'Ghost seekers' charged with breaking into Pacifica school

By Michelle Durand

Three would-be ghost busters ended up simply busted on Thanksgiving after reportedly breaking into an abandoned Pacifica elementary school in search of spirits they believed were inside.

Sharif Adam, Burban Husseini and Kenji Ananda Snow, all 18, allegedly ripped the door off of Fairmont School, an abandoned elementary school in Pacifica, and were apprehended as they tried entering the premises. After their Nov. 23 arrest, the trio reportedly told Pacifica police they belong to the Idaho Spirit Seekers and had information about ghosts at the school, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

The Idaho Spirit Seekers investigates suspected paranormal activity in Idaho, Oregon and Montana, according to its Web site.

Neither Adam nor Husseini belong to the organization, said Executive Director Marie Cuff.

Snow attended one meeting and one investigation of a commercial property but was not asked to become an investigator. The organization has not heard from Snow since he left for college at Idaho State University more than one year ago, she said.

Regardless, the organization only performs investigations on property where there is explicit permission granted, she said.

“This is not how we operate. We work very hard to gain permission and it sounds like what they did is very wrong,” Cuff said.

Each teen was charged with misdemeanor counts of attempted second-degree burglary, vandalism causing less than $400 in damage and possessing tools used for breaking and entering. Each pleaded not guilty and asked for a court-appointed attorney. They return to court Jan. 16 for a pre-trial conference and Feb. 5 for jury trial.

All three are free from custody on their own supervised recognizance.