‘Mother-In-Law Ghost’ Photograph Debunked
Dezarae Smith claims her mother-in-law’s ghost was caught on this cell phone picture.
A Lufkin, Texas, woman believes that a photograph taken of her daughter while she was dancing, shows the shadow/spirit of her mother-in-law in the background.
Behind the dancing little girl, you can see a silhouette that unmistakeably looks humanoid in shape. According to the family, this is the ghost of the little girl’s grandmother, who would dance with her before passing away.
Looking at the photo, I can see what they are talking about. I don’t think this is the shadow of Ivy, the six year old. I don’t think it’s stain on the door, since it fluidly covers the door frame and part of the wall without breaking form. Could it be the shadow of someone standing in front of Ivy?
According to witnesses, Only Ivy, her father (pictured to the right) and a boy (who took the photo) were there. So this was an unexplained shadow.
But then something seemed familiar to me. That shadow. I’ve seen it before.
Going back on some of GhostTheory’s archives, I remembered that “Ghost Capture” cellphone application that would digitally superimpose a ghost on an image taken.
This cell phone application has fooled many, including The Sun newspaper and the Daily Mail. It has fooled several other blogs as well, except of course for GhostTheory and our readers. We’re a sharp bunch!
Check out the “Ghosts” from the application.
I doubt that I would have to encircle the one that was used for the hoax, it’s so obvious.
Put a fork in it guys!
Full source: Lufkin Daily News
A Lufkin woman claims she saw the ghost of her mother-in-law standing behind her dancing daughter this week.
Dezarae Smith’s 6-year-old daughter, Ivy, and husband, Corey, were on the front porch of their home on Wednesday when a young boy took a picture of the two with his cell phone.
“They were going fishing, and my daughter asked this little boy to take a picture of her while she was dancing,” Smith said. “There were only three people on the porch at the time. I was at work when the picture was taken, but when I saw it, my mouth just dropped. I don’t believe in ghosts, but it made a believer out of me.”
A form stands behind the little girl in the picture, and Smith said you can see the outline of a woman’s face, nose and eyes, as well as a hand.
“I know it’s not Ivy’s shadow,” Smith said. “It’s almost like the figure is facing the person who took the picture and waving ‘Hi.’ Kind of like making itself known. You don’t see that in a shadow.”
Smith’s mother-in-law passed away on July 13, 2007 — three years and one day before the picture was taken. On Tuesday, other relatives had been pressuring the 6-year-old to move forward from memories of her beloved grandmother — a suggestion that upset her.
The young girl and older woman had a very close connection, Smith said, and the two loved to dance together.
“It makes me more sure that it’s Ivy’s grandmother standing behind her, because she asked the boy to take a picture of her dancing,” Smith said. “When she died from a massive heart attack it really affected everyone pretty bad. It was very unexpected and no one knew she was sick or even had heart problems. For the first two years of her life, Ivy would live with her grandmother off and on. They had a very special bond. Even now, Ivy will sit in her room talking to herself and no one knows who she is talking to.”
Neighbors and co-workers agree the form is a ghost, Smith said, but husband Corey was slightly skeptical.
“When I show it to people, they get chills on their necks and arms,” Smith said. “My husband wasn’t sure it was a ghost, but when I pointed out the details, he came to agree it was a ghost.”
If anything, Smith said this experience is helping her family gain peace.
“We think that Ivy’s grandma is still there and protecting her and telling her that everything is going to be fine,” Smith said. “It’s just confirmation that her grandma is watching over her.”
Written by Javier Ortega - javier@ghosttheory.com
Get GhostTheory updates faster! sign up to our RSS Feeds or
add us on Twitter
The first thing, for an editor, would be to check that I-phone application when debunking an alleged ghost picture, I think.
I can´t understand how they can be fooled again and again by this…
This is so easy to debunk, why?, why??, WHY???
/JP
Well, no offense but I got the distinct impression that these were not the brightest of people.
Of course that what it takes in these instances. People who try something that’s been tried and exposed over and over. Why? Because it’s their first foray into phone apps and in their limited world nobody has phone apps so’s we kin fool em all.
@jbondo,
You would hope the people on the newspaper were of some better genetic material, or had any capability of critical thinking…
But again, No.
Well JP, The Lufkin Daily News wouldn’t be mistaken for a nationally circulated paper. I’m sure they need to fill space and didn’t really back these people up.
