember this on paranormal witness the best thing is how many saw the events described

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thanks for watching, James. Best wishes.

[@jamesfaircloth8588]

@@TheParanormalScholar Your very welcome Laura i always enjoy your paranormal story’s ps not sure if your ever done anything about borley rectory anyway look forward to the next paranormal scholar take good care

[@256Mullet]

Just found my new bedtime story channel, thank you!!

[@nancyM1313]

Tfsharing his story. Your video was very Informative & terrifying.

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you, Nancy! Wishing you the best. 🌙

[@josi4251]

Good job here, Laura! You do such a thorough and eloquent job of explaining all facets of this case (as usual). Also, the show 'Paranormal Witness' always struck me as being utterly unreliable, and of course dramatic details would be either played up or simply added for effect and not for truth.

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts. Best wishes! 🌙

[@Johnniebhoy83]

This research is astounding. Excellent channel 👀

[@michealhaze4246]

Thank you for the video 😊

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you!

[@ricanhavoc9965]

Ahh making some coffee so I can settle in and enjoy this! Thank you!

[@popcornanytime7414]

This story has always fascinated me, from the first time I saw it on the original Unsolved Mysteries

[@jeffjones3040]

From my observation, this case is one of the most credible of all paranormal stories.

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Glad you enjoyed the episode, Jeff. Thank you, as ever!

[@verawalters6673]

I had never heard of this story. That was wild.

[@jeffmiddleton7951]

Love your channel , very relaxing watching your videos.

[@poppabear6411]

Lady Laura, thank you for the fascinating story. Be well and be safe.

[@GravelVoice30]

Thank you for posting this interesting video. It was very well done. On a side note, why do most of your thumbnails have faces with wide open mouths on them? Oral fixation perhaps?

[@moonooze6171]

I remember seeing this on Unsolved Mysteries as a child. I didn't sleep well that night if I remember correctly.

[@scottthomas6202]

Two jobs ago, I did some rental property maintenance as part of the job. Cold rooms in a house isn't the least bit unusual....a common complaint, for that matter. However, if it happened in summer, that might be a different story.... basements might be cooler in summer, but that would be about it.

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Indeed, Scott. It is difficult to ignore natural causes in this one. I live in an old house, and cold and damp, and even wet spots are more than common! Wishing you my best. Laura 🌙

[@iamchosen5888]

This story amazed me from the start. Has Donald Decker had any further incidents since then? Where and what is he doing today?

[@missflo9730]

Pleeease make these available in podcast form as well 💜💜💜

[@robertsmiley2207]

It's sad how people in this world that fail to recognize their is no logical explanation to supernatural events and how far they go to try and discredit those who witnessed said events

[@kelleyhawk6595]

I agree 100%

[@elirien4264]

The inconsistencies between tv shows doesn't mean anything. One producer decides which would be included in an episode or left out.

[@abysscallstoabyss55]

Glad you’ve finally covered this. It’s old news but still news to some.

[@siennaskyy0539]

You just might have the most amazing voice that I have ever heard from a female. Outstanding videos every single time! Great work!

[@VivienneMarsden-ky6or]

❤ this video Laura

[@DEATH-THE-GOAT]

Laura, you are such a beautiful lady, eloquent and with class, it is a pleasure to hear you narrate these strange stories.

[@tee-roni420]

I remember this on Unsolved Mysteries, too.

[@dropas4136]

Would be even more credible if the policeforce had a picture taken of the room/ rooms it occured.

[@user-bo9ci9tk6y]

Dear Captain Laura; My full acknowledgement to your transparent account and beyond friendship in these 'unruly' times 🤔💙💗💫

[@luminacosmosa2324]

Beautiful presentation, new sub from the NorCal!

[@LazzarrusLong]

Great video as usual! 🤓 I appreciate the inclusion of critical thinking and more prosaic explanations, particularly in cases with minimal evidence. Kudos to you for including it. I love your work. ❤

[@jerm2011]

Although those "prosaic explanations" really don't explain much in this case. Police and other reputable witnesses saw this happen. Very skeptical witnesses. The man could make it rain (among other things). Plumbing can't explain levitation and horizontal water droplets floating through the air. Skeptics kill me lol 🤣

[@LazzarrusLong]

@@jerm2011 I see you didn’t make it all the way through the video.

[@jerm2011]

@@LazzarrusLong I confess I did not. Turn out to be some bs?

[@LazzarrusLong]

@@jerm2011 Well, not necessarily. Just some interesting counterpoints to consider against the conclusion that it was true paranormal activity.

