The Tina Resch Poltergeist

In March 1984, the Resch family of Columbus, Ohio, experienced dramatic poltergeist phenomena centered on their adopted daughter Tina. Journalists witnessed and photographed flying objects. The case became a media sensation before ending in controversy.

The Family

Tina Resch was fourteen years old and had learning difficulties. She had been adopted by John and Joan Resch. Family relationships were strained. This profile matched the pattern of previous poltergeist cases.

The Activity

Lights flickered. Objects flew across rooms. The telephone receiver kept flying off its hook. A Columbus Dispatch photographer captured a photograph of a telephone in mid-flight with Tina nearby. The image made national news.

The Investigation

William Roll, the parapsychologist who had investigated the Miami case, came to Columbus. He witnessed objects moving and documented the phenomena. He concluded that genuine paranormal activity was occurring.

The Controversy

Television cameras later caught Tina reaching for a lamp before it appeared to fly. Critics seized on this as proof of fraud. Supporters argued that a single incident of trickery did not invalidate all the phenomena. The debate remains unresolved.

The Aftermath

Tina’s life took tragic turns after the poltergeist activity ended. She was later convicted of murdering her daughter and sentenced to life in prison. This later tragedy has colored interpretations of the original case.

The Evidence

The Resch case illustrates the difficulties in poltergeist research. Even with photographic evidence and expert investigation, the possibility of fraud cannot be entirely eliminated. A single proven deception undermines all other observations.

Assessment

The Tina Resch case demonstrates how poltergeist investigations can be compromised by the desire for attention and the difficulty of continuous observation. Whether genuine phenomena occurred alongside some fraud may never be determined.