Monsters Among Us – S20 Ep31: Paranormal Lockup: Tales from the Inside

Host: Derek Hayes
Release Date: February 10, 2026

Episode Overview

In this special episode, host Derek Hayes curates firsthand accounts of paranormal encounters from those connected to incarceration—current and former inmates, correctional officers, and others with intimate knowledge of jails and prisons. The stories, stark and deeply personal, pierce the veil between the living and the spectral, highlighting the supernatural occurrences and uncanny phenomena that seem to permeate penitentiaries across the world. The episode features tales of hauntings, premonitions, possible alien encounters, and the residual energy left behind by suffering and violence. Hayes weaves together these narratives with reflective asides, historical context, and a respectful, empathetic tone.

Key Discussion Points & Stories

A Personal Transformation Behind Bars

[03:16–07:58] Anonymous Caller (Georgia Inmate)

A woman recounts her 18 months incarcerated in various Georgia facilities, including 10 months of pregnancy she didn’t know about beforehand.
She details common paranormal experiences: demonic growling from empty corners, voices when no one is awake, sensations of being touched or pushed.
A powerful, positive spiritual experience: a fellow inmate lays hands on her, leading to the sensation of a “weight lifted”—describing it as “like honey dripping on my head.”
“Jail and prison, they're not always as evil as people say they are. There are good people in there that will help you.” [06:23]
She pleads to open a conversation for formerly incarcerated people, who feel unheard and unfairly stigmatized.

Shadowy Figures and Unexplainable Screams

[12:11–15:06] Anonymous (Salt Lake County, Utah)

A male caller describes strange activity in Salt Lake County Jail, especially seeing phantom figures in the mezzanine or cell who vanished upon investigation.
Reports of an unseen presence mimicking his cellmate at clothing change, and guards responding to phantom screams (“help me, help me”) heard over the cell’s intercom—when no one had screamed.
He describes persistent dripping from the ceiling with no source.

An Unidentified Light Over a Texas Prison

[16:17–20:28] Santos (Bastrop, TX)

As a teen in the 1990s, Santos witnessed a silent, bright light in the sky near a local prison in Lake Bastrop Acres.
A blue-tinged beam shot from the light, targeting the prison and causing all its lights to go out instantly.
He and his friend fled in terror—a memory that stayed vivid decades later.
“There was a bright light in the sky. Didn’t make a sound… all of a sudden a beam came from the bottom of that light source.” [17:49]

Dreams, Warnings, and Chilling Premonitions

[22:52–33:32] Matt (West Virginia)

Matt, a descendant of historic figure Captain David Morgan, shares a prophetic dream from his time in jail.
The bizarre dream, filled with symbols of the demonic, electric shocks, and a figure named Alice, mapped onto real places and people he would encounter decades later during rehab.
When the events of the dream began repeating in real life—including a fire breaking out—he interpreted this as a genuine supernatural warning.
“Demons are real, the devil is very real, and God is the most realist of all. That’s why it’s very important to be a good person, walk a good path.” [33:06]

A Correctional Officer’s Perspective: The Mysterious Property Room

[35:42–38:27] Sean (Kentucky)

Sean, a former corrections officer, retells an odd series of events in the jail’s property room: boots inexplicably moved while he was outside the only door.
Security footage (formerly found on YouTube, now missing) captured an “orb” passing through the room and toppling a stack of boxes.
The case highlights how paranormal disturbances aren’t just stories from inmates, but are frequently reported among staff.
“You would see, and I know it’s cliche, an orb move across the top of the screen…after a couple moments that stack of boxes falls over.” [36:49]

The Haunting of San Benito Juvenile Detention

[41:30–54:05] Kathy (San Benito, TX)

Frequent juvenile detainee Kathy recounts stories from staff and inmates about the “little girl ghost,” believed to be the spirit of a girl murdered on the land where the facility now stands.
Multiple trusted adults—a detention officer, an administrator, and a control room operator—describe direct encounters with the apparition, captured on (but never released from) security cameras.
The ghost is so widely accepted that even transfers to the connected boot camp don’t escape her presence.
Kathy’s research ties the identity to Olga Perales, murdered in 1984, possibly confirming the haunting’s origin.
“She looked 100% like a real human… I knew, oh my God, I’m looking at the little girl.” [50:29]

Flip-Flops, Phantom Suicides, and Oppressive Presence

[57:03–62:26] Mikey (Idaho)

Following a suicide attempt and subsequent jail stay, Mikey experiences nightly haunting: the sound of flip-flops running, phantom taps, and the pressure of someone unseen climbing into bed.
He attributes the activity to those who died by suicide in the jail, describing psychological torment he feels is intended to drive inmates to despair.
Ultimately, his plea for the spirit’s peace (“God help this thing move on”) brings gradual relief.
“It was like the thing knew I was just barely gonna get to sleep and it was trying to screw with my sleep… In between, ‘am I really feeling this?’… then I would feel the depression on the mattress.” [59:27]

