Two Would-Be Ghost Hunters Arrested // Accused of Breaking into Abbe Center in Marion, IA

You might remember that representatives from the Johnson County Paranormal Team have accessed the Abbe Center residential care facility over in Marion, IA, earlier this year. That RCF had been closed back in 2013 and is now sitting vacant. But the Linn County Board of Supervisors approved limited access to the building by this group in order to investigate potential signs of paranormal activity.

Possibly inspired by these investigations, two amateur ghost hunters found themselves arrested after Linn County Sheriff's deputies discovered them in the building:

Linn County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the shuttered center at 1860 County Home Road in Marion after two vehicles were spotted parked outside. Deputies inspected the building and found a window broken out. 

According to criminal complaints, two men — later identified as 19-year-old Dalton J. Lillie of Toddville and 20-year-old Ross Gardner of Central City — fled the building, but were quickly apprehended. The men told deputies they entered the building because they heard it was haunted, according to criminal complaints. 

Lillie was found in possession of a set of keys to the building.

Both men were arrested and face one count each of 3rd degree burglary.


I'm sure they didn't mean any harm. But most paranormal research groups tell you (over and over and over) that you should NEVER investigate a property for paranormal activity without explicit permission from the property owners.