Something tells me Corey or the boy planned this and fooled the woman into calling the newspaper. I have a theory about people who loiter around their trailer minus their shirt. Suffice it to say, it’s not a complimentary theory.
I find it to be a special treat when DonBondo breaks out that dialect lol.
Ok anyway, Assuming this Dezarae Smith was fooled by whoever doctored this pic, it speaks volumes that she was so quick to draw conclusions, and it is very clear she WANTED it to be the grandmother. I guess it’s human nature to try to make what we see fit what we want it to be:
“I know it’s not Ivy’s shadow,” Smith said. “It’s almost like the figure is facing the person who took the picture and waving ‘Hi.’ Kind of like making itself known. You don’t see that in a shadow.”
“It makes me more sure that it’s Ivy’s grandmother standing behind her, because she asked the boy to take a picture of her dancing,” Smith said. “… Even now, Ivy will sit in her room talking to herself and no one knows who she is talking to.”
Interesting how absolutely convinced she is. I wonder if she’s ever actually bothered to ask Ivy who she’s talking to when she’s alone.
bondo,
You forgot to mention the guy is rigging a lure on what appears to be a toy rod and reel…:p
@jbondo
Couldn’t help but laugh at this. good stuff and funny!Just a small bit of humor I passed over after a bad day at work. thanks for the laugh.
“I have a theory about people who loiter around their trailer minus their shirt. Suffice it to say, it’s not a complimentary theory.”
@jbondo,
Yeah, I have been toying with that theory too.
I think You, over there, call ´em TrailerTrash, huh?
Here we just call them inbred retards…
JP,
We should never name call. Lest we forget, labeling people makes us seem intolerant and bigoted. I can tell you one thing though, Corey prolly broke out the whoopin stick (which is likely that plastic fishing rod) after this all went into the crapper. Then again, the public opinion may take a while to reach that part of the county. Unless of course someone brings it up at the slaughterhouse.
OK, I’m getting terrible here. I’d better zip it.
red, you make some good points.
-Javier
Javi,
You’re bad! LOLOL!!!
nice comments people.
what I see is a daddy fixing his daughter’s fishing pole and a happy little girl doing a dance.
While the comments are funny, I tend to agree with whatzabuz here…
DonBondo, it makes me so happy to see you have officially made the change! *beaming with pride*
You’re the man red!
I’m actually a WOman but flattered nonetheless
Maybe I/we were a bit hard on them poor people…
But, slack jawed or not, they´re not fooling us!
DonBondo, congrats to the change!
You know red, I thought just that as I typed. You just seem to speak with a ….different sort of attitude.
You’re the woman!
JP,
I’m just trying it out for a test spin. I will decide by Monday whether to keep it or not.
@DonBondo,
Well, for me, I love it.
It has some authorative ring to it, in that old western film style type… Or maybe, it´s the little “Zorro” feeling to it…
I don´t know, but it suits you perfectly.
/JP
I concur, sir!
Because I have had several glasses of red wine tonight, I will let you in on the origin of my handle. It only seems fair since you graced us, the faithful GT readers, with your origin of “Jbondo.”
Red(ish) hair (strawberry blond if you want to get technical), green eyes, hence, redngreen. Ta Da!
Redngreen,
I’m also a few glasses of red wine in …
I should start a GhostTheory dating site.
-Javier
red,
You just hit me where I live. Since I’ve had a few sips of Diet Mountain Dew this morning, I will let you in on a secret, I go crazy over any shade of red hair. It’s actually afternoon now but I started this post in the morning. Green is the color of the vine that gives life to the grape.
How’m I doin?
@Jbondo,
“You go crazy over any shade of red hair”…..okay. This isn’t match.com, so how about keeping to the topic. And Red, how about laying off the wine when posting…ur getting Jbondo all worked up, especially since your not going to remember this the next day. J/k
Tazz,
LOL. In a minute I’m about to create a dating.ghosttheory.com site.
-Javier
But Tazz, it’s FUN to drink wine and post! And besides that, I don’t think it takes jbondo much to get, as you put it, “all worked up”, hence his new name DonBondo lol.
I think I’ve said quite enough about the topic, LOL!
Javier
You have an eclectic group of dudes and one chick that seem to post regularly. Don’t waste your time with a dating site and go straight for a ‘reality’ tv show. That’s where the money is man!
If you only knew what it takes to get me worked up you might be surprised. I have a very distinct taste.
Staying on subject: I’m a fixin ta ketch me sum catfish. Onlyist, I does it with ma arum. We all calls it noodlin.