A Nurse’s Brush with a Notorious Case

[62:49–64:36] Matt (Massachusetts)

Correctional facility nurse Matt hears his name inexplicably called in an empty hallway—coinciding with learning about Maurice “Frenchie” Serio, an inmate reportedly possessed and exorcized by Ed and Lorraine Warren (referenced in the book Satan’s Harvest).
After reading the book, a thunderclap causes a power outage at the exact moment he finishes—“a very interesting coincidence.”
“I’m a man of science. I don’t get scared very often, but I thought it was a very interesting coincidence.” [64:15]

The Restless Cell: Tucked In by a Ghost in Parramatta

[65:20–69:15] Lee (Picton, NSW, Australia)

Correctional officer Lee describes a non-English-speaking inmate at the historic (and infamously haunted) Parramatta Jail terrified by a presence tucking him in and whispering.
After transferring out of the original cell, the cell’s buzzer continues triggering nightly for days with no inmate present, and maintenance finds no cause.
Lee later learns of a gruesome murder having occurred there decades prior.
“About half an hour later, this particular cell knocked up again… This poor guy has tried to push past us just to get out of the cell… He was terrified.” [66:45]
“Every night at the same time, about 5 o’clock in the morning, that particular cell would knock up. Now, there were no inmates in that cell for the next four nights.” [68:22]

Notable Quotes & Moments

“I just sat there like it was honey dripping on my head. And I literally felt this weight lifted off of me.” — Anonymous, [06:10]
“I would always see my cellmate go in our cell before me… But when I would get in there, nobody would be in there.” — Anonymous (Utah), [13:28]
“A beam came down—it shot another beam at an angle towards the prison…and when the beam hit the prison, all the lights in the prison had cut off.” — Santos, [18:36]
“Her name is Alice…” — Matt (WV), recounting his prophetic dream [24:38], and discovering its real-life echo nearly two decades later.
“When I went back into the room, the boots were gone… There’s only one way in and out of that room.” — Sean (KY), [36:03]
“She looked 100% like a real human… I can see her from the nose up, and I can still see her face right now in my mind. I’ll never forget it.” — Kathy, [50:29]
“It was trying to let me understand how someone could get into a state of mind where violence was pleasurable to them… I don’t know if it was a demon or… those kids that had killed themselves just trapped in that jail.” — Mikey [61:10]
“Supposedly he was possessed. Notorious hucksters Ed and Lorraine Warren brought in the Catholic Church to have exorcisms performed…” — Matt, [63:34]
“I actually believed him, but I didn’t let on because you can’t show that sort of vulnerability.” — Lee, the Australian correctional officer, [66:06]

Timestamps of Key Segments

[03:16] Anonymous Georgia inmate – Spiritual experience in pregnancy
[12:11] Anonymous Utah inmate – Doppelgängers, phantom screams
[16:17] Santos, TX – UFO and blue beam at the prison
[22:52] Matt, WV – Demonic premonition, dream comes true years later
[35:42] Sean, KY – Phantom objects and “orb” security cam footage
[41:30] Kathy, TX – The girl ghost of San Benito Juvenile/Boot Camp
[54:05] Derek breakthrough – Reveals ghost’s likely identity as Olga Perales
[57:03] Mikey, ID – Flip-flop footsteps, suicide’s echo, spiritual intervention
[62:49] Matt, MA – Nurse hears his name near site of infamous exorcism
[65:20] Lee, AUS – Cell “tucks in” inmate, cell continues to ring empty

Tone & Takeaways

The episode maintains a tone of empathy, curiosity, and deep respect for the vulnerable and marginalized populations whose stories are often dismissed. Many of the callers describe trauma, pain, and regret—that which makes them susceptible, perhaps, to both psychological and supernatural phenomena. Across geographies, roles, and decades, the episode draws an unsettling tapestry: jails and prisons, saturated with human drama, trauma, and confinement, often become magnets for the unexplained.

Derek Hayes underscores a key message as he signs off:

“Be a good person no matter what you believe in.” [33:32]
“Don’t give up. There’s something good out there. Just don’t give up.” — Mikey [62:18]

Final Thoughts

This episode is particularly evocative for its willingness to treat incarcerated people—both inmates and staff—as full participants in the ongoing, universal mystery of the paranormal. Their stories, raw and often unresolved, call out for compassion and understanding, both in life and after.

