The Bridgeport Poltergeist

Poltergeists are ghosts or spirits that are responsible for physical disturbances, such as loud noises and objects being moved or destroyed. They are also depicted as capable of levitation of objects such as furniture and silverware, or noises such as knocking on doors. They have traditionally been described as troublesome spirits who haunt a particular person instead of a specific location. 

Poltergeists often are associated with a foul smell, and bizarre occurrences, such as spontaneous fires and electrical issues such as flickering lights. 

Although there have been many famous poltergeist stories, such as the Amityville Haunting and the Enfield Case. one case, A lesser-known case, The Bridgeport Poltergeist stands out too many though, due to the large number of witnesses, numbering at least 77 credible witnesses, who saw these strange and unexplainable events. 

Although the odd events occurred mainly in 1974, The Bridgeport Poltergeist story really begins in 1960 when Gerald and Laura Goodin purchased a home on Lindley Street in Bridgeport Connecticut. 7 years later, their only son, was stricken with cerebral palsy, and died at the age of 6.

Devastated, the family adopted a girl, named Marcia, then 5 years old. The strange occurrences started almost immediately once the girl entered the home, increasing in frequency and intensity in 1971.  A year later in 1972 was the first time the family officially called authorities, initially to help find the source of rhythmic pounding they had heard in the house at night. After that, more unusual events started happening, such as doors opening and closing themselves as well as items being found in random places around the house, furniture moving by itself, windows breaking, objects levitating, and maybe the weirdest of all, a cat talking. 

As the situation was increasing in intensity, police and firefighters were called in, as were news reporters, priests, paranormal investigators, including the famous, Ed and Lorraine Warren. Thousands gathered in the street to try and glimpse the unexplained phenomena that was supposedly besieging the house, and an international haunting sensation was born.

What made this case was so compelling and drew so much attention as compared to other “hauntings” was the high number of reputedly reliable witnesses who reported experiencing the unusual activities firsthand. Beyond the Goodins and their friends, more than two dozen firefighters, police officers and other investigators on the scene saw all sorts of bizarre happenings, including couches and chairs spontaneously moving across the floor, tables and a refrigerator levitating, paintings and crucifixes falling off walls and even knives flying through the air. They also recounted hearing a range of audio phenomena, from inexplicable knocks and bangings to disembodied voices; As mentioned earlier, Sam the family cat was alleged to have said a number of things (including “Jingle Bells!” and “Bye bye”). And to add to the creepy events, decorative swans in the front yard were also accused of making unearthly sounds.

To fight off the spirit, Clergy were also called to examine and bless the home. To ensure no hoax was occurring, building officials examined the foundation, which was deemed safe.

Because of all this, the Bridgeport house became the epicenter for one of most-documented hauntings in Connecticut history. The small bungalow-style home generally terrified everyone who stepped foot in the house.

The majority of the weird activity seemed to be centered around the Marcia. Witnesses reported that although many of the odd events happened when the young girl was around, a large number also occurred when she was either in another room or not even in the house.

As Activity reached a peak in November 1974, and by that time a number of investigators were conducting interviews with family members, including Marcia, and detailing a number of seemingly inexplicable happenings. In addition to the aforementioned activities, TVs were tipping over, dressers were moving around, window shades were rolling up and wall shelves were pulling out of the wall, all without seeming provocation. The Goodins, who claimed to not believe in the paranormal, were increasingly stressed and vexed by what was going on in their home.

Meanwhile, with the local and national press covering the case, large and curious crowds were regularly gathering outside the house. At one point, a few zealous neighbors tried to dispel the dark spirits in their own fashion, attempting to set the house on fire. Luckily, they were quickly stopped.

The situation seemed to be getting more controversial and intense when, a few weeks into the investigation, a police officer witnessed the young girl Marcia attempting to tip over a TV with her foot when she thought no one was watching. caught red handed, she soon confessed that she was responsible for all the bizarre activities in the house. The event was soon declared a hoax by the relieved police, who ended the official investigation, 

Still many questions remained as to how Marcia had been able to perpetrate many of the witnessed events when she wasn’t in the house or those when she had been in another room. Due to Marcia’s confession, The majority of the investigators, press and curious crowds all soon went away.

Interestingly, even though Marcia had admitted to being the cause of events and apologized for her role in all of it, strange happenings continued to occur in the house for weeks to come. Eventually though, the activities did stop drastically. 

More than 40 years later what exactly happened at Lindley Street is still disputed. Some say it was all a hoax perpetrated by a young girl; others who were there and allegedly saw unusual things happen when Marcia wasn’t around weren’t so convinced it had all been faked. 

Perhaps the most important question of this haunting was who Marcia was and why was she being tormented. Marcia was a full-blooded Five Nations Indian girl from Canada. Due to her Olive skin, she was picked on and bullied at her school in Bridgeport. At one point she was beaten up so bad she found herself in a body brace. This event only added to her mother’s destructive, if well-meaning, overprotective instincts. The little girl’s frustration and loneliness boiled within her as she struggled to quietly hold it all inside.

Many say this was perfect recipe for a poltergeist to enter the home due to the dysfunction in the family and angry isolated teenager girl. It is said poltergeists tend to attach to teenage girls more than anyone else. 

Still, some events that were witnessed simply could not have been hoaxed by a 10-year-old. Police officers saw a 300-pound fridge levitate off the ground and rotate. Witnesses saw Marica being picked up off the ground and slammed into the wall behind her. 

As the years passed, Marcia left her home when she was a teenager and seemingly was at odds with her adoptive parents. From my research, it appears Marcia may have led a difficult life, keeping to herself and eventually developing Multiple Sclerosis and epilepsy. Sadly, Marcia died at the age of 51 on Feb 10, 2015. Unfortunately, today many are not aware of The Goodwin’s story and the struggles the family and Marcia especially endured. 

Today, when people tend to think of Connecticut hauntings, most think of the Snedeker Family Haunting that occurred that occurred in Southington in 1986. This case was also investigated by the Warrens and was made into a film “The Haunting in Connecticut” in 2009. 

Although many still feel the case was a hoax, some skeptics have changed their mind about what happened there. 

Bridgeport native and self-described skeptic, William J. Hall always dismissed the tales of the Bridgeport Poltergeist as a hoax—until then he decided to do some digging into audio interviews, newspaper articles, and other matters of public record. What he found astonished him. There were dozens of witnesses to inexplicable events in the home, including police officers and other city officials.

It’s often said by many that’s Marcia ‘s confession was coerced as the police were looking to close the case, and also many officers were afraid to enter the home. 

Today, these paranormal events are still considered perhaps the most credible case not just in Connecticut, but the world. Despite the controversy still, one thing is for sure: It’s one of the most interesting and famous “hauntings” in Connecticut history.