Plot Synopsis

THE HOLZER FILES is a one-hour reality series that follows a dedicated paranormal team -- led by investigator Dave Schrader, psychic medium Cindy Kaza and equipment technician Shane Pittman -- that revisits the case files of America's first ghost hunter, Hans Holzer, revealing the original recordings and documents from the paranormal pioneer's renowned studies. With the help of Holzer's daughter, Alexandra Holzer, and researcher Gabe Roth, the team picks up where Holzer left off to re-examine the terrifying hauntings that he dedicated his life to researching. Recognized as the "father of the paranormal," Hans Holzer's legendary four-decade exploration into disturbing hauntings like the Amityville Horror house helped spawn legions of supernatural enthusiasts, more than 120 books and even inspired Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis to write "Ghostbusters." In each of the series' 10 hour-long episodes, the team will cull through thousands of Holzer's recently discovered documents, letters, photographs and chilling audio and visual recordings dating back to the 1950s. Using his findings, team members track down recent developments from each haunting and head back to the location to reinvestigate with a fresh perspective, harnessing their own research, skills and expertise. Episodes include:

"Phantoms of the Fire" (Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT): The team heads to historic Rye, New York, where over the span of 20 years, Hans Holzer made three visits to investigate the rampant paranormal activity at the Peck House. Residents have witnessed objects moving on their own, water manifesting on the ceiling without cause and the spirit of a young girl who tragically died in the home. Now, for the first time since Holzer's last visit in 1985, paranormal investigator Dave Schrader, psychic medium Cindy Kaza and equipment technician Shane Pittman - armed with insight from researcher Gabe Roth and Alexandra Holzer - revisit the case, interviewing locals, historians and frightened witnesses in an attempt to capture evidence and find out if the restless spirits haunting the Peck House have actually moved on.

"The Morris-Jumel Mansion" (Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT): Perched atop one of Manhattan's highest points, the Morris-Jumel Mansion is the oldest home in New York City and served as a headquarters for George Washington during the Revolutionary War. When Hans Holzer investigated it in 1964, terrified employees encountered apparitions of the home's past occupants roaming the property and heard whispering in the empty halls. Though Holzer and psychic medium Ethel Meyers were able to communicate with Stephen Jumel and help his restless spirit move on, Jumel's wife, Eliza, refused to leave and has remained a haunting presence in the home to this day. In recent years, a darker entity has emerged that has concerned employees reaching out for help. The team has reopened Holzer's files for the first time since his visit over 50 years ago and will investigate the property to determine if this dark presence is indeed Eliza Jumel, or if something more menacing now resides in the historic home.

"The Whaley House" (Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT): After Hans Holzer was called in to investigate claims of paranormal activity at a historic San Diego home in 1961, it gained widespread notoriety as the most haunted house in America. Visitors to the Whaley House began reporting frightening encounters with the site's past occupants - ghostly apparitions walking the halls, disembodied voices and a dark presence lurking in the home. Holzer investigated these assertions with psychic medium Sybil Leek, recording contact with both the Whaley family and a 19th century thief reportedly hanged on the site of the home before it was built. Yet Holzer always felt there was more to reveal - a darker, more powerful entity. Now, the team will conduct an all-new investigation in an attempt to capture more undeniable evidence of Holzer's original findings. They soon find a dark presence may be dangerously influencing the living and trying to fulfill a centuries-old vendetta.

"The Devil in Texas" (Thursday, October 24, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT): The team resurrects one of Hans Holzer's most tragic cases. Their investigation reveals poltergeist activity he saw 50 years ago in Tyler, Texas, is disturbingly similar to unexplained activity terrorizing a family today.

"Phantom Crew" (Thursday, October 31, 2019 at 11pm ET/PT): The team reopens Hans Holzer's investigation into a Revolutionary War-era warship, the USS Constellation, in Baltimore Harbor. They discover the spirits of the ship's deep, dark past may still be manning their positions on a postmortem mission.

Additional locations and cases featured this season include the Barnstable House (Cape Cod, Massachusetts) the Lambert Castle (Paterson, New Jersey), Ocean Born Mary (New Hampshire/Rhode Island), the Howard-Dickinson House (Henderson, Texas) and more.
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The 13-episode second season of THE HOLZER FILES premiered on Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 11pm ET/PT on Travel Channel. After its freshman run, THE HOLZER FILES returns with all-new investigations from the trail of John Wilkes Booth in Maryland to a serial killer in Ohio. Investigator Dave Schrader, psychic medium Cindy Kaza and equipment technician Shane Pittman, continue to investigate terrifying true hauntings from the recently discovered case files of America's first ghost hunter, Dr. Hans Holzer. Now, with the help of Holzer's daughter, Alexandra Holzer, this series reopens Holzer's most captivating case files -- digging into thousands of documents, letters, photographs and chilling audio and visual recordings dating back to the 1950s.

In the season opener, "Phantom Hand," a terrified Cleveland family called in ghost hunter Hans Holzer in 1963 after witnessing a phantom hand pry up nails and open a trap door. The team heads to Ohio, where disturbing clues lead them to the surprising source of the ghastly haunting.