API Members

Ann: Co-founder, Case Manager, Website Designer/Administrator, EVP, and Photography. And a Sensitive with various abilities.

Ann Bender is a farmer's daughter from Michigan. She lived eight years in Spokane, WA before moving to Sacramento, CA. For relaxation she enjoys everything from camping and fishing, to bead work, to figure skating, to photography. She has a background in crisis counseling, shelter supervisor, domestic violence advocate, sexual assault advocate, and CPR/BLS instruction. In November of 2008 she was married to Dave Bender, enjoying the perfect day with friends and family.

By day she is a senior interventional angio technologist, photographing blood vessels. By night she is API's case manager, website administrator, EVP specialist, and sensitive. API provides an outlet for her to explore what can't be proven yet.

Life is extremely busy, helping people both day and night, but this only has taught her the need to still, Take Time to Smell the Flowers.

Day Job: Retired Paramedic, and Sr. Special Procedures Technologist
Hobbies: Figure Skating, Beading, Photography, and Adventures Anywhere!

An Interview with Ann:



1. What is your interest in the paranormal?

To help people deal with the unexplained and document it's existence along the way.  
Every single person has the same first line.  "You might think I'm crazy, but...."  I know I
felt crazy and still do from time to time.  I want to make sure that people aren't afraid of
what goes thump in the night.  And do NOT think they might be going nuts.

 

2. When did you realize that you were sensitive?

It's one of my first memories, seeing an elderly woman I didn't know.  I was 2 or 3 years
old.  I'm told you can't remember that.  It disturbed my teenage years with very poor
sleep.  I had trouble concentrating and lots of headaches and intestinal difficulties.  
Certain places would stop me in my tracks with images of the past.  De ja vue happens
for events still to come.  The Lava caves was the 2x4 board over my head that finally
said, " Do something.......anything.......but stop ignoring this !"  



3. How does your background relate to investigating the paranormal?

I was a volunteer firefighter and paramedic for ten years.  In addition to my day job as a
radiology technologist.  I also was a crisis phone counselor, shelter supervisor, domestic
violence advocate, and a sexual assault advocate.  In my spare time, I taught CPR,
BLS, and First Aid for the American Red Cross in Michigan.  I use these skills and
my intuition to deal with and evaluate each situation.  It's also interesting how different
the same location can "feel" with different visits to the location.



4. What investigation impressed you the most?

I would have to say the residence in Stockton.  This was my first time hearing anything
speak to me and recording it.  The family there is so warm, and loving.  They cooked
for us each visit we made.  After our first investigation summary the wife gave me a huge
hug and thanked API for bringing her family closer together.  WOW!  That's why I
love this work.  API was able to bring a family from living in fear and
non-communication together.



5. How do you feel about the TV show?

I still am getting used to a camera pointed at me.  I much prefer taking the photographs
or talking off camera.  If this helps more people that need help ask, then it's worth a
little discomfort for me.  Kudo's to Charlotte Kosa for a wonderful idea and being a
kind producer.



6. Do you find it hard to conduct an investigation in front of a
camera?

At first absolutely.  Now, except when I'm tripping over microphone cables, I don't
mind.  I just do what I do and smile at the camera from time to time.



7. What has been the most challenging thing about what you do?

Telling the person what is going on in a manner that won't frighten them more.  Stuff
will not hurt them almost always if you deal with it in the right way.  (The right way does
vary from one situation to the next.)  But just talking about it at first is uncomfortable
for most people.  Talking about it was very hard for me because society tells us we
are insane if we believe in ghosts or spirits.  



8. What do you find to be the most rewarding about what you do?

The hugs from the families API has helped.  For me personally, the website was a
massive undertaking.  I'm pleased with how it looks, but can't wait to see what it will look
like in a year.



9. What is your personal goal as an investigator and where would
you like to see API in the future?

My goal is to accurately document as much solid evidence as possible.  And to provide
a resource to the community that no other branch offers. That being:  Help with
paranormal activity.



10. Do you have any advice for someone who feels they are sensitive?

Please find an outlet for the abilities you know you have and acknowledge them.  The
abilities will make you cookoo if you try to ignore them.  It will hurt your family life.  It will
make it difficult to sleep.  You may have more health problems than you should.  Find a
friend to confide in and talk about it.  The first time you open up is the hardest.  
Just do it.  You will end up so much happier if you do.  If you don't know were to turn,
API might be able to help.   


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