I have been a paranormal investigator for approximately five years and every time I tell someone they ask me “what was your most terrifying moment?”. To be honest, I never had a moment. I currently live in the moment because my online marketplace purchase haunts my basement and has since Fourth of July weekend 2022.

I was sitting in my yard scrolling through online sales when I came across a Victorian era picture and instantly fell in love with him. I reached out to the seller and he was more than eager to sell. We agreed on a price and made the deal. He told me that the child in the picture was named Ezekiel Williams and he got the picture out of an old barn in Alabama. The next day, I picked up the gorgeous 30×30 Victorian framed picture of the little boy. He had an impish grin. From the way he was dressed he looked like he came from wealth plus the elaborate woodworking on the frame and its sheer size was something people who had money could afford in that era.

The seller started to tell me about all the weird things that happened surrounding the picture and the objects he collects as a picker. He told me about footsteps and moving objects. He told me how his dog barks at it and it creeped him out. Mind you, he told me all this before he knew I was investigating the paranormal. As he spoke I noticed a smell. It was horrible. It gave me a massive headache like if you inhaled an ice pick through your nose. It got harder to breathe like a rope had tied around my lungs and pulled. The seller’s house however, was attached to a mechanic’s shop so I passed it off as the chemicals from the garage. I put the picture of Ezekiel in my car and had an uneventful ride home. I placed him in my basement until I could find a place to hang it.

Later, that day the seller texted me and asked if anything happened. I told him I hadn’t noticed anything and Ezekeil was in the basement. Shortly thereafter I heard a thud coming from the basement. I ran downstairs to find that my shelf had fallen in my laundry room and fabric softener was all over the floor. Ezekiel was across from the doorway to the laundry. Maybe it was my shock but I swore his eyes followed me and there was a mischievous grin on his face I hadn’t noticed before. After that, I didn’t rush to clear a space on my wall to hang him. I decided to give him some time and see if anything else happened and put him in the garage, away from the house proper. I didn’t have to wait long.

The next morning, I was making breakfast in the kitchen and saw a house fly come up from the basement. I assumed my sons left the door open as they let the dog out. I walked downstairs to close it and saw another fly come from the garage where Ezekiel was hanging. My stomach sank. I thought it couldn’t be possible that I had a fly infestation from whatever was attached to Ezekiel. I swallowed hard and I opened the door. The garage door was COVERED with flies. There was no indication of anything that could have died or rotted in my garage except for Ezekiel. I quickly recorded it on my phone and questioned my choices on purchasing Ezekiel. What was a purchase to accent the decor in my house was turning into everything I warn novice investigators

about. I ran upstairs to get my palo santo and a can of bug killer and quickly cleansed the area.

I decided I had to let go of Ezekiel. So, like his caretaker before me, I posted him online with warnings, video footage and a contact number. It wasn’t long after I posted him that someone contacted me. The following is a quote from the conversation I had online with the potential buyer:

“Hello, I just love this pictures and was wondering if there was any other things I should be aware of. He is just so precious looking and the frame is beautiful as well. I did have this overwhelming feeling to contact you on this. A few times I had placed him in my cart and removed him because all of the spirits in my home are sweet and kind. I live in a very old town and an old house and I am used to activity in house. Everytime I took him out of my cart I would check to see where he is and if he sold. I just think he is so beautiful…”

Obviously, I was truthful about everything. I referred her to all the documentation I had provided and she was undeterred. I told her I would give Ezekiel to her if she could be a responsible caretaker and we agreed to meet so she can take care of Ezekiel.

That didn’t last.

At 2:34 in the morning, I started getting panicked emails from the new caretaker. She wanted to cancel the deal. She was afraid for her mother’s health and what the portrait could do to her. She sent me emails at least every five minutes until I responded. Here is another quote:

“Hello, I just woke up in a panic attack thinking about this…did I make the wrong decision? My mom is 84 and I was thinking about the effect on her….I am having such anxiety over this if anything happened to my mom I wouldn’t forgive myself. Please, I beg you to cancel. I will pay you for your time.”

She would pay me!? To keep him!? I read on…
“Maybe I was meant to contact you to keep you from selling him. Maybe you are the

perfect person for Ezekiel and he has found his home.”

Of course I didn’t take any of her money and yes, Ezekiel is in my home. Therefore, the activity continues.