[@ravenravella1000]

Love your videos, and story-telling.....you look great in your outfit! I think the algorithm removed you from my notice.

[@nerdjournal]

Oooo. I have an encounter that looked like waters was "climbing" up the wall... My hot water heater broke while I was sleeping in my apartment. The hot water heater was in the closet and when I woke up my room was pretty well flooded. The drywall was soaking the water up at the bottom and as it saturated it went further up and nicotine on the walls combined with the moisture in the room and the temperatures would cause condensation of a sort on the areas in the dry wall where the water had saturated, making it kind of look like it was leaking. Only it was doing so really slowly, but then you had lots of the moisture and even where it was spraying on the ceiling dripping down next to the saturated walls it makes it look like the water on the walls is climbing, but it isn't. It looked cool. The water actually stopped soaking about an inch from my bible and an inch from me. I'm not a christian I don't believe in ghosts, but I was actually reading the bible because I thought a demon was after me. :shrug: Anyway, just saying a scientific explanation for one more of the things "witnessed" Ok not scientific more of a convoluted explanation by an autistic dude on 30 mg of edibles :D

[@evryhndlestakn]

Lol. The way you explained that story I was just about to climb the walls. Is it a haunting!? No. Is there a religious element!? No. Is he high!? Yes. Yes he is,.... But I'm not. So yeh, interesting story. Is your water heater fixed?

[@lobstrocity5534]

Love you guys!!🫠

[@randypeddycoart5786]

Awesome Video

[@OriginalDonutposse]

Lol the police blaming demons for a prisoner being thrown into a wall has to be a new one.

[@evryhndlestakn]

Hahaha😄😉 you're so right. Certainly an unfair way of being charged with "possession".

[@davidmccullough1913]

Better than the last video, wish you still had the ponytail!

[@heathenbreathinfire]

I would propose as an alternate solution, the following is the most likely based on my experience dealing with both troubled people who are for example given to criminal activity and his problems with his grandfather: One of the things psychologically which has been demonstrated contextually time and time again, is that once something like that happens to someone, it takes a great strength of character not to go down the wrong path in life, ie to keep onto ones own morals in the face of the absolutely amoral madness one has experienced and I've seen many who you could tell were once good people but had let those events scar their hearts enough that all of their morals/ethics/integrity had backslid. Without getting too far into the whole notion, there are also notions of old souls, young souls, toddler souls even, so in the event of those being true (in my estimation they are but we are worlds away from science even looking into such things, at any rate...) this would also play a role, given that the person may have had far greater experience in dealing with and enduring those things in past lives or not, giving them the inner strength to resist backsliding. Either way, I think it most likely that both are true. On the one hand, it is fairly obvious there are embellishments to say the least in the story and credibility as well as a lack of proper investigative techniques demonstrated. The environment combined with even police etc feeling inadequate or "out of control" in that the situation was out of their hands directly, coupled with a religious atmosphere of feelings bordering on abject terror, certainly may have contributed to this as well, given the likelihood in the face of things about human nature like how the telephone game shows the unreliability of word-of-mouth, etc. However, on the other hand, this does not at all preclude the fact that he may very well have been experiencing psychic attacks by his grandfather's spirit, even potentially throughout his life and not just during the incidents described. Many events and circumstances have proved that in certain cases, demonic possession and the like is very real, and this can include the impossible. It's important here to remember that if there is a spirit world alongside ours, it may follow different sets of laws of reality than ours do. For all we know, perhaps at those times Donald was weakest and had tried resisting his own moral backsliding is also potentially when his grandfathers spirit may strike, to keep him off balance and easily vulnerable to it. Either way, a fascinating study, thanks Laura!

[@WilliamLyons-ym7ee]

I tried reading this a few times, and have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

[@deshistoiremysterieuses8670]

Hey! Beautiful Laura

[@singleasasin]

This was a strange case, from start to end ! ... 😊👍

[@MaliciousChickenAgenda]

Very strange story 😮

[@davidroberts5577]

Excellent presentation young lady. Blessed be. 🕉️🙏

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you, David. 🌙

[@lucidrain9469]

I remember my old man telling me this story a while back-

[@joemar281]

Where the truth lies in this particular case I haven't a clue. But cases like this can illustrate at least one thing perfectly clearly, and that is how ill-advised it can be, if one believes one has experienced something paranormal, to then go public with it. If a credentialed expert can sit in his armchair and come up with a reasonably plausible hypothesis to explain the event as normal rather than paranormal, it does NOT, of course, then mean that that is what actually occurred. But once the reasonably plausible hypothesis is aired, the jig is up, and in the eyes of the public the case has been forever solved. Again, I don't know where the truth lies in this particular case, but it will forever distress me the distinct advantage skeptics and debunkers are always granted over experiencers. Yes, I'm fully aware of the vital importance of a skeptical approach to all things paranormal. That said, it would do my heart good to see a skeptic at least once in a while actually put to task, and an experiencer actually vigorously defended. I'm not gonna stick around to argue my point. I needed to vent. Here's to hoping my rant will in some circuitous way serve the good. Thanks for reading this.