Monsters Among Us – S20 Ep31: Paranormal Lockup: Tales from the Inside

Host: Derek Hayes
Release Date: February 10, 2026

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Stories

A Personal Transformation Behind Bars

[03:16–07:58] Anonymous Caller (Georgia Inmate)

A woman recounts her 18 months incarcerated in various Georgia facilities, including 10 months of pregnancy she didn’t know about beforehand.
She details common paranormal experiences: demonic growling from empty corners, voices when no one is awake, sensations of being touched or pushed.
A powerful, positive spiritual experience: a fellow inmate lays hands on her, leading to the sensation of a “weight lifted”—describing it as “like honey dripping on my head.”
“Jail and prison, they're not always as evil as people say they are. There are good people in there that will help you.” [06:23]
She pleads to open a conversation for formerly incarcerated people, who feel unheard and unfairly stigmatized.

Shadowy Figures and Unexplainable Screams

[12:11–15:06] Anonymous (Salt Lake County, Utah)

A male caller describes strange activity in Salt Lake County Jail, especially seeing phantom figures in the mezzanine or cell who vanished upon investigation.
Reports of an unseen presence mimicking his cellmate at clothing change, and guards responding to phantom screams (“help me, help me”) heard over the cell’s intercom—when no one had screamed.
He describes persistent dripping from the ceiling with no source.

An Unidentified Light Over a Texas Prison

[16:17–20:28] Santos (Bastrop, TX)

As a teen in the 1990s, Santos witnessed a silent, bright light in the sky near a local prison in Lake Bastrop Acres.
A blue-tinged beam shot from the light, targeting the prison and causing all its lights to go out instantly.
He and his friend fled in terror—a memory that stayed vivid decades later.
“There was a bright light in the sky. Didn’t make a sound… all of a sudden a beam came from the bottom of that light source.” [17:49]

Dreams, Warnings, and Chilling Premonitions

[22:52–33:32] Matt (West Virginia)

Matt, a descendant of historic figure Captain David Morgan, shares a prophetic dream from his time in jail.
The bizarre dream, filled with symbols of the demonic, electric shocks, and a figure named Alice, mapped onto real places and people he would encounter decades later during rehab.
When the events of the dream began repeating in real life—including a fire breaking out—he interpreted this as a genuine supernatural warning.
“Demons are real, the devil is very real, and God is the most realist of all. That’s why it’s very important to be a good person, walk a good path.” [33:06]

A Correctional Officer’s Perspective: The Mysterious Property Room

[35:42–38:27] Sean (Kentucky)

Sean, a former corrections officer, retells an odd series of events in the jail’s property room: boots inexplicably moved while he was outside the only door.
Security footage (formerly found on YouTube, now missing) captured an “orb” passing through the room and toppling a stack of boxes.
The case highlights how paranormal disturbances aren’t just stories from inmates, but are frequently reported among staff.
“You would see, and I know it’s cliche, an orb move across the top of the screen…after a couple moments that stack of boxes falls over.” [36:49]

The Haunting of San Benito Juvenile Detention

[41:30–54:05] Kathy (San Benito, TX)

Frequent juvenile detainee Kathy recounts stories from staff and inmates about the “little girl ghost,” believed to be the spirit of a girl murdered on the land where the facility now stands.
Multiple trusted adults—a detention officer, an administrator, and a control room operator—describe direct encounters with the apparition, captured on (but never released from) security cameras.
The ghost is so widely accepted that even transfers to the connected boot camp don’t escape her presence.
Kathy’s research ties the identity to Olga Perales, murdered in 1984, possibly confirming the haunting’s origin.
“She looked 100% like a real human… I knew, oh my God, I’m looking at the little girl.” [50:29]

Flip-Flops, Phantom Suicides, and Oppressive Presence

[57:03–62:26] Mikey (Idaho)

Following a suicide attempt and subsequent jail stay, Mikey experiences nightly haunting: the sound of flip-flops running, phantom taps, and the pressure of someone unseen climbing into bed.
He attributes the activity to those who died by suicide in the jail, describing psychological torment he feels is intended to drive inmates to despair.
Ultimately, his plea for the spirit’s peace (“God help this thing move on”) brings gradual relief.
“It was like the thing knew I was just barely gonna get to sleep and it was trying to screw with my sleep… In between, ‘am I really feeling this?’… then I would feel the depression on the mattress.” [59:27]

A Nurse’s Brush with a Notorious Case

[62:49–64:36] Matt (Massachusetts)

Correctional facility nurse Matt hears his name inexplicably called in an empty hallway—coinciding with learning about Maurice “Frenchie” Serio, an inmate reportedly possessed and exorcized by Ed and Lorraine Warren (referenced in the book Satan’s Harvest).
After reading the book, a thunderclap causes a power outage at the exact moment he finishes—“a very interesting coincidence.”
“I’m a man of science. I don’t get scared very often, but I thought it was a very interesting coincidence.” [64:15]

