Ten nabbed by police for ‘ghost hunting’ trip

An apparent “ghost hunting” trip to a vacant dormitory at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park resulted in the arrest of 10 people early Monday morning on trespassing and burglary charges.
According to police and park officials, seven adults and three juveniles were taken into custody at about 1:40 a.m. Monday after authorities discovered they had broken into an abandoned building on park property.
Arrested were: Rebekah McCracken, 35; Eric Williams, 20; James Young, 20; Matthew Webb, 20; Adam Sheets, 18; Cody Herron, 18; Brian Williams, 19; and three unidentified juveniles, all of London. McCracken was charged with third-degree criminal trespassing and second-degree burglary. All the other suspects were only charged with second-degree burglary.
The break-in was evidently all part of a late-night quest to find ghosts.
“They were supposed to have been going to a haunted barn,” said an employee of the Whitley County Jail. “That came right out of Ms. McCracken’s mouth. Her nephews, or whatever they were to her, asked her if she wanted to see a haunted barn.”
According to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park Manager Lisa Davis, Park Ranger Doyle Bird caught the suspects leaving the building. She said the old dormitory, called “Clifty” by park personnel, was used at one time to house seasonal workers. She said she does not know if any damage was done during the burglary.
According to arrest citations, some damage was noted to a door leading into the building.
Since taking over as Park Manager in mid-September, 2005, Davis said there haven’t been any problems with people disturbing the old dorm.
Sgt. J.J. Hunter, with the Kentucky Park Rangers, said the building has been unused for a significant time and that it was condemned because it contained asbestos. The asbestos has since been removed.
“It’s still an ongoing investigation … We are trying to figure out what else went on and that type of stuff,” Hunter said. “It’s an abandoned building. I’ve seen it, but that’s about it. I don’t know why they would think there are ghosts in it. That’s a new one on me.”
Herron, Sheets, Webb, Young, along with Brian and Eric Williams all entered not guilty pleas in Whitley District Court in Williamsburg Monday.
Corbin attorney James Tomaw represented Brian and Eric Williams at the arraignment hearing. District Judge Cathy Prewitt set a $1,500 cash bond for each and scheduled preliminary hearings for both July 18.
Herron, Sheets and Young all had public defenders appointed to represent them. Prewitt set bonds for each at $1,500 cash. All three are scheduled for preliminary hearings July 3.
A $1,500 cash bond was also entered for Webb who is scheduled for a July 3 preliminary hearing.
McCracken, who has already bonded out of jail on a $7,500 fully secured bond, was not present and will be arraigned at a later date.
Whitley County Attorney Paul Winchester said the three juveniles would likely be arraigned sometime this week.