Many students and staff believe that the ghosts of Morton are real. Here are the stories:

Drowned sophomore never leaves East

In 1969, a sophomore named Richard Jigman was found floating in Morton East’s old school pool — now the supervision rooms (115) near the front entrance.

“I do believe!  Recently, in the bathroom on the first floor, I heard strange noices, and I was alone.  I told a teacher and he confessed that there are always noises and blow sounds,” said senior Emiliano Paniagua said.

Could Richard still be gasping for air down there on on the first floor?

The Substitute’s Final Lesson

A substitute teacher was found dead at her desk during school hours. Aldona Brusokas, a district substitute teacher, was discovered lifeless in classroom 384 by maintenance staff. Some say she died while the students were still in the classroom. Substitutes usually leave with the students, but she stayed there, sitting down.

“It was a total shock,” said former Morton East Principal Frank Zarate.

Or maybe, no one even noticed.

“I assume that she died while watching the kids – and no one noticed. That’s the terrifying thing!” added journalism teacher Kent Frankfother.

The room numbers have changed since, but maybe she’s wandering the language hallways.

Security witnesses Phantom of Morton East

A ghost is said to roam the halls of Morton East High School at night.

Morton East High School seems like a normal high school from the outside, but what really goes on inside the building at night? I personally have explored Morton East High School during the night, and I can confirm that the school is very creepy at night. It’s quiet, dark, and empty. Walking around the halls feels like the hallway never ends.

On a dark, rainy, and cold day, we asked a Morton security guard who had worked there for a while about paranormal activities.

“I have experienced some weird things happening during my shift. I have seen doors open unexplained, while nobody is in the halls, which honestly really spooked me,” one security guard said.

(During this interview, a book fell from a shelf inside a classroom that no one was inside, and the lights were off.)

“One time I was listening to my radio, and I heard someone calling for me. I asked who it was and heard nothing back. At least 10 seconds later, I heard someone say ‘hello’ again. I radioed in asking if anyone called out for me, and they said, ‘No, no one has called you.’ Not even 5 seconds after that, I heard my name again for the third time, but I ignored it,” another security guard said.

Who roams our halls at night once everyone is gone? Is it with us right now as we are in class?

The Eternal Show

One of East’s former theater directors haunts the auditorium of Morton East High School.

Mr. Drew, a beloved theater director, is said to haunt the auditorium. According to a former theater teacher here, Mr. Drew suffered from a heart attack on the opening night of one of his students’ performances — and he never made the opening.  So, he returns to Chodl Auditorium during practices and performances to lend his support.  He loved his job and his students, so his spirit isn’t malicious but rather welcoming.

“I’ve seen a cloaked figure in the balcony of the auditorium while I was running lights during a show alone and in the dark,” said junior Jose Organista.

And, that’s not all.

“I only ever had one interaction with Mr. Drew.  That was when we were working on “A Christmas Carol.”  I heard someone in corner say “Scrooge, Scrooge!”  I thought that is was a student trying to scare me, but there was no way that they could have gotten back there,” said current theater director and drama teacher Mr. Tyler Lubinus.

Elizabeth, the Little Girl in 308

A ghostly girl in white roams the stairwell of Morton East. Not many know the story of Elizabeth. She is dressed in all white and has been seen roaming around the stairwell.

“I was walking around until I saw a woman in all white walk into a classroom. I went to check on her, but there was nobody there. The door was locked. Afterwards, someone pulled the police alarm in the same room where the woman entered and vanished. There was nobody there,” said security Veronica.

Emily, the ghost who goes to Morton College

The ghost of Emily Keseg, a never-to-be college student, haunts Morton College.

Emily was a freshan at Morton Collge, murdered on Saturday October 18, 1969.  She was brutally killed near the Laramie Bridge in Cicero, and her naked body was found 12 hours later, face down in a muddy lot, beaten with a hole in the back of her head.  Yet, the death was listed as “strangulation.”

She was found on the land where Morton College now stands!  (It was built in 1973.)  A worker there reported seeing Emily’s ghost at the edge of the roof while the college was under construction.

Since then, she’s been sited by many.  Some officers there have reported that she throws pebbles and rocks at them.  Is it because they failed her?

Two others died here — one messes with the electricty

In the late 60’s custodian Bob Russell was found dead somewhere in Morton East.  Mr. Russell died of a heart attack in the month of April.

Longstanding stafff say that on the anniversary of his death there is a power outage, and the lights flicker.

This ain’t no April Fools.

Also in 2004, Mr. Eaton, a carpentry teacher was found dead in the carpentry room.  He opened the door, suffered a heart attack and fell just inside the door.

Maybe that’s why the door sticks sometimes.

Haunted mirror used to hang in 226

Many years ago, there was a haunted mirror that hung in room 226.

The mirror was said to have been possessed by the spirit of Mr. S, who was a teacher for 30 years and taught in that room.  Less than a month after his retirement, Mr. S died of a heart attack in his home.  According to some, he never got used to retirement, and returned to his old room.  Students reported having seen something paranormal — like a mist or figure — while looking into the mirror.  They said it was Mr. S’s ghost.

“I had heard it was haunted.  One day, I decided to stare into the mirror, and I thought I saw something.  It might have been my mind playing tricks on me, but I got freaked out and left,” said former senior Alejandro Truillo.

The mirror was removed in the remodeling of Morton East.  But, maybe if you look into the mirror in the bathroom, he’s still here?