[@evryhndlestakn]

Fair opinion.

[@thom1218]

Well, if you're asked to recount a story in more detail, and you do... then being called a fraud for not including said detail in the original version... keep that possibility in mind. Those aren't necessarily embellishments - just more detail as requested.

[@da_ocsta1452]

Yeah this one was a head scratcher, no doubt. The spirit world is weird AF.

[@lostmojo]

The absence of original footage makes it somehow credible, you know, people too surprised to think of social media

[@TheParanormalScholar]

That is a fair point. But, equally, that it supposedly happened multiple times - and with police - you would think someone, at some point, would think to take at least one photograph. Thank you for commenting and best wishes.

[@warrenknox9688]

I watched this on the evening news cops in raincoats coming out drenched from inside a house will always be a remembrance

[@andrewbonniwell3924]

Having lived in a northern region of Ohio and Pennsylvania for my extended family, I'm here to tell you that I believe the dripping ice theory because having lived in the south most of my life, I can tell you melting ice on the roof sounds like rain and let's not forget Decker was serving time in prison for his crimes and probably used this possession to gain attention to himself to escape from the fact his family probably didn't like what he was up to.

[@stephenmarshall8367]

So you don't think his grandfather abused him as a kid???

[@Yohanan552]

I can't believe how still that candle flame is lol. Candle flames always go crazy around me.

[@iainmelville9411]

There seems to be some comparisons to the Bell Witch story. I.E. the apportation of objects from outside to inside. In this case, rain : in the Bell Witch case, nuts and ( I think ) wildflowers, both from the woods surrounded the property.

[@user-mz6ly1fj3z]

I kept thinking of Charlie Brown in the old Peanuts cartoons, when the little cloud would follow him around and rain on him all the time.

[@vladuly]

😀😀😀😀😀

[@franzdoreza5230]

Apparently whomever wrote the 'laws of physics" didn't understand that the laws were meant to be broken.. but seriously..Our understanding of the world and universe are so trivial we really don't know enough to even begin to understand what is and what isn't possible or real for that matter.. We know and understand so little because our idea of education is only limited by such minuscule experience .. If the priests, ministers etc. refused to help than what are they there for? WTF? Only an evangelist came when Catholics are supposed to be the "experts" on possession? Pathetic..

[@moonshotsilver]

This would have been a good one for the Umbrella company to investigate.

[@MissD934]

great video! I lived in Allentown/Bethlehem, Stroudsburg is about less than an hour away, I agree there is no evidence,we do get a lot of snow in the area. I never understood why they wouldn't have consitant information or physical proof.

[@davidofglenbrook4487]

Thanks!

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you so much, David! Best wishes.

[@ThatOddChickenHippie]

I love the more scientific possibility added! I didn't even know Ice Damming was a thing!

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you - glad you enjoyed!

[@singleasasin]

I don't think it was demonic possesion involved in this case . This case is strange because there are no other cases like this one . One important thing, in this case, remains the fact that, the rain could go orizontal, one aspect that nobody could have an explination of . Also, tahe fact that the rain drops coild move slower than normal .

[@skooubydoo]

I pass this place every time I go to scranton from NYC, I knew there had to be some interesting history in the area, any1 know any similar kind of paranormal spots by Wilkes-Barre?

[@paullangton-rogers2390]

12:37 this part arouses the sceptic in me. It's claimed, Decker (in his cell behind bars presumeably) was challenged by duty officers to make it rain inside the warden's office some distance away. The warden it's claimed was not aware of any rain or anything unusual, however the duty officers noticed a wet patch in the centre of his shirt he was unaware of. This wet patch on his shirt is suggested to be Decker's doing and a paranormal event. However a more logical explanation is that it was just the warden's body sweat or maybe even a drink spilled. It would be interesting to know the exact month that event happened, and whether it was in the summer. And to establish whether the Warden had eaten or drank anything in the time before the officers saw the wet patch, plus any other explanations. For example a rest-room visit and him washing his hands and indvertedly getting water on his shirt, or even splashing water on his face and not noticing a few drops landing on his shirt, or him transferring water or sweat onto his shirt from his hands without even realising. We'd need to hear the warden's account of what he did and the conditions that day. To establish whether he can explain the wet patch. When other people speak for someone else in paranormal stories as is the case here, it makes me sceptical. Why not just ask the Warden, and have him on the record saying he couldn't explain it? Often in real and supposed paranormal events, other non-paranormal things which can be rationally explained are grouped together and claimed to be paranormal, due to the timing. I'm not saying the wet patch wasn't caused by Decker or that the experiences Decker and other people (including police officers) had weren't odd and possibly paranormal, but when looking at incidents like this you have to be extremely sceptical. There's a tendenacy I've noticed in cases involving numerous people, for other unrelated things to be attributed to the paranormal, without first considering all logical and rational explanations. And quite frequently, people embelish stories, particularly if the case is high-profile and receiving a lot of attention.

