After Hours: a Paranormal Investigation at the Sexton Homestead
- Vero Minute
- Jun 16
- 2 min read
Last week, after a sold-out historic home tour and fundraiser for Waldo’s Secret Garden, a small group of guests experienced the Sexton homestead in a way few ever do, or will!
By 10 p.m., the main house was empty, save for Mark, Rob, and Isabella Tripson—descendants of the family whose stories fill the walls along with close friends were sitting in the parlour. The room remained unchanged: upholstered sofas and chairs around a sturdy coffee table, anchored by the original fireplace, its mantel lined with memories. Every detail—fabric, wood, and stone—held the weight of generations, filling the air with history and quiet anticipation.
Conversation faded as the group settled in. Everyone listened—to the creaks of the house, to their own thoughts, and to the possibility of something reaching out from another time. When the spirit box crackled to life, everyone leaned in, waiting to see if voices from the past would break the silence. In those moments, the house felt strangely alive, as if the walls themselves were listening, too.
The session was guided by Indian River Hauntings and Florida Bureau of Paranormal Investigation (FBPI)—Larry Lawson, Jim Wilson, Jill Randazzo, Tina Maxwell, and Darren Beckett. There was no showmanship, just a circle of chairs, a table, and the tools of the investigation. K2 meters pulsed with shifting lights as questions were asked. During the Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) session, the group listened to the playback in absolute silence. A single faint syllable—a possible name—sent a ripple through the room.
Isabella Tripson, carrying her family’s history, took up the dowsing rods. Her questions were personal:
“Are you happy here?”
“Are you watching over the family?”
“Do you know who Isabella is?”
“Are you one of the original family members?”
“Do you remember the gatherings here?”
The rods answered with movements too precise to ignore. When the Portal device was activated, names surfaced through crackling background noise —“Sam,” “John,” “Hildie”—each one met with recognition and quiet awe.
No one left claiming to have seen a ghost or to have found proof of the afterlife. But everyone agreed: something happened here that defies easy explanation. The house, and those who built it, are not finished telling their story.
Experiences like this remind us that history is never far away. If you’re curious to step into this world of mystery and Vero’s history, the next Vero Beachside Historical Ghost Tour is June 27. Tickets are $20 at indianriverhauntings.com.
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