Caller reports seeing a smoke-like form leave their father’s body at death
[name withheld], calling from West Dundee, Illinois, tells Art Bell that in 1997 they saw what they took to be their father’s soul leave his body at the moment of death. [name withheld] describes a small smoke-like form coming out of their father’s chest, floating to the bedroom door, and dissipating. [name withheld] says they were not afraid and later returned to church.
This clip comes from the source recording. AI chose where it starts and ends, so it may start or end a little early or late. The word-for-word transcript is not published. You can hear the source recording on the Internet Archive (file “Ghost to Ghost 2003.mp3”, starting at 1:37:54). Is this you, or someone you know? Ask for a correction or removal.
The story as told
[name withheld], a caller from West Dundee, Illinois, tells Art Bell that in 1997 their father was diagnosed with cancer and died more quickly than expected. [name withheld] says they took two months off work and became the main caregiver because their mother was distraught after forty-seven years of marriage. [name withheld] says the family gathered at the bedside. [name withheld] was holding their father’s left hand and their mother was holding the right hand when their father took his last breath. According to [name withheld], their five-year-old niece ran out of the room hysterical, and their mother left to calm her. Their sister stayed in the room with [name withheld]. About 30 seconds after their father died, [name withheld] says, they noticed what looked like smoke coming from their father’s chest. [name withheld] describes it as more formed than smoke, about three inches long and an inch wide. [name withheld] says it floated without dissipating until it hit the bedroom door about eight feet from the bed, where it dissipated. When Art asks what it was like, [name withheld] says they were not afraid and that what surprised them most was how small it was. Art asks whether the experience changed their beliefs. [name withheld] says they had always believed in God and were engaged at the time. Afterward they made it a point to return to church every Sunday and finish their sacraments. The call ends with Art thanking [name withheld].
Reported events, in order
- 0:06
[name withheld] gives their name and says they are calling from West Dundee, Illinois.
- 0:14
[name withheld] says they have seen their father’s soul leave his body.
- 0:24
[name withheld] says their father was diagnosed with cancer in 1997 and they took two months off work.
- 0:41
[name withheld] says their parents were married forty-seven years and they became the main caregiver.
- 1:11
[name withheld] says the family was at their father’s bedside. [name withheld] held their father’s left hand and their mother held the right.
- 1:23
[name withheld] says their father took his last breath and they said, “he is gone.”
- 1:31
[name withheld] says their five-year-old niece ran out of the room hysterical.
- 1:47
[name withheld] says they and their sister were alone in the room.
- 1:57
[name withheld] says about 30 seconds after death they noticed what looked like smoke coming from their father’s chest.
- 2:09
[name withheld] describes the form as about three inches long and an inch wide.
- 2:19
[name withheld] says it floated until it hit the bedroom door about eight feet away.
- 2:26
[name withheld] says it dissipated at the door.
- 2:38
[name withheld] says they were not afraid and were most surprised by how small it was.
- 3:35
[name withheld] says they always believed in God and were engaged at the time. Afterward they returned to church and finished their sacraments.
Claims
Each claim is labeled as something the person telling the story noticed (observation), what they made of it (interpretation), something others told them (hearsay), or something the host said (host statement).
- observation· 2:02
[name withheld] reports seeing a smoke-like form come out of their father’s chest about 30 seconds after death.
- observation· 2:09
[name withheld] describes the form as about three inches long and an inch wide.
- observation· 2:19
[name withheld] says the form floated until it hit the bedroom door about eight feet away and then dissipated.
- interpretation· 0:14
[name withheld] takes the form to be their father’s soul leaving his body.
Scores, with reasons
An AI model gave these scores using a fixed set of scoring rules (scoring-v1). They are editorial judgments and rough guides, not the odds that anything paranormal happened. How scoring works.
This is firsthand, specific, and consistent, but brief and not backed up by anyone else. An easy ordinary explanation, vapor or a draft, is not addressed.
Evidence for and against
- [name withheld] says they were holding their father’s left hand at the bedside.
- [name withheld] gives concrete details: about 30 seconds after death, three inches long, one inch wide, about eight feet to the door.
- The sequence is coherent, and [name withheld] answers Art’s questions about fear and belief.
- No second witness is reported as seeing the form.
- No records or physical evidence that can be checked are presented.
- A smoke-like shape could be vapor or smoke, and the floating path could be a draft. Neither is discussed.
- The labels showing who is speaking are mixed, and some lines labeled as the host may be the caller.
- The exact room conditions and whether anyone else saw the form are not stated.
- 1:14
- 2:02
- 2:09
- 2:19
What the model inferred (not said on air): Scored from the content only. Firsthand closeness and specifics raise the score. The lack of backing from anyone else and the unaddressed ordinary explanations keep it below the level for a detailed account.
The story is the caller’s assertion only, with a few specifics that could be checked, such as a year and location, but no documentation and no second witness on air.
Evidence for and against
- [name withheld] gives a year, 1997, and a caller location, West Dundee, Illinois.
- [name withheld] says family members were present at the death.
- No physical evidence, recording, photograph, or document is presented.
- No second witness speaks on air to confirm seeing the form.
- The claimed sighting cannot be independently checked from the transcript.
- It is unclear whether anyone else in the room saw the smoke-like form.
- The transcript does not give enough detail to locate or verify the event.
- 0:06
- 0:24
What the model inferred (not said on air): The score reflects a few specifics that could be checked, but no actual check and no backing from anyone else.
The deathbed setting, a child’s distress, and a form leaving the body are unsettling. But there is no threat, no evil intent, and no lasting dread, and the caller says they were not afraid.
Evidence for and against
- The story centers on a father’s death and a five-year-old running out hysterical.
- A smoke-like form is reported to leave the chest and float to the door.
- [name withheld] says they were not afraid.
- No harm, attack, or hostile presence is reported.
- The form dissipates, and the call ends calmly.
- Listeners may respond differently. The transcript gives little sensory detail beyond size and movement.
- 1:31
- 2:38
What the model inferred (not said on air): Creepiness is judged as a listener’s response to the reported deathbed and smoke-like form, not as a claim that it is true.
A deathbed soul-leaving story is familiar. But the small, three-inch smoke-like form floating to the door and dissipating is a distinctive detail.
Evidence for and against
- The caller stresses the small size of the form.
- The form is described as moving to a specific door and dissipating.
- Deathbed visions and soul-leaving themes recur in ghost lore.
- The story uses familiar elements: family at the bedside, a last breath, a visible sign at death.
- Novelty compared with the rest of the archive is provisional because this is a pilot archive.
- My score is based on content only.
- 2:09
- 2:26
What the model inferred (not said on air): Originality is a rough judgment of the content, not a measure of truth.
Scoring confidence 0.70 · analysis confidence 0.80 · checked against outside sources: no · evidence available: The caller’s firsthand story; No physical evidence; No second witness on air; No documentation examined. The originality score blends the model's score (55) with how rare the story's details are across the archive. This method is still provisional.
Ordinary explanations to consider
These are possibilities only. None is a finding about what happened.
- A small smoke-like shape near the chest right after death could be condensation, vapor, or smoke from the body or nearby equipment. · [name withheld] describes [quote withheld] but mentions no source or room conditions.
- The form reportedly floated to a bedroom door about eight feet away and dissipated. A draft or air current could explain that path. · [name withheld] says it moved [quote withheld] but does not mention ventilation or air movement.
What stands out
The story is unusual for focusing on a small, formed smoke-like shape at the moment of death rather than a full figure, and for the caller’s stated lack of fear.
Related stories
Matched by shared recurring details, categories, and wording.