[@captainsensiblejr.]

Professional magicians can make apparently inexplicable events happen with misdirection even while being closely observed by people expecting magic trucks.

[@johnytwotimes4072]

This poor guy could make it literally rain but his ability didn't last long enough for him to use it at a strip club smdh 😢

[@kristineo6600]

I just adore your vintage ensemble tonight, Laura! It really becomes you and you wear it well. I just wish I could see your footwear as well. ❤️

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you so much, Kristine! You are too kind! Wishing you and yours my best wishes. - Laura🌙

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

I recall this story on Unsolved mysteries and it bothered me because a grandfather hurt his grandchild it ruined my concept of a family since then the stories of family secrets of how some members actually hate and actually hurt each other, I already knew this, because I had one already the one called mom, she really rejected me.

[@Starae336]

I’m sorry u had a mother like that..

[@Lady_Chalk]

as soon as you mentioned "an old man with a crown" i knew i had seen that before. that's a named demon, "Bael", that comes from "The Lesser Key of Solomon" which was written in 1898, and that makes me very odd-sounding

[@flintliddon]

Makes you odd sounding?

[@barneyronnie]

Bael is a powerful demon, and resistant to Exorcism. A young man that I knew in Bali was possessed by Bael, but died of an intracerebral hemorrhage. I was the neurologist who treated the young man; he never regained consciousness. I retired in 2016 and no longer practice medicine, though still licensed. Reinhold Von Treffencaunbowz, MBBS, PhD

[@Lady_Chalk]

@@flintliddon that i know something about a book written and illustrated 125 years ago.

[@flintliddon]

@@Lady_Chalk 😄

[@debbieannsmith8962]

Oh wow, that's crazy.

[@Mike-jw4xh]

why has this story never been published or talked about??

[@hbombstatic]

Hi Mike :) I''m not sure but I think when she has a book displayed on the left, as she has here, that it is the book the story comes from. I could be wrong though... I think it says Devils and Demons. So maybe it is just a random book? Not sure...

[@MissaPality]

Well, but it has been talked about. On two heavily watched television shows, talk shows, news stories, and books. Everything short of an actual movie.

[@Mike-jw4xh]

@@hbombstatic Hi, AH...I guess that could very well be. Wonder sometimes where she finds these stories....always interesting and spellbinding!

[@Mike-jw4xh]

@@MissaPality I guess have been sheltered a bit on topics like these since I don't recall this making national news back then across the US.

[@hbombstatic]

@@Mike-jw4xh Yes! It's a nonstop flow of paranormal stories. It seems never-ending. Not sure where she gets them either. I'm just glad she shares them with us. Have a great day! :)

[@polishpat95]

Either way this is very very good content thank you

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

I'm also thinking about telekinesis somehow the trauma of the abuse he suffered as a child and his learning of that man dying must have triggered something within him and it producing the "rain" could it be that the stress of all that trauma leaving him at once or really something else. I react to stress in a different way, not good but I've gotten better I couldn't record anything on the VCR back in the day when I was stressed out I had to relax before I could or I could kiss it goodbye. Now if I'm watching something and stressed it's freezes and goes out.

[@MagdaleneDivine]

OMG looking like a Tudor era rose of England today LAURA With the earrings and everything. You look ravishing dear.. Just ravishing

[@WilliamLyons-ym7ee]

If it was ice damming though, why did it occur only where Decker was at ? Why did it stop when he left ? Why did it seem to follow him around ? So the ice damming just happened to be at the Keefer home, the pizzeria and the jail, where Decker was at ? Did anyone else report ice damming at locations where Decker had not gone, in Stroudsburg at that time ? Also, the ice damming doesn’t explain Decker flying through the air, or the hot crucifix.

[@EnforcementDronEd209]

This is a spooky one. 👻👹

[@TheParanormalScholar]

Thank you for watching. 🌙