The Restless Cell: Tucked In by a Ghost in Parramatta

[65:20–69:15] Lee (Picton, NSW, Australia)

Correctional officer Lee describes a non-English-speaking inmate at the historic (and infamously haunted) Parramatta Jail terrified by a presence tucking him in and whispering.
After transferring out of the original cell, the cell’s buzzer continues triggering nightly for days with no inmate present, and maintenance finds no cause.
Lee later learns of a gruesome murder having occurred there decades prior.
“About half an hour later, this particular cell knocked up again… This poor guy has tried to push past us just to get out of the cell… He was terrified.” [66:45]
“Every night at the same time, about 5 o’clock in the morning, that particular cell would knock up. Now, there were no inmates in that cell for the next four nights.” [68:22]

Notable Quotes & Moments

“I just sat there like it was honey dripping on my head. And I literally felt this weight lifted off of me.” — Anonymous, [06:10]
“I would always see my cellmate go in our cell before me… But when I would get in there, nobody would be in there.” — Anonymous (Utah), [13:28]
“A beam came down—it shot another beam at an angle towards the prison…and when the beam hit the prison, all the lights in the prison had cut off.” — Santos, [18:36]
“Her name is Alice…” — Matt (WV), recounting his prophetic dream [24:38], and discovering its real-life echo nearly two decades later.
“When I went back into the room, the boots were gone… There’s only one way in and out of that room.” — Sean (KY), [36:03]
“She looked 100% like a real human… I can see her from the nose up, and I can still see her face right now in my mind. I’ll never forget it.” — Kathy, [50:29]
“It was trying to let me understand how someone could get into a state of mind where violence was pleasurable to them… I don’t know if it was a demon or… those kids that had killed themselves just trapped in that jail.” — Mikey [61:10]
“Supposedly he was possessed. Notorious hucksters Ed and Lorraine Warren brought in the Catholic Church to have exorcisms performed…” — Matt, [63:34]
“I actually believed him, but I didn’t let on because you can’t show that sort of vulnerability.” — Lee, the Australian correctional officer, [66:06]

Timestamps of Key Segments

[03:16] Anonymous Georgia inmate – Spiritual experience in pregnancy
[12:11] Anonymous Utah inmate – Doppelgängers, phantom screams
[16:17] Santos, TX – UFO and blue beam at the prison
[22:52] Matt, WV – Demonic premonition, dream comes true years later
[35:42] Sean, KY – Phantom objects and “orb” security cam footage
[41:30] Kathy, TX – The girl ghost of San Benito Juvenile/Boot Camp
[54:05] Derek breakthrough – Reveals ghost’s likely identity as Olga Perales
[57:03] Mikey, ID – Flip-flop footsteps, suicide’s echo, spiritual intervention
[62:49] Matt, MA – Nurse hears his name near site of infamous exorcism
[65:20] Lee, AUS – Cell “tucks in” inmate, cell continues to ring empty

Tone & Takeaways

Derek Hayes underscores a key message as he signs off:

“Be a good person no matter what you believe in.” [33:32]
“Don’t give up. There’s something good out there. Just don’t give up.” — Mikey [62:18]

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S20 Ep31: Paranormal Lockup: Tales from the inside (Sn. 20 Ep. 31)

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Summary

Monsters Among Us – S20 Ep31: Paranormal Lockup: Tales from the Inside

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Stories

A Personal Transformation Behind Bars

Shadowy Figures and Unexplainable Screams

An Unidentified Light Over a Texas Prison

Dreams, Warnings, and Chilling Premonitions

A Correctional Officer’s Perspective: The Mysterious Property Room

The Haunting of San Benito Juvenile Detention

Flip-Flops, Phantom Suicides, and Oppressive Presence

A Nurse’s Brush with a Notorious Case

The Restless Cell: Tucked In by a Ghost in Parramatta

Notable Quotes & Moments

Timestamps of Key Segments

Tone & Takeaways

Final Thoughts

Summary

Monsters Among Us – S20 Ep31: Paranormal Lockup: Tales from the Inside

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Stories

A Personal Transformation Behind Bars

Shadowy Figures and Unexplainable Screams

An Unidentified Light Over a Texas Prison

Dreams, Warnings, and Chilling Premonitions

A Correctional Officer’s Perspective: The Mysterious Property Room

The Haunting of San Benito Juvenile Detention

Flip-Flops, Phantom Suicides, and Oppressive Presence

A Nurse’s Brush with a Notorious Case

The Restless Cell: Tucked In by a Ghost in Parramatta

Notable Quotes & Moments

Timestamps of Key Segments

Tone & Takeaways

Final Thoughts